Sheldray Shetland Sheepdogs

Jacko arrived a few days ago, following a change in his family circumstances.  He was intially very  aggressive, and fearful, but within a few hours had began to settle down, even trying to boss my own shelties around!  Fortunately my 3 are very tolerant, and although there has been a bit of tension in the air on the odd occasion, the 4 have settled together, and Jacko knows his place in the pack and is behaving much better.

Check out my rescue and rehoming page for photos of Jacko!

Thursday 29th October will be a day i shall never forget.  I took Flowie and Rocky to my friends to be looked after while i moved house on the 30th.  Unfortunately within 3 hours of me leaving the dogs with Jackie, Rocky had slipped his collar and run off into very rural open countryside.  By the time i had driven to where he was last seen it was already dark, and after 3 hours of fruitless searching and calling, i made a very tough decision to return home, as i was  moving house the following day.  That night was dreadful, not knowing if Rocky was dead or alive, or even where he was. 

While all this was going on, an army of sheltie friends and well wishers had printed off posters, Dog Lost were advertising him as missing, radio appeals for information had been made, and i had received countless calls and texts from people offering help and support to find him.

On the morning of Friday 30th, having loaded up the removals van and arrived at my new house, i had a phone call to say Rocky had been sighted!  I dropped everything and raced over the area where he had been seen, leaving my family to unload the lorries/cars!!!    By the time i had arrived, Rocky had been caught, but his captor had been badly bitten by him in the process!!   Rocky was extremely dirty, covered in thorns and thistles, and very frightened but pleased to see me!  I brought him back to the new house, which was obviously very confusing for him, and for a couple of days he was very distant with me, and even a bit nippy!   

Happily, he has now settled down, is very loving and happy to be home, and is eating everything i put in front of him (previously he had been very fussy!!)

A big thank you to everyone who helped, sent their best wishes/kind words and prayers for his safe return, i cant thank all those people enough.

I have just had a 6 month old sable dog puppy come to me for rehoming.  Unfortunately his owner passed away and his family were unable to keep him.  He spent several days here with me and my shelties, and we have found him the most wonderful new home with a lovely retired couple.  Sam now has a lovely big garden to romp around in, and a cosy basket next to his new mums bed to sleep in.  See Sams pictures in the photo gallery!!!

Just had a text from Eleanor, Smokie (Rockys full brother) has just had his third win at Grade 6, and is now Grade 7!!

Well done Eleanor and Smokie, you are fabulous team, and we are very very proud of you both. 

What a hot and sticky weekend this was!!!

Leo had already qualified for the Medium Burgess Team Final on Saturday 10 July, with our team mates Peter Harrison Jones and Foxy, Gwen Cage and Louie and Cerri (sorry Cerri i forgot your surname) and Neela.  It was terribly hot that evening, and despite the crowd cheering us all on, and me begging Leo to run faster, we scraped 3rd place in the final.  No shame there at all, but Leo was so hot, if he could have just run a bit faster perhaps we could have made 2nd,.  Congratulations to Sue Hollobones team for winning!

Rocky has continued to get placings, a couple of seconds and thirds in his classes this weekend, still having a few teething problems with my handling, he is so much faster than Leo, i am frightened of "letting him go" and to trust him. 

We had a long drive down from Suffolk to Blewbury for the Sheltie Agility Show.  I dont normally go this far afield for Agility shows but this is special as it is only Shelties, and i like to support the Working Section by entering!

This was Leo and Rockys first show this season, and although we didnt set the world on fire, both boys did their best.   To my utter delight, Rocky achieved his first ever CLEAR ROUND in the  G1-7 Helter Skelter and came a very respectable 5th and Leo came 7th in G1-4 Combined Jumping. A friend of mine did video both boys doing their runs, and if Rocky hadnt stopped to bark at one of the spectators  at the side of the ring, wasting a couple of seconds in the process,  he would more than likely have come further up the placings!

We are now looking forward to the rest of the season, and hoping for more placings, and who knows, maybe Grade 4 this year?

Crikey how time flies, and i havnt updated the site for months!

News of Flowies last litter still comes in occasionally, they are all doing very well, and have settled in their new homes and are all much loved. 

Rockys training continues to go well, although he isnt so great at weaving still, he just gets so excited he cant contain himself!  Leo is just Leo, and sadly will never be fast or furious and im now beginning to think if its time to put him in the fun classes rather that pitch him up against the faster younger dogs when in my heart i know he doesnt really enjoy it that much anymore.

The agility season is already in full swing, although our first show isnt for another 3 weeks , fingers crossed there will be some good results to post.

Its been a quiet couple of months since the puppies went to their new homes.  Sox, Blaze, Mia, Bengi and Misty have all settled down well at their new homes and im getting regular photos and updates from them all, which i appreciate very much.

Rockys agility training is going well, having a keen fast dog makes such a difference! Although i have enjoyed running Leo in competition, Rocky has brought a whole new level of enjoyment to my hobby, and im very much looking forward to the 2010 season!

Last weekend brought me my third Rescue case of the year, Willow arrived late one evening having been signed over into my care.  She was initially very skittish and not wanting to be touched, but she has now been here 3 days, and now she is jumping on my lap, desperate for cuddles, and trying very hard to please and to be loved.  Willow is looking for a very special home and will be staying with me until her new family find her. 

Superstar Smokie (Sheldray Smoke on the Water) with his haul of trohpies and rosettes all won since August 2009 - Less than 2 months!

Our house has been very quiet for the last few days, as the last 2 puppies have now gone to their new homes.  Sox has gone to a home where hopefully he will be learning and eventually competing at Agility, and Blaze has gone to be  a much loved companion to a semi retired man.  Both have gone to local homes so hopefully i will get to see them both occasionally.