In the halcyon days of trainer and owner relationships there were some memorable and unique dramas and some essences of very close friendships that have largely gone unnoticed. One that comes to mind immediately because… 
Bill reporting on the Canadian prairies. On Tuesday morning, Mazie and I each received emails from our great friend Bill Allen’s son Michael informing us that Bill had passed away peacefully early that morning. We…
The Scent-Cone is the secret to understanding what dynamic makes hunting dogs classier and more accomplished in hunting and handling game. Most of the great bird dog trainers/handlers I knew grew up with a pack…
By our favorite reporter, Bill Allen, published in the American Field 47 years ago in the March 30, 1974 issue. 1974 Masters Open Quail Championship_Shooting Dog Classic_Report Palariel Stormy Clown. The new champion is posed…
Instead of trying to second think the judges, just go hunting. Clyde Morton never in his life said he “had to work some dogs.” He said: “We’ll hunt at about 7:30 in the morning” or…
Our best Christmas ever was painted by a runaway white and black “Commander” setter that Carl Jr. Duffield gave me. His name was “Nip”. Carl and I had a long, hilarious friendship that began when he…
It was the third or fourth year I reported the prairie field trials that I was invited by Carl Duffield Jr. to ramble around the Duffield grounds near Elkhorn, Manitoba where the storied Manitoba Chicken…
You’re rolling in at sunset with a truck of restless dogs And the whistling wind comes, sounding rather scary. Unlock and open camp, then light the lanterns and the stove. And we’ll face another summer…
I guess my favorite field trial bitch of all time was Stanton’s Victory. Her kennel name, of course was “Vicky”!!! The first time I saw Vicky as an all-age performer was at the Continental Championship…
It may be difficult for modern field trialers to visualize a time when few, if any, competitors brought their own horses to the competition. Nowadays there are special trailers to haul several horses and as…
