New Barn Babies and updates on a this and that..plus Icelandic Sheepdog Puppies

Hello Folks

Wow, were has the time gone, first between storms-Snow Storms-Wind Storms-Freezing Rain Storms- Power has been off at least once and the drifts are so bad this year..

We have new lambs and new kids in the barn, all are doing well but keeping me very busy, my bottle lambs and kid are just about getting big enough to be weaned, so within a short time hopefully that will be one less chore to be done a number of times per day.

The new litter of bunnies are doing well and growing well but also require regular checks at this point as one of them got out of the box and its just way to cold to have this happen so we raised the height of the ledge that keeps them in the inside box. Its working well so far.

The puppies are amazing and when I am not doing chores inside and outside on the farm, I seem to be spending a great deal of time by the whelping box, and have started the neonatal stress tests for the puppies and they are doing great. Everyone will have doubled their birthweights by total, almost there last night on the daily puppy weigh -in.

I had to laugh at Jason last night because we were snuggling puppies on the bed, one each and Jason said, o my god look at how light it is behind this puppies ears, normally its a deep dark red starting at this age behind the ears, but as these are Chincilla factor puppies, they are in fact going to lighten as they grow up, and become a wonderful rich cream color (think heavy really cow's cream) and as they are our first Chincilla puppies, this was the first time Jason had seen this and he found it quite amazing. Blackmore's Tan is already coming in, she is showing her tri markings under her tail, on her legs, and one her face already, she still appears to be a long hair.

What pretty puppies they are, so flashy and I must admit to being thrilled to see just how even this litter is in all ways, I have a feeling they are going to turn out to be a litter to watch.

So Greenstone Fire an Ice really needed to get out and get some show training so we slipped off the farm for the ottawa kennel club show on March 16th, and I put a photo of Duchess with her Handler Linda in the show ring, she is just six months and this was her first show.

Greenstone Fire an Ice took Best of Breed, Best Puppy in Breed and Group 2nd..

Well, I had better get back to work, I will be taking new photos of the puppies on Thursday, and will post them then.

Have a great day from the Waggy Tailed Icelandic Sheepdog Gang

Icelandic Sheepdog Puppies for Sale - Three Females and One Male

For more information contact isdpuppies@hotmail.com

Bed Hogs-Round Two -Icelandic Sheepdogs in Canada

Here is Ch Tofra Lagsi of Greenstone Kennel with his two favorite Kitties, Sherman and TickyBoo.. Its a good thing it a queen size bed, as these three know how to hog a bed.

In this photo he is being kind enough to share his new Christmas stuffy with his mom.. so kind, now please throw it :)

My Dogs Live Here -Poem

MY DOGS LIVE HERE


My dogs live here,
they're here to stay.
you don't like pets,
be on your way.


They share my home, my food, my space
this is their home, this is their place.


You will find dog hair on the floor,
they will alert you're at the door.
they may request a little pat,
a simple "no" will settle that.


It gripes me when I hear you say
"just how is it you live this way?
they smell, they shed, they're in the way..
"WHO ASKED YOU? is all I can say..


They love me more than anyone,
my voice is like the rising sun,
they merely have to hear me say
"C'mon girls, time to go and play"
then tails wag and faces grin,
they bounce and hop and make a din.
They never say "no time for you",
they're always there, to GO and DO.


and if I'm sad? They're by my side
and if I'm mad? they circle wide
and if I laugh, they laugh with me
they understand, they always see.


so once again, I say to you
come visit me, but know this too..
My dogs live here, they're here to stay.
you don't like pets, be on your way.
they share my home, my food, my space
this is their home, this is their place..------------


Author Unknown

Grey Wet Cool day on the Farm

Hello and Good Morning Folks

Well snow and sleet and freezing rain have arrived thoughtout the night along with cool temp, but all is well on Misty Morning Farm.

I really don't have alot of update on today, I am very pleased to say that we had a quiet content night of nursing and growing from little honey child, and I finally Duh, figured out that I can sleep in the living room on the click clack sofa bed and the bed is so low that the box can be right there, so we tried that last night and it works wonderful, I got more sleep, everyone was content and Jason got a full nights sleep, which as he works off the farm, he does need.

So with everything seeming to be going smoothly, the rented moterhome arrives tonight for my show weekend get a way.. Jason will be home with everyone and although I don't have a cell phone, my handler does and so he can call to speak with me any time.

So while I had groomed the dogs early in the week the weather has not worked and they will need a quick new bath and groom out today to get ready for the shows for the next three days.

Timing on the rings is good, last ring of the day friday, so Jason will be home before I leave and I can always be home in three hours if needed

However if all goes well, Greatly looking forward to earning some new ISD CKC Championship points this weekend, and to see what the judges think of the two dogs I am taking out.. Photos and updates when I get home of course.

Otherwise, just a regular old house day and start getting ready for the weekend trip.

Have a good one folks

Bark

Good Friday to you all, Easter is coming!

Hello Folks

Hope you are all set to enjoy the wonderful long weekend, I know, we are.. I have my dear hubby home for four whole days! Love it..

So we woke up with yet another dusting of light snow, but that didn't stop me from taking the dogs out for a good long run in the fields today, and while I was wishing that I had grabbed my woolly instead of my leather head gear by the end of the walk, the dogs loved it.

I snapped this great photos of Greenstone Alaxander out in the fields and used my photo program to make it a black and white drawing, I loved it when I saw the him standing there and I am going to get it made into a coffee mug..

So otherwise, the game plan today is to just work around the farm, I had hoped to do alot more outside yard work, but its so cold and damp right now, guess it will have to wait, but its still a good day to get those feet trimmed on the sheep.

So in general, we are having a movie day today, Jason rented two last night and so we are going to crack out the blankets and invite the dogs up on the sofa's with us and have a few hours of down time for everyone :) Never a bad thing.

For the rest of the weekend at this point, we have a farm sale on Saturday, Easter on Sunday and we are planning on building a few new pieces of agility equipment for my own training fields.. Was pleased to see that we have bits of green starting to show in the hay fields so hopefully it there will be more soon.

Hope you all have a amazing and wonderful family weekend!

Barks

Icelandic Dogs and Weekend update!

Hello Folks,

Well, lets see what is new with the Greenstone Kennel and Misty Morning Farm..

Well in the dogs, they are all good, Momma dog is getting bigger by the day and we had puppy vistors this past saturday for about two hours, they got to meet the parent dogs to be, and got to feel babies in the belly :) and then we brought out a few more of the ISD's for them to meet, and I have to say, that I think they loved AJay, he is such a social butterfly, went to each of them and gave lots of extra love.. I was surprised to see that my Freyja played a little shy for a few min, she was very interested and wanted to be with them but it took a few min before she was ready to give kisses and face to face contact.. so It was a very good thing that we had company as she clearly needed to have folks come visiting, when the puppies come, I will have to make a point of Freyja being included as much as possable.

Well the snow is almost all gone, so this is a fun running and play photo from the last snow storm we had and I think from now on till winter, it looks like no more snow to play in, but lots of water now.

So the dogs are all well, we did a little tunnel training this weekend and I keep wanting to get the bigger pieces of agility out but so far its still a bit to wet and we would be ripping up the fields yet and that won't do.. so still only doing baby parts at this time.. sigh...

Spring has sprung and the hair is flying, I swear I am doing double brush duty and my vaccoom is so busy right now, no point in even trying to sweep, its so light it just flys about..

So on other news, we took apart the cat sitting area in the last covered Dog pen, so that we can use it for the coming litter, now that my kitty's are just loving pets and indoor and outdoor farm hunting cats, I don't need to have just a outside pen for them, so as its covered over for saftey and it has the nice canvis bottom for easy of cleaning etc, it will make a perfect puppy outside play pen.. given how nice the weather should be, I am hopeful that the puppies will be able to spend some time outside enjoying the good weather, once I get it the way I want it, I will take photos to show it off. Grandma is coming for a few weeks visit while I have puppies and I want to try and make sure that the puppies get what they need and at the same time that Grandma can come downstairs to the bathroom and not trip over babies..

So we also worked and built the frame for one of the new garden beds, and so that will be ready, have tons of things to plant as soon as the last frosts have passed..

So in the barn, the weather is good enough that we opened up the back pen and have started feeding them outside to get them to spend more time out in the fresh air and sunshine, watching them jump and leap is so! much fun..

We also had the goats and kids outside to run around and play while we worked in the barn area for a few hours, It was time to do trim some goat feet, what a job, takes forever, but then again I am still learning on that, I guess I was very lucky and always missed my folks trimming feet as a child, O well, they are done now, and the goats seem happier for it, next weekend, time to hold down the adult sheep and do their feet trimming as well, now that should be fun LOL

Otherwise, its a grey, overcast and raining morning right now, so have done dishes, and feed doggy, had them out for bathroom and they all came in soggy doggies, but at least they are not muddy.

So that gets you all caught up to date.. Nice quiet day at home today, just some grooming and dog training planned, along with regular house and outside chores..

Looking forward to tomorrow, I have a double up dog training class in the afternoons, starts at 1:30 and runs till 3:30, should be a great.

Barks

In the lead is Tofra Dalla, coming hot on her heels is Greenstone Black Pearl and they both ran right past, Greenstone Ada..

Icelandic Sheepdogs- Dock Dogs

Hey Folks

Just a very quick update today, Dock Dogs is in full swing, and so am busy in training.

The barn critters are keeping me hopping, three new sets of twins in the past week, plus a few issues with getting the one momma to nurse her one youngin, so that is also keeping me busy. not to meantion that I have started Milking again..

The rain is making everything mucky, which means muddy feet and wet doggy coats everywhere.. ahhh, good thing is that the windows can be open full time now to help with the wet doggy smell, but the yard is covered in winter "stuff" how does it all hide under the snow, so lots of both barn, dog and yard work planned for this weekend.

On the plus side, the dogs can find every single pool of water to play in within 30 seconds of being let outside to have a good run.

Soon the snow will be gone enough for some duck training with the dogs, Freyja needs the training, she is crazy about those ducks, and needs to learn some mannors in regards to the birds, typical teenager behaviour right now.

Agility training in full swing right now, and have tried seeing how some of it works with two dogs, and strangely during some of the training, having a older better trained dog with a younger dog works well..

I know I have photos to take, Sorry guys, no new photos yet of the lambs/kids, no new photos right now of the dogs, and no photos or updates of the dogs. I will see what I can do this weekend in trying to find a little time to answer some emails (yes, I have gotten them, and I will get back to you soon!) just running a little bit much trying to get caught up from not feeling well for a number of days.

Barks

Toys, Toys, Toys.. Iceland Sheepdog Love their toys!

Hello Folks,

Well, its bright and Sunny today, and once again the dogs have tracked in mud and pawprints all over my floors, I swear I am washing floors almost as much right now, as when I have puppies.. well ok, maybe not that much LOL

The dogs were playing Foot and mouth yesterday and the toy of the moment was a red spiked ball with rope on end, I swear they must have played for a good solid two hours between themselves, taking turns on who was in on the game, and finally after they have were all played out, they laid down to for a few min rest, and I snapped this photo.. I loved it personally, the shadows between the two dogs, the matching intent of "that ball is mine buddy", and I think within about ten seconds after this was took, they both went for it.. Very cute indeed.

So had a new set of twins lambs in the barn yesterday, another set of girls, so that is three out of my four ewes successfull birthed out, just one more to go.. and only one Doe Goat left to birth and my barn babies will all be here, Ok, so its not the biggest little farm, but it still keeps me busy and I can't wait to starting my herding when with the new "light" sheep to go with their "heavy, well dog broke mothers"

Otherwise, I am working on daily show grooming for the coming shows in April, Freyja starts her new Puppy Agility building blocks tomorrow night at Dream Fields, and I hope with all the work we have already done that she will be raring to go.

Starting to get excited about my coming litter, I was laying in bed this morning and giving my mom to be a little extra snuggle time, and had one hand on her belly, she still does not seem to big for me, but clearly a little expecting belly and good mammory glands development.. I will look forward to introducing them to warm fresh farm free range scrambled eggs and fresh goats milk when the time comes, and they are coming at the perfect time of the year to get to spend time outside in the warmth of spring and so many interesting things to play and do with sticks and grass etc outside..

I have been watching my breeder friends have their litters and are greatly looking forward to my own coming litter, not that they will be doing much besides eating an sleeping the first few weeks but lots of cuddles at that stage, and then comes the fun parts.

Anyway everyone have a great day, I am off to do some inside and outside work.

Barks

Ps, dogs love the turkey treats, so will post the recipe soon for you to try.

Monday mornings.....ahh

Hello Folks

Well its monday morning, and I am still not feeling 100 hundred present, but appear to have it turning into more of a cold..ahhh Maybe a bit to much time outside in the wind yesterday, despite being careful.. O well, the dogs really needed the run, as we had a very quiet day on Saturday. The only extra doggy related thing, I got done was bathed and groomed out two of the dogs, as spring is coming, they are starting to shed, and its easier to groom, bath and blow out the coats, then have the hair shed out in the house.

Sunday not as quiet, was out in the barn a fair bit, have a new set of twins born yesterday, Kids this time, Mimi has a lovely set of babies, one black/white/tan and one light brown with white.. both appear to be doing well at this time.

Took some meds and dragged myself to agility class last night and it was sure worth it, Zander did great, and the class was fun and up beat.. I will admit to sitting in the back row and maybe not being as outgoing as normal but when I was on the mats, made sure I was in the now so to speak, went to bed early last night and got up and did chores this morning and then snuck down for an extra couple hours of sleep, just not quite ready to be up at 5 today, eight seemed so much more in tune.

Anyway, today is a regular monday, normal house chores, and then its going to be a baking day, need to make bread for the week, muffins and loafs for Jason's work lunchs, and I am out of dog cookies, so that last thing I make will be a new batch of training treats. Roasted a Turkey this past weekend, so lots of meat left over, so most likely will make turkey treats for the dogs and turkey pot pie for us. If the treats turn out great, I will post the recipe for you all.

Have a great day, and enjoy the photo of the two Greenstone Pups learning to tunnel as babies.

Barks

Icelandics Sheepdogs and when Come means! COME

Hello folks

We are trying to still unpack boxes from our move and get settled in, as some of you know, it took a year to get our house from Iqaluit, Nunavut after we moved down, and by that time, in truth we were used to living with the min look..

Anyway, Last night we found a box of photos, and among the treasures where these two photos, I had this up on the old website, and just had to share them all with you, I figure there are lots of new folks that have never seen them.

So this is the story, we always took the dogs out for their runs on the tundra behind our house, we were right at the edge of town, and so you just crossed the road and you had a couple thousand km of open goverment owned land to camp on, hike on, and at the local sandpit, do Agility at (it was the only place that we could find that was safe for the dogs to jump and land on), so in the tundra, its all valley's and hills, and one of the games that J and I have always planned is fine mom or dad, and or to call the dogs back and forth with their names and come.. its great for teaching a good recall right from puppyhood.

Ok, so we are out hiking, with Lily of the Tundra (our lovely purebred yellow lab), Bella (our Yellowknife all canadian northern Rescue pound puppy) Pineridge Vaskur (Black Tri) and Tofra Tobba (who I had flown to Norway to get the year before), and I am on one side of the valley, hiking the top and Jason had been hiking the bottom, and then came up the trail on the side of the valley, and he realized that he had lily with him but not the other three, so called their names and come.. I was taking pictures of the local area, and just happened to have the camera in my hand, and was able to snap these two photos,

The first one is Vaskur, leaping straight up the side of the valley to go to Jason, and of course this did not work so well, as it was a fairly stiff large cliff, and so, he comes down at a run, does a big circle, and head straight back up, I was so surprised but was able to get one more photo of him 3/4 of the way to the top, and yes, he pulled and scrabbled himself all the way to the top for his pat and cookie from Dad. Bella and Oppa, went to the trail and followed it up to the top..

I am going to put these up at the largest photos setting so that hopefully you can see him in some detail. I have always thought, that surely he used his double dewclaws that day, and showed just how agile the Icelandic would be in Iceland, as the landscape is very much the same between Iceland and Nunvut, Canada.

Barks

brrrrrr its cold outside!!! windchill of min 42 this morning!

Hello Folks

Wow, is it cold outside, last night doing chores (no dogs got to come with us) and we were bundled to the nines, and the walks to the barn was nasty, but I was thrilled to see that all of our hard work in our barn had paid off, it may be a old barn in need of work and from the outside it still really looks it, but all the new walls, and draft fixing inside makes the inside very nice, It was a pleasant surprise to be able to unbutton in the barn while working and to take off gloves and check for drafts, and to see my lambs just running around playing, not even aware other then the metal banging from the wind that the world outside was nasty..

It is bright and sunny this morning so that is nice but would not want to be anyone out working in it, and will be looking forward to when it warms up again, guess March is coming in like a lion, so lets hope it goes out like a lamb :)

A winter Pineridge Vaskur with wind blowing on him.

Barks

We have a big! vistor this morning and the dogs went nuts!!

Hey Folks

Can you guess what it was that decided to wonder into our farm???
Hints: Big, Brown with long.... Legs..

Did you guess Moose? That's right, we had a very big female moose decided to come though, and the dogs went nuts.. and of course she took off as soon as she heard them, so I don't have a photo for you, sorry.. but it was still very cool..

We often get Deer moving though our fields but that is the first time I have seen a moose here, I see the moose signs on the road but while Jason has seen two by the roads, I have not been lucky enough till today.

Barks Val

Busy Icelandics, weekends are so much fun

Hello Folks

Well, its been a lovely and busy Saturday, up early and out with the dogs this morning, then into town for some shopping, and then off to the city for some more shopping, we got all the needed supplies for making new training weave poles sets for the Icelandics, I have a set for outside, but needed a set built for work indoor that would fit nicely in my living room.

It is a very nice day today, only minus four to six, so we went we got home, we did more snow shoveling and had the group out with us for another long run while we did outside chores, and tonights goal is to build the new weaves, so will have to take a photo when we are done and using them.

A lovely new photo of Greenstone Ada just hanging out in the snow behind the barn today, she was sure enjoying the warmer weather, the snow and the huge fields to run in, the bounding though the snow gives the dogs a nice work out..

Barks

Let the Sun Shine today.

Hello Folks

Well, its a bright sunny morning and has at this time warmed up, being only minus 14 so have had the dogs out for a big long run this morning to burn off some of that energy that they had from a couple days mainly inside..

Lots of Grooming yesterday, everyone looks so sweet this morning, got eggs on to hard boil for the dogs breakfast.

A lovely new photos of Greenstone Sharp Dressed Man, he is sure growing well, and looks wonderful.

Not much else new, planning on working outdoor and having the dogs out as much as possable while the weather and sun holds today, and then once I am house bound, I am going to transplain my seedlings into the next size growing pot for my Tomato's, Green Peppers, Ground Cherries.

Barks

Icelandic Sheepdogs love their Snow!

Hello Folks,

What a cold brisk morning, and what a way to start off, we were up at five am to get Jason off to the airport and while our truck started just fine, the borrowed car that was to drive Jason to the airport, needed a boost, so that was a fun way to start of the morning :)

The dogs seemed just as happy as me to climb back into the warm bed a couple hours later for some extra shut eye, and the bed was covered with dogs, they love it when Jason or myself are sleeping alone, as it means more doggy room on the bed..

So been up and started the day with warm farm fresh eggs on the the breakfast, as I had taken the dogs outside in mass with me to do the morning chores, and where the rabbits, chickens, ducks and sheep/goats happy to see that warm water coming, Even when they still have cold unfrozen available, in winter they come running for the warm water.. Anyway, the dogs were out with me, and when I came in, I really wanted a big cup of hot tea, and figured the dogs would also love something to warm up their breakfast, which was more like we were all having Brunch after our extra sleep in.. hmmmm eggs so good for you..

well that my update so far, Jason gone to alberta for the weekend and the week in Vancouver, so I will be on my own for the week, so back to the single person routine for the farm.

O and for those gardeners like meself, the green pepper seedlings have started and my tomatoes plants are up to starting their third set of leaves coming.. and my ground cherrys and chives are also up and doing well.

Have a great day and barks to you all..

Comments can be sent to
isdpuppies@hotmail.com