Striving to maintain the classification of English Pointer's as "The Cadillac of all Bird Dogs".

Biography

Growing up on a farm in rural Alabama, I don't guess it was too hard to earn respect for the beauty of God's creatures. Over the years many people have asked what type of farm was it? The short answer is, if you can eat it, ride it, or simply enjoy it, we probably had it at one point in time. If we made any money with it, we had it again. It was here during those agonizing hours as a kid and young teenager working cattle, feeding horses, sorting hogs, gathering eggs and all the other chores involved, I really earned a deep respect and appreciation for many things that at the time I had no idea of the impact they would have on my life. All of those life lessons are still with me today, some are just a little deeper than others. The two that are the most evident though are a love of animals and the outdoors.

As is the case with many people I know, if you were a male in my family you would hunt and fish. From both sides of my family my grandfathers were raised on farms in a time much darker than ours today. They passed on their beliefs to each and every member of the family that was rooted in the days of the depression. To farm, hunt, and fish was to eat. You got up before dawn and didn't quit until you were done, no matter which of the three that particular day had brought with it. They taught me that elbow grease was the key to success in any of the three and that life would hand you nothing. I also learned that the land would support you and your family, but you took from it with respect and give back to it with thankfulness.

I know that all of my enjoyment from dogs comes from the fact that those teachings are what a true relationship with a dog is based on. While I've never had the honor of meeting him, but I've been told stories of my great-grandfather Leon Nall and his bird dogs. The one memory that it seems everyone can agree on, is the fact that he truly loved his dogs. From my mother telling me about the summers spent in Elba, AL chasing after granddaddy struggling to keep up, and eating dinner just to go straight to bed because of the sore body from making 3 steps to his one while they were out hunting. To my grandfather sharing his childhood memories from a time when hunting with your father was required not just quality time. Each of the stories brings along with it a favorite dog, and like so many we see today, each of those dogs were the best dog in the world, but there is one that I remember each time I walk to the kennels. His name was Jake, he was undisputed the best dog my great-grandfather ever owned. Everyone seems to agree on that, due to health problems my great-grandfather wasn't able to hunt anymore and decided to sale Jake. Though they were the best of friends I was told, he knew this was best for Jake. To be able to do the most important thing to him and that was to hunt. I was told that in 1938 Jake was sold for $750. I am still awestruck by that figure today. To put it quite simple, my goal each time I turn a dog loose is to produce dogs that are bird dogs of that quality.

Being happy as a dog owner is not about how good a dog is today, it's about helping and encouraging him to be better tomorrow. If you asked me to sum up what I love about dogs I would say, I love the fact that every time you encounter a dog, you are training them, the question is, are you training them properly, or poorly. To own a dog and treat them with the respect that they deserve it is truly an adventure.