Solstice Xolos

02/11/2024

We're all just lounging around after a play session 😴

08/10/2024

Because I have mentioned it to several people now, I figure I may as well put it here too.

I am planning to rebreed Taika on her next heat cycle, which should be next month. This is going to be a repeat breeding to Vermilion, because I stand by my belief that this would be an absolutely phenomenal pairing. We will be breeding via transcervical insemination, which is known to have a very high success rate. It also means that we won't be traveling for attempted live cover, which I think will be good as it means less stress on Taika, and lower risk for reabsorbing the litter. We're all keeping our fingers crossed for a better, less heartbreaking outcome.

07/10/2024

Taika and her "little sister" wrestling 🩷

25/09/2024

From my sibling regarding Taika;
"When I take her to my grandma's apartment which is fixed income housing with a lot of vulnerable individuals, mostly elderly and disabled people, she really shines. She makes an effort to include everyone in a way that makes them comfortable, and is SO good at asking permission to approach people that are scared of her. She'll give a head tilt and a little tail waggle, and wait for the subtle signs that it's okay to approach. They love her there and get mad if I don't have her with me lol
And when non verbal folks want her to visit with them, they don't have to call her or anything because she is careful to scan the room and see who is looking at her and trying to get her attention and the way they light up when their words fail, but she sees their gestures and still comes, man. That's good"

A big part of why Taika's (hopefully) my foundation in my program is because her temperament is absolutely marvelous, and truly special. Traditionally Xoloitzcuintli were believed to have healing properties, and were particularly companions to the children, elderly, and disabled people. Taika has always embodied this, and to me she is the quintessential Xolo.

25/09/2024

Just admiring Taika as she oversees her yard 🥰

Ch Shae N Vidixium Love N Thunder CGCA TKN FDC

10/09/2024

We're hitting a few events this fall!

With Bumi (my Malinois)
September 20th
Syracuse Obedience Training Club Fetch
Syracuse, NY

With Nadja
October 5th
Onondaga Kennel Association FCAT
Syracuse, NY

With Nadja
October 11th and 12th
The Nickel City Cluster
Hamburg, NY

After October we're going to be busy with other plans, which I will announce as things are solidified.

04/09/2024

Kipo has been neutered and is back home to sleep off the anesthetic. Now that he is three and mature, I discussed his future with his breeder, and we made the call to remove him from a prospective breeding program. He's beautiful, but there are some aspects of his temperament that I would not want to maintain in my program, moving forward.

That said, he is of course staying here as a pet to continue helping me as a demo dog, and we will probably hit the Altered class in UKC every now and then 😁

03/09/2024

Nadja's Fast CAT photo from her first qualifying run!
(Thank you Charlotte With Dogs for the photo!)

01/09/2024

I just received very exciting word that Nadja won her first ever points and a 4 pt major at Lexington, Kentucky today! It is an absolutely beautiful lineup of dogs and I'm honored that my and Amber's coated mini girl was selected for their class!

Thank you so much Lydia for taking her, and Virginia for handling her! And huge congratulations to Guide on her Reserve Winner's Bitch! And many thanks to Tim Catterson for seeing my girl among so many beautiful dogs!

(Photo of Nadja and Guide sleeping after showing yesterday courtesy of Lydia Leclerc)

26/08/2024

This time yesterday Tuca was up and running around, starting to chase Taika, and had tried her first sample of solid food, which she took with gusto. She was running (more or less) to me and climbing into my lap and burrowing her face against my belly.

Overnight she rapidly declined, and at 4AM we drove two hours to Cornell's emergency vet clinic. Without us noticing until too late, the pneumonia had returned, and Tuca's right lung collapsed. Because of her age and small size intubation for oxygen was not an option. After lengthy discussion with the vet, we made the call to euthanize her, though she actually passed before the lethal dose was administered, while I was holding her.

I loved her very deeply in the few weeks I got to know her, and I am devastated that she did not get to blossom into the amazing dog I know she would have been. I hope that someday, as is the way of Xolos, she will return to me.

I don't have it in me to say anything more than that. I miss my puppy.

25/08/2024

Forgot to show off Nadja's new little ribbon! Hopefully we'll add a few more before the season is done!

24/08/2024

Other dogs barking, fire station alarm going off nearby, and then two grown men loudly arguing, and Nadja is just chilling and enjoying herself at the Fast CAT trial. Much love to Amber Oertle for producing such a stable girl!

Clocked in at 20mph for Nadja's first run! Can't wait to get the official run photos!

23/08/2024

22/08/2024

She's perfect 💕

22/08/2024

Tuca's weight chart from the last three weeks! She's steadily gaining now, and it's just such a relief to see her growing and developing right on track for her age. I'll do a wee photo shoot later today to celebrate her 3 week birthday!

19/08/2024

Now that Tuca is stable and now two weeks old, I can spend time introducing her to maintenance training such as nail trims, which are done every few days from this point on! If she were coated I would introduce her to brushing, and while she won't ever have to be brushed, I still like to use cotton swabs or very soft brushes on her skin just to make sure we're reducing any risk of touch sensitivity as she gets older.

17/08/2024

We're officially over 1 pound! Tuca is 16 days old now, and just absolutely taking off. I fall more and more in love each moment 💕

16/08/2024

At two weeks old Tuca is up to 15.5 oz, 1 pound on a full belly! She has a great appetite and is eating an absurd amount of both Taika's milk and formula mixed with Puppy Support supplement to help her catch up after our scare on the 4th.

Eyes are open and ears now, too! (The first photo I got when I whistled, haha)