5/12/09
Hi Bill,

Glad to hear that you're nearing the time that you'll be able to spend your time doing what you love. I'm not quite there yet myself, but am still Looking forward to it -- that's for sure!

Likewise, delighted to see that you've got another brood on the way at Heartland Setters. Please send along updates/photos as available, as we're Still absolutely nuts about our Jasper. (Can't remember when we last spoke, but just wanted you to know that J. Had an AMAZING find on a pheasant Late last fall when I was out hunting with my best friend and his son. My friend Ned had just shot a different bird that Jasper had pointed, and we Were moving along when this wily, old rooster popped up ahead of us, Ned shot and winged the bird, but we couldn't find it where we thought it went Down. It was getting late, and the light was fading fast, so even though we hated to leave it, we figured we'd better move on. Just then, Jasper Trotted off in the opposite direction for at least fifty yards and stopped dead over a spot in the field that had no discernible features. When I Looked over to see what he was up to, he was biting at the ground. Figuring that he'd seen a mouse burrow under the grass, I went over there to see What was up. All the time the dog was biting and scratching at the grass, so I started pulling it up. After pulling several handfuls of grass out Of the ground, I saw what looked like a tail feather sticking out, so I kept digging. As it turned out, the bird that my friend had shot had hit The ground running and burrowed under that grassy spot. Without Jasper we never, ever would have found that bird. I can tell you, my friend and His boy were extremely impressed, and like your website says, I was as proud as I could be to say that my dog made the difference!)

Anyway, I thought you'd enjoy that little story, and I hope that all goes well with the whelping process. And, if it makes sense this time around, We'd love to make the trip up to see the puppies (and have you see

Jasper again, too)! All the best to you and Dianne and the dogs,

Win & Mimi

Dianne,

Things are great with Paco. He has turned out perfectly - great personality
and great looking.

JT / San Antonio TX
Paco is from the Brook / Cain litter in Jan, 2003

Dianne,

Bandit is doing great. Chris hunted with him almost the entire month of November and he was great!! Chris was very proud and he did better than any other dog they took out so Bandit is now the envy of all of Chris's friends and he is always asked by several groups to go hunting so he can bring Bandit. The only complaint....any hen within 5 miles will be pointed out by Bandit, ha ha. We do want another puppy from you all, eventually. Chris wants to wait another couple of years, he says. I really wanted one from the litter of Lily and Ben. With the pictures on the web of them, I almost had him convinced.
Well thank you for the update on your litters and just want you to know that you can be proud of our Heartland Bird Bandit, he is a joy to us (a clown) and a great hunting partner that we are proud of. I will try to send pics when my life slows down a little so I can mess with it.

Jill & Chris
Bandit is From a Breeding of Abbey & Ben in 2001

Dianne,

I wanted you to know how much we we are appreciating and growing to love Max
aka. Chance! We did get some sleep last night. He got up at 3:00 and 5:45
and went outside both times!

Max seems to be making a good adjustment. He really does thrive being
around people as much as he can. He is a little cuddle muffin.

Thank you for doing such a great job bringing him and his brothers and
sisters into this world to give and receive love!

John, Susan & Bobby
Max From Lily / Ben Litter 2003

Dianne,

Hi,
Just thought I'd let you know I was able to shoot my first grouse over Riley on Sun. He was right there and made his first fetch. He has a nice soft mouth. We Ran into a large brood that gave us a lot of action. We got 3 reflushes and I shot 5 times. He worked very well in the big woods for the first time. Luckily it finally got cooler here. He worked well with Rocky too. They are going to make a great team. He did a little deer chasing, which was no surprise. I don't have an E collar yet , so I had to just stop and wait for 10 min or so, but he always came back. There is little doubt he will make a fine gun dog.

Jim
Riley From Brook / Cain Litter January, 2003 9 Months old

Riley

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to let you know I got back from an excellent trip to SD last night. I had the youngest but the best and prettiest dogs out of the 11 that were there (some of them were only labs and wirehairs though). There were 2 other setters there and what a sight to see them all work together( the 4 setters). They all pointed and honored each other at all times. Riley made three finds on lost dead birds, even with other dogs searching. He was a hit. I love that better than shooting my own birds. Rocky did lots of retrieving with a very soft mouth. He brings them right to me now & gives them up when I ask. They were both very stanch on point. Hope I got a good pic or two. I didn't have any trouble with chasing birds, deer or rabbits. I had very good obedience and good search patterns for the most part. They handled the trip very well and had good manners in the bunkhouse. Was extremely rewarding for me in many ways. They were in the best physical condition of any of the other dogs too. You all have a right to share my pride too. There were quite a few birds, but not as many as last yr., and not as many as all the media hype had us believing. We had fairly nasty weather and we are the third group to hunt the property too. But we got plenty. I got 13 myself. Having a great yr on grouse too. The numbers around here and up north are definitely up from last yr. No woodcock this yr though. Remember you all have an open invitation here if you can ever make it. Hope your seasons are going as well. Stay in touch.

Jim
Riley From Brook / Ben Litter Jan 2003

Dianne

Jill and I just wanted to tell you how bandit is doing, he is still my pride and joy. Now that he has turned two he has become a hunting machine. We just got back from a week long hunting trip and he did great. Even though he was the youngest dog out there he was the most obedient and best hunter; I was very proud of him. I will send you some pictures of him later right now he doesn't look very pretty because of all the burrs we have to cut out when the get tangled in his hair. I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know how proud you should be of bandit I know I am.

Your Friend,
Chris U
Bandit From Abbey / Ben Litter in 2001

Dianne,

It sounds like Max is very similar to his litter mates. He, too, is very loving, very intelligent and very full of mischief. It's wonderful the way he loves to cuddle, especially with Bobby!
We have enrolled him in obedience classes which will start soon. He does real well at sit, stay and come commands. Unless he has a better idea. We do have some pictures as you requested. We will get them in the mail to you. Thanks for a great dog.

John, Susan and Bobby
Max From a Lily / Ben Litter in July 2003