BABIES PRETTY SOON, WE ARE GETTING CLOSE!

 Maggie is here and all settled in. Now that we are ready for the pups time seems to drag. Her first due date is the 23rd and her temperature is started down which is one of the first signs.  I am really hoping for the pups to arrive on Thanksgiving day, as I will have help here, which is always nice. At this point mother nature is in charge. So we wait and watch. The other dogs don't show any interest but when the pups start to come they will be curious and will have to stay out of the whelping room. I do hope that this wind dies down soon, the dogs really don't like the noise that it makes. They don't mind the cold, just the noise. They will be having their supper soon and will go back out for a few minutes. Other than the noise from the wind it has been a nice quiet Sunday afternoon. No doubt that winter is here. I was  hoping that it would wait until after Thanksgiving.

My whelping room is very warm, and a heating pad and a heat lamp keep the pups nice and toasty. New babies need to be kept at about 85 degrees as they don't regulate their  body temperature for about two weeks or a little more.

The enlargement of my dog yard is finished and it is wonderful for the dogs. The first snow last week they ran and ran and chased and jumped over each other. They were having a blast. 

It was so much fun to watch them having fun. They keep the joy in your life. 

 Hope that you all have a Happy Thanksgiving, with good food, family and friends.

 HAPPY THANKSGIVING 

WHERE DOES THE TIME GO

I tell everyone not to grow out two young pups together. Too much work and time. But here I am doing it again. No wonder I have not been able to touch the blog. The pups are 5 and 7 months now and doing pretty well in the potty area. Zoey who is 7 months has been attending puppy class for the past couple of months. She is doing well and it is so good for her. Flash has a very outgoing temperament but I am still hoping to get him into a levl1 puppy class before the weather turns on us. I know some of you have been waiting on puppies and it looks like Maggie is expecting and she is due late November. So now I have that to look forward to. We have not had pups here in over a year and I am really ready to experience it again. 

I started Bonnie in a beginner agility class, she really needed something to keep her brain busy and with some of the new commands you can see her thinking. I think it will be so good for her and for me too. Good for my thinking and my coordination too. It is only for 4 weeks so we should be finished before weather sets in.  If she really seems to enjoy the beginner work we will continue on in the spring.

Lots to look forward to.I lost my Rosie in March due to bad seizures, I was not prepared for that but I have adjusted. I still miss her terribly. Sometimes I feel her presence. On another note I adopted a new kitten to be company for my 14 year old cat.They are doing so well. Panda takes care of the kitty,(Annie) washes her and is teaching her to hunt. Hopefully not so many mice this year as almost all the holes are plugged. This house is so old there are probably more holes than we found. Hopefully the cats will help. I have not had a kitten before, always senior cats. Annie makes me laugh so much. She is such a joy to have. She is being very cautious with the dogs. Eventually she will be like Panda and wander through the dogs. He is very much in charge. 

In the next week I need to get the puppy pen set up and all the things out to help Maggie whelp her litter. The miracle of life is so awesome.

I have not been good with the blog lately but with new babies coming there will be much to talk  about.

Give your pups a hug!!Let them know that you love them.

All for now. 

                                                        

HOUSETRAINING TWO PUPPIES AGAIN, I WILL NEVER LEARN!!

 Well I am doing it again. House training two pups. But fortunately Zoe is almost completely trained so I take Flash out with her and Walter. Walter always goes out with the pups for safety. Nothing would try to get at the pups with Walter there. He is an excellent baby sitter. Zoe has grown large enough that a bird of prey could not pick her up but Flash is still a little small. I keep a good eye on him but I have not seen anything even get close to the pen on the side of my house. Walter is definitely earning his keep. He is so good, he lies on the top step and just watches. 

Dogs are blowing coat like crazy. Keeping up with it sure is a chore. But I am close, just Bling is left but the others although brushed out are still shedding.  Zoe had to miss her first puppy class due to a parasite infection but she is now clear after days of medication and testing. Tuesday she can go back to class. Even though she is clear she will not be able to socialize with the other pups just to be sure they stay safe. I am looking forward to getting back to class.

My granddaughter and I went to the humane society yesterday. We were looking for a friend for Panda, he is my cat that I adopted in February. The dogs respect him and he does well with them. The puppies do still try to irritate him. But they are learning. There is a cat there who is the same coloring as Panda and he has been around dogs so that may be a good thing. Plus he has been at the shelter for a year and would love a home. I am basically getting a cat for a friend for Panda. 

It is not so bad with two puppies that are a few months apart and they do enjoy each other.I am still planning on breeding Quinn in the fall. Should have pups in February. I am still on the fence about breeding Skye, I have done all the genetic testing with her and her eyes were checked by a vet ophthalmologist. They are clear of anything. Her blood work showed a possible kidney issue but will retest when she first comes into heat. Hopefully it will be better and I can breed her but I won't compromise her heath for puppies. So we just wait it out. I am putting her on a lower protein food and that may help. In 6 months time there could be many changes for the positive. Always something to wait on. Wait for them to grow, wait for them to slow down in growth, wait on ears to tip, really is a big waiting game. Patience is something you learn when breeding shelties. We want to be sure we are breeding to improve the breed so need to do the best we can. We have the standard to guide us and we really want to keep the breed pure. It is not an easy job as dogs are not perfect and it is almost impossible to breed perfection, but we try. 

I love researching pedigrees and decided new blood would help. Zoe is totally Apple Acres and they are a very nice line. Flash is a combination of a few lines with no close breeding so he will fit in perfectly. Almost like starting over but not completely, just something a little different to mix in with my current lines.

Hug your dogs and have a great day!

This is my Maggie and she will have pups sometime next year! She will give us some

very pretty babies.

SO MUCH TO DO, FALL IS HERE!!!

 Finally things are getting cooler and it is easier to get chores done Time to think about what needs to be done before winter hits. I need to fill the oil tanks which I dread. Not sure where the cost of oil will be. I need to fill the gas tanks for the generator. Three 5 gallon cans usually get me through the winter. I hope to have two litters of pups in February so I need to have the generator ready for the winter. Especially if we lose power for any length of time. I have heating pads and heat lamps to keep pups warm but they are electric so I definitely need the generator to run. Storm windows to put down. Now I have to find a mason for chimney repairs so the liner can be put in . The chimney is not real secure.  But it is leaky and I do need the liner in it. A mason is not that easy to find. So that is a priority. All needs to be finished before winter as new pups cannot get cold. I am breeding Quinn to Charlie and I am not sure how I am breeding Skye. Probably to a sable but not sure which one yet. So many of my puppy buyers prefer the sable. Charlie and Quinn could possibly have a bi black, just black and white and no tan. They can be really pretty. I am looking forward to being busy with puppies. It has been more than a year, It has been 16 months since my last litter. It is a good way to be busy in the winter. Plus they bring so much Joy! 

Well I have puppy class today so need to get busy, feed dogs and get ready to go to class. It is such good socialization for Zoe. 

Thankfully we are getting the rain that we need. Everyone take care and be sure to give your dogs a hug. Or do something with them that they really enjoy.

Take care and have a happy Sheltied day!

                                                 

                                                      ZOE GROWING UP

 

EXCITED

 Even though I have Zoe and she is a wonderful puppy I am really excited to be going to pick out a tri male. It is nice to have a choice. I tried choosing from the pictures but I could not decide so best to go see them and best of all when I go they will be ready to come home. I am looking for some good Scottish names for his call name and also for his registered name. I have been trying to go with the Scottish theme since the Shetland Islands are off the coast of Scotland. My Skyes registered name is Jopavist Isle of Skye. Which is one of the Shetland Islands. Any thoughts are appreciated.It is nice to have something to look forward to. My days are pretty much the same so this adds to my days for sure. I keep looking at the photos and I still can't decide. I have not had a nice tri male in a long time. The tri color is my favorite sheltie color. Well Tuesday is getting close and I will soon know. 

We have had such a good rain last night and this morning and it is just what we needed. Everything was getting so dry. The dogs sure do hate going out in the heavy rain. Except for little Zoe, she ran right out and did what she needed to do and came running in. Now Bling who is 12 has to be helped out as she does not want to get wet, she absolutely hates the rain. She does come running back in. 

My dog yard will be enlarged this fall so the dogs will get much more exercise. They do need exercise, everyone has gained a little and that is not healthy for them. Soon we will all do more running and playing ball.

I do alot of dog food researching which I love . I keep trying to find the best food possible for my budget. It is so important that we feed the best food that we can. Especially the food that the breeding girls will get. They need to be in top physical and mental health to be good moms,and have healthy pups.

I am so looking forward to puppies again. The miracle of birth is just amazing. 

Well take care and hug your dogs! They are your best friend!

 

                                                       

 

DOING BETTER

 Well  it is only two weeks since I last wrote. So that is good.Lots of good stuff happening around here. I am getting a new tri male pup in another week, he will be our new stud dog. I can borrow a stud for my girls but I do prefer to have my own stud. The dogs get to know each other and are just more comfortable with each other. I have lost all my seniors but one and that is Bling and she is 12 years old. She seems to be very healthy. My little Rosie had bad seizures and I had to let her go. I miss her so much. She loved to help with the puppies. I am breeding Quinn and Skye this fall and I am so ready for pups. I miss having them around, lots of work but lots of joy too. Just watching them grow and develop is exciting and amazing how nature works. Quinn has had a couple of misses but it was the stud dog, Walter had gone sterile and I did not know it until after the breeding. Then the stud dog that I borrowed was not at all interested so she did not get bred. I will be breeding her to my stud Charlie who I co own with my friend Harriet. We should have pups and I will have to borrow a stud for Skye. Once my new boy is grown up and is the dog that I hope he will be I will be all set here. There are two boys that I will choose from and from pictures I am torn. Once seeing them I will know.

Zoe will have someone close to her age to play with, although Skye plays with her all the time. Skye is so good to her and gentle. I think that she will be a good mother.I am so glad that the heat and humidity are gone. This cool air makes it easy to be productive  and I can get things done that I have been putting off. I am finally enlarging my dog yard. The dogs will have so much more running room and I will be able to play ball with them and they love that. I can't let the dogs out unless on a leash or in the fenced yard. My road is a cut through to rte 109 and the cars and trucks just fly down the road. A dog or a child would not have a chance with the speed these guys are going. So I can't chance it. 

Another week I will have the new boy and I will post pictures here.Zoe will love having a pup more her size to play with.She is doing well with house training so it won't be like starting two young pups together. 

When Quinn and Skye are bred this fall we should have pups born in February and ready to go in April. I know it is a long way off but time sure seems to be flying.Seems like August just started and now it is half gone.

Enjoy the last of the summer and be safe!

                                                                     ZOE

    

PLACING PUPS

 I finally made the decision to let Angus and Maisie go to  a new home. I came up with a home that previously had one of my Shelties and it has turned out to be just what I had hoped for. I decided that I wanted to let Angus and Maisie go together. The adjustment would be easier for them if they were together. They have been in their new home for a little over a month and they are doing very well. Angus may continue with the obedience training that I had started with him. It would be good for bonding with his new person. I plan to go visit them in a couple of weeks. I had started training with  him and I do miss him. He is so smart and enjoyed working. Unfortunately Angus was just much too big for showing or breeding and it was sad as he is a beautiful boy. I waited for Maisie to stop growing which she did at 9 months and her bite did not correct completely. Considering this home wanted two Shelties it could not have worked out better.I am really looking forward to visiting them.

I always tell people that it is too hard to raise two litter mates at the same time and it definitely is. I house trained them last winter in the bitter cold. They really did not want to go out with below zero temperatures and neither did I. But we had to. It was too hard to train two pups at the same time but they both learned to sit and to come. Angus learned much more in his obedience class but I could not take two pups to class together. This has been a good reminder for me to not to try to raise two pups at the same time. If you want two shelties it is best to get one pup and get it house trained and any other basic training you want it to have. Then when the pup is well on his way think about the second pup. House training and basic training will be easier the second time around and before you know it they both will be full grown and will be best friends. That will be my plan form here on, only one pup at a time. Works out much better for the pup and for you.     

I had family visit for two weeks in July and it was very nice, they brought their dogs also. It was a busy time and took me a couple of weeks to recover. I took Walter to Rally Obedience classes and will continue with him in September. It is good exercise for you and the dog and good for your coordination and good for the brain, helps you to think. It is perfect for those of us who are a little too old to run agility.

 I hope that you all have been surviving the heat and keeping your dogs cool. Never leave in a car in this weather. Even with windows cracked it is too hot in the car. Please be careful!

Summer is flying by, I hope you enjoy the rest of it. Take care and stay cool, and keep your dogs cool. By the way ice cubes are not really good for dogs. They could break a tooth trying to chew on them or even choke. Shaved ice or crushed ice would be better for cooling.

Take care and keep your dogs cool.

 

                                 Walter, Skye ( in back) and Bonnie

ANOTHER MONTH HAS GONE BY

Hard to believe that another month has gone by. I was so busy, kept 7 extra dogs during that period of time. Not all at once but as some went home more came in. Then my dogs came down with a digestive bug and we had a week of diarrhea. So was busy treating all the dogs that did get the bug. It was the older ones and the young ones, the middle age dogs did not get it. Took a little over a week to get it all clear. Then I decided to try to find a female that has totally different lines than what I have been working with. It is good to bring in new lines because after a while you have no one to breed without being too close. I found a lovely little sable female with all Apple Acres lines and she is perfect to bring into my lines. She is as sweet as can be but another pup to house train. She is catching on very quickly and the weather definitely helps. I had two litter mates to house train this past winter and I see why I always tell people not to get two pups of the same age. It is really difficult. Quinn was supposed to have puppies again in June but another miss. We will try again in December and possibly Skye also. She will be two years old and she seems to love the new puppy so she may be a very good mother. They will be winter litters for me but spring pups for the new families. A good time to house train. So all should work out this time. I will probably use my own stud dog which often makes a huge difference. I am ready for a litter, I really miss not having pups this year. I so enjoy watching them develop and become pups.It is amazing how they change and grow so fast. By eight weeks their little brains just soak up all the training you want to give them and when they learn so early it lasts a lifetime.

Be Safe and stay Cool!

                                                         ZOE

HAVING FUN WITH THE PUPS!!!!

 Raising two pups really is very hard especially with the potty training and bitter cold temperatures. But we did make it and the pups are pretty good now and have learned the words, out and potty! For awhile I was beginning to think they would not train. Standing out in below zero temperatures definitely was not fun. Now I know why I recommend to people to not get litter mates. It had been about 16 years when I last grew out litter mates. So I definitely did forget alot. Now at 5 months things are going pretty good and will just get better. All it has to do now is to warm up. Then we can get out into the agility area and really play. We are probably having pups in June but at this point my wait list is full. So many people still looking for pups.

Angus is a very confident puppy and I love that, also very biddable. He is easy to train and I am starting a beginner manners class with him in April. Although he is a large pup and will not be used for breeding we will have alot of fun in performance. He loves to learn and is so curious about everything, I am thrilled with his temperament. Maisie is a lovely pup, a little quieter and takes a little longer to adjust. She also has a bite issue, at this point she is a little overshot and I hope in the next month or so it will correct. It does not affect her eating and chewing at all.If it does not correct I will not breed her or be able to show her. That will be disappointing, but to be honest breeding dogs, looking for close to perfect is not easy. Many disappointments along the way. Maisie will be a beautiful pet if her bite does not correct. So much to think about and look for when you are breeding dogs correctly to the AKC standard and to the National Sheltie Club standard. We are always trying to improve the breed so we do not breed dogs with faults. I truly hope that it will correct but if it does not by the time she is 8 months I will look for the best home for her. I am picky and want so much for my dogs.I have to find homes that give them more than what I do for them. I do this for my puppies too so they can have the best life possible. 

My fingers are crossed for Maisie, she is so pretty and it would be a shame to not be able to show her. Breeding dogs is not for the faint of heart! It is not that easy as many people think.

All for now, hopefully I get back here soon. I know I always say I will and I seem to run out of time.

                                               ANGUS AND MAISIE

 

WE ALL HAVE CABIN FEVER

 It has been a whole month since I have written, I was getting discouraged with the house training of two pups, when the weather got so bitter cold. It was really hard to stand out there to encourage them to go. It is a little easier now that we don't feel like we are living in the north pole. Just seemed like I was cold all the time. Spring needs to come soon. Cleaning the dog yard was quite a chore when it was so cold. Surprisingly the pups are house training, they have learned the words go out to potty. I can't believe that they are five months old. They have learned to sit on command, it is really cute, you tell them to sit and they both sit at the same time. They know come pretty well and now we really need to start walking on lead. It is a lot of work to train two litter mates. It is much easier to work with one puppy. I am looking forward to another litter, hopefully in the spring and that will be a year since my last litter. I had promised myself a break from puppies for a year. Taking on two pups changed things a little, not the same as having a litter but the work was close. I have enjoyed these two pups,  watching them grow and develop. Skye has been a help with keeping them busy, she loves to play with the pups. I am really looking forward to getting all the agility equipment set up and getting the dogs out to run and play. They won't forget what they learned last year. Dogs are so smart and really do remember what you teach them. 

It was a little milder today and I did the snow blowing for the snow that we got last night. I felt so good to get out in the fresh air and do a little work.This is what the dogs need too. The snow from the plow is piled up so high that we can't get to the agility yard. I know the dogs would love to run in the snow. Just need to get through March and then we should be all set. I have had the time to groom everyone and get their nails cut and feet trimmed. Hopefully when it is milder I can think about baths for everyone.

When Quinn has  her pups I am hoping that there will be a tri color male. With Walter being sterile I do need a new stud dog.

Well I guess that is all for now. I do need to make an effort to keep the blog up. 

Take care everyone and be well!!

Angus and Maisie

 

TRAINING THE PUPS!!!

 The two pups that I am growing out are doing very well. They have learned lets go out and they follow me right to the side door and out into the little pen. They are pretty smart little ones. Although Angus is growing like a weed. I hope that he does not get too big to be my next stud dog. It is iffy right now but I should know more by six months. If he is oversize then he will most likely be over as an adult. I will have to find him a nice home if that happens. If his growth slows down between 4 and 6 months then he may stay in size. His sister Maisie is well in size and being a girl she will be fine. They learned sit very quickly and pop right down when I ask them. Next is the leash training. With this weather we will have to do the training in the living room. Actually it is the room where the pups are born and there is plenty of room for training. They are all excited when they come in from going potty they are very excited and do zoomies around the room So fun to watch them.House training in this weather is not fun at all and sometimes when it is below zero in the morning no one wants to go out. These two are so brave and go right out and take care of things. I am so pleased with these two pups, they are so pretty and so smart. Their pedigree is one I have wanted to incorporate in my line for a long time. I wish this winter could have been a little milder so they could have some outside time, but just too cold. In fact all the dogs need more exercise. They do play some in the fenced yard off the house but the snow makes it difficult, although they love the snow.

I am ready for spring, as I sit here and watch the snow blowing around. Fingers crossed that I don't lose power. I do have a generator but it is not easy to start. Although I do always get it going. Don't leave your dogs out too long, it is way too cold.

Everyone be safe and warm.

Angus and Maisie

SOMETIMES THINGS GO WELL AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T

 This past Sunday was one of those days when things went wrong. Rosie started to have seizures and I have no idea what brought them on. My dogs have never had a seizure so I had no idea what we were in for. They  started out mildly and progressed to the grand mal seizure. Rosie was terrified and so was I. I kept thinking that they would stop  and after the last one at 11:30 pm she did stop. But that was the worst one. I don't ever want to see a seizure like that again.

First thing in the morning I called my vet and she got us right in before appointments started. Thankfully Rosie did not have another seizure after the one at 11:30. She definitely was disoriented and not herself, and exhausted. I was exhausted also.The vet did some neurological testing and thankfully that was normal. So she was put on medication. I hate the thought of using phenobarbital but it does keep her from having seizures. Rosie is with me every minute, still a little disoriented but seems ok as long as she can stay with me.

What a miserable and scary day. In all my years of raising dogs I have never been through anything like this. Nor have any of my dogs. 

Rosie and I are resting today. She is still a little wobbly but doing ok. We are going to take a nap this afternoon. Rosies body has been through a lot. And she seems to know it. For seizures to start in a 10 year old dog is a bit unusual. 

The dogs can only go out today to potty and come right back in. It is so cold out there that it hurts to breathe. And their feet start to freeze if outside too long. So quick in and out. Right now at almost noon time it is zero out there.

I am raising two pups, a brother and sister, they are now 12 weeks old and keep me very busy. They are house training pretty  well. Just the cold makes it too hard, but they just run and play. Angus brought in a huge icicle. He was having so much fun. He brought it in with him and it was so funny to watch him as it melted. Since my Walter has gone sterile, I have hopes that Angus will take over as our stud dog. He has a beautiful pedigree. I have high hopes but we have to see how he grows. 

Hopefully 2022 goes better than it started out.

                   Angus with my granddaughter, she is a huge dog lover!

ROSIE IS DOING BETTER!!

 Rosie was very much her old self this morning. After two days of medication she feels better. She does not seem to be wobbly at all. I am so thankful that the medication worked for her. It was eight below this morning at 5am. Skye is the only dog who does not mind the bitter cold. She loves to play catch me if you can. Her feet don't seem to get cold the way the others do. Even the 12 week old pups, run out and do what they have to and are back at the door very quickly. Not even picking up icicles enticed them. They are so smart. I can see that we really need to work on come. Usually I can say front which Skye does very well and she will come and sit front. But not this morning. She was running and teasing me and get just close enough that I could not grab her. Finally a handful of kibble lured her in. We are starting her training course with Susan Garrett and COME will be the very first thing that we will work on. Skye enjoys working so I think the course will be very successful. She is a very different little dog with her nurturing of Rosie after she had a seizure. She just wanted to take care of Rosie. I am thinking that she may be a good mother some day. The others would just stare at Rosie and knew that something was wrong and could not figure out what was happening.  Since we were up before 5 this morning, breakfast is finished and everyone has been out and now back in and sleeping in their favorite spots. I am going to organize and clean the office today, especially as it is the favorite sleeping place for most of the dogs.  A very quiet, unexciting day will be welcome here. If it could warm up just a little, I would be very happy. We have had enough excitement to last for us for quite awhile.      

                                           

                                                  SKYE