Peer Recognition is the Best kind! Thank you Sherry Deeds

 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.

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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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GCh. Acadia Presence of Mind 12/30/2008- 6/2/2022

 Cassia was my favorite.  If I could have cloned her, I would have.  She was a fabulous show dog, and won many accolades which made me proud, but mostly she was a great pet.  Easy to live with, and a lover of people, puppies, life...  She was beautiful both in body and spirit.  She was exactly what I wanted in a sheltie.

In 2017 when Mike and I were moving to Idaho, I was contacted by a fabulous couple that already had a sheltie from us and was looking for another- an adult.  I didn't think I could part with Cassia, but I also knew that we were moving, so everyone's life was going to be up-ended, and we were bringing quite a few dogs with us on our journey. If Cassia was going to move anyway,  I knew that Nancy and Dale were a great place to land.  I was confident they were going to love Cassia as much as I did, so I let her go with them.  

I missed her a lot, but they sent me great pictures and wonderful stories and I knew that Cassia was spreading her love to a new circle of people, and they in turn were responding with more love.  

On June 2 they contacted me to say that Cassia had departed this world and they were heart-broken.  Me too.  I will continue to look for her in her off-spring and be thankful for her time in my life.  She added a lot. 

A poem from Nancy:

Cassia 

Grand Champion in the ring 

Grand Champion in our hearts

It has taken too many days to write this tribute 

Because our tears were too fresh 

And our love for Cassia... ever present

 And Cassia was, and is, an example 

Of perfection 

Joy... love... fun... beauty... our pup 

She stayed by our side 

Nana in Peter Pan 

And yet she was independence personified 

We are, today, so lucky

 To have Cassia’s daughter at our side

 Keeper... a keeper... a piece of Cassia 

When you lose a dog 

The world tilts 

And steals a bit of your soul

 Cassia... you were more than a “bit” 

You shared our lives You stole our hearts... forever

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Congratulations to the 5 new title holders

Sheltie Pedigree Lines  is a great service to sheltie breeders.  This site is a historic and current record of sheltie genealogy.  I use it constantly to test out possible stud dogs and the pedigree compatibility with my girls.

One of the services of this site is that they keep track of new title holders.   I enjoy seeing the new title holders. The site has two lists, one for new Champions, and one for new performance titles.  When I just looked, there are 5 Acadia bred shelties on the new performance title holder list.  On this blog I updated Lucy's title to reflect her MACH.  Congratulations to all!!  I am a proud breeder!

Acadia Don't Rain On My Parade, SWN, SCA, SIA, SHDN  (Rain)
(Ch. Acadia Rock Star, HT x Ch. Acadia It's My Treat)
Owned/Loved/Trained by: Phyllis Sanders

Ch. Acadia Independence Day, CD, RAE, BN  (Mason)
(GCh. Barwood Clearsky Fireworks, ROM x GCh. Acadia Serenity)
Owned/Loved/Trained by: Anita Rhawn

Acadia Teagan Rose,CDX, NF, NFP  (Teagan)
(GCh. Solange Surround Sound, ROM, ROMC  x GCh. Acadia Presence of Mind)
Owned/Loved/Trained by: Dr. Amy Scheiner

MACH Acadia's Catch Me If You Can, CDX, RAE, BN, XF, GO, T2B, GN, THDN  (Lucy)
(Ch. Heart Lake Acadia Le Roi De Couer x Ch. Acadia Peace of Mind)
Owned/Loved/Trained by: LeaAnne Thorne

Acadia's Keep It Simple, CGC, TKN  (Muffin)
(Acadia's Stage Director x Acadia Keep It Simple)
Owned/Loved/Trained by: Phillip Meyer & Ann Pomeroy-Meyer

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Happy New Year 2019

Acadia King Charles says Happy New Year.  On December 30 , 2018 his one and only litter (with Dove) that included GCh. Cassia, GCh. Manny and Ch. Eden turned 10 years old.   Today Charlie's family sent me this great picture.  It is so hard to believe how time flies.  I hope that I take the time to stop and smell the Roses and enjoy each dog every day.

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New Year and New Successes! New *CDX* for Acadia Teagan Rose, CDX, NF

New *CDX*
Congratulations Amy and Acadia Teagan Rose, *CDX*, NF.  Amy and Teagan earned a score of 193.5 and a 1st Place to complete the title.   Amy has had many successes in the obedience ring, and Teagan's new title is just her most recent.  Congratulations to Amy and Teagan!

Acadia Teagan Rose, CDX, NF

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Group 1 for Acadia Windstorm Desert Sea

Leslie and I co-own Acadia Windstorm Desert Sea, aka "Desi".  This summer Leslie sent Desi here to be shown, but there are not as many shows as I would like to go to.   Leslie decided to come out to visit and the two of us would go to Washington state to the Sammamish Kennel Club.   We analyzed the entry prior to going and we had noticed that we could win a major if Desi won the Herding Group.  If only it were that easy.

We did talk about it a lot.  We talked about how much fun it would be, and what a great way that would be to win a major.  We even told another exhibitor we wanted to win the Group to win a major. They said, "good luck."  In order to even get to the Groups, first she would have to win Best of Breed.  When she did, we looked at each other and smiled a big smile.  Step 1- Done.

We took the Best of Breed picture and the judge was very complimentary about Desi's structure.  She told us what a nice front Desi has- and that is a difficult virtue to find in shelties these days.  She told us that she has found many short tails, but Desi has a nice long tail.  She thanked us for bringing her such a nice sheltie.

As we were waiting for the Groups to begin, I said, "let's go win the Group".  Desi showed her heart out. The judge smiled when I put Desi on the table to be examined. My hopes went up. When the judge was doing her last look she walked all the way down the line, looking at each dog.  When she got to us she said,
"Sheltie- 1st."   We did it!!

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Acadia Keep Me In Mind

"Keeper" is off to a GREAT start.  She is from GCh. Acadia Presence of Mind (Cassia)'s last litter.  She has won Best of Breed over Champions twice and both times she placed in the Herding Group.  That is a really great record.   The day pictured Keeper had a Great Day.  She was being shown in the Bred-by-Exhibitor class and the show was offering a special "Best Bred-by-Exhibitor" competition.  She won the Bred-By Herding Group in addition to placing in the regular group.    I love Keeper and I am very excited to have another Cassia daughter to show.

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Bliss- now Tess- New *CD* Acadia Peace and Quiet, *CD*

Acadia Peace and Quiet,CD is the daughter of GCh. Acadia Prince of Peace, HT, OJP, VC out of Acadia Decibel (a Cassia daughter).  I thought Peace and Quiet was a cute name for this pairing- and what would her call name be?  Well Bliss of course. When you live with multiple shelties, your idea about "bliss" changes ;-)

Bliss was a beautiful puppy and I showed her when she was in the 6-9 month class.  She won a major reserve.  I was so pleased with the way she handled herself at shows. She was quietly confident and steady.  During the winter her ear tip started to get lower and lower- until I could no longer show her.  She had so many qualities that I did breed her, but then she went to live with my friend Penny.

Penny is a remarkable trainer and I knew that she would appreciate Bliss.  There was just one problem.  Penny has a family member named Bliss- so Bliss got a name change to Tess.  Tess is training in Obedience and Rally.  I was getting messages from Penny telling me about Tess' high scores in obedience, and she completed all 3 CD legs with scores in the 190's.  The highest score possible is 200, so she was near perfect.

At the ASSA National Tess competed in Rally Novice for her first time.   There were 43 shelties entered in that class and Tess placed FIRST!  I am sure she will finish the RN (Rally Novice) title quickly.  I am super excited that Tess will have so many opportunities with Penny.  I know that Tess really loves pleasing her- it is obvious in the pictures I get.

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Happy Mother's Day GCh. Acadia Presence of Mind

GCh. Acadia Presence of Mind

This Mother's Day I am paying tribute to the contribution of a very important mother, GCh. Acadia Presence of Mind, "Cassia" as she is known to friends.  Cassia is my favorite because of her wonderful personality.  She is happy, willing, sensible and a comfort to be around.  Cassia is now sharing her love with a family in Pennsylvania, which was difficult for me, but at the same time, Cassia is just too great not to share.

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

Acadia Sea Porter-left        Ch. Acadia State of Mind-right

Ch. Acadia State of Mind

Cassia loved her puppies, which makes having puppies so much fun.  She loved to show off her puppies to anyone who wanted to ohh and ahh over them and always seemed to be saying, "aren't my kids just the greatest".  I thought so, and as a result most of my shelties are either her daughters, sons, or grand-kids.  Cassia has had a huge impact on my breeding program.  I am so thankful for her.

Best In Show winner, GChS Acadia Stage Presence, CC

Cassia's sons and daughters:
GChS. Acadia Stage Presence, CC- Best in Show and Best in Specialty show winner
Ch. Acadia State of Mind
Acadia Essence of Joy, UD, RE, AX, MXJ
Acadia Teagan Rose, CDX, NF, NFP
Acadia Sea Porter (7 pts)
Acadia Windstorm Desert Sea (pts. Herding Group Winner)

Acadia Decibel and Cadence

Acadia Keep Me In Mind (2pts)
Acadia Decibel
Acadia Just for the Fun of It
Acadia's Next Top Model

Acadia Decibel and Cadence 

Acadia Windstorm Desert Sea

Cassia- left, Liza-right

Cadie & Cassia, Amy & Acadia Just for the Fun of It, Acadia Teagan Rose, CD,NF

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*New Ch* Acadia State of Mind

Staten at 13 weeks

Staten finished his championship today in Kentucky with 3 majors.  I had shown him to 7 points with one major, but then he blew coat and looked like a teenager (which he was) I knew that he would be ready to show again after I had moved, so I sent him to be shown by my friends and professional handlers, Nick and Joel.  With them he won 2 more majors and a few single points to finish his championship.

He is the 2nd champion for his mom, Cassia.

12 months

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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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Up 'n comers- Porter, Staten, Desi

Acadia Wyndstorm Desert Sea   aka- Desi

Acadia Sea Porter   aka- Porter

Acadia State of Mind-   aka- Staten

I am very excited about these littermates.  Porter won points at the 1st shows in which he was entered.  Staten and Desi were not so lucky, but they both did great and had a good experience.  They are just 6 months old which is the earliest age they can be shown.  It is important for puppies to have fun and all positive experiences so that they enjoy shows later.   Puppies experience growth stages just like children do.  Sometime around 7 months (all) puppies experience a second "fear period" and it is important to recognize this stage and avoid any new and scary experiences.  If puppies experience something they consider "traumatic" during this stage it will be an issue for the rest of their lives.  We have not yet entered that phase and they had fun.  Now we will stay in our regular routine until they are more mature.

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Liza joins the Century Club

This is an American Shetland Sheepdog Association designation for shelties that have won 100 Best of Breeds.  It is considered a Lifetime Achievement and is awarded a special silver pin and the right to put CC following the name.  

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4 of the 7 generations of Champion girls

Don Moore brought Ch. Genna over for a visit.  She will be 12 in August.  We took pictures of the 4 generations -
Left to right is youngest to oldest:
GCh. Acadia Stage Presence- "Liza"
            GCh. Acadia Presence of Mind- "Cassia"- mother of Liza
                        Ch. Acadia Peace of Mind- "Dove"-   mother of Cassia
                                   Ch. Acadia It's My Treat- "Genna"   - mother of Dove

It was so exciting to see the girls together.  Genna looks great and it made for a nice afternoon.  In my head I had this "advertisement quality' picture- but 4 dogs at the same time proved to be too difficult for me and Mike to photograph exactly as I had envisioned.  I wish that I had an "assistant" to call who could have  helped me get them "show groomed" and then pay attention to details.  For example, in my favorite picture from the afternoon, my blouse had gaped open-  how come no one noticed?  Although the girls are not all "fluffed up", I don't have make-up on, and the sun was too bright- I LOVE this picture.  I LOVE the girls.

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Happy 93rd Birthday Amy!!! You are MORE than an inspiration!

I am So Proud of Amy Brastad and Acadia Essence of Joy, CDX, AXJ, NA, RE.  This video (from ABBA dogs) is her winning run in Excellent Jumpers with Weaves.   Amy turned 93 this month.  She is such an inspiration and I am so proud to claim her as part of the family.

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Happy Mother's Day!

These are the incredible mothers of GCh. Acadia Serenity (Serena) and GCh. Acadia's Stage Presence (Liza).  In the chair is Ch. Acadia Peaceful Garden (Eden) and on the hassock is GCh. Acadia Presence of Mind (Cassia).  Acadia honors the Mothers' of the world!   Mother's are the BEST!!!

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New *CDX* Acadia Essence of Joy, RAE, *CDX*

(Acadia Essence of Joy) Joy has her CDX Title !!! All three first places !!! Joy was in 4 trials = Goofed one for not coming back over the high jump. Joy's lst leg was at the Santa Clara DTC Jan 19, 'l4,  2nd was Mar 20, '14 3rd was yesterday the 22nd.. The last two trials was at Vallejo and my very good friend gave me a ride. We're celebrating with a large cake at the two classes we train at.

Joy does 80 % of the Utility exercises now

Joy sends her hello. Love, Amy

 

Amy is the AMAZING owner/trainer of both Acadia Aquilegia, UD, MX, MXJ, RE and Joy and I am so proud to claim her as part of our family. CONGRATULATIONS AND  THANK YOU Amy!

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Sisters Teagan and Joy had a successful January and a New *CD*

The "sisters" are both owned by Amys- and in January, they both had success, but on opposite sides of the country.
Teagan= Acadia Teagan Rose (pictured)

Dr. Amy (Maryland) wrote: "Teagan had an awesome day at the Oriole Dog Training Club's AKC agility trial at the Maryland State Fairgrounds yesterday! She was only entered in Jumpers (still needs some work on her A-Frame contacts before she's ready for Standard), but she rocked the course--1st Q, 1st clean run, and 1st place in the Novice B JWW 12" class! In fact, her course time was a blazing fast 23 seconds (I blinked and it was over!), but Standard Course Time was 43 seconds. This trial is held in conjunction with a huge pet expo, so there are lots of spectators and lots of noise and distractions--it's known to be a challenging venue for the dogs. The weave poles on Teagan's novice course were practically right up against the gate/bleachers where many spectators gather to watch. Teagan nailed them, no problem."

Meanwhile, in California, Amy and Acadia Essence of Joy, RAE, *CD* (aka Joy)said:
"Joy had a good weekend on January 18th and the 19th. San Mateo DTC AM trial Joy took 4th place (20 competing) lst and 2nd were taken by the two high scoring handlers that always do well and goes onto taking high in trials. The PM trial San Francisco DTC Joy came in 3rd. lst and 2nd were the same two that took earlier . These two legs were for Joy's Novice title. The next day Sunday at the Santa Clara DTC's Open A trial - Joy took first with 194 - 1/2 out of the 22 competing. There were only three of us that qualified. I have her entered at the Santa Clara KC trial on Feb. 15th going for her 2nd Open leg. We are working on her articles (Utility training). Joy is a joy to train. Hope to have another good news soon. By the way Joy came in lst for her lst leg in Novice. That was sometime ago. "

These two successful girls are Cassia daughters.

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