Alacrity Aussies

01/07/2025

Day 77 . 1-7-25 pups are 11 weeks old! We had a double outing today.

Two locations, lots of opportunities.

It's fascinating to me how they all change, weekly. Sierra found her groove this week, Jasper shines bright and Tulum, well, she just loves everyone so much!!

All the puppies are very social so today we started working a bit on sitting to greet, and me calling them away after a short petting... except with the kids because I am just giddy they love the kids so much!!

I'm settled on my keeper... watch the video to see an announcement about one girl....

And, exciting news coming about Jasper soon!

01/05/2025

20 paws is a lot. I'm waffling on my keeper puppy, so I haven't posted much about them... and good news coming soon... meanwhile, who needs more mud and floof?

01/03/2025

This. Exactly. Erika Holbrook says it better than I could, so im just sharing this here.

https://www.facebook.com/share/19hq6siv4W/

Pretty Doesn’t Make a Service Dog

This isn’t directed at any one individual, but rather stems from a pattern of inquiries I’ve received over the years. Several recent experiences have prompted me to feel the need to share some important education on this topic.

Over the years, I’ve had to turn down multiple inquiries and applications from people seeking specifically colored dogs for “service work.” While I can guide someone toward a puppy or dog I believe has the potential to be a viable prospect, I can also confidently tell them when a specific dog does NOT possess the qualities they need. While I understand the desire for a beautiful flashy dog that could serve as a supportive companion, there’s a critical distinction between wanting a pretty dog you can go out with and choosing one that’s truly suitable for legitimate service work. I’d like to explain why I make these decisions and why it’s so important to prioritize the dog’s well-being over appearances or misplaced expectations.

Imagine I have a dog who a wonderful companion and pet, confident and capable in most situations, except one: being touched by strangers. Now, let’s say this dog is placed with someone who needs a service dog. Picture a scenario where this person has an episode where they could become incapacitated in a public space, like a store, and strangers rush in to help. For a dog with limitations like this, the experience would likely be terrifying. The dog might panic, bolt, or even lash out in fear.

The aftermath would be devastating—not just for the handler, but for the dog. Beyond the risk of the dog becoming lost, injuring a well-meaning bystander, or being impounded by animal control, such an experience could also lead to the dog developing a fear of public outings, triggering a cascade of behavioral issues. Additionally, in the case where a person legitimately needs a service dog, the handler would be left without the reliable support they need, all because the dog’s limitations were overlooked in favor of superficial qualities.

As a breeder, I know my dogs intimately. I understand their strengths, their weaknesses, and their needs. So when I tell someone that a particular dog is not a good fit for service work, I mean it. It’s not a judgment on the person’s intentions—it’s about setting both the handler and the dog up for success. Yes, the dog might have a beautiful coat, mesmerizing blue eyes, and a bubbly, adorable personality. But service work isn’t about looks. It’s about temperament, resilience, and the ability to provide reliable support in unpredictable environments. If a dog doesn’t have the right balance of those qualities, placing them in a service role is unfair. It’s unfair to both the handler and the dog.

When considering a dog for service work, it’s important to maintain fair expectations of the dog’s capabilities. While we can work to guide a dog toward greater achievements and even desensitize them to certain triggers, there are limits to what is healthy and ethical to expect. Pushing a dog too far, too fast, or beyond their natural temperament risks their emotional well-being and can ultimately compromise their success. As handlers, it’s vital to prioritize the dog’s best interests—ensuring their physical and mental health is protected—over our own wants, needs, or emotions. A balanced partnership is key to a successful and sustainable service team.

I also have to address an unfortunate reality: the steadily increasing number of fake service dog requests. These requests not only devalue the importance of legitimate service dogs but also put dogs at risk by placing them in roles they aren’t suited for. Service dogs are working animals with specific skill sets—they aren’t just pets with a title.

In the end, my job is to advocate for my dogs. They deserve to be placed in homes where they can thrive, not fail. I do my best to ensure that as much as I am able. For those genuinely seeking service dogs, I urge you to work with ethical trainers and breeders who prioritize the right match over appearances. Because pretty doesn’t make a service dog.

Written by Erika Holbrook / Painted Blue Aussies - may be shared with proper credit

https://www.paintedblueaussies.com/blog/pretty-doesnt-make-a-service-dog

01/01/2025

Day 71 Puppies are 10 weeks old! Happy New Year 1-1-25

We found some steps at a completely empty high school and the pups navigated them like pros. Jasper even got some experience problem solving... watch the clip! 🤣

Then off to Home Depot where we made a ton of friends. I like to take 2 trips into any facility. The first can be overwhelming, so we always go back out for a nature walk, drink and sniff/pee. Then, back in. This give them a break and teaches them no matter what's happening, it's temporary.

I was really impressed with two of these puppies today who were able to walk on thier own 4 paws around the store, taking turns riding in the cart. The 3rd puppy is experiencing some caution. What's important is that she's not forced, but feels safe and supported no matter where we are. All 3 were very social and sweet with everyone they met. Tails were wagging the whole time, and all 3 pups enjoyed greeting lots of people who didn't look like me. 😉 All got lots of yummy snax!

I have a name for my keeper puppy, but I'm not announcing it yet because.... maybe I'm keeping 2!? Or maybe I'm not keeping the one I initially thought?

The new year is full of mystery.😎

Who's your favorite? Jasper, Sierra or Tulum? Speak up if you know someone looking to add a little love into their new year... send me a message!

12/29/2024

Day 68 -12.29.24. Crate naps, Leashes & 1st solo outings!

Today was full of big milestones! I gave them all a brief intro to leashed walking. My keeper pup Sierra says she's not a fan, but we'll change her mind soon. The other two did great. No video of that work as I needed both hands and all my focus to make it a positive experience for them.

Puppies had all meals in their crates today, and napped a good 40 minutes with doors closed at lunchtime, then calmly and quietly waited to be let out.

Then we packed up handfuls of chicken and visited the local hardware store. Traffic, swooshy automagic sliding doors and weird smells galore!

Normally I'd bring Bliss along for confidence and support, but I was taking an honest look at the pups under some stress to see what they would like to do with their lives... Jasper's still in the running to be a service dog candidate! It seems Tulum has more gumption than I previously thought, too.

All the pups showed courage and great recovery, plus loved meeting new people. Jasper and Tulum were at the top of the class today. These are who you'll see in the video. I didn't shoot any of Sierra because I was too busy helping her feel safe and successful. You can see her getting a belly rub by the key making guy at the end. She loved him.. I suspect Sierra was a bit overwhelmed because she was on lead, and the rest was just too much. Noted! Next time, Mama Bliss, who loves going out and about, and sharing her pups, will lead the way.

12/28/2024

Plot Twist! Turns out things went a bit differently today than we expected and due to no fault of hers, Tulum is awaiting her next adventure. She's cuddly & sweet, quick to learn new things and very motivated by play and food. Her markings are strikingly beautiful, so get ready to turn heads with this one at your side! PM or email me for more deets.

12/28/2024

Day 66. 12-27-24 Wild. Dogs. 🤣 Good lawdy we love these pups but we're looking forward to the departure of 2 more in the morning! They are nonstop... right until they crashed 90 min before thier bedtime tonight. Bliss and Magic are working overtime wrangling puppies... at one point I saw Bliss put Jasper's tail to good use as she grabbed it to drag him out of his hidey hole where he was pummeling a sister. Haha! "Oh, so thats what they are for!" She was gentle, don't worry, and he got the message.

Spa night baths and nail trims... In the morning, Sedona, now Skye, is heading to Ohio to be part of a quality companion breeding program with a longtime friend who sold me my sweet Joy (lying on the bench in this page's header photo) exactly 13 years ago on the same weekend. Crazy, right? And Tulum, now Ceilidh, pronounced Kaylee, is going to longtime friends and former clients who raised a puppy in Joy's puppy classes with me back in Indiana!

Very cool to connect again with all of these lovely people. I'm excited to be teaching all the puppy people in an online weekly class... sharing my passion and helping get everyone off to a good start in their new homes is my pleasure!

12/27/2024

Day 65 12/26/24 STORYTIME! Tonight, I had let the puppies out to potty with the big dogs. It's dark and everything is wet, but they've been cool with both for days. I came back indoors to finish writing an email.. and was just about to wrap it up when I heard a weird noise, then Bliss barked an alarm and a puppy screamed. Don't ask me the order - I am not sure which happened first.

I ran out in my slippers and a black puppy was still yelping in fear, kind of under that fallen branch they've been climbing on all month. The other puppies were running to me/the porch. I couldn't see which puppy since it was dark, so I'm not sure. By the time I got to her, I had all the dogs, she had made her way clear and it was chaos because all the puppies had followed me out to investigate.

I have NO IDEA what happened. None. Maybe she poked herself on a twig. Maybe she just got stuck alone for a sec right when the sound went off. Maybe another branch came down in the woods? Whatever it was spooked Bliss too, or maybe Bliss' bark is what spooked the pup? Or any other possibility... The important thing I want to share is what I did next and why:

We played a moment outside to try to save the moment, right there in the mud, in my slippers. I didn't take time to get treats or change shoes. I joined them all in that moment and made it fun. It was easy to get tails up again (hooray for tails!) with a few toys and pets all around. I then took a break, brought them inside and fed them treats in their pen. I finished my email, then grabbed my coat, better shoes, flashlight and treats and we had a very memorable woodsy-treat-walk. (Which, hey, get your puppies out in the dark, peeps, it's a whole 'nuther experience.)
Bonus - several pooped too!

All pups are indoors relaxing now.

Main point to think about: I didn't leave them fearful in the moment. I tried to rescue the big emotions the best I could. Not knowing what happened or even to whom it happened, I couldn't recreate the situation, but I did the next best thing, taking us all out together for a positive experience as soon as it was feasible, and after they'd calmed down a bit.

"Why does it matter so much?" you ask. Great question.

I don't want puppies to be afraid of the dark, or being on their own, or being in the backyard for goodness' sake. And it can happen, just like that, at this age.

I cannot emphasize strongly enough how BIG one-time-learning is at this age! A scary moment like this makes a huge flight-fight emotional memory. My hope is in the counterbalance - an overwhelming abundance of evidence to the contrary. Backyard fun. Dark fun. Woods, fun... Sometimes we can get that in one episode, but it's rare. So, for the next few nights, I'll be sure to have more flashlight games, hidden treats and play in the darkness. Because that's how we create resilient adult dogs.

Let me know what you think!

Photo of the only black puppy I'm sure it wasn't (Leilani Kauai) ... because she's having a ball in her new home already... isn't she adorable!?

12/22/2024

Pupdate! Paris, now Sienna, is home and in love with her new family. It's so exciting to see how playful, gentle and chill she is in her home! Thank you Claire for loving her and sharing these images of her and your beautiful family. I'm so happy for you and can't wait to see where you take her.

12/22/2024

Day 61 - 12/22/24
Paris (now Sienna) left on an early flight to sunny California with an amazing flight nanny who keeps sending cute videos of her journey. She's going to a wonderful home with two human littles and a big Malinois brother. She's gonna have an amazing life!

Kauai (now Leilani Kauai) is going home today too and will join an Oklahoma high school psychologist in her practice, comforting kids and staff... she's so perfectly suited for that role as she loves EVERYONE, so much, and needs, needs, needs all the touching and pets she can get.

The other 4 pups are here through this week, enjoying a quiet holiday, then two more get to go home next weekend... stay tuned for more!

Meanwhile, shout out to Kelsey Weber again for these great photos. We had fun yesterday, getting these shots... the last big photo shoot for all 6.

I'm a little verklempt... it all went by so fast!! Yet, I'm also super proud of who these little nuggets are, and so excited for their futures.

I'm still looking for a name for Sierra, my keeper pup... must go with: Joy, Bliss & Magic.... drop an idea for me!

12/22/2024

Day60 12.21.24 The last day with all 6 puppies! So grateful to have shared it with a good friend who happens to be very smart about lots of things, including dogs.
Paris and Kauai got baths and lots of loves.... they are off to their new adventures tomorrow!

12/21/2024

Day 59 - 12/20/24 -Puppy Evaluations and Matching Day! A very big day, one that’s been two months in the making. After weeks of observation, temperament evaluations, and considering every possible angle and burp, we matched each of Bliss' sweet puppies with their dedicated families. It’s a process that’s both incredibly rewarding and deeply complex, and I’m thrilled to share that when I made those calls to each family last night, everyone was overjoyed with their match!

A huge shoutout to Kelsey Weber, an incredible professional dog trainer and expert puppy tester, whose insights have been invaluable. Kelsey brought her expertise to the table, evaluating the litter for both temperament and structure. Her thoughtful observations perfectly complemented everything I’ve learned about these pups over the past eight weeks. Thank you, Kelsey, for helping me ensure each puppy found their ideal match!

To All the Families: I can’t wait to see the lives you’ll build together with your new companions. Tomorrow marks the start of an exciting new chapter as the puppies begin to go home. While I’ll miss their little paws and playful energy, my heart is full knowing they’re heading to homes where they’ll be cherished and loved.

The Journey Continues: We’re not done yet! I’ve already started teaching weekly online classes to help new families prepare for their pups, and these will continue over the next four months. We’ll cover topics like making the most of socialization opportunities, setting the puppies up for success through adolescence, and nurturing their special bonds.

Stay tuned for updates, milestones, and plenty of adorable moments as I continue working with two puppies I’m keeping for evaluation and breeding potential. The adventure is far from over, and I’m excited to share it with you all!

💬 What’s your favorite memory of welcoming a new pet into your family? Feel free to share your stories in the comments. I’d love to hear them!

12/20/2024

Day 58 12.19.24.
Manding to be released from kennels and airport practice run!

Puppies are learning to mand, that is, sit attentively, to be released from their pens and crates. We've worked on manding in many contexts, so getting this wasn't hard, but it's a bigger ask when bladders are full and the dash to the backyard is imminent. They're doing great.

The pellets litter box is getting some use, and all puppies held 💩overnight! (They are loose in the pen, not shut in crates).

One pup is flying Saturday morning so they all got to practice a longer truck ride and a stroller ride through the airport. A few got some snuggles by waiting passengers.

We picked up my very good friend who is an expert trainer with a ton of experience testing puppies and evaluating structure. She's spending the weekend. More to come....

12/19/2024

Day 57. 12.18.24
First online for all our new families! I included ongoing lessons for the next 4 months because I want to support these pups and their peeps through the early months. I want to help them continue the work of raising . Today was the get ready for your puppy lesson. They will find out which puppy is their puppy on ... coming up this weekend. More to come on that, soon...

Meanwhile, enjoy this comic because today's the first day in 57 that I didn't take a single photo (what!?)
Oh, dogs. We love you so much!

12/18/2024

Day 56. 8 weeks old!! 12.17.24

Fun puppy shoot... shout out to my eldest for great pics!!

And a vet trip for 1st vax. All pups are perfect and were super social at the vet. They also all did great in the car, which has been a bit of a struggle the last few times, so glad to have made progress there!

12/17/2024

Im overdue posting from our weekend shenanigans... here's a huge thank you to Paige Casteel for the opportunity and for giving the pups their biggest adventure to date! Happy holidays!!

12/17/2024

Day 55-12.16.24

Meals were in crates today and the mad dash to be first to get locked up is already a thing. They chewed contentedly with doors shut for 10 min... and the only reason some wanted out was to try to steal the others' snacks, so the puppies safe in their crates were double rewarded while the ones outside were full of FOMO and wanted innnnnn.

If my focus is crate training, Bliss and Magic seem focused on teaching proper play. It's like they know this is prime time for learning and have ramped up playtime with each other and the pups.I'm so grateful for such amazing role models. The pups sometimes chase, but mostly sit and watch intently.

My neighbor brought her grandkids again... a few youngsters. I didn't get any video, as it was all hands on deck. However I did notice that all of the puppies moderated their natural mouthiness with the wee children. My adult son gets no such favors. 😝

12/16/2024

Day54 12.15.24
New digs, again. Some sweet sunny cuddles.

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