By Dennis Guldan

After doing this column for about a decade, rarely am I surprised. That is not the case with Karson Korth and his Brandy Creek Kennels. Karson is a rare jewel of a dog breeder and trainer producing quality dogs for the common hunter that have demonstrated they can compete with the big boys.

I met Karson about five years ago when Ellen and I were visiting Dave Duffy. Karson and his wife Merry joined us in a night of steak, wine and bs. We had an interesting evening with hours of hunting lore. Dave suggested that I do a "Meet the Breeder" column on Karson. Dave never steering me wrong I promised next time I was in the neighborhood I would. I knew if he hunted and swapped dogs with Dave; he had something going for him.

So this past month being in the Green Bay area I stopped by to see Karson and take a look at his dogs. Karson breeds small black German Wirehair Pointers and small 55lb. Labs. He has been breeding for just over 30 years.

Karson is what I call a fourth phase breeder. Phase one you get a dog that looks and performs well and you decide to have pups, ala backyard breeder. Phase two you get active in area trials and you start breeding quality pups with OFA and CERF testing. Phase three you are trialing or testing every weekend, winning many, your wife introduces you to your kids and you remember opener as being the same weekend as a certain trial. Well Karson is at phase four. Been there, done that, he knows what he wants and breeds for it. He has proven his dogs can win. He is tired of the events and the politics that goes with it, now he breeds and trains quality dogs and spends some time enjoying life and hunting.

Here are a few of Karson's accolades: won Wisconsin State pheasant championship three years in a row 89-91. His 91 win was with one of his labs. Won U.S. Pheasant Championship flushing/pointing dogs 89-90. Won Grouse championship flushing and pointing 91-92. Ran NAVHDA with a thirteen month dog and passed the Natural Ability and Utility the same weekend. Does he breed quality upland dogs? A room full of ribbons would prove that.

Karson breeds a dog not unlike himself: easy going but nuts about hunting. He likes a small dog with short easy to manage coats. For some reason he likes a black wirehair, it's his trademark. Interesting Karson does not line breed. He judges several trials and tests throughout the year and knows where the quality dogs are and brings quality into his line. Whether labs or wirehairs Karson is looking to breed a quality personal hunting dog.

Karson recently moved his kennel to a new training facility right in the middle of grouse country. He owns 30 acres about an hour west of Green Bay.

His home overlooks a nice sand bottom stream which winds through his land. Perfect for the upland and waterwork his dogs require.

I found breeding Labs and wirehairs an interesting combination. Rarely do the pointer and retriever people train together and surely not from the same kennel. But Karson regularly takes both a lab and wirehair hunting together. In fact he guides grouse, pheasant and turkey hunts for us commoners and some of the local Green Bay Packer greats.

Karson is facing one problem with his dogs. He has made quite the name for himself in the area and many of the locals are selling his bloodlines and competing directly against Karson, all of Karson's breeding and expertise, one generation from the source. So Karson is starting to bring his dogs to national prominence through the internet.

Karson usually has a waiting list for his dogs, though you can usually get a pup from him the same year. He breeds about four lab litters a year and one or two wirehair litters a year. His dogs sell for $400 - $500 a pup, a steal for a quality dog these days. With that he guarantees EVERYTHING for two years. He has a few started and finished dogs available every year. He also offers training and boarding, so he is a full service kennel.

If you are looking for a nice compact dog that is guaranteed to hunt give Karson a call at Brandy Creek Kennels, his number is 715-823-6693.

Guldan, Dennis. "Meet the Breeder Brandy Creek Kennels, Dogs Bred to Hunt." Bird Dog and Retriever News October/November 2000: 13.