Committed to the improvement of the breed by breeding for health, temperament and better structure in dogs that have the ability to herd.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Dog show catch up

I have been slacking on updating my blog as much as i should be!

Just a quick update for those not on facebook (where everything is updated much more often!):

June 10 - Campbell (Ebonwald Merrymoon Collateral Damage) was WB/BOW/BOS over 3 specials for her first two points!

July 13 - Brewer (CH Ebonwald's Be Home By Midnight) was Best of Breed over another special for his 2nd GrCH major. Campbell was RWB.

July 14 - Campbell was WB/BOS (no BOW given as judge witheld WD award) for 2 more points! Brewer was select.

July 15 - Brewer was Best of Breed over another special for his 3rd GrCH Major! Campbell was WB/BOW/BOS for another two points. She is now at 6 points. Brewer has 10 towards his GCH, all majors!

I had an incredible weekend this past weekend not only because of the good showing my dogs did, but because I got to be a tourist along the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota with Tylor! It was fun for sure!!

Thanks to all involved for making it a memorable weekend!

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Ell at herding camp

 Its one of her first time working sheep in a round pen, with someone other than me, and in a new home (camp) but you can see she is going to be a riot to work. I'm excited :)

Summer Plans

Well now that is July (where did MAY go I am still wondering!), things should slow down here for the dogs and I :) Or so I think!

Duluth dog show...Brewer and Campbell are entered. We'll enter them at Lake Elmo too for at least a day (other things to do that weekend) and maybe debut the Higgins x Ell pup Denley there who will just be 6 months old. I'd like to take Margot there for the show too but its always so hot for the super coated dogs, so we'll see if anyone else is going to make points and make it worth someones time!

Ava has become my go to dog for herding. She doesn't quite have the push to make the cows move if they don't want to (Ell always could the stubborn ones moving, but she's off at herding camp). I've introduced Campbell to the sheep and cattle as well. She stays close to me (within 10 feet) but is bounding and smiling and eager to be out there and is still taking it all in ( and letting Ava do all the work). We'll see how she progresses. She may have to go on ducks first to get more confidence. Sadie has been reintroduced to the sheep and cattle too. She truly loves the cattle. The sheep will become stubborn and stop and turn to face her and she panics because she thinks they'll hit her 'bad' hip (the one with the plate in it and wires and pins). Its a mental thing and she needs to go back to ducks again where she doesn't have to worry about that.

We can't find any agility or rally classes that are within 100 miles of my house (one way) so I have the agility course set up minus a few items (chute, a frame, teeter) and am trying to get Sadie back in shape for some agility this fall. I'd like to also do rally with Ava and Mitcham but haven't had the time to really start with them yet. Hopefully now with less traveling I'll be able to get that done.

I feel that each dog I have should have letters on each end of its name, and its more fun to do the performance stuff USUALLY :)

Naveen and Denley are the best of friends. Naveen is truly a sweet, sweet girl and always over eager to see me or anyone else. I can tell Denley will be the big sister and tell her where to go and what she can and cannot chew on, jump up on or whatever, but Naveen doesn't seem to be the least bit worried. In a week or two Naveen will go to live with my friends for puppy k and some socialization classes. I'd hope to get her RN or CGC sometime this year as a pup. never did it but hope to accomplish it.

That's about it here. nothing too exciting. Just enjoying my dogs and letting them be my pets. We still go on our daily 2 mile walks and try to plan them early in the morning when its coolest or later at night right before the bugs get bad.