What We’ve Been Up To, A Griffin Family Update

Well, as you can see I haven’t updated the site in around a year. I have a ton of info posted and the site get hits on it and comments weekly, so I feel it’s still a great resource to have for people, so I thought I’d give a quick update.

Family: We purchased a 150 acre farm in Randolph County, MO in August and moved in.  We love it! It's like a hiking trip for the dogs every day, they get to help me take care of all the barn critters, there are several ponds to play in and open fields and woods to explore.

Dogs: Boone and Brinkley still rule the roost so to speak, they are spoiled rotten and love the new farm and the adventures they have there. Boone will be 6 next month, I just can't believe this adventure started that long ago. Brinkley also just turned 5 in October. They spend just as much time sleeping and eating and playing as when they were puppies though.

Other Critters: Molly the evil cat is still evil and likes to attack us, but she’s 10 years old now and fat, so it’s harder for her to get to us before we notice her coming and we can flee.  The newest farm additions are quail, chickens and rabbits. The quail we are raising for eggs and meat, the chickens for eggs and the rabbits for meat as well, but I do love playing with their fuzzy little butts.

Breeding and Puppies: Other than a rescue puppy I took in and fostered a few months ago, we haven’t had puppies in 2 years. I was going to breed Miss Brinkley again since we only got 4 puppies from the first litter and they were all so nice, but it turns out she had some ovarian cysts and it was in her best interest to spay her. She has no regrets about the decision. We are planning on getting our next puppy, still undecided who from, in the next year or two. 

Our Co-Owned Dogs: Patsy and Clover have both accomplished a lot in their not even 2 short years on this planet! 

Patsy is an American Champion, and a Canadian Champion. At the Mastiff Club of America National Specialty she took 3^rd in her class in Futurity, 2^nd in her class in Sweepstakes, and 3^rd in her class in the Regular classes. At the Mastiff Club of Northern Ohio Independent Specialty she took 4^th in her class in the Regular classes (12-15 Month Bitches). She also did stellar at the Bucks and Trenton Shows in May, winning 1^st in her class, and BOS in the Sweepstakes show and 1^st in her class and Reserve winners bitch at Bucks on Saturday. She was 4^th in her class on Sunday at the Trenton show and 1^st in her class at Monday’s show. Finally, at the Canadian National Specialty in October of 2015 she took Reserve Winners Bitch.

Clover has also earned her American Championship.  At the Mastiff Club of Northern Ohio Independent Specialty she took 3^rd in her class in Sweepstakes (12-18 Month bitches) and took 3^rd in her class in the Regular classes (12-15 Month Bitches). At the Trenton show in May she was She was 3^rd in her class on Sunday at the Trenton show and 2^nd in her class on Monday. Then in October of 2015 Clover took Best Bred by Exhibitor at the Canadian National Specialty.

I can’t tell you how excited I am the Brinkley and Wally made such nice kids.  Roman and Jasmine are both doing very well also, Jasmine spends her time playing with the grand kids and visiting grandma in the nursing home and Roman spends his time getting whatever he wants from his mom who spoils him rotten.  He was a recent poster boy for Banfield Vet Clinic and has done various photo shoots and videos for several ad agencies.

Boone & Brinkley Say Happy Easter to Everyone!

Photography Friday

Here are a few posters I've been working on lately. Thought I would share them with the world :)

 

 

 

And a few photo edit's I've done lately as well.  I hope you enjoy!

 

Interview With a Mastiff - Brinkley Mastiff

Tell us about your family?

First there’s my people’s.  Mommy and Shawn.  Mommy takes care of me and trains me and gives me cookies and baths and all kinds of stuff.  Shawn… or dad plays with me and I cuddle him on the couch sometimes.  I like to lick his head and ears when he’s not paying attention.  Boone is my brother.  He’s a pain in my tail, but when he’s gone or I’m gone and get back he’s the first one I look for to greet!  I guess I love da big lug a little bit.  Finally there’s that mean furry gray one that I like to stalk and chase (Molly the cat), but she beats the crap out of me if I ever get to close.  Sometimes mom gets mad at me cause I won’t stop chasing her.

Here's me doing two of my favorite things...
lying in the bed and licking (not sure what I'm licking though)

Take us through a typical day in your life.

I don’t get to sleep in the bed since that person after a long car ride cut my leg open (TPLO surgery) cause mom says jumping off the bed could really mess up my healing.  I feel great though, so I make sure to stand beside the bed and whine for a few minutes each morning cause I still want up real bad.  Then the mom gets up and feeds me, I get REALLY excited about this.  Then I go out for 2 minutes and potty and patrol the backyard.  I sleep all day while the peoples are at work, then get excited and playful for like 15 whole minutes when they get home.  I get to go for a walk a lot of days.  And then the rest of the afternoon I sleep.  At dinner time (which I KNOW of course) I start to whine and groan until the mom gets up and feeds me.  If I don’t get fed by 8:00 I whine constantly making them think I’m dying.  Then they feed me.  After I eat I go potty outside for 2 minutes, then back on the couch to sleep until the next morning. 

How do you fit in with the household?

I’m the one who makes sure no one is trying to kill us.  I make sure if the window is open and something is going on outside I bark to let everyone know.  I patrol the backyard twice a day and growl and bark at anything I think isn’t right.  I am the family protector for sure.  The Boone is too dumb for this job, he loves everyone too much.  The responsibility falls on me to keep everyone safe.
 

Me playing in the hose

What is you’re least favorite thing to do?

I HATE getting my toenails chopped off.  It is HORRIBLE TORTURE. I HATE it.
 

What are some of your hobbies?

I spend a fair amount of my time (that I’m not sleeping) waiting for food, whining about not getting the food and most of the rest of my time is spent sucking on my toys and chasing the cat. I like to play in the snow too. I eat it. I eat grass too.... and play in the water.  I looooove the water.   I love doing all these things. 



Me and Boone sucking on our toys.  I gots the big monkey
and he has his nasty love bear

Where are your favorite places to visit?

The couch and the bed.  I like walks too, but don’t like to go to places where I’m expected to do anything productive.

What would you like to tell everyone about yourself?

I have a true Mastiff guardian personality.  I love everyone unless you give me a reason not to.  Mess with my family and I’ll mess you up.  I also love to lick people.  My tongue is a good 10 inches long, it wraps around people heads real good.  If you want to be my friend give me food and let me lick you.  That’s all I ask.

Our Time at the 2012 MCOA National Specialty

Brinkley took 4^th in her class at the 2012 MCOA National Specialty. It was the largest bitch class in the show.  I’m so proud of her.  Thanks so much Carrie Klaiber for showing her so beautifully.

Harvest Haze Griffin’s On The Brink, CGC

Brinkley also got the chance to hang with several of her littermates, Bosco and Apple.  Bosco took Reserve Winners Dog and Apple got an Award of Merit in the Breed ring.  Congrats Kelly for breeding this awesome litter!!!

Harvest Haze Bosco Newman II, TT

CH Harvest Haze Apple Blossom

And finally a beautiful portrait of the Harvest Haze Babies!!!

Dogs: Bosco, Apple and Brinkley 

People: Carrie Klaiber, Kelly Verbridge and Amanda Griffin

And the gang just chillin’.

Brinkley, Apple and Bosco.

I had a wonderful time and can't wait to go next year.  Good thing it's only a 3 hour drive in 2013!!!