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