Honey and her brother Scooter were born January 1st, 2006. Honey is a Red Tri-Color with blue eyes and Scooter a Black Tri-Color with brown eyes.
Gordon Jensrud of Tamarack is the breeder we purchased them from. We brought Scooter home first. This was the first part of April. Our intentions were to purchase a female but all were spoken for by the time we went to go look at the pups that were left. So, we ended up falling in love with Scooter and bringing him home. Two weeks later, Gordy called and asked if we were interested in the last female. Whoever had spoken for her, never came to get her! Naturally we hurried back to his farm the same day and picked up Honey. All his pups he prefers to place on farms where they will work and be happy.
Scooter became interested in working the cattle first. By the time he was 6 months he was bold and displayed the heeler tendencies. He likes to push the cattle away from us. He has learned to bark and nip from our veteran collie "Buck".
Honey became interested in the cattle when she was pregnant. She has displayed header tendencies and likes to work in front of the cattle and bring them toward us. I have been working with both dogs on obedience commands and to listen for direction. I am very pleased with both of their natural herding abilities.
The boys are bringing both Honey and Scooter to 4-H Obedience this year 2007, and plan to show in the Fair. We bring Baby Girl to class so she becomes accustomed to lots of dogs.
The Venne's who own "Doc" the father of the litter, had the pick of the litter and chose the male red tri-color pup with perfect markings. His name is Ace. We have known the Vennes through our local 4-H club for many years. Both of our kids have been in the Dog Obedience and the Beef Program through our local "Rabbit Lake" 4-H Club.
Right: Honey and Scooter last July when they were about 6 months old. They've lost their fuzzy puppy hair.
December 21st, 2006 - Thursday - Winter Solstice. Honey came into heat for the first time.
December 28th - Thursday - Brewsky our Black Lab became interested in Honey. Honey seemed interested and receptive....hmmmm time to introduce her to "Doc". Quick! Kennel up and keep Brewsky and Honey separated at all times!
December 29th - Friday - Brought Honey over to Venne's and introduced her to "Doc". Honey is very receptive and playful. Doc, being inexperienced takes a bit to figure things out. Successful Mating within the hour!
December 31st - Sunday - Brought Honey over for another breeding. Doc is much more confident and Honey is very excited to see Doc again. 2nd breeding is successful!
January 1st, 2007 - Monday - Brought Honey over for final breeding. 3rd Breeding Successful!
March 2nd, 2007 - Friday night - Puppies are born!
2/17/07 Honey out at the feed bunk. Three more weeks before her due date.
"Doc's" is the sire of the pups. His markings are crisp and bold! Ashley and Taylor Venne show at the Aitkin Fair for 4-H. They bring Doc to Obedience Training every week at the Fairgrounds up until Fair time.
"Doc" -- January 2007 above and below
The puppies were born Friday night 3/2/07. Honey birthed her first puppy at 9:00 p.m. in her kennel out in the porch. Within 15 minutes she had the first male red tri and two female black tri's born. Vennes (the sire's owners) made it just in time to watch the births just as the 3rd one was born. By 11:00 p.m. she had 5 pups. We all watched two more female black tri's being born. We thought she was done. Venne's went home.
At 1:00 a.m. Winchester was up and went out to check cows. He looked in on Honey and there was another one. When I got up at 6:30 a.m. I checked on them, another one was there. She ended up having another male red tri and another male black tri! Whooo Hooo!
Male - Black Tri-color with zig zag white markings on head and neck.
Male - Red Tri-color with blaze and broken white collar. Blaze does not connect to collar. Great markings!
Taylor with Ace ready to go to his new home!
"Ted" - Male - Red Tri-color with white head and neck and brown patch over eye and brown patch over ear. Two blue eyes!
"Carmen" - Female - Black Tri-color white collar that is wide on top and thin around and C-shape blaze on head. Blaze doesn't connect to collar.
Female - Black Tri-color full white collar and full blaze on head. Blaze connects to collar with narrow strip. Picture of Virgil holding Anna Marie to take her to her new home.
Female - Black Tri-color with white face and collar with black patch on ear and black patch on eye. I never was able to get a decent picture of her when she was born. She would never hold still!
Above Picture are the pups at 18 days. To the right they are 20 days old We had to move to a larger kennel. They were wobbling around, barking, growling and playing with each other. What fun!
Ace is the Venne's chosen pup
pick of the litter
Honey and Scooter held by Winchester and Remington. They are about 4 months old here taken a few days after we brought honey home.
Female - Black Tri-color full white collar and full blaze on head. Blaze doesn't connect to collar. Two blue eyes.
Baby Girl has two blue eyes. She was partially blind for almost 6 weeks. At 8 weeks she was seeing better and better every day. We will be keeping her in our family.
Carmen and Ted live right down the road with Manley.
Franny (Anna Marie) lives in Gonvik with Peggy and Virgil Eggert.
Belle (Blue) went to the Guertin family in GrandRapids
Zig Zag(Sport) lives with the Johnson family in Govik.
Pups at 5 weeks visiting in the kitchen with Winchester.
Winchester holding Carmen, Belle (Blue) and Zag (Sport) when they were 6 wks. old.
We moved the pups out to the play house when they were almost 5 weeks old. There was just not enough room for them to romp and play in the kennel we had in the porch. Of course we got a snow storm two days later with single digit temps at night so back in the house they came for a few more days. The play house is perfect ~ we filled it with hay and hung a couple of heat lamps and closed them inside at night. During the day they came in and out to a fenced in area to run around. These puppies have been a delight. We have enjoyed them so much.
The Johnson's sent me this pic of Sport enjoying his new home in Gonvik!
Baby Girl (right picture) June 13th took the ride with us up to Walker when we delivered Zag (Sport) to the Johnsons in Walker.
Update: June 17th ~ All puppys have gone to their new homes. We delivered Zag (Sport) to Walker where we met up with the Johnsons from Gonvik. Sport's new home is a farm with a veteran border collie to show him the ropes and a 13 year old girl to love him up often. The picture below was taken on the ride to Walker.
