Calling all bloggers...

Because so many of the blogs we follow haven't been updated in a year or more, we are looking to follow a few more.  So please tell us the name (and provide a link if possible) to one or two of your favorite blogs.  Which ones make you laugh?  Touch your heart?  Are really informative?  Have great contests?

And if you haven't see this new blog yet, stop by and say hello to:
Holly the Collie. They are relatively new and could use a Blogville welcome.

Thanks!

Books and Movies for Dog Lovers

I love books, I love reading, and I love collies.  I also love movies about dogs and specifically collies.  So from time to time I like to feature a movie or book that I particularly enjoyed.  This month I decided to feature not just a book, but the series of books written by author Dorothy Bodoin.  Her books are in the genre of romantic suspense/mysteries, with characters you can't help but love.  And what drew me to her books is that each story includes a collie or two as main characters.





The series is set in Foxglove Corners, and feature the heroine, Jennet Greenway and her rough collie, Halley.  In each book she makes new friends, solves mysteries and rescues collies.   In a world where people want to be entertained with exciting blockbusters these books are simple.  They describe a life where values and peaceful moments with friends, both human and canine, are treasured.  And the added mysteries keep the reader trying to figure out the plot and what is going to happen next.  I highly recommend you check out these books, you may become as addicted to them as I am!  The first book in the series is Darkness At Foxglove Corners, and the newest book, The Stone Collie will be released in February 2016.  (I'm counting the days!) 

You can find these books on Amazon for either your kindle or you can order a paperback version.  The complete list of her series can be found on Dorothy's website:  www.dorothybodoin.com
If you do give her books a try, please come back here and let me know what you think.  I'd love to hear from you!

You can check out our last book review here:  books-and-movies-for-dog-lovers

Wordless Wednesday - Kori Style

Kori helping us putting away the Christmas lights!

Christmas Gift Exchange

We participated in the Blogville Holiday Gift exchange again this year.  Since we were all missing little Tate, and the collies' gift arrived from our friends the fivesibes and their family, we decided last night would be a good night to open it.



Is this for us?

Everyone got a new toy

And yummy cookies to share...

 

Abby didn't care much for the sharing part...

Thank you for the gifts, the collies just LOVE when a package arrives for them!  And for those who may not know, the Fivesibes lost one of their sweet boys this holiday season.  Their beloved Gibson passed on, and I'm sure they would appreciate your stopping by their blog. And thank you to Oreo and his mom for hosting the event.  Also, we were partnered with Dorysbackyard for the Christmas Gift exchange, and their parents made a cute video of them enjoying their presents.  So stop by and say hello to them as well!

Saying good-bye

 

 



Being a dog breeder is never easy.  You carefully plan, choosing the best stud dog for your bitch.  Sometimes there are difficulties, and you end up spending thousands to produce that highly desired litter.  And then even after all that time, planning and expense, you end up with either no puppies or a singleton.





 

 

 

You bring your puppy home, and you take turns sleeping in shifts for the first two weeks.  You don't dare leave that precious puppy alone for even a minute, because even the best dog mom can roll over and smother the tiny pup or accidently step on him and break a leg or worse.  So you grab a few hours of sleep when you can, and watch your pup grow.  You watch his eyes open, you watch him learn to walk and play.  You watch  him become confident and begin to explore his surroundings.

 



 

 

 

You wean him from his mother's milk to the best kibble you can buy.  You take him for whatever health checks are required for your breed, because you are a responsible, reputable breeder.  You socialize him, play with him, guide him and love him.

 

 

 

 

And then, no matter how perfect and adorable he is, if he isn't exactly what you need in continuing your line of collies...you have to let him go.  Because you know you can't keep them all.  So you choose the best home you can, and with pride in the beautiful puppy you have produced and sadness in your heart, you hug and kiss him good-bye. 

 

 

 

Today was little Tate's 3 month birthday.  And today Tate left us to live with his new mom, and his new collie brothers and sisters.  But he was sold on a co-ownership, so he will make appearances on the collie blog from time to time, so it isn't really good-bye.  But the house is so quiet without him, we sure miss our little man.

 

Happy New Year! (and our last dog treat review of the year)

Happy New Year!  As 2015 is counting down we wanted to share our last review of the year.  Thank you Chewy.com for sending us all those great items throughout the year!  Our final review is for Evanger's Beef Hearts.  These snacks are grain free and we love that they can be shared by both the canine and feline members of the family!  We also like the small size of these treats, and it's a bonus that they don't have a strong scent either.  And the collies and kitties all rave about the great taste, they give this treat four paws up!

Key Benefits

• Made from a single ingredient
• Grain & gluten-free treats
• No additives or artificial ingredients
• Highly palatable
• Rich in nutrients
• Suitable for both dogs & cats

You can order your own Evanger's Freeze dried Beef Hearts by clicking on this link.  Happy 2016, hope the next year is full of Joy and beautiful moments with your loved ones.

Disclaimer: We were given this product from Chewy.com for our honest opinion, and we were not compensated in any way.

Merry Collie Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours...

Wishing you a peaceful journey wherever you may roam...



Hope your Christmas was Merry and bright!


Christmas is also Holly's special day! She turned 10 years old today.

Tate does his first review

Somepup loves his new toy from Chewy.com!  We were sent a Busy Buddy Puppy Twist 'n Treat Toy to review.

This toy can be filled with treats or kibble.  As the dog or puppy plays with the toy, it dispenses a couple treats at a time.  Since Tate is just 6 weeks old, we used his puppy kibble, as he is too little for dog treats. The Busy Buddy was small, and though it comes in other sizes, because it's rated for soft chew strength, we think it would be best for puppies or small dogs only.

What we like about this toy is that it not only keeps an active puppy busy, it helps to develop a puppy's problem solving skills.  When we asked him what he thought, Tate gave it four puppy paws up!  With Christmas right around the corner, this would make a nice gift for your small dog or puppy.  Thank you Chewy for sending us the Busy Buddy to review!

Chewy also sent us the  KONG Triangle Play Mat for Pumpkin and Ghost to review.  We loved how pretty it is, but it is very small.  That didn't stop Ghost and Pumpkin from squeezing inside, but it was a bit of a tight fit.  Ghost being an adolescent male is thin and lanky, and Pumpkin is on the petite side for an adult female cat, so they made it work.   But I don't think chunky "larger boned" felines will fit inside the play mat.

But on the positive side, the cats do love it, and we catch Ghost napping inside it all the time.  And they enjoy swatting the cute dangling mouse.  So this would be a great gift for smaller cats and kittens.  Thank you Chewy for sending the Kong Triangle Play Mat.  I'm sure there will be some happy cats on Christmas morning if this is under the tree!