Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!! One year old today.

Yankee and Eileen

Click on photos to enlarge them.

Yankee and Eileen at a show today, Saturday, April 9, 2011 in Michigan where they had a good time made lots of new friends!

Yankee and Eileen

Eileen and Yankee went to the Detroit Kennel Club's annual 'benched' show. They did really good; their fan club was there to support them.
(Click on photos once or twice to enlarge them.)

Haley and Travis with friends

Here's Aska with her new best friend Haley and















Kani (Yankee) with his new best friend Travis.

Pila's Pups

Aska, Buska, and Yankee are eating on their own but still grabbing snacks at Mom's milk counter. (Left to right - Buska, Aska, Yankee)

They are now over four weeks old, active and continuing to gain weight. Mom is sleeping with the rest of the pack at night now.

All the other adults have visited the pups and are socializing them. (Top to bottom - Buska, Aska, Yankee)

All of my dogs have had their health checks and passed them with flying colors. They continue to be tested for possible eye problems annually even though they have no recent ancestors with any issues or problems as far as I know.

My puppies are raised in my home with the rest of my dogs and socialized with humans, my cat and my Icelandics. I do not line-breed or inbreed my dogs; I out-cross them for sound genetic health.

Temperament is of paramount importance for me followed very closely by sound genetic and physical health and freedom from parasites and diseases. I consider having healthy hips very important and breed towards that goal.

I breed according to American Kennel Club guidelines. My dogs are active in American Kennel Club dog sports. They are all registered in the Canadian Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club. They are also registered in the United Kennel Club. They leave home with implanted microchips and FULL complete registrations with the AKC, CKC and UKC.

I have been active for decades with my dogs in Sportsmen's Dog Training Club of Detroit, an all volunteer American Kennel Club obedience club that trains people and dogs for conformation, rally, obedience, etc. I am a not only a member of SDTC but I am also an active instructor and student in the club and believe in positive motivation.

My dogs are my family; they live, eat and sleep with me. They have full access to my home and my entire backyard.

I do not bad-mouth other Icelandic clubs or breeders - ever. "Everybody does better when everybody does better." J. Hightower

I respond to all legitimate questions as soon as humanly possible.

Buska, Yankee, Aska

POSING!

Buska










Yankee
















Aska



Click once or twice on photos to enlarge them.

Yankee and Aska

Chubby puppies on Mother's Day.

Yankee

Here is Yankee on his third week birthday looking regal. He is very self assured and confidant. All three puppies have started their tail-curls. Mom and dad have excellent curls so I'm expecting the best for all of the pups too.

Click once or twice on photos to enlarge them.

Yankee (Kani)

Yankee as the lone male is ahead of his two sisters in size and his desire to roam.

He is not the least bit shy and starting to be more vocal.

He was the first pup to eat solid (moistened) kibble. Although their teeth have not erupted yet, you can feel them under the gums now. Soon they'll erupt and the pups will be able to eat normal puppy kibble (un-moistened). They are growing so fast!

It's lucky for Yankee that he is going to an experienced obedience, agility and conformation home. Kani's new "mom" will have her hands full soon. Eileen lives only half a mile from me and has been over from the beginning to bond with him.

The pups are all past the "seal" stage where it looks like they are swimming instead of walking. They are all really walking now - not very steadily but up on all fours.

Click on photo once or twice to enlarge.

Buska, Yankee, Aska

Here are some early (and wiggley) stacked photos of the triplets.

Buska, Kani, Aska

Here are our trio of Icelandic Sheepdog pups in birth order on their second week birthday. (Bersi our "new" Icelandic Sheepdog male from Norway has also been here two weeks now - trust me - this has been an interesting two weeks.)

Buska (top photo, female)

Kani (middle, male)

Aska (bottom photo, female)

Taking photos single-handedly is not easy. The pups wiggle constantly and head-bob. Their eyes are open but probably they are not able to focus yet. Pila is a great mom and has started to leave the pups alone for longer periods. These are the best behaved pups I have ever had. Mom is keeping them full of milk and they are growing nicely.

Click on photos to enlarge them.

If you look at the photo of Aska, you can see Auntie Totty watching over her nieces and nephew.

Tomorrow a friend has promised to visit and help take some more photos. Those visits prompt lots of Oohs! and Aahs! At this stage pups smell so good and are warm and very cuddley.

It's too early to know which pups will have long fur and which will have shorter fur.

Aska, Kani, Buska

Here are the puppies at one week old. Click on the photos to enlarge them.

Top to bottom - official name, alphabetical order:

Aska
(her name means Ashes)


Kani
(his call name is "Yankee")










"Buska"
(her official name is Oskabuska - Cinderella)