Bluestem Kennels

I just took the camera out  for our daily backyard run and I wanted to share the pictures.  BB is huge and will be having her puppies around Valentine’s Day.  Mae is a heavier set dog anyway, but I can see that her nipples are already dropping 2 weeks post-breeding.  This is Mae’s last litter and BB’s first, so their bodies change at different rates.

BB the pregosaurus

Old mama Mae

Tor is doing well at 12 weeks old now.  He loves to play with the big dogs and his kids.  He is generally pretty spoiled, but listens when he is called, is almost housebroken, retrieves dummies, likes to run in the woods, sleeps in his crate at night and when we are away, and will hang out in the outdoor kennel with BB for a few hours without bawling his head off.

Handsome Tor striking a pose.

About a week ago, Charles pulled a quail out of the freezer and was playing fetch with Tor using it.  I hadn’t used my big camera in quite some time, so I was pretty out of practice and the camera was a little slow to respond.  Here was the best shot I got, which isn’t great, but will have to do.

Tor with a frozen quail

Boys will be boys: Tor gives Sam a pounce

Sam is just being big friendly Sam.  He and Charles went out hunting these last few weekends, but only saw one rooster or so and didn’t bag anything.  After a busy hunting season full of travel, we are all happy to stay home with the new puppies on their way!

Sam nosing around

I need to get down towards Lincoln to get some photos of Sam and Sue’s 3 year old son, Ben, who is the sire of my co-owned female, Velma’s, puppies.  Aaron said that Velma is doing well and is showing some changes in eating habits, so we assume that the breeding is going ahead for puppies to whelp mid-March, at the same time as Mae does here.

Pupdate

Lindsey in Montana shared this photo of 10 month old Midge, on right.  She is hanging out on the farm with her big brother Murf, who is not from our kennel but is also a griffon.  Midge is from our 2013 “F” litter between Mae and Sam.  We hope that she turns out well, as she is a part of our future breeding program if so.  There are many quality up-and-coming studs in Montana that we are evaluating for potential future use.

Murph and Midge

I know that there are many folks out there looking for griffon puppies right now and I just want to give them a quick message.  Although I have 3 litters planned for this spring, I have 23 reservations.  With 2 first litter females (BB and Velma), there is a possibility that I will have more than enough puppies, but there are no guarantees and it is likely that some folks may have to wait until 2015 for a puppy from us.  Please feel free to call (402) 682-9802 or e-mail bluestemkennels@cox.net if you have any questions.

The whelping area is all set up and the countdown to BB’s puppies is on.  With the end of hunting season tomorrow, it is doubtful that I will have any news until her puppies are whelped.  Send us good thoughts for a smooth whelping and I will keep you posted!