Charlie


12 Weeks	10 Months

Meet "Charlie"

Coming Home

He came to us at high cost, loosing one and gaining another…. Charlie made his way into our hearts.

One morning we were hunting pheasants, and one of my friends said he knew of a breeder giving away German Short Hair Pointer pups. My only reply was “You’re looking at a dead man walking” and we went to just look.

My daughter’s eyes widened, and you could tell, that puppy was hers. There was no doubt that in the fact I was a dead man walking, once my wife found out. From the tip of his brown no liver nose to the stubby white tail, he had found a new home.

For two years both daughters have been asking for a pointer to add to our kennel. Ok by our view we have a couple of dogs, not a kennel, but my wife’s view point we have a house full of animals, a lasting reminder of her continuing unconditional love for her family.

Kyonghui put the pup in her catch pocket of her hunting vest. I loaded mine with the birds we had taken went off home. Entering the house my wife greeted me with “Did you get anything.” I grunted and replied “yea” showing her my vest, then Kyonghui came in and the same exchange took place followed by a long silence…then a scream ending with “Take it back, now”. Ok you know the rules once the puppy makes it in the front door its home. After negotiations that would make the Korean reconciliation talks look like child’s play and signing a contract she got to keep the puppy.

The Name

Now a puppy needs a name, Cutie, Sam, and others were proposed. As we all know the name grows with the dog and the puppy must have the character of the name, a hard choice for your first dog. At first it was whispered, the repeated, Charlie… seemed to fit. He was a Charlie, besides my hunting friend’s name was Chuck and he got me into this mess so it was fitting. Charlie was a done deal.

Training

We have raised Labs, never Pointers so this would be a challenge. Enter Bill Hilsop a long time family friend. He had also talked to Chuck and visited the litter, taking Charlie’s sister and named her Saytie. He too has only raised labs but had been given a training videotape and we were off. Sit and walk on the leash were the first two things Kyonghui started along with come or back as we do for our labs. She started bonding with Charlie, and a warm and close friendship was born. At time it was trying, getting up in the middle of the night to let him out, watching carefully as he explored the house, not letting him chew everything. I bought a small retrieving dummy and she was off teaching him to retrieve it. Once in a while she would exclaim, “ Look dad he is pointing”. I still think that was wishful thinking but still his paw was up and she was proud.

Hunting

Now she has a pointer, the next step is the hunting. It is very hard to get a pup during hunting season. You want to try to hunt him but at thirteen weeks, he can’t even find his own tail. But at least she could show off her new dog to all those gristly old guys on the pheasant field. Joining the exclusive club as a member instead of just visitor. Now over the years that I have dragged her to the fields, the guys have always given her encouragement, letting her hunt over their pointers. One asked what are you going to do with him when you’re hunting? She looked at me and said leave him in the car. He told her take Charlie with you, he will either like it or not, if not you have a long way to go. Off we went, Charlie dragging his blue leash trying to keep up with the big dogs and having fun. The first sound of guns startled him, he looked around and watched the other dogs, cocking his head seemed to think “Well they don’t mind, but I am not absolutely sold on the loud noise but lets see.” As the sound got closer he didn’t flinch, then a bird went up in front of me and without a second thought I shot. He just looked. This was the first hurdle; he did not appear to be gun shy.

First Bird

It was during the third time out that Charlie finally relaxed and actually had fun. Chasing the working dogs, trying to figure out just what they were looking for took up most of his time. It was now that Harley put up a hen pheasant. It was too close to him for me to shoot but buy the time it got to Kyonghui, she had enough room and time to knock it out of the air. Harley brought it back, as usual. We launched the bird again, and yes, Charlie finally got pheasant lips.

He brought it back to Kyonghui, and what a picture it was. The bird was as big as he was.