Ch Greenstone Ajay -TOP Iceland Sheepdog in Canada 2006 CKC

Hello Folks

I have some wonderful and exciting news

Ch Greenstone Ajay, bred and owned by Valerie Sharp of Greenstone Kennesl goes into the history books today.

He is the first Iceland Sheepdog to earn the CKC Top Dog Awards for the year.

Ch Greenstone Ajay is the TOP Iceland Sheepdog for 2006! The first Icelandic in Canada to ever earn this award!

A huge thank you to his handler, Linda Thompson, we could not have done it without you!

A huge thank you to the breeders of Ajay's parents, Tofra Dalla (Tofra Kennel, Iceland, Monika K) and Pineridge Vaskur (Jill Fike and Norm Fox, Pineridge Kennels B.C.).

A huge thank you to my husband Jason for supporting me in my efforts and for all the times you have gotten up at 4 in the morning to help me load the truck and stayed home to look after the farm so that I can "go to the shows" It means a lot to me!

And last but certainly not least, to all my friends, and family and to all my puppy owners! You are the best! Now I am going to ask that you all hug your dogs! Cuz mine has had lots of extra hugs and kisses today!

Barks Val

Wow! Black Bear just came though! Thank goodness for solid recalls on the dogs!

Hello Folks

Well, Jason and I were out doing night chores with a few dogs out having their turn of a outside run time, the rest of the dogs were outside in the dog yard, and we had all our free range chickens out, as well as sheep/lamps, Goats and Kids out grazing, and suddenly the dogs are started acting up.. I mean, hair up and raising one heck of a noise level..

So we are working at this time on one of our raised garden beds, and I look up to see a black bear crossing our road, he is clipping right along till he gets to the creek bridge and I go, that is Black bear, Jason runs into the house to get the looking glass to see if I am right (I was raised in the bush for years, I know what a bears looks like, and move like.. and sure enough, he stops to look back at us in perfect profile and then crosses the bridge and heads on down the creek bed..

someone in a truck spotted him, because within min there was a couple trucks pulling up to see if they could spot him..Needless to say, thank goodness the dogs recalled on their comes, would not even want to think about what would have happened if they had taken off after the bear, and we have rounded up the chickens and barn critters and everyone is going into lock down tonight with all doors shut.

That is the first Black bear we have seen here, we have seen them in Ontario before, but not in our back yard so to speak..

Use to see tons of the in the north, and the older dogs have seen them before, sometimes a bit closer then Jason and I would have liked. Funny thing is with Black bears the dogs always have major attitude, but the one time we went across the polar bear, it was a whole different thing, the dogs were freaked, no barking at the polar bear tracks, just low deep growls and hair up, and they kept trying to get infront of me and turn me back from following the tracks..

Barks

New Icelandic Art- Ch Belglen Runa of Greenstone

Hello Folks

Well it arrived by UPS today and I just have to share it with you folks, so here is the Pencil Portrait of Belglen Runa of Greenstone. I love this photo, Monika K hubby Runar took this photo of Runa in the hay fields on my little farm when they came to visit the Greenstone Kennel on one of their trips to Canada.

This is also the Picture used for the Dogs Annual for the breed in 2007..

Portrait was done by Kathryn Kirk of Pet Portraits by Kathryn

portraitsbykathryn@yahoo.com

If you would like to have a drawing done off of your favorite photos, please contact Kathryn.

My new Icelandic Art work already has a place of honor picked out on the wall in my living room, I can't wait to get it frame to my colors and on the wall.. it is a 11 by 14..

Barks

Ahhh Fresh snow rubs!! Got to love them

Hello Folks

The dogs are all well, loved this Oppa grunty rubs in the snow so much I just had to snap a photo of it to share.. its to darn funny..

Doggy snow angels LOL

Lovely bright and sunny day, happy dogs sleeping in the sun, and I will catch you all later.

Barks

Greenstone Alaxander The Great-more photos

Hello Folks

Ok, I took the cameria with me on the dogs run/walks this morning, and tried to get a few new ones of Zander, now these are plain jane, causal photos taken in deepish snow and I promise that within half a second of me taking the photo he was on the move again.. I had to put the very cute, leaping right at me, snow nose photo in..

While I might have found it cold, the dogs loved it, anyway, as most of you know, Zander is expecting his first litter of puppies in April! I am very excited , and I know that a number of folks on the waiting lists have asked to see new photos of this lovely med coated black tri boy.

For the show folks, you will have to wait for a proper show stack photo coming in the future no doubt as I will be working to finish him in the next few shows. Zander was shown twice and took Best of Breed once and Best of Opposite Sex once, so he is already got a two point major on him.

Barks

Greenstone Alexander the Great

Hello Folks,

Had some requests to get a new updated photo of Greenstone Alexander the Great up, its an ok photo, and shows that he is starting to mature out at this time.. Better photos soon.. Keep the questions and comments coming and I will always do my best to try and answer them.

Barks

Greenstone Icelandics Trip to Norway to meet ISD's

Hello Folks

Just a few puppy photos of some of the ISD's that I meet on my trip to Norway to pick up Tofra Tobba, and I was lucky enough to have been invited to a number of folks house to meet lots of different Icelandics in Norway.

It was a great trip, I spent a week with Monika and it was filled with Visitings, looking though photos and Video's of Iceland Sheepdog Shows in both Europe and Iceland, and getting to see some of Norway.

Sorry folks, not feeling well so this will have to do.

Barks

Pineridge Vaskur of Greenstone Kennel

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Hello Folks

I am pleased to bring you Pineridge Vaskur of Greenstone, Vaskur is a Long Hair Black Tri, Double Dewclaws in Back, Singles in Front. Vaskur is a Chincilla carrier, and carries a full black mask. Pattern wise, he carries both of the higher levels of the spotting factor. Vaskur has had his Hips Certified HD Free, by Pennhip and by OFA prelims, Vaskur has Five CERF Normals, and has had his heart checked by a Board Certified Cardo vet.

Vaskur has proven his weight in Gold within the Greenstone Kennel Breeding program, he has not only helped improve Hip rates in his offspring, but he is the father to the first CKC Champion Iceland Sheepdog in Canada, and the Father to the first Multi -Group placing CKC Icelandic Sheepdog. He has four more CKC pointed Offspring at this time and we will update as more finish. He has not just one Therapy Dog offspring but in fact has three offspring that either work as therapy dogs or a combo of a service/Therapy dog. He is the father to the first Icelandic Sheepdog in the United States to earn herding titles, and point in fact has three offspring in N.A. with herding titles. Vaskur has both offspring and grandpuppies active in Agility, and we look forward to see how they continue to do in the future.

Now, I know what you are thinking, you are thinking, but he has most likely had lots of litters, well think again, he has only had four litters and out of them, he is father to seventeen puppies at this time, out of three different females.

And if that is not enough, Vaskur himself is a exploration dog, he has traveled the artic of Canada with his favorite Geologist, you will get to see him meeting some local inuit, and hanging out on his twice daily helicopter trips to go out into the tundra, he has ridden in all kinds of boats, helicopters, float planes, Quads and Skidoo's, and then when he comes home, he has been bathed and fluffed and taken to dog shows by his favorite mom :) and done the breed proud, he has been used at breed booths and in schools to introduce a bit of Iceland to the children in the north.

This is well rounded boy, and he is much loved by everyone that meets him.. If you are looking for a stud that comes from two directly imported from Iceland Parents, A stud that has passed all his health checks, and has produced some of the top winning Icelandics in Canada, and has proven himself in temperment time and time again then Vaskur is a Icelandic to look at!!

I will consider using him at stud for approved females at this time. If interested in Vaskur for stud or to get on the waiting list for his next litter, contact me at isdpuppies@hotmail.com

Barks

Iceland Sheepdogs-Table Dogs or Floor Dogs

Hello Folks,

Just a few more photos of the show, it is worth noting that at the Purina Show once again we were encouraged to Table our dogs, given their size, and I will admit that they really do look much better on the table then on the floor.

I am thinking that perhaps we need to see if we can get it as a choice within our breed, when it comes to puppies, an females, they need to be on the table, its when you get to the males, that I go hmmmmm.. So I can't help but wonder if they would make a much better table breed then floor. I wish that when we were asked by the CKC what we wanted, that we had been able to be in the shows for a couple months or a year but of course that is not the way it works.

I love the first photo on the table ask it shows Freyja's outline very well, and the second one, she may not be in the most perfect stack, but look at that eye contact, and expression despite being a group ring.. she is so happy in the ring, and Iam sure that alot of that is how she has been raised and trained with the clicker and postive training methods.

Barks

Greenstone Black Pearl took Best Puppy in Breed both Saturday and Sunday at the Purina CKC Show

Hello Folks

Greenstone Black Pearl AKA Freyja went to her very first show this weekend, and did wonderful, it was a nice big show, The CISC hosted a Breed Booth in the Breeder Village to promote the breed (more on that in it's own write up) Belglen Roskva AKA Soley with her Folks, Laura and Scott where at the show as well.

The Iceland Sheepdog girls did very well, Soley took Best of Breed both days and went on to show well in group, and to earn her first two CKC Championship points this past weekend.. A huge congrats to UKC Ch Beglen Roskva.

This was Greenstone Black Pearls first show being just over six months of age, and she rocked! In the photo above, Fejya in Puppy Group Seven, with Linda Thompson, my pro handler.

She needs to continue to grow into herself, but her training and love of life shone though in everything she did. To take in a nine plus hour drive each way, two full days of shows. Friday night booth set up, Saturday booth duty, two times in the ring, and we were there saturday from eight in the morning till after 11pm that night, and back again for another full day on Sunday, with two more times in the ring, once in breed and one in puppy group.

I am so proud of Freyja, she was grace under pressure and I can't wait to watch and see her grow up, if you would like to meet her in person, contact me at isdpuppies@hotmail.com and I will let you know what shows Greenstone Icelandics will be at next.

I will be bringing out Greenstone Alaxander the Great with Greenstone Black Pearl in April, two black tri's one med coated full mature male, and one long hair black tri female puppy, should be a knock out in just how attactive they will be in the ring!

Barks

Greenstone Iceland Sheepdog Painting

Hello Folks

Wow, what a great four day weekend and Dog show event, I will get to much more detail but decided to break down the event into parts, so this is one of the thing I had done, was order, a painting done of the the Iceland Sheepdog to be used for promotional items for Greenstone Kennel. It was done in mind to be placed on a Iceland Dark Blue or Black T-Shirt.

I think it turned out great, and can't wait to get it put on a few mugs, T-shirts, bags etc.. for my puppy owners, please let me know if you would like something. The imagine is being shared here but it is copyrighted to Greenstone, so please don't use without permission, thanks.

Barks.

Dock Dogs Seminar coming-Can't wait to see an Icelandic do this!

Hello Folks

For those of you who know me, it will come as no surprise that I am up to trying something new with the Icelandics, there is a huge Dock Dog gathering coming up in Ottawa, there will be four days of events, including two days of seminars and training times available, and then you can choose to try out if you would like..

http://www.dockdogs.com/component/option,com_extcalendar/Itemid,53/extmode,view/extid,186/

I am quite excited, and looking forward greatly to giving it a try, I have a couple choices on who I want to take, but I am leaning towards Vaskur, he will chase a throw kong into a lake in a flash, but the only ISD that has learned to jump off a dock so far is Zander, and that was because he broke his stay, and was point in fact trained to go back to the dock and stay there..

Otherwise, it will be a dog that loves water but has never seen a dock before..we will see what we can do.. should be fun in any regards..

Barks

Greenstone Icelandics at the Pat Hastings Seminar in Montreal Fall 2006

Hello Folks,

I was lucky enough to attend two Pat Hastings seminars in 2006, one in the spring in ottawa, and it was amazing, Pat is a wonderful teacher and she helps though her seminar to understand how to breed for and just how important correct structure is within your breeding program.

She had three litters to evaluate in Ottawa, and then of course many older dogs as well, it was a good mix of hands on, to show what you spend the morning learning.

I was thrilled to learn that Pat was coming back to Canada, this time in Montreal and much to my pleasure, I had a litter of Icelandic Puppies at just the right age for them to be a show and tell litter.. So it was wonderful to be able to have Pat do the puppy structure tests on Tofra Tobba's and Pineridge Vakur's litter of three black tri's.

The puppy that was the most structually sound and closest to the Icelandic Breed Standard was Greenstone Black Pearl, see her in the photos with Pat holding her up to show off her outline.

If you ever get the chance to attend a Pat Hastings Seminar, I highly recommend it.. lots to learn, and her books are excellent..

Barks

Over View of the Greenstone Icelandics Showing Year 2006

Hello Folks

I have been asked lately about a total overview for how the Greenstone Icelandic Sheepdogs did in the CKC show world for 2006.. So here you go :)

In total we showed seven dogs either owned or breed by Greenstone Kennels.

In total we showed at 24 CKC Shows, We finished two Championships, pointed many others. We had 24 Best of Breeds, 17 Best of Opposite Sex, and 15 Reserve Best of Opposite Sex.

In total at those 24 Shows, the Seven Greenstone Icealandics, Folda, Tofra Dalla, Tofra Tobba, Belglen Runa of Greenstone, Greenstone Ada, Greenstone Alexander the Great, and Greenstone AJay, was entered thoughout the year, and in total we entered 48 times between these 24 shows. That means that at most show's we had multiply Icelandics each day.. We normally try and show three or more of our wonderful Icelandics each day.

Thanks to hubby for pointing out that I had not added in the Brockville show, and for helping to crunch the numbers for me, which we both did until we got to the same numbers :)

Greenstone AJay placed in Group Seven, Three times, Two Group thirds, One Group Fourth.

Greenstone AJay was shown at Ten CKC Shows, he finished his Championship in one weekend, which included his first Group win, he went on to earn to more Group placements, the first Group placements for the breed in Canada. AJay was Best of Breed at every Show that he was entered in.

AJay did Greenstone Kennels Proud in the show ring, we look forward to using him for stud (please inquire if you are interested, he is available to approved Females) and we are now working him in other Doggy Sports, including Agility.

Ajay littermate sister Ada is planned to have a litter in 2007, she is CKC pointed (six), including one major, and we hope to finish her before a later summer breeding. If you would like to get on Ada's litters waiting list, I would highly recommend sooner then Later :). Most of our puppies are pre-reserved before born.

Contact me at isdpuppies@hotmail.com and I will be happy to send you a copy of my puppy application.

We are greatly looking forward to 2007, we have plans for around 30 CKC Shows, 4 CFC Shows and 4 UKC Shows this year. The highlight of the year will be the Canadian Icelandic Sheepdog Club gathering in Calgary Alberta for the AKC Show in August 2007. We will be flying out with our very best ISD's and are greatly looking forward to meeting friends from all over Western Canada (Belglen, Pineridge) Visiting with Eastern Friends (Sundogs in Ontario) as well as the different folks coming up from the United States. This should be a amazing show! I will be taking video and tons of photos at this event.

Have a great sunday.

Barks

Exercise is important for your Iceland Sheepdog

Hello Folks

I often have folks ask me how much exercise the Icelandic Sheepdog need? I normally reply that they need at least 30 min of some kind of Exercise twice a day.. this can include walks, playing ball in the back yard, going to the dog park to run with other dogs, swimming in the pool, lake or river depending (a article coming on Icelandics and water soon).

For my own dogs, I try and take them out for at least two "free" runs daily in the fields, and then they get about an hour or two playing at will in the dog yards, and or in the living room, up and down on the sofa, and lots of foot and mouth play.

It is important for the health of your puppy that you do not force any excerise on them, they should have lots of free play time, but try hard not to take them on long walks or hikes where they "have" to walk back.. if the puppy is truly tired better to pack him or her out then force a tired pup to do that walk back, which is why I recommend free play time in the yard, have puppy parties with friends with other dogs, or a local dog park etc.

Once they are older, they still sometimes don't understand how long you are planning on hiking or walking etc, so in that case, I normally recommend they start out on leash, and then once they understand we are going for the day or afternoon, I will let them off leash, and they will then pace themselves.

Its a good idea to pack water for your dogs and makes sure they get lots of chances to have a drink on the walk, in the summer its worth keep a close eye on their overall condition and body temp, you certainly don't want them to get overheated and with those lovely double coats, it can happen, In the summer I tend to do most of my runs early morning or later evening, the dogs as always are willing to do with you anytime, so its up to your as the pack leader to inforce the rules :)

A new photo of Greenstone Born in a Storm and Pineridge Vaskur hanging out with me on a run this week..

Barks

Greenstone Black Pearl is going to the shows!

Hello Folks

Well I am very pleased to confirm that Freyja is going to her first CKC show, she is booked for the Purina Show, of course in puppy class, and Scott and Laura will be there with Soley in adult class. So it will be two little females out dazzling the crowds. Saturday is a Black Tie Event, and I already have my evening wear picked out, and to show off my very glossy black tri Icelandic Sheepdog Puppy, I am going to be wearing a deep red outfit. Just heard on the show lists that we will have around 700 dogs per day for the show, so that is great. I am very excited to see what my friends in the dog world think of my newest little girl.

The dogs are all doing well, its warmed up a bit so that is very nice, for all of us. We have been training lots in the house, I asked and Jason was kind enough to build me a new Agility table that is the low kind, so I can work all the dogs on it, including Freyja who is not doing any kind of jumping yet, other then what comes natural :)

We have also been working on weave poles a great deal and they are coming along very well.

See Greenstone Ada (pointed) in the photo above taking Best Female and Best of Opposite Sex last spring, can't wait to see her out in the show ring this year, she has matured out so much and is looking every so sweet.

Barks

Greenstone Black Pearl

Hello Folks

Well, Freyja is six months old so it was time to get some new stack photos of her, I try and take photos of my own dogs as they grow out every month, so that I can see how the lines develop and mature out. This helps me greatly in each new generation or in related litters. Frejya is going though a growth sput right now, but overall her balance is lovely, her head and profile are developing just the way I had hoped, what a very pretty up and coming show Icelandic Sheepdog puppy. These was natural stacking on the table, I tried hard to not do much hand stacking as I wanted it to reflect where she was that day. Hope you enjoyed seeing how she is looking at this moment in time.. Can't wait to see what she looks like at a year or two years or five..

Barks

Greenstone Black Pearl a Icelandic Sheepdog Puppy

Frayja, or nickmane Fraa Fraa. I was asked, who is Freyja and so my answer is, lets see, she is daughter to Tofra Tobba, AKA, Oppa, or Oppawoppa and Pineridge Vaskur, Aka, VaskerWasker :) LOL

She is a lovely long Hair Black Tri female puppy, she was the best in structure, type and temperment in her litter and so she has stayed, as her mother is now spayed and removed from the breeding program, her main job now, snuggle on the bed, main trick, wag her tail and give kisses.. Point in fact Oppa appear to be loving being spayed, she is like a little pup again, all happy and running all over the place, I have never seen her this trim, she looks great, other then being naked of coat at this time, between having her litter and the drugs needed for her surgery and teeth cleaning, she still needs to get her coat back in.

So here is a cute photo of Freyja on the grooming table at twelve weeks, I will get more recent one up soon.

Barks Valerie

CERF Results

Hello Folks,

Well off to see the CERF vet this afternoon, picked up Jason after lunch and off we went to the vets.. its was a minor rodeo to get all the drops in eyes, and paperwork filled out and dogs in and out :)

So once again, was very pleased to see that my breeding dogs, both now and up and coming all have CERF normals.

Born in a storm, had a note on his eight Week CERF and we were not sure what it meant at the time, so even though he is altered, and not in a breeding program, I still felt it was very important to get his CERF done to see if anything was still there or not. Results is listed below. Both of Bjorns parents have CERF normals, in the case of his mother, four CERF normals.


Tofra Tobba Traustadottir- Normal
Pineridge Vaskur- Normal
Tofra Dalla Hektorsdottir-Normal
Folda-Normal
Greenstone Ajay-Normal
Greenstone Ada-Normal
Greenstone Alaxander the Great-Normal
Greenstone Born in a Storm- Normal right eye, Left eye Retinal dysplasia/retinopathy-geographic
Belglen Runa of Greenstone-Normal

Barks

Icelandic Sheepdogs - Kingston Dog Show Booked

Hello Folks

The Greenstone Icelandics are booked for the coming Kingston Dog Show, June 16, 17, 18th. Shows to be at the Rideau Acres Campground and Resort.

Greenstone Ajay, Greenstone Ada and Belglen Runa of Greenstone will be there, Scott and Laura are bringing Belglen Roskva up from Toronto for the show as well.

Friday -Mrs K Guimond-Sask
Saturday-Mr T Nesbitt-On
Sunday- Mr W Pinsher-NB

I will be interested to see what the different judges from across Canada think of the dogs..

Updates as always to follow.

Barks