piper

I should have read to the end before posting. Given your most recent reply, I would say chat to some BC breeders. They are not all that high drive and you may well find something that fits into your current life style. There are many many BCs living happily as members of families and with young children and not needing hours and hours of exercise every day. None of mine have ever needed the amount of exercise that people assume they need. Mental stimulation yes, but not hours of walking and jogging. And mental stimulation can be multiple short training sessions across the day in 3 to 5 minute blocks.

Those 2 and sheltie would be my suggestions. Possibly Mini schnauzer too.

Can't say I have and my guys get turkey necks once or twice a week most weeks. Like you, I occasionally give wings as well although I am less keen on the wings as even raw the long bones seem to splinter a bit so I really watch carefully if they get them.

I'm the same CrazyCresties - I don't have much in the way of creative bones, lol. The photo of Piper i am not at all happy with but I kind of lacked anything else and I didn't want to over do the cute puppy pics by using them again.

I have posted theme 2 and have no idea what I will do for 3!! I can see 10 posts for theme 2 - Kristin, Hannah, Tanya, Larissa, Kristen, Sam, Meagan, Taylah, Lorella and Kerri.

1- Kristin (kja) 2 - Kerri (Snook) 3 - Tanya (CrazyCresties) 4 - Kristen (Piper)

I use large for my guys.

I got my second 1 this morning and a potential for my third 1 yesterday. Just about to have a play in photoshop and see if it works out or will go out and take it again.

Darned computer!

Oops

I started well and am still at 1 shot. I think I can get 1 other set up over the weekend and I know what I want for my third, just not sure when/where I will be able to manage it.

I used Aloveen for my puppies and had no problems at all with it. They were bathed with it at about 4 or 5 weeks. Personally I would use an undercoat rake rather than a furminator style comb. I think they are better on a GSD type of coat than a longer coat like BC, but that is just my experience. I do have a Mars Coatking as well but only use that a couple fo times a year. My essential items are a collie comb, a soft slicker (I like the Lawrence Tendercare), an under coat rake and a nice pin or nylon & bristle brush. Nail clippers of course as well as some scissors for tidying up feet. I have a pair of thinning scissors too but they get used once a year or so so not really an essential item.

Outside with the camera this evening and inspiration and opportunity struck (amazingly at the same time!) so I now have the first pic for next theme done and my plan for the other 2 pics (well loose plan...).

Dasha, my girl whelped her first litter about 4 or 5 days early just fine. What date does her due date work out to be?

Loving what I have seen so far :) When is the next theme chosen and by who?

Puppies have had their first shots so will be able to start going out and about doing stuff soon. Today would have been a great day to train, lovely weather. Next time I go herding I will be taking the new addition for her first exposure. It is the most exciting time for me with herding - watching and seeing what happens when they first meet sheep. Seeing the cogs turn and the light switch on...

I wonder if kja could add the link to the blog to the first post so that those wishing to follow along and see the images can easily find it? I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's images and being blown away by the skill and creativity that people show.

Well my 3 mediocre images are there now. Just a question though, I have saved the images as 900 on longest side. When putting them in the blog do we set to display as original size? Or leave it at the default size of medium (which is really quite small)? I selected original size as I figured that is why we all needed them to be the same size?

It is on the 16th. When are you making the move?

All this herding training talk, I'm jealous!! Although I probably shouldn't complain - Jazz has had her pups at the nest time of year from a herding point of view, way too hot to do much anyway! Will get the girl I am keeping out t sheep in a couple of weeks and give Jazz a quick run as well. I am hoping she recovers her brain faster than she did last time she had puppies, we lost an entire year when I added up time she was pregnant, with puppies and still in brain fade mode. LOL For those in SA, The Herding Dog Club has a training theory day coming up in February. PM me if you would like contact details of the organiser. They will be looking at the fundamentals of herding, how stock move, why stock do what they do as well as what the test levels involve. It has been advertised as suitable for new people but I think there are people with PT and even into started that kind of just follow the course and the dog works it out that could do with this as well to help them take the step to that next level.

Has the orse already gone or is it just not 1 of the possible evictees? I always wanted the horse or the dog. Who wanted a thimble, an iron or a wheelbarow? I like the diamond ring from the new tokens.

If you pick the right size you can find most of the pieces you need, already correctly sized at Bunnings. A drill, some screws and you are done :) If you want something a different size or you can't quite get the right sizes they will also cut things for you for about $1.00 per cut. I have an old and very heavy whelping box that is borrowed from a friend and she got it second hand. I intend on making my own for my next litter so that it can be the size I want and a bit lighter and easier to clean than the 1 I am currently using. 1 great idea I have seen for pig rails in a home made whelping box was poly pipe pieces with 4 corners and a few T pieces that kept it off the ground of the whelping box and out from the edge, nice and light and easy to remove when the puppies get bigger.

I hadn't heard of her but I think it is a great service that she offers.

Aww goldielover I have to say my babies are really good - I put them to bed with some food about 10pm and go and get them out at 7:30am or thereabouts. They are usually awake but amusing themselves quietly. I thought that would stop once my husband went back to work this week as he is up and about at 5:30 but even with him moving around and making noise they stay quietly in there. Big day here today - a friend and the owner of the stud dog are coming to have a look at them. They are 6.5 weeks, not the perfect age to go over them but as the stud dog owner has been here on holidays and returns home in the next couple of days it is the best we could do. I am so hoping the little girl is holding together, up until now she has been looking really promising and has the temperament and desire to work that I love. Here they are enjoying some outside time in the evening on the weekend (only time other than today that it has been cool enough fo them to go outside has been after 7:30pm)

All 3 photos now taken for me as well. Just need to do a bit of post processing to try and make some not very exciting images a bit more exciting :)