Acadia Shelties: 2024

600th post!! Winter- joy and sadness

Wow! I started this blog in 2006 when blogs were a new media platform. I really enjoy looking back over the years and seeing the canine family that is still going strong, thriving, giving love and bringing joy, and successfully competing in every aspect of competition. This family brings me so much joy and every day I feel blessed to be allowed to create my own family.

Although I know I am blessed, sometimes, as I review past posts, I feel sad. I wish past dogs were still here. Sometimes I wish I had bred a dog differently and had offspring from dogs that have passed. I miss them. I receive messages from families whose dogs have passed, and I spend time remembering them- and feeling the sadness of loss. I know that this time of year, many feel sad.

Wishing passed loved ones were still with us or feeling lonely is common- especially this time of year when the pressure to be Jolly is greater. Feeling sad and lonely may be a normal part of life- and winter, but if it becomes overwhelming, seek people to help, and healthy actions to honor the sources of sadness in ways that brings a smile. One way to cope with these feelings can be to create your own traditions. One tradition I have tried to create for myself is to do a year- end review. Similar to writing a Christmas letter (which I have long stopped doing), a year-end review reminds me of what brought me happiness and helps me focus on the present and the good. I will be writing that blog post soon- and if you have anything I should be reminded of - please let me know.

Thank you for reading my blog- I hope to have 600 more posts of love and sadness ahead. Happy Winter Solstice (yesterday).

What shelties are Thankful for

>> Friday, November 29, 2024 – Everything else

A Vizsla free day! The day after Thanksgiving and Mike and Rosie are going to the farm for a weekend trip. The shelties LOVE when Rosie goes on vacation because that means everyone gets chew toys!!

Rosie usually gathers all of the chew toys together and won't share. It is difficult to manage everyone's chewing pleasures when she is here, so the first thing I did when they drove out the driveway was break out the chew toys. They got to choose from large carrots, rawhides and braided bully sticks.

The carrots were a favorite and they went the fastest. The shelties love a vizsla free staycation.

New ROM !! Ch. Acadia Opinion Provided, ROM

>> Thursday, November 14, 2024 – Aidan, Chica, Gregory, Liza, meet the family, Trestle, Tristan

Chica is now a Register of Merit (ROM). This designation is for females who have produced 5 or more Champion offspring and males who have produced 10 or more champions. Chica is the first ROM for Acadia although others have come close.

Ch. Sunburst Acadia Here I Come, "Carrie", should have been my first. She produced 4 champions, 1 additional son with 12 points, 1 major (1 major short of the championship), and another daughter with a major. Six show winners in all, but only 4 champions. While she did not achieve the ROM status, Carrie is the anchor of my breeding program which consists of 9 consecutive generations of champion girls on the tail-female line. This line is on Carrie's Page and Dove's page.

Chica is the 8th consecutive generation of Champion girls. Her father is "Aidan"- Ch. Acadia's Stage Director and her mother is the Best In Show winner, Century Club member, GChS. Acadia Stage Presence, CC.

Chica is the mother of:

GChB Acadia Gregarious, BCAT

Ch. Acadia Peggin Iced Latte, RA, PT, OA, VCX

Ch. Acadia Trusted Opinion, FDC

Ch. Acadia Everyone's Opinion

Ch. Peggin Acadia Breve, PT, RN, NJP, TKN, CGC

and..

Acadia's Celestial Mystery, MX, MXJ, NF

Acadia October Skye, ACT1, ACT2J, TKI

Which is the best vacuum for dog hair?

>> Thursday, October 17, 2024 – articles and information

People often ask, "which vacuum is the best for dog hair?" A broom!

In central Pennsylvania people often call the vacuum a "sweeper". I would hear people say, "I need to sweep the carpet"- but they really meant they were going to vacuum the carpet.

I started to sweep the carpet (actually sweep) BEFORE I vacuumed and I found that the broom was the best at getting the hair up. No matter what vacuum you use, hair can wrap around the carpet rotor attachment making it less effective. With a broom, the hair collects and pulls off easily for continued sweeping. It even picks up dirt and makes the vacuuming more effective.

I recommend "sweeping the carpet".

Acadia Essential

>> Saturday, October 5, 2024 – Stud dogs

Acadia Essential

>> Monday, September 30, 2024 – Stud dogs

Best Of Breed at Tri-State SSC club specialty show

>> Thursday, September 26, 2024 – conformation, Liza

Best Of Breed!!

From the classes. Acadia Essential, aka, "Warren", wins a 5 Point major. He went on to defeat 8 champions for Best Of Breed at the Tri-State SSC specialty under esteemed judge Rick Thompson.

What a Trill it was to have Rick point to Warren, and then say, “what a handsome boy” as he handed me the ribbon. Warren was shown 1 other time, the day he turned 6 months, and I decided to let him grow up. He is a fun dog. Confident and happy and I couldn’t have been more proud of him!

Warren is Liza's grandson. His mother, GCh. Acadia Light Up the Stage, aka, "Lolo", is the daughter of Liza and the sister of Aiden. HIs sister is Ch. Acadia All Aglow, "Granby".

Happy 11th Birthday Mason

>> Monday, September 9, 2024 – great pets, Mason, Serena

Ch. Acadia Independence Day, CD, PCD, BN, RM2, RAE, TKI

Mason turned 11 years old today. Happy Birthday Mason. He has been living his best life with Anita. The two of them just completed the Rally Choice Title. Way To Go!! Anita says that Mason still acts young and I have no doubt that it is because of the mental and physical stimulation of training and trialing.

New Ch Acadia Everyone's Opinion- aka- Trestle

>> Thursday, August 22, 2024 – Chica, conformation, Trestle

Today Acadia Everyone's Opinion, "Trestle", won the final 2 points to complete the AKC Championship. She is the 4th champion for her mother, Ch. Acadia Opinion Provided, "Chica", and the 2nd from her litter to finish.

The judge said, "she is so pretty" as he handed me the ribbon. I thought that was really nice of him to say. Trestle has won Winners Bitch and better at her last 6 consecutive shows. She truly has been "Everyone's Opinion" !!!

Happy 14th Birthday Liza

>> Saturday, July 27, 2024 – Liza

Happy 14th Birthday to GCHS Acadia Stage Presence, CC- aka- Liza.

I am so happy to be able to kiss Liza today and wish her a happy 14th birthday. She is still climbing the (uncarpeted) stairs by herself- even if it is a little slower.

Peer Recognition is the Best kind! Thank you Sherry Deeds

>> Wednesday, July 24, 2024 – Cassia, conformation, Liza

I was so honored when Sonia from pedigreelines contacted me to say that they were doing a new feature entitled, "What do judges look for"- and they were asking top sheltie breeder judges to pick one term in the standard and a dog they felt illustrated the point. She told me that they had asked breeder/judge Sherry Deeds to pick a word and dog- and Sherry picked Balance and CASSIA.

I am just So Honored!! Thank you to Sherry for this honor, and to Sonia for doing this series- it's a good one.

We had a VERY successful 4th of July WEEK!

>> Monday, July 8, 2024 – Chica, conformation, Trestle

There were 5 days of dog shows- July 3- July 7, 2024 and Trestle was awarded Winners Bitch all 5 days!! Twice she was awarded Best of Breed over dogs that are already champions. This week Trestle actually was, Everyone's Opinion :-)

The show entries were not that high and it was only 1 point each day- except what happened on Sunday. Sunday Trestle was awarded Best of Breed over 7 champions and it was enough to give her major #2. I was hoping that she would end the week with a total of 10 points, but Trestle now has 13 points, both majors. Way more exciting than I had imagined! We are not entered at any other shows yet, but I am sure motivated now to find a show.

Zachary was also entered this week and he was Winners Dog one day for another point. He was Reserve Winners dogs one day as well. He now has 5 points. We have gone to very few shows since we got back from the National, but I think I need to plan out the rest of our summer a bit better.

4th of July has historically been a Successful dog show day for us

>> Thursday, July 4, 2024 – conformation, Mason, Trestle

Today "Trestle" (Acadia Everyone's Opinion) was Winners Bitch- but I didn't get a picture because it was only 1 point, but on the drive home I was thinking about all of the successes I have had on this day over the years- and wished that I had gotten a picture.

Ch. Zion Acadia Town Heroine, CDX, PT, VCX finished her championship on this day in 1997. Tucket was the first dog I had finished by myself and I pretended that all of the fireworks that night were for us. We lived in Arizona at the time and these shows were in California. We had a lovely dinner on a dock by the ocean- and I was on cloud 9.

Another memorable 4th of July I was showing a bitch in Maryland, my friend Cathy Meek had one of my bitches in Arizona, and someone else (I can't remember who) had a 3rd girl out - all three of them won that day. Again, Fireworks to honor their success!

"Mason" was conceived on July 4th- and was named Ch. Acadia Independence Day, CD,RM,RAE, BN,TKI - he became GCh. Acadia Serenity's first champion, and funny enough- his father's name is GCh. Barwood Clearsky Fireworks (he was born in July- but not the 4th of July)

Happy 4th of July - may the fireworks be to honor You too.

Acadia Everyone's Opinion, "Trestle"

>> Saturday, May 4, 2024 – ASSA National, Chica, conformation, Trestle

I had Joel McCarty show Trestle. I was hoping he would get a placement with her, but her class was very large and she did make the cut. She showed her heart out. It was really fun to watch as I saw just how much she enjoys the team aspect of showing. When Joel stopped paying attention to her, she would do something to get his attention again. She just loved it when he was her partner. I love dogs that love to show. It certainly makes the whole activity more fun, and I enjoy the partnership and the competition.

Acadia Popular Opinion "Tecla" 4th place in the Bred-by Exhibitor class

>> – ASSA National, Chica, conformation

Tecla placed 4th in a large Bred-by exhibitor class. She can be such a challenge to show, but I had my friend, Kathy McFall, groom her up- and then when she made the cut, Kathy sat with her (and I walked away) until we went back in the ring. I think it really helped a lot. Tecla went out to the end of her lead and moved beautifully- as long as we were going forward. She gave me a bit of trouble on the individual down and back, but she held it together enough- and had a few really beautiful moments. I was So Proud of her. I love Tecla and I was very proud of this placement.

Acadia Laureate Red Sensation "Zachary"- 1st place in American Bred

>> – ASSA National

I am enjoying the wonderful pictures taken at the National. Winning a class is a big deal as the quality is always deep. The picture with the green jacket is during the winners class which was on a different day.

Acadia Laureate Red Sensation, "Zachary", wins the ASSA American Bred Class

>> Saturday, April 27, 2024 – ASSA National, conformation

I am so proud of Zachary. He continues to amaze me. This year he won the American Bred class at the American Shetland Sheepdog Association National. The last time I had a class winner was with Serena- GCh. Acadia Serenity. It is such an honor to win a class. Thank you Judge Barbara Wright for the nod and the honor.

This is the judge's written critique:

American-Bred Dogs 1. ACADIA LAUREATE RED SENSATION Sable and White, good balanced outline; sweet expression with beautiful lip line and underjaw; lovely condition; moved smoothly going around.

ASSA 2024Can Ch. Laureate Torrington is Best In Futurity and Reserve Winners Dog

>> Friday, April 26, 2024 – ASSA National, conformation

Theo

GCh. Laureate Magnified, ROM x Ch. Laureate Meiomi

Theo was co-bred by Catherine Pruss, Kim Aston and Pete Culumovic when I leased MeMe from Kim and Pete. He was born here and I Knew he was special from the beginning. See the video that I sent to Kim when he was a baby. I kept sending them messages saying that he was going to be a "big deal". I knew that if they had him, he could rise to his full potential. It is really exciting to see a puppy fulfill it's early promise. At the 2024 American Shetland Sheepdog National Specialty he was awarded Best In Futurity and Reserve Winners Dog. I knew from an early age he would be a National Specialty Winner!.

I am just over the moon at all of the positive comments Theo received during the National week.

Sydney and Theo

Cadie, Sydney, Kim

New Year! New Champion! Ch Acadia All Aglow

>> Saturday, January 6, 2024 – conformation

The new year starts out on a high note. Granby finished with a 5 point major. She is GCh. Lolo's daughter and the 9th consecutive generation of Champion bitch and the 7th of my breeding.

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