little brown dog – A Grateful Grace-full Life

A Little Brown Dog’s Winter Pheasant Hunt

Jackson is 2 1/2 now. He is both quite content as a family dog and a very driven bird hunter.

Yesterday we had the opportunity to do a pheasant hunt at Muzzy Pheasant Farm with two other Boykins and a few other people. I walked behind with those not hunting and took a few pictures which I am sharing here.

Jackson, waiting for us to get ready for the 1+ hour trip to Muzzy Pheasant Farm.

It was cold — 20 degrees, but felt like 7 with the wind. I stayed warm under 3 layers of clothes with an ice fishing parka and an orange bird vest as the outside layers.

The dogs range several yards in front of the hunters, working side to side to flush the birds, and check back in when promoted by their humans.

Jackson doing the Boykin bounce as he goes after a downed bird. When the grass is tall they do this at times, to get a look around. He looks like a bobber. 😊

Jon receiving the pheasant. The hunters got 7 out of 10 birds, and Jackson was excited to retrieve several.

After retrieving the bird, Jackson had a roll in the snow. The cold weather didn’t seem to bother him a bit!

By the end of the hunt, snow balls had been removed from his paws several times, and his rear had several icy chunks to be removed.

I wish I had taken a video so you could see just how fast and how often Jackson’s butt and tail were wiggling!

It was good to get outdoors, and fun to watch Jackson and the two other Boykins (Cove and Dot) and the hunters do what they enjoy.

As we begin 2026, I am grateful for life and health, and to know that God loves me. I pray that you will know him and experience his blessings in this coming year. As the Apostle John says:

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.”
‭‭3 John‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ ‭AMPC‬‬

Update on a Little Brown Dog – Jackson at 2

Jackson (our Boykin Spaniel) turned two in July and he is definitely enjoying his 2nd hunting season.

You’ll have to look closely to find Jackson in the photo below, he is next to Jon Aten, front left side. It’s from this morning’s hunt where they got 22 birds.

He may look small but his Boykin personality shined through in 4 days of hunting at Wings of Freedom, which ended today. He is a fierce and determined bird hunter! He and Jon got the chance to show that in several hunts with veterans over the last four days.

Jackson was the only Boykin Spaniel at the event so he hunted with some Labs, GSPs and GWPs, and did great with all of them. (Bigger dogs don’t bother him a bit since he trained with Labs and lives with 125 lb. Labrahound.) I understand several people inquired how they could get one like him. 😊

I am proud of both of them — and I’m glad that baby oil and a metal comb works so well on burrs, because we’ve removed LOTS of them! Those burrs just love his curly ears and the feathers on his legs.

As I write this I am reminded that I have much to be grateful for, to name a few… Jackson who is curled up on the foot of my bed right now, my son Jon who is a veteran and has such a heart for veterans (to befriend and serve them), for family who joined us for an Italian dinner celebrating our 51st wedding anniversary last weekend….and so much more.

But most of all I am grateful for the amazing and faithful love of God. He knew/knows me, and yet He loves me. just as He loves you.

He was on the Cross, I was on His Mind

Update: A little brown dog at 17 months

It’s been a while since my last update on Brambleberry’s Andrew Jackson (a.k.a., Jackson). He is growing into a handsome fellow, a great hunter and a wonderful part of our family. Here are a few recent photos that show what he’s been up to lately.

A recent duck hunting trip on the Grand River.

Snoozing in his favorite spot by the front window (so he can keep an eye on things).

I had knee replacement surgery on 12/13. Keeping him off me didn’t work so well. But he did a nice job of jumping up to lay by me while avoiding my leg/knee.

Another favorite spot is lying by Ed’s feet.

Just before Christmas, my handsome boy. ❤️

A Little Brown Dog’s 1st Hunting Season

The weather is still unseasonably warm here in West Michigan, but that doesn’t impact the dates for waterfowl season. Over the last few weeks Jackson began hunting with Jon for Canada Geese and Teal.

Last Friday Jon, Jackson and my brother-in-law Jim left for 9 days of hunting in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

A view from the dog door in the blind – 1st early morning.

So far it looks like they are having a good trip. Although, I guess Jackson was pretty tired from Friday and Saturday, and wasn’t too thrilled with the early morning wake up call. I understand they might do some grouse and woodcock hunting too.

Jackson is still young at 14 months, and he’s not perfect, but both his early days of training and training/experience with Jon’s are working.

At home it seems very quiet with just Oliver (the labrahound), myself and my husband. But I think it’s good for us too, to have a change of routine.

We celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary this weekend with a nice dinner. I took some time too, to look through old photos and to reflect on wonderful memories made over the years. I have much to be grateful for, and I am thankful for the goodness, kindness, and faithfulness of God that we have experienced.

Update from a little brown dog – Jackson’s 1st Title and Birthday

Since my last post, Jackson achieved his first UKC title of SHR, Started Hunting Retriever, at 10 months old. It is a joy to watch him work with Jon and to enjoy retrieving ducks and other birds both in and out of water.

Jackson is now about 35 pounds of unstoppable enthusiasm. He chews bones and chases balls with a passion and enjoys carrying a bumper around, too, when given the chance. When he slows down, his favorite spot is still next to Oliver or close to one of us.

Jackson (or Jackie) doesn’t exhibit the anxiety many Boykin owners speak about. Perhaps that is the result of Oliver being nearby and of his time at Southern Oak Kennels. He is a well loved, socialized, smart, and happy pup. I’m sure he will continue to learn and develop as both a great family and a great hunting dog.

He’s still a pup, so his kennel continues to be a safe place during the night and when we aren’t home. But, I look forward to when it will be less necessary.

The summer is flying by, and we are swiftly coming up on Jackson’s first birthday (July 28). Thinking of it reminded me of how grateful I am for Dana Wood, owner of Brambleberry Boykins, that he chose to place Jackson with us. Dana cares so much for his Boykins and has been a great resource to us since we met him. He has become a friend, and I am so glad to be a part of the Brambleberry family.

To learn more about Boykin Spaniels, go here to view the Boykin Spaniel Society.

Speaking of being grateful, I read this quote today, and it is true!

“When we focus on our gratitude, the tide of disappointment goes out, and the tide of love rushes in.” — Kristin Armstrong

UPDATE: A Little Brown Dog at 10 Months

Typical Boykin look, beautiful eyes so focused, and pink tongue poking out.

Happy to share that Jackson earned his Started Hunting Retriever title in May, at just under 10 months. The trainers from Southern Oak Kennel – Great Lakes brought him down to the Kankakee River HRC, and with some great handling by my son Jon, Jackson earned his pass for started. The weekend before that, we had Jackson home for the weekend, and he earned passes and ribbons 2 & 3 at the Great Lakes HRC event in Fenwick, Michigan. I’m so proud of how my “boys” did.

Jackson has been back at Southern Oak for the month of June — he did so well in the 1st 3 months that the trainer recommended 1 more month.

Jon will continue Jackson’s training the rest of the summer, preparing him for the fall bird/duck season. We may try some upland hunting too…. I purchased a 28 guage compact shotgun, and Jon is teaching me to shoot trap at the South Kent Gun Club.

During his time at SOK, Jackson has both grown and become a very curly boy – so cute! 🙂 I am looking forward to having him home in a couple of weeks and restarting our walks.

Today I am grateful for… good trainers for Jackson, for my son Jon who is so willing to teach me and do things with me, for a husband who has always encouraged me to do whatever is in my heart, for summer Friday’s off, and for a God who loves me completely and unconditionally.

What are you grateful for?

Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: it must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all. – William Faulkner

Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude.

Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ.
‭Philippians 4:6-7 TPT‬

The Little Brown Dog at 6 Months

Jackson reached 6 months old on January 28, and wow, has he grown! He is long and sturdy, and at a bit over 30 lbs is getting to be quite a lap full! His fur has gone from wavy to downright curly, and his adult teeth have grown in.

Play is still a big part of his day, catching balls and playing with Oliver. But there is also more time spent now just hanging out and chewing on antlers.

He hasn’t attempted the basement steps yet — which is more than OK with me, but he is well able to jump up on furniture. As you can imagine, this is an opportunity for learning and discipline.

Jackson’s adult teeth have had a big impact on his toy selection. About a dozen toys that made it through Oliver have been thrown out, and even “extreme chewer” toys are no match for those teeth.

Jackson is soft-hearted and wants to please, but also a bit willful and stubborn. Next month, he will go to a trainer for obedience and bird hunting training. I feel a bit like I am sending him to military school, but I know it is for his good. An undisciplined dog can be a danger to itself and others. An obedient dog trusts his master, responds to his commands, is safer, and has a more enjoyable life.

This made me think of Hebrews 12. It says that God’s discipline isn’t always enjoyable, but it is evidence of His faithful love.

‭‭Hebrews 12:6-7 TPT‬‬
For the Lord’s training of your life is the evidence of his faithful love. And when he draws you to himself, it proves you are his delightful child.” Fully embrace God’s correction as part of your training, for he is doing what any loving father does for his children. For who has ever heard of a child who never had to be corrected?