A friend emailed me yesterday, giving me a brief answer to a question I had emailed him earlier in the week, but then he got to the real reason for the email. He announced that he'd just picked up a five-month-old wire-haired pointer. I could sense excitement in his message, and there was optimism in his words. It's funny how a new hunting dog can do that for a hunter. For true dog people, the promise of puppy is about future hunts but also about companionship, joy and optimism. My Lab, Creede, has a lot of gray in his muzzle -- kind of like me -- but he still loves to hunt with me, and he's a loyal and fine companion. But I'll never forget the sheer optimism I had when he was a puppy and he trotted back and placed the training dummy in my hand or when he retrieved his first pheasant. Hunting has been only a small part of our time together, but it provides a purpose for both of us. Something to look forward to; something to remember. A love of hunting dogs is all part of the hunting heritage.
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