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!!!
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.
Sally and Pr1ma ready embarking on their new life together
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.”
6 month old Taff (Nel x Blu) joins Sabine and Geoff on their horse farm in SW New Hampshire. Taff is the second Thundering Paws Farm pup for Sabine and Geoff. 11 month old Sunny (né Leif) is already on their farm.
Geoff, Sunny (né Leif), Taff and Sabine
Taff is naturally biddable. Confident, well-balanced pup, with push. And she will be looking for work straight away . Sabine who has not trained a pup before plans to train her on neighbors’ sheep.
Sabine is so very thoughtful. She sent a photo of the two Thundering Paws Farm dogs when she got home …Taff all cleaned up. Very elegant pair. Taff’s intensity and strength shows in that icy stare. It is clear who will be boss!
When a female has 11 pups, the pups have to take turns feeding. There are only 10 teats, and the best teats are nearer the back end. Here, one group sleeps while the other group feeds. Maintaining a very warm temperature is essential. Hypothermia is the pups’ enemy, the chief cause of early pup death.
Sue is doing incredibly well, for having delivered all these pups just a few hours ago. All look healthy. All are feeding and active. I am feeding her premium chicken breasts, anything to keep the nourishment up.
Screenshot
Sue’s pups will not be staying with me. They will be fostered by Lucy and Jim on their dairy farm in Massachusetts once they are weaned, vaccinated, chipped and ready for travel.
Update:
When I went to change the bedding in the late afternoon, there were only 10 pups. Nature and mothers have a way of ‘taking care of things’ …if we do not intervene first. Sick, failing or dead pups are removed by the mother for the good of the litter (they simply ‘disappear’). I am familiar with this. We can’t and shouldn’t try to save everything. That is not nature’s way. Susie is in charge, not me. And she does what is best / needed. The 10 puppies look healthy and alert. They are loving the 85°f temps in the whelping room. Susie, less so. She goes out every so often to douse herself in the cool brook.
5 month-old Fluffy Jac has been in seclusion recovering from a left shoulder problem. He has been so patient and so good, I just had to let him out to enjoy the day half way through his 3 week rest. This pup exudes joy. Happiness is wherever he is –‘Happy Jac’. Recover soon Jac, so you can enjoy more days like this one!
