Kick Em Up Gundogs
Testimonials
Steve,
I hope all is well with you and your family. Just wanted to give you an update on Thunder. He is definitely the smartest dog I have ever owned or seen. We will find out how he hunts in a few months but we are thrilled with him and just wanted to thank you for raising such incredible dogs. He has even taught himself to open doors going both in and out of the house.
Thanks
Chris Mcklarney
Steve,
Ken Foss here from Maine, I thought you might like an update. My dog Zeus is now 9 months old and is doing great. We trained all through the summer with a hunting dog trainer here in Maine. His official registered name is Kick em up Zeus. Here are a couple of pictures of his opening day hunt here in Maine and another great point. He has been registered with AKC and I plan on trying for his JH next spring. Thanks.
Ken Foss
Zeus
Thunder
Hi Steve,
Here are some pics of Odie and some of the birds we got this season, we had awesome 1 ST hunting season. She got her JH title last fall. We entered her in a few shows but mainly concentrated on her hunt training. She’s been a wonderful dog to train and is fitting in very well. We are working on senior level training and she is doing great.
Thanks, Jeff J Jorgens
Odie
Steve,
I have attached a couple picks of Henry, a pup out of Rainy and Dreamer. Henry qualified on his first run, on his 6 month birthday, the youngest dog in the field. One out of 5 or 6 AKC Junior Hunters that got a qualifying score. Hopefully I can send you more pics when I run him again later this month.
Thank You,
Kyle Young and Krystal Young
Henry
Steve,
I just ran Henry in a walking field trial this weekend. He took third in the open puppy and am puppy. He probably
would have done a little better in the AM. but he just did not have the energy. I have him entered in 4 hunt test this spring (April 25th and 26th). Two different bird dog clubs are holding their events together on the same grounds, so Ican run him twice each day. Hopefully, He will have his Jr. title after these events. If not this spring I will try again in the fall. I will send you pictures of Henry with his two ribbons.. as soon as I take one. Training is going well. He had a great hunting season.. ranged well, pointed and was obedient in the field.. all I can ask for at his age. Heck the last day of the season he retrieved a quail to hand.. which surprised me.. since I have not worked with him on retrieving birds.. just bumpers. This spring I plan on getting him in a little better shape, steady him up on point(he really likes to wag his tail on point, on both wild and pen raise, this may stop as he gets older) and whoa training.. maybe during the summer get him into the water.. right now water is not his favorite. I would like to run him in more hunt test this spring, but my wife and I are relocating.. I am in Hutchinson, Ks and she is in Kansas City until the end of the school year. So most of my weekends are spent with her. He also looks a lot better then he did the last time I sent you a picture. He now weights 63lbs I will send you pics as soon as I talk them..
Thanks, Kyle Young
Rocco
Rusty is doing well, he is hunting and pointing. Didn't shoot as many birds over him as I would have liked but he still saw over a hundred.
Thanks,
Bill Edwards
Vice President
JE Dunn Construction Company
Rusty
Mickey is doing great! He is a typical ornery weim but has the best disposition ever. He is bird whacko and loves to be in the field and at home with his family. Here's a rundown of his ribbons:
He placed 3rd in Open Puppy at the Wisconsin Weimaraner Club Field Trial in May 2008
He placed 4th in Open Puppy at the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of Michigan Licensed Walking Field Trial in May of 2008
He placed 3rd in Open Puppy at the G.W.P. Club of Illinois Licensed Field Trial in October of 2008
He placed 1st in Amateur Derby at the Weimaraner Club of Greater Louisville Walking Field Trial in February 2009
He placed 1st in Open Derby at the Kentuckiana Pointing Breeds Assoc. Lic. Field Trial in February 2009 (see their web site for picts.)
He had an amazing 4 day weekend with 2 Derby wins. It seems like he has matured greatly over the past 4 months and has really matured into a big running hard hunting bird dog. His future looks really good. Thanks to Dick Dunnuck at Shotgun Farms and your really good bloodlines.
Jim and Jennifer Bower
Hey Steve,
Good to hear from you. We are doing well here. I actually start next month with a fairly reputable trainer in Michigan for a 6 week training course. Kickemup Gentleman Jack is an awesome dog and I am hoping to trial him in late spring. My wife and I added another son to our family and it was a little bit of a rough pregnancy which took some of my "Jack" time off the schedule as far as real training. The good news is all is well and we are back on track. I have to thank you again for an amazing dog. He's great in the house and great in the field. He'll run all day and has an impressive high gear. He's fully a family member and we couldn't be happier. I hope to be sending you junior hunter results soon. Hope all is well with you and your family.
Also, you may be getting a call from a couple here in Michigan soon. My wife passed along your website to her hair stylist. She and her husband are looking for a hunting dog.
Great to hear from you and I'll be in touch,
Rick Bach.
Mickey
Jack
Steve, wanted to send you a few lines about your dogs. Both the weims and vizslas you breed have been great dogs. They are very intelligent, easy to train, and are born with natural hunting abilities. Tikka completed her JH title at the age of 6 months and we moved on to field trials where she placed first in amateur and open derby in her very first trial! At the same trial, Bullet placed 1st and 2nd in open and amateur puppy. That was the starting point for buying a new truck, trailer and 4 horses. Both Tikka and Bullet have gone on to win numerous puppy and derby trials, whether it be gsp trials, wirehaired trials, or vizsla trials, they can run with anybody. I would recommend to anyone looking for a great companion, or a hunting dog that they talk to you, as I already have. Oh yeah, Bullet won the Vizsla Futurity this past weekend, you must know something about breeding!!!!!!
Thanks,
JARRETT BELL CEO
AMERICAN AUTOMOTIVE WARRANTY SERVICES
Tikka and Bullet
Hi Steve,
We just got the digital picture from Kenna's first show point in Des Moines. Kenna is out of "We Grow Maggie Jo" and your "Kick Em Up Air Raid." She's doing well, and is finally filling out and looking more mature at 18 months. We think she will continue to improve. She is doing very well in Agility and Obedience training, and within the year we will start trialing her in Agility. She's doing well hunting. Thanks again for the Vizsla Club information. I really enjoyed meeting everyone. Take care and I hope to see or talk to you again soon.
Bruce Bryant
Kenna
Morgan
When we decided to obtain another Weimaraner, we were not sure whether this would be our last. We have had two prior. However, with kids out of the house, we decided that if we obtained another, we wanted to train him (we have had females prior) to do what they are bred to do and that is to hunt. As we did our research, we were referred to Steve and decided to purchase one based on that referral. I spent a lot of time with Steve
telling what we were looking for as far as personality and I would have to say that Steve came close. However, by Steve's description of the pup, I am not sure he knew that this would be an extremely classic Weim in all sense of the word. He is extremely bright, loyal, energetic, and is the
most athletic Weim we have had. We took him to a hunt trainer here in Colorado who although not sure about this dog after one week, is currently counseling us as to how to train this dog for field trials. In his words, this dog can hunt. So thanks Steve, in a year or so, we will be calling you about how to match this dog up for breeding purposes. This is absolutely the best Weim we have had. Your clients are welcome to call us for a reference.
Sincerely, Dwayne and Cindy Day, Highlands Ranch, CO.
Hunter
I first started in bird dogs knowing I wanted a vizsla and knowing I wanted to get one from someone who really knew the breed well. I met Steve and he politely tolerated my millions of questions and helped me through many training issues I was having with my pup I had purchased before I met him. During these hours of phone calls, I realized that the kickemup guys cared more for the breed as a whole then they did about seeing that someone purchased a pup directly from them. After getting my pup on track, I spoke with Steve about a started vizsla that would possibly be available from his breeding. Until she became available, I was coaxed into a fully trained Weim that Steve offered to me. WHAT A DOG!!! I was literally able to take this dog off of the truck from his transport to me and straight into the field. I was never a huge fan of Weims but after having the opportunity to work with this guy, I am hooked and looking forward to my next. He has run in NSTRA events with me and won his first event after only a few months of tuning up. What a blast, it was my first NSTRA event ever and to win with a Weim was a real treat!! After a few months, the Vizsla was finally ready and traveled the long trip from Iowa to Pennsylvania where she will be until the day she dies. I have been involved with dogs in general for over 15 years professionally and have yet to come across a dog with half of the heart, natural ability, drive and brains as this girl. She was sold to me as a started dog and started was just a touch as to what she really was. She was exactly what Steve had told me, and then some. She has been running field trials here on the east coast and doing quite well. She needs one more leg for her JH title and if she runs half as well as she has been running, she will be titled in no time at all. I get plenty of attention with her, even from other breeders, and look forward to kicking some GSP butt this spring and summer!!! I recommend Steve to anyone who is looking for a Vizsla or a Weim. They have the knowledge, heart and the dog's true well being in mind with every breeding that they do. You can't go wrong with a kickemup dog!! Keep up the good breeding and I look forward to my next puppy which will hopefully be this spring! --Shawnee
Clyde & Vinnie
Good evening Steve,
Hope all is well with you and your family. I wanted to give you a update on Rocco who is now 16 months old.
We ran in the NAVHDA Natural Ability Test on 9/12/09 and he scored a 105 out of 112 for a NA PRIZE 1. He scored 4 out of possible 4 in use of nose, search, pointing , tracking and desire to work. He scored 3 out of 4 on water and cooperation. I am probably to blame for the water as he loves to play and search in the water but I just did not do enough training on that. And with cooperation I was not disappointed as one of the judges after the test said cooperation can be taught, desire to hunt has to be in the dog and he's got plenty of that. I have attached a copy of the certificate and a couple of pictures from some recent hunts.
His score and prize was also listed in the monthly NAVDHA publication. His pointing is getting steadier by the hunt and his tracking and search is great. He has made some unbelievable searches on bad shots and just loves to be in the field and hunt. I am hoping to continue with his training as we will be working for his "Utility Test" by next fall. We tested on Saturday and while I was there helping out for Sunday's
testing I ran into another one of your Weim's. I ran into Jo Callavini who has Emma from Jade and Ryder also from 3-4 years ago. Small world since I am in PA and Joe is from NJ and you're in Iowa, definitely a mark of how good KICK EM UP is doing with the quality of your dogs.
Thanks again and I will keep in touch to let you know how we are doing.
Ed Paludi and Kick Em Up "Rocco" of Upland Farm Lodge
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Dora (Boot x Tess) is doing great. She turns 10 this month and spends a lot of time with my retired farther in all of his activities.
My dog Izzy (Boot x Ginger) is fantastic; she will be 5 in April. She is an unbelievable dog and a true testament to the quality of breeding your kennel does. She continues to exceed my expectations in the field and is an absolute pleasure to hunt with. This year I took her out duck hunting for the first time and she was a champ. Without any waterfowl training, she stepped out and performed like a pro. She is also a great companion. We've logged hundreds of miles hiking together and last year started backpacking together. She is a very, very special dog.
I can't say enough nice things about our dogs from your kennel. I absolutely love them; their innate passion for hunting, their genuine love of life, and their faithfulness to us. We get many compliments on them as well.
Meghan Wall
Izzy
