PUPPIES ARE SO AMAZING

 The pups will be four weeks on Tuesday morning. Two days ago I started feeding baby cereal with goats milk, they were not sure what to do. So I waited until today,made up some goats milk with baby cereal and a little softened puppy food. Well they just chowed it right down. It is amazing that two days development can make such a difference. They are now eating three meals a day plus mom is still taking care of them and nursing. Glory is the best mother, she is getting a little tired but always goes in with the pups when I ask her to. She still spends the night with them and they still need her throughout the night. I wish all my girls were such good moms, but Glory has been a mom a couple of times and she knows what is required. The pups are responding to my voice, they pop right up and come over to see me. It is hard to believe that in four weeks these pups will be fully developed to the point where they can go to their new homes. Their personalities are emerging and they are so cute and so funny. I love this age, even though it will get a little messy. Soon I will be able to take them to the kitchen to run and play and experience new things. It will be a busy time for sure. A friend of mine gave me a really nice camera for my birthday. I am looking forward to taking some really great photos. I can get close ups and the details are amazing. Of course I do need to practice, since I just grab my cell phone to get shots. I will post updates as they grow and hopefully will have some awesome photos.

 Glory's pups at three weeks!

PUPPIES AND MORE PUPPIES

 I love puppies. From birth to watching the daily development is just amazing. First week they are able to crawl to mom to eat and then they sleep a lot. Mom stimulates them to poop and pee.She does that for the first week through about the fourth week. I change the bedding twice a day and it stays nice and clean.  Glory had four girls and three boys. The three boys and three of the girls are spoken for. They are now getting close to three weeks, which will be this coming Tuesday. Their eyes are open and they are hearing now. They are starting to respond to my voice and they hear noises. They are so darn cute right now. I am a little nervous about visitors, the covid is beginning to increase in New Hampshire. We will social distance and wear masks. The visits will be short. We won't be picking pups until they are eight weeks. The litter is co-owned with a friend and she has to pick her pups first. The pups are really getting into the fun age and I love pups at this stage. I will move them to the kitchen at four weeks. This will make it easier for them to run and play on the kitchen floor. 

I did not write for awhile as I was so intent on watching Glory, as she was very late to have her pups. But all was well, she and mother nature knew what was going on.It was not a real easy birth but she did very well.

Lots of pictures soon. Hope you are all well and take care.

 

COFFEE THIEF

 Every  morning I have all the dogs up with me and we have morning coffee together. Topaz is my paper thief, any thing she can reach, any type of paper, paper towel, cardboard, even wall paper which is not good at all. I don't know the attraction but she loves paper. So this morning she grabbed something that I definitely did not want her to have, I got up quickly and told her "leave it" and she did. Before I sat down again, there she was lapping coffee from my cup. She loves coffee too and if I forget and leave my cup too close to the edge of the table she will stand up and drink my coffee. You really have to be on your toes around her.  So many things to think of. She can outsmart me so quickly. She has quite a sense of humor, you can see it in her eyes. Bonnie is at Illusion Farm Shelties being bred to a lovely dog. But she is Topaz's playmate and Topaz is lost without her. They are such best buddies. All I have to do is get down just a little and Topaz's front goes down and her rear comes up tail, wagging, she is ready to play. You can see the joy on her face. 

We are still waiting on Glory, one more due date. I really did not expect her to go so long before whelping. If we get past the last due date, and pups have not arrived, we will make a trip to the vet. Hopefully those pups will show up this weekend and the vet won't be necessary.All I can do is wait and I am not good at that. Mother Nature is in charge so not much that I can do.

GUESS THE HEAT JUST SLOWED ME RIGHT DOWN

Cant believe that it has been a month since I have written. I don't know where the time goes. It was so hot for so long that I did not have much ambition. I set up the small agility course in the garage, about 10 obstacles and I have used it once. I am so ready for the cool fall weather. We have  had a couple of days that have been very nice. I put the air on today and brought the dogs in with me so we could all cool down.

I am waiting for pups to arrive,Glory was bred and fortunately she is expecting. The pups should come any day now. I am all set for them and looking forward to their arrival and being busy with them again. Her first due date is tomorrow. I love having pups here especially after they have all arrived safely.These will be sable babies. It is a nice old pedigree and I may just keep a pup. Some dog shows have started up but not much local at all.  There have been a lot of virtual shows and many virtual obedience trials. I guess you would need a video of your dog performing and then submit it. I think that they have actual judges that look at them. Kind of a nice way if you don't like to travel.

Rosie and I have been walking early  mornings when it is really cool. She and I both need the exercise.She gets so excited when the leash comes out. She just loves getting out. It has been pretty quiet around here, the seniors are all well and that is good news. Bling and Brooke had their teeth cleaned and Brooke had a large lump removed that was benign. I am thankful for that. She is 11 soon and you never know what could come up. 

Hope you all survived the heat and are ready for the fall season. It is my favorite time of year.

                                                          

                                    GLORY          WALTER

TOO HOT FOR AGILITY

 Last month I set up a small agility course in the big garage which is usually cool. With the weather we have been having I have used it only one time.  It is even too hot in the garage to be comfortable doing agility. I am hoping that today is the last day of brutal heat and humidity. I know the dogs do too. Thankfully my dog room in the walkout basement stays fairly cool, not as cool as in normal weather but the dogs love the cool cement floor. They are either there or lying under the window air conditioner. They do know how to find cool. Usually Bling and Keeper are under the air. Rosie and I usually walk on the trail next to the house but the last two mornings even early, have been too hot. Maybe by Thursday things will have cooled off some. Rosie and I both need the exercise. Once things have cooled off I can get them all back out to the large exercise area so they can really run. Chanel and Jessie are here to visit for the day. Too hot for them to do errands with their mom in the car. They too have found the cool spots in the kitchen. This has been the longest, hottest summer that I can remember. The dogs and I are ready for fall. We need to be able to get out to run and play. Keep plenty of fresh, cool water available for the dogs and no car rides until this weather goes away. They all agree, maybe a few extra cookies.

Hopefully I will get back to writing more than just once every two weeks.

COFFEE TIME, PLAY TIME!!

Rosie who is 8 years old loves to play. Bonnie who is 2, is pretty much still a puppy. The two of them chase around the kitchen table, roll and tumble each other and just have fun and it is actually good exercise for Rosie. I have decided to let Bonnie grow up more before she has  more pups. She was a good mother but it did take a lot out of her. Watching her play with Rosie she needs another year of maturity before becoming a mom again. Rosie will pick up a toy and go right to her face and tease her with the toy and then the chase starts, round and round the table. It is fun to watch as you don't expect an 8 year old to play that way. Rosie loves puppies and is such a good puppy sitter.

Going to Fryeburg tomorrow to bring Glory home. She has been bred and fingers crossed for puppies in September. If there are pups Rosie will be in seventh heaven! We are hopeful for pups but Glory has had two misses so we will see. She is getting to retirement age and this is her last chance to be a mom. Rosie's toes are crossed, she wants more babies to baby sit. I love puppies too, they keep me so busy which is good for me. I love watching them grow and develop and how they act when they first hear and see. Their little ears flip back and forth taking in the new sounds. This new life is a  miracle!

Rosie is finally worn out, she came to say hi and went to lie down and catch her breath! Bonnie has a bone now and still entertaining herself, she rarely tires.

Take care in this heat and don't take your dog in the car when it is so hot.Definitely don't leave your dog in the car, the heat will kill them quickly.

Rosie is now sound asleep. In a few minutes after resting she will be ready to go again.Bonnie is emptying the toy box.

Hope you all have a good day and keep your dogs cool and you too!

Be safe!

ROSIE

WALKING ROSIE

Rosie is my best friend , she gives hugs which are wonderful. She will give anyone a hug, she just loves getting attention.

We had not walked in about a week as it was either too hot or rainy. It was nice and cool on the trail this morning, very quiet, you can hear the birds and feel nature. I needed to empty my mind as this is the third anniversary of my husbands passing to brain cancer. Getting out on the trail is just the thing to settle your  mind. When I asked Rosie if she wanted to go for a walk she just turned herself inside out. She loves it and it is so good for her as she really needs to lose a few pounds. Rosie is not your typical Sheltie, she has no reserve in her temperament. She loves everyone, except Girly the cat!She is very jealous of Girly and is always giving her the eye. When Girly is on my lap Rosie will just lay there and watch, I can see the look on her face, very questioning. You can see she is not happy with Girly. She would never go after her but she sure watches her when she is around me. Rosie is 8 years old now and has been  with me since she was a baby, so it is ok for her to be a little jealous. At least when we walk she has me all to her self. That is exactly what she wants.The dogs enjoy morning coffee time with me. Rosie and Bonnie will play like they are puppies. Rossie misses the puppies, she used to pick up a toy and tease them to come chase her. She is an awesome baby sitter.I think I will get a treadmill for the winter so I can keep her moving. I would like for her to drop 5 pounds, that would be so good for her. I need to keep her in good shape so that she will be with me for many more years.

What is so special about Rosie is that she and I have the same birthday, I remember the night she was born.