Please ignore all the leaves and stuff on their coats, they had just finished a nice romp in the woods behind the house, baths are scheduled for later this afternoon.
Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :
They're so cute. Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
Derrel said it all.
Soooooooooo Cuuuuuuuuuuuute!
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Oh my!!! Puppy envy, big time!
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
You should be envious, they are the most wonderful puppies.
That last picture, see the intense look on their faces? I'm baiting them with treats to get them to be still for the camera. They are so attentive and so smart, absolute delights to train. Much more than just a pretty face.
I'm totally hooked. A breed has finally been able to surpass my love for labradors in my heart.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
I am SO jealous.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
ADORABLE.
Posted by Megan (Member # 5290) on :
Awwww, so sweet!
You've probably said somewhere, and I missed it, but what is their breed? They look kind of Australian cattle dog-ish, but I'm not particularly good at telling breeds.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Megan, very close! Australian Shepherd, which is a complete misnomer because the breed was developed in America.
Posted by Olivetta (Member # 6456) on :
Oooooh! Puppies!
Posted by Megan (Member # 5290) on :
I totally missed your response until the bump.
I'm vaguely familiar with the breed, mostly because they get a lot of comparison with border collies (in terms of intelligence, trainability, etc.), and one of my pups is half border collie (and too darn smart for her own good!).
Anyway, they are precious! If you get the chance, you should do agility training with them. Really smart dogs are sooo much fun to do agility with.
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
Belle, you should contact your local extension office (if it's at all the same in Alabama) to see if there is dog 4-H available in your state, it would be great for your kids and dogs, here it starts in 3rd grade, but mini is kindergartners, you probably are too late for this summer, but by next the kids and dogs would be able to take full advantage of it.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
You know, I didn't even think about 4-H.
Right now I just want basic obedience just to have them be "good canine citizens." You know, sit, stay, heel, come, down, fetch. Agility training would take up too much time and be too expensive for me to pursue. I already have a pretty full plate!
Though they are a pleasant addition to my responsibilities, I must admit. We are very, very happy with them. I was unsure when hubby said he wanted to get a puppy, much less two, because our last attempt to have a family dog didn't work out well and we wound up finding a new home for him when I realized I just didn't have the time to devote to him. This time, I've made the time and made working with them a priority, and I had forgotten how awesome dogs are. They've completely stolen my heart, just like having kids - I now have trouble remembering life without them. Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
They're too adorable!
I don't know how you're doing it. We have 2 dogs, but they're both adults, and I still find it difficult at times. Though, Andrew has pretty much taken over their care now and I get to just play with them.
Posted by Tammy (Member # 4119) on :
They're soooooooooooooooo cute!
Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :
I really think 4-H would be a good option, if you want to look into it, I couldn't find any proof of a dog project in your state though, the website I found annoyed me.
Posted by Architraz Warden (Member # 4285) on :
Well, this and this are what they occasionally look like when they grow up a bit. Incidentally, this is my new roommate, Dee (short for Heidi).
Feyd Baron, DoC
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
Awww! I especially like the last picture, where they're sitting next to each other and looking up. Too cute!!
Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
Woa! Architraz Warden, your doggy looks like Lord Darcia from "Wolf's Rain" in his wolf form! At least the eyes.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Architraz, when we got them from the kennel one of their dogs had one blue and one brown eye. It was very interesting looking. Both my pups have brown eyes, Belle was the only blue merle wihtout blue eyes in the litter, which is why she was still left when we contacted the breeder. He said the blue eyed merles are always more popular.
Posted by Sean (Member # 689) on :
Heh, did anyone else think it was going to make things terribly confusing at home before finally figuring out that Belle's family probably doesn't refer to her as Belle?
I'm up too early this morning, apparently.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Sean, yeah, I know.
They actually don't call me that.
My little girl named the puppy, and I tried to talk her out of it but she wouldn't have it.
Just like my five year old son named Shadow, which wasn't my choice either.
When Abigail was stuck on Belle, we tried to name Shadow Liberty, call her Libby for short. But Daniel wouldn't hear of it.
Posted by Dragon (Member # 3670) on :
They are ADORABLE!
Posted by Architraz Warden (Member # 4285) on :
Belle,
I take it that the breeder is keeping the blue-eyed merles longer to ensure that their eyes will remain blue? Almost all Aussie merles are born with deep midnight blue eyes, but there is very little guarentee they'll still be that way when the puppy hits 4-6 months old. Some will lighten up to a lighter blue, most will change brown, and some will be some mix of the two. My parents' first Aussie had the deepest blue eyes when they got her. Over time they got lighter and lighter until nearly all the pigment was gone and they're left as white (referred to as ghost eyes; neat little backstory there).
And since we're on the topic... twomore blue-eyed merles.
Feyd Baron, DoC
Oh, and there are few things more terminally cute than Aussie puppies. I'm sure Belle (the human one anyways) can attest to this.
Posted by Vána (Member # 6593) on :
They're so cute! I just love puppy pictures.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
Feyd, he gave us literature on Aussies when we got our pups, and it included the warning that eye color isn't fixed until later on. It's just that people seemed to prefer the blue eyed ones.
Yes, they are incredibly cute. And very smart. We just got back from the vet and we had a very good checkup and our second series of shots.
Posted by whiskysunrise (Member # 6819) on :
quote: Over time they got lighter and lighter until nearly all the pigment was gone and they're left as white (referred to as ghost eyes; neat little backstory there).
What is the backstory?
Posted by RackhamsRazor (Member # 5254) on :
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