Tommy Bullen

Tommy Bullen of Newport was one of Delaware's premier dogmen at the turn of the Twentieth Century... He had water dogs, hounds and his personal favorite BIRD DOGS...

Tommy won many a local bet when hunting his dogs against other local dogs on the marshes and farm fields bordering the Christiana River outside of his Newport home. Back in those days, you didn't have to go but out your back door to shoot ducks, geese, woodcock, rabbits, coons and QUAIL. Blackie's Marsh in back of his house was a haven for all these species of game and Tommy's dogs were tops because they had ample opportunity to hone their skills. Tommy was a noteworthy trainer and the wealthy men of the area all flocked to his backyard to watch him work dogs.

As a founding member of the Delaware Setter & Pointer Club and one of it's earliest officers, Tommy Bullen dedicated a major portion of his day to promoting bird dogs and field trialing in Delaware. He did a lot of winning at English Setter Club Trials and at the Delaware Setter & Pointer Club he helped establish. He befriended many a young man including my personal mentor; Ralph Kellam who recounted the story of Tommy Bullen to me before his death at 96.

I've included some some pictures his grandson Tommy Bullen III sent me recently in the blog above...