My journey

Many years ago, shortly after moving to town and spending six months without a dog, a friend called to check on me. When I told him I didn’t yet have one, he said no decent man should be without a dog for that long. He had a litter of German Shorthaired Pointers — and informed me one of them was mine. What could I do?

Two weeks after bringing my first daughter home from the hospital, I also introduced a pointing dog to our family. That marked the beginning of a lifelong journey.

My curiosity eventually led me to the Deutsch Kurzhaar and the German versatile testing system. I purchased a DK named Beier vom Nordstern, and he would become the dog that shaped my expectations forever. I tested Beier in the Derby and later in the HZP in 2016, where he earned a Prize I with a score of 189 — the highest HZP score ever achieved by a DK in the United States.
More important than the score, however, was the partnership. After having the privilege of being Beier’s hunting partner, I knew every future dog would be compared to him. Some dogs leave a mark that cannot be replaced.

Unexpectedly, my next chapter began while watching shotgun videos online. I saw my first Bracco Italiano and was immediately intrigued. That curiosity grew into a deep appreciation for the breed’s history, style, temperament, and versatility. Eight years later, I now own four Bracchi.

Today, I actively test dogs and serve as a judge with the Versatile Hunting Dog Federation. My lifelong passion is pheasant hunting. In the fall, if I’m not hunting, you can be certain I’m thinking about it.

I am deeply committed to preserving the integrity, ability, and future of the Bracco Italiano in America. For me, it has always been about more than owning dogs — it’s about honoring the traditions of the hunt and protecting the qualities that make a truly great versatile hunting companion.