Highwood Highlands Troopers Black Jet

R.A. Coleman

Active member
You have never had the pleasure of meeting or hunting with Jet. Here is some of his history.

Brian Yamamoto, had a dandy little bitch, Polly Anna Girl. She had a great pedigree, and was a hell of a hard case when it came to hunting.

Roy Mc Fall, had a number of great dogs. Piper’s Pacer was the only American Amateur Field Champion to come from Alaska. Pacer’s Son was the Trooper dog AKA Cop, another Field Champion.

Jet was the 4th pick dog out of the litter born Oct. 7, 1996, he came to the Coleman house just about Thanksgiving of that year. The next hunting season he was still under a year old, so it was all just for fun and to learn about his noise, and being hell on socks. You can have a hunter and a family dog all in one. He would sleep in our bedroom in a kennel or next to my side of the bed if one of the boy’s didn’t kidnap him.

A pigeon coop was built, pigeons were trapped down at MUS Globe CO. and training started in earnest the next spring. This just happened to coincide with the peak of the Grouse cycle. Jet was still a young dog, he didn’t respond to a heavy hand at all, I thought at first he was stubborn, he wasn’t. A friend got me a book out of this library, told me I needed to read it, Dave did indeed know me and dogs. The Monks of New Skete “Raising a puppy you can live with”. Touchy Feely really wasn’t Me, but Jet wasn’t a Schutzen Hund either. Thank God I read it, training tactics changed, coaching, praise, encouragement.. IT Worked in Spades.

His first hunting season 56 grouse were shot over him and all were retrieved. 36 Ducks, were also retrieved. No birds were lost.

He just kept getting better. The peak duck season was about 6 years ago. Andy Trochuck had a Cinderella leave from the Army, they pulled his tonsils and gave him a Non Chargeable leave for a month. We hunted damn near the whole month. My best guess for that season was 200 retrieves of ducks, geese, and cranes.

Full Retirement came in 2009, except for a freebe Ruff in the yard last year.


Jet isn’t doing well. He was having trouble all Sunday night, heaving, trouble breathing. Something neurological, maybe a stroke, maybe a inner ear infection, Vet isn’t sure yet. He is having trouble with his balance and is off his food. The vet shot him up with a bunch of Steroid and we are trying a antibiotic, and some other meds and should know by Friday. I dug a grave yesterday before going to the vets. Oh do I hope the meds kick in. I used to think the first lab I had “Barney” was my one good dog , he was good but not even close to the Jet. He turned 14, Oct. 7th. So he’s probably a little above average in that regard too. 11 seasons before losing a bird.. Don’t think he’s in any pain, he is sleeping about 6’ from me now. The drugs worked, for another 10 months.

July 16, 2011

Well here we are in the same room, different problem. Jet can’t keep food down, went to rice and cottage cheese, along with a med to help with the stomach. This has been going on for 5 days. He still wants to eat, ¾ cup won’t stay down. Last night was rough. He stayed down till 1230, sleeping peacefully like now. We went out but he didn’t even want to walk to the mail box. Oh how I don’t want to, but when Court comes over, I’ll have to. He didn’t make it to the house. It was another bad night. Water isn’t staying down.

July 17, 2011

Will and I took Jet to Courts office. Jet stayed in the truck, on his old Comfy sleeping bag. A sedative put him to sleep and a over dose of barbiturate finished it. We brought him home wrapped him in my old hunting coat and his sleeping bag, and buried him deep, in the woods just above the garden. 14 years 9 months 10 days.

Bob

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Bob,

Nice tribute for your hunting partner. Sometimes it takes a while before one can put feelings into words. My deepest sympathies are with you.
 
Bob, a very nice tribute to an exceptional animal and family member. Very sorry for your loss. Keep hold of the memories. They do last forever.
Best - Paul
 
What a blessing Jet was in your life, and you, I’m sure, in his. May your memories of the years you spent together bring a smile to your face.
 
Bob

Our season is about to start and for the first time in 10 year we won't have Cassie there with us. It's a bit if an empty feeling but I guess we know going into it that they won't outlive us and the day will eventually come. I'm just thankful that I experienced the relationship and witnessed some incredible things from my hunting companion. It hurts like hell when it ends but as you come through it you realize it was one of life's gifts.

Eric
 
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