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.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
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.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
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.
Posts: 4077 | Registered: Jun 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Megan, very close! Australian Shepherd, which is a complete misnomer because the breed was developed in America.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
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.
Posts: 4077 | Registered: Jun 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
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.
Posts: 5362 | Registered: Apr 2004
| IP: Logged |
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. Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
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.
Posts: 3037 | Registered: Jan 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
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.
Posts: 5362 | Registered: Apr 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Awww! I especially like the last picture, where they're sitting next to each other and looking up. Too cute!!
Posts: 7877 | Registered: Feb 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Woa! Architraz Warden, your doggy looks like Lord Darcia from "Wolf's Rain" in his wolf form! At least the eyes.
Posts: 4953 | Registered: Jan 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
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.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
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.
Posts: 148 | Registered: Feb 2000
| IP: Logged |
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.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
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.
Posts: 1368 | Registered: Sep 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
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.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
| IP: Logged |
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?
Posts: 747 | Registered: Aug 2004
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
