North of the border

Puppies are getting huge! I can't seem to find one I like in particular, though I believe that interested parties are already arguing over the black masked red male. Not sure if they really want him now-found him in the whelping box this morning rolling on his back trying to catch his rear foot, then chasing his tail till he was dizzy. Are you guys up for that personality?

All their eyes are open and I've even seen some mock fighting and growling. Amazing the difference at two weeks when eyes open. All of them are completely pigmented and well, I'm darn smitten with the whole bunch. Thanks Boo! Great job that might get you some repeat business ;0) Check out the new photos on the website.

Heading up for my first trip to Canada tonight. After I get done teaching classes, it's back home to load up the rest of the stuff then down south to Sheryl's. Kind of funny to head south then head north, but that's just the way it works around here. Nothing is ever simple. Taking along the Ms M&M. Russ is already vacationing up north so Kim will meet us at the show site with the monster. I've heard she's got her hiking shoes along and will be walking many miles each morning trying to take a little bit of edge off Russ' ego before we show.

I'm also venturing into the golden retriever ring this time around. Our good friend Paul is sending up his lovely little cream colored girl, Bonzee. Of course she's in season, that should make things interesting, but it will be fun too. She's so pretty, not a lot of coat, but she's comes out of UK lines and looks like a golden who could do a fine days work in the field or water.

So, we'll see you all in a week or so, eh? Can't wait to see the wilds of the north and have a great trip RVing it with Sheryl.

Later gators....
C

I thought that this was kind of cute. The boys tend to like to use their sister as a pillow-a lot. You will generally find one or two of them laying on top of her. And no, I did not set them up this way, walked in and giggled then ran for the camera.

Later gators,

C

High and dry

While we remain high and dry, the rest of Iowa seems to be walking around in their hip waders. It's unreal, or what was it that Scot said-surreal.

David and I spent the weekend at the Kirkwood Community College working with the displaced animals and shelter dogs. WOW--I was never so happy to go to my home and hug my herd. But it really made me feel good when owners were able to come and visit their animals, knowing when they left that they didn't have to worry about at least one thing. It was also very heartwarming to walk down the aisles, look in stalls and see volunteers sitting on the ground, hugging, petting and telling the pets that it would alright.

If I can get the network to move a little faster, I will post a few photos of the puppies-now a week old. We did head shots of them last night as they are hardwired for food, any time you touch them they immediately start rooting and grunting, looking for mom. All are doing well, gaining at least an ounce a day if not more and noses are all pigmenting well.

Later gators,
C

The area of Iowa where I live is really summed up by some famous words by an equally famous actor-"Is this Heaven? No, It's Iowa!" From the movie Field of Dreams filmed in Dyersville Iowa. Unfortunately, in the recent week many think this is on the other end of the spectrum and turning into hell.

We are now living during the time of a great flood. Unlike anything ever seen in this area. Cedar Rapids is underwater. I really can't describe it as words escape me to tell you what I see. Things such as the Czech Museum, The Village and all the homes and businesses - gone.

Check out our local stations www.kcrg.com and www.kgan.com Both should be given medals of honor for the hours and days of coverage that has saved lives.

As we know with Katrina, many people did not want to leave because they would have had to leave their pets behind. After Katrina, this was a side that was seriously looked at and action taken. The sad downfall of this is until we have FEMA step in, some of those new rules don't take effect. So it takes the community to step forward.

If you feel the need to help, please read the following prepared by our kennel club president and please feel free to pass it on! I'm off to volunteer.

later gators,
C

Permission to cross post as needed....

I just got off the phone with Mark Schearer, head of the IOWA VETERINARY RAPID RESPONSE TEAM [(515) 281-5798]. He indicated that they have been working with the AKC Disaster Relief Dept(Lisa Peterson). I believe he said that the AKC would be sending them SEVERAL HUNDRED crates and kennels to assist with the pet shelters in the Cedar Rapids area. Truly amazing! He couldnt say enough good things about the AKC!!!!But, that doesnt mean everything is done. They are going to be in dire need of volunteers to help with the Linn County animals that are pouring into the Kirkwood Equine Ceneter in Cedar Rapids.Projections indicate that there will be OVER 800 located at that site...and my guess would be that the latest round of storms may push it to 1000.

With the Cedar Rapids Shelter being a total loss...Kirkwood will serve for the next several months as a base of operations.If you would like to volunteer to help, please call the Operations Center in Des Moines. 515-323-4267. The Des Moines Disaster team is coordinating the volunteer effort so that the folks at the Kirkwood can focus on the dozens of cats, dogs, horses, etc that are coming in EVERY HOUR! Its a rate of 25 per hour...I did not get the Johnson County information as he was called away to an emergancy briefing to discuss the violent storms that are heading our way tonight. I'll forward that as I get it.

Once agin, volunteers are needed at the Kirkwood Community College Equine center...call 515-323-4267 to help. It is critical that when you signin at Kirkwood, that you sign in as IVRRT. That way you are covered as a "temp" employee of the state of Iowa for insurance purposes.

Hug your hounds, unfortunatley it is going to get worse before it gets better. We got 4 more inches of rain today.
Scot Northern
President - Cedar Rapids Kennel Association

They have arrived!

Leave it to Marg to make things dramatic. It's just her style. We are proud to announce the arrival of 9 very health cardigan puppies in the very early morning hours of June 7th. Get this-8 boys and 1 girl. Ugh, but oh well, as a breeder you just have to deal with what you are given. Might just be the next top dog in that group, regardless it's a male or female.

On Friday night, Marg decided to start all on her own. I had all kinds of plans for Saturday-get the whelping box up and cleaned. Get the towels stacked by the box, go through the whelping supplies and see what David had stolen for the horse first aid kit. Shave Marg's butt and belly, trim her nails way back, have milk replacer mixed in case, etc. Those of you who breed or have had puppies know the routine. Throw those plans out the window. Due to the size of the litter and the # of puppies, we had already planned on going to Doc's for a c-section. But with one little male puppy out, Doc wanted to see if she could do the rest too. But by 2:00 in the morning after runs to the clinic for oxy shots and no sleep at all, the troups were called in and we headed to Doc's. My wake up call to her resulted in lots of mumbles and some comment about-Didn't we discuss that if we are going to do this, it would be in the daylight hours? and a I'm going back to bed call me at 7. At least I can say she has a good sense of humor at 2am.

We get there with Marg, Alisa is along and David too. Waiting for us are Doc, Jen, her boyfriend, Rhonda and a couple others. More then enough puppy rubbers in the house. The comment goes that there was fresh coffee in the pot, more then enough chocolate and boys beware, hormonal women up at an unreal time in the morning. Man I love that office, everyone is ready for the fun at any time of the day or night.

So the poor little first born is complaining in the warming box because he's all alone, but need not worry, he is soon joined by the other eight. All puppies arrived healthy, crying and ready to meet the world. Gave Marg something else to lick as the first puppy had had more then his fair share of it. Upon looking at sexes and hearing an OMG out of me, Doc said, well you didn't tell me to just pull out the girls. Ha ha. We have some very nice reds or sables, red brindles, black brindles, and might have one or two good blacks. Some unusual markings, lots of white ears, fairy dots and well, yes we have two boys who are significantly mismarked. White heads with just a few large spots on them.

Marg is very slow to come out of the gas, we are doing some more research on this medicine and cardigans. It's the same stuff used on Eddie in February and same type of delay in getting back to the real world. But after making sure her vitals are good and strong, off we go at 4:30 to home and getting everyone settled in. Wow what a night. I was nice and kind and let Alec sleep through it all but once he got up at 7, I was off to bed. Can't sleep as I'm usually up and at work by this time of the day. So best I could muster was about 2 hours, then up it was. Check on babies, make sure Marg is fine. Get in the shower and off to teach a clinic all afternoon in Jones Cty for their 4-H kids. I was running on nothing by 5 when I got home. Then Big Brown lost his Triple Crown bid. Bummer. Still awake, now it's time to batten down the hatches for the next round of storms.

Thankfully, having been under the watchful eye of Meredith for the day, Marg is performing all on her own. Finally eating, drinking and all that jazz. Puppies are nice and fat bellies all around. I went to bed and that was that. Up once to let Marg out between the horrendous storms, back to bed and would you believe I didn't get up until 9:30! I feel much better now.

So there you have it. The Jimmy Buffet litter has arrived. Wishing there were more girls, but oh well, this too has a reason. I know Kim is beyond tickled--she wanted a new boy and man does she have lots to choose from. For now the girl will be staying here. See how she matures. Her name is Dove-she has a white marking on her neck that looks like a dove in flight. One of the boys is Salty, he has two brindle spots on his head like a salt shaker-ie his registered name will be Summjammin FB Lost Shaker of Salt--cute-heehee! The rest, will just come as we get to know them better.

Keep checking back for more updates as the little pups start maturing. This is going to be fun. Also check out the website for weekly photo updates.

Later gators.....

C

The Ringer and The Blue Bear

Okay, I gotta gush alittle. Isn't that just the cutest thing? Those are my blue eyed babies. Affectionately known as the Ringers around our cluster of show friends, it's a match made in heaven.

I originally got Eddie for me. I had fallen in love with his sire, Picasso and after talking with his breeder about getting a sibling to his sire, I was informed that they had actually bred him to one of their girls. Well I was all on board for that one and in Febuary 07 show at the Des Moines Shows, in walks this super fuzzy blue teddy bear. He melted us right then and there. Took right to Meredith and well, it's all history as they say. Though he loves me, he will do anything for that kid. And tolerates so much rough housing and torture. He loves mud, water, rolling in God only knows what and then jumping in your lap. Once Meredith was able to get him up on the table, she took over his handling duties. After a slight set back due to emergency surgery--Eddie is know to eat things he shouldn't, Meredith and Eddie spent the spring working on that championship title.

Eddie is Meredith's first Champion dog. She put 3, 4 pt majors on him plus a few little single points. He's working on his rally novice title, does junior handling with her and also is starting to herd ducks.

I have to thank Joann for all her support, Emily, Ferris and Tiffany for putting up with me and all those ring side who gave this kid the experience of a lifetime. Thanks Guys!!!!


later gators----
C