Hello,
Desiree traveled back to her home state of Pennsylvania last weekend for her VJP.  I had never handled a dog in a test or seen a VJP before so I was very nervous and did not know what to expect.  Desiree brought her A game and scored straight 11s for a total of 77, and the high score for the weekend.  Needless to say we are very excited.  The experience I gained and the people I met at the test are invaluable and will only help me become a better trainer/handler.

Desiree is a huge part of our family.  She loves us and our children and we all love her very much.  She looks forward to her morning training sessions and is a joy to be around.  We cannot express how happy we are with her.

"story" about Desiree (we call her DD)

I never owned a gun dog prior to getting Panzer (a.k.a. Axel vom Schlussstein). From the start, Jeff and Wanda were first class. They allowed my family to come to visit the puppies as often as we wanted. On our first visit, Jeff took both Katie and Caesar out for a “hunt” to demonstrate their abilities. I was impressed with their noses and obedience. Jeff was very cooperative and patient and helpful as I agonized over which dog to choose. Jeff offered keen insights on abilities and was very supportive as I made the selection. Although I was only vaguely familiar with Drahthaars, Jeff was patient as he explained the German breeding system and what the various scores meant.

I believe that Jeff has a good pair of dogs for his breeding program. But The DD system practically guarantees good dogs for hunting all kinds of game. What separates vom Schlussstein kennels and Jeff from the others is “service after the sale”.  Jeff was always there and ready to answer the thousands of questions I asked about the raising and training of my dog. The questions were endless, but Jeff patiently and thoroughly answered every question or got back to me on the questions he could not answer. He was available by phone, by e-mail and in person. This was very reassuring to a raw rookie trainer/handler.

But one of best benefits of buying a dog from Jeff is his game farm and its environs. Jeff has fields, woods, ponds and best of all BIRDS!  All are available for training dogs. If one wants to train a bird dog, one needs birds and Jeff has a great selection of birds for training. I lost count of the number of evenings and days that Jeff spent with me as I trained Panzer for his VJP and HZP.  And we had a lot of fun doing it. Jeff also took a personal interest in the development of his puppies by having training days and puppy reunions. Jeff was there for Panzer’s VJP and was once again available with advice. Although Jeff was unable to be with us for our HZP, he was there in spirit and was available by phone had we needed him.  Panzer scored well on both his VJP and his HZP and most of the credit belongs to Jeff. He showed me what was expected and gave excellent advice on what the judges were going to be looking for. He helped me develop Panzer into the dog that he has become, a great companion, and a HIGH desire hunting dog that is well behaved and tireless in his hunting and retrieving. I would give a strong recommendation to anyone that might be considering purchasing a puppy from Jeff, especially if they are anywhere near the Everett area to take FULL advantage of the great facilities for training and Jeff’s knowledge and expertise.

Jonathan Wirth and Panzer

Hey Jeff,
Just wanted to drop off some more pictures of Savvy.  We had one of the best duck hunts I have ever been on this weekend..  It was the second opening of Ducks down on the front range...  My duck hunting up in the Rockies isn't great.. So we have been going back down to my buddies in Fort Collins..  Anyway.. It was a beautiful morning. 
I think this dog loves the duck hunting more than the pheasant hunting...  She did about a 100 yard track (1 way) on a winged bird (3rd of the morning)...  all the way across the pond to the other side in the cattails...  Anyway, she was amazing!  I had a guy come over to my blind after he saw Savvy track down the duck over water (over 100 yards each way)...  He told me in 30 years of hunting he had never seen a dog go that distance to retrieve a duck...  He shook my hand and said he was impressed...  (it made me proud of her).    
Fifth duck of the morning..   My Buddy winged...  Half way out on pond...  She went out to retrieve...  As she got about 5 feet away..  Duck dived on her..  (I thought she might give up - yeah right) Well it tricked her... (brushed past her under water and came up behind her...4 feet other direction.  So she turns around...  About 3 feet again...  it dives on her....  I see her feel the duck go by under water again! (because she saw it dive... but looked down into the way by her back - like something brushed her under water)  She turns quickly back around, swims a paddle length...  Duck pops and she pounces on it in the water!!!  Everything goes flat for a second...  My buddy says...  OH GOD the dog is drowning!!!  A second into his statement she come up with the duck in her mouth....   I go out to the edge of the cattails as she's coming in..  ( the guy from down the way that already shook my hand...  Stands up shakes his head and says out loud...  YOU HAVE A GREAT BIRD DOG....  I say thanks...  BUT, SHE'S A GREAT GUN DOG!  :-)
Our North Dakota trip wasn't as good...  too much wind... nothing in the fields cut because of all the rain and weather up there..
Anyway...  Here are the picture of Savvy in the Blind....  You tell the potential buyers of these new puppies...  (THESE DOGS DO EVERYTHING!)  They call me if they don't believe it...  That's why I send these pix and tell you these stories...  We love Savvy so much... 
Thanks,
Matt Kovach

Barko (aka Bunky) owned by Ron Ballard has developed into a accomplished blood tracker, and was noted scent load at his VJP.