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.