Belle's kids are Calendar Dogs!

Keith gave me the Brown Trout "Shetland Sheepdog" 2011 calendar for Christmas- you know- the wall calendar that you can find in all of the book stores, Hallmark stores and other places that sell calendars! WELL, it turns out that TWO of Belle's kids are "Calendar Dogs" !!!! How COOL is That! Miss October (my birthday month!) is "Sister" and Mr. May is "Bitty". These two are littermates.

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New Herding Started B course- Ducks for U-Ch. Linden Acadia Stacked Deck, CDX, HIAds, HSAds, *HSBd*

Congratulations to Penny and Show Low for completing the Herding Started title on the B course (ducks). These two had completed the Herding Started title with ducks on the A course, but the B course is larger and the dog has to control and move the stock longer distances. As you can see from these pictures, Show Low has a gentle, easy way about him that allows him to control the ducks without causing them too much stress. He is such a good dog. Compare his pictures to the picture of his mother, Molly (MACH4 Acadia Color of Passion, HSAsd)- she never really had the patience Show Low demonstrates.

Show Low is sired by Herding Champion and Breed Champion Linden Danbie The Blacksmith, HXAs, NA, VCX. He (Show Low) must have gotten his sensibility from his dad.

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Acadia What Ever It Takes (WIT)

Morene sent me an update on WIT. This is the dog that got 2 HX herding legs at his VERY FIRST herding trial. WIT is a litter brother to Belle, and Bonnie's, Mike. He is a Show Low x Valerie son.

"Here's a current picture of WIT, and his current titles are...

Agility: AD, OA, OAJ, OAC, OJC, OCC, ETN, NWV, OTG

Herding: HTAD III-s, HRD II-s, OTDs He has one leg toward his ASCA Advanced title (the only non-Q he's ever gotten was his first try at this title), and he has two legs towards his AKC Advanced Title. I just received the Arena Dog Title cert in the mail so thought I'd share.

End of January he'll be going for his level III Ranch dog title, and championship points in Arena Dog.

End of February he'll be trying to finish the Advanced ACSA and Advanced AKC titles. So far all titles have been earned on sheep. However, he's finally beginning to think perhaps ducks are something that he may condescend to herd!

Happy Holidays, Morene"

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"Puppy Check-In"

I have had a very good week with a number of "puppy check-ins" as I sometimes refer to them. I LOVE to hear from "the puppies". Here are bits of some of the messages sent. Anything in italics is a comment from me.

From Deb about Belle
"Belle is as close to perfect as a dog can be…
We absolutely love her…
She is sweet and kind to everyone.
She hangs out with us and sleeps on or near the bed.
She loves to play and she loves to get pets.

She is a princess at bath time and has never offered to chew anything…. (Cameron- did you read that? )
The only time she has ever growled was at a campaign worker for Barack Obama when he came to the door.
He was actually afraid of her.
We decided she was clearly a republican! (Well she did spend a summer in Alaska)
The girls are planning to start Canine Good Citizen and then Therapy Dog training with Belle in January. The local hospital has a pet visitation program and she and the girls will do that when she has her certification. I am sure that will be a slam dunk. My cousin is confined to a wheelchair and has cerebral palsy, she can only make sounds and swing her hands.
Belle went to her and sat next to her wheelchair and let her pet/thump her (not hard) on the head. She never moved away from the wheelchair.
We can’t thank you enough for sharing this wonderful dog with us.

From Cindy about Briar Rose
I think I may have told you I lost the man I was dating to cancer ........
I just cannot tell you what it means to have her here. I had taken a photo of Bob (my friend) and Susie (Cindy's 1st sheltie) right before she was put down in April. I had given a copy of that photo to Bob's brother who used the face portion to put in the obituary when Bob died. I looked at it the other day & could not believe I lost two treasured friends within months of each other. It just doesn't seem possible. Then.....I look at the beautiful little girl that gives me the look of adoration and my heart just takes a leap......it's almost like God knew I would need her. In fact, in a card a neighbor gave me she wrote "I think God sent you Briar Rose as a blessing...." She's right!! He did!!!!
Take care......know that this little bundle is hugged & kissed so much!!!! I can't get enough of her!!!
Thanks again for letting me adopt her.......she is my heartbeat!!!!!

Sometimes the messages are not so sweet.
This was sent from Pat about Cameron
Hope you are enjoying the beautiful Fall weather. I just love this time of year...pumpkins and falling leaves and just all the beautiful colors. Still warm enough to be outside, too. Need to ask you about a problem with chewing we are having with Cameron. He is fascinated with our couch and has destroyed one pillow and chewed the skirt on it several times. No amount of Bitter Apple or Bitter Cherry or telling him "no" seems to work. ..............

Pat and I emailed back and forth a number of times discussing Cameron's chewing behavior. As I told Pat- often chewing is about the inherited behaviors of chewing and which behavior is being satisfied. Anyway- here is a message Pat sent today.

He has been happily playing with a cardboard box all day yesterday and part of today. Thanks again for all your diligent help.

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Belle's kids represent her well!

This past weekend 2 of Belle's children were successful. Belle is Acadia Sweet Necessity, HT, RN. Her daughter, Peggin Wheelin Jennie Sweet La Reve,HT, bred by Peggy & Robert Crawford and owned by Becky Gay, was Best in Sweepstakes at the Shetland Sheepdog Club of Anchorage. Way to Go!

Belle's son, Acadia Sweet Home Arizona (Rincon), completed the PT herding title. Pictured is Rincon waiting his turn to herd, and then the final step - putting his sheep away. He did a wonderful job. Woo Hoo Rincon!

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2 HX Legs at Wit's FIRST Herding trial!!

Morene Brown (who also owns MACH/NATCH2/ADCH Acadia's Candidate, HS) has been taking Acadia Whatever It Takes, NA, NAJ (WIT) to herding classes. Morene prefers to do agility, so the women with the sheep trains WIT. She told Morene, "don't bother with the lower level titles- this dog is GOOD". Well- she was RIGHT.
This past weekend WIT was entered in the Advanced Herding class at his VERY FIRST herding trial and he Qualified both days giving him 2 (out of the required 3) legs for the Herding Excellent (HX) title! WOW. I hope WIT will be my first herding Champion. WIT is the litter brother to Acadia's Sweet Necessity, HT, RN (Belle). These two are just 4 years old. See the comments about Belle's kids and pictures of them herding in an earlier post. Belle is also the mother of my tri-dog Acadia Sweet Home Arizona (Rincon) who is also a super herding dog.
I am very proud of these dogs. They have herding ability in the genes!

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Belle's puppies herding.

Here are some more pictures from Peggy Crawford- and a little of a note she wrote to me about them.

"Thank you again for the good wishes. I can tell you that these puppies have been fun. They are very spoiled but lots of fun. Jane this weekend really impressed people. I heard people say she has a border collie outrun lift and fetch. She is very interested in the stock."

The tri with the white collar is Sister. The plain tri is Jane, and the sable is Bitty.

Some of these pictures look like these kids can be quite wild, but what do you expect from a year old sheltie?

*I didn't cut the heads off of Peggy and Becky!

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3 HT titles for kids of Acadia Sweet Necessity, RN, HT

Last summer Peggy & Robert Crawford leased Acadia Sweet Necessity (Belle) to have a litter with their lovely boy Ch. Peggin All Wheel Drive, RA, AX, AXJ, *HS* VCX (Shea-the sable in the picture on the right). While Belle was visiting the Peggin Sheltie gang, she earned both the Herding Tested (HT) and the Rally Novice (RN) title. I was so excited that Peggy did that with Belle.
Now I am THRILLED that Peggy announced that 3 (of the 4) puppies got HT titles themselves this past weekend (the 4th lives in TX). They are JUST 1 YEAR OLD (born 9/8/07). Just as exciting is that Peggy convinced Becky that she could handle her own puppy to this challenge and Becky got HER first AKC title! Congratulations all around.

The picture on the left is of Peggy Crawford (left) judge (?) and Becky (right) with all of the ribbons. The dogs (left to right) are Jane, Shea (in the back), Bitty (sable in front) and Sister (Becky's tri daughter)

The picture on the right is Becky and Sister, the judge Carol Wolfram (center), and Peggy and Shea. Shea was Reserve High In Trail that day. Congratulations to all.
Belle is also the mother of the lovely Acadia Sweet Home Arizona (Rincon) who is doing his share of herding here in PA.

Belle is now retired and living with 2 young (human) kids of her own in central PA.

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Ready for new homes- Fate and Belle

Belle (pictured on the right) is now looking for her "forever" home. She is Acadia Sweet Necessity, HT, RN. Belle is 4 years old and very dependable. She is the daughter of Show Low and Valerie- (U-Ch. Linden Acadia Stacked Deck, CDX, HI x Acadia Sweet Emotion, AXJ, OA, PT). Belle is tri-factored, not debarked, housetrained, leash trained, loves attention and has a very steady temperment. I am sure that she will fit into most families. A fenced yard is not a must with Belle, but I always prefer homes with fenced yards.

Fate (pictured on the left) is 7 months old. Ideally I would like a home that will not spay her right away. I was keeping her as a show prospect. She was a lovely puppy with a pedigree that means a LOT to me (Ch. Daval Mind Twister x Ch. Acadia It's My Treat). She is about 13 3/4 inches and is going to be slow to mature. She is so out-going, so loving, and so full of energy that I have decided she would be best in a home that would train her, love her, maybe compete with her in agility, rally, obedience- or whatever else interests her new owner. She is both toy and food motivated. She travels well and likes to be engaged. I am interested in keeping open the option of a litter.

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Belle is getting ready for her big day!

This is directly from Peggy Crawford, Peggin Shelties.

"Photo of Belle taken in the front yard on Sunday Aug 26 She had her pre puppy bath and belly trim on Friday and the day was really pretty so we did some snap shots in the yard. She was enjoying the front yard and the sunshine.

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New HT - Acadia Sweet Necessity, RN, HT

Peggy Crawford, Peggin shelties, has "Belle" for the summer. "Belle" has been having a wonderful time and earned a Herding Tested (HT) title this past weekend. Peggy reports that the judges were VERY IMPRESSED by her attitude, stock sense, and willingness to please. Peggy says that she wished she had entered "Belle" in PT, but they had not gone to do ANY stock work prior to entering the trial. This makes me smile to hear that without any training, "Belle" has instinct enough to work the stock in a sensible and controlled manner.

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New RN title- Acadia Sweet Necessity, RN

Thank you Peggy Crawford for guiding "Belle" to the Rally Novice title. Belle is summering in Alaska with Peggy (Peggin Shelties) and will be bred to her Ch/VCX male Am/Can Ch. Peggin All Wheel Drive, AX, OAJ, PT, RN "Shea"when she comes in season this summer. Belle is a daughter of Acadia Sweet Emotion, OAJ, NA, PT- pictured on this blog.

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