Vermont Says “Hands Off”

Three dogs and I attended 3 “Hands Off” events on a rainy Saturday here in Vermont.

The first event was right here in Strafford, on the lawn of the S. Strafford UCC. Committed and good people from town.

The second event was a raucous event of over 1500 people (according to the regional newspaper) in White River Junction, Vermont, so large that it spilled across the bridge over the Connecticut River into New Hampshire, which is where we took our place. No photos of that event. I was too busy managing the dogs with all the horns and drums and traffic. I don’t know how many more than 1500 people were there. Such spirit, commitment (in nasty weather) and kindness! People took turns holding the leash for a dog so I could manage.



Then on to Hanover, NH, home to Dartmouth College with the now veteran dogs: Max, Jazz and Kim. They were impeccably behaved and charmed everyone, happily taking pats and affection and general adoration. Only about 300 people in Hanover in front of the college …where were all the college students?? Not student-led stuff like the 1960’s, I’m afraid, except that the crowd consisted of old boomers like me who protested back during Vietnam.

Reporters covering the protests nationwide said protesters were “middle aged or older”. I would add that in that in the case of Vermont (the 4th oldest state), they were much older.

L-R: Jazz, Max and Kim
Me bundled up for the rain and cold, only in the high 30’s today

Nice to be out in solidarity with the those making a statement of resistance to the attempted seizure or our government. I would like to see actions like this grow in numbers and frequency. People power is what will end the seizure of our government.

He told it like it is…

4-April-2025

I am proud to have spent days and days knocking doors for this candidate in 2016. She really did ‘tell it like it is’ …even if people were not ready to hear it.

She was correct back in 2016 …even more so now.

“You know, to just be grossly generalistic, you could put half of Trump’s supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables. Right? The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic—you name it. And unfortunately there are people like that. And he has lifted them up.” ~ Hillary Rodham Clinton, 2016

Gail x Max Pups 1 Week Old Today

30-Mar-2025

Three pups (1M/2F), Gail x Max, doing very well 1 week on. Nice and big. Gail is feeding them generously. …and yes, I believe Max is the perpetrator. Telltale markings (faint tan highlights on cheeks and butt) are from the Aled Owen lines. DNA parentage test will confirm this before registration. Because Max is big, I expect the pups to be med-large. Pups genetically clear by parentage.

Pretty Gail taking a break with me from nursing and mothering

Gail Delivers 3 Healthy Pups


Male Pup – tan highlights cheeks, legs, butt are from Aled Owen’s lines
Q.E.D. The sire of the pups is Max

Original Post

23-Mar-2025

When I went to the kennel this AM, there was general excitement in the kennel and some strange noises. A male pup had been born to Gail in her kennel. A quick shift indoors and several hours later, two females followed. All pups nursing and looking very healthy. It was an easy whelping for Gail –and for me.

These will be the first pups registered with the ISDS prefix ‘Strafford‘.

  1. I had no idea when the pups would be born, since I only noticed 2 days ago that she was pregnant.
  2. Sire is TBD. It will be one of three here. And no one has confessed yet. When the pups are a bit older, I will do a DNA swab and have it matched to the lineup: Max (chief suspect), Mirk, Pete.

Coal Is Coming Into His Own

Males can be late maturers. At 8 months, Coal is looking like a different dog. The 2023 pups have matured nicely over the winter. I’m VERY pleased to think that I can offer Coal to working homes as well as mixed working/pet homes. More on his profile page.

“Which One of You Did This?”

I discovered Gail was pregnant today. I knew she was in season weeks ago and was careful about separating males and females. So, I’m not sure when and with whom this happened, but I will find out once the pups arrive and I can do a parentage / paternity test. Since I have DNA profiles on all the suspects, I can just submit a puppy’s DNA and find out whodunnit.

Who is the perp? My bet is on Max, then Mirk. Though it really could have been any of them.


2 Days later…

Around 5 AM while I was watching the European Nursery Sheepdog Championships, Gail gave birth to a healthy male pup. Appears to be a singleton. And could belong to any of the perps, but most likely Max or Mirk.

Ruth Ben-Ghiat on Dictatorship

A must-watch for those of you worried about what is happening in the United States. I was not aware how ‘authoritarian temperaments’ correlate(d) with support for Trump. 30% of the population is a big number. I understand better the answer to the question, “Ffs, do Americans want to live in a dictatorship??”. And it makes me despair for the future here (and elsewhere).

Lotti Grows Up

11 mo. old Lotti has grown into a proper young bitch over the winter

Blue Devil

This little blue-eyed devil of a pup, named Blu (Martin Feeney’s Meg x Dean McAuley’s Joe), is coming back to my breeding lines courtesy of Brian, who took him as a pup. Blu was a bull of a pup, mad for sheep (hard to hold back), full of hell, BIG and TOUGH, and very smart. Too much for me to handle at the time, but just right for Brian, in Upstate New York, who likes strong dogs.

Brian was kind enough to let me collect and freeze Blu this spring so I will have him to breed with later on. THANK YOU BRIAN!!!

Blu with sister Joy
Blu at just 8 weeks old