Dogs just wanna have fun!

 Most dog sports are fun for dogs, and if my dogs don’t enjoy whatever competition we enter, then we move on to something else, there is so much to choose from these days!  When you compete in conformation, obedience, barnhunt, or any other sport, the dogs don’t care about winning, they only care about having fun with you, their person.  So no matter how much we enjoy winning the ribbons and titles, if our dogs aren’t enjoying the competition, then they won’t excel.  People tend to forget that these sports, trials, shows and events should be an opportunity to enrich our dogs lives, and provide a wonderful opportunity to bond with them.  I’ve seen competitors forget this, and get frustrated with their dogs when they didn’t win.  And the dogs don’t understand why their person is unhappy with them, they were just having fun.  

When we lose, and we do our fair share of losing, we try to remember that our collies did their very best, and we praise them like they are the best dogs at the show or competition, because they are.  There is a great quote by W.R. Purche, “everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.” My collies are always trying their best to understand what we are asking them to do.  Sophie and Sorsha figured out the rules of Barnhunt pretty quickly.  There are only three things: 1) climb up on a hay bale, 2) go through the tunnel, and 3) find the rat.  It is timed, but with a few practices, most dogs seem to catch on instinctively and are able to do all three in the time allowed.  I wanted to share this video of our recent Barnhunt practice.  Sophie and Sorsha have done multiple Barnhunts now, and you can see they get right to it.  Peyton tried it for the first time, so they made it easy for her to find the rat.  One thing I noticed afterwards, that made me smile, Sophie’s tail never stopped wagging, she was having a great time!

This weekend we are going to try a new sport that we’ve never tried before.  I’m hoping the collies enjoy it, all the dogs I’ve watched competing at trials seemed to be having the best time!  Come back next week and I will tell you all about it!

Exciting news! (Part 2)

 To continue with the collies’ exciting updates…

In June our sweet Sophie earned her THDX title, or Therapy Dog Excellent.  This will be her last therapy title, as Sophie doesn’t seem to love it anymore.  If she doesn’t enjoy it, then it’s time to retire her from therapy work.  What she does love, more than anything, is Barnhunt and Scentwork.  Since she enjoys both so much, we have been attending practice classes for fun, and will start entering trials again this Fall.  

Sophie 

Also In June our Peyton earned a 3 point major towards her championship! We are beginning to refocus on conformation shows, as my 3rd grandchild was born this past Winter, and my daughter is now able to handle the collies at shows.  She gave me three beautiful grandchildren in four years, so we just couldn’t make it to many shows. But now that we have started competing again, the collies are so happy!

Peyton

In July, our Maizie won her second major, which finished her championship!  She deserved this title, and would have finished a while back, if we hadn’t taken a hiatus from dog shows.  She gets so happy every time I call her “Champion Maizie”

Maizie

Also in July, our ZuZu won her first major!  With her other minor wins this Spring/Summer, she is well on her way to earning her Championship title!

ZuZu

And most recently, our Ryder earned his last therapy title, THDD.  The Therapy Dog Distinguished title is earned once a dog has completed 400 visits.  Ryder will be turning 13 years old on August 30th, so I am retiring him on September 1st.  He still wants to go on visits, but it’s too hard for him to walk that much.  He has brought so much joy and happiness over his 9 years working as a therapy dog, I know the nursing home residents and staff will miss him.

It’s been a busy Summer, but we have had so much fun!  My Aunt and Uncle came for a visit, all the way from Alaska.  And we have tried to do as many fun things as we can, in the hot, humid weather, as Summer days always pass so quickly.  We still have a few weeks remaining before the season ends and Autumn arrives, and a few more dog shows to attend.  So hopefully we will have more exciting updates to share soon!

Exciting news! (Part 1)

 While we haven’t been writing, we have been very busy!  I’m not even sure where to begin, so let’s start where we left off in June.

In June my two seniors, both over 12 years old, earned a new title.  Both Scarlett and Ryder took the advanced Canine Good Citizen test, and passed!  I wasn’t really surprised, because they are both amazingly good dogs, always willing to do whatever I ask of them, without hesitation.  But then again, they are collies, and are bred with that inherent drive to please their human that makes them so successful as a working/herding breed.  What made these titles so treasured by me is that these two collies, both over 12 years old, are still able to learn new things and earn new titles as seniors.  

Ryder

For the collie breed, there is a rich documented history.  Each year the Collie Club of America publishes the Collie Yearbook.  And in the Yearbook are all the titles the American collies have earned that year.  It honors their accomplishments, and provides a nice remembrance after they leave us.  I am fascinated by the collies of the past, and all the breeders and famous collies who helped to develop this breed I love so much.  I’m constantly reading old collie magazines, old yearbooks, and researching old pedigrees, as it paints a picture of how my own line of collies was created.  So when my collies earn new titles, any new titles, I know they will become a part of the carefully preserved history of the collie breed, and maybe some day, someone will be reading about them…and they will be remembered.

Scarlett 

It’s been a while…

 When I lose a dog, I always end up drifting away from posting on the blog.  We all grieve in our own way, and for me, I have a difficult time writing posts about my collies when one is missing.  Kori was such a big part of my life for a dozen years, and she will always be missed.  The quote that sums it up best, “Dogs’ lives are too short, their only fault.”  So we know from the start that they will leave us too soon, but the love they bring into our lives is so pure, we can’t help but cling to them for however long they grace our lives.

I have two other seniors, and I’m a bit panicked when I think of their ages, and how few days we may have left together.  I’m trying to focus on the time we do have, and treasuring every moment.  I hope to keep my posts positive, a celebration of their lives, and the joy they bring into mine.  And I hope our long time followers, and anyone new who comes across our blog, will be patient with my occasional absence.  I always return, eventually, as the collies always have new adventures to share.  And I do have quite a few updates to post, as a lot has happened…so please stop back, the collies have news!

Before you can swim, you have to get your paws wet!

 (Sharing one of our most popular posts from 2012 because….baby Scarlett!)

If you have ever read Albert Payson Terhune's books, about his Sunnybank collies, you know that HIS collies seemed to enjoy swimming. The Place was comprised of 40 acres, and located on a fire-blue lake. The house was Victorian, with wide porches, covered with Wisteria. The collies would romp and play across the lawns, through the woods, and they would swim in the lake. Now I believed this meant collies enjoyed swimming. But I have discovered that this isn't actually true. Some collies may enjoy plunging into a lake or ocean, they may enjoy the feel of the water as they paddle with all four paws through the cool depths. But most do not like swimming at all. I had a golden retriever, Chloe, who loved the water. She would never turn down an opportunity to jump in for a swim...collies, not so much. 

Maybe Terhune's collies enjoyed swimming because back in the 1920's and 30's they didn't have a little something called air conditioning. So the only way for a collie to cool off during the hot summer months was to jump in a lake. But collies have now become spoiled...

 Me: "Hey Abby, want to go down to the beach and go for a swim?" 
Abby: "No thanks, I'm just going to lay here on the couch, in front of this air conditioner, and nap. Can you put a Lassie movie on for me? Oh, and could you get me a Frosty Paws while you are up? Thanks-bye" 

Still, I think all dogs should be introduced to the concept of swimming. (Who knows, I might yet discover a collie who actually loves to swim!) Since we are working on socializing Scarlett, by introducing her to new people, places and things, it seemed like as good a time as any to take her to the beach. We invited Holly along, but not because we thought Holly might encourage Scarlett to swim, Holly has no interest in swimming. It was just her turn to go for a ride in the car. 

My daughter, Scarlett and Holly had fun, running and playing in the sand. 

And Scarlett graciously agreed to pose for some pictures. 

But then it was time for swimming. And her natural instincts had her paddling immediately…straight for shore. She proved she can swim, but will she every view it as something enjoyable? I don't think so...I think she'd rather chase sheep - on nice solid ground! Guess we can't all be swimmers! 

What does a pedigree tell you?

Social media is fast becoming a preferred method of communication for many.  It’s a quick and efficient way to announce show wins, new titles earned and litters recently produced.  Depending on the proficiency of the individual, online research can provide a wealth of information.  While it is a helpful source, the internet does not tell the entire story of a collie’s history.  Reviewing a collie’s pedigree can show not only a list of impressive names in the the collie’s lineage, but it paints a picture of the temperament and soundness of that family of  dogs by listing all the titles they have earned over the years.

Sophie, Marchello’s Heaven Sent, THDX, CGC, FDC, TKN, RATN, VC, proudly posing after earning her RATN title

What is the first thing we can learn from a pedigree? Each dog’s pedigree contains the kennel name of the parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.  The pedigree also shows the dog’s registration number, official name and date of birth.  And if you have the names of those three generations, you can typically find the pedigrees of most of your dog’s ancestors and the titles they earned as well.  For example, with collies, this detailed information will show if there were many collies with herding titles, along with championships earned in conformation, in their ancestry.  

The titles that have been earned show that the dog conforms to the breed standard, a standard that was carefully developed for that purebred dog breed.  It also shows that the animal is potentially able to compete in a variety of competitions, and if they are still able to do the tasks they were originally bred to perform.  These titles listed in the pedigree are all abbreviated, and there are hundreds of them.  Most of the titles start with the novice, or beginner title, and the dogs can earn additional titles by advancing through more difficult tests. The most common type of titles that collies are earning are:

• CH - Conformation Champion
• GCH - Grand Champion
• CGC - Canine Good Citizen
• BN - Beginner Novice (obedience)
• RN - Rally Novice
• NA - Novice Agility
• RATN - Novice Barn Hunt
• HT - Herding Tested
• SWN - Scent Work Novice
• THDN - Therapy Dog Novice
• TKN - Trick Dog Novice
• ROM - Register of Merit  (earned when a Sire produces 20 Champion offspring or when a Dam produces 7 Champion offspring)

Ryder, posing after earning his THDX, Therapy Dog Excellent title

If you are interested in obtaining a purebred dog, the pedigree can provide a host of key details about that family of dogs.  The pedigree, along with breed specific health clearances, can help you choose a healthy dog with a great temperament for your next companion.  And for those who love researching the history of dog breeds, the pedigree is a great place to begin.

Vulnerable dog breeds…at risk of disappearing!

 Heritage or preservation breeders fulfill a vital role.  Often judged harshly by those passionate about rescue, they are vilified for producing puppies while so many animals languish in shelters.  What is often misunderstood, is that a reputable breeder is not at fault for the pet overpopulation that results in the many homeless dogs and cats filling the rescues and animal shelters.  A truly reputable breeder cares about dogs and cats, and they stand by the animals they produce.  They are always willing to take back those animals, at any age, to keep them out of the shelters and rescues.  Most of the collie breeders that I know, will work with rescues, and they are the first to donate money, supplies and their time when a crisis occurs.  It’s the unplanned litters, accidentally produced by a dog or cat that was not spayed or neutered, or the pet shop puppy that is no longer wanted once it starts to grow up, or even the abandoned street dogs and cats, that make up the majority of the animals in our shelters.  

Pictured is a European smooth collie, only 45 smooths were registered in the UK last year.

All shelter and rescue animals deserve a home, that’s not up for debate.  But an individual, or family, choosing to buy a puppy or an adult dog from a preservation breeder should not be held in contempt for that choice.  There are a host of reasons for deciding to get your next puppy (or kitten) from a breeder.  The first, may be the desire to get a dog that was produced by fully health-tested parents, to reduce the risk of your dog developing a preventable disease or illness in the future.  The second could be the desire to get a dog that was purposefully bred to be able to perform a specific task, such as retrieving, herding, livestock guardianship, search and rescue, guide dogs or service dogs.  Another reason might be the love of a specific dog breed, such as my love of the collie.  There are countless reasons to get a puppy from a reputable breeder, and none of them are wrong.  And if you choose to adopt from a shelter or rescue, that is wonderful, you are saving that dog or cat’s life, and filling your home with love.  Everyone has to decide what is best for their individual needs.

Foxhound, image from Petfinder. Only 1 Foxhound was registered in the UK last year!

Being a preservation or heritage breeder means that the breeder is producing dogs in an effort to protect, maintain and improve a particular dog breed, based of the breed’s original purpose.  These are individuals who are passionate about that specific breed, they strive to maintain the standard created for that dog, while carefully producing healthy, well-socialized puppies.  Why is this necessary? Because without them, we are at risk of losing some beautiful, intelligent and loyal dog breeds.  Every year in the U.K. they release a list of “Vulnerable Native Dog Breeds.”  The list is comprised of dog breeds, of British or Irish origin, that are considered to be at risk of disappearing because of declining registration numbers in the U.K.  These are dog breeds with fewer than 300 registrations per year.  The reason for the decline may be that they are not well known, so they are overlooked when people are considering their next dog.  For others, who were once a popular breed, they are not considered to be currently fashionable, like the French Bulldog or Labrador.

The Greyhound, image from Wikipedia.  Only 35 Greyhounds were registered in the UK in 2023

For whatever the reason, with less demand for these specific breeds, fewer and fewer puppies are being bred and sold each year, and they are becoming unrecognizable by the general public.  These dog breeds are wonderful companions with a rich history, developed over centuries of careful breeding by dedicated preservation breeders.  While some dogs on the Vulnerable breeds list are more popular in other countries, the low numbers in the U.K., where they were originally developed, is very concerning.

The Harrier, slightly smaller than the Foxhound, there were 0 Harriers registered in the UK in 2023!

Hopefully, through the hard work of their preservation breeders, these dog breeds can be saved.  If you want to learn more, please research these wonderful dog breeds, and reach out to your local breed clubs.

The Irish Red and White Setter, only 46 were registered in the UK last year. (Image from Wikipedia)

I know this a hot topic for people, and it’s not my intention to start arguments with this post.  Please understand the intent of this post is to help bring attention to the efforts being made to preserve these vulnerable dog breeds before they are lost.

The Otterhound, image from Vetstreet.  Only 18 Otterhounds were registered in 2023.

There were only 36 Skye Terriers registered in the UK in 2023

Want to see the complete list of Vulnerable dog breeds?  Please click here!

Sussex Spaniel, only 27 were registered last year. (Image from Showsite Magazine)

I wasn’t ready…

 We lost our Kori yesterday.  Even though we knew it was coming, my daughter and I still weren’t prepared.  The sight of her empty bowl, when I was preparing the collie’s dinner last night, just wrecked me.  Kori and Ryder always ate their dinner side by side, and now he stands alone, none of the other collies are willing to eat in “ her spot.”  I’m feeling her loss so deeply, and already miss my Sunshine girl so much.  The collies are all sticking close by me, to try and help, but I know they miss her too.  She was the 6th dog I’ve lost during my adult life, and it never gets any easier. 

Love you my beautiful Kori Beanie, 8/30/11 - 5/15/24