Exciting Updates

I got two emails this week from puppy families. Wallace (aka Monkey) is doing quite well in Massachusetts. He got to spend some time this summer in Maine with his family. He has three little ones (Maisie, Eve and Luke that keep him pretty busy. Here are some pictures they sent.






















































We also got to hear from Floyd (aka Arrow). Floyd had to have some dental surgery this fall but is doing well. He gets to spend lots of time out in the mountains of British Columbia. He got to play in snow for the first time the other day and enjoyed that as all griffs do. Here are some pictures of Floyd and his people.



































































A while back we had Linden (aka Iris) over for a playdate. She has a sister Maple that is from my stepdad Mickey. Maple's mom was my dog when I lived at home. We had a good time reuniting the sisters.














Scott took Sunny out hunting for the first time a few weeks ago. She came home looking like this.



































O and here is Haas in his Halloween costume. He loved greeting all the trick or treaters and wanted to go home with all of them.





Thanks for sharing your stories and pictures with us!!! We love updates!

Smorgasbord of Stuff

It's tough to be away from the ones you love. By "ones" I mean Lindsey, Fern, and our little pup 'Sunny'. I've been in Alberta for the past four weeks now, and I only made it home over the Memorial weekend. I certainly enjoy my time here keeping track of the elk I'm studying and occasionally herding them on horseback. Yesterday morning I watched a cow elk give birth to a calf (video), and then this morning I spotted two grizzly bears eating the calf. So, Alberta has it's share of excitement.

However, timing is everything and with puppies that rings especially true. While I was home, I discovered that our Sunny girl had grown much bigger and is quite the play friend for Fern. She will be 16 weeks old soon and now is the most important time in her development as a hunting dog and a well behaved companion. This means it is Lindsey's job to work with her while I'm gone. Lindsey has been taking Sunny to a puppy training class at PetSmart. This is a great opportunity for Sunny to gain confidence, being away from Fern and to bond with Lindsey. This class uses positive reinforcement and clicker training. Neither of us have used clicker training before. Everyone comments on how mellow Sunny is when she is at PetSmart for the class. Well, she is indeed pretty mellow, I believe it is also that she is a little cautious and apprehensive without Mom.

It's good when Lindsey forwards the occasional email from one of the happy owners of Fern's litter. Here are some recent pictures of the pups with their new families. Enjoy!















Floyd the Forester in British Columbia.


















Green Mountain Griff Sisters and BFFs, Hope and Grace.























Lark is now Gilbert and is a hit in the classroom!

























Glamor Shot
Haas, clearly always ready for his closeup!

























Our girls Mama Fern and Baby Sunny.





















Fern is the featured dog this month in the North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association Magazine. This is actually the second time this article as appeared in the magazine, so the editor must really like it. It was written a couple of years ago after our first Natural Ability test with Fern. Lindsey cries every time she reads the article. It brings back fond memories!




By Scott with a lot of remote technical help from Lindsey. Your welcome dear.

Some Updates

Haas, at his new home in New Hampshire. Haas's family plans on doing a lot of hunting with him. They will hopefully participate in Versatile Hunting Dog trials. He looks very happy at his new home.













Hope, aka Phloxy. Hope is now in New York State where she joins a Green Mountain Griffon sister named Gracie. There is youtube proof that the sisters are getting along quite nicely! Hope's new mom (Linda) even planted a phlox plant in honor of Hope's birth name,haha. Hope(fully) she doesn't tear it out like my dogs are doing to my spring plantings.















Floyd (aka Arrow) at his "puppy shower" with his new family in Cranbrook, British Columbia. Floyd is the apple of his new parents eye and gets to spend countless hours outside, watching birds, deer and taking walks in the forest. This little guy we hope to see again, as Scott will be working in Canada this summer and we will drive by Cranbrook to get to Banff where he will be working.















And of course Scotty with our little Sunny. Take comfort in the fact that we are struggling with all the same issues you knew puppy owners are! Potty training has been a challenge thus far for us. I suspected it would be as Sunny was raised in the house peeing on newpaper, why would she think she should go anywhere else? She also is learning manners still. On Wednesday my friend brought her two children over (1.5 years and 3 years old). Sunny was so excited to see the little guys she jumped on the 1.5 year old raking her claws down poor Sloan's face. After a little reprimand she didn't do it again for the duration of their visit. Needless to say I was embarrassed for Sunny's actions and sympathetic for Sloan's face.














Linden (aka Iris) will be in Helena Montana with our friends Jared an Liz. They also have a Green Mountain Griffon named Maple. Jared is also from Vermont originally and is a Forester here in Montana. So, he thought he would honor both his home state and his profession by naming his dogs after trees with Vermont references. Lyndon is Jared's hometown in Vermont and Linden is a type of tree (for those of you not savvy on tree species). Sunny will be spending a week with Jared, Liz, Maple and sister Linden, next week actually. Scott and I are headed to Juneau, Alaska to visit some really good friends of ours.
Well, this is just part of the Wildflower gang stay tuned for continued updates!

Far and Away

Only two puppies remain and Indy is headed out today. He will be accompanied by Karnia from Jet Petzz and will be flying to New Hampshire. This is the same way Monkey, Lark, Phloxy and Haas flew to their new homes. They got to fly in the cab of the plane under the seat as carry-on luggage. They flew from Missoula to Salt Lake, where they had a layover. Fortunately for Karina and Andy (Karina's co-worker) Salt Lake has a companion care bathroom for people flying with pets. On the layover she feed them, gave them potty breaks and kept them awake. From Salt Lake they flew to Boston which is a 4 hour flight. They were able to get out of their carriers a little on this flight. When they arrived in Boston their new families were patiently waiting. From the accounts I have received it was quite the spectacle.














Salt Lake Airport in the companion care bathroom.














Wallace aka Monkey and his new family, the Elkins.














Lark and his new family, Andrew and Katherine.






















Hope aka Phloxy and Linda.















Haas with his family Ethan and Jeff. Also, Karina from JetPetzz!

Terrors

BEFORE*fresh and clean

















AFTER* note the peaceful angels in their bed.










This destruction took about 10 minutes. The puppies have been staying out in the garage during the day and when we get home in the afternoon they go out in the yard for about an hour. We then herd them into the kitchen. For some reason then love to go BUCK WILD for about 20-30 minutes when they first get into the freshly cleaned kitchen area. They play fight with such enthusiasm that it is hard to hear yourself think. But they eventually crash and peace is restored.

And then there were 7....

We are down to 7 Montana Wildflowers. On Thursday Belle was chosen by Greg Curtis of Ear Mountain Griffons and the owners of poppa Bullet. Belle will be living in Choteau Montana with a whole gang of WPG. I am not sure what her name will be changed to. But she will have a good life of full of ground beef and companionship.
Monday Deanna and Jeff of British Columbia, chose Arrow, or should I say, Arrow chose Deanna and Jeff. Deanna and Jeff drove down from BC to get there puppy and they hadn't picked out who they were going to take. When they got here Deanna sat right on the ground and invited a pig pile on her lap. She proclaimed to be in HEAVEN. Arrow stayed in her lap most of the visit and he had chosen her... Arrow will be renamed "Floyd" after Deanna's late grandfather, whom wanted to comeback as her dog. This may seem weird to you but if you met Deanna and Jeff and saw how in love they are with dogs and how devoted they will be as dog owners you would understand.
Four pups are headed out bright and early Friday morning!!!!!!!!!

Some more

IRIS













SUNNY








MONKEY