It Takes Birds to Make a Bird Dog
This old gundog trainer saying was never more true when it comes to grouse and woodcock dogs. At Grouse Creek we develop flushing and pointing breeds to excel on these two amazing birds.
From our 120-acre Michigan Department of Natural Resources Licensed Gamebird Preserve to the myriad of wild bird covers that we guide in during the Fall, we have the tools and the processes to develop a grouse and woodcock dog.
For any bird dog, it is imperative that they learn to handle birds. Even more so for a grouse and woodcock dog. With homing pigeons, quail and wild birds, we have the trifecta to teach and reinforce that required behavior. The beauty is that the ability to handle ruffed grouse makes a dog that can handle most any other upland bird.
The Grouse Creek Team
Chris Butz - Trainer and Orvis-endorsed Wingshooting Outfitter
Chris has been chasing wild birds for almost 40 years. Growing up on ruffed grouse and wild bobwhite quail, he knows the benefit of a great pointing or flushing dog that has been trained on wild birds.
Chris trained dogs for clients over a decade and closed down formal training during Covid. Although he continued to work with client dogs in the field during the fall guide season, he is relaunching that program with Grouse Creek.
Chris uses a combination of many methods in his training but the cornerstone of it all is the European/Continental training methodologies of allowing the dog to grow and mature instead of the typical rush to the field of most hunters and trainers. After that, a lot of the tools that he uses are from such legendary trainers as the Smiths and the West/Gibbons approaches. Ultimately, however, he believes that you cannot make a wild bird dog without wild birds! Especially when hunting the king of the gamebirds - the ruffed grouse.
Give Chris a call to set up a one on one training session and to discuss wht other options might exist for you and your pup.
The Dogs
Grouse hunting has been described as a long walk in the woods carrying a gun. That is very true and it's a wonderful way to spend the day. However, hunting behind a gundog breed that is the master of the art takes your day to a whole other level. Yes, we pursue the birds. But we keep doing it for the dog work too.
Leelanau's Lilly of the Valley
Call name "Lilly"
Breed: Llewellyn Setter
It all started with Lilly. As of 2025, she will turn 11 and is still going strong as my lead guide dog. Out of Leelanau Setters, she can go from our bed to the grouse woods in perfect style.
Yda Von Ahler Esch
Call name "Yda"
Breed: Large Munsterlander
Chris imported Yda as a puppy from Germany. Fascinated by Large Munsterlanders and feeling that this might be a great versatile breed for the grouse woods, he went right to the source. Man was he right. With a "go all day" trot and natural staunch point she is a treat to watch.
Double T's Aspen
Call name "Aspen"
Breed: British Labrador
Aspen was the second lab that Chris trained entirely in the British methods. Without any use of the e-collar, she is trained to whistle and handles with hand signals. She is a loving, proper gal who is getting along in age at almost 8 years old.
Unfortunately, Aspen ended her amazing 10 year fun in the winter of 2026 due to health issues. Her next Double T girl is arriving in June of 2026 for the next generation of flushing grouse machines!
Beggarbush's Cassie and Fern
Call name: "Cassie" and "Fern"
Breed: English Cocker Spaniels
Both imported from Ben Randall in the UK, these are two of the three EC that Chris has imported over the years. Chris began hunting ruffed grouse and woodcock over English Cockers almost 15 years ago. This was before the present "Cocker Craze" and he knew that they would be perfect for our Northwoods pursuits.
While Cassie is now enjoying retirement in a loving family home, Fern is still actively getting after it in the Northwoods at almost 9 years old.
Apache
Breed: English Setter
Apache has been in the kennel for a few years now and has not progressed to the level needed to run on grouse in the Northwoods. Chris continues to work with him to try and shape his big-running nature from the prairies to the woods. Hopefully you will see his amazing personality on the truck this Fall.
River
Breed: Llewellyn Setter
New Training and Boarding Facility
We have a new kennel coming at the end of July, 2025. Build to hold 18 dogs in climate-controlled indoor-outdoors runs with airing yards, it is state of the art. Sealed and heated floors, air conditioning and exhaust fans give us the ability to fully control your dog's living environment. Indoor training room and birds right out the back door are the icing on the cake!
Let's work together
Are you ready to get your puppy or young dog prepared to pursue the king of gamebirds? Give us a call and we can talk more.