Sadie

Sing and Samber's puppies are 10 weeks old today. I am so glad that Sadie, Tiggi (aka Posh) and Skye's owners are keeping very close contact with me, so I can follow up with their progress. They all told me the girls are settling very well, full of mischief, keeping them very busy.

here are some photos from Sadie:

She is so good with children, both Sadie and Evie love each other!

I will post more photos once I have receive more from Tiggi and Skye.

wind and unwind weekend

We thought we will have a VERY relaxing Saturday, not doing anything at all other than walking the dogs in the Common as I am still not 100%. Unfortunately, everything turned upside down after 10am! We had a serious leak on the downpipe outside our bathroom and everytime someone is in the bathroom, we will have flood on the balcony and the water travels to the neighbour. The neighbour didn't really complain but she suggested we WANTED to get it fix! I know calling a plumber is extremely expensive in this country and I know a good DIY person can do the job. Colin is not a DIY person, I love DIY but I don't know how to fix it. The neighbour recommended a Polish that did a lot of jobs for them, he came on Friday, with broken English, we managed to understand each other about the job. Other than the broken downpipe, I decided to change all the gutters as well. I understand him saying he will come on Saturday to go to B&Q with me to get the material needed (but I didn't realised he will do the job the same day). He knocked on the door sharp at 10am! I sent Colin off with him and after 40 minutes later, they came back with whole lots of gutters and pipes. He amazed me with the speed his finished off the job at the back of the house. I have to say, it was very good, neat and tidy, no cowboy job! Then, we have problem coming to the front of the house because I haven't got a big ladder for him to climb up. We asked the neighbours and no one has one big enough to reach the roof of the house. I then rang Jim who lives a few streets away from us, he said he has the ladder we need, so off Colin and the Polish went in his car to pick up the ladder. Both of them came back in 15 minutes, can you see how efficient he is. He straight up with his job but Colin looked pale and weak when he came in the door. I asked him what happened, he said they came back by foot! I was shocked! It normally take us about 15 minutes to walk to Jim but I thought carrying such an heavy and big object, they surely will take longer (I thought they came back by car). I have to say, it was a very heavy ladder, solid wood and it's monsterous! No wonder my poor husband is looking ruin! He then told me he did ask the Polish if he want to put the ladder down and have a break a couple of times but all the Polish did was to jog back to our house! Hahaha ... sorry Colin, everytime I think about it, I just can't help but laugh! I must be a cruel wife!! Oh yes, after he finished the front of the house, he asked Colin to return the ladder to Jim again. I should have taken a photo of Colin's face then. Priceless! Well, I thought this could keep him fit but I think we totally ruin him! He did has bruise on his side though, poor man! Anyway, job done and no more leaking! By evening, Colin hardly moved! He just glued to the settee in one position.

To unwind our tiring Saturday, we (actually "I") did agility, yeah!

The competing season is quiet down now, this is the beginning of winter trainings and winter series time. I don't normally do winter show because it's generally very cold, wet and muddy. The only winter show I like is C-Side, now TraVal. I missed the C-Side last year because I was away visiting my brother. Due to Sizzle just started to compete, there is not many show we can enter, so it would be good to do some winter shows with him to get more ringside experience. I have entered the South Eastern October show, it was fairly local to us, only an hour's drive, not bad at all and we could have a little lie in as the show only starts at 9am. WooHoo!

I remembered entered South Eastern with Sing many years ago, well before I have other dogs. My memory for the show was very wet and muddy and we came back in thick mud. Yesterday, it was totally different. We were indoor and the flooring looks new, the sand was fine and good. I haven't run in indoor for a year and I am not used to run in a softer ground. In the morning, they have combined 1-3 classes for small, medium and large; and in the afternoon, they have combined 1-7 classes, also for small, medium and large. Colin still looked very tired after jogging with the ladder on Saturday, so our plan was to go home after Sizzle's run in the morning, after all, we just want to gain experience for Sizzle.

Our morning started off well. This is Sizzle's first indoor run. Our first class was the combined 1-3 Agility. The course looked good other than the see-saw to the weave bit which I think is a little challenge to us. There is cloth tunnel lying very close. My option is to handle Sizzle on my left, so I can block off the cloth tunnel, send him into the weave and switch behind. If you look at the video, you can see me using the wrong hand (my right hand) pointing on the see-saw (to tell him to wait until it tip), then switch to my left hand to send him to the weave and instead, he saw the tunnel because he was following my right hand! I should have used my left hand to point at the see-saw. Eventhough he thinks of the tunnel but he turned away quickly when I called him so he was lucky not to get a refusal. I was surprised when he turned away from the tunnel and look at the weave, he was actually off angle to the entry and I was impressed he finds the entry. There were many dogs got trapped by the cloth tunnel, whether the handler was on the left or right.

His jumping round was good, well I feel good because we sail through the whole course smoothly, no hesitation at all other than I have to learn to tighten the flip away (turn away from me) in the box. He took a wide turn but this is just a baby thing, I am sure we can practise that for the next season. When he went down the line in speed, I thought he will go into the 2nd pole but he did his weave entry nicely, so I am very happy! Watching other run, most dogs make mistake in the box, the dogs ran diagonal and took the wrong jump!

We finished our morning run before 10am! I was about to pack up and go but Colin was too happy with Sizzle's wins and he asked me to stay for the afternoon! Ha! I am happy to stay, so during our wait for the afternoon runs, I catch up with some friends and time just flew by. The afternoon was more stressful because I have to run three dogs in 2 different heights. They have two rings, an agility ring and a helter skelter ring. They starts one with small and one with medium. I do not want to take all the dogs out so Colin has to keep going back to the car the fetch dogs. The afternoon started off with Saturn in the Medium Helter Skelter, he wasn't the speedy self but was good enough to get a 4th place. I didn't run Sing in the Helter Skelter. Then, I've got Sizzle to run the combined 1-7 agility. I thought the course was hard for him because there is a right turn to the jump after the DW instead of straight into the tunnel; also there is a pull through from jump #15 to jump #16. I have not teach him the pull through YET, so I was hoping to do the wrap the wing (#15). With the DW right turn to the jump #3, I called him too early, so he came off and missed the contact point, now I know where I should improve; then on the see-saw, I want to stop him to wait til the see-saw tip so I did a close front cross and he didn't like it and he jump off too early and we lost each other. More wobble work! Then the wrap around wing #15, I told him left but he turned right, I think my shoulder wasn't turning left at all, so we need to practise that more.

After the agiltiy round, we ran straight to the combined 1-7 Helter Skelter ring. He didn't power on as I was hoping for, so I was thinking is it because he didn't like to be drag from one ring immediately to the other or the long wait start? I had the same problem at Suffolk 5 Rivers. He was jumping happily in the Jumping ring, then immediately after the jumping, I jog with him to the helter skelter ring. Also another wait start, he was slow in the helter skelter too. I need to find the answer to this so I can imporve it.

I ran Sing in the combined 1-7 agility. The physio still didn't reply to me, I keep Sing un-active for the last couple of weeks, doing absolutely nothing at all other than walking. I like the course and I want to run him to see if he can do the course with no faults. He did the DW to the jump beautifully, didn't miss the contact point, good start. Then he fell flat on landing jump #3. When he stand up again, I was already facing the tunnel and he back jump #3 to get the elimination. He did other bit nicely and we didn't managed the pull through.

I am glad I did stay for the afternoon runs as I know now what my homeworks are!

it is definitely autumn!

It is definitely Autumn in Mitcham. I can see our willow tree leaves/branches everywhere in the garden, trees in the park/common turning brown/yellowish, dry leaves everywhere on the grounds, it is beautiful (but not in my garden). I love autumn, I think this is the best season to take the dogs for a long walk and yet not worry about the weather. It has been wet and cold for the last few days but this morning, the temperature gone down to 8c, so it is brrrr.... COLD! I particularly feel the cold as I am not too well at the moment. I thought I had food poisoning over the weekend but the doctor said I had viral gastroenteritis, so prescribed me with lots of rest and paracetamol!

I managed to get the dogs out for their morning walk, we did a two hours walk in the Common today (am I crazy?). I can't lie in bed all day, I rather go and have some fresh air! But I need my thick winter jacket and gloves on! I didn't bring my good camera today, so the quality of the pictures aren't as good.

we got this beautiful girl posing by the only plant in the Common!

Sing just loved the pond, he doesn't care whether it is clean or dirty, this is the result:

I thought sheltie should have 4 WHITE socks!!!!!

Didn't he looks grumpy in the picture? Because I told him off being in the horrible smelly pond!!

Sing: mummy, you don't have to be crossed with me, I can clean my socks by going into the pond again!!!

I think the sheltie's coat is amazing, after a few run in the grass fetching ball, he is all clean again but I must admit, no matter how clean it looks, it stink!

my little sunshine happily chasing the crows!

I like these zooming photos of Sizzle, he loves to go out chasing crows/birds:

one from Samber

Samber and her ears!

I am struggling to tip Samber's ears. When I have her, she was about 16/17 months old and she came with her ears like a rabbit! I don't really mind my shelties' ears stick up but she is quite a petite girl with small feature and her ears are so big, I thought she looks really cute. Then, a lot of people commented that she looks exactly like a FOX!

When Sing was young, a lot of people asking me why I walk a fox!! Mmmmm ... he did look like a fox when he was in his teenage stage, leggy, not much hair but I just ignored them and he turned into a handsome young lad, even with his ears stick up.

Anyway, back to Samber. When I saw this picture I took recently with her puppies, I thought I better think about how to treat her ears. I know a lot of people will tell me it is too late as she is 2 years old now but I just want to have a go, whether it works or not, there is no harm.

I did tried to tip her ears before she has her puppies but it didn't last, I do not like to use any chemical stuff on her when she is pregnant and in whelp. Now, all the puppies have gone to their new homes, it's about time to have another go again.

Isn't she looks so much softer in expression and cuter with her ears tip properly? Well, no matter how she looks, her temperament has not changed. She is such a loving, outgoing, friendly, affectionate little girl. We all love her very much.

back to normal

I woke up at the early hours this morning to realise we are now back to normal, no tiny noises to wake me up at 4/5 am, no little waggiest tail, happy faces to greet me, no little puppies running around the house/between my legs, no puppies to care for ...

I can't believe I have raised two litters of puppies from June, it all seems like yesterday. I really missed having them around. Zap, Sadie, Posh & Skye are wonderful puppies, all of them have superb temperament, outgoing, bold, confident and happy. I hope they bring a lot of joys to their new mums and dads.

Thank you very much to Gem for giving me such a precious little boy, she is now retired from breeding and is living a luxury life in Norfolk with a lovely family that gives her all the attention and love she needs. She was a great mama to Zap!

What can I say about Samber? Eventhough I called her "teenage mum" but like Gem, she is a good mama to Sadie, Posh & Skye. She clean and feed the babies very well when they were younger and played with them when they are older. I really missed the time watching them running around in the garden chasing each other. I loved to see how they interacting with each other.

Samber is still very young and she likes to go out and be a part of my pack, everytime when I took the boys out for a walk/training and left her with her babies, she will cry her heart out just because she wants to join us. I can't risk the health of the babies and each time when I closed the door behind us, I felt sorry for her and we could only go for a short/quick walk.

This morning, we woke up to a sunny but cold autumn day. Colin and I took the boys + girl for a good long walk that we all needed. We walked for nearly three hours, all the dogs enjoyed their long walk.

The KNIGHTs Shelties on Mitcham Common

the happy Samber and the happy Seagull having fun

the evil Titan is still being evil

the youngest three are always on the move

even Seagull looks so happy

my troublesome tris!

Samber is so happy to be out to chase the boys!

Congratulations to David and ZAP!

David's mum text me with a fantastic news a couple of days ago, I wanted to wait for a photo to post together but I just can't wait to share this wonderful news ...

David and Zap WON their very first Obedience show and came 3rd in the Fastest Recall among 40 dogs; David is the only child (12 years old) and Zap is the only puppy (age 16 weeks)! What a cracking Junior pair!

Way To Go boys! I am so very proud of you!

Licosateria Mai Golden Skye

Skye (aka Ferrari) left me with the empty nest today!

She is now loved by Jolanda, you can read more about her on her blog.

Good bye my baby girls, you are a wonderful litter!

Posh and Sadie's owners has emailed/text to let me know the girls are settling in very well straightaway!

Licosateria Mai M'SADIE Gold

Sadie (aka Mercedes) joins her new family today! The house is very quiet without her.

A good way to end the season!

I was worrying sick all last week about Sizzle being unwell. The same old story again, upset tummy, he looked very fed up, tired and miserable since last Thursday. He gone off food for more than 48 hours. I have taken him to see the vet for more blood test and fecal test but results came back NORMAL. I also spoken to many people to find out how I could treat him, then came this Sizzle saver Rosie vet. Rosie is not a vet but she has dogs for years and she is very experienced with lots of thing, dogs related of course. Rosie asked me to try him on panacur, believe it or not, almost immediately (two hours later) after the panacur, Sizzle suddenly bounced back like he has never been ill before! He was begging for food and chasing the puppies again! WooHoo.

On Saturday night, he look well enough to do agility so I thought I can go to Suffolk 5 Rivers with him? We were up 4am (crazy!) on Sunday morning to go to Suffolk 5 Rivers. It took us 2.5 hours to drive there. This is his first Kennel Club Open Show debut, so I will go and enjoy myself. Never! I was like a nerves bag. If you could recall back in August when Sizzle misjudge the jump and jump into the wooden pole and got a mouthful of blood at the KC Festival? We have some problem since, he will either go under the jump (which he prefers) or go around the jump, especially when the jump is set in the corner (like a pinwheel or a jump on the left or right after the contact); also he becomes more aware and go slow and steady now. I guess he is worried that he will jump into the pole again. We didn't do much of training since, I thought I will give him a break to recover/forget about the accident but NOPE, sheltie nevers forget anything! On Thursday, I took him to our weekly club training, he still went under the jumps and he isn't as keen as he was before. So, when we arrived at the show yesterday morning, I was still debating if I should run him or how to run him.

He has the first class in the morning, the Graded 1-3 Agility. I walked the course many times and the more I walk, the worrier I get. He has the running contacts, there is a sharp turn right jump after the A Frame, I don't really want to start it that way, I was hoping there is a jump straight forward after every contacts for a baby dog. Sizzle handled himself nicely, eventhough he looked hesitated on the upplank (A Frame and DW), otherwise he covers the ground very well. To be honest, when I ran him, I didn't think he was fast, I know he can be so much faster (and smoother) than that, I was so nervous and I wasn't sure what I was doing when I am in the ring with him. I probably watch him like a hawk! Isn't that terrible?

When I finished the last jump with him, I felt a big relief! I don't care we went clear or not, I've just done it. I played with him (reward) for a little while before I can calm myself down. Some of my agility friends were telling me it was a good round and some even kind enough to go and check our time for me. Yes, he went into the lead! And stays there! I wanted to shout out loud! My GOD! Our first show and we have won it. It wasn't a small class, I can tell you. 133 dogs but 80+ dogs in Grade 3, so he has beaten all the other 80+ dogs!

Actually that was a bad thing though, all morning I got so emotional, so many people coming up to congrats me (how nice!). I nearly miss walking his jumping course. It was a nice jumping course with a little difficult weave entry. When I was walking the course, I meant to be in front of the jump before the weave to guide him but when we ran it, I was behind the jump. I must have forgotten what I was supposed to do so he went into 2nd pole. Other than my stupid mistake, he did the jumping beautifully, especially the bit after the cloth tunnel, the gap between the jump was tight and he turned really well. I am so please with him!

Later in the Helter Skelter class, it was purely my laziness. It was a big course, a long way round and up and down the hill. It was very hot and I cannot handle the heat. I got so tired and lost my mind. I wish I didn't run him as I might have put him off. He is one good little boy, I enjoyed running him and queing in the small class is so different to the medium. All new experienced!

The photographer took this photo of Sizzle doing his weave, he looks like a spider to me! I always think he is a double strider but not until I saw this picture and watch the video again and again. It looks like he started with double striding and got faster and doing single striding. I have not seen a small dog doing single stridiging before.

Other than Sizzle going from Grade 3 to Grade 4 this weekend at Suffolk 5 Rivers; Saturn also surprised me by going Grade 6. Our first class was the Jumping, we've got eliminated in that class, he was hyper and not listen again and doing his own course! When we did our agility round, he was calmer (a bit too calm), I determined to get him to do his contacts by pointing at the bottom each time he was on it, so I know we went clear when we finished. I never even think about getting a place in that class as I feel we were slow, so I didn't go to check his time. We went straight to Helter Skelter from the Agility, he went clear in that, then we went for a good walk and forget all about checking his time.

As we were about to set home, I heard me and his name being called for presentation. I thought it could be the Helter Skelter class but it turned out to be he WON the Grade 5 Agility and that take him up to join the big boys in Grade 6! WooHoo! I feel good, really good!

I know I have a long list of winter projects for the boys!

I did ran Sing but he wasn't himself. He wasn't up to the challenge this weekend, then I saw him taking his paw up. I guess he needed a longer rest. The physio is still on holiday, maybe I should change to another one rather than waiting for her to come back.

Licosateria Mai POSH Gold

Posh (aka Porsche) is the first one to leave us to join her new family in Norwich. Hopefully she will make Sally and her family very happy.

more puppies photos!!

Yesterday, we have The Hennessy Family came to visit the girls. The Hennessy kids are the best kids you can have to social with your puppies, Ryan, Sian and Ailish are so gentle with dogs and I am so lucky to have Ann and her children coming to play with the pups whenever I have a litter of puppies, maybe Ann should think of hire out her children to puppy owner? Or do you think I could convert Ann to have a sheltie next time?

The Hennessy + Sing's family

Sing's Family

Ann and her children are the best puppy massager, all the pups look chilled on their lap and they all fell aleep after a while:

how chill can you be?

Ailish with Skye (aka Ferrari)

Sian with daddy Sing and his little girl Sadie (aka Mercedes)

Samber gives Ryan a kiss to thank him for socialising with her babies


not puppy related but I like this Kung Fu kid!

Saturn's agility run and some photos and the jumping course

I forgot to post this video together with my agility news. Here are two video clips from Saturn's agility run on the weekend. On Saturday, he missed all his contacts, I thought he got his DW but the judge raised his hand so obviously NOT! He looked much more happy then. On Sunday when he got all his contacts, he was much slower and he actually slipped before jump #10. I also noticed I keep pointing at the contact on Sunday, I don't know if that makes him think he should do his contact?

Here are some photos taken by Ric Yates at Thatcham UKA show on Friday, Colin was at work so video at all. These are all from the Steeplechase classes. I like to see/compare how tight my dogs turn:

Sizzle in the Beginners Steeplechase

Both Sing and Saturn are in the Novice Steeplechase

I think Sing turns so tight that save him some times!

this is the Graded 5,6,7 Jumping course we ran at Stour Valley, the plan is not as it scale, I just draw it with memories! The first weave entry cost a lot of dogs having a fault and most dogs went into the wrong end of the tunnel, Saturn was the one got eliminated at the tunnel. The tunnel set so close to jump #8, when Saturn landed, he was already in the tunnel.