Even with a litter I was not expecting, there is likely to be (at least) one keeper pup. This 6 week old female has stolen my heart.

Mostly, just friends see and comment on my FB posts. However, this photo of Nova after her bath and wound treatment exploded. A bitch attack tore / abraded 7-month-old Nova’s mouth and below her jaw. First, a bath to clean up the puss and discharge around the wound. Then, topical antiseptic –which stung– and finally some Manuka honey.

All the likes and comments on FB reminded me how cute Nova is. Day to day, I tend to forget her cuteness, focusing on controlling the bad behavior around the pack: chewing, digging, kennel accidents, rolling, fighting and wandering. The dogs know me for my perpetually wary eye and corrective shout. Nova is in with me for a bit …and now that she is clean, she can sit along side of me while I work. She wants to go play with the rest in the mud …but that is not going to happen.

Tony sent an updated photo of 2 year-old Fluff, who lives Down Maine in a coastal town near Bar Harbor / Acadia. Fluff was born cute and adorable –a happy ball of fluff, thus her name. She had working talent …but really needed a person to call her own more than sheep. I turned down more people who wanted Fluff than any other pup …and then Tony, a retired teacher and coach living on the Maine Coast, arrived in the dead of winter. Tony was the person / home Fluff was waiting for. I turned Fluff over to Tony with a full heart, glad I waited. In the photo Tony sent, little Fluff is as pretty and endearing as ever, looking fit and happy and a lot like her dam, Meg.

ChatGPT made me a collage of my top 2 dogs: Peter and Lotti. There is so much special about these two: the eyes, expression and style stand out. Their fantastic temperaments can only be inferred. Someday… I will breed these two stars.

Today, Daria sent me an update on handsome Coal, coming up on his 2 year birthday and living the good life in Boston’s Back Bay. Daria summarized her relationship with Coal in one phrase: “He is my everything!”

It simply does not get any better than that. The photo Daria sent along says it all. An amazing match!!!

Today’s FB Post:

10 month-old Strafford Jet never takes a bad photo and he gets better almost by the day. I was not planning to keep yet another male, but this son-of-Peter really impresses me, not just as a photographic muse, but with his style and temperament.

First class working collie, Strafford Pr1ma, is off to Sally and Michael’s farm in Rhode Island, where she will work sheep, cattle and everything that moves on their farm. Pr1ma is Sally & Michael’s 5th working collie. She will be on duty 24 x 7 as Sally’s executive assistant. Thrilled for you, Pr1ma!! You have that never-ending working joy you wanted and deserve.

Pr1ma is Sue x Ormond Mirk, the same breeding as the 10 surprise pups who hit the ground 10 days ago. All 10 doing well.

Sally wrote after 10 days with Pr1ma:

“She is strikingly intelligent, even for a collie. She weighs everything carefully before taking any action or accepting anything. Her intelligence is very human-like. She is cooperative and affectionate as well as independent. She’s definitely one of “those”, with a strong herding instinct. I am so grateful to whoever I should be grateful to that I saw her picture and wrote to you, and I am so grateful to you for breeding this amazing girl. She is different and quirky, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she’s going to be a fantastic dog. I’m enjoying each day with her and also looking forward to every day to come.”