Welcome to Blue River Kennel, where quality comes first!

"Rest in peace my forever friend, we will never, ever forget you." I am saddened to write that we lost River to a long battle in 2013. It was the hardest thing in my life to go through saying good bye. And why it has taken months for me to update her status on here. River will always be one of the true great gundogs and trial competitors. I doubt you will find one person who ran against her that will disagree. I was blessed to have 3 offspring of hers from her 2nd and last litter. They are some nice dogs. I will be with you again some day my love, till then we will try to make you proud. River was lost to an auto immune reaction to vaccinations or possibly a tic born illness. I recommend that everyone with a dog check out the new study conducted by the university of Wisconsin, which addresses vaccination schedules. And the viability of them before you make your next vet visit. I recommend that you look in to a 3 year shot rotation, "and" rotate them by years. Please do not have them done all on the same day. If your vet argues with you, find a new one... Please watch the link below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1Xd5ghnlJ4&feature=youtu.be 

River was a very fast and flashy dog in the field. She is a bit on the softer side , but in a good trainable way. She is very biddable, and can find birds well. She uses the wind nicely. She has a very strong flush and a super soft mouth as well. It is neat to see her accelerate into a flush, and try these cat like moves and turns, as she tries to grab a bird. She is a beautiful dog with a warm personality. She has a solid temperament and always wants to retrieve. She is always looking to please. She does not balk at the water, and is just an all around nice dog. And what a lover. River has become a great competitor as well. She is one that seems to be hanging around at the end much of the time at trials, and has two all age wins, 2-2nds, 5-3rd's and a 4th now, also in few events this fall 2014, she ran in 5 stakes finishing all 5, and placed in 4 trials in a row. She finished her AFC title, got her win for her FC title, and placed 2nd in both the open and amateur in ND. Which qualified her yet again for both nationals in one weekend. 1 point shy of her FC title. She was very consistent. Not to mention, wild birds do not stand a chance against her superb tracking, and hunting ability. She is an absolute dream to hunt behind. To top it off, they just don't create a better home companion. Can't express how fortunate I was to be owned by her. 

FC Blue River I'm Dan's Boy "Odie" Gone, but never forgotten!

It was a sad time here as we lost our well loved hunting partner and family member Odie in 2014. We have been blessed with a couple new generations of his offspring. He was a powerful, big running, 50 Lb dog, with a great build. A biddable dog, with a good temperament. He used the wind well, and was a good bird finder. He had very good marking skills, and could find downed game well. He was not shy to any cover type. He had a very soft mouth, allot of desire and a solid flush. He was well conformed and pleasing to look at. He was as good in the water as any Lab. He was an amazing dog to hunt over, and a welcome member of our home. He was a proven producer, and has some very nice pups on the ground. They are all reporting the same skills and soft mouths. Along with many other good qualities. References available upon request. The ones competing in field trials have all had success. He was from some outstanding bloodlines as well. His father, GF, GGF, and GGGF all won a National Open championship, "4 generations in a row". To me this says his history has something special in it. With 11 all age trial placements consisting of a win, 5 2nds, two 3rd's, & three 4th place finishes. Qualifying him for both the Open, and Amateur National in 2011, 2012, and 2013, and after some time off the national amateur in 2015. He showed those same qualities. He has a Certificate of Merit at the 2011 National Open as well. I am very proud he lived with me, and feel fortunate. 

Odie at the 2011 Open National water series below.  

 12-14-2011 Odie completed the US National Open Championship, and received a Certificate of Merit. After the 4 placements, 9 CM's were issued to dogs thought to have had excellent performances that deserved recognition by by the judges. 126 dogs started, I feel he has done a great job in his limited events. I am most pleased with his wonderful daughter Sia he has provided us.
 

 River became a great competitor as well. She is one that seems to be hanging around at the end much of the time at trials, and has two all age wins, 2-2nds, 5-3rd's and a 4th now, also in few events this fall 2014, she ran in 5 stakes finishing all 5, and placed in 4 trials in a row. She finished her AFC title, got her win for her FC title, and placed 2nd in both the open and amateur in ND. Which qualified her yet again for both nationals in one weekend. 1 point shy of her FC title. She is very consistent. Not to mention, wild birds do not stand a chance against her superb tracking, and hunting ability. She is an absolute dream to hunt behind. And to top it off they just don't create a better home companion. Can't express how fortunate I was to be owned by her.  

Odie doing what he loved, and was bred to do. Find and retrieve game....

He was an absolute beast in thisk heavy cover, never shying away from his task. He lived for it, and would literally rip through a mile of barbed wire to get at a bird. You could just see the passion in his eyes. A true blue collar work horse.  

"Blue River Lady" Gone, but never forgotten!  

Lady also has crossed the rainbow bridge. She lived to be 15 years old, and still get around like she was 5. She lost her fight in the end to that evil cancer. Lady was the dog that slept at the end of the bed. She was a great dog to hunt behind. She worked well with you as a team. She was born with that out of the box hunting style, that was uncanny. As did most all the hunting dogs Loren Lein produced. I mean she quartered well, found game, flushed and retrieved any bird, including waterfowl, all on her own. In the pups she has produced, that same quality has come out. She could trail out moving birds well, and rarely lost fallen game. She would hunt, in, over, under and around anything to get a bird. She had a strong durable frame and amazing stamina. She always wanted to please, and always wanted to go. Friends called her the 4x4 bird dog. And she again was a beautiful looking dog besides.