The Christmas Collie by Ted Paul

I have a copy of this book, that was given to me by my Uncle Fran.   The story and illustrations are simply beautiful.  Each Christmas I listen to the reading of this story, and it always makes me a little misty-eyed.  So, in the spirit of Christmas, I wanted to share it with all of you.

Happy Birthday to you!

Today our sweet, handsome puppy boy turns 1 year old!  Which means in the Spring, when FastCAT starts back up, Nolan gets to see how fast he is and if he can beat ZuZu’s times.  

Nolan is almost a champion, he has both majors and 12 of the 15 points needed.  We stopped showing him, as he was winning every time he stepped paw into the ring, and we want to try to finish his championship at the National.  Winning the coveted “Winner’s Dog” at the National is an honor, and finishing at the National would be a dream come true.  But if he doesn’t finish there, we are certain he will get those last points fairly quickly.  Then he will begin working towards his Grand Championship, I can’t wait to see this special boy get back into the show ring, he’s a joy to watch.

Why am I thankful?

Growing up, one of my favorite things to do during the holidays was to drive around with my Mom and look at Christmas lights.  It always brought me joy, and when my daughter was old enough, I would take her to see the lights too.  And the department store windows that featured animatronic displays would always captivate me as a child!  I could not wait to stroll along the sidewalks and gaze at those wondrous creations!

These days, no one seems to want to pile into the family car and drive around looking at lights with Christmas songs blasting through the speakers.  Sadly, very few stores create those magical holiday displays in their windows any longer.  I’m thankful that even when the majority of my family and friends don’t want to go look at Christmas lights with me…my collies are always happy to come along!

What is one of your favorite holiday memories?

Mary & Emmett - a new book review

 Someday I would love to write a children’s book about collies.  It’s something I’ve thought about pursuing for a few years, but haven’t actually sat down and tried it yet.  A Facebook acquaintance gave it a try, and I’ve been anticipating the book’s completion, and quickly purchased two copies when the book went on sale on Amazon.  One copy was for me, and one is a Christmas gift for my grandchildren.

The book is called Mary & Emmett, A Journey Through the Dark.  It was written by Amanda Kaminski, and has beautiful illustrations by Vanessa Ilnitsky.  Since I haven’t done a book review in a long time, I thought this would be an excellent choice to add to my series of reviews, since it is about a collie, our favorite subject.

The book has a sweet story, about a young girl lost in the woods.  A collie comes along, and helps her find her way through the dark.  The charming story and stunning illustrations are perfect together, and capture that special relationship between a child and a dog.  If you are looking for a gift for a child, or if you collect collie stories, I recommend giving this book a try.  You can find it on Amazon, by clicking here.

Merry Christmas!

 Wishing you all a Merry little Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thank you to all of our readers, we appreciate you stopping by and hope to continue bringing you new content, pictures and updates in the years to come!

The Last Dog Show of the year!

This weekend was so much fun! As I previously posted, Morgan won the puppy herding group on Saturday, and we were so happy and so proud of our girl.  Yesterday we went back to the show, and Morgan’s littermate, Valkyrie was also entered.  

Both girls looked beautiful, and at 5 months old, we can see that they both look very similar to their big sister, Rosie.  Valkyrie was shown by her owner, who is new to competing in dog shows.  This was also Valkyrie’s first show, and they both did so well.  They looked so good together, and Valkyrie moved around the ring confidently and had fun.   It was so nice to see the bond between her and her person already forming.

Photo by Pinscher Portraits

Morgan seemed to really enjoy the dog show, which makes me so happy.  My daughter has been working hard the last couple weeks to prepare her for dog shows and I could see it all just clicked for Morgan this weekend.  Sunday she was more confident, and there was no hesitancy in running around the ring.

She looked beautiful, and won a Group 2 in the Puppy Herding Group.  So for her 1st weekend out she came home with a Group 1 and a Group 2!  This is all unofficial, she won’t be able to compete officially until she turns 6 months old.  But she is off to a great start, and we are so proud of both her and her sister.  

At the show, as a fundraiser, they were offering pictures with Santa, so we had to get a picture of the puppies.  This is just a picture I took with my phone, the official picture is coming later today or tomorrow.  I’ll share it as soon as I get it.  This was our last show weekend, the next show will be after the holidays.  Until then, we are just going to enjoy our holiday celebrations and spoil all the collies.  

Morgan’s News…

This weekend we took puppy Morgan to a dog show.  We weren’t sure how she would do, and at first she was a bit confused.  But with a little help from my daughter, it didn’t take long for her to figure it all out.

And then our pretty puppy surprised us…

Morgan won the Puppy Herding Group!  We are so proud of her, as this was a lot of new experiences packed into one day.  The building was loud, and the noise from the people and dogs echoed.  There were countless other dog breeds and many new people trying to say hello to her.  The show was decorated with inflatables and Christmas trees, which were all very distracting for a young puppy! 

This was only her 2nd time at a dog show and she did incredible.  She enjoyed the attention and praise, earned points towards her “Puppy of Achievement” certificate, and came home with a pretty pink Group 1st ribbon!  We are going back today, and hopefully she will have another fun day.

What kind of dog was Lassie?

This is a question that is Googled often.  When our collies run into strangers, and we are asked what kind of dog they are, we tell them “they are collies, like Lassie.” If the person is younger than 35, we are usually met with a blank stare, as they have never heard of Lassie.  Gen X seems to be the last generation who remember Lassie, her movies and her television shows.  But for older generations, those born before 1960, Lassie was a household name.  They grew up watching her weekly tv show, watching her exploits on the Big Screen, and reading her books.  Which gave me an idea…

Each year in December we pick a date, and I invite my friends with their therapy collies, and we watch a Lassie movie with the residents of a local nursing home.  The residents love to watch these sweet, charming old movies starring the iconic collie.  And to get to watch the movie with our therapy collies by their sides is an experience that has them all smiling!

Therapy collies Finn, Addison and Kelsea

I think the collies really enjoy the admiration they receive during the movie, as if they are sharing in Lassie’s dramatic onscreen adventure.  This year we had around 30 residents join us, and we watched Lassie Come Home.  The movie was made and released in 1943, so it’s over 80 years old.  I have watched it dozens of times, and I still cry when Lassie limps into the schoolyard to meet her boy, Joe.  The endearing love and loyalty of the collie is captured so poignantly in that moment that it never fails to touch my heart.

Of course, having collies of my own makes the movie even more heartwarming.  And our therapy collies, who visit this particular nursing home regularly, have become friends with the residents.  Watching a Lassie movie with a therapy collie is deeply meaningful for elderly nursing home residents because it brings together comfort, memory, and emotional connection in a unique and powerful way. For many residents, Lassie represents a familiar and beloved figure from their earlier years—a symbol of loyalty, courage, and the unconditional love of a faithful dog. Seeing those stories again can awaken warm memories of childhood, family, and simpler times.

Having an actual collie present while watching the movie enhances that experience in a profoundly tangible way. The therapy dog provides gentle companionship, physical warmth, and a calming presence. Residents aren’t just watching a story about a heroic, loving dog—they are feeling the soft fur, steady heartbeat, and patient affection of a real one beside them. This blending of memory and sensory comfort can reduce feelings of loneliness, ease anxiety, and spark joyful conversation.

The experience also creates moments of connection among residents. Sharing smiles, memories of past pets, or simply the delight of watching our collies react to the movie builds a sense of community.  For individuals who may struggle with isolation, cognitive decline, or physical limitations, this kind of emotional engagement can be uplifting and grounding.

In short, watching a Lassie movie with a therapy collie is more than entertainment—it’s an experience that warms the heart.  I hope to offer this experience to other nursing homes in the future, as we love to share our therapy collies with everyone, and watch them work their magic.