I'm sure you have noticed....

I'm sure you have noticed the website, or lack thereof.  I decided since I am not planning any breedings, buying new pups, training, or competing in anything dog at the moment, I have decided to completely get rid of my website.  It was a waste of money, so I'm down to just my blog.  It will likely rarely be updated, even less than it is now, unless something happens I just HAVE to share, but that's what FB is for.  Everyone I own is a pet, and they are loving the farm life.  Freckles often helps me with herding the ducks into their pen and herding the chickens out of the yard.  Poppet is the perfect foot warmer at night.  Karma makes a great shadow, and Shaine is just Shaine.  He doesn't act like he's 11 years old.  Loretta is a sweet heart, but there's not much on the farm for her, so she's just a pretty ornament for now.  

That's all for now.  Some other time!

     A couple of house shots.  Karma and Poppet hanging around.  

Loretta, Poppet, Karma, Rose... Everyone, really.

Last night I was working with Loretta on her off-leash heeling.  She was doing beautifully.  She does well with sit stay, down, stand, and of course sit.  Much much much I plan with her.


She loves being a couch potato, but makes no move against others when they invade her space or push the cushions away from her.

Karma is my shadow and loves to help keep those chickens in line.  

Rose...  She's just getting older.  She loves to linger and bark.  She's not as active as she once was, but she is still a wonderful old girl.

Shaine loves to play "Catch the Leprechaun" and bounces around.  He's very much a momma's boy and would love to chase the chickens if momma would let him.  Gotta love my boy.  I can't beleive he is 8 1/2 years old.....













Poppet is acting like she never took a class in her life.  Yay!  That means we get to repeat our classes, but this time we'll be going to other places, like the park and such.


She also likes to hide in my crochet projects.  Overall, she is a very happy girl.

       

Freckles is more the kids' dog than mine.  I'm fine with that.  He loves kids, and his best friend must be Poppet.

Getting Stuff Done

Finally! Videos and pictures of us getting our training done rather than just planning. Starting out with Obedience training without working on anything before, Poppet is now staying (no one every said reliably), and Karma is working well too. Karma isn't yet competition ready, but we are getting closer. We are probably able to pass the requirements for an RN, but I'd rather get closer to CD so we can compete well.

Poppet's First Down Stay




Karma's First Run-Through

I am so proud of my girls, I can't even put it in words. Until next week, my friends.

Freckles Has Been Moved

It is true. Freckles has moved to the permanent pages of boys. The right home never popped up for the sweet boy, so I have decided to train him for performance. He has much of his mother's temperament, so we may even fiddle in some herding. As I have stated before, conformation has been placed on the back burner for a while (at least where the shelties are concerned) since I have officially retired Shaine and Ellie returned to Musical. Poppet will be shown in conformation when we get chances, but when we start Obedience and Rally competitions, we'll be out much more. Karma and Poppet are both enrolled in Obedience classes and are almost halfway through. It looks like Karma will at least be able to get an RN by July, though Poppet needs a bit more work. Hounds, you know.... ;) I am taking what I am learning at these classes and working with Freckles and even Loretta, the husband's Black and Tan Coonhound. I may as well add her to my website, but that will be a later project. If I am the one who will train and show her, I should probably claim her, right? ::Smiles::

Reading Fanatic Tries to Win

If you know me, you know I love reading. If you have been to my house, you know I own quite a few books (both audio and hard copies). I'm posting this blog to try and win a Harry Potter themed bookshelf necklace, and one way to get some entries is to (ta-da) creat a post in my blog to the shop. Here it is: www.coryographies.etsy.com I think the whole thing is pretty neat. :) Maybe I can win something. LOL

Rolling Over 2013

The world has rolled into another year, and I have already posted a blog. I suppose this was the blog that should precede the one before, but I don't always think in logical chronological order.

I'm in a depressed state of mind at the moment, and it all has to do with the horrible things that came to pass the previous year. I think losing Skipper was the worst part of all my troubles, and the hole inside feels like it won't ever heal.

I am told all the time of how this year should be a good one. I will have better luck this year. 2013 is a new start. It doesn't feel like it. It feels like I'm started over all right. Good things can and will come out of this year, and I am determined to see it through.

Things I hope to gain, and things you may see in the year 2013:
1. Poppet's Debut in the conformation ring
2. Shaine going to his RA and maybe a CD
3. Karma going to her RN and maybe a CD
4. Poppet going to her RN and maybe a CD
5. Shaine maybe getting his NAJ and NA, if I can help it
6. Anu is moving to Arkansas
7. You'll probably see a lot of pictures of new chickens after the move (yes, I said

chickens. It's going to be a fun adventure for us come April.
8. A new baby is expected (and I refuse to find out boy or girl until born)

As you can see, I have quite a few goals for the year. I hope I can at least get the agility, rally, and conformation goals set straight before the end of the year, so in lieu of resolutions, I have simple goals I would like to accomplish. By next year, I would like to have Karma in agility too, but I am making no promises to it.

Enough

My kennel is downsizing a bit. I have decided not to breed shelties again. My first and last litter were such a heart ache, I don't wish to go through it again. With seven total puppies, five survived, which is a good number for a breeder, but I cannot take that pain again.  The first puppy was turned into a tripod, one puppy was a stillborn water baby, and the one girl I named Jinx passed away at two weeks of age. Duke, the tripod, is doing well in his new home. He went home the weekend before Christmas, and I hear great things from his teenage owner. :) Karma will be spayed soon, and so will Shaine.  Of course, Freckles is still available to an approved pet or performance home. 

I would like to focus a bit more on performance, as I've been saying for a while, so maybe I'll be able to get off my rear and work some. :) Poppet has such a wonderful temperament for a hound to work in performance. I bet she'll wow a few people while we work a bit in obedience and rally. Agility will have to be put on hold for a while until I can actually travel to classes, but that won't be for a little bit yet.

A few last phrases for the new year:
1. Remember to love your neighbors, even if they can be a pain.
2. What other people think about you is none of your business.
3. May your 2013 resolutions come true.

Available

The puppies are doing well, both Poppet and the sheltie boys. Freckles and Duke are still available, and I am on the lookout for the best homes for them. If you are interested, please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail, SERIOUS BUYERS ONLY please. I'll post some pictures of them a little later after they get a little groomed up.

Poppet is just a hoot, and I have recently figured out she loves the laser pointer. Gotta love the sight hounds! :) I'll be introducing her to the buster cube today, and see how she reacts to it.

Introducing Poppet!

Poppet is a Pharaoh Hound that came from Margaret Worth of Bija Pharaoh Hounds.  She and I have been friends for years, and she finally caught me on a day of weakness.  ;)  Poppet seems to be adjusting well between the shelties and the coonhound.  Loretta is very tolerant for all the puppies, so she's really not a lot of fun for Poppet to play with.  Freckles seems to have gotten a bit more than he can chew when initiated play with Poppet, though.  She is very sweet, very playful, and loves to play with the kids.  I am excited to watch this girl grow, and I hope I have many pictures and videos to brag over her.  :)

Surprise

Yes, I have a secret that will be revealed later this week.  Keep tuned in!  :)  Luke and I are headed to Hot Springs this weekend to visit friends at the show, and to buy some stuff at the vendors that are only there at that show.  I call them the dip ladies, though I'm not sure their business name.  They sale a variety of dips and spreads, though my favorite has to be the raspberry jalapeno over cream cheese.  YUM!  I can't wait to bring some of that home.

A little update on the pupdate

Who we have left are Duke, Freckles, and Tater Tot (was Hater). Hater is currently visiting with Darlene of Musical Shelties in Azle, TX looking for his forever show home (or possible performance). Freckles is looking for a performance home (or show for any one willing to grow him out. He may be a big boy, you see. Duke is also looking for a home. He is a tripod that may need later medical procedures like further amputation if he uses his nub to walk that causes wear and tear on his skin. He seems pretty good about not putting weight on it though, and we are also considering the possibilities of prosthetics. Anyone interested in Duke needs to know he isn't just a handicapped dog. He is a lovable boy with a heart of gold, and if you decided to give him a chance, he would be your loyal friend until the end.

I call Freckles and Duke my yin and yang. Duke is very laid-back and not very energetic. He would be great for anyone who just likes to sit at home and watch movies on the weekends. Freckles, on the other hand, is rambunctious and gets into everything. He has to be the center of attention, and he will need a job to do, so someone wanting to work with him in agility or herding would be great, or anyone who enjoys hiking with their pets, though remember he is of the double-coated variety so caution should be taken during the heated months. Both boys have a single blue eye. Duke's left eye is a striking blue, and in certain lights, looks white. Freckles is the opposite. Freckles's right eye is a soft blue that is close to the shade of the calm open waters of the ocean.

Tater Tot is an excellent show prospect. It seems like he may be about 14 1/2" in size when in adulthood, but that is an estimated height since shelties do tend to be unpredictable when growing them out. He has a sound body with a great temperament to be versatile.

Tater Tot

Duke

Freckles

Puppies (7 weeks old)

So the puppies are 7 weeks old today.  They have an appointment to get their first shots on Friday, and soon will be headed different directions.  I have uploaded a video to YouTube for your viewing pleasure.  I hope this will give your puppy fix some relief until next time.

Puppies (4 weeks & 4 days)

What a wonderful time to play with puppies. Four and a half weeks old, and they are just bouncing around, playing with their toys, and eating their first meals. They didn't even need coaxing to start their food. I just took baby rice and goats milk, mixed them together, and let them go to town. This evening, they will start puppy food mixed with a bit of goats milk. Momma has started distancing herself away from the babies to teach independence.

Puppies (3 weeks and 3 days old)

The puppies are getting bigger and have started barking like shelties do.  They are so sweet and they are getting fluffy.  Nanny Loretta has been spending time with them when their momma needs a break, so all puppies are in great hands.  ;)  Now I need to start getting help taking pictures.  They started getting aggravated at me for messing with their nap time.  In any case, enjoy the pictures.

Freckles

Blaze

Duke

Hater

Joker

Puppies (6 days old)

Instead of posting a new blog every time I take weights, I am just going to add to what we already have.  That way, as a reader, you can skip over the weights and just look at the cute pictures and videos.  :)

L2R: Hater, Joker, & Blaze

 Top: Blaze, Bottom: Joker

 Back: Hater, Front-top: Freckles, Front-bottom: Blaze

❤Puppies (5 days old❤

The boys are growing on me every day.  They each have personalities I have temporarily named them:

1. Freckles (Merle w/ no large black patches)
   
   • 2 days old: 7.3oz
   • 3 days old: 8.4oz
   • 4 days old: 9.6oz
   • 5 days old: 10.4oz 
   • 6 days old: 11.3oz
2. Hater (Tri)
   • 2 days old: 9.5oz
   • 3 days old: 10.2oz
   • 4 days old: 12oz
   • 5 days old: 12.5oz
   • 6 days old: 13.3oz
3. Joker (Split-Face)
   • 2 days old: 5.6oz
   • 3 days old: 6.1oz
   • 4 days old: 7.1oz
   • 5 days old: 7.9oz
   • 6 days old: 8.4oz
4. Duke (Tri Pod Blue)
   • 2 days old: 7.5oz
   • 3 days old: 8.3oz
   • 4 days old: 9.5oz
   • 5 days old: 10.1oz
   • 6 days old: 11oz
5. Blaze (Bi-Black)
• 2 days old: 5.6oz
• 3 days old: 6.3oz
• 4 days old: 6.9oz
• 5 days old: 7.6oz
• 6 days old: 8.5oz

They have grown, and they are getting bigger.  Soon their eyes will be open, and their barks will peirce ears!  I wouldn't have it any other way. ❤

Puppies (4 days old)

Played a bit with the little boys this evening and added a bit more for the weight scale:

• Freckles
• 2 days old: 7.3oz
• 3 days old: 8.4oz
• 4 days old: 9.6oz
• Tri
• 2 days old: 9.5oz
• 3 days old: 10.2oz
• 4 days old: 12oz
• Split-Face
• 2 days old: 5.6oz
• 3 days old: 6.1oz
• 4 days old: 7.1
• Duke
• 2 days old: 7.5oz
• 3 days old: 8.3oz
• 4 days old: 9.5oz
• Bi-Black
• 2 days old: 5.6oz
• 3 days old: 6.3oz
• 4 days old: 6.9oz

I don't have any pictures today, but stay tuned.  There is always tomorrow.  :)

Puppies (3 days old)

I am sorry to say Jinx took a turn for the worse and passed to Rainbow Bridge today.  We had a good fight, but there is no suffering for her now.  She will greatly be missed.

Enough of the bad, in with the good.

The five boys are doing very well.  I took their weights and have compared them to yesterday's.

                                                                     Weight
                                         Yesterday                                    Today

Duke (blue merle)              7.5oz                                            8.3oz
Split-Face Merle                5.6oz                                            6.1oz
Freckles (blue merle)         7.3oz                                            8.4oz
Bi-Black Boy                     5.6oz                                            6.3oz
Tri Boy                               9.5oz                                          10.2oz

Everyone has gained, with a couple of cute pictures to boot.

The Fantastic 5



Freckles with his close-up 

 Freckles

 Tri Boy

Duke's rear

Big Tri Boy

Puppies (2 days old)

The puppies are here! The puppies are here! Thank God almighty, the puppies are here!  :)  We have six beautiful puppies: 5 boys and 1 girl.  So far, only two have names: Jinx (the tri girl) and Duke (biggest blue).  There is also a bi black boy, two other blue merle boys, and a big tri boy.  Enjoy the pictures and updates as they grow!

The Boys



Smaller Blue Merle Boy



Big Tri Boy

Split-Face Blue Merle Boy

Duke

Little Bi-Black Boy

Jinx (Tri Girl)