Great Grandpa's Farm Collie

Good Old Happy

We went to my in-laws for Thanksgiving today. I really wanted to find the picture of Happy, the old farm collie. My husband's grandparents farmed in North Dakota. Happy was their dog, helping out with the cows, chickens, and children. Dogs being the way they are, my husband's dad was sure Happy was his dog. Our Border Collie reminded my father-in-law a lot of Happy, but, of course, Happy wasn't a Border Collie. He was "just a farm dog." I'm very grateful that a few insightful people saw the value in the common farm collie and decided to make an effort to preserve them when they saw their numbers starting to dwindle. These dogs are truly a living heritage.

What's in a Name?

Zebulon Montgomery

It's quite a big handle for a little guy, but I like it. Zeb for short. In case the name doesn't ring a bell, think Zebulon Montgomery Pike, as in Pike's Peak. There's an interesting article about him here. Spy, great! Explorer, not so much. Speaking of spy, Zeb is coming with a microchip. In case your thinking Zeb, 00Zeb, check out Avid here. It's a great way to find your dog if you ever loose him. We live near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and every summer cherished pets are lost and wind up at the animal shelter. Microchips make finding the owners a lot easier. Sadly, some pets and their owners are never reunited. And don't forget Katrina. Thousands of pets were stranded during the hurricane. Many owners are still searching for their beloved pets. Don't let this happen to you.

I got a comment on my blog! Thanks Jim. I've been to your website and am planning on buying your book, one for me and one for my sister. She's getting an English Shepherd too.

Finding the Right Pooch

Mr. Right

After deciding we were going to get an English Shepherd, the next step was finding one. Warning: Buying an English Shepherd is not going to be an impulse decision! There are not very many breeders, and they are often smaller breeders with only 1 or 2 liters a year. That means waiting lists. Our puppy will be coming by airplane, since we could not find a local breeder. Now I have to think of a name!

We're Getting a Puppy!

Is There Anything Cuter and Cuddlier Than a Puppy?

I already have my fair share of companion animals. Horses, cats, birds, fish, a gerbil and Mr. Gecko. So why on earth would I want ANOTHER puppy? It' always been a dream of mine to breed puppies. I know what you're thinking, the pound is already full, but in my mind there is a shortage of one certain type of dog. One that isn't breed for looks or show, or churned out of a puppy mill. One that is a real dog, you know, the type Grandpa had on the farm. And what type of dog was that, anyway? Folks called them Collies, Sheep Dogs, and Shepherds, but they all looked somewhat alike and acted alike. They were the original multitaskers. They could hunt, herd, keep watch, or just lay down at your feet and keep you company. When I started looking for this dog, I thought of Border Collies and Australian Shepherds. Both great dogs. We used to have a Border Collie and I still fondly refer to him as "The Best Dog Ever", with my apologies to the pooches I've owned since then. My husband had an Aussie before we met. But I was looking for something else, something that hearkened even more back to those earlier times. And so I fell onto the English Shepherd. I'm excited to be getting one, and to learn more about them first hand. Will my dear departed Border Collie lose his illustrious title? I don't know, but I'll keep you informed every step of the way.