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Since 1974, Hans Rasmus Astrup has
been breeding English Setters under the kennel name ”Kennel
Sletthallen” using, among others, dogs imported from America.
Our focus has primarily been on producing good hunting dogs.
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The stone monument on the
right is in remembrance of all our four-legged hunting
companions which have now passed on. This monument is on the
mountain at Sletthallen. The names of the dogs are written
on brass plaques and a bronze sculpture of Finnvellen’s
Cherokee is on the top of the monument, looking out over the
terrain. Traditionally we meet at the monument the first day
of hunting each autumn and remember our earlier hunting
companions and the great times we spent together in the
mountains. |
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In the 70s a discussion began
among English Setter owners about developments in the
Norwegian bloodlines which was used in breeding. Some claimed
that the breed was starting to degenerate. Norway is a small
country, and from the beginning of the 20th century, dogs
had largely been bred from Norwegian lines. It was
proven that many dogs were nervous, of unstable mentality
and that hunting abilities were no longer at their best.
There was a need for new bloodlines to interbreed with the
Norwegian ones. We decided to use American lines. However,
it was not easy to import dogs to Norway. Few people had
contacts with foreigners who bred hunting dogs and the
authorities demanded six months quarantine.
In the summer of 1974 we bought a puppy, Gråvola’s Cash Pax,
bred from one of the few American dogs that had come to
Norway: Silver Heights Cash. This dog was imported from the
kennel, Silver Heights. Cash Pax made a good impression and
it didn’t take long before we decided to take a trip to
America to look for dogs. Two of the dogs which were bought
on this first trip were I’m Oscar and Tomoka’s Lady Bird,
from Smith Setters. |
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American Setters were an unusual sight in Norway
with their ”12 o’clock tails”, tails which are held
directly up when pointing. Not everyone was happy
about these new acquisitions. Regarding appearance,
there were many who thought the American setters
were far behind the Norwegian in body shape and long
feathering. |
I'm Oscar |
Also in the field, the
American dogs could be intimidating, due to their
strong hunting instinct and their strong build,
making them real hunting machines.
After having worked with several prestigious kennels
in America, we decided that the best dog for
Norwegian circumstances was at Smith Setters in
Georgia. Whilst some American breeds searched in the
category ”over every mound”, the dogs from Smith are
so-called ”shooting dogs”, who search in a way
well-suited to the Norwegian landscape. During 30
years close collaboration with Harold Ray at Smith
Setters, we have imported about 15 dogs.
Today, we are very pleased with our robust, eager to
hunt and easily trainable Setters with American
ancestry. Several have done very well at shows also in recent years. The effects of interbreeding have been
extremely successful and the results of many years
speak for themselves.
Dogs from Kennel Sletthallen and their offspring
have won several King’s Cups and other titles (for
more information, see ”Breeding dogs”). Kennel
Sletthallen has won over 800 hunting awards, of
which 150 are winners of the Champions class
and 12 Nordic Championships (most with King’s Cups).
The results haven’t only given us a great deal of
personal pleasure, but have also had great
significance for those working with shooting dogs in
Norway.
In 2005 we competed under FCI rules in Denmark for
the first time. The occasion was the World
Championships and the European Cup. Sletthallens
Cash was the only English Setter on the Norwegian
World Championship team and our country placed 3rd among 19 nations. On the first day of the European
Cup he obtained "3.excellence" only beaten by the
European Cup winner Ferrol ned La Armuna and the
good french dog Sphinx de la Croix Gentilhomme.
Fredrik Aalerud and his partner, Elisabeth Kallevig,
train and plan breeding of the dogs. As they have grown up,
sons Thomas(19) and Haaken(14) have been of increasing help,
in hunting, trials and shows, earning good results. |
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