GOOD NEWS

Bonnie has been to the Chiropractor twice and has also had acupuncture and she is much better. She can now look straight on and to the right easily. We have one more session in another week and then she will be done. I have a neck exercise that I do with her every day and it too has helped her to improve. You would never know that she had a head tilt. It is totally gone.
The vet believes there was a trauma and it affected her right shoulder and neck so tilting her head to the left was alleviating the pain on the right. I am thrilled, she can continue with her training and some day have a litter. It pays to seek alternative treatments when an answer cannot be found.
Little Finn is growing like a weed. He is the newest member of the family. He has a fabulous pedigree. If he should go oversize I won't be able to use him for breeding. Right now he is tracking oversize on the charts, I am worried that he may have to have a pet home. But if that happens I will find him a wonderful home where he can do some training. He is fifteen weeks and already knows sit, lie down, here, lets go and of course go potty. He is doing very well with potty training. He is getting used to wearing a collar and formal leash training is next. I have hopes to take him as far as he can go in obedience, time will tell. He is a lovely tri color with the most intelligent eyes.I know that I probably should not have taken on a new pup but he is a gorgeous pup and his grandfather is a very well known show dog, here and internationally.
Sometimes you just can't resist. Raising a pup is a lot of work, especially house training and I know that if Finn makes size or not I will not be growing out another pup. I am ready for all my dogs to be mature adults that are good company and easy to live with. 
My Keeper who will be 10 on his next birthday has decided that he really is my keeper. If one of the dogs, especially young ones, jump on me or get too energetic around me Keeper will curl a lip and tell them to stop. They definitely respect  him. He has been with me about a year and this is a new job for him. I think he has really bonded with me and of course I have with him also. He absolutely loves being a house dog, hates going outside but does when asked to go.
He had been a kennel dog and was getting too old to continue with that life style so he came to live with me and be a full time house dog and he just loves it. He is so sweet and you will find him where ever I am. The senior Shelties are so sweet and such great company.
I need to vacuum the dog room today so best get moving. 
All for now!

FINN

BONNIE NEWS

Coffee time almost over this morning, dogs are being good. So a few minutes to write before they decide that it is time for breakfast. I don't dare say that word or they will all be up and telling me that it is time. No way would they even think about missing a meal.
Bonnie's appointment at the Chiropractor went very well. It turns out that her right shoulder and right side of her neck are tight and probably due to an injury. They do play rough and as a young pup I do remember Topaz knocking her over in the kitchen. She seemed fine at the time though she did cry out. The vet did some manipulations and then acupuncture. It was really amazing to see Bonnie with all the little needles and totally relaxed. They stayed in about four or five minutes. I also have an exercise for her neck. It is really amazing that she looks much better, her head is barely tilting. We go back next week for another session and I hope that will be it for her. The neck exercise seems to be working. I have never taken a dog for acupuncture before but it is amazing how it works. It corrects what is not working and slows down what is going to fast. She compensated by tilting her head left and the vet said now it is partially a learned behavior. The right side has weakened and we are working to make it stronger.
I am so thankful that Bonnie's problem is not something so serious as a central nervous system disease.  Sometimes it does pay to look into alternative methods. Dogs are so stoic and often do not show any signs of pain when it may be there. I have found that Shelties are very stoic and handle things so well. So get to know your dogs really well, know the expression in their eyes. Their eyes can tell you so much. It is easy to really get to know your dog and will help you to determine if they hurt or not. 
I am so pleased that Bonnie will be well, although she acts perfectly normal and happy.
They are being so good this morning and have not asked for breakfast yet. So all for now, as I really to need to feed them and get this day going.

BONNIE

WRITERS BLOCK OR WHAT

It seems that I am having a little trouble deciding on what to write. Sometimes the words just flow. I have been worried about my knee but finally had the Orthopedic appointment today. I could have a torn meniscus or just muscle sprain. We decided to just go with the shot for now and if it is muscle or a little arthritis it should be a huge help. I would have to have an MRI to see if the meniscus is torn. I have a bunch of exercises to do at home. This is such a relief. If I had to have surgery it would take a lot of planning because I would be on crutches for a week and that will not work with the dogs. I could just see them trying to attack the crutches. I can't even poop scoop without some of them attacking the scooper. It is the movement of the tool and their herding instinct. 
Sammy is very happy with Kathleen and there is no more competition between the boys. Which makes for a little more peace in the house. Topaz is doing well with her class. She seems to enjoy the training. She loves learning. She is an easy girl to work with. For quite awhile she has not wanted to go into her crate at night. Now she listens and goes right in for me, of course there is a cookie involved, but there was a cookie before.She loves the attention. 
The weather this weekend was perfect and I spent a lot of time playing with the dogs. Some of them will chase a ball as long as you want to throw it. Walter is one of those, it is such good exercise for him. Topaz will go for the ball but once she has it she wants to peel the cover off of it. She has had destroyed so many tennis balls. I guess for her birthday in November I will buy her a bag of tennis balls and try to keep them intact.
Bonnie goes to the Chiropractor on Thursday and I am hopeful for good results. Her head tilt definitely has improved some. It will be interesting to see what an adjustment might do for her.
I would love to be able to see her train for herding, her instinct is so strong. If the winters were not so harsh here I would get some sheep but I really don't want to go out in sub zero temperatures, to feed and water sheep. I did that years ago and I loved having them. Just don't want the work now. It is so neat to train a dog that truly has the instinct to herd. Maybe I will find her a class. All for now!

BONNIE

A HARD DECISION

I have not written in a few days as I had some serious thinking to do.I have had Sammy here for a little more than six months and I could not get him house trained. He and Walter would come in and it seemed like a male competition. Walter has always been the number one boy and was having a hard time dealing with another intact boy.When Sammy first came we had a few scuffles, nothing serious but they did not like each other. After a couple of months this died down and they got along, or so I thought. Sammy had not been trained as a pup and that makes a big difference. I have been raising Shelties for 40 years and I was beating myself up as I thought with all the years with the dogs I certainly could house train one 20 month old boy. I did not need the stress and Walter was starting to mark and he definitely knows better, he had been house trained since he was a baby. I was so torn. Many times I decided to take him back to his breeder and then would change my mind and try again. I was getting frustrated. And I was concerned about Walter regressing with the male competition. So a week ago I made the decision to take him back. My friend was very gracious and wanted to take him back. He will be used for breeding and maybe he will be shown. He was happy to see Kathleen and that really made me feel good. He will be well cared for and used for breeding.Now Walter and I can relax. Walter has not marked once since Sammy left. I was so pleased, he had not forgotten his early training.When I am more relaxed the dogs sense it and they are more relaxed too. It broke my heart to take him back, but seeing how Walter is behaving and with my frustration gone it was the right thing to do. I will see Sammy from time to time when I visit my friend. There are times when no matter what you try things just don't work and it is best for the dog to make changes where he will be happier. Every time a dog leaves a piece of my heart goes with him or her.I don't let my dogs go lightly, but when a new person or home will give them better than I can then it is only fair for the dog to be happy.
I believe things are under control now and every one is happy and doing well.
Topaz did really well with her first obedience class, she is so smart and very tuned in. I really enjoy working with her. Maybe some day she will get to an obedience trial.

SAMMY

 

THINKING ABOUT BONNIE

Bonnie is doing well and her head tilt has improved quite a lot. We are still going to the Chiropractor because I now believe she had an injury when younger. She and Topaz play hard and I remember the time I heard Bonnie cry and Topaz had pushed her against a kitchen cabinet. My vet has said that if it was something serious she would not be getting better and she is. The head tilt is almost not noticeable. Most would not pick up on it. I may try to find her a nice home where she will get more one on one. She is a smart girl, I started her training at 8 weeks and she remembers it well. She knows sit and down and walks well on a leash. She is house trained and crate trained. Of course if she went to a new home she would need house training to develop a new routine. I would like her to be with someone who was home most of the time.
I don't think she would be happy hanging out in the house or crate all day while someone worked full time. She is super smart and trained so fast. She is still puppy at 13 months. I believe she has so much potential. I am not sure that I want to breed her and I want the best for her. Time will tell and if the perfect place comes along for her then I would consider doing what is best for her. I love all my dogs and it is hard to think of letting them go but sometimes they need more than I can give, especially with so many Shelties. I have placed a few Shelties over the years and it was not easy but I knew what I was doing was best for the dog. If they can get better than what I do for them then it is right.
Sometimes it is more loving to give them something better than what I give them. I know them well and I know their needs. We will see what time brings.
Topaz is enrolled in basic obedience and she is super smart too and I am looking forward to training her. I would love to get back into Therapy work. Hopefully I can work towards that.
I have had four Shelties that were awesome Therapy dogs. It is very rewarding for the people we visit and also for me. I love to share my dogs.
I take life one day at a time and believe that what is meant to be will happen.
The hair is flowing around here, so today I will completely groom two more, maybe three if I get the ambition. Everyone is shedding, even Bonnie but she does not have undercoat, but is shedding some of her coat. She never had undercoat but maybe it will come with age.
All for now! Rosie is telling me that it is time for breakfast so I better get moving.

BONNIE AND TOPAZ

DOGS AND RAIN!!

Another day of rain, and wet, muddy and smelly dogs. You think the rain would bother them but not so. The seniors definitely don't like to go out in the rain, I have to give them a gentle push, heaven forbid that they get their feet wet. Especially Brooke, she just does not want wet feet. The young dogs don't care which is great, they will run right out in the rain and want to play chase. They don't care if they get soaked. They just shake it off and go on playing chase, and catch me if you can. The Shelties and dogs in general are amazing as they accept whatever is given to them and especially the weather. Although Bling who is 9 years old becomes very upset with heavy rain and thunder. With thunder she will find a place to hide and bark at the thunder. I think she thinks that she can chase it away. One night we had storms and she barked the whole night. Thankfully the others did not join her. If they had there would have been no sleep that night. I did a complete grooming on Brooke and Keeper yesterday and thankfully they go out and do what they need to and come right back in. They don't get muddy and their coats just fluff up a bit with the rain. I am glad that I started with the seniors yesterday and not the younger dogs as they get muddy and very wet. I took out tons of hair yesterday as this is the shedding time of year, now through September, and once the undercoat is gone they look so pretty. Will do two more seniors this week, Max who is 13 and he hates brushing. But that is only because of his age and it hurts his skin, so I do small portions at a time and it takes several days to get him groomed out. I started on Glory the other evening and sat on my grooming box rather than put her on the table which I usually do. She was in seventh heaven. She put her head on my knee and just soaked it all in. Glory would be a wonderful Therapy dog for someone. I co-own her with a friend and she is here to have a litter and then I may find her a home where she will blossom with not living with a pack. But this will take a lot of thought as it is pretty easy to get attached to her. The home will need to be perfect, she is so sweet and loving, I can see her visiting the elderly and giving much joy. Having a therapy dog  is a wonderful experience for all. The elderly love to see the dogs, have a time to pet and talk to them. Many have memories of dogs in their past. It is so rewarding to share your dog and bring joy.
I have digressed from the rain topic. I am hopeful this will be the last day of rain for awhile. I want to get everyone groomed and it would be so nice if they could stay clean. I have small stone in my dog yard but the dirt is beginning to come through. I have purchased a few pieces of kennel deck which helps a lot. They are over the area by the gate which used to get very muddy and now they keep clean. They like the decking and often lay on it and not on the stone, it is much more comfortable. Actually they prefer to be in the house. They are good for the most part, although if Topaz can steal any kind of paper she will. Then we have a great game of catch me if you can. She loves the little yellow notepads, she will rip pages off before I can catch her. Then Bonnie sees what fun she is having grabs a sheet of paper and proceeds to shred it, what fun!! Someday I hope to get back into therapy, maybe Topaz. We start her obedience class tomorrow and if she does well we will go on with the training and get her Canine Good Citizen title so that she can become certified for therapy.
For now all is peaceful. Maybe I will be lucky and have a few moments of peace before breakfast. 

Morning coffee with the kids!!

LONGER THAN I LIKE

Twelve days since I have written about Bonnie. Her head may be a little straighter but still tilting. I have decided to take her to a veterinary chiropractor. In trying to cover all bases it is possible she hurt herself and maybe has a pinched nerve. An adjustment might help that and she would be able to straighten her head. It is worth a try and would be wonderful if this is the problem. I am hopeful.
The dogs don't like this weather anymore than I do. They just lay around and some of them love the basement floor, it is quite cool.
I had another one of Topaz's puppies visit this week. It is so nice to see how the pups are developing. Topaz and Zuzu her daughter seemed to know each other. When Coco visited a few weeks ago she and Topaz also seemed to know each other. It is fun to see them interact with each other. 
This is a really good day to brush dogs in front of the air conditioner. With this heat and humidity their coats are just falling out in big tufts. It is not too difficult to brush when the hair is dropping on its own. 
Topaz is a very independent girl and will often ignore me especially if there is some paper she can steal. That is her favorite thing to do, she just loves paper of any kind and will play keep away as I really don't want her eating it. That is her next favorite thing to do. I have to make sure that nothing important is within her reach. She loves to steal any thing that she can reach.  So Topaz and I are going to a beginner obedience class. A few manners will be good for her. Lately she has been ignoring my come command, I go get her and tell her come but next time she ignores me again. She is having fun, thinks this is a game. She will get down on her front paws, butt in the air and tail wagging, she is challenging me, "come get me if you can." If I grab a cookie she will come to me but I don't want to reinforce her bad behavior. She is so funny and I try not to laugh, she gets this look on her face that says " I dare you" and she really does. I now put her on a leash when she comes out of her kennel in the morning so she has no choice but to do what I ask and she is fine with that. I think that she will train beautifully and we will have fun. I can picture her as a very well trained dog.

Topaz and Bonnie!