"Adena" was the name of the 2000-acre estate of Thomas Worthington (1773-1827), sixth governor of Ohio and one of the state's first United States Senators.

It was upon these same historical Ohio grounds where Duchess was raised from a pup and trained by none other than the Adena Historical Site's caretaker himself.  Thus she was given the very fitting name, "Duchess of Adena".

"Adena," a name given to "places remarkable for the delightfulness of their situations."

--- Thomas Worthington

Parentage - DNA

Result = VIP

Duchess has been DNA tested to prove parentage. Her certification displays the Blue and Gold seal signifying "VIP" (Verifiable Identified Parentage) confirming both the sire and dam of the dog to be as stated in the pedigree and that she is 100% Llewellin Setter.

Color - DNA

Duchess has been DNA tested for coat and nose color.

Coat Color:  Black tricolor

Nose Color: Black

Hidden Colors: Chestnut

Genotype: k^y/k^y , E/E, B/b

(certificate coming soon)

Hips - OFA

Rating = FAIR

OFA #: ES-7185F52F-PI

Duchess has been certified free of canine hip dysplasia (CHD). Based upon the radiograph submitted to the OFA, the consensus was that no evidence of hip dysplasia was recognized. X-rays were taken at 4 years of age and after two litters, so by this time any developing HD or arthritis associated with HD would've already been apparent in the way she walks and acts, especially after hunting. Only dogs that are certified free of hip dysplasia are given an OFA number.

Eyes - CERF

Result = Clear

CERF #: LS-114/2006--54

Duchess has been certified free from inheritable eye diseases and has been registered with the Canine Eye Registration Foundation.

Look for Duchess to compete in the midwest Bird Dog Challenge competitions during 2010.

Duchess can best be described as a very spirited and intense hunter. She is an experienced field hunter and was trained from start to finish using hand and whistle commands and through extensive field work as a hunting guide dog. She is enthusiastic, full of energy and very quick in the field. She has successfully pointed and retrieved wild birds and has had over 200 birds shot over her.

Tactics: She has an uncanny natural instinct to hunt and point birds and has proven to honor another dog's point. She is a pro at quartering and working into the wind. When working fence lines, she will stay out to the side while going away from you so as not to spook the birds, but will then swing into the fence line and work it back and forth on her way back to you into the wind. She is easily redirected with a short whistle blow and responds almost immediately to any voice, hand or whistle command you give her.

Style on point: She will snap in an instant into a frozen solid point and will hold it infinitely. She holds a low headset while leaning into the point with tail high and slightly curved, occasionally with the front paw off the ground. She is so intense that she can be seen quivering with excitement.

Range: Close to mid-range

Retrieving: Retrieves to hand in response to short intermittent whistle blows.

Duchess is naturally very gentle, loving and quiet in nature. She craves your affection and would be a lap dog in a heartbeat if you would let her. To get your attention, she will come sit next to you and put her paw on your knee. If you don't respond, she will try to crawl up in your lap if you're not careful.

She wants to be as close to you as possible; anywhere you are is where she wants to be. She gives lots of well-timed kisses because 9 times out of 10 she'll get you right on the smacker! She really gets into her kisses and licks you as if you were sugar coated because she can't seem to get enough!

Duchess is a very smart dog and is easily trained to do just about anything. She really wants to please you.

Size: At 47 pounds, Duchess is on the larger end of the female weight scale, but still within the norm coming in at under 50 pounds.

Color: Blanketed Black Tri-color; predominantly black in color with tan cheeks and brows, white legs with black and tan ticking. 

Head:  beautifully proportioned with parallel lines (top of head, top of muzzle, and bottom of lower jaw). She displays a long and square muzzle when viewed from the side. 

Eyes: amber; nearly round and proportionally spaced

Ears: set back on the head and set at the level of the eye; carried close to the head when relaxed and pulled high when alert. Long feathering adds about 2 inches to the length of the ear's appearance.

Coat: soft, shiny and flat (not wavy); feathering is present on ears, back of all legs. Tail feathering is currently growing back after whelping her last litter.

Movement: very springy with seemingly effortless bounding; strong rear thrust due to very muscular hind quarters. This attribute is wonderful in the long grass of our hunting fields.

People have told us that Duchess looks a lot like a Gordon Setter, but that is merely in coloration only.

Duchess is what we call "blanketed" because of the predominant black coloration covering her entire back which is a color other than the typical white. All four white legs are heavily ticked in black and tan and thus Duchess is considered a tri-colored dog.

Litter A: (click to view)

Duchess's first litter consisted of all tri-colored pups with various markings which are detailed below.

Sire was a Tri-Belton.

Colors:

   * Blanketed Black Tri-color: black / white / tan (blanketed predominantly in black, with white and tan markings)

   * Blanketed Chestnut Tri-color: chestnut / white / tan (blanketed predominantly in chestnut with white and tan markings)

   * Black Tri-color: white / black / tan (predominantly white, with black markings and black and tan ticking)

Markings:

   * Full-hood: Color predominantly covering the head usually with a white stripe from nose to forehead.

   * Half Mask: Color covering half the head and face including the eye.

   * Blanketed: Predominantly covered in color (other than white) all over their bodies.

Litter B: (click to view)

Duchess's second litter consisted of a wonderful mixture of color types with various markings and are detailed below.

Sire was White/Black.

Colors:

    * Black Tri-color: white / black / tan (predominantly white, with black markings and black and tan ticking)

    * Chestnut Tri-color: white / chestnut / tan (predominantly white, with chestnut markings and chestnut & tan ticking)

    * Blue: white / black (predominantly white with black markings and ticking)

    * Chestnut:  white / chestnut (predominantly white with chestnut markings and ticking)

Markings:

    * Full-hood: Color other than white predominantly covering the head.

    * Masked:  Color on the face which includes both eyes.

Duchess is from the Bondhu bloodlines of the Llewellin Setter. 

no photo currently available

Dashing Iron Mike - Sire owned by Straight Creek Kennels in West Liberty, KY is Duchess's maternal great-grandsire. Mike was the winner of the first official Llewellin Setter Field Trials competition held in December 1994.

Awbonnie's Bull - Sire owned by Eric Jacobs of Kentucky is Duchess's paternal grandsire. Bull was an outstanding Grouse dog and he lived from 05/1988 to 01/2000.

Photo courtesy of Eric Jacobs

Bull was a great grouse dog of tremendous stamina and will to find birds coupled with a superior nose and intellect. Bull made birds. He became a grouse dog with such desire and drive he was a handful. One thing only on his mind, "Find another grouse!". From his humble beginnings as a dog [hunting] too close, he emerged as a great one few men ever witness. Grouse dogs are at the very top of the realm of birddog excellence and he was at the top of this loyal order.

"Great" is often used as a term to describe dogs that point grouse. Bull pointed in the area of 1000+ in his lifetime, but he was more, much more. When others had birdless days he would produce several. By his midlife he was known for par excellence at: following running grouse great distances, retrieving birds not even known to be hit and flat out hunting his guts out for as many as 8 hours a day for up to 13 days in a row. This was in our mountains which are from 1800 feet to as much as 3800 feet elevation. Conditions did not matter. I have seen this dog point and hold grouse on an almost vertical slope with gusting winds at his back then retrieve the downed bird sometimes as much as 100 or even 200 yards back up the slope. Birds often roll forever on such steep banks as this. He was NEVER outbirded!  -- Quote provided by Eric Jacobs