My EVENTFUL Christmas eve day!!

Well I will admit it, the holidays are NOT favorite time of year. I have worked in the retail business too many years, to enjoy the shopping and I love to give gifts.. but that entails shopping.

SO that being said I really was hoping for a quiet day, uneventful, and one I could enjoy the dogs/pups, not go out and CERTAINLY no shopping!! YEAH RIGHT ... I should know better by now.

Last weekend the Miss pups did go off their puppy food and have a bout of loose stools... it occurred right after the trip to have their eyes checked so I chalked it up to stress and treated them with Albon as an extra preventative. Not a one ever had a fever and just seem 'off' for a day (well that happens they are pups). They were due to be wormed so they also were treated with my typical protocol of Panacur wormer too. All is fine now they are back to normal stools and they are their obnoxious selves driving me nuts trying to keep up with them.

Late last night when I went to feed the older imported pups I noticed that Rion (the red merle boy) was slower to eat. He did finish his dinner ... but not with the vigor he normally does. He was still quite perky and went out happily wagging his tail at last potty time.

Well this morning I awoke to a pen full of undigested food (he threw his dinner back up) and a pup that was not nearly as perky as he was the night before. I let him outside (he did hop right up and decide he was headed outside with his brother and adopted sister)... I watched close when he pottied outside ... it was not good ... not good at all! Liquid not a normal stool from him at all.

So I brought him back in and immediately took his temp. 100.1 (no temp... actually the lower end of normal)... so I dosed him with Albon and decided to watch him close for a few hours and make my decison on what to do (knowing today would be my day to take him to the vet as they would be closed tomorrow). I did think they have been out playing in our heavy amounts of rain water/puddles, digging holes in mud, and general rough housing in the back yard quite a bit lately. Eating something that could upset his stomach would certainly not be out of the question and very VERY plausible.

Hour and a half later ... I peeked on him... NOT a happy puppy. He didn't even want to get up for me to take his temp and more loose liquid stool all over his papers. I took him out and took his temp. It was UP to 102.1 (still in the normal range but higher)... this took just under two hours to happen and he was certainly a 'droopy lethargic puppy'.

Now if anyone knows me ... I watch my pups like a mother 'hawk' they sneeze I know it and exactly which one!! And due to the massive outbreaks of Parvo in the area in the last 18 mos (more cases than in decades) I don't take chances!!!

SO MUCH for the QUIET relaxed day with the dogs!!! I was on the way to the vet ... just as they were closing (yep emergency call fee here we come!). Rion and I get there ... they immediately pop him up on the table ... and begin a Parvo test. (needless to say... I had gone over all the horrible things that could happen with SO many pups in the house and if he had PARVO... I was just beside myself with horrible thoughts of sick and dying pups!!).

For those that have ever had to do this test on a pup you know.. they take a stool sample and mix it with a solution .. put it in this little test kit (kinda like a pregnancy test for women but no peeing on the stick)... snap it and 'WAIT' ..... yeah that is the hardest part... the WAIT!!

As I am watching this little white kit ... I begin to freak... THERE IS A SPOT !!! OH MY GOD THERE IS A SPOT it is positive!!... Hillary (one of my favorite vets).. say OH No NO!! that means the test is running and it's right ... one dot is fine ... TWO dots is BAD!!

More waiting .... (they run a fecal in the meantime ... just to check).... no more dots are appearing... I keep looking at it.....

My other favorite vet (the owner of the clinic Dr. Meade) comes in ... and says ... "well a tiny bit of roundworms... but that is all I see". He may have just eaten something and it could be a bit of coccidious due to all this rain and junk floating around. He looks at the test kit and goes .... "looks like NO PARVO!!"

WHEW!! I sigh (a HUGE sigh I might add!) and of course Rion who is sitting on the table waiting ... just sits up and licks my face like "see Mom.... you ARE a nervous NINNY!!".

Hillary went to throw the test kit away ... and I said HEY no!! That is the best Christmas present I could ever get this year!! I gotta take that home!! (not to mention I can keep it for his scrapbook!!)

So here is my best Christmas present of the year!!

A negative Parvo test!!

Well I was not totally 'out of the woods" or off the hook for Christmas shopping. Due to Rion's liquid stool, I used up all the paper towels and bleach cleaning up after things. Any dog owner knows it is also an EMERGENCY when you run out of paper towels... so that did require a trip (on Christmas EVE day right prior to closing) a trip to Walmart... (I couldn't go a day with no paper towels and a ill feeling puppy!! ) UGH double UGH.... I waited in line over 15 mins even in the express lane... not to mention how many people were pushing carts up and down the packed aisles... But I survived and the house is loaded up with bleach, cleaner and paper towels!!

My second 'blessing and gift" for the Christmas Eve... was the gift of CHEAP gas!!! While I was out later this evening the BP gas station in West Lebannon has gas down to $1.39 a gallon!! Whooo hooo that is thirty cents cheaper than Danville, IL and Lafayette too!! (Oh I am sure there are places much cheaper... but heck ... this is cheap for us!!)
In the pouring rain, I could not help but snap a quick photo of the price sign!!

As an evening update on Rion ... He is feeling MUCH better. No more throwing up after he came home from the vet. He napped most of the day (I even hooked up a heat light over his wire crate to keep him extra warm). By later evening he was showing signs of his perky self again and even complained he wanted out too when his brother Rigel and adopted sis Hope went out. He ate a small meal of regular puppy kernels (with water on it) and all seems to be on the mend. Just took a matter of hours and an expensive emergency TRIP to the vet to ease his Mommy's mind!!

Well my Christmas Eve is almost over ... and I am grateful for the "gifts" I have been given today. Tomorrow is the day we get to spend with part of the family... that will be a good day too, I just KNOW it!!

We have names!!!

Thanks to a great suggestion from Becky Beckmann of Rising Sun Farms, the new import red merle boy from Astra has a name!!

His father's name is "Orion"... so his name is "Rion" (pronounced "Ryan"). He is such a sweet laid back boy and talk about COAT he is a fluff ball... I think he is going to be much like his father (the 'glamour' boy).

So they are all named now. Rigel (the blue and white star in the constellation 'Orion'), Hope (the red tri girl a granddaughter of "Astra Dream"), and Rion (son of Orion).

Whew appropriate names .... that didn't take long!!!

Video of the import pups playing in the snow

I took this video shortly after the three imported pups arrived (within a day or two). The red tri girl (I think we are going to call her "Hope") is having a grand time playing keep away with a rag she found in the snow.

The other two keep things interesting ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSSIY7UgO6M

The new Imports

Well I had hoped that things would settle down a bit so I could make a big long write up about this great new pups ... but well a new litter of pups, new imported pups, and a litter of just now 5 week old pups on the ground (all during the holiday selling season at our store mind you!) slow down ... WHAT WAS I THINKING!!


So here is the 'short version' of how these guys came about.


I have always liked the pedigree and looks of Janet Beale's new lilac stud dog "Orion". She and I have talked about semen and other litters he has sired. But I also wanted to make sure to get a CEA normal pup that was a good bold working prospect that was also a dilute in color if possible(working prospect first, color second). When Janet told me of the cross which should produce the dilute colors and have good working ability I asked to be on the 'list' for the breeding.


The litter was bred, I was excited. Then the litter was born and sadly many of the pups were lost to an odd early case of 'puppy strangles' (I was so sad). Only two males remained (I had hoped for a girl) so we waited and I hoped. There was a dilute blue boy in the litter ... so I hoped and said a few little prayers that he would be a good working prospect as he grew.


My prayers were answered... Janet felt he would be a good worker, and he was CEA normal (by parentage) and well a dilute!! OK sounds good.... lets work on a trip to bring him to me (so I can avoid all those outrageous cargo fees).


That was a long and tedious process ... which turned into plans and then 'different plans' then again "DIFFERENT plans" (probably even a few more 'different plans in there as well!!) Finally the plan was set and he was hitching a ride to the USA via a nice lady from Canada.

So enter Imported Astra "Rigel"!!!! His name came from the star constellation of "Orion". The brightest blue and white star in the constellation is called "Rigel" He is a sweet cuddly boy when you pick him up. You put him down and he is a playful, silly bold pup (and already interested to fetch the frozen tennis balls in the yard). He learned the stairs quickly and is quiet as a mouse in a crate. Great eater and one of the family already!! Well then you think "where did the other one" come from?? He is Rigel's brother. He was originally sold here to the US as well (someone else). So he and Rigel were going to get discounted shipping and be able to fly together. The original buyer was unable to complete the deal so Rigel had no buddy to make his flight cheap. (remember all those "different plans??") Janet and I were able to come to an agreement that he too would get to come over. Janet understood, I would probably not be keeping both as I want the genetics but no need to keep two of the genetics... so he will probably be offered for sale to a home where he will be able to shine on his own. I will only want to sell him to a home where I can have use of him as a stud dog (for some of my girls). This of course is only if he continues to mature out as nicely as he is looking currently.

We are thinking on names... the one that suited him is far too long. Betelguese is one of the red stars in the constellation "Orion" as well. But well "Betelguese' is just too long to say ... not to mention too many spaces for ABCA and ISDS. Suggestions are welcome for names on this fluff ball!!

Last but not least 'our wild child!!!" This litttle busy body red tri girl is a granddaughter of Astra Dream. Dream is a bitch I have admired as a producer for many many years. Dream has been retired from breeding quite awhile ago .. so I have always kept an 'eye' out for a daughter of her. Janet has one of her daughters named "Stella"... she toyed with selling her along the way as well.. so we have chatted about her off and on. In the end Stella stayed and Janet offered me this little lady (Stella's daughter and 'clone in looks'). Her father is "Rusty" who is a tough working red merle that is on a working cattle operation in the U.K.

The pedigree was wonderful, the personality was top notched (and totally my style) so when Janet offered to make the package deal and included her in the discounted shipping it was an offer I could not refuse. She hitched a ride to the US along with the other boys.

This little lady is our 'style' of puppy and one I will love to start on sheep. I think she will be a good sheepdog, (might work cattle) and certainly could be a stellar dog sports dog ... as nothing phases this little girl NOTHING. She is bold assertive and one of those pups you can't help but pay attention to. If the right home does presents itself I will consider letting her go, if not then she will stay and be started on sheep along with the boys.

So there you have it!! I 'short' version of the imports and their 'wild ride' to the US and my house.

I have been able to relax and watch them play in the snow in our yard, and got a bit of video of them in a cute game of catch me if you can (the tri girl has a rag she dug out of the snow) and hopefully in all that 'spare time' of mine I will be able to upload it for all to see!!

Our weather turned warm the last few days ... which has been great for warmth ... but terrible for the mud and taking photos. When the weather cooperates on the mud .. I will get more photos of the new kids in the country.