I am planning a repeat breeding between Bluestem’s Prairie Fire, NA I and Bluestem Otoe Chief, NA II in the winter for spring 2021 puppies. My reservation list is robust, but if you would like to be on the backup list in case there are more puppies than I have reservations, feel free to email bluestemkennels@gmail.com.
We really could not have asked for a better day at the Heartland Chapter NAVHDA Test on August 8th. The predicted heat held off until we were finished and not only did we have the best results we could ask for, we had a surprise visitor. Mack is a four month old puppy from “Chief” Bluestem Otoe Chief, NA II who had some litters with Coppershot Griffons in Iowa this year. He really looks like a baby Chief! Here he is on the left pictured with Obi on the right.
Chief’s puppy Mack, left, and Obi on the right
A person really doesn’t know how well they scored until they get to the reading of the scores at the end of the day. We started in the field and were about half way through the ten dogs, so there was lots of scent to throw things off. We got in enough times pointing the birds to make the grade though.
The bird and dog photos are tough to catch, but I did manage to get one. You can see the chukar flying off in the top right corner of the photo and Obi on point down in the bottom left.
Obi stays steady as the chukar flies away
Charles walks in on another intense point from Obi
Obi on point
I was a bird planter during the field portion.
The second portion of the test was the track. It was difficult for me to see what was happening from my vantage point, but Obi must have tracked the bird successfully since he came back to Charles with a rooster in his mouth.
Charles struggles to control Obi’s excitement as he jumps for joy over his rooster
We finished the day with the water retrieve. Obi did fantastic on his two bumper swims.
Obi bringing back the bumper
Last but not least was the evaluation of the attributes. Everything looked great and he even has perfect teeth.
Senior Judge Chuck Casanova evaluates Obi’s teeth while Judges Bridget Nelson and David Hahn look on.
Chuck Casanova looks at Obi’s teeth
We couldn’t be more proud. Next up is Obi’s hip scan and getting some more age and wild bird hunting under his belt.
Other than working towards the NAVHDA Natural Ability Test, we went out to the Sandhills for a coronacation around the 4th of July. I got a couple of good shots of the dogs from that.
Looks like Ruth is going to start making some attempts at AKC Senior Hunter at the end of September. But of course right now we are looking forward to the beginning of hunting season Labor Day weekend. We’ll get to chase sharptailed grouse, prairie chicken, dove, snipe and teal out in the Sandhills.
Let’s hope that this weather cools down and that we all have great success in the field in our tests and hunting. Good luck to everyone out there working their dogs!
Bluestem Kennels 
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