September 1,2011

What can we do next?

Where did the summer go?? I know that for me it has been a very short one, our weather here has been very nice for the last month and a half, but the last two mornings we have had frost...but now fall will be coming and it is my favorite time of year here.  The pups have grown like mad over the summer, but have slowed down lately, and from the reports I have had on the other pups, Chocolate, Coal, and Raffie, it seems like they are doing the same.
I took Maude back to Betty in Montana, on August 12th, she seemed quite happy to be back there, almost like she hadn't left, so that made me feel better, about having her here for a year.  Her pups seem to have a lot of her sweet,easy going temperament, which is really nice. Not to say that Tag, doesn't have a nice temperament too, :):) just makes it better. These guys really think that they should be working the sheep, but I know they aren't ready for a while yet, but sure do have a very strong desire!
We have spent the summer, mostly around home, lots of walks out back, taken them to the park, in town, that has a creek to play in, on leash only, that is why they have leashes on in the water, in the picture.
Walks around town, went to watch and agility trial, also had Spice with me at a herding clinic, and trial in July, that is where the pictures of her at 3 months were taken.

Spice 5 months

Family pic just before Maude went home, really she is happy,!

Spice at 3 months 

oh oh! Who is out there?

Salty, Spice and Pepper! Pepper and Spice 5 months

Tug o War

3 months

Wading at the Park

Nose to Nose ..Pepper has a stick she might want?

Unfortunately where we live, there isn't any kind of classes to put them in without driving an hour each way, they did go to a few of them when they were quite young, but they could use some more, never too much of that. There is a local person, that may start a class at the end of next month, so will have to go to that.

Twelve Weeks

Summer is finally here, despite the rain the pups are having a great time outdoors, rain and shine.
They both had their CERF eye exams last week, and both are normal. I was attending a herding clinic with Salty, one of my other dogs, so brought them along to socialize, and after a little bit, they did very well, especially Pepper, he just loves everyone! Spice, takes a little bit longer to check things out, then she was fine. Last Monday they also had their twelve week booster shots, so all is well.
They are both really easy pups to have around, and learn very fast, we have been working on recalls, and the usual sits, downs, and roll over tricks. We have had them out a bit to visit with family, and their dogs, and all went well. Next  week off to puppy class.
I have decided,to stick with my original plan, and just keep one pup, which means we have to find a home for Pepper, having two intact males, as well as two intact females, will not work out very well. He is a real sweet heart, and pretty cute too!

Then there were two!

Wow, it has been a while since I was on here, time seems to be flying by,
I don't have any new pictures right now, but I am happy to say, that three of the pups have gone off to there, new wonderful homes.  The black tri Coal, has gone off to a Ranch in Alberta, with Joan, and the Red bi boy, has gone to live in the Fraser Valley, on a farm as well, with his older brother JR and help Barb out with the chores. Our sweet little red-bi girl, also was lucky enough to move to a farm with sheep, and Steve!
I feel really fortunate in the homes these guys have gone to.
The red merle girl is staying here with us, and I think her blue brother will be too, if he isn't gone real soon, because my husband and him seem to be really getting a relationship going, :):)

Big trip to the vets!

Finally getting on here again, it is a busy time of year here for us.
The puppies all had their first vaccinations and health checks last Friday, and all did wonderful!
We go to a vet that is about an hour away from us, so they had lots of crate time that day, and I am
happy to report, that none of them got sick, or even peed in the crate!
Starting tomorrow, they start to go to their forever homes, the black tri that my grand daughters called
shadow will be the first to leave.
I can't believe how fast the time has flown by... it has been a real treat to have them, around.

We try to get them out for a big walk in our back field each day, here are some pictures, taken last weekend

Busy photo session!

Wagon full of trouble!

 I still haven't figured out where to put the text, these are my grand daughters, that come out and help herd puppies for the photos, their mom does the picture taking!
Of course the pups are busier everyday! They find the darnedest places to get in to, and can fit through places, you didn't think were possible, and if that doesn't work, next option is to dig!
They're all getting pretty good at heeling one another too, don't know how that will translate to the real thing with livestock?
They sure give us lots of smiles, and laughs,we are weaning them now, and it is going well, Maude, is such a good mother, she would nurse them forever, if she could.

Red boy

Red boy

Red boy

Red girl

Red girl

Discussing their escape

Wow, we are coming up on 6 weeks already!

I haven't got any recent pictures, will be working on that this week, the pups are outside
most of the day now, they have a covered dog run, right beside the house, it is in our backyard,
that is fenced,so really contained.  The good part is I can let them out of the run, and still have them in
a contained area, somehow, though, they manage to find mischief to get in to.
They are in the house, at night, and if I have to go to town,  there are stairs for them to climb, and they
are all doing them really well.
I had my grand daughters here on the weekend, playing with them, and having them follow them around, they also got their nails trimmed again, so that is 3 times now, and they are all really good about it.
The sheep came up near where they were, and they all got a good smell of them.  There a a couple of dog houses in the run, and they have figured out to go in them, I have put some nice alfalfa hay in them, and they
seem to enjoy them.

Weaning is next, I will start that on Thursday, they have been eating solid food for a few weeks already, Maude is quite the mom, so I don't know if she will like it.

Finally!

I have been trying to get a good picture of this guy

for so long, black dogs are really had to photograph!

 

Escapees!

I woke up this morning to 2 very happy puppies who
greeted me in the hallway, they had scaled, the built - up x-pen
door, so that will be kept closed at night from now on :):)
It was the red merle,girl, and this isn't the first time for her, I
did raise it once, but I think she used it like a ladder, and the
red bi boy was with her, :):)

We don't have a very big kitchen, and as you can see this has taken over most of it, we rearranged things today, for them, and are going to give a potty box a try, I have a friend with tollers, who used one, and said it did cut down on some of the clean up, here's hoping!

First Time Outside

Finally got the gang outside, we had Sun!
It was a beautiful weekend, so they spent the better part of Saturday, and Sunday, outside, really saved on the cleanup!
They are all pretty, confident out there, the girls seem to be, more bold than, the boys, but they are following along, too.  There is a big hole, dug by my other dogs, in what was/is our lawn, :)
Good, for them to get in and out of, didn't seem to bother any of them, as well as going under chairs on the sidewalk, and climbing up and down on the step.
My grandchildren, were here again to play with them,

one of them, was grooming them, a couple of the puppies, where following a little tree branch, she was dragging,
This morning it was sunny, for a while so we went out again, for a walk to where the barn is, they were on , gravel, through some loose hay, dirt, past a horse, and sheep in pens, they loved it!
Now...if they would just grow some leg...they are low riders right now!

Almost 3 weeks!

Starting to play

Three weeks!! Moved to the Kitchen