Touched By the Sun’s Summer Breeze
Joe & Julie Grohs
As of 2025, Summer has 2,500 Senior Hunter points and over 600 Senior Upland points. She achieved these milestones with the same focused attitude she has shown throughout her career; at almost nine years old, she remains steady, sharp, and eager to work. Summer produced two litters of accomplished dogs who went on to earn GMHRCH, GMHR, GMUR, MUR, QAA, and Master Hunter titles.
Summer and Joe shared a commitment; Joe cared enough to do the work and Summer cared enough to meet the challenge. It was about learning to train and hunt together more effectively and growing side by side, becoming better hunters and partners. That mutual trust and effort became the foundation of their relationship.
Joe trained Summer as his hunting dog and companion. He didn’t always know what he was doing, but paid attention, listened, and learned—from the work, from the dogs, and from people he respected. One of those people was my friend Dan Hove. He’s no longer with us, but Dan believed deeply in doing right by the dogs and in honoring the NAHRA traditions.
Summer still enjoys the work: training, testing, and hunting with eagerness and purpose. What they built together came from that place, and from the people who helped guide them.
“I want to learn from the greats, earn my right to be living with every breath that I take…I want to be one who is touched by the sun.” — Carly Simon
