The never ending summer- the dangers of Heat

I started to write this on July 27 when we had 2 solid weeks of extreme heat and No rain.  I didn’t get it posted and the temps “cooled off” (from 90’s-100 degrees down to high 80’s).   This past weekend it all came back, and with the heat, humidity.  UGH!

All the vegetation here is dead.  The lawn, our garden, our pastures.  This summer has been one of extreme heat and no rain. 

In all of these heat warnings, the news is still reporting deaths of children in cars.  According to one article I read, at least 23 children have died in hot cars this year.  According to the article, this number usually averages 37 such deaths a year.  That is CHILDREN, not pets too.   When I look at my blog and I think, “oh, I have already written about heat” and then I hear of another death, I realize it is worth writing about.  Last night a women told me that she takes her dogs everywhere with her and she carries an extra set of keys so she can keep the car running with the air conditioner on.   That sounds good, but the reason some accidents are “tragic” is because we thought we were doing things right.  

This summer a fellow dog show participant experienced such a tragedy and 14 dogs died in a hot van in Indiana.  The van had an air conditioning unit powered by an extension cord that was plugged in at a hotel where the person was staying.  The person thought the dogs were cool and safe.  Tragically, a circuit breaker tripped, cutting off the air.  A heart breaking, tragic accident.   While I travel to shows with my dogs this summer, I worry about the heat, and try to plan ahead.

The best thing to do would be to leave the pets at home, but that is not always an option.   Make sure to have plenty of water.  Portable Fans are available for travel.  Some small ones hang on the crates, while other larger ones plug into portable batteries.  Cool mats for the dogs to lay on (in their crates while in a car of course) help to move heat out of the body.  Shade- always, always park in the shade when possible. Windshield and window covers help quite a bit.   Lastly, just don’t leave them in vehicles. 

Stay Safe, fall will be here soon. 

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New *NAJ* *NF* Acadia Prince of Parks, *NAJ*, *NF*

Parker completed the Novice Agility Jumpers and Novice Fast (agility) and is alrerady only one qualifying score away from his Open titles. I am so proud of Tina and Parker for competing in agility.  Parker is the pride and joy of Tina's parents.  He is named both for their love of camping, and to honor his dad, GCh. Acadia Prince of Peace, HT, NPJ, VC

Tina takes amazing photographs.  Thank you for sharing them with us.

Parker camping in 2016

Parker as a puppy (2013)

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New *MXJ* Acadia Essence of Joy, UD, RE, AX, MXJ

This is Amy's birthday week.  She will be 93!  This weekend she had ALL Qualifying Runs.   In February Amy and Joy earned two back to back UD legs with 2nd placements in classes of over 20 dogs.  I am so proud to have been chosen by Amy for her shelties.

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Mothers Make the World Go ‘Round

I think that mothers are the backbone of us all.  I really value good mothers.  I am so fortunate to have a good mother, and I watch mother-offspring interactions all the time.  In my breeding program, I won’t tolerate poor mothers- in dogs or in sheep.  I select for mothers that are attentive, keep their offspring clean, fed, are attentive, and offer adequate and appropriate touch.  Touch, often in the form of licking, is essential to both physical and emotional development.  In a nutshell, Good mothers are the antidote to a demanding life to come.

Today, take the time  to celebrate motherhood.

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Welcome Ch. Barwoods D'Lightful- aka- Joy

I am super excited with the acquisition  of Ch. Barwoods D'Lightful.    These past few months I have been so disappointed not to have puppies and I have even begun to worry, and then along came Joy.   My friend and fellow breeder Donna found herself in the position of moving to Hawaii for a job change.  She was not going to be able to take many dogs, so she need to find homes that would love and care for them- but also carry on a well established and successful line.  We are both really hoping that we are the answers to each others prayers.  Now of course we just need to produce beautiful puppies- and Please dear God-  show quality GIRLS!!

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April 6, 1996- My very first litter was born

It's official! I have been breeding shelties for 20 years.  That's hard for me to believe.  My first litter was born 4/6/96 to Tucket.  I remember that litter so well. I had chosen the dog, named Chili, with whom I wanted to breed Tucket and was ecstatic when he won Reserve Winners Dog at the ASSA national.  He lived in New Mexico (and I in Arizona), but by the time Tucket was ready to breed he was visiting a handler in Wisconsin.  I didn't know much about the estrous cycle of dogs and I shipped her to the stud dog way to early.

I doubt that handler, who is still showing shelties, remembers my novice excitement and hosting Tucket for an extended stay.  She had 6 puppies- 3 girls and 3 boys. The delivery was a smooth one.  Tucket made everything so easy .  I tried to go to work the next day, but ended up coming home early just so I could sit and watch them.  Fat, healthy, pretty- they were so much fun. I still feel that way about puppies.

Two puppies went back to Connecticut with Tucket's breeder and the other 4 were sold in Arizona. Although I am still good friends with Tucket's breeder, she is no longer breeding dogs.   I kept in close contact with 3 of the Arizona owners, and two of them still have an Acadia sheltie (the 3rd now only has a Vizsla). A little belated, but Happy 20th Birthday to Pepper, Pepper (yes- there were 2) and Red Cloud.

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Happy Easter 2016

This picture is of Show Low, who turned 15 this year.

When Mike and I lived in Arizona we would hide the plastic Easter eggs in the house- some in plain sight and some hidden- but all at ground level.  Mike would put a leash on our Vizsla, Copper, and I would leash up Tucket for our egg hunt.  In the eggs we would have a nice smelly dog treat.  The dogs enjoyed the egg hunt and it allowed me and Mike to continue to enjoy a childish tradition.  Both Copper and Tucket have passed on, and we have not trained any of our current dogs to hunt for eggs. 

This morning when I got up and went downstairs to take care of the dogs, I opened the dog food container, and there was a plastic purple egg.  What a wonderful surprise.  Mike had stayed up to hide eggs after I went to bed.  He said they were all up high- so the dogs didn't get them.   What a wonder start to the day.

Happy Easter.

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