Dog show weekend

Another busy, but fun, weekend for the collies!  We are trying to attend as many shows and events as possible right now, as we usually take the Winter months off and hibernate.  In New England the Winters are long, cold, dark and icy, so we limit our driving to local areas only.  Now that the Summer is ending and Autumn is approaching, we have a dog show, trial or event scheduled for nearly every weekend.  This weekend was a dog show weekend, where the collies are judged on their conformation, to earn points towards their championships.  I took Peyton into the ring, while my daughter showed ZuZu.  My daughter is the much better handler, as she grew up competing in junior handling, I’m usually just the back up.  I’m okay with that, as she has been showing collies since she 9 years old, so she has over twenty years of experience!  But today I took Peyton in, and she won her second major!  So proud of our girl, the judge pulled us aside afterward to tell us how much she loved Peyton, and her beautiful expression.  With today’s points, Peyton is very close to finishing her championship, which is very exciting for us.

After the show we took the girls to a FastCAT practice, as Peyton was a little unsure last time, and because ZuZu has never tried it.  We have Peyton, ZuZu and Addison entered next weekend in a two day FastCAT trial.  We wanted to help prepare Peyton and ZuZu for the trial, so they can get their best times.  It should be so much fun, and ZuZu did amazing today, she was so fast!  We got a video of her first practice run, I can’t wait to see how she does next weekend.  She watched Peyton and Addi do their practice runs first, and figured it out right just by watching them.  If you missed our explanation on how FastCAT works, please click here.   

Is there anything these collies aren’t good at?  I haven’t found anything they aren’t willing to try…except dock diving, they are not huge fans of getting wet, so that is one thing I think we will skip. Trying all these new sports has been so enjoyable, I just love their versatility!

AKC FIT Dog - keeping you and your dog healthy!

The American Kennel Club has created a program to encourage people to get outside and take walks with their dogs.  The program, called AKC FIT Dog, even offers titles, in the hope more people with join in the program!  From the AKC website:

“Now more than ever, fitness is important for both dogs and people. The most commonly recommended exercise to improve fitness is walking. Walking is considered a safe activity that improves muscular strength, circulation, memory, weight loss, increases energy, helps with sleep, and reduces stress. The American Heart Association recommends walking a minimum of 150 minutes per week. Participation in the AKC FIT DOG program will bring health benefits to both you and your dog.”  And for those who want to earn titles, just by keeping your dog fit and healthy, click here!  

There are three titles, or levels, in the FIT Dog program - Bronze, Silver and Gold.  You earn the titles by completing different activities.  

1) Complete an AKC FIT DOG Course

2) Runs (community runs, such as a Turkey Trot)

3) Walks and hikes (can be independent or group walks)

4) Unique to you and your dog (such as swimming)

5) Earn an AKC title that is fitness related (FastCAT, Agility)

6) Earn an AKC Parent Club Performance title (sledding, herding, pack dog)

Addi and I decided to try for the FIT Dog bronze title, FITB, since we are already trying to earn the first FastCAT title, BCAT, and that meets one of the requirements for FIT Dog.  We have been walking multiple times a week, enjoying nature and the end of the Summer, while keeping track of our miles.  This video was from our walk yesterday evening, we are both really enjoying the time together.  She loves being outside, and I appreciate that it’s pushing me to get more exercise!

Our 2024 titles earned…so far

I love earning new titles with my collies.  Those new titles represent many things to me, the first being the bond I share with them.  When your dog has a strong bond with you, it makes training them so much easier, and it makes earning titles even more rewarding.  Secondly, the titles show their versatility, that they have proven they meet the breed standard and that they are intelligent with sound temperaments.  And the third, they will be remembered, long after they are gone.  

Collies that earn their AKC championships are included in the Collie Club of America’s Library of Champions.  These books are the documented history of all the collie champions, going all the way back to the very first champion.  The CCA yearbooks are also a source of collie history. Each year the CCA publishes the collie yearbook for its members.  While the Library of Champions is a wonderful record of all the past collies who earned that coveted championship title, the CCA Yearbook is a record of the new champions each calendar year and also includes and celebrates all the other titles the collies have earned that year.

In 2023 our collies earned 16 new titles.  And so far, in 2024, they have earned 12 new titles!  I’m hoping they will be adding at least 10 more before the year ends. (fingers crossed)  This year they have earned a wide variety of titles - Champion, Therapy Dog Excellent and Therapy Dog Distinguished, Canine Good Citizen and Canine Good Citizen Advanced, Trick Dog, and Versatility Companion titles.  We are hoping to add FastCAT and Fit Dog titles too, as those will be new for our collies.

I am so thankful to have these amazingly talented dogs in my life.  They bring so much joy, companionship, and love into our lives.  I’m grateful that I can help them earn titles, so that their legacy will live on…

Wordless Wednesday - Adoptable Collies in Rescue

Since rescues and shelters are all full, we wanted to continue sharing collies looking for their forever homes.  This week we are sharing two of the adoptable collies from Freedom Collie Rescue.  

Meet Dollie

Dollie is a two year old sweetie. Always close by and ready to get her head scratched. Super friendly and chill. We don't think she'd been on to many car rides but she is getting more practice. It also didn't appear that she'd gone up or down many flights of stairs when she first came in, but she's a pro now! Great on a leash, comes when she's called. She's part Collie and part Husky and has those gorgeous Husky eyes. Her fur also seems more Husky-like than Collie-like. No guarantees but we don't think she sheds much--not like our Collies! She gets along great other 2 dogs in her foster home. Dollie hasn't been around cats to our knowledge, but she's very laid back, so we'd expect she'd do fine. Couldn't find a friendlier dog! We are taking applications for her. A fenced yard is required. Please apply at freedomcollierescue.org

Meet Lexie

Lexie is a such a sweet collie girl. She is 8 years old. She loves attention and to be loved on. She gets along well with other dogs, but she has not been around cats so that is unknown. Lexie likes to be groomed and behaves well when there. She is housetrained and up-to-date on her shots. She also has not been around small children, so that is unknown also, but based on her personality, we imagine she would love them. Lexie does have a little age related stiffness, so joint supplements are a must. Lexie would be the perfect collie for a retired person(s). A fenced yard is required. Please apply at freedomcollierescue.org

Our visit to Sunnybank

We made the trek to Sunnybank, and it was just as special as all the past visits to the “collie Mecca.”  There were friends, laughter, the beautiful grounds, the fire blue lake…and the collies.  The excitement we feel as we turn onto the long driveway of Sunnybank never lessens, no matter how many times we visit.

The town, who maintains Sunnybank, made some big changes to the property.  They cleared many trees and growth from the edge of the property, which opened up the beautiful view of the lake.  Looking back at pictures of Sunnybank during Terhune’s time, I think this was what the property looked like in the 1920s and 30s.  But the border along the lake was never cleared in any of my visits, so it was a bit of an adjustment.  It did look beautiful, just not what any of us were used to seeing.

With the lake now clearly visible, ducks are now visiting Sunnybank, which greatly amused my grandsons

I was originally planning to have Rosie take the therapy dog test and the canine good citizen test, but while I was running her through the different test exercises for practice, I realized she just isn’t quite ready.  Sits and downs aren’t something we focus on when training a dog for the show ring, as you don’t want the dog to do either while the judge is examining them.  But every time I asked Rosie do something, smart little Sorsha was right behind her, showing me that she knew how to do it!  Since she was so well trained by my daughter, and since Sorsha was so eager to show what she could do, my daughter took her in for the two tests.  Sorsha passed them both!  What a good girl!  Now my daughter has her own therapy collie, so she can go on visits with me.

Rosie will take the therapy test eventually, she has the perfect temperament for it.  But she needs some more practice on sits and downs.  For now, we will concentrate on her show career. (Once her coat comes back in, she’s naked right now.) And Rosie is still very young, she won’t even be 2 years old until New Year’s Eve, so there is plenty of time.

Sunnybank is such a treasure for collie lovers, as well as the fans of Albert Payson Terhune’s books.  I am so grateful it was saved, and that we can visit it whenever we choose.  The graves of all the past Sunnybank collies are still there, and we always visit them.

Sorsha by Lad’s grave

To get to experience The Gathering in person, while so many can’t, is something I never take for granted.  

As we lost our beautiful Kori this past May, we included her in the memorial.  It’s always so sad, hearing all the names of the collies lost over the last year while the bagpiper plays in the background.  And this year was especially heartbreaking, as our Kori was included in that list.

So another Gathering at Sunnybank has ended, but next August, we will return, and once again join in the celebration of the collie and Terhune.  If you love collies, and are able to make it to Sunnybank, I hope you seize the opportunity.

The Gathering of Collies…

It’s that time of year, the time when collie lovers gather from near and far, to celebrate their love of the collie.  Each year, on the third weekend in August, the Collie Health Foundation hosts The Gathering at Sunnybank.  What and where is Sunnybank?  Back in the 1920s and 1930s the famous author, Albert Payson Terhune, wrote many books about his beloved collies.  His home was called Sunnybank, and it was located in Wayne, New Jersey.  His collies, called the Sunnybank Collies, lived on the estate and their many adventures, both real and fictitious, were the subject of Terhune’s beloved stories.   

Terhune and three of his collies, Bruce, Wolf and Lad

The Sunnybank collies were real, and their graves can still be found at Sunnybank today.  The home and barn are gone now, but the property remains and has been turned into a park.  It’s there, at the Sunnybank park, that the Gathering is held.  During the weekend there are guest speakers, covering a wide range of topics, from collie history to collie health issues.  There is also an auction held with collie books, memorabilia, paintings, and so much more.  On Saturday they hold a memorial, with a bagpiper playing a lonesome tune, to remember the collies that have passed away.  They also offer a walking tour of the grounds, as well as therapy dog and CGC tests.  On Sunday they hold a puppy match, where breeders can show their new collie puppies, gently teaching them how to be show dogs one day.

Items from a past auction

For collie lovers, The Gathering brings everyone together to socialize, search for items to add to their collie collections, add a new title, and maybe learn something new from the guest speakers.  But it also gives us the chance to remember the collies of the past, both the Sunnybank collies and our own.  To walk the grounds of Sunnybank, surrounded by hundreds of beautiful collies, while hearing their joyous barks fill the air, can be a magical experience.  It is something every collie lover should get to experience at least once in their lifetime.

This Saturday we will be heading to The Gathering, and we can’t wait to walk the grounds that the Sunnybank collies and Terhune once called home.  We will be sitting by the “fire-blue lake,” as described by Terhune.  We will be petting all the collies, visiting with friends, and maybe trying to find something to add to our own collie collection.  I’ve written numerous posts about Sunnybank over the years, so I’m including links below.  And hopefully next week I will have a new post with new pictures from Sunnybank to share, so make sure you check back with us!

To learn more about Sunnybank, check out these posts:

Sunnybank Remembered

It All Started with a Book

The Gathering at Sunnybank

Sunnybank, then and now, always beloved

Sunnybank (2016)

Sunnybank Revisted

Sunnybank (2012)

The collies try FastCAT!

Today we are excited to share our ninth post in our series, The Versatile Collie.  Collies are such versatile dogs, they excel at many different activities, including FastCAT!  Please read below to learn more! 

This past weekend we tried something new with the collies.  It is a dog sport designed around a dog’s natural instincts.  It’s an AKC sport called FastCAT.  FastCAT, or the Coursing Ability Test, was created to time a dog’s speed while doing a 100 yard dash. The dog chases a lure, down a 100 yard course, and is timed with points awarded based on how fast the dog runs.  The AKC even keeps records of the fastest dogs, by breed, you can find them listed here.  But FastCAT isn’t limited to just purebreds, any dog can compete, they just need an AKC canine partners or a PAL registration number.

Peyton, she looks like she is enjoying the run!

This was our very first time attending a FastCAT test, so we had a lot to learn.  But everyone was very friendly, helpful and welcoming.  The dogs are allowed to run twice each day, you just have to register twice. Typically you need two people for each dog, one to release the dog on one end of the course, and one to catch the dog at the other end.  The catcher’s job is also to cheer and encourage the dogs to run as fast as they can to try to catch the lure.  This will help them get the best time possible.  But if you don’t have a second person, and many didn’t, there are always people willing to release your dog for you.  I did this for an adorable border collie and a Samoyed, while waiting for our next run.

Go Addi, Go! (This amazing photo was taken by Jon Washer)

The points are calculated by a formula. The formula is 204.545 divided by the dog’s run time, which equals the MPH the dog ran.  You then take the MPH and times it by the dog’s handicap. The handicap is based on the dog’s size, to make it fair for those dogs with shorter legs.

204.545 divided by run time (seconds) = MPH
For example, Addison completed one of her runs in 11.42 seconds, 204.545 / 11.42 = 17.91 mph
MPH x Handicap = points

• under 12" = 2 handicap
• 12" - under 18" = 1.5 handicap
• 18" and over = 1 handicap

17.91 mph x 1 handicap (Addi’s in the 18 inches handicap) = 17.91 points.

17.91 mph x 1.5 handicap = 26.865 points
17.91 mph x 2 handicap = 35.82 points

Her first run was a bit slower, she ran the course in 12.78 seconds, which gave her 16.01 points.  When you combine the points for both runs, she has a total of 33.92 points.  Not bad considering it was our first time, and neither of us knew what we were doing!  Peyton stopped 1/2 way on her first run, as she didn’t understand this new game and she was also suspicious of the photographer.  He was stretched out on the grass, behind me, and she thought that seemed highly suspect.  She completed her second run, but she was still hesitant.  Her score was 20.85 seconds, earning her 9.81 points.  The titles are earned once the dogs have accumulated enough points, so we have a way to go. 

FastCAT titles 

BCAT = 150 points 

DCAT = 500 points 

FCAT = 1,000 points

FCAT multiple = every additional 500 points (FCAT2 = 1,500)

Addison looks so happy! You can see how wet the ground was that day, but the water spray made the pictures so pretty!

We are signed up for a couple more FastCATs in the upcoming weeks, so I can’t wait to see their speed increase as their confidence grows!  All the dogs competing were having so much fun.  We were the only first timers, so I’m hoping Addi and Peyton will begin to enjoy this just as much as the others.  It’s a very exciting dog sport, and I was surprised at how many collies have already earned the FCAT title. Our own goal right now is just to have fun, and maybe to eventually get that BCAT title!

Addison, looking proud of her new ribbons!

All the pictures during the event were taken by Jon Washer photography, he did such a great job with everyone’s photos!  Please see the links below, for other posts in our Versatile collie series.

Barnhunt

Trick Dog

Agility

Pet Therapy

Service Dogs

K9 Nosework (Scentwork)

Sulky

Herding

Wordless Wednesday…Love Is

 Helping those who need a friend.

There has been an increase in collies in need of rescue.  The collie rescue groups are currently overwhelmed and need new volunteers to foster, or they won’t be able to take in the new collies that are currently waiting for rescue.  If you’ve been considering fostering, or adopting a rescue collie, this is the perfect time!  These are just a few of the collies available, but as they are bonded pairs, they are having the most difficulty finding foster or forever homes.  The first pair are especially heartbreaking, as seniors will always have a special place in my heart.

From the Collie Rescue League of New England

Meet Zamboni and Fancy

We are posting these two sweeties in the hopes someone will offer to foster them.  We are experiencing an unprecedented number of collies in need of assistance.  We had a foster home lined up, but there was a family emergency requiring the foster to leave the country.

Here is a little bit about them.  Regrettably, their owner recently passed.  The male tri is named Zamboni and is 8 years old.  The female sable is named Fancy and is 12.  Both are spayed/neutered.  They have lived with cats.  Very friendly around all people including children.  The family members are taking care of them now but cannot do so much longer.

We are committed to keeping them together.  If you wish to foster and have not yet done so for us before, we will need a foster app completed.  Contact us at fosterdirector@CRLNE.org.  We now have an electronic application.  (Yay, Doug!)  If you need a paper app, we can provide that as well.  We have world class volunteers who will help with transport.  We cover all veterinary costs, prescriptions and grooming.

We are open to adopting to the foster home if desired.  Some of our volunteers like to foster, and some end up falling in love with their foster(s) and can't say goodbye and want to adopt.  More than one board member has become a foster failure (cough, cough) over the years.  The single most important outcome is to place them in a wonderful home together.

Let us know if you can help.

Zamboni and Fancy, a beautiful pair of bonded seniors

Meet Milo and Buckwheat

Here's a couple of fellas lookin' for their furever home... meet brothers Milo & Buckwheat! They are funny, four-year-old boys who like to go on adventures! They grew up around Lake Champlain, so are no strangers to the water, and the Adirondacks gave them lots of opportunities to hike. They like doin' whatever you're doin'!!! They like cats! And are snugglebunnies! They are vocal, protective, and like to herd things, too, including children. As such, we feel like they'd be best suited to a family with middle-school age children and up. If you're interested in fostering (or adopting) these two striking, sable 'n white fellows, email our foster director: fosterdirector@crlne.org

Check out Milo & Buckwheat in our latest Instagram reel! Milo & Buckwheat

And from Freedom Collie Rescue

They are coming in faster than we can keep up!  We  just took in six Collies in the last week and a half. We’ve been asked to take two more today. We do not put our Collies in boarding so we need Foster Homes so we can accept them into our rescue.

If you are in Texas, and you think you may be able to foster, please go to our website and click on applications at the top and then click on Foster application and you can fill it out online.  We cover all vet bills, heartworm prevention, and cover dog food expenses. Please apply at freedomcollierescue.org

Meet Chester and Pepper

Two more sweet arrivals. Chester our rough Tri had a good grooming and is now worn out. Pepper our pretty smoothie also was groomed and both are settling into their foster homes. Big shout out to William for picking up these two and to Cecelia and Brad for a 3 hour drive to get Chester. Thank you Angela for your transport support too! Six collies into rescue!  Five we had prepared for and one was a surprise surrender. Working on fosters for two more waiting to come in. If you are in Texas and can foster for us, please go to our website and fill out a Foster application. We cover all vetting, heartworm, medication, and food.

Help us help them!