AlcyoneCollies&Shibas

29/12/2025

A Message From Your Dog as You Step Into a New Year

Hi. It’s me.
Your teammate.
Your adventure buddy.
The one who reads your breath, your footsteps, your energy… even before you know what you’re about to do.

I’ve been thinking about this past year.
About the moments when we were flying — when your laughter carried me faster and your confidence helped me believe in myself.
And I’ve also felt those moments when things got hard. When you were tired. When your body didn’t quite do what your brain wanted. When frustration crept in, or doubt whispered a little too loudly.

But here’s something I need you to hear:

I have never needed you to be perfect.
I’ve only ever needed you to show up with me.

When the new year comes, humans talk a lot about resolutions and “fixing” things.
But I don’t see you as broken. I see you as brave.
I see someone who keeps stepping onto the field.
Someone who keeps trying.
Someone who cares enough to want better — not just for performance, but for us. For me.

And I want more life with you.

More courses where you still have power and breath at the end.
More turns where your body reacts confidently instead of hesitating.
More runs where you feel proud of how strong you moved, not frustrated by what your body held you back from.

When you take care of yourself, I feel it.
When you're proud of yourself, I feel it.
When you train your body, I get more clarity, more support, more leadership.
When you build strength and stamina, I get a teammate who moves with purpose and leadership… and that makes me feel safe, and fast, and free.

Every small step you take doesn’t just change your fitness…
It changes our connection.
Our trust.
Our ability to play this game we love for longer.

So as you think about next year, I don’t want you to ask:
“How do I become perfect?”

Ask this instead:
“How can I keep showing up for us?”

Because I promise you:
I’m ready to run.
Ready to learn.
Ready to try.
Ready to give you everything I have…

I don’t measure you by your mistakes.
I measure you by your heart.
And I already think you’re incredible.

Let’s build something beautiful this year —
Not with pressure.
Not with shame.
But with intention, courage, care, and consistency.

I’m right beside you.
Always have been.
Always will be.

Let’s go write our next chapter this year.

26/12/2025

💔SCAMS💔
Heads up friends on Facebook - scams are pretty darn rampant when it comes to finding reputable dog breeders. Though it may seem obvious to many, it’s worth a shoutout regardless. You don’t know what you don’t know!

Pages like these steal photos from actual dog breeders and advertise them as their own. They often seek to get money or information from you.
I have seen them for many breeds and in many different forms. Be careful and always think before you click or give out any information!

Working in technology, I see cyber threats constantly in nearly every aspect of life. It’s important to stay informed and not give out any sensitive infomation about yourself.
(Does working in technology mean that my website is up to date? lol no)

15/12/2025

This is who designed our new actually professional logo! (Replacing my old amateur homemade logo - I do *not* work in graphic design 😂)

I have availability for customized logos, for dog trainers, schools, kennels, vets, or any other dog related business!
DM me for more info.

09/12/2025

Did something I’ve always wanted to do - commissioned an actual professional to redo my logo!
Big thanks to H-dogs design for your work, I love it!

07/12/2025

Reflecting on 2025 ✨
2025 had ups and downs, a hard loss, and some uplifting successes. Unfortunately, early on in the year we had to let Eleanor, our one sporting dog, go.

This year was on the slow-side for us, as far as traveling for shows goes. We attended local AKC and UKC conformation shows, as well as travelled to Utah and Southern California for a couple shows. Compared to years past, that was not a whole lot of traveling for shows! We made up for our lack of travel spending by exhibiting in several local performance events and sports.

As far as my handling and training capabilities go, I am pleased! I competed in my first scent work trial and obtained my first agility title. Dreams and goals of mine have always been to have dogs that do it all, and there is truly no better way than to do it hands-on! Having dogs that excel in conformation, performance, sports, and being pets is the ultimate goal for me.

Notable mentions:
- Tanis has been working on her duck herding skills, and will hopefully continue to do so going into 2026.
- Wrex is still working towards his Bronze GCH title, having 62 points in total and 9 majors all under different judges with very limited showing.
- Every dog of mine is, and will always be, a pet first. They may be well-travelled and highly enriched pets at times, but they are pets nonetheless.
- Dolly is not pictured (for those of you that do not know, Dolly is a 15 year old rescued Yorkshire Terrier I have had for about 10 years), but she is still doing well. She was diagnosed with a heart problem this year, but is not at the point of needing medications for it yet.
Of course, these are all just highlights that did not come without failures (learning opportunities), flops, and losses.

The relationships I have with my dogs are continuing to grow, and I think that is the best success of all! 💕 We also have some positive changes coming up in the new year.

15/07/2025

Being a dog breeder means making decisions, even if they’re incredibly hard.
✨ I am making Wayne available to a new home. Ideally, a home that participates in scent work and would be willing to finish his champion title (or allow me to finish that title). However, a good and caring home is the most important. ✨

About Wayne:
Wayne is 2 years old. I have done the entire collie panel of genetic health testing on him. We have not yet completed hip and elbow OFAs for him yet.
He is a larger boy, sitting at about 70lbs.
Wayne has been trained for the show ring. Has a total of 7 points (one major), has completed his CGC and is currently taking beginning scent work classes (which he LOVES). He has also been briefly introduced to tracking.

Wayne’s ideal home would be an active home. He enjoys hikes and walks. For a Collie (emphasis on for a Collie, lol), Wayne is not terribly vocal. He will alert bark outside, but is very quiet indoors.

Wayne is a bit of a pain in the butt to get out of a crate when in the car, and usually requires being gently slid out of the car crate. Getting into a crate in the car is much easier, he knows to get his front feet up so that his hind end can be lifted in. I have not yet tried a ramp or steps, but he would likely take to those tools just fine with some initial training. Good news though, he does not get car sick! He is just a bit of a crate barnacle.

Wayne is a lovable goofball with an amazing sense of humor. He’s the kind of dog that knows how to cheer someone up when they’re feeling down. Despite his size, he’s great on a leash. He is great with children and other dogs, though may play a little rough with small dogs and would need to be supervised with them. Wayne is also respectful of cats.

Above all, this dog is a piece of my heart and must go to the absolutely right fit for him. I had all the intentions to keep him, but with my program direction changing a bit, this would be an excellent opportunity for someone wanting to dabble in scent work and conformation. (Plus, a great opportunity for me to learn to let go and build more relationships with people through my dogs.)

If interested, please send me a message and I can send you the link to my questionnaire.

29/06/2025

When Tanis was a puppy, I knew I wanted a home for her that would do all the things! Including agility. I saw potential in her to do great things and enjoy trials and events.

I never did find the right home for her, so I decided to become that home for her. And today after just barely getting started in agility, she got her first Q! (In novice jumpers w/weaves.)

Next step will be to continue having fun and learn more on contacts so we can comfortable enter in standard! I’m so happy with how far she has come in just a few months 💕 I needed a confidence builder dog, as I navigate the difficulties of learning agility and trialing a less- traditional breed. (Referring to Wrex lol who is fantastic by the way! But he’s a Shiba 😂)

11/06/2025

Most recent updates for our dogs up to today! Apologies for the length, but we have been busy just about every weekend so far this late spring/summer.

🏆Spokane Dog Training Club Agility Trial🏆
May 10 & 11
🥭Wrex got his first Q in novice preferred jumpers w/weaves! He was also first in his class.
🦕Tanis began her agility career with two runs in jumpers (she’s not quite ready for contacts yet, but I wanted to get her used to running courses in a trial environment). She is doing GREAT and almost has her first Q!

🏅Spokane Dog Training Club Obedience and Rally Trial🏅
5/17 & 5/18
🦕Tanis obtained two Qs for her first time at a rally trial! She also was awarded 2nd and 3rd place in a big Novice B class.
🥭Wrex almost squeezed by with a Q in novice obedience, but decided that he was REALLY good at staying during the recall exercise. Oops!

🇺🇸Memorial Day Cluster 🇺🇸
(Collie Specialty and All-Breed shows)
☁️Huck was awarded select dog at both the AM and PM shows of the Inland Empire Collie Club specialty to finish out his GCH title!
☁️Huck was also awarded Best of Variety over a lovely supported entry at the Spokane Kennel Club shows that Friday and Saturday for two more GCH majors💕

🌽Wayne was awarded RWD at the Spokane Kennel Club shows

🏆Greater Spokane Shetland Sheepdog Club Agility Trial🏆
(5/31-6/1)
🥭 Wrex got his second novice preferred jumpers w/weaves Q and a second place in his class!
🦕 Tanis got to run two more jumpers run and came close to some Q’s. She had a great time regardless!

🎩Inland Empire Kennel Association🎩
(6/6-6/8 All-Breed shows)
🐦‍⬛Kestrel was awarded WB/BOW/Best of Variety for her first major at 7 years old! Kes has been focused on other things, so she hasn’t seen a show ring in quite some time.
She also was awarded RWB to the major on Saturday and Sunday.
🌽Wayne has some growing up to do. I realized it wasn’t fair for me to expect so much of him at 2 years old. He had a great time regardless! But he will be focusing on Scentwork for a bit until he’s a bit more physically mature.

Very proud of all of my dogs and the hard work they’ve been putting in with me! It is always easy to show or run dogs that really enjoy the things they’re being asked to do. I’ve always figured that if I’m going to ask them to compete with me in things, that at the very least this should be something they enjoy.

🥭Wrex is
GCH CH Mamiya’s Power Confidential RN CGC (Shiba Inu - Red)

🦕Tanis is
Alcyone Moxie Buck Up or Huck Up CGC (Tricolor Rough Collie)

☁️ Huck is
GCH CH Moxie’s Royal Nonesuch RN CGC IT (Sable Merle Rough Collie)

🐦‍⬛Kestrel is
Moxie There’s Your Trouble BN RN IT (now major pointed!) (Tricolor Smooth Collie)

🌽Wayne is
Alcyone Moxie Huck Around and Find Out CGC (major pointed) (Blue Merle Smooth Collie)

20/12/2024

Submitted a name change for this page to include Shibas. Of course, I still had to use a weird naming convention because, apparently, the word Collie is a “prohibited word” for a page per Facebook’s rules.

Collie Collie Collie Collie!

20/12/2024

My dogs all eat separately in their crates for breakfast and dinner.

What we have here is a poor unfortunate Shiba in a 42inch crate. He is sad because 1. His food is all gone, why would someone do that to him?! (he ate it) and 2. He wishes for a bigger crate. More room to stash toys he steals from the others! (They’re all his toys, anyway. He’s just nice enough to share sometimes.)

13/12/2024

Dear pet owners:
Please, for the love of everything Holy, make your prospective dog's breeder justify their price. Please.

I just got off the phone with a lovely woman who found my Facebook post, and is looking for a puppy. Our conversation started with chatting about my philosophy and methodology surrounding breeding, and eventually wound around to my price.

Upon hearing the figure, she was shocked and blurted out, "wow, you're a lot cheaper than [semi-local unethical breeder]! I was actually scared to hear how much you charged!"

It took absolutely all of my will power to keep my cool and not utterly lose it, because I saw red.

Now, this woman didn't deserve any part of my ire - and I wasn't angry with her at all. She deserved the respect and dignity of a gentle, kind education - and that's exactly what I made sure she got. An unhinged, sanctimonious rant would have put her off entirely, and done nothing to help my point.

But now she knows to make her breeder justify their price, and I hope she'll carry that with her, even if she doesn't get a puppy from me.

For my non-dog folks, think about it like this. Imagine you strolled into a WalMart to see, in a locked case, a knock-off, no name, mass produced, "pleather" handbag. Upon inspection, you find that this item is priced higher than a hand-sewn, Italian leather handbag from a well-known designer.

That bag would never sell, and it wouldn't sell for a reason. That bag is quantitatively not worth that price. It is poorly made from cheap materials.

So why would you spend more to purchase a puppy from a breeder who is cutting corners every way they can, when you can buy an ethically bred dog whose breeder has done the hard work and and spent the time, money, and effort to make sure you get the best dog possible?!

These unethical breeders are getting their audacious prices - otherwise they wouldn't be charging it. And while I fully stand behind breeders charging what they feel their dogs are worth, justifying YOUR price with MY price being the "going rate" when you don't do even half the work that I do, is theft - plain and simple.

Please remember:
* "My vet said they're healthy!" =/= Independently verified, specific health testing with publicly available results.
* "They're such great pets!" =/= Carefully and intentionally breeding to the written standard as set forth by the parent club, independently verified through titling
* Constantly using their own male dog or repeating the same matches over and over =/= Countless hours of pedigree research and careful consideration of both dams and sires to ensure every litter adds positively to the gene pool of the breed.
* Their dogs are spoiled and kept in the house! =/= Ethical, responsible breeding practices. (Most breeders keep their dogs in their home with them. This isn't a distinguishing factor.)

Many of these "breeders" are shooting puppies out the door the very second they can, with minimal vetting and intestinal worm loads, with almost no preparation and no support for the owner. They're selling them like they're end tables, not living, breathing little souls. And they will take your money and run, and you will never hear from them again - especially if you have a problem.

Please, please. Make your breeder justify their price up front, and don't be shy about it. Ethical breeders have no trouble showing you why they charge what they charge. We're walking the fine line between keeping our dogs financially accessible and not going into debt with every litter - and we have no problem sharing that breakdown.

And please remember that you are not doing the dogs any favours by "rescuing" them from these breeders - especially if you pay full price. You bought the dog, they have your money, and they could not be bothered less by how you feel about it. They WILL breed more litters, and more puppies will suffer.

Little Miss Lady in her Christmas best, for the algorithm. (Not available.)

04/12/2024

Wayne

Folds for Easy Storage