Regal….honest…noble…stealthy…dependable…stylish.  Those are the words that so frequently describe Sheba’s dam, Elsa.  

Incredible….determined…always in the birds….spectacular.  Not only is this how Brian would describe Cooper, Sheba’s sire, but through the stories of many NAVHDA judges that hunted behind him,  a consistent theme echoed through, as his name implies he would just “git ‘r done.”

To own a truly great bird dog that is remembered with such excitement and pleasure by others is special.  Every bird hunter’s desire; a dog remembered with a fond smile and a great story. We were hoping to capture not only a unique “genetic package” but these attributes.  A seemingly tall order.

Sheba has shown us the makings of greatness from the start.  Her dark liver gives her a beautifully striking appearance but that’s just on the outside.  Her inherent cooperation and desire to please is absolutely unparalleled.  Sheba, like her daddy, Cooper, just “does ‘good’ things” as Brian would put it.  Her first field session as a 12 week old puppy, Sheba pointed with a regal elegance and with the confidence of a mature dog. Sheba maintained that majestic patience to be steady through every sequence from the start as she just made first year exposures easy.  Her biddable personality allowed our 9 year old daughter, Kaytlyn, to run her in Natural Ability. Such a confidence building experience for a young hunter as Sheba would point with style and grace, allowing Kaytlyn to flush every bird and then watched the chukar soar out of sight as Kaytlyn walked back, gave her water and sent her to find her next bird.  Her honesty flows right into the wild bird field as well.

We started to see glimmers of Elsa and Cooper come through on Sheba’s first wild birds in Montana at 5 months old.  In the middle of one of those epic fields that get told about in stories, Sheba had a remarkable moment that stood out among many pointed birds.  We were hunting a tree row and Jake crippled a Sharptail Grouse that ran down the row. We knew we would eventually catch up to it and kept proceeding down the row.  350 yards go by and no bird found yet.  Out of nowhere, we hear that characteristic sharpie chuckle. Low and behold, we turn around and there is a peanut of a pup with a live bird in her mouth trotting our way saying, “Guys, wait up. I think I got it.” 

On a seemingly slow hunt in South Dakota, Sheba took a hill to our left. Jake followed her to the ridge so he could keep eyes on her as well as the rest of the family working by some cattails.  For over 400 yards, Sheba, with a quiet composure, methodically tracked a running rooster to where she could pin him in some thick brush.  To the untrained eye, Sheba’s understated efficiency would go unrecognized but we are excited of what the future holds for this little lady with the sweetest disposition.

Sheba will be working towards running the Utility test and Master Hunter in the summer of 2023.  She will also be making her 4-H Obedience debut with her youth handler, Kaytlyn.

Sheba’s pedigree is stacked with 13 Versatile Champions as well as 10 ancestors with UT Prize 1’s, Master Hunters, and Dual Champions accolades.  No wonder this young dog has the whole package to be a truly versatile hunting companion!