Rusticwood Irish Setters was established in 1978 by Ann Miller-Donahue and Carolyn Thomas-Dison (Roche) with the first Rusticwood litter by CH. Courtwood Summer Forecast ex Shawnee Wind N’ Willow, CD. This combination, know as the Moon litter, produced six champions.  In 1982, CH. Rusticwood Sierra Moon was bred to CH. Thenderin William Muldoon, which produced three champions - R.Sea Raid, R.Sea Hunt, and R.Sea Charm.   Also from that combination was Rusticwood Sea Serenade, who was the foundation for Casper Zeigler and dam of his CH. Classics Crystal Lady, CD, JH.  In 1984, Rusticwood Cher, also from the Simon x Willow combination, was bred to CH. Rebellions Lumberjack which produced CH. Rusticwood Olympic Medalist, CD, ROM.  Bo, as he is known by his admirers, is the sire of 50 champion get, with others close to finishing.  Bo was also the sire of the #1 bitch in 1994, CH. Arista’s Finest Rose.  In 1986, Bo was bred to CH. Kerry-Eire Stairway T’ Heaven, CD (CH. Courtwood Summer Forecast x CH. Kerry-Eire Little Rebel, CD, VC) to produce the Made litter in which five champions resulted - Champions R.Made in Heaven, R. Special Made, R.Made To Kiss, R.Made To Love, and R. Custom Made.  CH. Rusticwood Made in Heaven, Joy, was bred to CH. Raptures Orion Rebellion (CH. Rusticwood Olympic Medalist x Rendition Apple Blossom) which produced the Party litter that resulted in five champions.  Joy was then bred to CH. Quailfied Mak’n Business for his first and most famous litter, the Rusticwood Song litter.   There were nine champions out of ten puppies in this litter, which was litter of the year for two consecutive years with the ISCA, a first for this award.  This was my most famous litter in which there are two Best In Show Winners, and multiple group and Specialty winners.  This litter and the owners of these dogs have made me extremely proud of their accomplishments in the ring and in the breeding arena.  I will go further into the success of this litter later on.

Joy was then bred to CH. Kerry-Eire Heaven Only Knows, CD (CH. Courtwood Summer Forecast x CH. Kerry-Eire Little Rebel, CD, VC).  This litter was bred by Kathy Whiteis and Carolyn Roche.  This combination produced three champions with one more major pointed.  Joy's next litter was out of CH. Durin’s Kentucky Colonel (CH. Meadowlarks Midnight Ryder X CH. Heatherwood Double Trouble).  Two champions resulted in this combination with one more major pointed.  For Joy's final litter I did a breeding that I had waited 20 years for.  Joy was bred to her grandson, CH. Rendition Mercedes Benz (CH. Rusticwood Song N’ Dance Man x Rendition Pretty Woman).   There were six puppies in this litter, four of which are champions, with a fifth one needing a major to finish.  At press time Joy is the dam of 23 champions with three more close to their titles with major points, making her one of the top producing bitches in breed history.

CH. Rusticwood Love Song, owned By Marilyn Wade, was bred to CH. Seregon Second Edition before her spectacular multi Best In Show and Specialty winning career, to produce CH. Rusticwood Running Mate, owned by Sheila Smith, who was himself a multiple Best In Show and Specialty winner.  CH. Rusticwood Song Of Hawaii is a multiple Best In Show Winner, and he holds the record for most Specialty Best of Breeds, with 31 wins, and he is the sire of multiple champions.  Riley also won Best of Breed at the Westminster Kennel Club in February of 1998.  CH. Rusticwood Song N’Dance Man is a multiple group winner and is the sire of multiple champions.  CH. Rusticwood Song Of The South, owned by Pat Haigler, is a multiple Best in Sweepstakes winner as well as the Best of Opposite in Sweeps at the 1992 National Specialty.  Melody was bred to CH. Rendition Mercedes Benz and there are multiple pointed get in that litter.  CH. Rusticwood Annie’s Song was bred to CH. Sunshines First Rate.  This young litter has two that are champions and four more that are pointed.  CH. Rusticwoods Desert Song "Brooke" was bred to CH. Sunshines Remember When, which produced the 1998 National Specialty Sweepstakes winner, Rusticwood Walk On Th’ Wild Side, with two other littermates placing in their classes at the National.  Rusticwood Walking Tall, owned by Jennifer Mosing, is from the Walk litter and is pointed.  Brooke’s second litter was by CH. Cucuhullain Good Fortune and has done very well in their first year of showing, with many pointed, including a major, and multiple reserves.