Setter Letter MarchApril

March/April

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Greetings ESAA Friends:

It's been great to see the sun shining, flowers blooming, and the smell of Spring in the air I also enjoy seeing pictures of everyone’s setter adventures at the shows on FB Please be sure to share your wins, pics, show information, event information, or any articles you think you be a good fit to Asha Nahas our NEW Setter Letter editor

Thank you, Asha, for taking on the Setter Letter I’d also like to Thank Linda Lauby for her role as the previous Setter Letter Editor Your contributions are very appreciated ladies

Her email is: Ashanahas1995@gmail com

There have been a lot of Specialties with very nice entries I’m hoping to attend a few more this year, so I can engage with all of you personally I'd like to shout out a “Heartfelt Thank you” to all the club volunteers who work tirelessly to put these club events on for us to enjoy Regional Clubs you should all be very proud of your accomplishments

The next Large Specialty Circuit is in Ohio at the Buckeye Circuit Three Specialties and Four all-breeds with Seven opportunities for majors. All the details are on the events page on the ESAA website It’s a great show with wonderful people and hospitality!

The ESAA officer election is upon us for officers for the years 2024-2026 ESAA nominations are open for selected offices until April 19th. Each term is for 2 years. Most importantly, PLEASE “VOTE ” I truly cannot understate the importance of your vote Your voice matters, and we want to hear it! ESAA uses an electronic ballot system called Election Buddy Watch for an email around the middle of May It’s easy to place your vote or votes, and each individual membership will receive a single vote, with family memberships receiving two Follow the prompts, review the nominees, read their bios and qualifications, select your candidates, and hit send! Should you have an issue or question, please contact our Election Chair, Cindy Rice at housemouse2000@comcast.net Thank you Cindy!

One of the top initiatives I ran on as President was to improve communication and transparency to the membership We have provided, through our website a new “chat box” function under “members only ” If you would like to comment, connect with me, or have a suggestion, please use this new “Member Chat Function.”

I’ve also created a personal FB/ ESAA Presidents Page I update it frequently in between newsletters Please add it to your favorites to stay informed I will no longer be posting board minutes as my page is public I will post when the minutes are posted on the web for your review.

The ESAA National planning is coming along Rooms are going quickly, and the Roberts Centre only has 115 rooms Please call NOW to make your reservations Tannley is hard at work creating all the necessary forms, and a tentative schedule of events is on the website under the National/Events. Please visit frequently to stay up to date on all National information

Kathy Cunningham Roy is chairing the ESAA Trophy Donation fundraising for the National, the National Field Trial and WGS There is a page on the ESAA website to donate. Please take the time to donate. We need your support! ESAA’s trophies will be a stunning new design this year Tannley Goldberg, Julie Brimble, and Deb Davis did a great job working with the designer

APRIL 30TH, 2024

I'd like to thank every ESAA member for entrusting me to serve as your President I truly love working for our membership, and the betterment of our beloved breed

In the past 18 months, the board, committee chairs and I have been hard at work for the association We have made great strides and accomplished some great initiatives Below is a review of the work we have achieved as a board All of us have worked hard and put in long hours to make major changes I'd like to share only some of the highlights and improvements we have made for our organization

NEW ESAA WEBSITE:

I began my tenure working with a great team developing a new “state of the art” ESAA Website, which will never need to be updated as our “Host” fulfills the necessary updates Our new webmaster and best “find” for ESAA, Graham, completes needed edits, additions, and enhancements to the site very quickly and is wonderful to work with Thank you, Graham You are so appreciated

The web developer first tasked us with auditing our “old ESAA site” content With the help of Larry Coldiron, Dave Mates, and Coleen Raber and months of cleaning up and organizing, we have built a new website and migrated “old” content The Board and I are extremely pleased with the finished product It will be the “tool” which enables ESAA to communicate and educate members across the US and worldwide I may be biased, but I think our breed is beautifully represented throughout the site with photos and high-quality content on each page The best part of the new website is it's easy to navigate and find what you are looking for It provides ESAA with endless options to build onto the site in the future This site’s functionality is endless, and the future is bright for ESAA’s members to stay connected and be informed

NEW PERFORMANCE/COMPANION FACEBOOK SUPPORT PAGE:

Jill Warren has recently created a NEW PRIVATE/ESAA MEMBERS ONLY

FACEBOOK PAGE This expert panel will provide support in the areas you may be interested in trying out There will also be many tips, tricks, and many educational pieces to support your desired sport

The Expert Team Members are:

Agility: Carl Necker, Sue Johnson

Barn Hunt: Asha Nahas, Melinda Benbow, and Sharon Shepard

Dock Diving: Melinda Benbow and Sue Johnson

Fast Cat and Coursing: Beckie Lloyd and Melinda Benbow

Obedience: Rose Miller, Terry Barnes, and Jill Warren

Rally: Rose Miller, Terry Barnes, Jill Warren, Mary Coldiron

Scent Work: Mari Anderson, Erin Altman and Melinda Benbow

Therapy Dog: Cynthia Hinckley, Louise Day, Mary Coldiron, Kathy and Lanny Goodwin

Trick Dog/CGC: Julie Bremser, Christi Farley, Thelma Elizando, Melinda Benbow and Mary Coldiron

I am so very pleased and appreciative to everyone on this team for sharing their skills and talents with other ESAA members who are interested in trying something new HEALTH AND GENETICS:

ESAA has invested a substantial amount of funds with the help of Michele Raisor, our H&G chair, in many of our top health concerns in our breed I will share the findings when Michelle presents them to ESAA

PUBLICATION

CONTRIBUTOR

DATE

APRIL 30TH, 2024

BREEDERS RESOURCE TEAM:

We’ve assembled, for the 1st time in ESAA’s history, a New Breeders Resource Team and Chat function on the new website, chaired by Joan Savage This highly experienced team led by Joan Savage is a wonderful resource for anyone with questions pertaining to breeding It's easy to submit your questions online for the team and they will respond quickly There are great FAQ’s and articles on breeding that are useful as well Thank you to Joan and her expert team of veteran breeders

ESAA EVENTS:

Our event calendar is full of all-around performance/companion and confirmation events

We have been working towards being more inclusive of all performance/companion events I feel we are making progress with the expertise of many who are knowledgeable in these modalities

Thank you to everyone who has stepped up to help coordinate all that goes into these events

ESAA NATIONAL:

ESAA added a new event to last year's National--Gun Dog Sweeps It was a great success!

I “loved” the passion of not only the owners showing their gun dog, but truly dressing in the spirit of the event It was so well received, and a great time was had by all Maybe next time we could add a bird wing? Lol

This year, the National is in Ohio at the Roberts Centre Next year Seattle, and then 2026 in Indianapolis! Tannley, our National Coordinator, extraordinaire has done an amazing job coordinating and negotiating our contracts, schedules, and events ESAA would be lost without her amazing skills to pull our Nationals together the last two years Tannley continues to hit it “out of the park” every year Thank you Tannley!

FREE NEW MEMBERSHIPS:

ESAA is offering New Members their first year free! So please help us recruit new members and be sure to give all your puppy buyers applications

NEW MEMBERSHIP AMBASSADOR:

I've appointed Beckie Zimmermann Lloyd as ESAA’s new Membership Ambassador Beckie is a “one-stop “resource for all new and current members She also welcomes and works with new members to make them feel welcome and connected to ESAA and all it has to offer Thank you, Beckie!

ANNUAL UPDATE:

I'm happy to report that the 2018/2019 and 2020/2021 Annuals have been completed, published, and mailed out This was my most challenging and complicated task to navigate Most importantly all four years are complete and in your hands 2020 and 2021 Annuals are still available You can order a 2020/2021 in the ESAA STORE

In the coming months, we will have a few new ideas and enhancements to share This first edition of Asha’s Setter/Letter is one of the ways we are “trying out” more of a high-level publication flip magazine And we are beginning to assemble memorials to post on a “special page” a Remembrance/Memorial and History section under” members only” where we can post members we have lost along with a short bio and photo This information is so vital to retaining the history and the memory of these very special people and their contributions to our breed

PUBLICATION

CONTRIBUTOR

SUSIE KERWIN BUSH

DATE

APRIL 30TH, 2024

ESAA’s Financial Position:

I am pleased to report that the financial state of ESAA is sound We are currently looking into new opportunities to bring in other forms of supplemental revenue

Thank you to Paula, Lynda, Dave, and the Finance Committee for their invaluable work for ESAA

Till next time

Be well, my friends

Susie Kerwin Bush

ESAA PRESIDENT

Esquire English Setters

Breeder of Merit

PUBLICATION DATE CONTRIBUTOR

SUSIE KERWIN BUSH

Susie

THE POWER OF SNIFFING

Allowing one’s dog to sniff on walks is often seen as taboo, but what if this behavior is actually beneficial? Learn more about how you can make your dog’s nose work for you!

Everyone who has been around dogs for even a few minutes knows they like to sniff Why is that? What does sniffing do for them? As humans, our primary sense we use to take in the world around us is sight When out for a walk, we are looking ahead of us, in between houses, seeing butterflies and birds, and seeing everything there is to see, to learn about our environment Dogs primary sense is smell So when they are out for a walk, they are taking in everything by way of scent What animals have been here? Which house has a BBQ going in the backyard? Was a turtle there earlier? Or a deer or a coyote? As humans, we have about 6 million olfactory receptors in our nose Dogs have up to 300 million! When we come home from work and someone has been cooking, we walk in the house and think, “wow, that smells great, I smell roast!” When our dog walks in, they think, “wow, I smell beef, carrots, potatoes, salt, pepper, paprika, etc They can comprehend each individual smell This is why they can smell people buried under buildings we can’t see or find They can even find deceased individuals underwater in lakes This is how they can smell a diabetic’s sugar is too high or too low, or that someone has cancer But most of our dogs aren’t out doing search and rescue They aren’t out working smelling us for if our blood sugar is too low So how can we stimulate their environment and enrich their lives? I am going to go through 2 of the many ways you can easily bring some additional enrichment to your dog’s life

For a long time the school of thought was that dogs should walk nicely by our sides, stop and sit at every intersection and not sniff But as we learn more and more about dogs, more research shows maybe we should ease up a bit, and allow them to have some of the walk for themselves Allow time to take 10-20 minutes and allows your dog to lead you where they want to go Let them stop and smell the roses, you won’t be sorry, and neither will your dog Now, this doesn’t mean your dog can pull your arm out of it’s socket; they can still keep their manners Try this, and watch your dog become more calm, or even worn out from all the sniffing They are using their primary sense to learn about their environment When my elderly dog had dementia, one of the few times he was calm, was after I would take him for a long sniff walk on his terms We would meander for 45 minutes through the same block This left him calm, and afterwards, he would rest easily and nap, the only time his sleep wasn’t interrupted

Snuffle mats are an excellent way to make your dog’s meal more enriching Some dogs inhale their food quickly and then beg for more The use of slow feeders and puzzle toys have become very popular But another option is a snuffle mat You can buy them pre-made or make them yourself Then you hide the food (and treats if you like) in the mat Your dog will use their nose to snuffle through the mat and use their primary sense This is calming and rewarding as they pull out each piece of food You can make these quite easily by purchasing something like a sink drain mat that you can cut about 1 inch wide by 8 inch long strips of fleece Tie the fleece around the mat I use double knots because my dogs like to pick them up and carry them around when they are done You can make these any size you want You can also purchase them online at places like Amazon, you can find them locally at stores like Petsmart or at some show vendors You can also take a Holee-roller ball and tie the fleece all around the ball, your dog will push the food out So think about trying out a sniff walk next time you are out, and maybe adding a snuffle mat to your dog’s rotation Your dog will for sure thank you!

PUBLICATION

ESAA

DATE CONTRIBUTOR

BECKIE ZIMMERMAN LOYD

APRIL 30TH, 2024

The club had six inquiries Each junior was sent a short questionnaire to assist in matching them with an appropriate mentor and dog Parents were asked to sign the question acknowledging the junior’s participation in the educational opportunity The juniors who expressed interest had very little, if any, knowledge of English setters Juniors and mentors exchanged information in advance of the show and set up times to meet and learn about the breed One junior even reached out to her mentor at another show and spent time with the mentor at that show!

The opportunity was focused on learning about the breed and not providing a trained dog for “ringside pick up" for juniors Ultimately two of the juniors contacted their mentor on the day of the show indicating they did not have time to learn about the breed or groom the dog and would not be showing in junior showmanship at the specialty Four of the six juniors who contacted the club spent considerable time with their mentor and new English setter friend Each junior learned about form and function of the dog, companion and performance events English setters participate in, how to groom and show an English setter Juniors were seen practicing with their partner dogs the day before the show The morning of the show all four juniors were busy blow drying and brushing out their English setter

ECSP SUPPORTING JUNIORS

The four juniors, three open intermediates and one open senior, all did a great job presenting their partner dog Ultimately Lillian and her partner, Aria, were chosen as Best Junior Handler Hunter and his partner, Frankie, were Reserve. Following the specialty, the juniors and several parents and friends joined the club at their hospitality

The English Setter Club of Phoenix thanks juniors, Lillian, Hunter, Xavier and Sage for taking the time to learn about our breed The club also thanks mentors, Kaitlin Daugherty, Esthete Jill Warren, and Carl Necker for sharing their knowledge, time and dogs with the juniors Overall the club believes this opportunity was a success and great fun for both the juniors and mentors

To top off the specialty weekend, on Sunday the Heart of the Desert Classic offered Pee Wees Eight year old Blythe did a great job presenting her partner dog, Aria, in Pee Wees

With all the talk of juniors being the future of our sport, the English Setter Club of Phoenix has stepped up to connect with Junior handlers of all ages and connect them with mentors in the breed.

ENGLISH SETTER CLUB OF PHOENIX GALLERY

Lillian earned Best Junior, and Hunter Reserve. Also featured are Xavier and Sage. They were mentored by Jill Warren, Carl Necker, Julie Bremser, and Kaitlin Dougherty.

UPDATE ON THE 2024 NATIONAL

2024 ESAA National Update

We are busy pulling all the pieces together for the National this year and we are so excited to be adding new offerings for performance sports and puppy sweepstakes starting this year

Currently, we are working on runs and/or a supported entry for FAST CAT with the Buckeye Samoyed Club on Saturday, 9/21/24, and Sunday, 9/22/24 at the K9 Splash Zone near Dayton, OH On Monday, 9/23/24 we will be having two English Setter only Agility runs at the Roberts Centre I would like to thank Carl Necker for all his hard work as our Performance Sports Chair in helping us move forward and plan for this year and beyond If you would like to volunteer to help on Carl’s committee, he can be reached at nmesagility@gmail com

On Sunday, 9/22/24 plans are in the works for a Hunt Test in Circleville, OH, with details forthcoming If you would like to volunteer to help, please contact our Hunt Test Chair BJ Parsons at bjsetters@aol com Thank you, BJ, for adding this great event to the National this year!

On Tuesday, 9/24/24 we will be having our first Scent Work Trial at the National! Many thanks to Louise Day for stepping up to be our Scent Work Trial Chair and Secretary This year we will only be having one trial from 8 am to 12pm but next year we hope to expand it to two trials with Louise’s team Naturally, we always need volunteers to help pull off these great new events so contact Louise at nfday@msn com if you would like to help

The Gun Dog Sweepstakes was such a terrific addition to the National last year that we decided to keep it as a permanent addition to our line-up of events on Tuesday evening At the member’s request, we have added a puppy sweepstakes to this year’s National on Thursday, 9/26/24, to start the day before class dogs and bitches judging Last year we experimented with taking out $10 per single and family membership for National trophies in lieu of donations As costs keep rising, we decided rather than raising our membership fees, the Board voted to return to member donations for the National We have some wonderful Wendell August Platters, Coasters, and Medallions planned for this year so please donate generously so we can keep providing these wonderful trophies for the National Additionally, we will also be using your donations for the 2024 ESAA National Championship Field Trial and the 2025 Wintergarden (Combined Setter) Specialties Thank you to Kathy CunninghamRoy who spearheaded this effort and has generously offered to take on the Trophy Donations Chair Donations can be done online at https://www esaa com/ or mailed payable to ESAA to Kathy Cunningham-Roy at 35 Booras Lane, Milford, CT 06461

For complete and up-to-date information on the 2024 ESAA National please visit our website at https://www esaa com/events/national-specialty-2024/ We continue to add content as events and items are finalized

If you have any questions or if we can be of help, please contact any one of us or the committee chair directly

Thank you,

Julie Brimble – 2024 ESAA National Co-Chair - somersetes@live com

Debbie Davis – 2024 ESAA National Co-Chair - emislsdavis@gmail com

Tannley Goldberg– National Specialty Coordinator – tannley@outlook com

VERSATILE ENGLISH SETTER BLAST

Here is the first VES "blast" I need to be put in the newsletter

"The Versatile English Setter committee has made a couple of additions to the application for your VES titles Due to popular demand, we have added the Fetch Dog program and Fit Dog program If you previously submitted an application that was denied because you could not use your Fetch Dog and/or Fit Dog accomplishments, please reapply The new table will be added to the ESAA website soon Go to https://www esaa com/english-setter-events/esaa-versatile-english-settertitle/ Please contact Sue Johnson, Birchrun5@aol com if you have any questions "

The second thing I need to put out there is for the VES Showcase at the National

"Once again, we will have the Versatile English Setter Showcase at the ESAA National on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 This Showcase will be in between the Gun Dog Sweepstakes and Top Twenty Movement Portion Please note some important information The entry fee for the VES Showcase is now $28 00 Like everything else, the cost of rosettes is going up Also, we have very tight deadlines this year In order to be eligible to enter the Showcase, you must have earned your first VES title by July 31, 2024 And your entry for the Showcase must be to me by August 5, 2024 Please don't delay You can get more information plus the entry for at https://www esaa com/events/national-specialty-2024/#VersatilityShowcase Please contact Sue Johnson, Birchrun5@aol com if you have any questions "

SPRING IS HERE AND SO ARE TICKS

I can tell you honestly that ticks creep me out. I hate them more than fleas because they get these horrible, engorged bodies that look like walking pinto beans Yuck! That being said, I have to tell you my nightmare tick story

I had a friend that needed me to take care of his Norwegian Elkhound while he went on a trip She was a pleasant dog that got along easily with my English setters, so no problem, right? My friend said she had a bath, and I didn’t think there was any problem One evening I was petting her and felt several “bumps” on her I worked my fingers through her dense coat and found that she was covered in ticks! Quickly giving her tick preventative, I had ticks falling off all over my house as I hustled her out the door to the nearest grooming shop for a “de-ticking”.

However, this is not the worst part of the story When she went home (after I seriously chewed out my friend), I went to bed one night when one of my dogs woke me to let them outside Turning on the light next to my bed, I saw hundreds (and I mean HUNDREDS) of ticks crawling up my bedroom wall and ceiling! I literally screamed and cursed simultaneously while grabbing my dogs, shutting the bedroom door, and making a fast exit I called an exterminator telling him that it was a 911 emergency

After multiple sprayings of the inside of my home, as well as both the front and back yard (at a hefty price tag) my home was finally tick free For months every tickle of my neck or leg I thought was a tick crawling on me I think I had developed some sort of tick PTSD!Brown dog ticks are unusual among common tick species in their strong host preference for dogs and propensity to establish indoor infestations that can be difficult to eliminate They may be found whenever dogs gather, kennels, crates, under decks, carpets, baseboards closets, even low hanging draperies

Once they have been introduced to your home you have got big problems Adult brown dog ticks feed before mating on the dog Once fertilized and fully engorged, females detach to deposit up to 7000 eggs! After completing egg laying, the female dies Larvae hatch from eggs a few weeks later

These ticks may persist in secluded areas like crawlspaces or vents where pesticides are difficult to apply During warmer weather, brown dog ticks develop outside in the yard, immediately around the home where they can be found crawling up the foundation to enter the home through cracks, windows, or doors Brown dog ticks are particularly long-lived, with unfed adults surviving 18 months or longerBrown dog ticks are known to be competent vectors of several canine diseases, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Ehrlichia Because these ticks are long-lived and may continue to emerge for many months, you will become very good friends with your exterminator

Because environmental acaricides are potentially toxic and repeated applications are likely needed, owners are encouraged to work with a licensed exterminator rather than attempting to treat the home themselves Because the ticks will survive when vacuuming, all debris in vacuum canisters or bags should be immediately discarded in sealed plastic zipper bags When cleaning, make sure that pet bedding should be laundered at high-temperature settings to kill any tick stages present

The best strategy is routine, year-round use of tick control medication to avoid premise infestations If you find brown dog ticks on your dog, get on this problem immediately because it can quickly get out of control Don’t you wake one night to your walls “moving”!

MICHELLE J RAISOR PHD

CORRECTION TO THE ANNUAL

Unfortunately,there was a mistake in the annual, and the wrong dog was reported as Best of Opposite in Specialty Show. ESAA understands what an honor it is to win this big, and deeply apologizes for this mistake Judge Gerard Penta awarded Best of Opposite at Buckeye English Setter Club in Hamilton Ohio on 5/28/21 At that time Jack was known as GCHB CH Birdhaven Master & Commander at Phenom (he’s now silver). His breeding is GCH CH Admiralty’s Nero x GCH CH Stormwynd Birdhaven’s Bonfire Breeders: Maura C Ptacek and Allison J Milne DVM. Owners: Alan Parker, Denise Parker and Maura C. Ptacek

GET YOUR TAIL OFF THAT COUCH

Can your English Setters spot a squirrel or rabbit a mile away? Would you be willing to bet a hundred bucks that your ES could find a squirrel even in a pile of straw? If so, your dog might transfer the squirrel-rabbit obsession to rats (sweet, clean rats bred especially for the sport), and be a super-star in Barn Hunt

If you drop the tiniest morsel of food and it scoots under the refrigerator, does your ES go on the alert, sniff it out immediately, and lock onto it? If so, your dog would probably shift that scenting prowess to specific odors and would probably excel at Scent Work

When given room to run, does your ES stretch out in a full double suspension gallop like a Greyhound and leave other dogs in the dust? If so, your dog would probably be very good at Fast CAT Bonus: in Fast CAT, the dog does most of the work

Does your ES easily hurdle obstacles and turn on a dime like a coordinated athlete? If so, your dog would probably adore Agility Bonus, an agility run is a bigger thrill in 50 seconds than the same amount of time spent doing anything else

Does your ES find water irresistible and love to dive in and swim? If so, your dog would probably love to plunge into Dock Diving

Does your ES instinctively understand when someone is hurting physically, mentally, or emotionally and settle in quietly by their side, bringing comfort?

Is your ES especially gentle with little kids and anyone frail? If so, your dog would probably be a great Therapy Dog, an activity that you might find very fulfilling

Does your ES take to learning tricks quickly and do you enjoy the creativity of figuring out how to teach them? Then Trick Dog might be right up your alley

Does your ES enjoy learning everyday skills like sit, down, walk by your side, spin left, spin right in a user-friendly atmosphere where you can talk to him and encourage him? That might be a sure sign that Rally is the sport for you

Do you like the ultimate challenge of mastering complex skills at everincreasing levels of difficulty? Would your ES like to embark on that challenge with you? Would you feel a sense of pride for learning one of the more difficult dog sports? Then, Obedience, one of the oldest and most traditional dog sports, might be just right for you

Are you saying yes, some (or all) of those sound like something I’d like to try with my ES, but I haven’t the foggiest how to get started? No worries ESAA is here to help

DATE

Find below the list of people who are more than happy to assist you on their performance journey. In fact, they are raring to go!

Agility – Carl Necker, Sue Johnson

Barn Hunt – Asha Nahas, Melinda Benbow, Sharon Shepard

Dock Diving – Melinda Benbow, Sue Johnson

Fast CAT and Coursing – Beckie Lloyd, Melinda Benbow

Obedience – Rose Miller, Terry Barnes, Jill Warren

Rally – Rose Miller, Terry Barnes, Jill Warren, Mary Coldiron

Scent Work – Mari Anderson, Erin Altman, Melinda Benbow

Therapy Dog – Cynthia Hinckley, Louise Day, Mary Coldiron, Kathy and Lanny Goodwin

Trick Dog/CGC – Julie Bremser, Christi Farley, Thelma Elizondo, Melinda Benbow, Mary Coldiron

AKC calls all these sports Companion Sports The term Performance is reserved (by AKC) for the activity the breed was developed to do, like hunting for sporting dogs, going to earth (terra firma) for terriers, managing livestock for herding dogs, and so on An ESAA committee is working on providing support for those who want to get started in the performance sport of hunting, and another committee – the reason for this article – is working on providing support for those who want to get involved in Companion Sports Many of us use the two terms – Companion and Performance – interchangeably for anything that is a dog sport To us, it’s all one: the fun of learning complex skills with your dog Po-TAY-to Po-TAH-to

ESAA has a corps of folks who have dedicated themselves to mastering one or more Companion Sports and are eager to share their experience with anyone interested in getting started They will be writing articles about their sport for the Setter Letter and will be available to answer questions, provide information and training tips, and encourage and support you They will also talk you down from the ledge if you encounter tough training problems (we all do) and give you training advice to help you solve your training issues We all have them

All you have to do is partake of the information and put in the work, and a world of excitement and fun will open up for you and your dog You’ll also be part of a community of folks with this shared passion Dog Sport people know what you’re going through and provide a safe haven You’ll always get a pat on the back from your Companion Sport family

You can compete or not, your choice Just the act of training and learning is enough for many

What many of us appreciate about companion sports is that subjectivity is removed Basically, it’s all on you You do the skill; you get the score

ESAA has a Versatile English Setter (VES) program in place already Earning credentials in three or more companion and performance sports will earn you a prestigious VES designation and the option to appear in the Versatility Showcase at the National

The way we will ask questions, share information, and support each other is through a private Facebook Page, ESAA Companion Sport Support Simply go to the page and ask to join

So, what are you waiting for? You’ve been meaning to do it You know you want to Now you have help and support, so get your tail off that couch and Just Do It!

Your English Setter(s) will LOVE the one-on-one time with you, and your relationship with your English Setter(s) will grow and flourish far beyond your wildest dreams

ENGLISH SETTERS AFIELD

The following info is intended to help you and your setters get started in the field There are many ways today to enjoy your setters but if they could talk I think they would tell us that h

We will concentrate on the AK the most accessible for most o field events, there are two type The first is the AKC Hunt Test abilities (natural & trained) Do each other - so every dog ente new title

There are three levels: Junior, judges and your dog is scored advanced

The AKC has a written rule bo must-read for beginners and ad what is expected of your dog t The second AKC field event is same as the confirmation or ob earned by the number of dogs separate levels to enter, and ar bracket is Puppy, 6 months to then Gundog, 6 months and o tests, they normally run 2 dogs the number of dogs entered is Dogs are judged by 2 separate and follow 1 dog at a time if th judges will compare their note which are the best dogs - 1st th like the show ring, if they feel deserve championship points, placement that merits doing so The stakes are run on the appr Time on course varies from 15 30 minutes for Gundog

Whether you are interested in by attending an event and wat you decide what event is best In the upcoming articles, we w Send any questions to the new of topic And remember ever you do with your dog is training so try to be positive and the results will show!

10 TIPS FOR CHOOSING YOUR STUD DOG

When choosing a stud dog for your bitch, there are many things to consider

1) Begin with a worthy girl I wait until they are above the age of two, have finished their Championship and passed their health clearances, and ensure that her temperament is stable and sound

2) Study the pedigree and be honest with yourself on her virtues and shortcomings Where does she need improvement?

3) Find a stud that compliments her, and adds strength to her weak spots

4)Study what the stud has produced in other pairings

5)Study his pedigree and see if it blends with the bitch’s; line breeding helps to condense the gene pool with desirable qualities

6) Check the OFA database to check on health clearances in his pedigree, and yours

7) Color must be considered, blue is dominant This means breeding blue to blue will produce double dominant blue get

8) How available is the stud? Is he within driving distance, or are you willing to ship your girl? Is he being campaigned? Have a back up plan

9) Live breeding is the preferred method, Fresh chilled and frozen for implantation are also options Cost will be a consideration

10) A proven bitch gives you more options for the alternative methods In a maiden bitch, I would not recommend frozen due to cost

Breeding takes a lot of dedication, time and money. Don’t do it if you can’t afford the investment , money wise or emotionally. It is not for the faint of heart

MARCH/APRIL SPECIALTY WINNERS

WE ARE NOW FEATURING SPECIALTY WINNERS FOR EACH NEWSLETTER CYCLE IN A LINKED SLIDESHOW. CLICK HERE TO VIEW.

NATIONAL GROOMING

PLEASE FIND A LINK TO A SHORT GROOMING VIDEO FROM THE NATIONAL HERE. WE WILL BE FEATURING THESE VIDEOS MONTHLY FOR OUR MEMBERSHIP.

SETTER BREEDER FEATURED IN SHOWSIGHT

1

Please tell us a little bit about yourself Where do you live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a breeder? What is your kennel name?

2

3

What is your "process" for selecting show puppies? Performance puppies?

In your opinion, is your breed in good condition overall? Any trends that warrant concern?

4

As a Preservation Breeder, can you share your thoughts on the sport today?

How's the judging these days? What do you think about the number of shows?

5

In your opinion, is social media good for the sport? Is it harmful?

6

7

What are the biggest challenges facing the dog show community as a whole today and how can these be addressed?

What are some of the positive changes you've seen in the sport over the past decade?

1 I’m Lori Whorff, I live in East Texas and my kennel name is Camellia English Setters An animal lover all of my life; I’ve been involved in the sport of pure bred dogs for close to 25 years A former molecular biologist, I took 10 years to study my breed before becoming a breeder. I do believe that a good understanding of genetics and a more than familiar knowledge of pedigrees and the traits that they are known for are an essential part of being a successful breeder

2 I begin evaluating my puppies the second they are born! Heads, necks, just the feel of them….I think you can tell quality early, especially if you’ve been looking at puppies for many years I do make my critical decisions regarding conformation between 8 and 9 weeks of age I look for type and balance, “smoothness” and bone

3 I think right now my breed is in the best shape that it has been in in many years This past fall I was at our ESAA National and I was so excited to see the quality in many classes The bitch classes were particularly exceptional and Best of Breed was thrilling with so many lovely dogs I was so happy to see this Breeders are doing a tremendous job I do want to see breeders being mindful of temperament, of how that is an integral part of our breed’s type.

4 As a preservation breeder I love going to shows, especially specialties, and seeing what other breeders have brought forth There is so much to see and learn from other breeders and it’s interesting to see what stud dogs and certain lines are producing There are a lot of shows too many I think, making it easy to finish almost anything

But, as a breeder, it is your job to evaluate your animals and be critical and analytical about what should be bred and what your goals are I love going to shows because I love dogs Of course I like to have success, but for me, that is not the sole purpose of going It’s to enjoy my dogs, my friends, and learn and talk to other breeders 5 Social media is a double edged sword I think it’s great to be able to see dogs from all over the country, and to be able to easily communicate with other breeders all around the world Unfortunately I also think that some people use it to bully others People say things on socials that they would never say in person and that is unacceptable I’ve also noticed a big uptick in “shaming” Criticizing another exhibitor and posting a pic online yikes these are the kinds of things that chase people away from our sport From the outside looking in it’s not a good look Rather that make spectacle of it just tell the person directly ”hey, I have a bag if you need for picking that up”

DATE CONTRIBUTOR

6 Animal rights groups are powerful They have huge amounts of support and money They buy ads on tv that discourage the breeding of pure bred dogs They’ve made it “ uncool” to have a well bred dog It’s hard to combat that We need always, in any community that we hold a show in, to reach out and educate the public about pure bred dogs, about preservation breeders The public is unaware of what we do and we need to take every opportunity and let them know Be kind, be informative, be inclusive I love it when I’m given the opportunity to speak at a school or a club We need to share the joy of a well bred dog, and let them know how hard we work to care for our animals and breed to preserve purpose bred dogs If ever you are presented with the opportunity to educate the public on what we do for pure bred dogs, take it! I am the new media person for my kennel club(Tyler Texas Kennel Club) and I’m looking forward to sharing my love of pure bred dogs!

7 I love how easy it is to communicate and stay in touch with other people in the dog fancy Social media has been great for that and also zoom meetings are wonderful You can use these for meetings, for sharing information, or even for holding online seminars about breeding, handling, grooming, anything! We are very lucky to have these tools for both educating and uniting us

2021 ANNUALS STILL AVAILABLE

NATIONAL TROPHY DONATIONS

ANNUAL AWARDS REMINDER

JUNIORS ON THE RISE

11 year old Abigail McGuire got her start in Australian Shepherds, but what happens when you put an English Setter on the end of her lead? Due to the restrictions on professional handlers showing their dogs in baby puppy, Justine Spiers needed a pinch hitter for 5 month old Caris “Set’r Ridge’s State of Grace” for her dog show debut After winning Reserve Winners Dog at the Australian Shepherd National last year, Abigail was more than up to the task Caris, bred and co-owned by Melissa Newman, and owned by Justine Spiers, Caryl Hodges, and Stuart McGraw, took to her new handler quickly In a power packed entry, Abigail piloted Caris to Best Beginner Puppy in Sporting Dog Show under judge Clay Coady Abigail follows in the footsteps of her older sisters, who work under Stuart and Justine and often show English Setters in Junior Showmanship Be on the lookout for this rising talent!

Gabriella Gebhard has clinched a Top Ten English Setter Junior spot for the last several years, including several Westminster invitations, but in Moses Lake, she shines with her first ever Bred-By The team managed an impressive Best Junior Handler win, along with back-to-back Best of Breed wins In addition to all that excitement, they snatched up a Variety Group 2, and an NOHS Group 2 Everest, “Ch Set’r Ridge’s Climbing to the Top” is coming off of a maturity break, and is taking it all in stride at just two years old When asked for a comment, Gabby stated that she only wanted people to know “how much [she] loves this breed, and that [she] couldn’t have chosen a better breed to be a part of They are so sweet and goofy, and [she loves] having such special dogs on the end of her lead” Gabby is currently the number one English Setter Junior Handler, and number 6 Junior Handler overall Everest is owned by Gabriella Gebhard and Melissa Newman, and bred by Gabriella Gerhard, Melissa Newman, and Pete Gebhard

UPCOMING EVENTS

MAY

Buckeye English Setter Club & ESAA Specialties

5/24-5/26 are concurrent

5/24/24

Sweeps: Daniel Fabelo, Specialty: Neil McDevitt

Breed: James E Taylor

5/25/24

Sweeps: Mr John Titus Steele

Specialty: Mrs Anne Marie Taylor

Breed: Ms Donna Ernst 5/26/24

Sweeps: Mrs Vicki Seiler Cushman

Specialty: Mr Edward Fotjik

Breed: Mr Robert Stein

5/27/24

Supported Entry: Mrs Helen Winski Stein

JUNE

Willamette Valley English Setter Club

Back to Back Specialties: 6/21/24

Show 1:

Puppy/Senior Sweeps: Ellen Cottingham

Specialty/Juniors: Sandra McCue

Show 2:

BPUP and Specialty: Penny DiSienna

JULY

Puget Sound English Setter Club

Independent Specialties

7/19/24

AM Breed: Denise Reel

PM Breed: Cindy Lane

Sweepstakes: Stephanie Kaul

7/20/24

All Breed: Marissa Clark

7/21/24

All Breed: Raymond Yurick

Brandywine English Setter Club

7/20/24

Breed: Brian Meyer

Sweepstakes: Lisa Lipton

7/21/24

Breed: Don L. Evans

Sweepstakes: Pamela LaFever

7/24/224

Lackawana Kennel Club Supported Entry

Breed: Katherine Madding

Kettle Morraine English Setter Club

7/27/24

Breed: Sharon Redman

7/28/24

Breed: BJ Parsons

Sweepstakes: Barb Madrigrano

CONTRIBUTOR

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Hello All!

My name is Asha Nahas, and I am relatively new to the Fancy I started showing English Setters three years ago and finished my first champion owner-handled (Vandal, the tricolor you see to the right) I also enjoy companion sports with both my setters and have titled them in multiple venues My heart lies with conformation, but I believe in the versatility our setters are known for

My goal with this newsletter is to produce an archival piece of work that we (the membership) can all be proud of I look forward to featuring wins, resources, special features, and more in these upcoming newsletters Foremost, I look forward to showing off all the ways that we love our dogs and learn from them

This newsletter is for the membership, and we welcome any and all ideas, articles, announcements, and photo submissions My email is ashanahas1995@gmail com, and you are welcome to send such information anytime

We are very excited to offer our monthly specialty slideshow Each month, I will send out a Google form requesting images of dogs that have placed at a specialty Without your submissions, we will be unable to feature images of your dogs If an image cannot be provided, we will place an outline of an English Setter in its stead with your dog’s registered name, owners, and breeders We hope this slideshow can be useful to breeders, owners, and handlers alike Whether it helps you remember that one dog that you can’t get out of your head, allows you to shop for potential future breedings, or lets you celebrate a big win for your dog, the slideshow is here for you!

Ultimately, I hope that my work on this newsletter can be enjoyable for our membership, and I look forward to providing an opportunity for more community and togethernes within our association Featured on the right are some images of myself and my dogs, so you can get to know me a little better!

All my best, Asha Nahas