October 20, 2010
Charity Upchurch
Bird Dog Training, Hunting Tales, Puppy Update, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons
Bird Hunting, Dog Training, Duck Hunting, Ducks, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Korthals Griffon, Puppies, Water Retrieve, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons
The pups will be six months old on the 30th and our good buddy, Pete, out in Nevada gave us an update on Spring 2010 litter’s alpha male without us even asking. I will be getting e-mails out to my other owners over the weekend to try and get other pictures and updates, but this is enough to make a dog mama proud! Thanks, Pete!
Whiskey’s first water retrieve at 6 months
“A little update on Whiskey. Chukar opener was on the 9th and was one of the most disappointing in years. I only harvested 9 birds in three days. Whiskey was outstanding. It rained all week and birds were scattered and if it weren’t for the dog I would have come out of that hunt with no Chukar. We retrieved every bird that I shot and a half dozen for one of my hunting partners that didn’t have a dog. All birds that Whiskey recovered for my hunting partner where done on scent alone. We got into the Quail on Sunday and Whiskey was hunting with two older very accomplished dogs and my 6 month old pup performed like it was his 5th season.
Last weekend was Nevada waterfowl opener and since the Chukar hunting was so bad I decided to give the Ducks a try. I have had Whiskey in the water several times retrieving dummies but he has never even seen a duck before Saturday. After only hunting for a few minutes Saturday morning I dumped a pair of huge mallards at first Whiskey was not crazy about retrieving something that almost outweighed him but after dragging the first pair of ducks back to me by the wing he was hooked on Duck hunting. Sorry for the lack of pictures, like a big dummy I left my camera at home for the chukar opener and only had my blackberry for duck. I promise better pics in the future. Whiskey is doing great on all of his verbal and e collar commands and is picking up hand signals very fast. We are still working on holding point, he is creeping on birds but for 6 months old I am amazed on how well he is doing. On the home front Whiskey is a terrific companion and one of the funniest personalities I have ever seen in a dog.
Whiskey is making me look like a genius. Just get these dogs on birds, teach them commands, and socialize them properly and 90% of the battle is won. There is so much potential with these dogs, I was kinda dreading this hunting season, breaking in a new dog but I can’t wait until Friday when I throw all of my stuff in my truck and get him hunting again (5 weeks in a row now). Pheasant season opens in November.”
Whiskey’s first duck hunt — he looks like Sam Jr. to me!
July 25, 2010
Charity Upchurch
Puppy Update
Korthals Griffon, Puppies, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
I received a cute picture of Winston from Nancy and Kelvin in Minnesota that I couldn’t resist sharing!
Winston at 3 months
July 20, 2010
Charity Upchurch
Puppy Update
Alexander Valley Vineyards, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Korthals Griffon, Puppies, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
I received some great photos of Female 2.2 (our 2010 litter) yesterday from Hank and Linda. The pup is almost 3 months old, now known as Cali and registered with the AKC as California Fortune Sweetgrass.
Cali, Linda, a great potato crop, and the yellow lab
Having a rest
Cali and Harry relaxing at the vineyard
If you ever desire a vineyard experience in Sonoma wine country in California, the Wetzel family has the beautiful Alexander Valley Vineyards to accommodate your needs. You can find them on the web at http://www.avvwine.com/ ( Which reminds me, I need to order some wine from them). We plan on paying them a visit ourselves next summer.
July 13, 2010
Charity Upchurch
Puppy Update
Bird Hunting, Dog Training, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Korthals Griffon, Puppies, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Pete and Deborah in Nevada have been sending me some cute pictures of Whiskey (Alpha Male) that I had to share!
Basco, a fellow Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Yogi the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Whiskey with Andrea, and Dewey the Golden Retriever
Say what?
Growing up fast
Chilling out after ice cream on a hot day
Chewing up a pine cone
Two griffs on a bed after a day of chukar training
Thanks to Pete and Deborah for the great pics!
July 8, 2010
Charity Upchurch
Puppy Update
Bird Hunting, Delta Pet First, Dog Training, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Korthals Griffon, Puppies, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Alpha Female took the direct flight from Omaha to Atlanta this morning. The last word from the happy new owner was that “Maggie” was laying in his lap as he was driving back to Alabama.
My last goodbye for the year
Kudos to Delta Pet First/Air Cargo for the shipping of these pups. Every pup showed up on time and well handled. The guys at the Omaha facility were helpful in every way. I plan on working with them exclusively for my air shipments going forward (I did not receive any compensation for that plug, it is an honest recommendation).
I’m trying hard to keep myself from looking at the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon puppy ads online. There is a female pup out there that I have my eye on, but I should really hold out to see if we can get a foundation animal next year from either Holland or France.
My blog writing calendar is going to become a little more sporadic now that the puppies are gone. I’m looking forward to doing some book reviews, pup training articles, pedigree profiles and adult dog training updates before the hunting season starts, but my three kids would really like to soak up some of my attention now that the pups are gone.
Charles and Sam will be working on “steady to wing and shot” at the NAVHDA Heartland Chapter’s training day on Saturday, so that will be my next installment. Until then…
July 6, 2010
Charity Upchurch
Bird Dog Training, Kennel Update, Puppy Update, Regional Update and/or Misc., Sire and Dam Ability
Bird Hunting, Dog Training, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Korthals Griffon, NAVHDA, North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association, Puppies, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
The clouds and rain finally dispursed yesterday evening, so we headed down to the local dog training wildlife management area to give Sue, Sam and the last pup (Alpha Female) a big run.
Sue, Alpha Female and Sam
Half of the WMA had been grazed by a herd of cattle, which made the area easier to negotiate. The other half would have been difficult for the pup and my kids to wade through, since the grass was waist to shoulder high, typical for the tallgrass prairie ecosystem.
Getting a good run in
Full speed ahead!
Fun was had by all!
Charles, Alpha Female, Sam, and Sue on the cow trail
The old farmer saying about corn was “knee high by the Fourth of July”. This year, it is more like “head high”!
Sue and big corn
Alpha Female flies to Atlanta on Thursday, with her final home destination of Alabama. It will be time for us to focus on polishing up our training on Sam and Sue, while getting some pedigree research done (Pedigree Profiles are coming to the blog starting July 11th).
We are looking forward to the Heartland NAVHDA Chapter’s Training Days on July 10th and September 11th, with our eyes on the big prize of sharptail grouse and prairie chicken opener in my Nebraska Sandhills on September 18th.
We will miss the little pups, but are pumped up for a great hunting season and Sam’s NAVHDA Utility Preparatory Test.
July 4, 2010
Charity Upchurch
Puppy Update, Regional Update and/or Misc.
Archway Monument, Bird Hunting, Dog Training, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Korthals Griffon, Puppies, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Sean, Amber and their beautiful family from Wyoming met us yesterday in Centennial Park in North Platte, Nebraska. “Gauge” will be a part of a young hunting family, with grandpa leading the way with training and hunting expertise. Sean is eager to begin training and I suggested several books to assist in the process, which I will be reviewing on the blog in the coming weeks.
Sean and Amber get to know Gauge
Family Picture
Some random notes from our trip. We stopped for lunch at Skeeter Barnes in Kearney. On our way out of the restaurant, we spied this interesting way to transport a dog on a motorcycle. I couldn’t resist sharing.
Born to be Wild
On our way home, we stopped at another Kearney destination, the Archway Monument. We had visited “the arch” on a previous excursion and the kids begged for a return trip. If you ever need to get out of the car at this point and have a half-hour to spare, it comes highly recommended in my book, especially for kids. The Archway Monument is a totally immersive and interactive exhibit covering the history of the Great Platte River Road from the prairie schooner to the Porche.
Archway Monument, I-80 at Kearney, Nebraska
It is a rainy Fourth of July thus far in Bellevue, but hopefully the skies will clear in time for fireworks. Best wishes to all of you for the holiday!
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
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.
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
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.
June 27, 2010
Charity Upchurch
Puppy Update
Bird Hunting, Dog Training, Gun Dog, Hunting Dogs, Korthals Griffon, Puppies, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
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.
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