The Bucket Dog

[gdgnyc]

One of my favorite TV channels is Encore Westerns. Yesterday I saw an episode of Bonanza called "The Bucket Dog". An Irish Setter that was saved from being bucketed as a puppy due to "poor looks" must win a trial if the new owner is to keep her. One setter had a show look and the bucket dog did have more of a working dog look. OK, a lot of dramatic contrivance but an entertaining show nevertheless. The dogs quartered and pointed (fairly well I might add) but some points looked fake---the dogs "pointed" with their mouths open and smiling. I suspect more than two dogs were used as actors and some points were really a "stand-stay".

Again, entertaining. Any comments? Have you seen this episode? Have you shot over an Irish Setter?

(Bucketing=drowning a puppy)

[Jennifer Henion]

Funny! Poor bucket pups! I'll have to look up that epidsode- wonder if it's on Amazon.

As a Golden person, I've always been attracted to the sturdy field version of the Irish Setter - I think they were used to make up the Golden. Never hunted with one, but would love to see what they're like.

[gdgnyc]

You might be able to see it on Youtube. Episode was dated 1972. The setters don't look as clumsy as what I am used to seeing. I think (not sure) that the red setter movement might have started at that time.

I have only hunted over the Continental Breeds myself.

[Labs R Us]

426.) The Bucket Dog
December 19, 1972
Written by: John Hawkins
Directed by: William F. Claxton

LINK: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCK-PFawDz4

Jamie acquires an Irish Setter, unaware that its rightful owner considers it an inferior example of the breed and wants it destroyed.

Guest Stars: Tim Riley...Don Knight,...Horace Kingston...William Sylvester,...Clem...Bing Russell,...Hop Sing...Victor Sen Yung,...Minister...Ivan Bonar,...Mr. Turner...Don Harris,...George Spencer...Carl Pitti,...Judge Wilcox...John Zaremba,...Bill Clark...(uncredited; extra as big man in church).

Trivia: William Sylvester, Don Knight, and Ivan Bonar make their last appearances on the series.

Trivia: The opening credits used reprinted film stock and in this episode, one can see the 1965 ride-up at Nevada Beach for a few seconds and the 1972 ride-up and credits at Brown's Meadow dissolves in frame.

In the first half of the episode, Joe comes home around midnight wearing his dating outfit he wore when he was courting Alice in "Forever." The white dress shirt and black pants. So, it would appear he had a special lady to cater his affections to after the loss of Alice in the final season.

Trivia: In one of the final scenes in this episode, Michael is wearing blue jeans when Mitch Vogel and the Irish Setter exit the Ponderosa living room.

Trivia: Bing Russell makes his last appearance as Deputy Sheriff Clem Foster in the series' history.

Location Scenes Filmed at: Golden Oak Ranch, Southern California.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCK-PFawDz4

[gdgnyc]

I was curious as to who the dog actors were. I really don't think any of the Irish Setters I have seen (I don't see many, only 1 or 2 in the field) could look half as good as April, the bucket dog.

[Marvin S]

Funny! Poor bucket pups! I'll have to look up that epidsode- wonder if it's on Amazon.

As a Golden person, I've always been attracted to the sturdy field version of the Irish Setter - I think they were used to make up the Golden. Never hunted with one, but would love to see what they're like.

When I was a young person the folks from Chicago used to come to our place in SD to hunt with their IS's. It was a very popular breed in the 30"s. After the hunt they would spend a considerable time plucking sandbur barbs from those poor dog's paws.

We owned a boarding kennel in the 70's & 80's with a customer who had two IS's of the old standard. Handsome dogs with broad heads & very athletic, they raised the activity volume in the kennel , sort of oversized JRT's with their activity. I enjoyed them as I like an active well conformed dog of any breed.

[Jennifer Henion]

Yes, not sure I could handle a spazzy one. Would've loved to see them work your South Dakota ranch!

Wow Becky!! That's some trivia! Thanks for posting the link.

[Marvin S]

Yes, not sure I could handle a spazzy one. Would've loved to see them work your South Dakota ranch!

Wow Becky!! That's some trivia! Thanks for posting the link.

We called them farms as more than half of the land was plowed & in crops, farmed with horses. The smell of a horse on clean bedding (in our case straw) is a smell that rivals dog smell for it's workerlike fragrance - Chessies excluded .

I asked the owner how they acted at home & he said they were not very active - guns, birds & dogs to BS with apparently were their turnon.

[Sundown49 aka Otey B]

My first dog EVER that was MINE was an Irish Setter. I was 8 years old and to me Red was the BEST DOG ever. She taught me how to quail hunt on our family farm. Me and Red and a 410 Stevens bolt action walked many miles. I have always been short and if I could not find Red on point she would back off point and come find me and lead me to HER birds. I learned what her LOOK was when I missed a bird. Thank God for her patience with me. It was our second year before I hit a bird....... One of my proudest memories seeing that big red dawg with a bird in her mouth coming to me. I had her until I was a Senior in HS and she was poisoned by neighbor by leaving out a pan of antifreeze. I still feel the pain of losing her and that was 53 years ago.

[luvalab]

I read the Big Red/Irish Red books compulsively as a kid. I can't say I remember them, but I remember being absolutely obsessed...