Pila and Kria

Two Icelandic Sheepdogs, Pila and Kria - last photo, who have started their agility training - hopefully one day they will catch up with Kata.

"What is so are as a day in - - " August! "Then, if ever, come perfect days."

Why would anyone live in Texas with the horrible heat for days on end. (It's rhetorical.)

Here in Michigan we are surrounded by water, fresh water. Loads of fresh water in the Great Lakes, the rivers, streams, ponds and smaller lakes. A deluge of water without the floods of the Mississippi river valleys

One would think that our Michigan politicians would be touting the advantages of living in a more temperate clime with loads of fresh water everywhere as a "plus".

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Pila and Bear

Bear looks exactly like a Disney character in the first photo and perennially shy Pila is hiding behind a perennial Hibiscus. (Click to enlarge.)

Bear and Pila

Bear and Pila

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.

Pila - Vinlands Piaf

Pila posing by my favorite spring flowering shrub, Abeliophyllum distichum. People sometimes think it is a white forsythia. It isn't nor is it even related to that slightly later flowering spring shrub. Pila is expecting puppies next week.

(Click on photo to enlarge it.)

Pila - Vinlands Piaf

Sportsmens' had a three day AKC Rally and Obedience trial this weekend and Pila finished her Rally Novice title. Pila, Totty and Kria were all entered but only Pila, who has finally finished her season, could go.

Pila started her season first, followed by Kria and ending with Totty who is still in season.

It's been a very rough five weeks (so far) for Korpur. He is entered in Novice Saturday but I honestly think his brain has been short-circuited by all the pheromones and hormones floating in our home. We will go just to have a break from moving dogs, gates, barricades and opening and closing doors but we expect nothing from him.

Click on photos of Pila to enlarge them.

Korpur and Pila

It's still too early to tell but Pila and Korpur may be expecting puppies soon. If so, I think half of them should be black tricolors (black, tan and white) carrying one b-gene for chocolate-brown; the other half should be black and white (like Korpur) carrying one b-gene for chocolate brown and one at-gene for black and tan.

However, we know Korpur also has produced puppies in several shades of tan (fawn, cream, tan, yellow, gold, red, and sable) so there could be some surprises I suppose.

They are not allowed on the furniture BUT - - - -

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Pila, CGC

Pila qualified in two AKC Rally Novice trials this weekend. She turned heads and melted hearts. Now that she's shown she can handle rally without taking classes, we'll have to get serious.

(Click on photo to enlarge.)

She's learning obedience. Maybe we'll have to start agility like her aunts Kata, Anaejga, Kiska and Visa.





Pila is a true tricolor chocolate (chocolate, tan and white) which means genetically she's atat bb Ss.
She's had her hips checked by the University of Pennsylvania using the PennHIP evaluation system; the results are L=0.47-R=0.37.
Recently her eyes were separately checked by two excellent Veterinary Ophthalmologists and they are normal.
A lady at the show was extremely interested in our dogs. She wanted to know about temperament and intelligence. She asked when they would be fully accepted by the AKC. I replied this June the conformation shows could start. She said that's too bad. There was more along those lines - - - - -