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Tippy is my hard-luck girl. She was out of solid, tested parents with
good pedigrees (I learned my lesson after buying Hudson from a
backyard breeder) and I had high hopes for her hunt test career.
She started out with a bang all right, tearing one ACL at 9 months
and the other a few months later. I was fortunate enough at the time
to be working for a veterinarian, Dr. Todd Ostrander, who performed
both knee surgeries. Though it took quite a bit of rehab and patience
to keep an active young dog quiet while she healed, Tippy healed
eventually and leads a fairly active life. Though knees aren't
considered a genetic condition and she is a beautiful dog
conformation-wise, I chose to spay Tippy. She is all heart and soul,
though no one but her family will ever see it as she is quite
uncomfortable around strangers. In the field, she will go with
anyone with a gun, provided they stick to hunting and don't try any
petting nonsense. She is a wonderful upland field dog with a terrific
nose and though she is progressively worsening with arthritis in her
knees, she lives to hunt pheasants, if only for an hour or two at a
time. She is an incredibly smart, (sometimes too smart) dog who
exploits her "handicap" to the fullest, knowing she only has to sit with
either leg stuck out showcasing its scar to avoid any reprimand for
whatever trouble she's caused, which is usually daily. Thus, Tippy is
incorrigibly spoiled, queen of the house, Hudson her loyal sidekick.
Click here for Tippy's Tale
