It looks like Merlo has a heck of a season coming up. As you know, this is where some incredible memories are made.
I lived in western Michigan for three years and we ran into a lot of Woodcock in the areas north of Baldwin. Lots of Grouse there too. This hunting is flat and very easy compared to southwest Pennsylvania.
If you put in some effort with the water training you will have a duck dog too. Get him a Neoprene vest, and yes they make them for dogs his size. With him having fun retrieving sticks, you have the fundamentals of what you need. Keep him away from hazards and rough shoreline until he gets older and has a few birds to his credit.
You are right on the Boykin or Cocker. The desire to have another never leaves me. Right now we have four dogs, three of which are rescues, so a hunting dog is out of the question at this point. I hope to get one for my kids to train in a few years.
You boys have a blast this season!
