Blackwood Acres Kennels

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Argenta, IL
Blackwood Acres Kennels

We raise Bernese Mountain Dog puppies on a premium puppy program and advanced curriculum. It's not buying a puppy. It's adding to the family.
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Adding a puppy to your family should be more like adopting a child than shopping for a new pair of shoes. When you invest in a Blackwood Acres puppy, you are investing in your dog’s future, the same way you’d invest in a private school or college education for your child. You can rest assured that your puppy is being raised to be the best version of themself: confident, resilient, and empowered. E

very dog deserves the best start in life. Your puppy will be raised on our premium puppy program, where they will participate in 8 weeks of an advanced service dog curriculum. Before being chosen, they will complete a temperament evaluation, so you can match yourself with the best fit for your family. Adding a new family member isn’t something you take lightly, and at Blackwood Acres we don’t either.

04/01/2024

The Andy Griffith litter has all gone home to their own personal Mayberry's! 🤩

(in order of going home / pictures)
💚 Andy, now Humphrey, went home to Alabama!
💛 Thelma Lou, now Kia, made the long trip home to Maryland!
💙 Barney, now Gibson, is calling the streets of Chicago home.
🧡 Opie, now Luka, is only a few blocks from Gibson in Chi-town!
💜 Aunt Bee, now Kona, will be living like a queen in the Chicago suburbs! She got to stay with us for a few extra days while her family was on vacation. 😍

We miss them but know they will have the best lives with their families!

03/04/2024

5️⃣ weeks old already!

The Andy Griffith litter is getting HUGE and are starting to enjoy their schoolwork (with the exception of Mr. Snail 😆). Only three more weeks until they go home!

Which pup would you take home?

02/27/2024

The Little Women went home this past weekend! 🎉

All of them are in Chicagoland for the time being and will have the best life with their families!

❤️ Jo went home with the Butler family.
🩵 Meg went home with the Bass family.
🩷 & Amy went home with the Kendall family!

We miss them but know they are exactly where they should be! 🫶

02/19/2024

If puppies were honest, they’d tell you that they’d be perfectly happy spending the rest of their life living with their mom and the endless buffet she provides.

But alas, I don’t think their mom would be into that idea much. 😅

The Andy Griffith litter is growing so quickly! They have officially started preschool, where we’re introducing safe items into their home for them to investigate and explore. This usually wears them out pretty quickly and they end up falling asleep. 😴 The next day they’ll encounter something else!

Why mess with this when it so clearly exhausts them? Because it’s super important to their long-term success in life! We have pups going into the world to be service and therapy dogs and members of the family. It’s crucial that they get the best start in life. An early introduction to safe, ordinary items is one of the ways we do this.

Watch our stories to see this in action and to cheer the pups on! Which one struck the best pose in this photoshoot?

02/05/2024

Introducing Indie's "ANDY GRIFFITH" litter!

Our family loves this show so it was a no-brainer to use it as a litter theme. Five sweet puppies and all are now doing well. Even little Opie is inching his way up the scales!

💚 Andy, small town sheriff
💙 Barney, everyone's favorite deputy
💛 Thelma Lou, Barney's girl
💜 Aunt Bee, world-class homemaker
🤎 Opie, boy next door

We would've included Gomer (bumbling mechanic), Otis (town drunk) and Floyd (nutty barber)--our other favorites--but we ran out of puppies. 😅 Who is your favorite Mayberry resident?

02/03/2024

Raw, transcripted interview with the Little Women…

Reporter: Thank you, ladies, for joining me today.

Meg: Certainly, sir.

Amy: It’s not like we had a choice.

Reporter: Ahem. Why don’t you tell me a little about what your life looks like right now?

Jo: It’s terribly exciting. Every day we go on a new adventure! Toys, walks, water, sounds. Climbing the slide is my favorite.

Meg: I prefer the classical music. We listen to it every night at bedtime.

Reporter: Amy, what’s your favorite part of the day?

Amy: Mealtimes. And being cuddled by my pet hoomans. They adore me, as well they should. 😌

Reporter: And how are you ladies fairing with *looks at notes, clears throat* potty training?

Meg: Sir! I’ll thank you not to mention that again in respectable society!

😆😆😆

Which of these girls have you most enjoyed watching grow?

01/29/2024

🎉 Exciting news!!

Indie had her puppies on Friday and they are as cute as can be! She has 3 boys and 2 girls. Mama and puppies are doing well so far, but we appreciate any and all prayers for their health!

We’ve got a little guy that is a lot smaller than the others so he could definitely use all of the prayers you can spare! Litter theme will be announced next week!

01/19/2024

You know the best thing about an all-girl litter?

ALL. THE. BOWS.

I mean, seriously, can these 3 get any cuter? 😍

Today they started big kid school, and let me tell you, they were not fans. 😅 (See stories for a little glimpse.) Not so high in the confidence department as of yet, but we will do our best to set these babies up for success!

Which pretty model stole your heart this week? I have to admit Meg's adorable little snooze makes me swoon. 🫠

*These puppies are reserved by our waitlist. We anticipate availability this spring/summer.*

01/08/2024

We have some heartbreaking news. 💔

One of our sweet girls didn't make it. It’s been a hard weekend but we believe someone in heaven needed little Beth more than we did.

I took these pictures before we lost her and I still wanted to share them in memory of her.

Introducing the Little Women litter...
🩵 Meg, teal collar
❤️ Jo, red collar
💙 Beth, blue collar 👼
🩷 Amy, pink collar

They are growing like crazy and are the sweetest little things! We are excited to watch them grow!

01/01/2024

Kota has a New Year's surprise! 🎉

Four sweet baby GIRLS were born on Friday evening. We've never had a litter all the same gender before! They are absolutely divine and Kota is such a good first-time mama.

We already have a litter theme picked out that I can't wait to share with you, but in the meantime--what would you name these 4 sweet darlings? It was so hard to narrow down famous female quartets! (Waitlist families, shhh! 🤫😉)

11/20/2023

🎉Dakota is THREE!!🎉

Her official name is Legendary Spots Her Majesty, and it fits her, don’t you think? 😍 We’ve been keeping a secret and thought her birthday would be the perfect time to share. We are hoping for Kota’s first-ever litter of puppies around New Years!

Kota has a staggering amount of world champions in her bloodline, incredible markings, and the sweetest temperament. She’s HUGE (125 lbs) and has that great European blocky build. We can’t wait for her puppies because they will be every bit as amazing as her!

Confirmation ultrasound hasn’t happened yet because it’s still early days but wanted to share the good news since it's her birthday! We’ve been waiting a long time for Kota puppies and are hoping that this will finally be our lucky streak!

10/24/2023

The Harry Potter litter went off to their amazing families and we are so happy for them!

🩷 Hermione's new name is Lily (also taken from HP 😍) and she is living in St. Louis like the rockstar she is!

💚 Ron is a total dream come true, will be keeping his name, and stealing hearts everywhere he goes!

🩶 Harry, now appropriately named Moose, flew all the way to Vancouver, WA with our private nanny and will have THE best life there with his family!

We miss them but this is why we do what we do!

10/19/2023

What do you call a dog who doesn’t like to work?

A freeloader. 🤪

One of the traits we test our puppies for is motivation. This is especially great to know for people who plan to do extensive training with their dogs, and downright essential for a dog going into service work.

Why ask a dog who doesn’t like to work to do a million and one things a day when they’ll never enjoy it?

And now I’m off to try that same question on my family…

10/17/2023

Everyone always asks how we can bear to let them go.

This. This is how. Look at those smiles! Raising puppies and sending them into good homes is so rewarding. Yes, we get attached, but it's all worth it when they light up a family's world like only a dog can. 🖤🤎🤍

Now for where everyone went!

Aquarius will be traveling to Denver, CO on Thursday with our private flight nanny to eventually become a therapy dog! 🙌

Ta**us, now August or "Gus", will be living in Wisconsin and have a brand-new Berner aunt nearby to play with. 🥰

Leo, now Waffles, will join his family in Chicago after a few weeks with our trainer to get some basics down pat! 🧇

Gemini, now Banks, is living the grand life in Indianapolis and has his own Instagram page, which he'd love if you'd follow. 😎

Libra, now Mocha, has a baby sister to grow up with and you just know these two will have the best adventures near Chicago. 👧🐶

Orion, now Stevie, is going to be spoiled beyond comprehension with his family near Chicago & we couldn't be happier for him. 🧡

Aries & Scorpius will be taking training along with Waffles and ready for a family in a few weeks!

P.S. Did you spot the diminishing supply of go-home bags in the background? 😆

10/05/2023

Yeah, I know. Some people would like to hang me by my toes for saying this. But it’s the truth. Lots have families have given me these exact reasons for why they are choosing to shop, in spite of always having been “adopters” in the past.

What’s right for one person isn’t always right for another.

10/04/2023

I get asked this all the time.

“Should I get two puppies?”

My answer is always the same. “Yes, you should. In fact, why don’t you take three? Or four? In fact, I’d be happy to make that a nice half dozen if you’d like.” 😂

Just kidding! The answer really depends on the person / family. Here are some things I encourage people to think about when they’re considering two puppies.

- Can I handle two toddlers instead of one?
- Am I okay with the puppies essentially bonding more with each other than with me? (Sometimes called litter mate syndrome)
- Do I prefer to train one puppy at a time or would I rather get all of the training out of the way at once?
- Do I have enough time / space / energy to devote to two young puppies right now?

Our clients have had great luck getting two puppies from us, both at the same time and spaced 6-18 months apart. The biggest factor is your own personal situation and whether raising them together is the best for you or not. The second factor is the temperaments of the puppies. We’ve found that those that balance each other out have the best chance at success.

Would you rather get two at the same time or spaced further apart?

10/02/2023

I know you didn't just almost scroll by without telling them they're cute...

🩶 Harry - gray male
💚 Ron - green male
🩷 Hermione - pink female

What is it about a dog in a costume that brings out the high-pitched squeal in all of us? 🥹

Whose costume do you like the best?

09/25/2023

Top 3 reasons you need a Berner in your life.

1. They’re freakin' adorable. Look at those faces.
2. They will never leave your side, not even when you need to p*e.
3. They’re the absolute best. (They’re also really stubborn but we can talk about that a different day. 😏)

For reasons I can't even explain, 3--yes THREE--of these Constellations babies are still looking for families to choose them on Adoption Day. 🤯🥺

They're all rockstars, but who do you struck the best pose? 🤩

09/20/2023

Where do you think the majority of our puppies call home?

It's actually a perfect split (for now) between Illinois and the rest of the country. Since we're around 3 hours from Chicago, a lot of our pups live there, but just as many travel to all corners of the US!

💚 Van Gogh, now Scout, is a potential stud for in Ohio!

💜 Renoir, now Pippa, is living in Chicago with her family!

❤️ Monet, now Rue, lives with her dad in Chicago too!

🩶 Michelangelo, now Rhode, lives in the Chicago suburbs!

🟩 Rembrandt, now Bowie, flew with our private flight nanny to join his family in Philadelphia!

🩵 Cassatt is currently in training and waiting for her family to choose her!

🩷 da Vinci is also patiently waiting for a family while acing her training!

We have the BEST puppy families (you can fight me on this, fellow breeders 😂) and watching these pups go home to change their families' worlds is the best job ever. 🖤🤎🤍

09/19/2023

Cheese dogs? St. Bernards? Dry mouth? What do any of these have to do with our beloved Bernese Mountain Dog? Swipe and find out! Don’t miss the picture of the Berner’s ancestor!

Which one of these surprised you the most?

09/16/2023

Dear Famous Artists pups and families,

Thank you for the past 8 weeks. They have not been without their struggles, but they have been rewarding beyond belief. To watch you grow, fight your way to the best spot on the milk bar, and gain confidence every day has been one of the best things I’ve ever done.

Go out there and change the world. Be the very best you can be. Love your family unconditionally. Make friends wherever you go. Don’t forget that you’ve got what it takes. You are an incredible champion.

Families, thank you for trusting us for the past two months. For allowing us this brief snapshot into your puppy’s life. Thank you for supporting and encouraging us on this journey. We don’t have to worry about them after they go home because they will be exactly where they should be - with you.

Two girls are still looking for homes - Cassatt and da Vinci - so if you were waiting to see who would be available, ta-da! They are both beautiful and smart and people lovers. Fill out an application on our website if you're interested in bringing one of them home!

09/15/2023

4 signs your dog might not be confident:

1. They balk at new people or objects.
2. They whimper, bark or exhibit fear in new situations.
3. They shut down around new things.
4. They often show signs of stress.

Confidence is one trait we want each puppy to exhibit, although a lack of confidence doesn’t make a bad puppy. They’ll just need more encouragement than some. Foster confidence in your dog by encouraging them through new and challenging situations rather than avoiding them. It’s not a battle won overnight but the results will be worth it, I promise!

When you invest in a Blackwood Acres puppy, you know that our goal is to empower all of our puppies with confidence. We want them to have the very best start in life. We still have a few pups looking for families this fall so if you’re interested, fill out an application (click the “apply here” bubble in the bio)!

09/13/2023

I haven’t been 100% honest with you guys.

These little babies - the Harry Potter litter - are Sage’s puppies, but they’ve never nursed from her. They’ve never been with her in the whelping box. They don’t even know that she’s their mom.

I will explain the reason for this soon. First we have some processing to do and decisions to make. Sage is fine and doing well. Our girl Callie stepped up like the champ that she is and took these babies in with her own. She has nursed and cared for 11 babies for the past 3 weeks. 💪 And yes, we are spoiling her to pieces for it.

These 3 are just the sweetest things. Ron struggled to gain weight the first week but he’s doing great now (although he’s still so much smaller than his brother and sister). Having to fight pups twice the size of you for a chance at the milk bar has made them tough and resilient. Don’t they just steal your heart? ❤️

09/11/2023

If puppies were honest, they’d tell you that they’d be perfectly happy spending the rest of their life living with their mom and the endless buffet she provides. 😅

But their mama does not agree. 😆

The Constellations litter is growing so quickly! They've officially started preschool, where we’re introducing safe items into their home for them to investigate and explore. This usually wears them out pretty quickly and they end up falling asleep. The next day they’ll encounter something else.

Why mess with this when it so clearly exhausts them? Because it’s super important to their long-term success in life! We have pups going into the world to be service and therapy dogs and members of the family. It’s crucial that they get the best start in life. An early introduction to safe, ordinary items is one of the ways we do this.

Watch our stories to see this in action and to cheer the pups on! Which one struck the best pose in this photoshoot?

09/05/2023

This might shock you but…

LARGE BREEDS AREN’T FOR EVERYONE.

I know, right? It’s kind of staggering. But take a look at why someone might not want an elephant, er large dog, for a pet. And if you’re one of those who *thinks* they want a large breed but have never actually had one before, consider this your warning. 😁

Pass this on to all your large breed lovers!

08/30/2023

Time to reveal the litter theme for Sage's puppies!

🥁drumroll🥁

The winning theme is Harry Potter!

And with that, I officially introduce you to Harry, Hermione and Ron. The 3 best pals already.

Little Ron is a fighter. He's been struggling to gain while nursing so we are supplementing with formula and he just keeps slowly inching up the scales. 💪We are so proud of him!

These guys had a big day. Ribbon changes, weights, nail trims, sniffing coconut, neurological exercises, and puppy pictures! 7 more weeks and they'll be off to change the world. 💫

08/29/2023

Musings from the mind of a 5-week-old puppy...

1. Grass is like, the coolest thing ever.
2. I’m actually able to survive without Mama’s milkshakes, but dude, it’s rough.
3. The best place to sleep is on top of the puppy pile. The bottom sucks.
4. That classical music, man. It always makes me so sleepyyyy. I don’t get it.
5. Sometimes I wish my teacher would just give me what I want instead of making me work for it.
6. I have to waddle to the bathroom really fast or else I dribble all over and I’m told that’s gross.
7. I like to play with my brothers and sisters, but my favorite thing is being held and petted. I think I’ll post a wanted ad for a full-time pet human.

Which puppy do you think should take over our stories for a day?

08/28/2023

Ever wonder if there’s a difference between a facility dog and a therapy dog? Or wonder if an Emotional Support Animal is actually considered a service dog?

Well here’s the breakdown for ya.

Service dogs usually require the highest level of training. They are trained to help a specific person with a specific need. Therapy and facility dogs are similar in temperament but are different when it comes to ownership and the amount of work performed. Finally, ESAs are typically pets for people who struggle with anxiety or depression.

Swipe to the end for a photo of one of our pups who is currently being trained to become a medical alert dog. Leave her some love in the comments to cheer her on, and I’ll make sure her mom sees it! Her name is Fiona from Arie’s Presidents Litter and she's a rock star! 🤩

08/23/2023

3 signs you might be a homeschool family:

1. Your kids think going to the grocery store is a field trip.
2. You have more books in the house than…well, anything.
3. You choose your litter themes based on what you’re studying.

And if you didn’t already guess from my previous post, Callie’s litter theme is Constellations! We’re studying astronomy right now, so the kids are super excited about this one. Here are the pups:

‌Leo - lime collar male
Aries (appropriate because she's our Arie's granddaughter 🤩) - red collar female
Gemini - blue collar male
Aquarius - aqua collar female
Ta**us - white collar male
Libra - yellow collar female
Scorpius - black collar male
Orion - orange collar male

Who's your favorite puppy model?

08/22/2023

Swipe for a few of our favorite definitions, all in good fun, I promise! 😆

What else should be on here?

Address

Argenta, IL
62501

Website

http://blackwoodacreskennels.com/

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Videos

Puppies were introduced to "things with wheels" today!

Today for puppy school we introduced "things with wheels." The pups had fun pushing the toys (and each other! 😂) around and investigating these new phenomena. Again they approached with confidence and high resiliency! 👏 I can't wait to see these pups' evaluations. Just over a week left! They're also jamming out to country music today. 🎶 Every day we play a different genre to get them used to the various sounds and feels of music. And of course, every night they fall asleep to classical music.

Puppies doing their schoolwork!

Curriculum enrichment activity yesterday for the Pride & Prejudice litter was small blocks, rings and balls. As you can see, they aced it! Every pup participated, no signs of fear or stress, and lots of excitement overall. A few of them even let us know when they needed to go potty - no one had an accident! 🙌 Interested in a puppy raised on our program? There is one deposit spot left for this litter and our fall waitlist is officially open. Apply on our website!

The puppies are doing so well with their schoolwork!! They're still a little unsteady on their feet so they often tumble into each other. 🤣 At this age they tire quickly but before long they'll be the ones wearing us out! 😅

A glimpse at our "puppy preschool," where pups are introduced to safe and gentle items they can investigate, mouth, sniff and play with. This is just one part of our premium puppy program and advanced curriculum. For more info, check out our website! 🖤

Golden Retriever puppies playing

These girls are such a riot! The kids are sure going to miss them when they go home. 🖤

Mr. Red Collar doing ENS and ESI with Raleigh this morning. Research has shown that these stimulations help puppies become more resilient, stronger, have better nerve strength, and be healthier. They are done from Day 3 to 16. Puppies don't always enjoy them but it's so important for their development. We are gentle with them and remember our goal: that puppies would know the world is safe and humans are kind. 🖤

3 girls looking for their families!

Puppers are getting so big!! 🖤 These cuties are looking for their forever homes!

A glimpse into life when you're a one-week-old Golden Retriever puppy.

6 days old

This is what 6 days old looks like when you're a Golden Retriever puppy.