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“Barnett called me and said, ‘What do you think about the State Cattle Ranch?’ I told him I’d be in his office Monday morning,” said Leatherbury, who was accompanied by Read Holland of the Black Warrior Retriever Club, host club for the Master National. Lein came up with an idea and presented it to Lawley. Leatherbury and Greg Lein, then with the State Lands Division, searched far and wide for a site. Several years ago Leatherbury contacted former Conservation Commissioner Barnett Lawley about a public area to hold large hunt tests. Leatherbury has been all over the country to compete in hunt tests and field trials, and suitable venues to hold these events are in short supply. Comeback Shain did very well, especially on the last series.” I had several that passed national tests. “I’ve loved these dogs and loved these people for a long time,” he said. This was Comeback Shain’s sixth passed national test, which automatically qualifies him for the Master National in Kansas next year. Leatherbury’s melancholy mood was lightened considerably when his remaining entry, Belle Shain’s Comeback Shain, successfully completed the grueling Master National hunt test. Frannie slept right by our bed every night.” And I’m not even talking about my wife (Mary Shain). I couldn’t see her, and when I got to the truck she was dead. I went back toward the truck, and she would have normally been sitting there, looking at me. I ran a younger dog and a friend ran one. I ran her first while it was good and cool. I kept all my dogs in the dog trailer except for her. We were training for the Master National. “Unfortunately, my greatest dog had a heart attack three weeks ago and died,” he said. Leatherbury originally had two dogs qualify for the Master National, but one dog was missing. 6 ballot for the program to continue to purchase land from willing sellers for outdoors recreation. However, Forever Wild must be reauthorized by the Alabama voters on the Nov. Leatherbury also had a role in securing the host site through the Forever Wild Land Trust, a program that has secured more than 227,000 acres for public use in its 20-year history.
Wild dogs in alabama trial#
Barnett Lawley Forever Wild Field Trial Area near Greensboro, Ala., attracts the top retrieving breeds in the nation, and Leatherbury has a lengthy history with retriever competition.
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The Master National, recently held at the M. One of the biggest stages in the nation for hunting retrievers was missing one entry, a Labrador that had become basically a member of the Leatherbury family.
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The 2012 Master National was a bittersweet event for Rob Leatherbury of Fairhope, Ala. A Great Land, a Great Dog: Staying Forever Wild in Alabama
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