Bird Dog Training | Bluestem Kennels

Celebrating Freedom!

July 11, 2011

Charity Upchurch Bird Dog Training, Kennel Update Dog Training, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Korthals Griffon, Merritt Reservoir, Nebraska Sandhills, Valentine Nebraska, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons Leave a comment

This summer is slipping away so quickly! We had a great time up in the Sandhills over the Fourth of July weekend. The first two days of the weekend were spent out at Merritt Reservoir swimming and canoeing with the dogs. (I apologize if some of these photos appear faint, I think my little point and shoot had a dirty lens)

Sam and Sue take a swim

Sam and BB in the water, with Sue on the beach

Charles takes Sam out for some canoe practice

BB is growing, weighing in at 27 lbs at 4 months old

BB takes a swim

Sue follows behind the canoe containing Charles and the kids

My mom talked us into walking in the Fourth of July parade, which was quite the adventure. The dogs and the older kids did well, but I didn’t pack the stroller and Caleb wasn’t very cooperative. It was good lead walking and socialization practice for the dogs.

Lining up for the parade

Charles walking the big dogs in Valentine's Fourth of July Parade

I have a busy couple of weeks ahead of me, but I’ll be back with a couple of videos. I want to have a video of BB doing “fetch” and “sit”, then a second video of me grooming Sam. I get several hits a day for a grooming post that I wrote about a year ago and I’ve learned some new tricks that I want to share.

Stay cool in these hot days of summer!

Dog days of summer

June 7, 2011

Charity Upchurch Bird Dog Training, Kennel Update, Puppy Update Dog Training, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Korthals Griffon, Missouri River, Puppies, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons Leave a comment

I have managed to work daily with “BB” on sit, stay, release (I use “okay” as the release command). She does great on stay and release, but doesn’t have the “sit” pose down just yet. So, after the command “sit” I push down on her rear and lift her chin just slightly, to put her in the position that I want. I then give the “stay” command (you could also use “whoa”) with the stop hand signal. Right now, I’m backing away facing the dog, so that I can catch her if she moves, but eventually I should be able to walk away with my back turned to her and she shouldn’t move. Here’s a shot of her enjoying the “doggy pool” on a hot day this week:

BB cools off at 13 weeks

Summer is here and with it comes so many distractions! All three kids are home, Charles just had a week-long break and the heat and humidity have gone off the charts here! Another glitch in our training is that the private land that we normally use for water and light field work is underwater from the Missouri River flooding. It is supposed to crest around June 15th, after a major release of water from Gavin’s Point Dam and they are projecting a record crest. Our prayers go out to all who are being affected.

Stranded RV on River Road, Plattsmouth, Nebraska

I received a puppy update from Kyle in Nevada, via an e-mail from his father, Stan (who’s as sharp as a tack in his 80’s). Stan reported that “Shady Lady” is up to 24 pounds and did some great tracking and retrieving practice up in Montana with Kyle. Stan says it best, here’s the quote from the e-mail, “The other day in Montana she found and retrieved the hidden pheasant wing from 100 feet downwind! Dropped it at Kyle’s feet! Sign us ………. “Happy”. I always appreciate the great updates and photos from my puppy owners; thanks Stan and Kyle!

Shady Lady from our "B" litter at 3 1/2 months

Spring in the Sandhills and other adventures

June 1, 2011

Charity Upchurch Bird Dog Training, Kennel Update, Puppy Update, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons Dog Training, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Korthals Griffon, Merritt Reservoir, NAVHDA, Nebraska Sandhills, North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association, Valentine Nebraska, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons Leave a comment

We had a surprise visit last night from Kyle and his three month old pup from our recent “B” litter, named Duke. It was a shock to see how large he is, most likely pushing the 30 pound mark. I wasn’t able to get a measure on his shoulder, but he is tall enough that BB can run between his legs. As Duke lives within 15 miles of our house, so we will be seeing the most of him out of any of the pups from our litters. It will be exciting to watch him develop!

BB, Sue, Duke and Sam having a Griffon party

Duke points BB

BB and Duke had a great time playing together

Memorial Day weekend was spent up in my hometown of Valentine, Nebraska. The dogs went for a run out on some public land outside of town and enjoyed the exercise in a change of scenery. Working the dogs in different terrains in the off-season makes for confidence in varied environments during hunting season.

Sam and Sue on a run through the Sandhills

BB and Cordelia also take in a jog

BB swamping in a wet area near a windmill

Our next stop was Merritt Reservoir, a popular local fishing and swimming hole. The dogs and the kids had a great time playing in the water and sniffing around.

BB points the kids playing in the lake

Sam takes a dip

Sue wades deep in the chilly water

Sam surprises us with a treasure: a brand new minnow bucket full of live minnows

In BB news, we took her to the vet for her 12 week shots and she weighs 17 lbs., a 7 lb. gain from when she arrived. We’re getting close to being finished up with housebreaking and I’m going to start a daily obedience training regimen. She has “come” down, but I’m going to work daily on sit, stay, whoa, and heel. We’ve started cap gun conditioning while she’s playing in the kennel with Sue and will continue to work on “fetch” with the pheasant wing.

BB at 12 weeks

BB picks up the duck dummy while Duke looks on

Bluestem Kennels is now an officially registered kennel with the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association http://www.navhda.org/. We look forward to training and testing BB with the local Heartland Chapter http://www.heartlandnavhda.com/.

Spring training!

May 16, 2011

Charity Upchurch Bird Dog Training, Kennel Update, Sire and Dam Ability, Trap and Skeet Shooting Bark for the Cure Cancer Walk, Dog Training, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Korthals Griffon, Puppies, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons Leave a comment

Happy First Birthday, Bluestem “A” Litter, on April 30th!! Here’s Winston’s 1st birthday picture, he lives on an acreage outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Thank you to Kelvin and Nancy for the picture!

Winston from our "A" litter at 1 year old

I also received some pictures from one of my new owners of a “B” litter puppy. “Roxy” (formerly known as Bess) lives out in Utah with Randy and Pam. They are very happy with her progress and surprised at how fast she is learning. Once again, many thanks to them for the photo contribution:

Roxy of our recent "B" litter checks out the wing

Roxy on retrieve to Randy

Roxy points the wing

Roxy on water retrieve

While we’re talking water, Monday and Tuesday of last week were 95+ degree days here, so I took the opportunity Monday afternoon to take the big dogs out for some swimming practice and see if we could get our new puppy “BB” in the water. Water practice is not only fun, it is vital for the dog’s desire to water retrieve waterfowl during hunting season.

Sue and Sam take a dip

BB takes her first swim

BB heading back to shore

The water was still pretty cold even though the air was warm, so our time in the water was limited. Swimming is an instinctual behavior for dogs, therefore you can’t introduce them to water too soon after picking up a puppy from a breeder (weather permitting).

As a follow-up to the wing work that we’ve been doing in the house, BB got into her first live chukar on Saturday. I used the same technique on BB that I just used on the litter of puppies. I put the chukar on a bird harness attached to a leash, I then used my puppy training pen (a 5 ft. x 10 ft. area that I created with metal fence posts and snow fence) to get the puppy to focus on the bird. I first hold the bird in my hand and put it into the puppy’s face, then slowly give more and more leash, until the bird can move about pretty freely (run and flap) within the confines of the pen and my leash. Naturally, at first the puppy is apprehensive about this strange new creature, but the scent from the training wing made it somewhat familiar. By the end of the 10 minute session, BB was chasing and pouncing on the bird with vigor! This is a good first step to get a new puppy excited about birds.

BB a little apprehensive at first

It didn't take long for BB to get aggressive with the chukar

Spring training isn’t only something for the dogs, it is important for humans too! When it comes to upland hunting, we have to do our part to ensure success also. Dog training and handling are very important, but the hunter’s shooting skill and physical fitness are also key. We’ve been spending a few weekends a month at the local skeet range tuning up our skills with the shotgun, in preparation for hunting season (which is only 3 1/2 months away). If you can’t hit the bird, then the dog doesn’t have anything to retrieve!

Charles walking back to station 1 to start a new round

Charles smashes the high bird on station 7

Those are the happenings over the past week at Bluestem Kennels! We will have a booth at the Bark for the Cure Cancer Walk on Saturday, May 21st from 9 AM -12 noon at the Lied Activity Center, 2700 Arboretum Dr. in Bellevue, Nebraska. If you would like more information about the walk or would like to register for the walk please see their website at https://sites.google.com/site/rflthunderingherd/bark-for-a-cure-cancer-walk We will be there to talk Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, versatile hunting dog training and just for some good canine fellowship! Hope to see you there!

Late Season Pheasant Hunt

January 25, 2011

Charity Upchurch Bird Dog Training, Hunting Tales, Kennel Update, Sire and Dam Ability, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons Bird Hunting, Dog Training, Focus on Pheasants, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Korthals Griffon, Lancaster County Nebraska, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Nebraska Pheasant Hunting, Pheasant Hunting, Pheasants Forever, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons 2 Comments

It isn’t very often that we get to enjoy a pheasant hunt in well-established native tallgrass prairie in Southeastern Nebraska. We’re not the only ones. In the 1960’s 140,000 hunters bagged about 1.4 million pheasants annually in Nebraska. These days, the annual count is around 50,000 hunters and 200,000 birds (Hendee, Omaha World-Herald, 01/23/11). Speaking to other Nebraska hunters this year from across the state, pheasant numbers this year have been up from recent years past, but obviously nowhere near the level of the mid-20th century.

Our hunt last Saturday was in some amazing habitat on private ground east of Lincoln. It was a cold, windless winter morning, ideal for keeping the roosters held tight in the thick grass. The air was moist and slightly foggy, perfect scenting conditions for the dogs.

The SE Nebraska combination of windbreaks, crop fields and a smattering of prairie.

Nate, the landowner, begins working the fields

Sam and Charles make their way through the big bluestem

We headed east, away from the farmstead, pushing through some thick cover towards a small cattle feedlot. As we neared the break between the prairie ground and the feedlot, Nate saw a flock of hens flush to the north. I saw one rooster fly into a windbreak at least 40 yards out, then Charles and I both saw another rooster spook way out of range. I’ll admit that we were all probably a little too chatty about what we had already seen and not focused on keeping quiet for any other roosters nearby.

The guys thought they had seen a rooster land to the south in a bit of a marshy area, so we pivoted as we came to the feedlot and began to work our way through some tough swamp weeds.

Busting through some weeds

Walking down a waterway

Sam running on the left, Sue visibly pregnant on the right

As we worked our way back west out of the swampy area and into the grassland, the dogs both started acting birdy: retracing their paths with their noses to the ground, Sam sneaking lower to the ground, Sue holding her head high, circling and searching. Finally, Sam’s beeper collar starts to make the loud, sharp beep, telling us that he’s on point. Charles walks right in for a close flush and takes the rooster.

Stay focused! The rooster takes the impact, but unfortunately my auto-focus thought I was taking a picture of that piece of grass

Sam presents the gift

The rooster!

We continued to push southward into the corner of the property, then made our way west, working a treeline on our way.

Checking back in: that’s pregnant Sue on the left with the frosty face

Following the take of the rooster, we worked the field for another hour or so, with no further sightings of pheasant.

Arriving back to the farm

The pose: Nate with Sue, Charles, Sam and the rooster

Guiding at Pheasant Haven January 9th

January 11, 2011

Charity Upchurch Bird Dog Training, Guiding Hunts, Hunting Tales, Kennel Update, Sire and Dam Ability, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons Bird Hunting, Dog Training, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Korthals Griffon, Pheasant Haven, Pheasant Hunting, Pheasants Forever, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons Leave a comment

The snow began to fall on Sunday morning, but it wasn’t enough to deter the hunters of Pheasant Haven Hunting Acres in Elk City, Nebraska (www.pheasanthavenlodge.com). Charles and the dogs guided their third hunt on the preserve, with myself on hand as co-handler of the dogs, guide assistant and photographer.

We began the day running both Sam and Sue, which led to some very fast shooting and more retrieves than we could keep up with at times. There were points where we had to stop to let the dogs catch up on picking up the shot pheasants on the ground.

Charles takes a retrieve from Sue while looking out for Sam working a bird

Sam on retrieve

Sue happily checks back in

We stopped around 11 for a lunch of pheasant breast and mushroom stew, then went back out with Sam for a second sweep of the property.

Walking the fields at Pheasant Haven

Sam brings in a rooster

Sam on point

Hunter walks in on Sam’s point

Sam gives Charles another perfect retrieve

The hunters, 24 pheasant, Sam and Charles

Your reporter in the field, posing with the birds

In 2011 litter news, Sam and Sue completed breeding at Christmas and she is showing obvious signs of pregnancy. We anticipate whelping towards the end of February. The puppy application is ready and has been sent out to the 30+ individuals expressing interest, with more calling and e-mailing every day. I am excited to raise these pups and get them into some excellent hunting homes!

Puppy Update: Gauge in Wyoming

December 9, 2010

Charity Upchurch Bird Dog Training, Hunting Tales, Puppy Update, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons Bird Hunting, Chukkar Hunting, Dog Training, Glendo Wyoming, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Hunting Wyoming, Puppies, Richard Wolters, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons Leave a comment

Trying to get back into the groove with being a stay-at-home mom again and hope to get on a better schedule with posting on the blog. I have so many things that I want to write about, but the time gets away from me!

Here’s what Sean has to say about Gauge a.k.a Male 2.1 from the 2010 litter ( I’ll post a picture to go with it as soon as I receive one):

“I have been training Gauge with Wolters training methods, and it has been absolutely wonderful and incredibly fun! After getting the basic commands down, retrieving and pointing commands went very well. This is the first dog I have personally trained for bird hunting, so I was a little nervous with how things would go, but Gauge made the process great! I was shocked at how much of a “natural” he was in training! The first true test came three weeks ago. We have a local bird farm outside of town that many hunters use for dog training purposes. After contacting the owner, we scheduled our first “hunt” with the idea of focusing on training purposes for Gauge. Starting with Chukkars because of their smaller stature, Gauge did great in tracking down all three birds, holding three beautiful points, and flushing the bird on command. Retrieves didn’t quite go as planned, but I think that was more a product of actually dealing with a live bird. Gauge would actually release for the retrieve and then point the dead bird. Pretty funny actually! All in all, it was a GREAT day that I couldn’t have been more excited about.

Gauge’s first real hunt came the first Sunday of November in Glendo, WY. Every Sunday in November they host a free youth hunt in the area, and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to work with Gauge exclusively while my 16 year-old brother-in-law did the shooting. Gauge did wonderful. He tracked down and pointed several pheasants on the day, and even retrieved well. This past Sunday, we participated in the 2nd youth hunt, and Gauge was even better than the week before! He pointed and flushed 7 birds (due to an “off” shooting day by my bro-in-law), and actually chased down and caught a pheasant after a flush and chase that lasted roughly 20-30 seconds. He was an absolute stud this past Sunday, and I’m greatly looking forward to 2 more youth hunts this month, as well as 3 scheduled hunts of my own in the next few months. Most hunters in this area use retrievers, so for them to see a pointer in action has been not only neat for them, but has made me very proud. I was very skeptical when reading Wolters’ take on hunting a dog as soon as 6 months of age, but have no doubt in my mind that with consistent, constructive training, it is not as farfetched as it may sound!”

Thanks, Sean!!

Puppy Update: Whiskey and Cold Ducks

December 1, 2010

Charity Upchurch Bird Dog Training, Hunting Tales, Puppy Update, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons Bird Hunting, Dog Training, Ducks, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Hunting Nevada, Korthals Griffon, Pheasant Haven, Pheasant Hunting, Water Retrieve, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons Leave a comment

Pete, Whiskey and some Nevada ducks

Looks like Pete and Whiskey (Alpha Male 2010 litter) had another great hunt!! According to Pete, “We are wet and cold but Whiskey put the hurt on the ducks today several water retrieves in nasty conditions and even dove after a cripple (I need to shoot better).”

Puppy Update: a Griffon named Griffen in RI

November 21, 2010

Charity Upchurch Bird Dog Training, Puppy Update, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons Leave a comment

Sorry for the blog neglect, I’ve been fighting off the seasonal illnesses. I did receive a great update from Stephen in Rhode Island about the pup he called “Griffen”, known as Male 2.2 of my 2010 litter. Here’s what he had to say:

“Griffen is doing great. He is a very happy and active 6 month old. I have been training him all summer for hunting season, he is very smart and catches on quickly. I take him in the woods as much as possible he loves it. Only been out hunting a couple of times so far this season, he did well for a young dog. Here are a few pictures of him. I will send you more during hunting season .”

Griffen (Male 2.2 2010 litter) at 6 months

Griffen in the forests of Rhode Island

For the breeding being a complete outcross, I am very happy with the uniformity of the three pups that I have seen recent photographs of. There are photos forthcoming from Sean and Amber in Wyoming that I am also very excited to see. I hope that the owners keep the updates coming!

Charles did get a nice buck out in the Sandhills and went out for deer again here in Eastern Nebraska this weekend, but didn’t see anything that met his liking. He was more excited to flush up a woodcock on his hunt yesterday than anything else. Our freezer is near capacity anyway, so I was not upset. He was going to head out for birds today, but decided to stick around the house for a change.

Give thanks for our hunting heritage!

Nebraska Pheasant Opener

November 2, 2010

Charity Upchurch Bird Dog Training, Hunting Tales, Kennel Update, Sire and Dam Ability Bird Hunting, Dog Training, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Johnson County Nebraska, Korthals Griffon, Nebraska Pheasant Hunting, Pheasant Hunting, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons Leave a comment

Sue retrieved the lone pheasant of the morning

The morning of Saturday, October 30th was spent by Charles and the dogs on the Brinkman farm in Johnson County, Nebraska. Mid-morning, Sam pointed this rooster, it flushed and Charles shot it. The bird came down between the two dogs and began to run. Fortunately, Sue was there to cut his run very short, about 5 yards. She made a good retrieve in thick cover.

All but two of the birds sighted that morning were hens, with nine pheasants seen in total. I thought that sounded like a good number, but Charles considered it down from previous years. They also got into a couple of coveys of quail, both pointed but none bagged. Last winter was a rough one for quail. Charles and the landowner’s son were both concerned about working the quail over and hope to let the quail population recover adequately before they focus on hunting them.

All in all the hunt was considered a success. Every bird that was put up was worked by the dogs and flushed in range. An accomplishment when hunting wild pheasant.

Thank you to our friend, Marvin Brinkman, for hosting the hunt and providing the picture!

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