Ullalvas Smari's Pups 2022

Several Icelandic Sheepdog puppies sired by Swedish born Ullalvas Smari, bred by Lillemor Kullman, met for the first time as a group. The pups were produced using frozen semen from Smari and artificial insemination (A.I.). Not all of his pups could make it but the ones that got here, brothers from different mothers had an absolutely great time getting to know one another. They have all inherited Smari's fantastic structure and championship attitude. I predict that we will be seeing his pups in a lot of conformation shows over the next few years. 

Note the longer denser coats of two pups, Koko and Kaffi, and the shorter coat on Watson. All three are about the same age; longer coats and thicker undercoats make two look heavier. Clicking on photos will enlarge them. Bear also has the longer coat with a thick undercoat.

The first photo is Bersi av Isheim bred by Arne Hakon Tunheim with Ullalvas Smari as a sire and Sigga av Isheim as the dam. Bear turned 16 last fall. Then Bear as an older puppy showing his great stack. Then three more photos from yesterday.

Bersi av Isheim

Bersi

Bersi

Bersi

Koko, Bear, Pila, Totty

Four Smari Brothers

Watson, Koko, Kaffi, Bear

Hidow Heit Koko

Koko

Hidow Kaffi, Vinlands Sir Watson

Kaffi

Vinlands Watson, Hidow Kaffi

 

Watson

Watson

Watson, Tryggur, Kit

Sir Mark Watson (l)

(n.b. short coated Icy)

Mark Watson in Iceland

(Again, the short coat)

Vinlands Tryggur

Vinlands Totty and Pila

January 30, 2022

 The Icelandic Sheepdogs that live here at San Salvatore had a really nice visit from Kaffi and Koko, Watson's half brothers. (Brothers from another mother - as it were.) I was only slightly concerned that there might be issues but the eight Icies got along fabulously. The three brothers played until almost exhausted. I'm thinking that all Icies speak "Icelandic Doggerel" which is why they all seem to understand one another.

The morning opened with another lovely sunrise. People who aren't awakened by their dogs often miss the best part of the day, in my opinion. After a really nice first light and sunrise, the sun went above the clouds and now we're having another uninterrupted gray Michigan winter day. I do NOT mind the cold, really; the uniformly gray skies get to me however.

In the first photo I love how the overhead lights poking through the clouds are mirrored in the water below. A closer look shows mist rising from the lake. Clicking on photos will enlarge them.

This morning arrived after another very cold night. We've been having night time temperatures at or near or below zero for several days now; I'm very glad I can feed the various species of birds that regularly use my feeders at this time of the year. They keep me and the dogs and cats amused.

There are several large viburnums in my north forest; their berries persist all winter and provide sustenance for several species of migrating birds when spring returns. I took the first shot because I thought the berries with their snow caps were interesting. Then a gold finch arrived and stayed for long enough for me to capture it on camera.

Kaffi and Koko arrived earlier for a play date with their step-brother Watson. Exhilarating! At least for the dogs! The two boys are absolutely amazing - long coats with a very dense undercoat just like their other stepbrother, Bear. More than 16 years in age difference between Bear and the newly arrived brothers Kaffi and Koko (listed alphabetically I must add). So four sibs: Bear, Watson, Kaffi, Koko. And Ullalvas Smari's genes, their father's genes, really show in all of them. (There are two additional siblings but they live in Oregon and Virginia.) I announced more than a year ago the arrival of Smari's frozen pupsickles and only one person chose to take advantage of it. I expect wonderful things from all Smari's puppies.

January 2022

 Sometimes we see the sun here and when we do it's really appreciated. Bitter cold, some snow - it's Michigan in January. Brother and wife are going to Florida very soon (not sure if I will ever forgive them, perhaps I will work on that).

For Christmas we decided that we would not exchange gifts. They fooled me.  My sister-in-law gifted me an amaryllis named "Dancing Queen" - which would have been very funny if she'd known what she'd done. She didn't.  I asked. I love the flowers on this one. 

Years ago I let an amaryllis go to seed, very strange black papery things about the size of my thumbnail. They didn't appear to have any biological material in them. Regardless I planted them and got several dozen baby amaryllis seedlings. Potted them, they grew, and when, after a couple of years, they got to be sizable,  I forced them to flower by giving them a dormant rest period after which they did actually flower. Hard to complete the cycle on the window sills and in the garden up north so, imo, definitely a plant for warmer climes. However, the experience was fun

Some ships are still traveling;  I don't envy them their voyage among the icebergs, high waves, and frigid winds. There are currently two fake peninsulas, really several clumps of icebergs, off my beach.

On nicer days we still go outside for walks around the yard; when it's cold and windy and too far below freezing, they are anxious to go out alone but cone back in soon after. 

Frigid -

Tryggur is one of the smartest and most loving and forgiving Icelandic sheepdogs I've ever had. He's a great example of a typical Icy - very smart, very affectionate, playful, energetic, and he carries some exceptional hidden recessive genes. Right now he's acting as either a surrogate father or a loving brother to Watson. They are never far apart; go everywhere together. Here's Trygg camouflaged - hiding (he thinks) in plain sight.

Vinlands Tryggur

Tryggur

Vinlands Tryggur and Vinlands Sir Watson

Vinlands Tryggur

Kit is mother to both Tryggur and Watson so they are half brothers. Trygg's sire is Cola (officially Hidow Sweetness Overload) and Watson's sire is Ullalvas Smari. Tryggur has two sisters - Birna and Kria. Watson has a sister and a brother - ABBA and Kappu.

Vinlands Ulfbehrta Kit

Kit

Cola (Hidow Sweetness Overload)

Ullalvas Smari

I lose their attention when Tracy comes for a visit - she loves training them and always brings great treats.

Grandmother Totty

Great Aunt Pila

I have fewer orchids that I used to have so I try and encourage those that 1. bloom in the winter, 2. are small enough for my window sills, 3. have a nice smell, 4. can tolerate and thrive, or at least survive, in cooler indoor temperatures. I really appreciate their winter blooms. The last photo was taken while I stood outside on my east porch; the reflection in the window shows the contrasts between indoors and outdoors nicely I think. 

A very special Icelandic Sheepdog puppy starts on his great adventure. I really would like to keep them all!

Ice is finally forming on Lake Huron. It's so beautiful when the sun shines and you can see the deep blue sky and water and the shockingly white snow/ice. (Reminds me of Grandma Hansen's Danish plates.) Can you spot the perfectly camouflaged dogs in some of the photos? (Like "Where's Waldo?" - "Where's Watson?"

Vinlands Sir Watson

(Nice front eh?)

Watson's litter sister Vinlands ABBA: - 

Pepper and ABBA

ABBA

Recent First Light

Sunrise