and just a few more!

more wk 1 home pics

Pics from wk 1 at home

Still doing well and i think she's grown!

Tara has learned all kinds of good stuff so far since arriving, including sit, shake and how to target my hands. We are working on down and loose-leashing walking but have yet to add a cue for those yet. She and Orion have been playing up a storm. I've still been horrible about taking pics but have managed to get a few in in the last few days. Both dogs had baths yesterday and are nice and fluffy. We didn't have puppy class tonight because of the holiday, but we are set to start obedience tomorrow. I'm still getting up in the middle of the night to let her out and sometimes she is having pee accidents even before I get to her which is surprising to me, I've never had a dog that needed to be let out in the middle of the night before, and definitely not a 10 wk old. So hopefully that will improve soon and I can get a much needed and missed full night of sleep. It'll be interesting to see how she does at class tomorrow with all of the distractions. Right now she's resting in her x-pen while I type. She has such a thick coat already! It's been around 80 degrees all weekend and I think that the heat is really slowing her down. Boy does she drink a lot of water, so much more than Orion. She's not crying so much when she's left alone anymore, except for when I go in the kitchen and she can hear me, but not see me very well, silly girl. We've been going on multiple walks a day and having fun romping around the yard. She's perfect in the car in her crate, silent and sleepy. Tomorrow morning I have to load the bigger crate I have into my car for her because she needs it! I also had to enlarge her collar, she must've grown! She's going to be big so soon. She loves her toys, and has so many choices she grabs one, then another, then another. She's also learned to work for her meals, and she has to sit to go out and to eat and to get out of her pen. She's out of the pen much more than she is in it. Well hopefully I will get around to updating after her first class tomorrow night. I think I will see if I can upload a few pics now. :)

She's here! and doing awesome...

Tara and I left Rainbow Delight Collies around 3:30 and drove 5 hrs and made 3 stops. She didn't pee for almost 3 hrs from when we left! I kept stopping and walking around with her and she kept not going. So we kept driving and stopping. She finally peed at a McDonalds just north of Albany. Silly pup! Right now she is sleeping next to me as I type at the computer. We have been having so much fun. She really likes this white stuffed animal that has lots of strings hanging out of it. She's been carrying it around all over the place. :) We've been in the process of switching from dog food to raw meat, and so far so good. Boy did she go nuts when I offered her a chicken neck! She would like to swallow it all in one bite if I let her. Last night we went to our first puppy class and she did pretty well. :) She and a german shepherd puppy that were there hit it off pretty well, they were both very herdy. Tara already likes to grab and dogs rear legs and rear ends as they walk by. She's also been really interested in grabbing pant legs. We're working on redirecting that, I'm sure that will take a while, considering she's a herding dog!! Today we went for our first walk in conservation land and she had a great time. We actually went one place where we went for a walk and some play in a field and then I met my boyfriend for lunch and all us went to another field where we hung out and ran around. She was beat. Later we met my friend Sandy and her collie Margo who is about 5yrs old. Tara immediately recognized her as another collie. It was really funny. They played some together, they were both barking at each other and nipping at each other, and pawing each other. It was hysterical. Unfortunately I have been so focused on paying attention to Tara's every move, I haven't been so good about taking photos of her. I'd rather be actually looking at her, than taking photos of her. I'll try to get better about it. But I would say she's doing really well. She would really like to eat my cellphone too, if she got the chance -- I've got to keep a close eye on that because I put my cellphone down everywhere. She's a very good, calm puppy for the most part, except for when she's tearing around being a madwoman. Everyone thinks she's a nice calm confident puppy, and that she is absolutely adorable! Can you believe that at puppy class someone asked me if she was a border collie? So silly. I've also been asked if she is a sheltie, but I can see that more cause she is so little still. :) She's beautiful, funny, wonderful and smart. She has figured out that sitting pays too, and offers the behavior while looking at me often. She also already has excellent eye contact while walking with me and when she comes. It's really cool. Anyway, got to let out the dogs and get off to bed! Nite all.

Pedigree

Pedigree for Tamarack's Autumn Rain n/e, "Tara"
Sable Rough Collie

Sire Special Velvet Teddy Bear n/e	Sire CH Special Holy Cow n/e	Sire Clarion World Class	Sire CH Clarion Color My World
			Dam Paradice Fan the Flame
		Dam CH Special Jewel O'Th'North n/e	Sire Nairne's Flame N'Fields O'Sno n/e
			Dam CH North Country Gemstone
	Dam Mountainside Sno White n/e n/c	Sire Nairne's Flame N'Fields O'Sno n/e	Sire Nairne's Flaming Sihouette n/e
			Dam Clandara's Flaming Embers n/e
		Dam Lonely Elm Temperature Rising n/e	Sire Lonely Elm Hot Toddie n/e
			Dam Pride N Joy Glory to Brigadoon
Dam Can CH Rainbow Delight's Gold Hill n/e, CGC, TDI, TT	Sire Int'l AKC CH McMaur's The Eliminator n/e	Sire Int'l, AKC, Mex CH McMaur's the Challenger n/e, CD	Sire McMaur's Country Elegance n/e
			Dam CH McMaur's Gift of Love n/e
		Dam McMaur's Take a Chance on Me n/e	Sire Cinderella's Speculation
			Dam McMaur's Harvest of Love n/e
	Dam Gold Hill's Wing N A Prayer n/e	Sire McMaur's Blackjack n/e	Sire Cinderella's Speculation
			Dam McMaur's Harvest of Love n/e
		Dam Sonic's First Love n/e	Sire CH McMaur's Dealer's Choice n/e
			Dam Ashley of Wonder Valley

This pedigree page was built for free at SitStay.com

Up and coming events for Tara and Reccomendations...

So, I'm still home (I'm supposed to be away on vacation, but I have this horrible repspiratory/cold thing, yuck!).

Tara's upcoming schedule!

Puppy Playschool starts for her on Mon. May 23 at 6:30pm at Gemini! woo-hoo! I've never gotten to fully socialize a puppy before! I am so excited.

Here's the descip. from their webpage:

Puppy Playschool

A must for new puppy owners, Puppy Playschool is designed to help you get off to the right start with your new puppy. Early socialization is very important for your puppy's development. Each week, your puppy will romp off-leash to play with the other puppies and meet all the people. We also spend time discussing puppy issues and answering your questions about what's happening at home with your pup. Puppy Playschool covers topics like socialization and play, house training, crate training, chewing, puppy biting, fear issues, puppy management, and proper handling of a puppy. General information is also provided on feeding, health, grooming, and the stages of puppy development. We also discuss how to play with your puppy and we begin to work on coming when called and settle-down training. Responsible dog ownership tips are included as well.

I've assisted in the class before -- its puppy play - then handling -- puppy play -- practicing recalls -- puppy play -- talk about responsible dog ownership -- puppy play... you get the picture... : )

This kit also comes with the class:

The Ultimate Puppy Toolkit�

Your dog will be in heaven when you purchase the Ultimate Puppy Toolkit�, a set of how-to booklets related to the five essential subject areas of puppy raising. They cover the critical 9-week period between 8 and 16 weeks of age, starting when you bring your pup home. This is the decisive window of opportunity during which very high priority socialization activities must be completed with your puppy.

The Ultimate Puppy Toolkit� will help you stay creative and have fun while you tend to the important issues. When used along with our Puppy Playschool and Beginner Obedience classes, this kit provides a powerful approach to puppy raising.

I already have it and it is the best puppy kit/book I've seen yet!
Check it out on the web at Ultimate Puppy!

Next class we are signed up for, starting Tues. May 30, 6:00PM is:

Level One Beginner Obedience

Based on scientific principles, our programs stress positive reinforcement and reward, not punishment. We use non-choking collars and head collars for training equipment.

It is our belief that training and behavior modification should be safe, enjoyable, and successful for both the dog and the humans who love them.

It is for that reason that all of our classes use Clicker Training.

Great for dogs of any age, the Level One Beginner Obedience class is designed to help you get started on creating a well-mannered dog that is a joy to be around.

In this class, we introduce the first steps of basic training through positive reinforcement.

Fido Flex Plan Obedience Training Includes:

• Sit

• Down

• Coming When Called

• Targeting

• Loose Leash Walking

• On Your Mat

• Stays

• Coming When Called

• Bring

• Give

• Drop It

• Leave It

• Sit for Petting

• Greeting Other Dogs on Leash

• Playing with Your Dog

• Distraction Work

• Distance Work

• Duration Work

This Series Also Includes Tips For Dealing With:

• Barking

• Digging

• Biting

• Chewing

• Jumping

• Pulling on Leash

• Running Away

Woo-hoo! We will be doing the flex option which is for 16 wks and we can pick and choose which weeks we want to go, in other words it doesnt matter if we miss a wk here or there, but I don't think we will. Very exciting. And of course I will start working on this all with her right when she comes home, as I have assisted in both of these classes a number of times and very much know the drill. Hopefully she wil be a star pupil. : )

Can't wait, can't wait. We'll also do a few days of doggy daycare with her, maybe once every other wk or so. Here's what their site says about their daycare program:

Doggie Daycare

After a day at Gemini's Doggie Daycare, your dog will be just as tired as you are!

Our daycare is open 6:45am to 6:30pm Monday through Friday. Doggie Daycare is a great way for your pooch to pass the time while you're at work. Your dog plays with his friends, takes a nap, and goes out for bathroom breaks, all under the supervision of our staff. Yes, we do have indoor play areas for small dogs that can't tolerate the cold weather!

Making your dog's experience at Gemini fun is our main goal.

A Typical Day

Look how much fun we have at Daycare!

Drop off your pooch anytime after 6:45am. We'll get him settled into his new home, and once we find out more about your dog's personality, we'll start introducing him to other dogs one at a time, so that he won't be overwhelmed on his first day!

Once we find him a playmate or a group of friends, we'll take them out to our securely fenced play area for supervised group play. (And if he's a little nervous on his first day, we'll just pair him up with a human friend!) Our play yard is divided up into multiple areas so that we can send various groups outside at one time without mixing them all in together. Your dog plays with his friends and with our staff. He is usually out to play for about an hour at a time.

Once he is done playing, we bring him indoors and crate him again for his between-play nap. His nap time lasts about 30 minutes.

Your pooch will get plenty of bathroom breaks throughout the day.

We then take your dog back out to play with his friends again and we just repeat the same process throughout the day until you pick him up!

Each dog gets an afternoon snack of the Mother Hubbard Biscuit variety or you can pack his lunch and we'll feed him!

Pick up your pooch anytime you'd like. (Mind if we smooch your pooch goodbye?) Daycare officially closes at 6:30pm. Please note that if you are late, a $10 late fee applies.

Is Doggie Daycare for Us?
While you're gone all day, what does your pooch do?

Is he always ready for hours of play when you return home exhausted from a long day?

Does he whimper, cry, or bark at the door until you return? Does he leave you little presents or destroy the couch cover?

Have you been feeling guilty because you don't have enough time to spend with him? Then Doggie Daycare is for you!

My friend Casey works in daycare too, so she'll get to play with my puppy. She is about to be raising her first litter of border collies. Her site is here: Taklimakan Border Collies

And for all you soon to be/ or current puppy raisers out there, my top reading and preparation reccomendations for you are:

The Ultimate Puppy Toolkit

and

Before and After You Get Your Puppy, by Dr. Ian Dunbar

Happy Puppy Raising to all of us! : )

yup, more . . .

even more!

more

7.5 wk photos

Tara will be home soon

Just 17 more days and Tara will be here! Yeah! I can't wait, I'm sure Orion would be okay waiting though! LOL.

Here is mom, Can CH Rainbow Delight's Gold Hill CGC, TDI, TT, "Micki":














Pic from Rainbow Delight Collies

Here is dad, Special Velvet Teddy Bear, ptd., "Ruben":

Even more 6 wk pics

More pics from Wk 6

6 wk pics