Black'nBlue Australian Shepherds

06/01/2025

Ransom for the win in Ball Retrieval 101, nearly every time except when sisters get in his way!!
Seven weeks old as of yesterday. The boys are over 10lbs. each and the girls aren't far behind.
Baths coming up on Wednesday, vet appointment for vaccines and microchip implants on Thursday, and first new owner visits on Saturday!

06/01/2025

04/01/2025

Carter handling the onslaught of littles!
Terra tells Samson when he approaches that she's "got this"!
Marlo sees the look in Carter's eyes and leaves him to handle it.
Love how Terra pretends she is avoiding Carter - but not really!
Behind Carter is the closed door to the dog room and he frequently lays there. This time he has positioned himself to see any littles on the way toward him.

04/01/2025

This capture speaks volumes in the puppy training scheme of things!
In the middle of the pen, laying down on a towel and playing with puppy toys, is Momma Marlo. She has already had time with them; they are certain there is more milk in there if they were just allowed to keep searching! Momma said "enough".
She went to their pen, laid down and is telling them to keep away. Obviously Ransom has learned the correct approach because she allowed him in the pen with her. The gate of the pen is open. Just to add, this pen is well loved by the littles; they venture in on many occasions throughout the day for a rest, so it is completely comfortable for them.
Cayenne and Terra are clearly visible outside the pen, since they were told their approach was not approved. Just out of frame is Granite and he failed the test too!
I could never, in a thousand lifetimes, teach these lessons as effectively as Momma, therefore Momma is welcome to teach them with my endorsement.
So many times small details are overlooked, like this one, but they will be huge details in the adult lives of these pups.
Carry on, Marlo!

28/12/2024

Onward and upward!
The scenery is changing frequently these days, trying to come up with better housing for the littles. I had a blueprint for the changing tides in the old house but the new house comes with all new territory.
Since I can't use the front porch for people traffic due to the penning, might as well block off the entryway inside as well! This way, once released from their crates, they go outside immediately to potty, therefore learning house training at the same time as crate training.
As of Christmas Day they are officially weaned from Marlo, and are eating kibble and drinking water like champs. Marlo has to be supplemented with calcium while nursing, meaning the sooner the pups are weaned, within reason, the better for her.
I use a selection of crate sizes and forms, some wire and some plastic, so they don't get accustomed to going into one crate all the time. They are switched around to make things interesting, but also to teach them that no matter where they are put, it's the housing for the moment. Sometimes they sleep in the crates, sometimes just in the pen, and either way when they're tired enough it doesn't matter where they sleep. I also provide new toys of differing textures so they can pick what they like to chew.
Six weeks old tomorrow!!

26/12/2024

Happy 5th birthday today to our Carter x Juno litter of Boxing Day 2019 babies.
Pictured here with their granny Babe, best wishes go out to Mocha, Gypsy, Bojangles, Willa, Maggie, Switch, Kevin, Cito, Darla and an angel ❤

24/12/2024

Puppy socializing should be a huge component to every litter, and especially with young children.
If they never meet a small person during this very formative time, they will likely be afraid if they see one when they are older.
For this reason, and others, I borrow granddaughters for short term guardianship to socialize the littles.
Not sure who has more fun!

21/12/2024

I believe Liam may have found his calling.