PUPPY UPDATE, November 15, 2007: Yesterday late morning into early afternoon, Lucy delivered her pups in her nesting box in our kitchen. Quite a variety of sizes. I think Puppy #5 may be the smallest puppy we have ever had. I was a bit concerned yesterday about how tiny and skinny he was. But he seems quite robust and strong. Two pups are large sized, Puppies #2 and #3. Two puppies are medium sized, Puppies #4 and #6. Two of the puppies are small sized, Puppies #1 and #5. Three of the pups have heavy black shadowing, like Mama Lucy - Puppies #4, #5 and #6. Our sheltie puppies nearly always have a white line (of varying widths) down the front of their faces/noses, but this time this trait did not come through as strong - Puppies #1 and #3 have white lines down their faces/noses. Puppy #5 does not have any white on his face. Puppy #2 has a wide white area on his nose, but no line on his face. I need to examine the other pups more closely to know their markings for sure. Three pups have white blotches that go down the sides of their necks - Puppies #1 (down right side of neck), #4 (down left side of neck), and #6 (down left side of neck). Puppies #4 (male) and #6's (female) markings very closely resemble each other. Lucy is spending nearly all of her time in the box, nursing her babies, as they are quite hungry and fill out quite a bit in just the first two days. Already today their tummies are becoming more rounded. Watch for more updates to come....

PUPPY UPDATE, November 25, 2007: I think the babies have likely doubled in size during their first week. They are now advancing from crawling to walking and their eyes are starting to crack open. Their noises sound much like that of a human baby right now - at times they are fussy, at times they "talk" in their sleep, for sure they twitch a lot in their sleep, sometimes they have the hiccups, and they verbalize a lot while nursing. Puppy #1 is one of the calmest puppies and very cuddly. Puppy #6 is the farthest along with having her eyes open. Puppy #4 is the darkest puppy with very heavy black shadowing. Puppy #5 may be small, but he can be quite feisty when he doesn't want to be held (typically when he's hungry and knows mama is near). I'm not sure which is the largest, Puppy #2 or Puppy #3. Both are pretty large puppies and will likely grow to be large shelties. Right now the pups are still spending most of their time either sleeping or nursing, but as their eyes open more, they will become increasingly curious about their new world. Puppy #6 is already sold, but as of yet the others are still available. They would make a wonderful Christmas gift, albeit about two weeks late. Christmas '06 a lady in NJ bought one of our pups as a surprise Christmas gift for her husband and kids - her excitement was contagious! We enjoyed the experience with her. Keep watching for more updates and pics......

PUPPY UPDATE, December 1, 2007: I am SO excited - I FINALLY figured out how to compress movies so I can put videos of the pups into our web site. Check them out - I just programmed in two movies, one of the pups playing (as soon as their eyes opened, they started playing) and one of them nursing and getting baths from their mom. The videos aren't the best - hadn't necessarily planned on using them in the site, as I knew the files were too large and didn't know how to make them smaller. Have been researching the past two days, spent a LOT of time finally finding out how! So, I will plan on putting more videos in the site in the future, and hopefully ones that are better shots! (i.e., try to overlook the blanket that needed changed, and was soon thereafter....).

The pups are becoming increasingly mobile, now walking pretty well, whereas early on they only can crawl. At least one is practicing his vocal skills, trying to bark (not overly successful with that yet....). Everyone's eyes progressively became fully open this week. Now they seem to have so much more character! Now they are so interested in learning more about this world around them. They are so much fun to watch, and to cuddle, and to love.

PUPPY UPDATE, December 2, 2007: Became aware today of some glitches with the videos I had input into the site - they worked great on my desktop computer (a newer iMac) using QuickTime 7.2, but wouldn't work on my laptop (an iBook) and those I had written to about the videos were not able to open them either. Sooooo, Plan B - found an alternate way to compress the video files, yet they are still rather large and may take time for those with slower speed internet to get loaded. Please let me know if you are trying to view the videos and have any problems. I just now did get the video to play on my laptop, but the first time loading it only had the audio - after reloading, it then had both audio and video.

PUPPY UPDATE, December 10, 2007: The puppies are now nearly four weeks old and have reached their really cute stage. Last week they all were finally able to bark, after testing out their vocal skills for quite awhile. They also became quite a bit furrier last week. Everybody is teething, which their mama is not too happy about. She has little tolerance for nursing once they get their teeth, so today I had to start them on a mush of puppy food and water. They are all quite playful, mostly chewing on each other, and occasionally one will chew on another a little too hard, which results in a little yelp. They also still nap quite a bit of the time. So far they have had to stay inside in our kitchen, as the heat lamp in their pen in the garage simply cannot keep up with the current temps hovering in the single digits. But they are anxious to have more room to play and are lately becoming expert at climbing out of their box. So, hopefully the temps will get warmer soon!

PUPPY UPDATE, December 13, 2007: Yesterday I shot more videos and pics of the puppies and just now got them programmed into our site. Please let me know if you have any problems viewing the video, but I think I have figured out now how to get that to work okay. These pups are so incredibly loving! What a pleasure they are to have around. Had to laugh at seeing Puppies #5 and #1 sitting inside the food dish the past two days while eating, and then today Puppy #1 fell asleep in the food dish when done! They are so funny.... Hard to believe they already turned four weeks old yesterday. They have been enjoying chewing on, attacking, and dragging around a couple of stuffed toys lately, but still mostly prefer just to play with each other. So far I have not really been able to distinguish their personalities - all seem to be very friendly and very loving and especially interested in anyone who enters the kitchen, seeking out loving, being cuddled, and nibbling on anything they can get ahold of :-)

PUPPY UPDATE, December 27, 2007: Sorry - with the holiday bussle, I've gotten behind with the pics and updates. We did take new pics a couple days ago, but I haven't had a chance to get them up into the web site yet. Will plan on getting them up by day's end. Today I took the pups to our vet for an exam, their first shots, and preventative dewormer. All checked out healthy. There has been some changes in sizes of two of the pups, however. Initially Puppy #1 had been smaller than Puppy #4 - now Puppy #1 is larger. It now appears that Puppy #1 may grow to be borderline between a small and medium, whereas Puppy #4 now will likely only grow to be a small sized sheltie. Puppy #5 continues to be the smallest pup, weighing in at only 2 lbs. 9 oz. Puppy #4 is the second smallest puppy, weighing in at 3 lbs. 12 oz. Puppy #1 is the third smallest, weighing in at 4 lbs. 3 oz. Although based on body structuring, Puppy #2 appears to be a large, he weighed in at 4 lbs. 14 oz. Although based on body structuring, Puppy #6 appears to be a medium, she weighed in at 5 lbs. 2 oz. The largest pup is Puppy #3, weighing in at 5 1/2 lbs. Puppy #3 was recently sold to a man in Michigan. Puppy #6 has been sold since she was only a few days old. Otherwise the other four boys (#1, #2, #4, #5) continue to be available. Personalities have been becoming more evident lately. The only pup that seems to exhibit any shyness is Puppy #5. He has a calmer, more reserved personality. A small level of shyness has been observed in Puppy #4, but he readily warms up and appears to be the most playful (and funny) puppy. Puppy #1 seeks out a great deal of attention. Puppies #2, #3, and #6 appear to have quite bold and confident personalities. Puppy #2 is quite an explorer.

PUPPY UPDATE, January 2, 2008: I had all the pups in the kitchen for a couple hours this morning, especially for them to warm up some from the cold (even though they have a heat lamp in their pen in the garage), but also to get new pics and a new video of them playing. I will try to get those up into the web site soon, but due to my work schedule, it may be a couple days before I have a chance to get them all programmed into our site. Their personalities are becoming more and more evident. The calmer ones playing are especially #5, but also #1 and #6. Puppies #2, #3, and #4 are very active and play pretty roughly with each other. Puppy #1 sought me out the most often to give licky kisses. Puppy #5 spent a lot of time on my lap, but probably in part because I kept picking him up because he's just so tiny and cute and I just wanted to cuddle him. He is pretty calm natured. Last week I thought he seemed somewhat shy, but didn't really pick up on that today. This week I have made sure to give him a lot of attention to help overcome any shyness he may possibly have. Puppy #4 has really heavy dark shadowing. He could almost pass for being a tri, except the black does not go all the way down to the roots of his hair. He's very playful. I think he's the prettiest puppy, but of course everyone has different tastes. Meanwhile, Puppy #5 sold today to a family in Wisconsin.

PUPPY UPDATE, January 4, 2008: Two puppies, Puppy #5 and Puppy #6, were picked up by their new owners this evening. We miss them, of course, but our glad they have gone to good homes. Puppy #3 has been sold quite awhile now, but we are holding him for his new owner till early February. So, just Puppies #1, #2, and #4 left to sell....

PUPPY UPDATE, January 11, 2008: I took new pics of the pups yesterday, but haven't had time yet to get the new pics up into the site, other than their chronological pics above. Will get the new pics up into the site within the next couple of days.

PUPPY UPDATE, January 20, 2008: Today a family in Andover, MN, took Puppy #4 home to join their family. Only two puppies left to sell, Puppies #1 and #2.

PUPPY UPDATE, January 28, 2008: Took the three remaining pups (Puppy #3 is sold, but hasn't gone to his new home yet) to our vet today for their second series of shots. All checked out in good health. Today Puppy #1 weighed in at 12 lbs., Puppy #2 weighed in at 14 lbs., and Puppy #3 weighed in at 14 3/4 lbs. Still only two pups left to sell, Puppies #1 and #2. Puppy #1 is an adorable puppy. He has maybe had somewhat of a changeable personality. A few weeks ago he was one of the most cuddly pups, seeking out my lap whenever he could. Lately he has held back more, not initiating contact, but certainly receptive to contact when offered. That may be due to the other two pups who are still here have more dominant personalities than he does. He is a very loving puppy, quick to give licky kisses when picked up. Initially he was one of the small pups in the litter, but later took off and is now a medium sized sheltie (likely adult weight of around 25 lbs.). His coloring lately has gotten significantly lighter, so that he may grow to have very little dark shadowing. He has relatively even markings of white on his front paws and the white on the back of his neck goes from the middle then off to one side. He has a thin line of white on his forehead. Puppy #2 has received a great deal of attention, as he has been my younger daughter's favorite from the start. He was the first to learn the stairs out in their puppy pen and seemed to enjoy climbing up on the ledge and looking down at the others, much to their dismay, of course. Puppy #2 is a large sheltie. Personality wise I would say he's quite friendly and usually is receptive to being held. Puppy #2 is darker, but not heavily shadowed compared to Puppy #4 in the litter. In terms of symmetry of markings, Puppy #2 has more symmetrical markings than does Puppy #1. Puppy #2 has relatively even markings of white on his front paws and a blotch of white on the back of his neck (initially before his hair was long, two streaks of white on the back of his neck, but now appears just as a large blotch of white). Puppy #2 has a line of white going down his face. Puppy #3 will be going to his new owner in Michigan this Saturday. We took more pics of the pups today - will try to get them programmed into our site sometime tomorrow....

We finally had nice temperatures today, so the puppies got to spend some time playing outside. Mama Lucy enjoyed playing with them.

PUPPY UPDATE, February 2, 2008: Today we flew Puppy #3 to his new home in Michigan. We were sad to see him go, as he was always so friendly and loving, but know that he has found a good home. Just two more pups to go.....

PUPPY UPDATE, February 10, 2008: We still have Puppies #1 and #2 available. Puppy #1 is at times somewhat shy, but can be so funny, giving the most quizzical looks. With us, he's quite gentle and very affectionate, while he and his brother often play quite roughly with each other. Puppy #2 has been quite spoiled by my younger daughter, but at times doesn't like to be held as long as she would like - he would much rather be engaged in active play! Lately Puppy #1's hair has turned mostly light colored, so that likely his adult coloring will more favor that of his dad, with little shadowing. The thin white line on his forehead is lessening and may not be readily visible once he's an adult. It's not clear at this point how much shadowing Puppy #2 will have, but he isn't as shadowed as others in the litter were. Will try to get updated pics in our site soon.....

PUPPY UPDATE, February 16, 2008: Today Puppies #1 and #2 spent most of the day playing outside, mostly with Mama Lucy. Daddy Lucky tried to herd everyone for awhile. By the end of the day and time to come in, both puppies were so tired out. They really seemed to enjoy playing in the snow, and it was good exercise for the parent dogs, trying to keep up with the young ones' energy. We have had so many very cold spells here this winter, that the pups have had very few opportunities to play outside. Sorry I haven't gotten new shots of the pups in our site lately. The last time I was going to take their pics, Puppy #1 had a toenail episode - a nail got hung up in my scarf while I was carrying him, the nail bent backwards, and broke below the blood line. It was hard to get the bleeding stopped, so that ultimately we had to bandage his paw. So that pretty much nixxed pics that evening! And since then have just neglected to get the new pics. At this stage the pups are not changing much, the way they do in their early weeks. Puppy #1 can be a bit timid at times, but is mostly calmer and a very loving puppy. I think he's becoming quite a beautiful little guy. Puppy #2 is very confident and friendly. He also strikes me as being very intelligent and picks things up rather quickly. Both are such sweethearts, that at this point we definitely will be sad when it comes their time to go, but hopefully we will find them good homes soon.

PUPPY UPDATE, March 15, 2008: Today we found a good home for Puppy #2 with a couple from Clear Lake, MN. We still have one puppy to go, Puppy #1. Puppy #1 is very loving, but at times a bit shy. He has been more of a follower, than a leader, with the others in his litter. Today he is feeling a bit depressed, having lost his buddy, Puppy #2. So we are giving him extra TLC. He continues to be a medium sized sheltie with very little black shadowing. Hopefully we will find him a good home soon.....

PUPPY UPDATE, March 16, 2008: Puppy #1 had a rough time yesterday and overnight adjusting to his brother being gone, but he is doing so much better today. Yesterday he moped around, and whined and whimpered loudly in the garage last night. I held him in my arms for quite awhile, and he even had tears in his eyes. Poor baby. But today he did take interest in his little half siblings who are now out in the yard to play also. They are starting to play together some.

PUPPY UPDATE, March 17, 2008: Puppy #1 did whimper and whine loudly for awhile in the garage again last night, but he is now playing more and more with his little half siblings.

PUPPY UPDATE, March 19, 2008: No whimpering or whining the past two nights, so I think things are now pretty much okay with Puppy #1. Having always been a follower rather than a leader, maybe it isn't all bad that he's now the oldest pup in the yard. It may help him to have a stronger personality. I make sure and give him alone love time a few times a day to help him still feel special. He is such a beautiful and nice puppy. He does now get a bit jealous when I'm loving the other puppies, though, and whimpers a bit and even barks at them. Then I make sure he gets more of his own loving, too. Unfortunately Mama Lucy tends to have favorites in her litters - her favorites from this litter had been Puppies #4 and #2. She has never had a whole lot to do with Puppy #1. Lucy would play with Puppy #2 out in the yard, while nearly ignoring Puppy #1. Someone recently said that maybe Lucy is drawn more to her pups who have a bold personality more like her own. Puppy #1 has a more submissive personality, more like Daddy Lucky. Some have asked why we had the last two pups as long as we have - actually there has been much interest in both over the past few months, especially in Puppy #1. Twice buyers said they were sending deposits to put down on him, and then they didn't follow through. Two inquirers I rejected due to feeling they would not be a good match. Some have said the economy may be affecting puppy sales as well. But overall we have typically had more difficulty selling our winter litter pups. People seem to think more about getting a puppy when the weather is nicer. I hope to get new pics taken soon and into our web site. Seems like my life has just been so busy lately, that I don't always have as much time to devote to our site as I used to.....

PUPPY UPDATE, April 8, 2008: Well, we still have Puppy #1 available. He has by now adapted beautifully to playing with his little half siblings and no longer seems to be missing his littermate. He is so incredibly sweet and gentle with the little ones, often licking their faces and plays so much gentler with them than with his own littermates, although he never was a rough puppy. He is now calmer when inside the house. Last night a former buyer brought over her now 8 1/2 month old Sheltchow pup, and he and Puppy #1 enjoyed playing together in our living room. He gets along amazingly well with other pups/dogs, likely because he has a submissive rather than dominant personality so that he isn't viewed as a potential threat by other dogs/pups. Puppy #1's coloring is now quite evident - his coloring will be like Daddy Lucky's, with hardly any black shadowing and predominant sable. His coat is currently transitioning from baby to adult fur. Until otherwise stated in our site, Puppy #1 is still available and looking to find a good home.

PUPPY UPDATE, April 19, 2008: Puppy #1 saw our vet today for his final puppy shots and rabies vaccine. He checked out to be in good health and weighed 30 lbs. The vet said he likely will not grow much more. He's on the large end of being a medium sized sheltie. He rode great in the car and did not get car sick or whimper or bark at all. He's such a well behaved boy :-) .

PUPPY UPDATE, May 6, 2008: So far we still have Puppy #1. What a darling boy, such a sweet personality and pretty, too. Lately he's been playing both with his two remaining half sibling Sheltchow pups, along with their mother, our purebred chow Sabra. He and Sabra have been playing chase around the yard. They also wrestle with each other a bit, but Puppy #1 runs away if he becomes afraid she will play too rough or whatever. Recently when we had a thunder storm, the poor baby was quite scared and whimpering repeatedly in their pen in the garage. So, went out and gave him lots of love and a pep talk about how thunder won't hurt him..... :-).

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Our shelties and chow chow are part of our family, well loved and very socialized. We have a large fenced yard for our dogs to run and play in, and our dogs have access to dog houses and our garage. In our garage is a fenced off area with an insulated, heated nesting box for Lucy's pups; however, her winter litters have typically spent most of their upbringing inside our home. Sabra has a separate, two-room house for raising her pups. Our dogs frequently visit inside our home for love and play with our family.


Lucky & Lucy