We’d love your opinion!

This is a temporary post, but I’m leaving it up until Friday.  So I’m thinking of changing the look of the collie blog, for the Winter anyway.   I’m going to change the background every day for the next three days, please come back here on Thursday night and leave us a comment to let us know which background you like best.  

Originally we were using the ethereal blue.  

Today, Tuesday, we are trying this “simple” red.

Wednesday we will be trying the “Tasty Treats” background 

Thursday we will be trying the “Awesome” background.

Also, I just created a Facebook chat, for any and all pet bloggers who want to join.  I thought it would be a good resource for asking for blogging advice, either technical or creative, and a way to get to know our fellow bloggers a bit better.  You can find it by searching for “Pet Bloggers Chat” on Facebook, or here:  Pet Bloggers Chat

Thanks!

Edit to add, the winner was the red,  so it will be red for the holidays!  Thanks everyone 

The collies are getting it done!

Fast CAT in our area is over for the season, so we have been concentrating on both dog shows and Barn Hunt, and have some happy news to share.  

We recently did a Barn Hunt competition, the first in many months.  We took Sophie and Sorsha, my daughter’s collie.  Sophie ran out of time the first run, but quickly remembered what she needed to do. On her second run she did the tunnel, climb and found the rat, qualifying her for the first of the ten required wins to earn the next title, RATNX.

Sorsha on the other hand remembered exactly what to do, and she was so fast she earned both her RATN title and went High in Class.   Then she qualified again on her second run, earning her first out of the ten Qs for the next title RATNX!  It was so much fun getting back into Barn Hunt, we forgot how much the collies enjoy it.  And Sorsha’s RATN was the 27th title our collies have earned this year, they have made us so proud!

We have a four day dog show coming up, and Addi and ZuZu are both entered.  Addi is entered all four days, and ZuZu is entered for two of them.  If ZuZu goes Winners on two of the days, she could potentially finish her championship, as they are both 4 point majors.  If she wins just one of the days, it will give her a 2nd major, and she will just need four single points to finish.  It would be amazing to have a third collie finish her championship this year.  It’s beyond what we hoped for back at the start of the year.  Addi could also finish, if she wins two of the majors instead!  Not sure what will happen, but the possibilities are very exciting! And Addi’s recent show picture came.  We had to do it without the judge, as she had a full schedule. (She was covering for the original judge who was absent). But I loved the background and wanted a picture, so we went ahead and did the picture anyway.  Addi had won Winner’s bitch twice that weekend, giving her two more points towards her championship, so we needed a new picture to celebrate.  

ColliesWithoutBorders, working to Hold and Spread the Light!

This year we are joining other bloggers from around the world in a united effort to Blog4Peace!  Today, November 4th, is the day bloggers use their voices to hold the light against darkness.  We are trying to spread light and joy, to spread peace, in a world that seems to need it now more than ever.  

Each blog will choose how to hold the light in their own personal way.  It took me a while to decide how to use the collie blog to spread a message of peace and light.  I just wasn’t sure what to share, how to use our blog to make a difference.   But then I realized, there is already a very dedicated group of collie owners who are working to help both collies and their families.  I decided that sharing their efforts, and all they have accomplished, here on the blog would be the perfect way to “Hold the Light!”  The group is called ColliesWithoutBorders, and they kindly allowed me to interview them about their organization and how you can help.

How and when did ColliesWithoutBorders start?

ColliesWithoutBorders (please note no spaces in our name) was founded by Flora Scheck, a collie owner, who was touched by the devastation in Ukraine and through Facebook friendships, realized how many collies and owners were impacted.  Finding themselves unable to buy food for their beloved collies and other family animals, was one more horrible byproduct of the war effecting these families.  The war in Ukraine gave us a purpose.  Collies and their families united, joined paws and hands, and worked out a plan to give and help, proudly taking a stand that no collie would be left behind.  Collies became for us a beacon of gentle hope, beauty, and peace, teaching us what courage, tenacity and faith are in the face of such inhumanity and cruelty.  We found a common cause and together we became an overnight force.  

What are the main goals? ​

 

To help collie families anywhere in the world when their lives are disrupted by catastrophic events.  

Our mission is to keep families and their beloved pets together when faced with war or natural disasters.

Can you tell us about a couple of collies and families you have helped?

 

We currently sponsor 166 collies, the majority in Ukraine because the need is so great as well as some collies in the USA.   This year we also opened our sister branch in the UK, Ukrainian Rough Collie Aid.  We work closely together to assist collies across Europe.

 

CWB assisted several collies with medical emergencies, as well as providing funds for food monthly, and relocation assistance for families and their collies who had to be evacuated due to the war.  We currently are helping 3 collies in Ukraine who found themselves homeless after their owner was killed.  We are in the process of rehabilitating them and finding homes. We also provide anti-anxiety vests and calming chews, which have proven beneficial to those dogs terribly stressed by continuous bombing. 

How can people help CWB in their effort?

 

If you would like to join us in our efforts to assist collies and their families, please visit ColliesWithoutBorders.org and our FB page ColliesWithoutBorders.  You can donate, sponsor a collie, or shop our store for unique collie themed items. Our mailing address is ColliesWithoutBorders, PO Box 256, Pluckemin, NJ  07978-0256

 

We love our mission and seeing our organization growing, but we can’t do it alone.  We depend on volunteers and donations to keep doing what we do.  Please feel free to contact us if you or someone in your community can help.  

I have met many of the wonderful members of this group, and I am so impressed by their efforts to help others, especially those suffering from the horrible war in the Ukraine.  Please use the links provided above to learn more about this amazing organization and how you can help them with their mission.

Gift Ideas for your Dog

Well, it’s officially November 1st…so you know what that means….time to start our Christmas shopping!  

Most people consider their pets to be members of the family.  And as part of the family, most pets can expect a gift this holiday season.  The collies always get to open presents on Christmas morning, so I thought I’d share some of the gifts they have asked me Santa for this Christmas!

1) New toys!  While none of our collies are toy obsessed, they all get excited by opening new toys. They are all in touch with their inner puppy! 

2) Stuff to chew on! So with senior collies in the house, we have stopped buying bones.  While they all love a delicious new bone, I stopped buying them after Scarlett had to have three teeth removed earlier this year.  This was after she broke them while chewing on dog bones.  We also do not give the collies rawhide, as we don’t want to risk them developing an obstruction or choking.  So to keep them happy, and to fulfill their desire to chew, the collies picked these bully sticks as a safer alternative.

3) Cookies! So I would have some very sad collies if there were no dog cookies in their Christmas stockings!  Each Christmas they get these Santa Snacks dog cookies by Blue Buffalo.   They love the cinnamon and oatmeal flavor, I like the cute shapes.

4) More Cookies! It’s been a longstanding tradition that the collies also get a package of these sandwich cookies, by Three Dog Bakery.  They actually love these so much, we give them as gifts to our friends and family’s dogs too.  This year we are buying an extra package to donate to our local animal shelter, so they have a treat on Christmas morning too.

5) As collies love to be comfy and cozy, a new dog bed is always on their list.  I always laugh whenever I give them a new bed, as they all line up to try it out!  I haven’t picked out a bed yet, but I know I will have some grateful collies when they spot the new one.  With 13 year old  Ryder’s arthritis issues, I’m going to be looking for a comfy, orthopedic dog bed, as he prefers to sleep on the floor at night.

Do you buy your pets gifts for the holidays?  What’s on your pet’s wish list?

It was a Cold, Dark Night…

The night wind was blustery and cold, and the sky was dark and full of clouds.  I walked down the road, the wind pushing at my back, hurrying me along.  It was getting late, and I had considered asking for a ride, but only had a mile to walk until I reached my home.  The Halloween party had been fun, and it had been a while since I had seen my friends, so I lingered longer than I had planned.  Shivering from the chill in the air, I considered taking a short cut across the cemetery, but hesitated.  "Isn't this the perfect scene for a horror movie?" I asked myself.  Glancing to my right, I studied the gravestones, looking for any sign of movement.  There was nothing there to disturb the silence, only an empty stillness.

I quickly made a decision, hoping over the knee-high fence, I jogged across the cemetery.  While I did not believe in ghosts or monsters, I did have an active imagination, so I moved as quickly as I dared in the low light.  I was about half way across the grounds when I heard a low, pain filled howl.  Pausing, I turned to stare into the shadows, looking for the source of the sound.  Was it just the wind, flowing through the trees that created the mournful sound?  Or was I not as alone as I originally believed?

I took a step, to continue my progress across the graveyard, when I heard it again.  This time it was louder, a wailing lament full of loneliness.  A shiver of fear ran down my spine, while tears filled my eyes at the sadness in the ghostly sound.  No one should be so sorrowful, I knew I couldn't ignore a cry that was so full of despair.  Telling myself I was crazy for lingering in a cemetery late at night, I pulled my cellphone out of my pocket and turned on the flashlight.

Hearing the low moaning again, I made my decision.  Slowly, with equal parts dread and determination, I made my way towards the sounds.  The wind continued to blow, tossing my long, brown hair into my eyes, making it difficult to see.  Passing through the rows of gravesites, I stared into the darkness, looking for the source of the heartbroken cries.  Suddenly, off to the left, I could swear I saw a shadow moving, low to the ground.  I headed in that direction, unsure of what I was about to find.

Passing through another row of graves, I finally discovered who was mourning in a cemetery alone at night!  Gasping, I fell to my knees!

Not sure I could believe what I was seeing, I was frozen in shock.  Lying there on the cold ground, his eyes full of pain and grief, was a rough collie.  He was a beautiful creature, and he looked so out of place curled up next to the old, gray headstone.  As I stared at him, he softly whined, begging for help, for someone to care.  I slowly reached out to him, and ran my fingers through his long fur.

"Are you okay?  Are you lost?" I softly asked him.  He whined in response and stared at me, with a tilt to his head and a gentle acceptance in his eyes.  I glanced around us, and seeing no one, I turned back to the collie.  "I can't leave you here alone, do you want to come home with me?"  He slowly stood up and walked towards me.  Placing my hand on his furry mane, I encouraged him to follow along at my side.

We soon reached my home, and the collie walked inside, as if he had always lived with me.  I brought him into the kitchen and grabbing a bowl from the cupboard, I poured him some water.  He quickly drank his fill, while I searched for something to feed him.  "You must be hungry, let's see what you can have to eat." He just sat down and waited patiently, as if he understood my words.  Looking in the fridge I spotted left over chicken.  Grabbing it, I cut it into small bites and fed them to him.  He took each piece so gently, I could tell he was well trained.

Basic needs met, I decided it was time for bed for both of us.  "Come on big guy, you'll sleep in my room.  I can't have you wandering around my house unsupervised.  In the morning we will try to find your family."  He once again followed me, and watched as I made him a bed of blankets on the floor of my bedroom.  "You can sleep here, you sure are a good dog," I told him as I stroked his beautiful fur.  With uncanny intelligence, he laid down on the blankets with a sigh.  He looked happy and grateful to have a soft, warm place to sleep, and his little pink tongue gave my hand a kiss of thanks.  "Good night handsome collie."  I got ready for bed, and fell asleep listening to the quiet sounds of his breathing.

When I woke up the next morning, it took only a moment to remember my guest.  Looking over to the bed of blankets on the floor, I realized the collie wasn't there!  Looking around my room, I didn't see him anywhere.  My bedroom door was still shut, so he couldn't have left.  Sinking to my knees next to the bed I had made for him, I stared in confusion, wondering if it had all been a dream.  But later when I spotted the bowl of water on the kitchen floor, and the missing chicken from the fridge, I knew he had really been there.

How he disappeared from my room, and where he went, will always be a mystery.  I did return to the cemetery, to the spot where I had found him, but I never encountered the lost collie again.  Was he a lost dog, lonely and looking for companionship?  Or was he something more, perhaps a weary soul wandering through the night?  I can only hope the comfort I gave him allowed him to continue his journey knowing he had a friend.  I still think of him from time to time, and wonder if my ghostly visitor ever found his way home...

(This story was originally published on October 31st, 2018.  I wanted to share our spooky collie story once again, on this spooky night.)

Exercising your Dog

We described how the dog sport of Fast CAT works, and you can read the post here.  One of the great things about Fast CAT is that every dog can participate.  It doesn’t matter how fast they run, if they run slower it may take them longer to earn a title, but they won’t be disqualified for a lack of speed.  In fact, I believe the only way to be disqualified is if the dog attacks another person or dog, or if the dog relieves herself on the course.  Addi learned this the hard way, when after a run she stopped for a potty break.  She was on grass, so I couldn’t fault her, and she still had fun during the run.

If you are looking to rank your dog in Fast CAT, then helping them to get their best score, might be one of your priorities.  One of the key things to achieve this, other than encouraging your dog’s enthusiasm for the sport, is to make sure they are physically fit.  Overweight dogs, or dogs who are not used to running, will not be able to run very fast.  It doesn’t mean they can’t try Fast CAT, I watched an older French bulldog stroll down the course, taking his own sweet time, but also enjoying himself immensely.  

Since our girls are young and fit, and giving their best effort at chasing the lure, I have been watching their AKC ranking.  My employers gave me a scooter for my work anniversary this Summer, so I’ve  been using it to help Addi increase her speed.  I cannot run with her, so I ride the scooter and Addi runs along side, which she loves!  We also do walks and hikes with the collies, which helps keep them healthy and fit, but the scooter really helps build speed and endurance.  I can’t use it with the older collies, as I’m always mindful of their age limitations, so for them it’s strictly walks and easy hikes.  But we are curious, do you exercise your dogs?  How do you get them the exercise they need?

Another fun weekend with the collies!

It was another busy weekend, and the collies had a lot of fun.  On Friday we attended another Fast CAT event.  This one was out of state, but my daughter loved their Halloween themed ribbons, so we packed up Sorsha and Rosie and drove to Pennsylvania.  Both Sorsha and Rosie were one run away from earning their BCAT titles, and actually did their best times at this event.  Sorsha even dropped 2 seconds off her time!  I’m not sure if it was the new location, or maybe it was because it was a more open track, but they loved running at this event.  And both brought home a new title and ribbon!

Halloween is in two days, but since it falls on a Thursday this year, our town held its annual trunk or treat event this past Saturday.  We signed up to participate again, as we had fun last year.  I used the same trunk decoration, and added some cobwebs.  Ryder also joined in with the theme, and wore a spider costume.  Everyone loved him, he was definitely the star.  A few families asked what breed of dog he was, and where they could get a collie.  It’s sad that people no longer recognize a collie, but then I get to introduce the collie to new generations, and  help promote this sweet, beautiful dog breed.

On Thursday and Saturday we attended a dog show, and Addison did some winning! She won Winner’s Bitch both days, which gave her 2 more points towards her championship.  I thought she looked beautiful, and she was trying her very best.  I guess she doesn’t want her sister, Peyton, to get all the attention!

These collies are doing so well, and earning so many titles, I couldn’t be happier or more proud!  Fast CAT is over until the Spring, unless we want to drive out of State again.  But there are quite a few dog shows coming up, and a Barn Hunt, so I think we will wait until Spring to try Fast CAT again.  November is fast approaching, so it’s time to start slowing down on dog events.   It’s almost time to catch up on reading, Christmas movies, and spending time with family…

The Animated Collie

Continuing our series of posts about the collie in art, we have to include the animated collie!  Animation is a form of art that gives life, movement and emotion to hand drawn, or computer generated images.  These images are filmed in sequence, and used to tell a story.  There is an animated version of Lassie, that has charmed and entertained countless fans.  

The New Adventures of Lassie promotional picture from Lassie Fandom

Disney included a collie in its popular movie, 101 Dalmatians.  He appears as a wise, older dog, who comes to the aid of the Dalmatians.  

Image from Disney Fandom

In the movie, All Dogs Go to Heaven, one of the main characters is a lovely collie named Flo.  In the movie, the sweet collie is the loving foster Mom to dozens of homeless puppies.

Picture from Don Bluth Fandom

Growing up as a member of Generation X, one of the highlights of every Christmas season was watching the beloved holiday specials created by Rankin Bass.  One of these special holiday shows was Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.  In the film was the character Yukon Cornelius, who travelled through the snowy tundra with his sled dog team.  The team was made up of some unlikely sled dogs, like the tiny dachshund.   But if you look closely, you will see one of the dogs was actually a collie!  Yes, there was a collie living at the North Pole, and pulling a sled!  

I couldn’t find a decent picture, but there is also a collie featured in one of my favorite childhood animated films, Scruffy.  You can watch it on YouTube by clicking here.

So have you spotted a collie in other animated films that we may have missed?   Leave us a comment, and let us know!

What a beautiful week!

This week we had some exceptional weather!  It’s been sunny and in the 70’s, so we have been heading outside as much as possible, before the cold weather sets in and I start to hibernate. I’m really hoping this mild, Autumn weather lingers through the end of October.  It’s such a joy to hike with my collies amidst the beautiful Fall foliage with the sunlight setting all the leaves aglow in the trees surrounding us.

This was taken on our hike through Chatfield Hollow

We don’t get to Chatfield Hollow often, but it’s a lovely State park.

This season is providing a never ending display of color and sunshine.

This was at Quinnipiac University, after a therapy visit this week 

And of course, we visited Strawberry Hollow Farm again

What’s your favorite season?  Please let us know in the comments!

Peyton did a thing…

We have some very happy and exciting news to share!  This past weekend our pretty Peyton did some winning!  On Saturday she won Winner’s, which gave her enough points to finish her Championship!  But it didn’t end there.  The collies who win Winner’s Dog and Winner’s Bitch get to go back into the ring to compete against the finished champions, which are called Specials.  And the judge loved Peyton so much he gave her Best of Breed over the Specials!  

By beating the finished champions, Peyton actually earned a 4 point major!  A dog needs need 15 points to become a champion, and of those 15 points they have to win two majors.  A major is a win of 3, 4, or 5 points.  And the points are calculated by how many other dogs they beat at the show.  Peyton already had her two majors, and a total of 14 points, but this exciting win gave her a third major.  I’m so proud of our girl!  

 

And this was actually the second title she earned last week.  On Sunday she earned her BCAT and on Saturday, her Championship!  And what made this new title even more special?  Peyton is our very first Winterberry Champion!  All our previous collies were cobred with my sister, so even though they were our collies, we registered them under her kennel name.  When my sister retired from dog shows and collies, my daughter and I created our own kennel name, Winterberry Collies.  So this is a very special title, and means so much to us.

Collies in digital art

Continuing my series of “collies in art,” I had to include a post about digital art.  This refers to art created on computers or electronic devices.  I am not including images created by AI in this category, only the images created by actual digital artists.  I have commissioned a few images, to use on our social media, and to support these artists who are very talented in this medium.

The following images were created by Sabrina Brinkerhoff Bingham, The first is of my sweet little Addison.  She filled in the background with a Winterberry bush, in honor of our kennel name, Winterberry Collies.  Sabrina has an Etsy shop called ArtzyBrina, where you can commission your own digital images, just click here.  She also created a collie coloring book, and it can be found on Amazon, by clicking here.

The next image is of my Ryder, created to celebrate a little known holiday, Therapy Dog Appreciation Day.  I think this captures the inherent sweetness of therapy dogs in general, and of Ryder in particular.  I told her exactly what I was picturing in my head, and she did a beautiful job capturing the image.

This image is of my Addison and Rosie.  Sabrina worked closely with me to create this digital art, as I wanted my own collies featured on a card, to use when wishing my friends and family a Happy Birthday on social media.  She used pictures of my collies to create the image, let me choose the background color, the banner, and even added the balloons and cake I asked to be included.

The next image was commissioned after I lost my beautiful Kori.  This was based on a picture I had of Kori and her puppy, Ben.  (Now called Gibbs) I just wanted an image of a happy time, to remember her.

This was created by Sabrina, using my pictures of Addison and Rosie once again.  I wanted an image I could use to create my own personalized Christmas cards.  She created this beautiful image, and even had Addi holding the ornament I requested!  I think it came out perfectly!

This last image was recently created by another digital artist, and the artist’s work can be found on Facebook, by searching for “Art by Dezzoi.”

Nature can be beautiful, but also cruel…

This week we are enjoying some truly beautiful Fall weather.  We’ve had lots of sunshine and cooler temperatures, which the collies are enjoying.  I took Addison on a hike after a therapy visit, to one of our favorite hiking spots.  The Fall foliage is always lovely, and reflects on the water to create a stunning display.

Sweet little family

Each Autumn I return at least once, and I’m always greeted by a mated pair of swans and their cygnets.  They always add beauty and grace to the photos I take at this location, and I’ve become very fond of them over the years.

Sadly, this year a new mated pair moved in, and they are bullying and attacking the original pair and their cygnets.  You can see them harassing one of the swans in these videos.  The videos show the beauty of nature, but also the cruelty.  I hope the newcomers don’t harm the original family, or drive them away from their home.

Addison was very curious about the swans, and their displays of aggression.  She kept watching them, and I could tell by the expression on her face that she was very puzzled.  She did stop swan-watching long enough to pose for a couple pictures for me.

The Autumn days are passing so swiftly, and the weather is turning chilly.  It was only 48 degrees last night so I had to pull out the cozy, flannel pjs.  And the collies who sleep on the bed, were snuggled up so closely around me, it felt like I was in a collie cocoon!  With the rapid change in the weather, I’m starting to think of Christmas, and sitting by the fireplace, and baking cookies!  But first Fall and….Halloween!  Leave us a comment, and let us know if your pets are dressing up this Halloween!