Fetters Setters ~ Testimonials ~ Living the Dream, "the Upland Shooting Life ...": Client Credits John For His Work With Ryman-Type English Setters, Reveals Genetic Problems with Other Breeders

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

by John Fetters

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December 4th, 2010

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It has been nearly nine months since I published this challenge (see original ~~~~ The Fetters Challenge ~~~~ below) and I have been thoroughly disappointed that no one has yet come forward.

Again, I invite anyone to bring their best sires and dams used in their breeding programs to produce a setter they classify as a "Ryman," "Ryman Type," "Ryman Style" or "Dual Type" (or what have you) setter to join me in The Fetters Challenge.

To make matters more interesting, I propose a $2500 stake to be put up which will be donated by the loser to the winner's favorite charity.

This challenge will be filmed and will be made freely available on the internet for anyone who cares to view it.

Again, the Fetters Challenge entails the following:
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A six-day hunt running in brace with any setter from my kennel, which will begin each day at sun-up and end at sundown. Point for point, wild bird for wild bird, retrieve to hand.
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At the end of this six day period, we will see whose setter is eager and rarin' to go hunting for the seventh day.

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This should finally put to rest once and for all the claims of those who claim to own ~ or especially those who claim to be breeding ~ "Ryman Type" and/or "Ryman Style" or direct "Ryman Line" gun dogs.
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At the end of the day, any takers to The Fetters Challenge will be welcome to join me for a cold beer or hot toddy and to watch a few old Ryman films from our library.

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~~~~ The Fetters Challenge ~~~~

by John Fetters

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March 13th, 2010

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I personally invite anyone out there who claims to own a "Ryman Type" or "Ryman Style" setter to bring their best setter and join me in The Fetters Challenge:
....
A six-day hunt running in brace with any setter from my kennel, which will begin each day at sun-up and end at sundown. Point for point, wild bird for wild bird, retrieve to hand.
.....
At the end of this six day period, we will see whose setter is eager and rarin' to go hunting for the seventh day.
.....
This should finally put to rest once and for all the claims of those who claim to own ~ or especially those who claim to be breeding ~ "Ryman Type" and/or "Ryman Style" or direct "Ryman Line" gun dogs.
.....

Particularly welcome in The Fetters Challenge are those who have been making false claims against me and especially those breeders who have been spreading rumors to the effect that I no longer breed, raise and train shooting dogs and/or that I am DEAD!
....
At the end of the day, any takers to The Fetters Challenge will be welcome to join me for a cold beer or hot toddy and to watch a few old Ryman films from our library.

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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Client Credits John For His Work With Ryman-Type English Setters, Reveals Genetic Problems with Other Breeders

Along with crediting John for his incredible work with Ryman-type English Setters, Mr. Gary Youngblood reveals on-going problems with genetics from other breeders..

Thumbnails for full-sized versions of Mr. Youngblood's letter, some of the accompanying documents and envelope with postmark and a screen shot from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) showing Setters West's foundation male, Pinecoble Fall Pride, was a litter mate of Mr. Youngblood's genetically defective pup appears below the typed text of the letter. Also included are thumbnails of documents from a second mailing from Mr. Youngblood early the following year ...

(Page 1)

G. Youngblood
Route 5 Box 510
Appomattox, VA 24522
Aug. 25, 1996

John ----

Trust you are well and that you and your dogs are prospering. Have thought about you a number of times and been intending to drop you a note, but seems I'm pulled in too many directions. Noticed from Gun Dog that you and Maurice Ryman split. Sorry it didn't work out ---- what you started out to do was certainly a high calling. Regardless, we belton fanciers owe you a Big Thank You! for publicizing the Ryman: its dilemma, potential (and) origin. The Gun Dog feature opened a lot of eyes. I now see more attention being paid to OFA, conformation and size ----- you deserve full credit for these improvements.

I am enclosing a few pictures. Some I have shared with you earlier. Several of these dogs are now dead. Biggest mistake I have made in dog ownership is allowing good dogs to get old without producing any progeny, Ryman's Blue Girl is due tomorrow, but is not carrying pups -- afraid she's simply too old. John, I like this female better than any I have ever had. The particular nick that she is from: Ryman's Blue Return X

(Page 2)

Ryman's Orange Heather has produced some particularly strong hips. All of her litter mates were OFAed: 4 good, 1 fair, 1 excellent. At least four setter full brother/sisters were OFAed good. I do not know of any rejected. I may be wrong, but after studying pedigree after pedigree ---- I am beginning to believe it may be the Ryman's Bold Return connection with good hips. Blue Girl has 22 of 32 lines that trace to Bold Return, with a genetic contribution of 11 (161 over 256), well over 1/3 of her bloodlines. Ryman's Bold Return is a full brother to Ryman's Miss Blue, dam of Old Hemlock Briar. Bold Return and Miss Blue have seven lines to Sports Peerless ---- that may also be part of the equation.

Regardless ---- there is a strong hip connection for this full-blooded Ryman nick. I have collected and stored frozen semen from Blue Girl's brother, Patch, that may come in handy in the future.

Chris Taylor sent me some pictures of the beautiful orange belton Allegheny Flame that you bred from Mt. Allegheny Count X Eclipse Mist. Conformation-wise you out-did yourself on that one! She's a real beauty! If you ever repeat that breeding, I would be interested in a pup.

(Page 3)

"BO"

Have an 18-month old pup here from Warren Scheckells stock (Roam X Lady) that's a mixed bag. He has good instincts, a reasonably decent head ---- but boy is he high strung! He's a nephew to the Abby dog pictured in Grouse Tales (see photos) below me and Blue Girl. Sire is out of Joan Mizer's stock. Sheckell's is embarrassed because dog has only one testicle and asked that I not breed him because a litter mate also had one testicle, plus a hernia.

Worst complaint I have about the dog is the unpigmented eyelids and lips (Twombley connection). In fact this is one area that belton breeders need to pay a lot of attention to. Twenty years ago, I rarely saw unpigmented eyelids in Ryman-type dogs. Now they are everywhere ---- even in those with Ryman foundation stock ---- and no one is serious about cleaning it up -- just like hips 10 years ago! Trial type dogs have pink eyelids (and) lips ---- not beltons!!

John, I could use an orange belton female (pigmented eyes and lips) with good hips. Please keep me posted on your breeding plans and pup inventory. I know you have been maligned and criticized by some ---- but you have personally done more to resurrect the Ryman than anyone else, except George himself. For that, I sincerely thank you.

Keep in touch.

Best Regards,
Gary

P.S. I get up your way couple times a year.
Would love to stop by sometime and talk dogs for an hour or two.

NOTE: Mr. Youngblood returned to purchase his next English Setter from John.

Click on thumbnails below for full-sized photos of actual letter, some of the accompanying documents and envelope with postmark as well as screen shot from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) showing that Setters West's Pinecobles Fall Pride did indeed come from the same litter as Mr. Youngblood's genetically defective "Bo." Also included are thumbnails of documents from a second mailing from Mr. Youngblood early the following year ...

August Letter, click on thumbnails for full-sized version