Bluestem Kennels

All-terrain pups

July 2, 2010

Charity Upchurch Bird Dog Training, Puppy Update Bird Hunting, Dog Training, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Korthals Griffon, Papio-Missouri River Natural Resource District, Puppies, Walnut Creek Recreation Area, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Leave a comment

We needed a change of setting yesterday, so I drove the pups over to Papillion to Walnut Creek Recreation Area, managed by the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resource District. It is truly a nice little spot, few people and plenty of hills replanted in native prairie.

Nosing around upon arrival

We made our way down to the pond, where they couldn’t resist the attraction of swamp stink.

Frog hunting

Alpha Female swamping

Male 2.1 swamping

The pups are very used to the dense forest floor forb cover, but I made a point of walking through some different types of heavy cover in this open setting.

Busting through native prairie

A run through the wildflowers

Back to the swamp for some cattails

We mucked about the place for a good hour or so, walking up into the hills, then dipping back down by the pond. These pups are going to homes in Alabama and Wyoming and the cover will be much different, but it is good to expose them to a variety of cover types, so that they are not afraid to hunt in new places.

Swimming Puppies!

July 1, 2010

Charity Upchurch Bird Dog Training, Puppy Update Bird Hunting, Dog Training, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Korthals Griffon, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Puppies, Two Rivers State Recreation Area, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Leave a comment

The road to the private pond is washed out from the flood, so yesterday we took the drive out to Two Rivers State Recreation Area for a swim. The sign said “no pets allowed” on the beach, but I had driven nearly an hour to get to a 50 ft. by 10 ft. area of sand on a 1 acre pond (yes, lame), so I was willing to take the risk.

I started off by letting the pups hang out with the kids in the very shallow water.

Checking out the water with the girls

Checking out the water and Caleb

The next step was to have Cordelia take a pup out into the water and get it wet, the same way I did a week or so ago in the kiddie pool. It has to be all positive, with lots of praise and encouragement.

Male 2.1 gets wet

Alpha Female gets wet

Finally, I took them out one at a time into a little bit deeper water. I petted the pup, got it wet, then set it into the water, holding on to its torso with its legs hanging free into the water. When I saw its legs start to make dog paddle motions, I let it go to swim!

Male 2.1 swimming

Alpha Female swimming

Both during and after their little swims, I lavished praised on them. It was not my ideal introduction to water, but it was what I had available at the time and seemed to be a positive experience for the pups. Luckily, I should have access to the private pond back for next year’s litter (barring any floods).

Right now, I’m focused on getting these little pups some sort of new experience every day. It doesn’t have to be for a very long period of time, but just something to keep those little brains active and curious.

Female 2.1 made it to Montana

June 30, 2010

Charity Upchurch Puppy Update Leave a comment

Female 2.1 made it to Montana safely yesterday and without pooping the crate. Not bad for being stuck in there for 10 hours.

I think I’m going to run the kids and two remaining pups out today to play in some water. Here are a couple of pictures from our morning walk.

Sniffing around the yard

Sniffing around the forest

Dog Training: Bike exercise and fetch with Sam

June 28, 2010

Charity Upchurch Bird Dog Training, Sire and Dam Ability Bird Hunting, Dog Training, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Korthals Griffon, NAVHDA, North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Leave a comment

Charles tuned up his bike and hooked up “The Springer” over the weekend.

On their way

Down the street

The roading harness that is on the dog was purchased separately. “The Springer” required a slight modification, because a small plastic piece that attached the rope to the breakaway device (the part that detaches from the metal arm in case a post gets between the bike and the dog) snapped. Charles resolved the issue by simply tying the rope to the breakaway device.

The dog rope tied directly to the breakaway piece

After the modification, Charles took a nice long ride with Sam. He even tested the breakaway device post-modification and it was still effective. Both Charles and the dog seem to be satisfied with the product. I think this is the first time we have ever purchased anything made in Norway, so good job Norwegians:)

Charles also worked on the commands “fetch” and “out” with Sam. The fetching part was easy and smooth, but we still need to work a little more on “out”. He should automatically release the dummy on the “out” command, but we still have to pry on his mouth a little. We’ll just keep practicing.

He first tossed the bumper

Out with the bumper

They also worked with a pheasant dummy

Sam fetches pheasant dummy

Sam retrieves pheasant dummy

Out with the pheasant dummy

Sam fetching pheasant dummy on another throw

Sam is only two-years old, so we are working on polishing him up on commands now that his natural abilities have been tested in the field. We are also working toward the NAVHDA Utility Preparatory Test and hoping he will be ready for it in the fall. We’ll keep you updated on his progress.

News from points afar

June 27, 2010

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

All of the new owners who drove have made it home safe and sound.The last word from California was that Hank and Female 2.2 were asleep at home on the couch together; I wish I had a picture of that:)

Pete from Nevada also made it home yesterday. Alpha Male “Whiskey” did not have any potty accidents in the truck or in any hotels. Whiskey is following his 8-year old daughter around everywhere she goes, I’m sure he remembers all of the love from my 9-year old girl.

I was so excited to receive pictures of Male 3 “Winston” at home in Minnesota meeting the other family members.

Winston meets Stella the German Wirehair Pointer

Winston meets the cat

I will have to check in later on today with Stephen from Rhode Island to see how things are going there with Male 2.2. Right now, I need to get ready to go pick up my daughter from Girl Scout camp.

One last note though, in case you haven’t been counting, I have 3 pups left to go home. Female 2.1 should fly on Tuesday, I will meet Male 2.1’s family when I go to pick up my son from grandma camp, and Alpha Female boards with me until July 8 when she flies home.

Male 3 Homeward Bound

June 26, 2010

Charity Upchurch Puppy Update Leave a comment

This morning, Caleb and I made a roadtrip to Des Moines with Male 3. The new owners drove from Minnesota and met us there.

My car prisoners

I was able to reap the benefits from the crate training myself today. Caleb fussed more than the dog did (Caleb is typically a better traveler, but he was missing his older brother and sister at camp, who normally entertain him).

While Kelvin, Nancy and I were visiting at a park in Des Moines, Caleb and the pup headed for a giant mud puddle. I called to Caleb and Kelvin called the pup at the same time. “I wonder who will come back first?” he asked.

There was no question in my mind about my answer, “the dog.”

Sure enough, the pup came to Kelvin and I had to run after Caleb:) It is so exciting to see the fruits of my labor first hand.

Nancy, Kelvin and Male 3 "Winston"

It warms my heart to see these critters going to such great homes.

Fond farewells

June 25, 2010

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

We took our final forest hike as a pack yesterday.

Cordelia, myself, Caleb, Sue and pups

Last hike as a whole pack

Two strong souls braved the wilds of Interstate 80 and arrived last evening to pick up their new best friends.

Hank from California and Female 2.2

Pete from Nevada and Alpha Male

This morning I answered a 3 AM wake-up call to take Male 2.2 to the airport. He is currently en route by air to Boston, with his final destination being Rhode Island. When I left, he was sleeping soundly in his crate.

Vaya con dios Male 2.2

It is exciting to see them leave the litter and go off to fabulous new homes. I look forward to receiving updates and photos from the owners about the progress of their training and success in the field.

Weight Update and Forest Frolic

June 22, 2010

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

We went to the vet yesterday and today, split into two groups. Here are the new weights:

1. Alpha Male: 13 lbs. 4 oz.

2. Male 2.2: 12 lbs. 12 oz.

3. Male 3: 12 lbs. 11 1/2 oz.

4.Male 2.1: 12 lbs. 5 1/2 oz.

5.Alpha Female: 12 lbs. 4 1/2 oz.

6.Female 2.1: 11 lbs. 1 1/2 oz.

7.Female 2.2: 10 lbs. 11 oz.

The sun came out after a rainy visit to the vet, so we took a walk out in the forest. These walk shots are difficult because I have Sue on a leash in one hand and the camera in the other. I was completely shocked when I downloaded the pictures and found one of Alpha Female doing a perfect point. That was complete luck.

Perfect Point

Wanderers

Cordelia training for pack leader

Hiking

Still hiking

A funny story from yesterday. I turned the pups loose from the kennel and they went barreling down into the forest, as usual. When I finished cleaning up the kennel, I went out and called for them and they weren’t coming back like they normally do (they are getting pretty good at responding to the whistle and also the command “kennel”). I saw a big puppy hubbub over on the other side of the property line, on a very muddy slope, in a big patch of nettles. When I made it over there, I discovered that my neighbor had a failed meat smoking experiment and had thrown a whole pork shoulder into the forest (he throws bones out for my dogs all of the time, so I wasn’t worried about poison or anything). The pups had “hunted up” the pork shoulder and were all gnawing it. By the time I got the pork away from them (I gave it to Sam) and the pups back into the kennel, I was covered in mud and nettle stings!

New homes, here we come!

Running the big dogs

June 20, 2010

Charity Upchurch Bird Dog Training, Kennel Update, Puppy Update Dog Training, Hunting Dogs, Korthals Griffon, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Leave a comment

For Father’s Day, Charles purchased himself “The Springer”. As you can see in this low quality YouTube video, it is a spring-loaded bar that attaches to your bike for running a dog. I can’t wait to see it in action in person!

Yesterday, Charles took Sam to our local dog training Wildlife Management Area. He said that it was full of turkey and Sam was doing some great points, but as you can see from the photos, we are in dire need of a camera upgrade for the field.

Sam

Sam pointing

Sam pointing again

Speaking of flights, I’m hoping that the temperature stays down in the connection cities so that we don’t have to reschedule. I’m starting to get anxious with all of the preparations and transportations that are coming up.

It has been a rainy, muddy weekend, so not really a good one to get out to take pictures of the pups. Hopefully later this week.

Happy Father’s Day!

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Puppy Rodeo

June 13, 2010

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

Today my kids and I decided that all of the puppies needed to walk in the forest. Between coaxing and carrying, we got them all down the hill and moving on the path. I can’t say that I blame the pups for being hesitant to hike. Walking in the forest is no stroll in the park here, as the hills are steep and the trail is muddy with the thrice daily rainstorms we’ve been having.

Making their way

Sticking with mom

Making their way home

I wasn’t able to get any individual training done over the weekend, as I spent all of my dog time with the litter as a whole (and the house and family needed attention too). I’ll get back at it tomorrow.

Bluestem Kennels

All-terrain pups

Swimming Puppies!

Female 2.1 made it to Montana

Dog Training: Bike exercise and fetch with Sam

News from points afar

Male 3 Homeward Bound

Fond farewells

Weight Update and Forest Frolic

Running the big dogs

Wirehaired Pointing Griffon Puppy Rodeo

Archived posts

Search Archived Blog Posts

Follow us on Facebook