Mood:  happy

We just got back from our annual Iowa hunting trip.  Five of our puppy owners made the trip with us and the dogs ranged in age from 9 years, Kodi,  Gramma dog, down to Velvet's 5 month old pups.  We ran the dogs in shift's every day since the weather was warmer than usual and we went through gallons of water keeping the crew hydrated.

We decided to hunt the 5 month old pups with their mom every afternoon and figured we could do that at the end of every day.  I could not have been more thrilled with the puppies and their performance.  Both pups showed very nice hunting independance and I got to see Royal point solid on a single quail.  We had worked a covey earlier and she located and held point on a single later  that afternoon.  We were able to shoot birds over each pup and they sure did me proud at really just shy of 5 months.

We have always been poud of the fact that we have produced many natural backers and once again this litter has shown the backing gene is there!  Velvet was on point on a hedgerow and Royal came blasting up the row and saw her momma standing, she slammed on the brakes so hard she actually lost her balance!  Then she stood up and watched the bird flush and get shot and she stood from 15 feet away just taking it all in!

Last afternoon both pups, Royal and Blaze,  littermate,  are running and hunting well and once again Velvet locks on point on some switch grass  down a  row.  Both pups come blasting down the row, see their mom and slam to a stop.  A rooster flushes wild, bird  goes up, bird gets shot and both pups stand side by side watching from about 10 feet away.  Then being the little helpers that they are they ran out and "helped" Momma make the retrieve!  I was so proud of their performance.  I am very excited about this litter and can not wait to see them grow!

The American Gun Dog show featuring our dogs will air again tomorrow night, November 21, at 6:30 on the Outdoor Channel.  If you have not seen the show and have access to the Outdoor channel it is worth the time.  The producers of the show did an excellent job with the footage that they got.  They have some funny moments and definitely got the point across that my dear hubby just might be a "bird hawg"!

We are taking a break from bird hunting here in Michigan due to the White tail firearm season being in full swing.  I am still waiting for that big Michigan buck to cross my bow but so far, he has not!

Happy Hunting to all and more to come!

Camille Rice

Timberdoodle Weims 

Mood:  hug me

So last Thursday I put our precious girl Jaimin on the plane to take the long flight to her new home!  I can not even try to explain my feelings as I watched our precious girl sit in her kennel waiting patiently when I left the Metro Detroit Airport!  There might have been a tear or two as I drove home (OK maybe more than a tear or two).  There were many anxious moments until I heard from her owners in the Netherlands that she was safe and in their arms!!!!  Woo hoo!!!

Her new owners, Mystical Shadows Weimaraners are breeders in the Netherlands and will do many events with Jaimin.  I can not wait to hear their reports of all her adventures in her new country.  They have already sent beautiful photos of Jaimin at their events and playing in her new country!  The best part of this for me is that one of her owners is an amazing photographer (unlike her breeder) and will have many beautiful photos to share of Jaimin in action!!!

Happy Hunting to all and hope you are having the best season ever!!

Camille Rice

Timberdoodle Weims 

Mood:  chillin'

So,  what could the reason be that a hunting show host has the opinion that weims are seen as "show dogs"?  It's simple actually many of them are and never hunt or see birds, whether pen raised or wild.  I view the show weims as dogs that are bred for confirmation and their physical attributes only with no regard to hunting instinct.

3 of my last 4 litters have had show champions as the sires but this is is the difference..  those "show" dogs hunt and I have seen them hunt and they were all awesome hunting dogs as well as show champions.  Hayes,  the sire of my 2004 litter is one of the hardest hunting dogs I  have ever hunted with and he is a gorgeous male too.   He is also incredibly biddable has an amazing nose and wonderful temperament and water love.  Hayes also has field and retrieving titles. Sound anything like our opening statement?  

 Baron the sire of my 2007 is a Canadian male with a  CKC championship..  Baron's owners were dedicated enough to bring Baron to Michigan so I could see him hunt and I was very impressed with him.  Once again a hard hunting male, gorgeous to boot and again awesome temperament and water love.  Baron too has field titles and retrieving titles.  Again..our opening statement.. 

Riley,  a dual champion out of California..  Riley came to Michigan for the breeding and stayed with us for two months and what a dream boy he is!  We hunted him, Matt ran him in a couple of field trials and we had a very sad day when he flew home.  Again, hard hunting male, exceptional temperament, water love and gorgeous to boot!  Just an amazing boy and we were blessed to have had him visit and be part of our family for two months..  Riley also has field titles and retrieving titles.  His puppies are young but they are good looking little gray babies with great noses and temperaments.  I expect wonderful things from this litter!

So,  my next planned breeding..again to a show champion that hunts and hunts hard.  I have communicated with his owner enough to know that again I am making a wise choice.  This boy is not just a "show dog", he is gorgeous and works for a living!

But all the above written there are many that do not hunt their dogs and the dogs never, ever see birds of any type.  In fact there are some breeders that could care less about any  hunting instinct and this is why the weim has taken some hard knocks from  so many..

We guide many hunts and I have heard this comment so many times when we unload the dogs.."Hey is that a Weimaraner?  I didn't know they hunted.  My neighbor/friend/sister/brother (you get the idea) has one and it doesn't hunt at all."   So this is where the breed is and there are those of us who have loved the breed for years and are taking many steps to keep the "hunt" in the breed.  This perception took years to develop and now it will take years to correct the public perception.  Breeders pretending there is not a problem are really not helping the situation.

So if you are a hunter and you are looking for a hunting weim ask to see the mother on birds.  We love it when puppy owners want to see our dogs hunt, we welcome them to join us.   If the sire is close by, talk to the sire owner about their hunting experiences, we love nothing more to have people call us and want to talk dogs and hunting.  If the breeder is a serious hunter they will love to talk about their passion!

Just my 2 cents on the whole weimaraner "show dog" perception.  It is there alive and well and I'm hoping those that see hard hunting weims that live to hunt as ours do will see that the breed is not lost to the show ring..  Do your research and ask questions before you buy a puppy if you are a serious hunter.

Happy Hunting!

Camille Rice

Mood:  happy

The show aired this morning and I think the AGD producers did a great job!!  Of course you never know what to expect so I was pleasantly surpised at all the footage they were able to squeeze in.  With our cover being so heavy it was somtimes hard to see all the dog action but there were some good shots.  They hunted with us for three days and I  know how much action they had so it was pretty cool to see how much they actually were able to use.

 Poor Matt had to miss the original airing but we will make a point of watching it this Saturday when they run the show again.  So if you were not able to see the show, it will air again on Saturday October 10th at 8 PM on the ESPN Outdoor Channel.  We do look like dorks in some scenes I suppose but I was proud of the dogs so please concentrate on them!!

Happy Hunting!

Camille Rice

Mood:  chillin'

We had a great time at grouse camp and we are home!  Lot's of bird action and great dog work and many good times with friends!  We had a banner year for grouse camp and did see ,many birds!  So now it's local bird hunting here until our Iowa trip. 

Just got all the blinds set for the Michigan white tail bow opener and it has poured all day!  Not that I'm afraid we'll melt it's just pretty miserable in the rain..so we're doing projects getting ready to venture back into the "real"world!  Hope I can post photos of our bucks soon! LOL

Happy Hunting to all!!  What a great time of year!!!

Regards,

Camille Rice  

Mood:  energetic

So we are here!!  The absolute best time of the year!!  Grouse opener today and still working but "game on" Friday!!! 

I will report the Timberdoodle Weims success once we are back.  I would love to tell you I will have many photos BUT I am not a photographer  and I have always had a hard time managing training , shooting and running dogs!  Just not that much of a multi tasker!! 

So, enjoy the site and please understand that we are still under construction for a bit and my absolutely wonderful web designer is dealing with my selection of a template design that sometimes has not been easy for her!  Thanks Karen for all your hard work!!

Happy Hunting and do feel free to contact.. just understand that we are hunting!!!  Yes this is like Christmas to us for the next few months!!!!    Enjoy!  Camille Rice