Mother's Day- don't bother sending flowers or cards- but bones or dog treats would be nice

 I Love my MOTHERS!   I currently have my 9th generation of young girls growing up- they are:

Daughters of Acadia Opinion Provided "Chica"

Tecla

Acadia Popular Opinion, "Tecla"

Acadia
Everyone's Opinion, "Trestle"

Daughter of GCh. Acadia Light Up The Stage, "Lolo"

Acadia All Aglow, "Granby"

GChS. Acadia's Stage Presence, CC, "Liza" is the mother to both Chica and Lolo.  When Chica was delivering the litter of puppies that had Tecla and Trestle, Liza was in the room too and as Chica was having contractions and delivering the next puppy, and I was putting the already delivered puppies into the warming box.  Liza was drying them off by licking them.   I was busy with the task of delivering the litter and I didn't think about pictures at the time- and now I sure wish I had taken the time to think about how much it would mean to me later.

Liza

Liza kept wanting to get into the warming box with them, but it is not big enough for that, so I made her stand next to the box for her self imposed duties.  She was 11.5 years old at the time.  I was so impressed, and of course I anthropomorphized that she knew these were her grand-puppies and she wanted to make sure they had the best start in life.   I don't really know if she understood they are her grandchildren, but I do know that she is a a Super Mom.  

Chica takes after Liza as a Super Mom and it is my hope that Tecla and Trestle will one day take after their mother.  The saying good mothers, make good mothers has held true for me so far, and I hope to continue and celebrate Mother's Day every year for many more to come.

To my own mother, who passed away 6 years ago- You
were a Super Mom too and I miss you more than tongue can tell.

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Acadia Sunburst Merry and Bright- on her way to her championship

Acadia Sunburst Merry and Bright (Merry) is the daughter of Ch. Sunburst Bright Sunny Day, who in turn is the daughter of Ch. Acadia's Bright Idea, NA,NAJ, RA (Payson) x Ch. Sunburst Acadia Here I Come (Carrie). She is currently being shown by professional handlers, Joel McCarty and Nick Joines. This weekend she was Winners Bitch both Saturday and Sunday bringing her point total to 6 points of the needed 15.

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5 consecutive generations

The text is tough to read here on the blog. Saturday these will be on http://www.sheltiesonline.com/

Liza and Serena are the 6th consecutive generation of Acadia. Carrie is Anna's mother, who is Genna's mother, who is Dove's mother, who is the mother of both Cassia and Manny. Cassia is Liza's mother. Carrie's mother is a champion- and up to Genna we have 4 consecutive generations of Champion bitches. I am fairly certain that both Cassia and Liza will finish quickly- I need to work on Dove. She has 5 points, but she is not one to "ask for the win"- so she usually goes "reserve". If I can get that done, it would be 7 consecutive generations of Champion bitches- that is VERY impressive in shelties- so it is a good goal.

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Ads from Shelties on line

I wanted to record the ads on my website- so here is Dove, her daughter Eden, and our foundation- Carrie. Today is Eden's birthday- she is a year old. I still have her sister, Cassia and her brother, Manny. These puppies are such fun!

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New Champion: *Ch* Acadia's Bright New Day

Sunday was a Bright New Day! Chip was Winners Dog for a major and Dove was Winners Bitch!
Chip has needed one major to finish for over a year. I have spent a TON of money on entry fees for shows that didn't make a major* and he has been shown at shows that were majors and he has gone Reserve! more than I cared. Well....................... I decided that my problem was that I didn't have Champagne with me.

I had a bottle of Champagne with me when I finished Breckon. I had a bottle of Champagne with me when I finished Genna. Clearly Chip didn't feel I was "prepared"- soooooo this weekend I made sure that before I left for the weekend I got a bottle of Champagne. I said to Chip, "ok buddy- now I am not only ready, I am prepared."- and don't you know- he came through!.

Chip can be difficult to show sometimes. He has a lot of energy and he moves at the end of his lead- always. On bad days he "chases" the dog in front of him in line. This throws off his front and the judge can't see his lovely, flowing side gate when he dose that. Not this weekend. He was PERFECT. I was so proud of the way he showed.

I was on cloud 9 (because Chip had finished) when I went into the ring with Dove. She won her class, but there were only 2. When we went in for Winners I was relaxed and just plain happy. Don't you know- she was Winners Bitch! It was a major in dogs only, so in order for Dove to win the major, she would have to go Best of Winners. Because I had both Winners dog and Winners bitch I needed someone else to handle one of them for Best of Winners. I asked a friend to take Chip in for me. I thought that would give me the best chance of having Dove go Best of Winners.

Winners Dog is always in front of Winners Bitch in the line up, so Chip was ahead of me. Well- he was BAD. He sat, he turned around to look at me, he galloped around the ring- he was just plain a handful- but he STILL went best of winners! so Dove only got 1 point, not a major. Oh well. At least if the judge wasn't going to "cross over" the points, then I am glad it was my bitch. I would have felt very bad if it someone else had not gotten the major.

Chip is Champion #4 for Carrie (Ch. Sunburst Acadia Here I Come). He is sired byPayson (Ch. Acadia's Bright Idea, RA,NA,NAJ)

*the number of points is based on the number of dogs entered. "make a major" is the lingo used when the number of dogs entered (and shown) is at or above the number established for 3 points. This process could be a blog entry all by itself.

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Happy 10th Birthday Ch. Sunburst Acadia Here I Come

Yesterday Carrie turned 10. Well tempered, well adjusted, a sheltie who exemplifies the standard, and who has provided a solid backbone for my breeding program, and who has continued a tradition of quality for Sunburst Shelties in Phoenix, AZ, Carrie is a wonderful example of all the good purebred dogs have to offer. She continues to be an important part in of the lives of many people, and an important part of the breeding programs of at least two different kennels – Carrie is everything a breeder and a dog owner could want.

I am not the breeder of Carrie- Sharon Crawford of Sunburst Shelties in Arizona bred her- I was just lucky enough to be able to purchase her when she was 12 weeks of age. Mike and I were living in Tucson, AZ at the time and everyone in that sheltie community knew and liked my Ch. Zion’s Man About Town, NA,HT, VC,ROM 5CC (Jamie) sister, Ch. Zion Acadia Town Herione, CDX,PT, VCX (Tucket). Sharon Crawford had a very well established breeding program, and bred to Jamie partly because of his own merits, but also partly because she could see his quality was not just a fluke in his litter. [note: when Sharon bred to Jamie he had not yet won the herding group at Westminster, become an established producer, or earned his many additional titles- he was a young dog]. The blending of her established line with Jamie really clicked. Carrie’s mother was one of the 7 champions produced from the two breeding of Ch. Zion’s Man About Town, NA,HT, VC,ROM 5CC to Sunburst Hurricane Shiloh, ROM. Carrie's mother, Ch. Sunburst Oasis Cat’s Meow (Kitty), was bred to another dog from the Zion breeding program, Ch. Zion’s Ready Or Not (Ready), and when I saw the puppies, I knew that if Sharon would sell one to me that I would really have a breeding program of my own. I was in luck and was able to purchase Carrie.

I just didn’t know how lucky I truly was. Carrie was a devoted mother who LOVED puppies, she continues to be a nurturer- but now a nurturer of the human spirit, and it is her steady, fun, and loving temperament that is her most valuable contribution to all who have had the pleasure of being a part of her life.

To read about her life beyond Acadia, see my entry from a year ago on her 9th birthday.

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New Champion*** and #3 for Carrie!

Today I got an email from Sharon Crawford, Sunburst Shelties. I have been anxiously awaiting this email message. The message was, "Sunni finished with a third major on Sunday".
Sunni is now **Ch** Sunburst Bright Sunny Day and the second from this litter to finish the AKC championship requirements. Acadia's Bright New Day, "Chip", is also a litter brother and he just needs 1 major to finish.

The parents of this successful litter are Ch. Acadia's Bright Idea, NA, NAJ, RA x Ch. Sunburst Acadia Here I Come. I am really looking forward to this show season because I am going to work hard to finish "Chip"- and then Merrylee has agreed to allow me to show Nicky- a 5th pointed Carrie offspring. If I can finish both Chip and Nicky, Carrie will have 5 champion offspring- enough to be designated Register of Merit (ROM).

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New *AXJ* Acadia Cierra Like A Rock, *AXJ*, NA, HT, RN

Merrylee called with very exciting news today. Nicky has completed the AXJ (Agility Excellent Jumpers title). Nicky is working on becoming a Champion/VCX. In order to accomplish this goal, he needed to have a herding title (he has the Herding Tested - or HT- title), he needed a higher level title in either obedience, agility, or tracking (and he LOVES agility), and of course he needs to complete the AKC breed Championship. He is pointed and hopes to complete that goal next year.

If he succeeds in this goal (Ch/VCX) he will earn an ASSA "LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT" award for his Owner, Merrylee, and if he becomes a Champion, he (should be) # 5 for his mother, Carrie, which would make her a Register of Merit (ROM)- which would earn a "Lifetime Achievement" award for me.

One Championship has never meant so much! (Well, he needed this AXJ AND the Championship for his Ch/VCX- so this accomplishment has lined him up perfectly). Wish us all (me, Merrylee, and Nicky) good luck!

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Acadia Catcher In The Rye, CDX, NAJ, TN-N, WV-N

Speed demon Rory has added some NADAC agility titles to his name. Dr. Amy reports that they (she and Rory) had plans to compete in more AKC events this fall in hopes of completing some of the titles he has begun, but that Rory suffered a severe rotator cuff injury and is "out of commission" until the spring trials. Poor guy. Dr. Amy is a DVM. Between her and her colleagues, Rory has had the best treatment and is expect to make a full recovery. In the meantime, he is not happy about his new sedate lifestyle.

He is the brother of Nicky (Acadia Cierra Like A Rock, OAJ, NA, HT, RN).

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New RE- Acadia Aquilegia, *RE*, AX, AXJ, CD

Amy emailed me to report that this past weekend she and Quill completed the Rally Excellent title (RE). Congratulations! Amy reports that the Vallejo Dog Training Club had two rally trials in one day. At the morning trial, Quill placed 1st out of 21 dogs that qualified. In the afternoon trial, Amy and her other dog, Sophie, were 1st in the Advanced class. Way to Go Amy!

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Happy 9th Birthday Carrie

Ch. Sunburst Acadia Here I Come, “Carrie”, is 9 years old today. This picture is of her with “her girl” Katie. I had always expected Carrie to live her entire life with me and Mike at Acadia- but one day a wonderful women, Susan Leddy, called and described Carrie to a T when she was describing the sheltie she hoped to find for herself. Even though Carrie was everything Susan wanted, Carrie never crossed my mind as a match because --- well, Carrie wasn’t available.

Susan was an older women who wanted an adult sheltie that was not too big. She wanted to do therapy work and wanted a calm and loving dog. Susan went on to mention many other traits that she wanted that Carrie possessed. I spoke with Susan many times on the phone until finally it dawned on me that she was describing Carrie. I asked Susan to meet me at a dog show and I would bring Carrie to see if they might have some “chemistry”. Susan came with her daughter, watched us show, and went back to my van to see Carrie. Susan sat down in a chair and I got Carrie out of the van- she immediately jumped into Susan’s lap! I told Susan that she couldn’t take Carrie that day. I was not ready yet, but that yes, I could see they did have chemistry. (I had a few great pictures of these two, but the memory stick crashed and they were lost)

The two lived together for only a little over a year before Susan succumbed to cancer. I know that Carrie was the best therapy dog for Susan, even if she never completed the formal training to be certified for this type of work.

Of course my contract always says the dog is to come back to me if for any reason you can no longer keep the dog, but in this case, Susan’s daughter asked if she could have Carrie. They have told me that having Carrie has made the passing of their mother a little easier, so again, she has proven that yes, she is a therapy dog.

Although I miss Carrie, I love to touch the lives of other people and families in ways that humans are not usually able. Dogs are the best, and I love to share my love with other people.
Happy Birthday Carrie.

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Acadia's Bright New Day wins a Major!

This weekend Chip was entered at the Mid-Susquehanna Kennel Club show in Middleburg, PA. Only one of the 2 days had entries large enough for a major- and it was only in females. Chip was Winners Dog, but then in order to win the major, he had to go Best of Winners. He DID! He now has 12 points, 1 major and will be looking for that final major to finish. One more win is all he needs! He attained all of his minor points by the 4th of July and we have not been to a show with a major entry since then. He will not be shown in September, so stay tuned- I hope to announce a new champion in October.

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Acadia's Bright New Day is WD for 2 more points

"Chip" was WD at the Trumbull County Kennel Club under judge Walter Sommerfelt. Chip is a littermate to Sunburst Bright Sunny Day and Ch. Sunburst Bright Lights. I am so excited at the possibility of a 3 champion litter. This litter is the product of breeding Ch. Acadia's Bright Idea, RA, NA, NAJ (Payson) to Ch. Sunburst Acadia Here I Come (Carrie). Carrie has one champion daughter (Ch. Acadia's Rare Treat) and a pointed son (Acadia Cierra Like a Rock, HT, OAJ, NA) from previous breedings.
The ASSA has a special designation for females that produce 5 or more champions- and that is the Register of Merit (ROM) award. It is my goal that Carrie achieve this special status.

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Sunburst Bright Sunny Day wins 5 point Specialty Major

Congratulations to Sharon Crawford, Sunburst Shelties, for winning Winners Bitch with Sunburst Bright Sunny Day for a 5 point major at the Shetland Sheepdog Club of Anchorage Show under breeder/judge Linda Churchill. Linda commented that she loved Sunny's head planes and the fact that her front legs were under her body!
This is the second major for Sunny and brings her point total to 13- just 2 more points to the CH! Sunny is a daughter of Ch. Acadia's Bright Idea, RA, NA, NAJ out of Ch. Sunburst Acadia Here I Come.

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Acadia Cierra Like A Rock, OAJ,NA,HT,RN goes Winners Dog and Best of Winners

Nicky, who is pictured below with his owner Merrylee, was Winners Dog and Best of Winners under judge Terry De Pietro on Sunday. I am so excited and I really look forward to more show news from Merrylee about Nicky.
Merrylee had a good weekend overall. She was showing two males this past weekend. On Saturday, her other male was Winners Dog, Best of Winners and Nicky was Reserve Winners Dog, then on Sunday, Nicky was Winners Dog, Best of Winners and her other dog was Reserve Winners Dog. I bet the competition just wished she would go home! Congratulations Merrylee.

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Sunburst Bright Sunny Day wins a Major!

Sunburst Bright Sunny Day "Sunni" was Best of Winners and wins a 4pt. major at the Alaska Herding Group Club on 6/2/07 under breeder/judge Dr. Al Bianci

"Sunni" was winners bitch at the Alaska Kennel Club Show on 6/24/07 under judge Roger Hartinger for 2pts. She now has 7pts with a major.

She is sired by Ch. Acadia's Bright Idea, NA, NAJ, RA "Payson" out of Ch. Sunburst Acadia Here I Come "Carrie". Her litter sister is Ch. Sunbrust Bright Lights. I am thrilled at the quality of this litter and very thankful to Sharon Crawford for making sure they finish their championships.

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New Champion! Sunburst Bright Lights

Brianne won her last point to finish at the Sacramento Kennel Club on April 15.
Ch. Payson and Ch. Carrie say - Way to Go!!!

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