Rilla-My-Rilla

How exciting! I know what you mean about slow months....Does anyone know if it in normal to keep rearranging the bedding in one's puppy pen lol?

Oh you're so lucky @krystal&coco! Lunch won't come soon enough... I visited my puppies today, they are 5 weeks old. I love the three girls, and I have a favourite out of them, but aren't game to get too hopeful, in case the breeder picks her :) I'll be happy to have any of the girls though....three weeks to go and it seems soooooo far away *sigh* my patience is running out lol!

naww, he's still a cutie! It's a lovely photo :)

:rofl:

Glad I caught this thread. Am about to bring home my first Border Collie, and it's great to be able to read about how others do it, especially those with so much experience. :) Kelvin is gorgeous by the way :D

Set up the puppy pen the other day, took some photos before the camera died, finally gotten around to up loading them :)

lol, hope you're enjoying it and not stressing too much! Look forward to pics! I was going to take the camera on my visit next week, but it's in for repairs and I don't have a phone that I can take photos on

Congrats, you must be so excited! I'm getting a BC too :) Is this your first one? I guess you've picked up your little pup today! Hope everything went well for you! How exciting! LOL, I'm sure I'll be up really early too, on the day! I wake up early even when I'm going over for a visit - even before the puppies were born :laugh:

Thanks, I think they're adorable too! No, I don't know who/what I'm getting yet...won't know right up until 8 weeks. I actually get to pick my own, once my breeder has taken her pick/picks. Can't wait!

I think Prof Mc Greevey is dreaming if he thinks he can work out what makes a dog work because that all comes down to instinct and especially attitude. Health however is a different matter. Working Kelpies actually lose quite a few puppies to Ataxia and Dr Alan Wilton who did the genetic research on Border Collies, was working to find a test for them before his untimely death last year. The research was commisioned by the Working Kelpie Council because losing puppies to a fatal genetic condition costs them a lot of money. I don't know if they have moved that research to Sydney Uni where we had to move our BC research and samples, to or not. I agree that DNA testing needs to be carried out for health. I am about to get my first BC, and after following the Sick Border Collie Pup thread, I am so grateful that DNA tests are available. DNA testing for dogs working traits, is something I see as unnecessary. As others have already said, what makes a good working dog depends on the job they need to do and the handler.

Personally I would have preferred the freshly cooked sausage....

Adorable! Lucky little cookie to be rescued!

My grandfather had two kelpie crosses, and they were brilliant with the cattle. Monty would have been excellent on a big farm, working everyday. I don't see why they need to do any DNA testing....farmers have been breeding working dogs for years just simply by looking at their traits and breeding their best dogs, with none of this scientific stuff.

8 days, wow, you must be soooo excited now! hehe, don't worry, I'll probably be questioning my own sanity when I set up the pen next week....only another 5 weeks for me! Hope it turns out for you!

Oh my gosh, that's terrible! What's wrong with people that do this to dogs? The poor things (the dogs that is)!

I have been following this thread from the beginning, too, and was hoping to see that it wasn't TNS and that Bailey would get over whatever it was making him sick. RIP Bailey , and hugs to his family. I really do feel for you.

Thanks everyone! :D I'll pass that on so that my sister can have a look.

How exciting! Sounds like we'll be getting our puppies around the same time. Has time slowed down for you yet? lol

She is a Jack Russel x Shih Tzu, is 12 months old and about the size of a Fox Terrier She sleeps in my sister's room. Her bed is in the corner, where it is nice and warm and she has plenty of big polar fleece blankets. She likes to curl up in a little ball, and is a real snuggler. On really cold nights, she gets completely covered in a blanket and sleeps like that all night. She doesn't have very thick hair though, and sometimes shivers, even inside. She's most happy in a lap, with a blanket, near the wood heater, but wouldn't sleep out there as she definitely sees my sister's room as her 'den'. She's not a chewer, she actually has a little coat for out doors, but this only covers her back and does up with two velcro straps, one underneath her tummy and one across her chest. She's not comfortable lying down in it though, as it's made more for when she's out and about walking. I think she really needs something to cover her legs and most of her body to keep her properly warm.

This will be 'my' first puppy too, every other dog has been a family one. All I can say is don't stress, trust yourself, and enjoy the puppy phase because it goes soooo fast! I'm sure you'll be fine with your new little one :D At this stage I'm after a female, but really don't care if I get a boy. ETA: Your little baby looks very cute too :)

Hi, My sisters little dog is feeling the cold quite badly at the moment. She's after some suggestions as to where to purchase some little pj's for her from... Any help would be great! :)

Sorry I haven't replied, been a little too busy for my liking lately :) Well the puppies have arrived! All black and white and healthy! Time is dragging sooooo slowly now. I thought it wouldn't, since I've been waiting indefinitely, now I have dates I thought I'd be fine. I was fine all through the pregnancy, it seemed to actually go really quickly. Never mind - just have to keep reminding myself that time hasn't slowed down, and eight weeks really isn't that long. :) I'm so excited though! Must be nearly time for you to pick your pup, Summerside?

They're not large, bulky or have square heads, but have you considered a Border Collie? They sound as though they'd fit in with your lifestyle.

How exciting! Not much more of a wait for you then, though it must feel like forever. Don't know how you can be so patient. its all good news from the scan! Well miss Mumma-to-be is so fat that she couldn't wriggle too much, so she had an X-ray rather than another ultrasound. Originally she was expecting 6...now she's having nine, and sooner than expected by the looks of it. Her cervix started dilating a bit, so we're expecting them this week rather than next week. It's her first litter, so hoping everything goes well!

Border Collie - not long until they're born now, mum will be going for her final scan soon. Hoping everything goes well!