Moses is a purpose-driven bird dog. When he is turned loose, there is really one thing on his mind, and that is finding birds. He hunts with intensity and determination, but he is not a dog that simply runs big for the sake of running. He adapts his range to the country, the cover, and the species being hunted. Jim spends a lot of time hunting him in North Dakota for prairie grouse and pheasants, as well as in Minnesota for wild pheasants and grouse. Moses has the motor to cover open prairie when needed, but he is equally capable of shortening up and becoming an effective team member in tighter cover.

His water work reflects that same mentality. Moses hits the water hard and goes with purpose. He has a strong natural retrieving instinct and a real desire to get birds in his mouth. There is very little hesitation or wasted motion in the way he approaches a job. Whether he is searching for a bird, making a retrieve, or covering ground, he does it with intent.

That drive does not come at the expense of cooperation. Moses is described by the people who have worked with him as solid-minded, stable, trainable, and obedient. He does not require a lot of unnecessary pressure and has the kind of natural ability that makes training feel like shaping something that is already there rather than trying to manufacture it. He is also simply a nice dog to be around, loving, affectionate, and easy to live with when the work is done.

His coat is on the shorter side with good furnishings. It is medium dense and medium harsh, with an especially harsh midline. There is plenty of coat quality there for a working dog that spends time in cold weather, prairie grass, cattails, and brush.

The trainer who prepared Moses for his 204-point Prize I Utility Test described him as having incredible drive while also being solid-minded, stable, and trainable. Those comments carry more weight with me than the score alone. A high test score is impressive, but I am much more interested in whether the dog behind that score is the kind of dog I would want to hunt over day after day.

That is what ultimately led me to use Moses in the Paladin breeding program, and why I have now used him twice. I am looking for outside stud dogs that bring more than a test record. I want wild-bird experience, natural ability, cooperation, water drive, retrieving instinct, mental stability, and a pedigree that gives me confidence in what is behind the dog.

Moses checks those boxes.

He is a hard-going, adaptable wild-bird dog with plenty of motor, strong water desire, natural retrieving instinct, and the temperament to make him enjoyable to live with when the hunt is over. The pedigree got my attention, but the dog behind the pedigree is why I used him.