Acadia Infinite Spirit, (AKC) HSAs; (ASCA) STDs&d, OTDs; (AHBA) HRD Is, HTAD Is, IIs, HTAD Id

Kathy has sent me this update on Finn.  Reports like these bring joy to my heart.  It is my pleasure to share these wonderful dogs with others, and then to share the successes they have, as pets, or competition dogs.

Kathy writes, "Finn is a wonderful companion at home and out working.  He is my special boy!  I don't know what to add. We have enjoyed agility lessons and he is a registered therapy dog through Therapy Dogs Inc.  He enjoys visiting senior residences and nursing homes.  Finn loves herding! We've worked sheep, goats, ducks and geese. He is so excited to be at the ranch when we train. We help move stock, set them out for others and do any chores we can.  We are working hard to compete in Advanced AKC, AHBA and ASCA sheep some time soon. We did earn his HTAD Id title 8/23. He loves ducks!  He is my boy :) "
Acadia Infinite Spirit (AKC) CGC, HT, PT, HS; (ASCA) STDs&d, OTDs; (AHBA) HRD Is,

HTAD Is, IIs, HTAD Id

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New *HSAs* Acadia Infinite Spirit, *HSAs*

On Saturday Kathy and Finn completed the Herding Started title on the A course with Sheep (HSAs) with Style! Finn was 1st place in his class with a score of 88 from judge Rusty Jeffers (pictured)- Finn even beat out a Border Collie for the top honor.

On Sunday Kathy kept Finn in the Herding Started class and he again qualified with a score of 85 and a third place win.

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Finn wins Reserve High In Trial on Saturday, and High In Trial on Sunday for 2 HS legs!

WOW! Kathy emailed to tell me about Finn's first AKC Herding Trial. A Trial includes the Started, Intermediate, and Advanced classes. It takes 3 legs to earn the Herding Started (HS) title and Finn showed them how it was done this past weekend. Kathy said, "Just wanted to let you know that in his first run in Started Sheep at the AKC trial today Finn came in second place with a score of 94. We got Reserve High in Trial. The first place dog had a score of 94 1/2. We did the run in 3 min 15 second. I'm am so pleased !!!! The first picture is with the judge Priscilla Phillips and the second is with Priscilla and Finn and my trainer Sandy Moore.

We go again tomorrow. The weather today was cold, but no snow or rain as predicted. Great day for trialing :)"

On Sunday Kathy said, "Just had to share again :) Today Finn was High in Trial with a first place in started sheep. Our score was 96.5 points. Linda Rorem was the judge. We did it in 3 min 7 sec. It was overcast and snowy in the morning, but got sunny in the afternoon for Finn's run. He needs one more qualifying run for a started title in sheep."

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Tucker then and now

Donna Dugger sent this picture of Tucker- the puppy is Tucker as a baby, and a current picture of him. He is sired by Rincon x Faith and a littermate to Xena and Finn.

Donna reports that he has 2 Q's in Jumpers and one in Touch n' Go. She said he is super fast too.

Thanks for the picture and update Donna.

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Acadia Infinate Spirit, PT, CGC- video of PT leg

This video is one of Finn's two legs for the Pre-Trial (PT) herding test. (I recommend watching it twice as it stops to download the first time. Also, click the x in corner of the ad to make it go away). To earn the title a dog must qualify two times under two different judges. Herding is the controlled movement of livestock. The AKC has two "Test" levels, Herding Tested (HT) and Pre-trial tested (PT) and three "Trial" levels, Herding Started (HS), Herding Intermediate (HI) and Herding Excellent (HX). At each level the dog must demonstrate more and more responsibility. At the lower levels, the handler is allowed to move with the sheep and the dog must demonstrate control (stopping and sitting or laying down), must keep the sheep with the handler and not chase them all over, have a change of direction, and finally, must help the handler put the sheep back in a pen in a controlled manner. The sheep must also go through various obstacles with each level. At the PT level, there are two panels. The sheep must go between the fence and the panels in each direction. They are given 10 minutes to complete the course. Finn did the course in 4:53 minutes and maintained control the whole time. He makes this look easy, but I have seen dogs really not ready for this level- and it is ugly!
Now that Finn has mastered this level, he will move on the the HS level. There he will demonstrate more responsibility by going and picking up the sheep and bringing them back to the handler, and then he will have three obstacles the sheep will have to maneuver through.

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First AKC herding Title for Acadia Infinite Spirit, *PT* CGC

Today Finn completed the required two qualifying scores to complete the Pre-trial tested (PT) herding title. Kathy said the judge on Saturday wrote, "Lovely dog- good potential" on his score sheet.

Xena and Finn are littermates. Within one week of eachother they have each completed the entry level titles of the venues they are being training in. I am so proud of both of these puppies and their owners- thank you! for all of the hard work you guys put into these dogs!

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Finn earns his first herding title

Acadia Infinite Spirit, CGC (Finn)

Finn and Kathy earned their first herding title- the ASCA Herding Started Title and he even came in 3rd place for his final leg of the title. Finn is really doing well and earns admirers every time he goes to a new place to herd.

Kathy said their trainer Sandy even called people over to watch Finn herding ducks. Sandy said that Finn is a good example of how a dog should treat the ducks (well we know that he DIDN'T get that trait from his great-grandmother Molly!!! But Grampa Show Low also loves his ducks!)

If Kathy can find a reliable person to take some video of Finn herding, we will post it on the YouTube channel. Congratulations Kathy and Finn

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Today Acadia Infinite Spirit earned his CGC- and Finn herding in June 2010

Acadia Infinite Spirit, aka- Finn , and Kathy earned the CGC (Canine Good Citizen) award today. Congratulations! Finn was born in Februrary 2010. He is one of the "future stars" and I am already enjoying reporting on his and his sister, Xena's successes.

This video is of Finn herding when he was just 4 1/2 months old. To see more videos of Finn herding, and Xena doing agility, visit our site on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/acadiashelties

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Finn- a Rincon x Faith puppy

This is Finn - portrait taken on 5/18/2010. He is one of the Rincon x Faith puppies. He is a litter brother to Xena and he lives in Nevada. He has been herding with his owner, Kathy. She writes: "Everyone in LA loved him and he's a great traveler. In LA he raced across the big areana to get the sheep. But he stayed at the proper distance applying just enough pressure to group them on the fence and looked back to ask ok now what? So far he works quietly and intently on his own. I will wait to direct him. Jerry (Steward) said to let him try to think on his own and work out what he needs to do. As I said before, Jerry Stewart really liked his strong herding instinct and style. And I couldn't be happier :)

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Where did the tri puppies go?

I am really looking forward to reporting on the successes of this litter.
Xena- girl- is in Texas in an agility home
Finn- boy- is in Nevada in a herding/agility home
Tucker- boy- is in South Dakota in an agility home
Cashe- boy- is in Arizona in an agility/herding home
Willow (pictured)- boy- is in Pennsylvania in a pet home
Harley- boy- is in Pennsylvania- in a pet home across the street from me!

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7 weeks

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Faith's puppies eyes have opened

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It's A Boy!

Faith is currently delivering her puppies. So far 3 boys*

She had me worried at one point and I even called the Vet. She had started into light labor in the afternoon. Mike came home from work early and asked how she was doing, "good, I think she will have them during dinner- let's eat early." I said. We had dinner around 5:00pm (we normally eat late) and Faith had just started having some harder contractions.

At 6:23 I started writting down her contractions- two hard ones both within 6:23, 4 contractions within 6:30, 5 contractions within 6:40..... and so it went, about every 10 minutes she would have a series of hard contractions right in a row. From 7:42-7:43 she had 13 good contractions- but no puppy. Should I call the Vet? Mike, my voice of reason said, not yet. At 8:30pm I couldn't stand it any more- I called, but got the answering service, so I had to wait for him to call me back.

He called back right away. While I was on the phone with him, the first sack appeared. Phew! I guess I just needed to let Faith know I really meant it.

Birthing takes time- but I am not very patient when it comes to labor. So much CAN go wrong during birth. I just hate to see so much effort and no result. I know, I know plenty of people have stories of being in labor for HOURS.

The first puppy was a little larger than the other two. First puppy weighed 244 grams, 2nd puppy 214 grams, 3rd puppy 208 grams. All are doing well and so is Faith. There are more to come, but I am much more relaxed- and if she wants to take a few hour break between puppies, I am OK with that now- the first one (3 actually) is out and doing fine.
* Faith had 6 puppies - 5 boys and 1 girl.

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