Our names are Elizabeth and Kevin LaRue. We have two children, Tiffany (12) and Levi (6). We have two dogs that live with us, Molly (13-Irish Setter) and Vixen (5-Chinese Crested Powder Puff). We co-own several champion briards with my best friend Marsha Clamp, and are getting a show briard puppy sometime in the fall, we hope.
We almost lost Molly a couple of weeks ago. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2005, while she and I still lived in Massachusetts. At that point, she was 9, and the vet figured given their average lifespan, that it would likely detract from her quality of life to treat it, so we didn't. We combat the symptoms with good diet, excercise, and a lot of patience. A dear friend lost a 5 year old briard during chemo, and I just didn't want Molly to go that way.
Well, I never dreamed I would have her 4 more years, and she started to go down hill a couple of weeks ago. Went from puppy energy to old dog energy, barely had enough oomph to lift her head for a bite of yogurt. So, the family piled into the vehicle, and we went to the vet together. We thought it might be the last trip we would take with her. At the vet, she did a 180. Rallied big time. She told us it wasn't time. So, we did some blood work, found out that she had cancer... (big surprise) and ZERO THYROID!!! Put her on hormone meds and she's back to her old self again! She's a fighter!
While we were going through this, I got to thinking that 6 is an awful young age to lose your best friend. Levi and Molly are really tight. And she's too amicable to lay down when she has had enough and will do whatever Levi wants, even if it means fetching until she drops. Knowing that she loves the kids, but could probably use a break, I started looking frantically for an irish setter to help her out with the 'load'.
We talked to lots of breeders, but they all wanted so much for a puppy. So, we started to consider red and white setters. Same thing there, too much for a puppy. So, we started looking at a breed that I have admired since I was a kid, but never saw many around... The Gordon Setter.
After much searching, calling breeders all over the eastern united states, emailing questions galore, we finally settled on a puppy in North Carolina. We wanted a puppy that could be shown, but came from solid hunting lines, that was affable, affectionate, easy going, but plenty of energy. Ultimately, it was down to two, and the deciding factor was the parents health clearances, which the North Carolina puppy had great hips behind him.
Yesterday, I paid for the little boy I wanted, and we will be picking him up Sunday in New Bern, NC, which is about half way for the breeder to where we'll be staying in Williamston for the weekend for a trapping convention. We are actually from West Virginia, and are having quite the time trying to find conformation or training classes of any kind in Greenbrier County or surrounding areas.
So... there you go.
most dogs, and not once did she ever bat an eye. So it was hard for me to acknowledge that we have gotten older, so yes, it was definately BITING a bullet for me. lol. I have never seen a munsterlander. Heard of them, but never seen them. Do you have a large or small? 
