Breeding the Lines, a Successful Long-term Strategy ~ Part Three

In "Breeding the Lines, a Successful Long-term Strategy ~ Part Three," easily accessed by clicking here, the newest article on the "Fetters Setters ~ History and Heritage" page, John delves further into the process of successfully breeding consistently excellent setter shooting dogs.

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Unfortunately, many breeders attempt to place a cover-all sort of blanket on their breedings with the use of Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) ratings, however hips and elbows are not the only concerns ~ in fact, far from the only concerns ~ when consistently breeding excellent setter shooting dogs.

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Such genetic traits as conformation, tail length and coupling as well as eye and lip pigmentation, tumors, thyroid problems, etc., also affect an English Setter, and unless a breeder possesses the correct knowledge and experience to begin with, most people who purchase a "new and improved" model using his or her "latest male/female breeding recipe" are just being used a a type of "guinea pig" to see if the breeder's breeding was successful.

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By the time problems crop up later in an English Setter's life, it is too late. And unlike such other inanimate objects, breeders do not issue "re-calls" on the products of the breedings such as a car manufacturer may issue on a car.

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Keeping in mind that purchasing a new puppy is a life-long commitment for the life of the dog, this article is a "must read" for anyone contemplating purchasing an English Setter shooting dog in the future.

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Letter from Paul Long ...

With his singular wit showing through in his letters as well as in person, the receipt of yet another letter from the irascible Paul Long was always a great treat for John.

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From Long's habit of giving the day of the week he was writing the letter as well as the present weather condition ~ instead of the date, month and year in more common use ~ down to addressing John as "Johny" with one "n" ~ Long's unique character and sense of humor, as well as his sense of life, shone through in his many letters to John.

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Over the years, John received dozens of these letters from Paul Long, faithfully and timely answering each one, and eagerly awaiting the next in reply.

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The letters were almost like Cracker Jack boxes ~ John never knew what the treasures would be but knew that Paul Long's letters always contained at least one.

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On our "Fetters Setters ~ Tributes and Memories" page, easily accessed by clicking here, we are sharing one of these extraordinary letters with our readers. More of these will be presented in one format or another in the future ... the present one we are sharing, postmarked May 29th, 1990.

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More Testimonials Published ...

Through the years ~ through past decades, in actuality ~ John has received many types of different letters crediting his knowledge and expertise in all things English Setter.

We have just added two more of these letters to our "Fetters Setters ~ Testimonials ~ Living the Dream, the Upland Shooting Life ...", easily accessed by clicking here.
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While we have literally boxes upon boxes of letters such as these ~ and we plan to publish many more of them in one format or another at some point in the future ~ we chose to publish these two at this time as we believe they will be quite the eye-openers for our loyal readers.

One letter, in fact, is a cautionary tale that OFA hip ratings do not necessarily guarantee an overall sound genetic dog, as many other factors play into the mystifying cauldron of canine genetics as well ~ and it is only the breeder with the extensive skill and knowledge, as well as experience, who are aware of the ways these genetic problems can be dealt with and ultimately circumvented for the good of the dog and owners, the latter whom "pays the piper" financially as well as emotionally in the end.

For easy access. we have also included "Fetters Setters ~ Testimonials ~ Index" at the top of the page. East links to the two newest letters entitled: "Client Credits John For His Work With Ryman-Type English Setters, Reveals Genetic Problems with Other Breeders" and "Client Reveals Warren Sheckells of Pine Coble Tells Him John is Out of Business" can be found at the bottom of the current index.

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Breeding the Lines, a Successful Long-term Strategy ~ Part Two

George H. Ryman

shooting over

Ryman's

Birdy Anne,
a 47-pound

short-coupled

Setter
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Despite many breeders' current claims to be breeding "Ryman Type." "Ryman Style, "Ryman Line," etc. English Setters ~ and even one stupendous claim from a breeder who claims George H. Ryman did not possess the talent to personally pen the "Ryman Standard" ~ George H. Ryman did indeed have his standards and ideals for his shooting dogs which relied on the dogs more than the "paper" in the pedigrees which so many breeders utilize today.

Through the years, we have been made aware of increasing genetic problems as a result of inexperienced and unknowing breeders ~ issues with conformation, pigmentation and unfortunate physical/medical problems as well. And every one of these breeders marketing their dogs and puppies with the "Ryman" label in one incarnation or another.

John discusses some of these issues and more in his latest piece, "Breeding the Lines, a Successful Long-term Strategy ~ Part Two," on the "Fetters Setters ~ History amd Heritage" page, easily accessed by clicking here.

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It is heart-breaking to hear such stories from people who truly love their dogs, and who perhaps must even deal with their dog's suffering because a breeder was only interested in the bottom line ~ no matter what type of marketing nonsense the breeder fed the prospective buyer in person, on their web page or by other means. We have always felt, whether in breeding or purchasing, that prevention is the best medicine.

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So additionally, in order to offer an in-depth look at what is happening in todays world of setter breeding, we will be posting well-documented letters we have recieved over the past five to ten years from people who have purchased setters from individuals who claim to know what good quality breeding is all about.

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Then you can be the ultimate judge in such matters.

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Tribute to Paul Long, Friend and Mentor

Photo at left,
Paul Long with
training pigeons

Professional Dog Trainer, author and all-around character, Paul Long over-came physical handicaps in his life to go on and become one of the most distinguished men in his field.

Indeed, it is nothing short of a moral scandal that he has never yet been inducted into the Field Trial Hall of Fame. His 1974 book, "Training Pointing Dogs ~ All the Answers to All Your Questions" is still in print today and considered in many circles as The Bible of dog training.

A great friend to John's grandfather and great-grandfather, he became one of John's greatest friends and a mentor to John as well. Along with his book, he was a prolific correspondent and letters from him reveal a crafty old-timer with a singular sense of humor.

John has written a tribute to him, recently published on the "Fetters Setters ~ Tributes and Memories" page, easily accessed by cicking here.

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We have also included several photos of Paul, along with his wife Virginia, taken at his home in Lincolnton, North Carolina in 1990. It is a small but worthwhile glimpse of this legend of a man, indeed who had the luxury of becoming a legend on the Field Trial circuit and dog training world in his own time.

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The Ryman Fallacy

Pictured at right,

The Legend

Afield, with an

Authentic

Ryman Setter

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Along with our latest co-authored piece on the "Fetters Setters ~ The Ryman English Setters Story" page, "G. H. Ryman, Proprietor ... and Poet par Excellence," John has just authored another interesting piece entitled "The Ryman Fallacy," easily accessed by clicking here.

Now, a glimpse into previously little-known (but well-documented) facts are brought to light, not only concerning the Ryman Setter (and Calkins Setter) breeding programs, but insights into the self-proclaimed "Ryman experts" of today who use the Ryman name in a shameless manner to market their dogs ~ and never-before revealed facts concerning the Calkins and George H. Ryman's only son, Maurice H. Ryman.

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Gleaned from the Fetters Family English Setter Histories along with correspondence from Maurice H. Ryman to John, along with personal letters from two renowned trainers who personally oversaw the training of some of George H. Ryman's young dogs, it is sure to be another interesting read for those who are weary of all the hype and misleading information out there today about George H. Ryman and the famed Ryman Setters ~ and who are ready for another dose of the hard truth of the matter rather than more smoke and mirrors marketing gibberish.

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Including the fact that George H. Ryman found cause to personally run Carl Calkins off of the Ryman property on at least one occasion ...

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A Rare Opportunity ~ Ryman Film Footage

We are currently entertaining offers on this particular Ryman film footage.

400-feet.

16mm.

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More information can be found on the "Fetters Setters ~ Antiques and Collectibles Shop," easily accessed by clicking here.

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Newest Addition to The Ryman English Setters Story: G.H. Ryman, Proprietor and Poet par Excellence

With the frequency and consistency with which it has occurred, the denigration of George Ryman for any number of reasons, i.e., that he killed many of his dogs because he didn't like them, because they had "body patches," etc. ~ never ceases to amaze.
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Still, it was a little surprising and disturbing that someone would take a cheap shot at Ryman for his literary skills, or lack thereof, as they would have you believe.
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Basing this publicized opinion on some pedigrees and sales brochures they claim to have had the opportunity to "study" or give a "perfunctory look" (whatever the case may be) ~ and while using the Ryman name to shamelessly market the dogs from their kennels, October Setters published the following on their web site:
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"It is obvious with a perfunctory comparison to anything Ryman wrote that he was not capable of writing something as eloquent or grammatically correct as the "Standard" ..."

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A real shame, because a "perfunctory look" at their own writing makes immediately evident a lack of style, eloquence, grammatically-correct sentences and even basic truth.
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While we had planned a piece of this nature at a later time, we felt we could not let this gross misconception stand alone. The 1948 Ryman sales brochure draft we feature as a part of this piece is only one among many documents about and by George H. Ryman contained in the Fetters Family English Setter Histories ~ which also includes many, many letters personally written in George Ryman's own hand as well as personally typed by him.

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And none of them showing any "literary lack" of eleoquence, grammar, etc., as October Setters would have their readers believe. Of course, October Setters is only one in a growing number of self-proclaimed "Ryman experts" and this fact in itself is never surprising.
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George Ryman had many talents which extended beyond the breeding, raising and training of his famed shooting dogs. And you can get a glimpse into this particular side of this multi-faceted individual by reading our latest piece on the "Fetters Setters ~ The Ryman English Setters Story", "G.H. Ryman, Proprietor ... and Poet par Excellence," easily accessed by clicking here.

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~~~~~~~~ The Fetters Challenge ~~~~~~~

New to the "Fetters Setters ~ Testimonials" page is "The Fetters Challenge," easily accessed by clicking here.

The Fetters Challenge is a serious offer to anyone out there who claims to own ~ or especially anyone who is claiming to breed ~ "Ryman Type" or "Ryman Style" setter shooting dogs.

Point for point, wild bird for wild bird, retrieve to hand ... All comers are more than welcome.

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New Testimonials and More Vicious Rumors of "John's Death" Attributed to Breeder Jan Turner of Setter Hills in Willmar, MN

More testimonials received by John over the years have been published on our "Fetters Setters ~ Testimonials" page, easily accessed by clicking here.
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Along with the newly published testimonials is an actual accounting of one particular breeder, Jan Turner of Setter Hills in Willmar, Minnesota, who was helping to spread the rumor (along with other breeders) that John had died!
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As we recounted sometime ago on our "Fetters Setters ~ History and Heritage" page (accessed by clicking here) in John's piece entitled "Breeding the Lines, a Successful Long-Term Strategy," a number of breeders ~ including Jan Turner of Setter Hills in Willmar, Minnesota ~ had attempted to purchase English Setters from John to introduce the Fetters English Setter bloodlines into their own breeding programs ~ and all whom John repeatedly refused to sell to ~ as he did not care (and does not care) for the directions their breeding programs have taken.
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We also recounted earlier here on our home page in the piece entitled "The Rumors of My Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated ..." (accessed by clicking here) that a number of breeders who knew better had been spreading the "John is dead" rumor as well. They know who they are ~ and we know who they are, too (grin).
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Once more, in case it has not sunk in yet:

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John is VERY ALIVE and VERY WELL!!!

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And we are currently VERY BUSY with two new litters of Fetters Setters ~ all of which are spoken for.

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A Visit to Shohola

Freeman Lloyd was a prolific writer in his day on all matters "canine." He also became a close friend of George H. Ryman and visited Ryman's "splendid sporting estate" frequently.

In the most recent piece just-published on the "Fetters Setters ~ The Ryman English Setter Story," easily accessed by clicking here, "A Visit to Shohola" ~ link added to "The Ryman English Setter Story ~ Index" at the top of the page ~ colorfully recounts one of Lloyd's visits to George Ryman's Shohola Falls, Pennsylvania, home.

Of certain interest to George Ryman enthusiasts in this particular piece is a thoroughly descriptive narrative about the "great hall" in Ryman's home. While it has been described elsewhere by other writers, Lloyd's inclusive description leaves other narratives sadly wanting.

In our seemingly never-ending venture of sorting through, organizing and filing the massive amount of documents, photos and other materials from the previous four generations of Fetters Family English Setter histories, we recently came across this special piece and wanted to share it with our readers here. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did when we re-discovered it ...
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Valuable Tips on Training Younger Dogs in the Field

Ryman's Allegheny

Snow at a tender

six-months of age

Watching the progress of younger dogs in the field should be an enjoyable and memorable endeavor and as stress-free (for both the owner/trainer and the young dog) as possible.

Frustrations on the part of the inexperienced owner/trainer may begin to surface when one feels a younger dog is not progressing as fast as they have been told, according to something they read somewhere, etc. Circumstances such as this will not only diminish the enjoyment of the owner/trainer, but can serve to confuse and confound the younger dog as well.

When our children were still infants, my pediatrician gave me some invaluable advice on potty-training that could also be applied in a sense to younger dogs ~ that every child progresses at their own rate, and will potty-train when they are ready ~ and that when they are sixteen and eighteen years old it will not matter if they potty-trained at 10-months, 12-months, 18-months of age or even 24-months of age, whatever the case may be.

No one would think of demanding a baby of two-to-three months old become proficiently potty-trained, yet there are some who expect the world of a younger dog in the field when all the pup may be interested in at that particular point of their life is play. In addition, dogs have their own unique "ways of thinking about things" that may differ greatly from a human's points of view at critical times.

With the invaluable knowledge of four devoted generations of English Setter Gun Dog breeding and training behind him, John has written a wonderful piece in this regard, "Time, Patience and Understanding Equals Early Perfection" on the "Fetters Setters ~ Training Tips" page, easily accessed by clicking here.

And the common sense approach he offers is sure to bring the pleasure and enjoyment back into any young dog training experience in the field ~ not only for the owner/trainer, but for the very impressionable young dog as well.

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