excelbc

Today, (3/24), Smart is 12 weeks old! Where did the time go? Seriously? Smarty is still a little thing and can and does walk under QDP and take full advantage to her size.

My mom came by yesterday and took some pics of the girls. I really wanted group pics of the four girls as I hadn't done any. When Power was a baby, I took near weekly group pics. But it does seem like going from three to four has made group pics with a puppy with minimal stay nearly impossible. It also doesn't help that Smart is just like Driven, so as soon as Smart breaks, Driven takes off after her.

Pics are at: http://www.dogsportphotos.com/Dogs/DrivenDogs/Four-girls

We will be retaking the pics again when the lighting is better.

As for AKC Nationals, I will be leaving tomorrow (Thursday) for Tulsa, Oklahoma. I'm really looking forward to it. Driven is still a little out of shape, but she is running well. I'm really not sure what to expect from her. She is really being easy to handle for Driven, I just don't know if the turbo charged button is ready. Quick will be competing in P16". I'm really excited to be running Quick, as I imaging this will be her last AKC Nationals. Quick will be 11 years old in June. She is doing awesome. We'll have to see what things hold for us in Tulsa.

Power and Smart are staying home. Power is staying home with her daddy and Smart is going to Aunt Becky's.

Pics:


Driven, Power, Quick, Smart


Driven, Smart, Quick, Power


Quick, Smart, Driven, Power


Driven (front), Smart (back)
If you ever wonder where the genetic came from for all the springiness...


Quick and Power are the GOOD mama and baby, Driven and Smart are the BAD mama and baby


Princess Smart


Smart and mama Driven


Grandma Quickly Moo (nearly 11 y/o)


No one paying attention for the pic... bad girls (-:

Three days of USDAA with four dogs. I'm tired, but had a great time. Weather on Friday and Sunday was lovely, while Saturday rained and was yucky...

This was Driven's first show (honestly, first anything) since having babies. She was running in P16" and thrilled to be able to work. She hasn't been on equipment since the USDAA Nationals in November 2009. I'm just so happy to be back to playing with Driven again.

I was also showing Quick (P16") and Power (22"), and Smart came along to meet the world and hang out!

Cute Smart pics first, then video:


Smarty in her coat (it was cold)


Smart Tugging


Smart Running

Videos...


Power won the 22" Grand Prix


Contact Point's News Flash (Brinkley) and I in 22" Grand Prix placing second. Brinkley is a Holman's Nell x Eyespy The Flash. His owner was feeling sick and asked me to run him.


Power won the 22" Steeplechase


Driven won the P16" Steeplechase

In addition to fun runs, Smart's littermates, Motion and Fireball, were also at the show. The babies got to have lots of fun puppy play time (thanks Teri). They had a blast playing!

Smart is 8 weeks old today. All of her siblings are gone to their new homes and doing great. New pics of the pups and their owners are now up on my website: http://excelbordercollies.com/puppies.html

Smart went to visit my mom's sheepies on 2/19 (when Cindy was visiting to pick up Roux). Below is Smart's first herding adventure!!!! I honestly figured I would just be running around like a spaz with her in the sheep pen and she wouldn't do anything. It's amazing how genetics kick in!




I have also started working on tugging with a release word and offering a behavior this week. This is one of her first sessions.



Smart is still a pint sized little thing. I bought her some cute little toys at the store and found myself buying the SMALLEST plush toys they had. Also, they had a chihuahua adoption day going on at the pet store and I swear that 95% of the chihuahuas were bigger than Smart! Poor Smarty.

Here are a couple of pics of Smart from the other day...


Smart


Smarty

On the whole, Smart has been my easiest puppy EVER. She's yet to potty in the house (since the siblings went home) and she is SUPER great in her crate. She really doesn't fuss much at all. She is sleeping for 8 hours or so at night. This morning I had to wake her up at 4am to go outside to go potty. Good girl. She is also super easy in the house. I have the living room and bedroom blocked off, but she has full access to the rest of the house and is perfect. She plays with QDP and follows me from room to room.

Right now, she is sleeping directly below my computer chair like a little angel. Good puppy.

(After writing that I decided it needed pics...)


This is of Power (L) and Quick (R) and Smart (under the chair)


Smart looking unhappy that I woke her up

BTW- Her ears are nuts. I've never had a dog with "up" ears...

This morning Split (now Roux) left to go home with mama Cindy to NC. Now Smarty is all alone (except for Mama Driven, Aunt Power, and Grandma Quick). Smart is sad there is no one her size )-:

Before I took Cindy and Roux to the airport, Smart and Roux had one last romp in the agility field.

I will try and get pics of Smart with QDP tomorrow (good luck to me).


Roux looking super cute


Roux going for the tug


Roux Running


Roux chasing Smart


Roux and Smart Tugging


Smart


Smart's Profile


Smart Tugging

So, two more pups left today (Dot and Red Traditional) and Split will be leaving tomorrow. Tonight, Cindy (Split's new mom), is spending the night and heading out tomorrow.

While she was here, we decided to go visit my mom's place so she could meet Mike (Fly and Power's dad). Cindy and hubby Andy own Power's littermate Fly. While out at my mom's we decided we'd let the puppies check out sheepies! Smart LOVES SHEEPIES! Split likes sheepies and had a blast. It was amazing that Smart wanted to herd them at less than 8 weeks. Instinct is crazy. I'll try and get the video up soon too.

Pics from today:


Dot (now Kilo) and new mama Helen from OH


Red Traditional (now Fireball) and mama Laura from CA


Split (now Roux) and mama Cindy from NC


Fireball Tugging


Roux and Cindy, and Smart and Kate in Fillmore


Smart and sheepies


Smart and sheepies again


Roux, Kate, and sheepies

I updated their personal pics on the excelbc website: http://excelbordercollies.com/puppies.html

I will update the www.excelbordercollies.com website with the newest personal pics and new owners in a couple days.

The babies are starting to head off to their new homes! I had two leave today (No Blaze and Thin Blaze).

No Blaze went to Jeannie in NJ and Thin Blaze (Motion) went to Teri in CA

Since No Blaze let this morning, I didn't have a chance to get pics of him playing in the field... So, the pics below are of the remaining boys and Smart.

I'm still having computer issues (trying to transfer old data to the new computer... So, lots of picture delays... I also accidentally switched my camera from Automatic Focus to Manual Focus... DUH! I couldn't figure out what was wrong with my pics and camera... Fixed now.

But here are some pics from today!


No Blaze with new Mom, Jeannie


Boys Tugging


Motion


Red Traditional


Smart and Dot (Smart looking exceptionally small)


Split taking a flying leap off the baby aframe...


Motion Tugging


Red Traditional Tugging


Split laying with the tug


Little Smartest


Smart

Wow... I can't believe they are 6 weeks old today! AND I'm still alive! Yay! The amount of poop is really special, but other than that, they are awesome little monsters!

Also important... My computer is DEAD. It died last Wednesday. So there have been no picture updates, webcam, etc. I'm soooo sorry. I ordered a computer LAST Thursday (with 2nd day shipping) and it arrived yesterday (Tuesday), only to be defective! I returned it and reordered a new computer, which should be arriving tomorrow or Friday. It better work or someone might die.

Right now I'm using my boyfriend's computer. This computer hates me and tends to freeze anytime I try and do anything. So, only limited computer usage.

I took some 6 week old pics today. Since I'm using Jason's computer, I won't be able to edit the pics until my new computer comes, so I'm going to just post a few pics as is.

They were being sure cute! They mostly just want to sit on my lap and maul me, but they finally get sick of me and decide to run around some. Today, they also decided it might be fun to do the Dog Walk. OMG. I was across the field taking some cute pics and looked up to No Blaze nearing the top of the up ramp. I darted across the field and got him down before he could realize what he was doing. What amazes me is that they totally are on a mission when they go on the DW. Smart got on it earlier in the week too. They just take off. It's nuts.

Okay... Pics:


Dot in front (Red Tradition and Split in back)


Thin Blaze (now Motion)


Red Traditional


Split and No Blaze


Smart


Split (he just cracks me up when he runs...lol)


Dot


No Blaze


Smart


Smart

Until I can edit pics, all of the pics will be posted at my mom's smugmug site: http://www.dogsportphotos.com/Dogs/DrivenDogs/Driven-X-Flash-02102010

Wow. When did they turn into dogs? They were SOOOO cute today with their first "outside adventure"!

I put on a three-day show over the weekend and was totally swamped last week (hence no updates) and today was my first available day. So, I decided, why not introduce them to the world of grass! I loaded everyone into their crate and toted the 6 monsters and QDP out to my agility field. (My field is about 120 by 80 and totally fenced for maximum puppy adventure!)

Everyone was great on their first outside adventure. They were little nuts! I brought toys outside, but mostly Quick and Power ran around with the toys...

Individual pics are at http://excelbordercollies.com/puppies.html

Here are some highlights:


All Pups in a pile


Dot and Split running


Driven with Pups (Power in back)


Driven and Smart in profile (other pups nursing)


(L to R) Dot, Smart, and Split in back


(L to R) Traditional, Dot, No Blaze, Split


Grandma Quick and Smart


I do still have one or two boys available from this litter. Please email me for more info: info@drivendogs.com

Puppies were being super cute in their box!

I think it is soo funny how the puppies are sleeping on the railing. I have caught everyone doing it at one time or another. I have the girl sleeping on the railing in these pics. Guess they have good balance!





Also happening last week, the big puppies can escape the box! I now have to keep the door closed all of the time or I find puppies wondering around my house (-:  I had the door down for a bit and took these pics. I think it's funny you can kind of tell their size by how much of them you can see...


(L to R) Split, Girl (now Smart), and Dot


(L to R) Split and Dot


(L to R) Traditional and Smart


Thin Blaze


Split... Totally Relaxed...lol

I took new individual pics of everyone. They are getting seriously cute!

Pics are at: www.excelbordercollies.com/puppies



My little girly!