Response to the Recent Accusations and Further Falsehoods Created by Rick and Chris Taylor of Setters West on the Setters West Web Page

Photo of Timbers Sagaceous Blue from

Setters West old web page

accessed by clicking here and still

present on the web as of March 24th, 2009

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For those of you who have accessed our "Fetters Setters ~ The Falsification of Fetters English Setters F.D.S.B. Registrations and Pedigrees" (accessed by clicking here), you are already aware that we have been addressing some very serious issues regarding F.D.S.B. (Field Dog Stud Book) records which have been falsified with fraudulent bloodlines.

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As stated previously on that page, most breeders are honest, hard-working people who are as meticulous in their record-keeping as they are in caring for the dogs they love ~ and breed and raise their dogs more for the enjoyment and love of the breed than for "monetary gain."

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Unfortunately, it takes only an occasional unethical breeder who decides to place his or her entire kennel operation on the line with the quick and easy "fix" of a falsified F.D.S.B. registration ~ and thus end up not only placing their kennel operation on the line but victimizing every other owner and/or breeder they have dealt with ~ directly or indirectly ~ who suddenly one day finds their F.D.S.B. registrations suspended ~ not to mention that they have also upset the genetic balance of countless breeding programs

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Such is the case of Rick and Chris Taylor of Setters West, 1511 Timberline Road, Lewistown, MT 59457, with their falsified breeding records for Timbers Sagaceous Blue ~ whom they claim was born in Montana at Setters West (and whom was actually whelped at my kennel) and whom they claim has an out-crossed bloodline rather than the line breeding she actually possesses ~ which genetic testing has proven and with both the out-crossed bloodlines and line-bred bloodlines still being bred and maintained by me.

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Rather than address their customers' very serious concerns however, Rick and Chris Taylor have chosen instead to manufacture further falsehoods regarding me (including an "alleged" court case against me which never took place, among other outrageous claims and bizarre accusations) on the Setters West web page ~ where I was directed earlier today ~ Tuesday, March 24th, 2009 ~ by concerned people with whom I have done repeat business (and who know I do not make such claims lightly without having the hard facts to back them up).

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Strangely enough, Rick and Chris Taylor of Setters West have chosen to completely ignore the ISSUE which is CONCLUSIVE GENETIC TESTING ~ and for which they (and unfortunately also a number of their innocent and trusting customers) will soon suffer very serious consequences.

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If you have had no past dealings with the Rick and Chris Taylor and Setters West ~ or have none of the fraudulent bloodlines in your dog's pedigree ~ you may still want to look over the page and the information provided there as the lessons to be learned there could save you (and your dog) any future heartache.

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Latest Additions to Fetters Setters ~ Antiques and Collectibles Page

Safely packed away and stored for sometime due to our extensive travels, many of the pieces in our personal collection of English Setter and Gun Dog pieces require the same time and care in the unpacking as they required when initially packed.

We recently had an opportunity to unpack even more of these pieces ~ again with a number of them being Fetters Family heirlooms, handed down to John by his father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

We have shared more of these pieces with our interested readers on the Fetters Setters ~ Antiques and Collectibles page, which can be easily accessed by clicking here.

Recent pieces which were just posted there today span a time period from the Early 1900s to the 1950s and include relatively rare pieces which were lovingly cared for and preserved by John's family. We hope you enjoy the latest additions.

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George Ryman's "Other Dogs" and His "Creative" Breeding Program

The latest fascinating addition to "Fetters Setters ~ The Ryman English Setter Story" is entitled: "George Ryman's Little Known Behind-the-Scenes 'Creative" Breeding Program" (found by clicking here) and serves to divulge even more generally unknown facts about this remarkable man and the "creative process" he employed in his gun dog breeding program.
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This is the fifth chapter we have so far published in this compelling story. The other four chapters ~ referred to in the posting immediately below this one ~ can also be found on the "Fetters Setters ~ The Ryman English Setter Story" page. And many more chapters ~ all personally written by John ~ will certainly follow, as time and our busy schedules allow.

When recalling all the widely "known" stories about George H. Ryman and his Ryman Setters, most people think only of English Setters ~ and do not think of Gordon Setters or Irish Setters (or even Pointers) ~ which in fact George H. Ryman also owned and greatly appreciated.

Ryman in fact won many blue ribbons in the Novice Category on the bench with at least two of his own personal Gordon Setters, Yesdihc Challenge's Boy and Jack Mac Nab ~ amongst many other laurels which will be written about further in future chapters.

Compiled from the meticulously preserved Fetters Family English Setter History, this latest chapter authored by John is sure to prove intriguing and informative to anyone with even a passing interest in George H. Ryman and and the gun dogs he bred, raised, trained and hunted.

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The Ryman English Setter Story

“All good things come to he who waits.” ~~~ Old Proverb

Illustration from an early 1900s European postcard print

Compiled from memory and records based on actual documentation from the Fetters Family English Setter histories, John has begun his series of articles on the facts and fictions surrounding the renowned breeder, George H. Ryman.

This rare and original story of George H. Ryman and the Ryman dogs can be found on the "Fetters Setters ~ The Ryman English Setter Story" page which can be easily accessed by clicking here.

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There are four intial articles or chapters in the George Ryman saga: George H. Ryman: Separating Some of the Facts from the Myths; Add a Dash of "Salemanship"; An Inside Look at the Real Story of Sir Roger DeCoverly; George Ryman's Personal Dogs.

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Anyone who has read most other existing accounts of George H. Ryman and the Ryman Setters is sure to have at least one or two (if not many) fallacies finally laid to rest.

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There are many other chapters to be added to this saga which will be appearing here on the Fetters Setters web site in due time. Particularly intriguing are the myths about George Ryman and his setters which have come to be believed as fact over the years.

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The Fetters Family English Setter histories include both the legacy and personal knowledge of this great man and we hope, through John's accounting, to clear up many of the fictions which continue to surround George Ryman and the Ryman Setters to the present day.

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A Lively New Addition to the Fetters Setters Web Site/Blog: Fetters Setters ~ Training Tips

Typical eight-month old Female English Setter

by Roscoe Gladstone and Irene Cooper (circa. Early 1900s)

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One of the newest additions to the Fetters Setters website/blog is a brand new page, "Fetters Setters ~ Training Tips" which can be easily accessed by clicking here.

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As some of you are already aware, the Fetters Setters English Setters bloodlines and upland game hunting traditions have been on-going for no less than five generations.

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The first article, personally written by John Fetters as all of them will be, is only the first of many tips and topics which will be appearing there.

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You will have a rare opportunity to share in some of the vast reserve of knowledge and insights John has acquired through the years ~ much of which has been passed down religously through the Fetters Family.

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If you have any specific topic you would like to see there, just use the "Fetters Setters ~ Contact Us" page, accessed by clicking here, and we will see what we can do to accommodate you.

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John has been encouraged for years and years to put some of this vast knowledge ~ much of which has been passed along by his family through four generations of upland game hunters and English Setter owners and breeders ~ down on paper.

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However now, with The Lady of the House (who is writing this particular piece) having a background in professional publishing, he no longer has a reason not to finally do so.

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As with most of our English Setter and Gun Dog related topics, John does the initial writing ~ which is then edited and formatted by The Lady of the House and published here.

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Anyone who knows John personally is already aware that he has the capability of doing at least a dozen things at one time ~ so The Lady of the House will have her work cut out for her as John already has four more different articles in progress, besides seven or eight (or fifteen or sixteen) other projects going on.

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Newest Addition: Fetters Setters ~ Antique and English Setter Collectible Shop

We have received numerous requests concerning the possible sale of a number of Antiques and Collectibles from our Private Collection which we have shared with you ~ and will continue to share with you ~ on the "Fetters Setters ~ Antiques and Collectibles" page.

The pieces which appear on the "Fetters Setters ~ Antique and Collectibles" page are from our Private Collection ~ many of which are Fetters Family Heirlooms ~ and are not for sale. However due to the number of inquiries we have received, we have made available Antiques and Collectibles for purchase by any of the interested general public on the newest addition to our web site, "Fetters Setters ~ Antique and English Setters Collectible Shop" which you can access easily by using this link.

We will be offering different items there from time to time. Some members of the family and friends have acquired duplicates of pieces and/or do not have the room for a certain piece any longer ~ and occasionally, we have also picked up duplicate pieces on one of our many adventures. If there is something specific you have been searching for, contact us using the Contact Us by Email page and we will see what we can do to assist you in your search.

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The Beginning Stages of "Our Favorite Books" and the "Literature Warehouse"

We've begun to add items of interest to two of our Fetters Setters web pages. While we already had several pieces in the "Fetters Setters ~ Literature Warehouse" (which can be found by clicking here, the pieces there had been compiled of the text from Corey Ford's "The Road to Tinkhamtown" from "The Best of Corey Ford" and a dog-and-his-boy story from Louisa May Alcott's classic, "Under the Lilacs."

The "Fetters Setters ~ Literature Warehouse" had been designed primarily to include selected and actual excerpts from some of our favorite books and other readings in our personal library. Earlier, we added the first selection to the "Fetters Setters ~ Our Favorite Books and Other Selected Reading" web page, which can be accessed by clicking here.

Our first selection for this section is a book authored by A. F. Hochwalt, "Bird Dogs ~ Their History and Achievements" published by Sportsman's Digest in 1922. We have given a short description of the book's contents on the "Fetters Setters ~ Our Favorite Books and Other Selected Reading" web page and have direct links to excerpts from two separate chapters of the book, stored in the "Fetters Setters ~ Literature Warehouse."

We plan on including other pieces as time allows, however many of the excerpts have never been published on the Internet before in the depth and accuracy we have tried to attain there and the excerpts must therefore be manually entered (typed in) to the web page content. We hope you enjoy what our beginning efforts have produced and hope you will check back periodically for newer contributions.

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Now You Can Send a Vintage English Setter Postcard from the Fetters Setters Site ...

We've found a wonderful Internet program and function we've added to the Fetters Setters site which now will give you the opportunity to send Vintage English Setter Postcards to family and friends. You can access the "Fetters Setters ~ Send Vintage English Setter Postcards to Family Members and Friends" web page from the Fetters Setters Links list included on every Fetters Setters web page ~ or you can access it now by clicking here.

The program is very easy to use and self-explanatory. The selection of Vintage English Setter Postcards there is fairly basic and limited at this time ~ as it is still in the early stages of development ~ and the backgrounds you will find there are fairly basic as well. We hope to add more variety to the site as time allows (more Vintage English Setter Postcards and a wider variety of custom backgrounds), however the important aspect now is that we tested it several times and it does work. Perfectly.

We have a collection of Vintage and Antique English Setter Postcards and prints which we will be sharing there ~ and you may occasionally find another breed of dog (particularly other breeds of Gun Dogs) there as well as gamebirds, nature and Upland Game Hunting themes and sometimes just a generic or seasonal antique or vintage theme (such as vintage and antique Valentines).

You're invited to stop back and see what we have there periodically as we will add to it and change the offerings there from time to time. We have the basic "bones" of our web site/Blog completed now and ~ as you may have already noticed ~ we are now working on rounding out and filling in the content and themes of each individual page a little at a time. In the meantime, feel free to use the Fetters Setters ~ Send Vintage English Setter Postcards to Family Members and Friends anytime and as much as you like.

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Latest Additions ~ Snips and Snails and Sugar and Spice

For those following the Fetters Setters Blog in its very, very earliest stages of development, you may have noticed by now two of our latest additions: "Fetters Setters ~ Snips, Snails and Puppy Dog Tails" which focuses on little boys and their best friends in the world, English Setters, and "Fetters Setters ~ Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice" which focuses on little girls and the English Setters they love. Occasionally another breed of Four-footed Companion may make it in there, however the great majority of content will be English Setter themed. Children and dogs go together like Salt and Pepper, Frogs and Ponds, Bacon and Eggs and ... well, you get the idea.
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We've always been amused and amazed at the unique and different ways Girls and Boys interact with their Four-footed Companions ~ and the unexpected "situations" which can arise. We have many fond memories of the Four-footed Companions of our Childhood and even more shared memories of those of our own children. We hope the addition of these two pages will bring a smile to your face and evoke some of your own fond childhood memories as well.
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Illustration by Clara Burd, "Tippy Tries to Swim" from a book published by Saalfield Publishing Company, 1928

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"The best way to get a puppy is to beg for a baby brother - and they'll settle for a puppy every time." ~~~ Winston Pendelton

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"If you turn the imagination loose like a hunting dog, it will often return with a bird in its mouth." ~~~ William Maxwell

Print: section of "The Retrieve" by Edmund H. Osthaus

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Santa Claus
North Pole

December 14th, 2008

Dear Richard,

After checking my Naughty or Nice List, I see you have indeed been a good boy for a long time now. And since you've been such a good boy, the elves and I have decided you deserve only the very best. I am not only going to bring you an English Setter puppy, I am going to bring you a Fetters Setter, one of the absolute best blood lines around anywhere. I usually don't announce children's Christmas presents beforehand, but am letting you know so you can lay in the proper supplies. To see what you will need, I want you to contact John Fetters who will never steer you wrong anytime an English Setter is concerned. So don't be too surprised when you wake up Christmas morning with a squiggly, squirmy, fluffy English Setter puppy in your bed!

Merry Christmas!
Santa

Dear Santa

December 12th, 2008

Dear Santa,

I only want one thing for Christmas this year: a squiggly squirmy, fluffy English Setter puppy. If you bring me an English Setter puppy, I promise with all my heart to take good care of him (or her) although Mom and Dad may have to help me with the bath part until I get a little bigger!!! If you bring me my English Setter puppy, I promise to be good all next year and the year after that and the year after that and even the year after that, however long it takes!!! If the puppy won't stay under the tree when you bring him (or her) you can just stick them in bed with me, okay? Thanks, Santa!!! I know you'll come through for me!! !

Wishing and hoping and
Very Truly Yours,
Richard

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