I hope this Blog proves to be both fun and educational for anyone interested in Showing and/or Breeding Dogs. Spend some time with us and you will really understand the time and effort and emotions that goes into this hobby. Join me here for the good times and bad times, the joys and sorrows, the wins and losses. Welcome to life at Vista Dei!

Weee sez - Derrick, you look behind  the couch and I will look under these cushions here... no no.. don't see 'um.. look in the bathroom then, when the big white thing flushes stuff disappears down there maybe THAT is what happened!?!  No, that is too tall, Hairy could have not gotten up into there.  Maybe we lefts him outside? noooo maybe he is in the kitchen behind the fridge??

P.Bess sez- Oh you two are still looking for Hairy?  He didn't get lost, he went to his new home!  I heard Miz Crystal taken' him to meet his new parents a couple days ago, and he got a new name to!  Weee, I hear you are going to go meet your new mom next week, and I heard YOU have a new name too!

Weee sez - oh oh oh.. is my new mom that nice lady who came and visited and hugged me alot?

P.Bess - yup yup, she said you could adopt her and come live with her and another sheltie!

Weee- what's my new name??

P. Bess - I am not going to tell you that yet, we will wait till your mom comes and gets you, but I WILL tell you Hairy's new name.. He is now called Rooney and he went to live with a nice man named Bud and his family, and he is gonna live in another state, West Virginia.. you want to see a picture of him going home?

Here it is Rooney with his new family!

Posted by: Vistadei at 08:10 | link | comments (2)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Now remember, not more than a couple bites of Turkey for your dogs, too much is not good for them, as it has a chemical in the meat that causes people to get sleepy after dinner and can cause problems for your dogs since they weigh less than you (we hope)! Onions and garlic are no-no's too! Don't feed them the skin from the turkey it is too fatty, and noooo chocolate.  Pumpkin pie is great tho and doggies will love some!  Enjoy  your family and friends and all your fur-buddies too. Happy holiday!

Posted by: Vistadei at 11:28 | link | comments (5)

Today the puppies got their toenails cut, their feet hair trimmed, brushed, ears put into place, weighed and wormed again.  This will be the last week that we chart them by weight, after this only their height will be tracked and charted.  Sooooo looking all grown up with their new "hair-do"... it's:

Puppy #1 - "Weeee" Our little "zoomie" weighing 2pounds 13 ounces

Puppy #2 - "Hairy" the guy with the huge coat and heart to match weighing 3 pounds 8 ounces

Puppy #3 - "Derrick" who hopes to be handled in some puppy matches this spring by SF's daughter! (just checking to see if you are really reading or just looking at the pictures!) Weighing 3 pounds 10 ounces

Puppy #4 - P. Bess who is relieved that she doesn't have to get weighed anymore! Currently a not so slim 5pounds 8 ounces..

Posted by: Vistadei at 18:31 | link | comments (6)

Puppy #2 (HAIRY)sez - ohhhhh Big things ARE happing around here!  Yesterday, Miz Crystal tore down our welping box!!  She said we have the honor and de-stink-shun of being the only litter to not shred the liner sides of our welping box.. not hardly a tooth mark on them!

Puppy #4 (BESS) sez - de-stink-shun?  I been telling you boys you are stink'n every time you poo!

Puppy #3 (DERRICK)sez- after the welping box was taken down, she put up 4 travel crates in it's place, and that is where we all were sleepin last night.  Each of us had to sleep in a separate crate, with a toy and a fuzzy warm blanket.  I was soooooo scared and lonely for the rest of you.  I cried the MOST, but I fell asleep after a while and it wasn't so bad.  Sure am glad to see you guys this morning.  Thought maybe I would never see you again.. sniff sniff sniff

Puppy #1 (WEEEE) sez- I kinda liked the crate myself.. we all got our dinner in there, and for the first time in my life I could eat nice and slow and not worry about the fat witch eating 3/4 of the bowl of  food!  yumm yummm I ate it all up, but #3 didn't finish his he was too busy crying like a baby.

BESS sez - Stop calling me names, I am P. Bess and you KNOW it, my name is not "fat witch"  and at least me and #3 held our poopie all night and waited till we were put out this morning to go potty.  You and #2 have the de-stink-shun of having an accident! 

HAIRY sez- I tried really hard to hold it, but.. well.. I will do better tomarrow night maybe!!  We are just too little to hold our potty for so long, but we are learning!

WEEEE sez- did you notice we don't have numbers anymore? These are the love names Miz Crystal calls us, they are probably not the names we will get in our new families for the rest of our lives, but Miz Crystal gets tired of calling us by number when we gets bigger, so this is what we are called. WEEEE, HAIRY, DERRICK and P. BESS

BESS sez- I hear Miz Crystal is gonna get new glue and glue our ears tomarrow too!

DERRICK - Oh nooo my ears are staying on my head just fine, they have never fallen off, why do they need glued?

BESS- They aren't glued onto our heads cause they are loose, they are glued into a nice tipped shape so they start to be right where they should be and not hang down or stick straight up.  Gives us a nice sheltie expression if it is done right and done till we are about 7 months old.  That is a long time, we will look like little girls with our hair put up in curlers by this time tomarrow.. then wait till you hear the names I am gonna call YOU GUYS!!!

Group of boys - ooooohhhhhh NOOOOOOO one more thing for her to pick on us about! ooohhh noooo...

Posted by: Vistadei at 08:43 | link | comments

Puppy #1 sez- there be LOTS of changes goin' on here at Vista Dei this week!!  We will tell you about them soon, think it has sumten to do with us turning 8 weeks old, but I am not sure.. in the mean time.. here is a picture of me.  I love playing out side, but it is a little cold, sooo ,

Here is me warming my butt on the mat

Puppy 2 sez - I have been practicing my kisses and wags and cute expressions.. hey BUD.. this one's for you!

 

Puppy #3 sez - Looks like I might be a show doggie - I am practicing my show pose

Puppy #4 sez - To quote the great William Wallace of Scotland "yo lochlan kiss my arse"

 

Posted by: Vistadei at 09:23 | link | comments (2)

Puppy #1 sez - why you think we got put out here in the leafy pen so early this morning?

Puppy #3 sez - I know, I know.. we'z been misbehavin'

Puppy #4 sez - It's not our fault, Miz Crystal's son got some award or sumtin in College (he is going to be an Engineer - you think  that means we get to ride on a train? or maybe not) so anyway, Miz Crystal rushed home from work and right off again to the Penn State Chancellor's Dinner, and left us in an xpen waaayyyyyyy too long yesterday.   When she got home, we had bunches of energy and had thought up all sorts of evil plans!

Puppy #2 sez- Usually I don't like new things, but when Miz Crystal came home last night, she let us loose in the house to play with all the BIG dogs! I sure did like that!  It was fun to bite their feet and watch them jump and run.. herding Shelties is almost as fun as herding sheep, as I understand it!

Puppy #1 sez- Miz Crystal said we was acting like little kids who ate too much sugar on a Saturday morning, we was running and zooming and barking and we got out ALL the toys, and got behind the couch and digged and digged at the carpet, it was lots of fun!

Puppy #3 sez- Well, I had one little glitch in my fun, I saw my mom and went over and had a little milky snack, and that was good, cause it has been a whole day that I had to only eat dog food and not have no milky snacks from my Mom, but THEN.. I saw my dad and I went over and tried to have a milky snack from HIM and I guess maybe I bit too hard cause he yelled really loud and showed me his big white teeth and then went laid up on the couch where I can't get!!  That sucked...

Puppy #4 sez- So since we hadn't got to play all day, Miz Crystal sat up with us till after Midnight and played with us, and we ran and ran till we got really sleepy and started to fall asleep on the floor.  So Miz Crystal put us to bed, but what she didn't know is that we had been sleeping alot the day before when she was TOO BUSY FOR US.. and so this wasn't really like going to bed for the night, this was like.. ohhh a couple hour nap!

Puppy #2 sez- Yup, we slept a little bit, but when Miz Crystal's son left for work at 2:30 in the morning, it woke us up, and then we wasn't tired anymore.

Puppy #1 sez - instead of playing quietly in the welping box and letting Miz Crystal sleep, we decided to form a Chorus line and sing to her...

All the pups - Yeah.. our song went like this.... "AAAAAwwwwwooooooo AAAA woooooo ba blah blah woo woo woo Ohhhhh Please get UP we're sick of being stuck.. AAAA wwooooo AAA wwoooo we'd luv to play with youuuuuu AAAAA wwwwoooo aaaa weeeee I think I have ta peee.. aaaaaa woooo peee uuuuuu my brother did a poooo.. " You want us to keep singing?? Cause about this time Miz Crystal told us to shud up, she couldn't sleep.. but we kept on at it.  So she got up, and put us in the big pen in the living room and gave us a little food, and some new cold water and changed the poopy papers and got us some new toys to play with, and that worked out real good for about 3 and a half seconds then we decided to work on some new lyrics!  "Aaaaawwwoooooo yip yip Yap yap we want to rap awwoooo yip yap, don't need no stinkin nap.. all day all night we sing It sounds so right! "  About this time some of the big dogs joined in from the other room and we made some smok'n harmony, but Miz Crystal couldn't sleep and got up and went to the spare bedroom where she covered her head in pillows and cussed alot.

Puppy #4 sez - Around about 5 am she just was sick of our new band, and told us to break it up and knock it off, but we would only be quiet while she stood there giving us the evil eye, as soon as she tried to go back to bed, we started singing to her again.  Finally she gave up sat on the floor and played with us, like she should have been doing all along!  We got in her pants pocket where there are treats, and bit that fun part of her ankle that makes the noise OOOOWWWWWWW!!!!! it is just like a toy, if you bite that part of Miz Crystal's ankle real hard, she makes squeakie screams, you ought to try it sometime!

So now we find ourselves out in the leafy pen, don't know if Miz Crystal is cleaning our pens or scrubbing the carpet where we did pee, or tryin to sneak a nap before work, but I hope she comes and gets us real soon cause we need to cuddle up together for a little snooze, after all, we've been up all night!

 

Posted by: Vistadei at 08:52 | link | comments (2)

Puppies are having fun in the toy basket this morning, it is raining so they can't go out in the leaves to play but this is good alternative for a rainy day, they are seeing if they can empty the basket and drag the toys away.  They get all fired up when I grab the toy and put it back in the basket.. lots and lots of "grrrrrrrringgg" going on!

Posted by: Vistadei at 08:03 | link | comments

It's Monday.. Pup-date day!!  Puppies are 7 weeks old now, and here they are!

This week, weighing 2 pounds 8 ounces is our little boy, Puppy #1

This is puppy #2 weighing 3 pounds 4 ounces

Puppy #3 (Derrick?)  weighing 3 pounds 6 oz

And at 4 pounds 8 ounces, P. Bessey showing off..

Posted by: Vistadei at 14:20 | link | comments (1)

Hey it is celebration time! Puppies had their first vet visit this morning, and a good going over.. Vet test their reflexes, their eyes, manually feels their knees and hips, heart, teeth, belly buttons.. the whole works!! Everybody got a great report, no defects, A+  yippeee!! they got their first shots, not so yippee for them, but they were good about it.  The only slight glitch was puppy #1 the little guy had 2 "boy bits" when he was checked, then sucked one up for the re-check, so he may play yo-yo with his, oh that might be a reason to have him "fixed" and put him in an agility home, or it might just mean his little bits are LITTLE bits and need to grow some more... hmmmmmmmmm  Well anyway we are all happy that is done, I guess I always hold my breath alittle till Doc gives his stamp of approval. Yipppeeee!!!

Posted by: Vistadei at 12:35 | link | comments (2)

We had a lovely day yesterday at the CPE (Canine Performance Events) agility trials at Four Seasons K-9 Athletic center in OH, where Darby got a qualifying leg in Standard with a Second place score, and a qualifying leg in Jumpers with a Second place score.  Spent the day with Dave and Drifter, who had a qualifying score in both Standard and Jumpers with a first place and a fourth place score.  We worked the rings, I was the timer for many of the runs, and Dave was the scribe, it was fun to watch the various dogs and handlers run through the day. Once again Cindy Nolan was doing the photography and got a truely unique set of action shots of Drifter as he collected for a jump, crossed the jump and landed (oh for a $2,000 camera, eh?)  I bought the series of shots, as it truely showed the structure and athletic movement of a fast - hard running dog broken into a set of split second break down shots.  Again, truely unique photos by Cindy, can't wait to get them in the mail!

Posted by: Vistadei at 10:41 | link | comments

It is with a sad heart that we recieved the news today of the passing of "Chase" who our lines are founded on, through our ownership of his double grandson "Darby" U-Ch. Sirius Stellar Perfomance CD,RN,NA,NAJ,NAP,NJP,CGC, OV and all of Darby's kids and grand-kids in our program.  Chase earned the Register of Merit honor at the younger age than any other sheltie in history, and the current litter you are following is one of the few in the country left to have a heavy concentration of him in the blood lines. (He contributes 37.5% to the genes found in our current litter) He lived a long life full of fun and honor, passing away at 15 years of age, he was bred by P. Schmitt had been owned by Sharon Pate of Sandance Shelties, then retired to the performance home of Carolyn and Denny Lancaster for the last 8 years, and was working as a therapy dog for the last few years, as well as being an American and Canadian Champion and also earning his Obedience title earlier in life.

All the shelties and owners of Vista Dei Shelties shed a tear and bow in honor to

Am/Can CH Duluta Fist Full of Dollars ROM CD TDI CGC
August 20, 1991 - November 12, 2006

Posted by: Vistadei at 04:13 | link | comments

Note to self: The $25 children's play tunnels bought at Toys Are Us last for the rough play of about 3 litters of puppies.  The $5 tunnel bought at the Dollar store lasts for one week with 4 gentle little puppies playing.  Get what you pay for.. sigh..

Posted by: Vistadei at 11:14 | link | comments

Puppy #3 sez- Oh MY DAWG.. we had the most fun EVER tonight!!!

Puppy #2 sez- yeah.. the most fun I ever had in my whole entire LIFE!!!

Puppy #4 sez - you all have only been alive for less than 7 weeks, that isn't saying too much...

Puppy #2 & #3 - SHUT UP..  let us tell about it!  Well... Miz Crystal came home from work tonight, and she got out a big pen and set it up in the middle of the BIG dog's play yard.. right in a pile of fall leaves!  Then she scooped us all up, stuck us in a laundry basket and carried us outside to the pen.

ZZZZZZZZZZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMM  yip yip yip yip brrrrrrrrrzzzzzzzooommmm (That is #1 flying through the room, he never stops running)

Puppy #3 sez - anyway.. we got to go out in the big pen and there was leaves, and twigs, and rocks, and bugs, and dirt and mud, and more leaves.. and the big dogs and Miz Crystal were playing and running and barking, so we all were playing and running and barking.. it was SOOOO FUN!!

Puppy #2 sez- yeah, I had a great time too.. but who put the "kick me" sign on my back.? that bad bad sister of ours just kept knocking me over and pulling my tail and legs and sitting on my head with her big fat behind!!

Puppy #4 sez - FAT??? WHO YOU CALLING FAT??? why you little..gggrrrrr gggrrrrrr aaagkgkgkgkgkgk

Puppy #2 - YIPE YIPE YIPE.. see she keeps picking on me!!

Puppy #3- yeah, she picks on me too.. life would be so much nicer if it was just us guys with no fat *itch in the pen with us.. ooooohhhhh ooooowwwwwww  RUN!!!!

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzoooooooooooommmmmmmm  yap yap yap yap (#1 again) aaaazzzzzzzzzzzoooommie

Puppy #2 sez - so now we all got worn out and came inside cause it got dark too soon, but we are gonna play there again tomarrow if it is not too cold!!

Puppy #3 sez - I can't WAIT..

Puppy #4 sez -oh oh oh.. look Miz Crystal is bringing us the plate of FOOD.. get yourselves out of my WAY.. it is mine mine mine.. alll mine mine mine!!!

zzzzzzzzoooooommmmmm screatch.... slammm... #1 - coming in for a landing... sliding into home base...

Puppy #3 sez - WAIT WAIT.. DON'T EAT YET!!!  What do we all have to say before we eat???

Group of puppies - ohhhh yeah...  We thank yous Miz Rose for the Dollar off Cupons you send and help to buy us this tastey food, amen...

YUM YUM YUM!!

Posted by: Vistadei at 21:59 | link | comments (1)

Has everyone heard of Free-Style in the doggie world?  Found this great movie clip example of it.  For those of us that teach obedience and agility, note that they are using the moves and hand signals and body language that is taught in obedience to create a showy dance routine with the dog and the woman as dance partners.. ok.. now I know there are some shelties out there that want to jump into THIS sport!

http://www.k9-freestylers.com/carolyn.html

Posted by: Vistadei at 19:50 | link | comments

Puppy #2 - weighing in at a nice safe respectable 2 pounds 12 ounces, and has added a nice bunch of coat this week, this boy should have great lenght to his coat as an adult.

Puppy #3 Also weighing 2 pounds 12 ounces this week, he sure is a cutie pie!

Puppy #4 - A woman never tells her weight but.. at 3 pounds 12 onces, Porkey Bess remains this weeks heavy weight contender.  She has reminded me that 4 pounds is the max for an insize sheltie to weigh at 6 weeks, so she has been running off the extra ounces!

Posted by: Vistadei at 10:30 | link | comments (5)

For those readers who followed our LAST litter the one from Spring 2006, I thought you would be interested in these pictures.  Kiwi came to visit me today and I took a series of pictures of her, she is 6 months old and 13 1/2"  This was puppy #6 in the past litter.

I also got some pictures last week of Stella, who was puppy #4 in the last litter.  Stella has gone a tad over 16" and is going to be spayed, she looks forward to a great life on the farm doing some herding and then trying agility with her mom Kelly. She is playing with one of her dog buddies in this picture!  I have to figure out how to save the other pictures out of the emails, when I do.. I will share them with you!

Posted by: Vistadei at 19:33 | link | comments (2)

And now some "big dog" agility pictures.  These photo's were taken last month on Darby's run that finished his NAP agility title, photos taken by and purchased from Cindy Nolan (she sure can get a good expression on a dog, all my best photo's are taken by Cindy!)

Darby Sez -ewwwwww Mummy it is stinky in this chute!

Crystal sez - GO TOUCH! goood boy!!!

YIPPPPPEEEEEE another ribbon another title!!! Nothing better than the finish line after a good run!

 

Also for those who are serious about agility, please note to the left under "links" I have added a link to www.agilitynerd.com which is one of the best agility blogs on the web, full of techincal agility info, not just a brief over-view.

Posted by: Vistadei at 09:22 | link | comments (1)

Puppies got to explore the bigger pen in the livingroom today.  I always like to set them up with some mini agility equipment to challenge their bodies and minds.  I found small tunnels this year at the dollar store for only $5 each.. hahahha guess that should be at the Five dollar store.  Anyway, I gave them a little table to climb on and hide under.  Here are some pictures.  I was really proud of puppy #2, he was the first one to go inside the tunnel and have fun with it.  His personality is really blooming.  I took #1 and #4 to the nursing home last night to visit my aunt, she said that #1 should be "ours" hahahahha

Puppy #2 is first in the tunnel

Puppy #1 sez - hey guys stop playing in the water.. ohhh is that PEE on the papers!?!?!

Puppy# 2 sez - hey.. this is fun fun fun!

Puppy #3 sez - that wan't ME.. I didn't do it!!

Puppy #4 sez - mmmfffngnnnffffff mmmmmmmfffffffggggggffff

Posted by: Vistadei at 08:46 | link | comments (1)