Merry Christmas from some of the Ditchas....

Wendell sporting his Santa hat

Rango (f.k.a. Vance) enjoying the snow in New Mexico

Riley Striking A Pose

With the help of my handler (Barbara Weiner), I was able to get some stacked pictures of Riley. We were at the Dallas shows this weekend. Riley had fun experiencing the sites and sounds of a dog show. Apparently she did well in boot camp with Barbara the last 2 weeks and learned lots of important stuff! :-) Kathleen McCombs brought Killian on Saturday so that Riley and he could play. Riley also got to play with Cardi puppy Lily and an assortment of other dogs. Riley will make her debut at the shows in Glen Rose this January. It will definitely be very entertaining to watch if nothing else! :-)
Brother Killian will be making his debut in Glen Rose as well.Torch (living with Kim Shira) will also make his debut this January at shows in Oregon.

Ditto/Chase Puppies Pupdates

All of the Ditchas have now found their new homes! :-)
Mr. Topper (a.k.a Tater) found a lovely show home with Kathleen McCombs in Waco, TX. Topper had been staying with Penni in New Mexico for the last 2 & 1/2 months until we could find him a home.The show season had ended for the year there, so he flew back here on Friday. He was a real trooper for his approximately 8 hour plane trip. I took him to the dog show in Alvarado after work on Saturday because Kathleen had expressed interest in seeing him. He went for a sleep over that night to see how he would do with her pack. Tooper made himself right at home and acted as if he had always lived there. Needless to say, Kathleen and her husband were smitten with Mr. Personality. I look forward to seeing him at shows and getting to watch how he grows up. 
All of the other puppies appear to be doing well in their new homes. They seem to have adjusted easily and are helping to heal hearts. Riley, Rango (f.k.a. Vance), Torch (f.k.a. Yancey) and Topper will be starting their show careers in the next few months.

Torch enjoying the sunshine with sister Thimble

Riley heading off to show "boot camp"

Tegan catching some Z's with Kyra (14 yr old Cardigan) in Maine

Meko on the beach in California

Rango helping to ensure sweet dreams :-)

Sleepy Zoey

Riley The Clinic Dog

Riley has been thoroughly enjoying her time up at the clinic with me. She gets loved on and spoiled by everyone! She also has the best time on our lunch breaks to the pet store or romping in the park or creek.
Riley will graduate from her puppy kindergarten class this coming Monday and will be receiving an AKC Star Puppy Certification. We have also been enjoying handling classes. She is an all around smart girl and is very willing to learn new things. It is hard not to be anything but in love with this little dog. She has totally stolen my heart and the hearts of those she meets. :-)

Riley making sure everything runs smoothly

Riley likes to be a back seat driver too :-)

Riley says "Being the boss is hard work!"

Riley also helps with the dishes :-)

Happy Halloween!

I hope all of the new puppy owners are doing well and enjoying their new smooshies. I really appreciate all of the pictures and pupdates from everyone. It makes it easier with the puppies so far away, to know that they are settling in well and helping heal hearts! :-) Remember, if you have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Also, pictures are always welcome! I love to see how the smooshies are developing.

Bumblebee Riley

Bumblebee Riley

Riley imitating Auntie Thumper

Some Updated Pictures & Other Misc. Stuff

I know it seems like forever since my last blog but not much has changed. Zoey (my last puppy left at home) will be heading to her new home with Kathy in Las Vegas, Nevada this Wednesday. It will be hard to let her go but I know Kathy will LOVE her and give her a GREAT home! :-)
Riley and I have been attending a puppy kindergarten so that she can learn to be a smart girl. She has caught on pretty quickly. We have also started attending a conformation handling class so that she can learn what is needed to be a fancy show girl. It is also so I can learn how to handle too! I have been spoiled by my awesome handler Barbara Weiner who makes everything look so easy. :-)
My blue girl Thumper (Coedwig's Blue My Mind) is still working on finishing her AKC conformation title. She has both of her majors and a single point I believe, so we just need to find the rest of those singles. I wish she would finish because I really miss her when she is gone. I would also like to get her started in some other activity, maybe agility or herding?
Tater (Topper) is still looking for a good show/performance home. He is currently staying with Penni in New Mexico. He is DM clear through parentage and is a happy, athletic and eager to please young fellow. If interested, please fill out and submit the puppy application on Penni's blog.

Riley & Zoey catching some Z's on the couch

Riley



Meko's (f.k.a. Xanadu) ears stand up



Meko (f.k.a. Xanadu) after romping in a pumpkin patch in San Francisco, CA

Wendell says "REALLY"!

Pretty Boy Tater (Topper)

Pretty Boy Tater (Topper)

Meko (f.k.a. Xanadu) & Torch (f.k.a. Yancey) Pictures

All of the puppies except Topper (Tater Tot) have gone to their new homes. Topper (Tater Tot) is still looking for a nice show/performance home to call his own. He is in New Mexico with Penni and she let me know that they will try to get current stacked pictures of him. I thought I would post some recent pictures of the smooshies I received from their new owners. I love getting pictures of the puppies off on new adventures!
On another note, it looks like ear taping may be in order for those smooshies who haven't quite tamed their big ears to stand at attention. There should be a handout in your puppy information notebook.

Meko (f.k.a. Xanadu) in San Francisco

Meko (f.k.a. Xanadu) in San Francisco

Torch (f.k.a. Yancey) looking dashing in his tape crown

Torch (f.k.a. Yancey) in Oregon

Xanadu Heads Off To Her New Home

Well, little Ms Fluffer Nutter Xanadu and I made an early morning trip to DFW airport this morning to meet up with her new mommy. Julie flew in from San Francisco, CA so that Xanadu could ride in the cabin of the airplane. Ms Fluffy Pants will get to live the sweet life as a pampered companion with Julie, her husband and their 11 year old son. They promise to send lots of pictures and may even do some non competition agility to challenge Xanadu's mind.  I hope Xanadu has fun on her new adventure! :-) I know I will miss you Little Ms Pouffey Pants!

Xanadu after the ear tape was taken off 1 day ago (only 1 ear is still standing now)

Fun With Tape :-)

Well, at least it is fun for me! Maybe challenging is a better word! It is VERY hard to tape ears on 12 week old puppies (by myself) that would rather be doing anything else but holding still.
Regardless of this, the girls (Riley, Zoey and Xanadu) have had to have a little help with getting their big Cardi ears to stand at attention. Granted, they would still look cute with airplane ears but there is just something enchanting about those upright ears where they are supposed to be! :-) Plus, they get GREAT reception in most buildings! :-)
The following pictures show just how mistreated the girls think they are. Never mind the mass amount of treats involved in the process!

Xanadu

Zoey

Riley

Xanadu all tired out

Lazy Sunday Morning....

So far the dogs and I have had a very relaxing weekend. The small amount of rain we received over the last few days and the cooler temperatures (actually in the 80's) have been a welcome relief. Please enjoy these pictures of smooshies (& mommy Ditto) enjoying their Sunday morning naps! :-)

Mommy Ditto still loves her smooshies!

Upward facing Zoey

Ms Riley found the cool spot under the desk

Zoey (left) loves her sister Xanadu (right)

Ms Riley catching some sun :-)

Xanadu Is Still Looking For a Home!

Sweet Xanadu is a fluffy brindle girl that is looking for a good performance/companion home. She will be 12 weeks old tomorrow. She is active, attentive and is eager to please! :-) If you are interested in adding this sweet girl to your household please fill out a puppy application on Penni's blog.

Topper 11 Week Stacked Pictures

 

This is Topper (a.k.a. Tater Tot). He is 11 weeks old in this photo.  His pedigree can be seen here.  His dad is the Chase ( Am/Can CH C-Myste Baledwr Pursuit of Happiness CD HSAs RN VC CGC TT) and his mom is Ditto (CH Coedwig’s Dejavu), a Carbon daughter.  Topper is DM clear (both parents were DNA tested clear).  Both parents are OFA certified for Hips and Elbows.  Chase’s health clearances are all on his website. 
I also have Topper's  fluffy brindle sister available to a performance or companion home. She is very smart and responsive. Photos of her can be found on previous blog posts. Please contact Penni or I if you are interested in either Topper or Xanadu.

New Mexico Trip

I had a GREAT time at Penni's place in New Mexico this weekend. Topper rode well in the plane on the trip there. He will stay with Penni until he finds a good show home. I also brought 'baddog" Riley back to Texas so that she can learn to be a true Southern Belle! :-)
The landscape of New Mexico was awesome! It is so neat to see so many mountains. Plus, it was nice to go outside and not die of heat exhaustion! I got to go with Penni and see Little Miss Nola herd ornery sheep and goats. It was a new experience to see Cardi's doing what they were bred to do. It makes me think, I need to find a herding club somewhere around Dallas or North Texas. Penni was also nice enough to let Nola sleep in bed with me since I was missing my bed buddies. :-)
We also took current stacked pictures of Topper and Riley. I will post them tomorrow. Until then, appreciate the beauty of New Mexico. :-)

The view from the side of the road

Sunset

Sunset over the mountains

The view from the herding site

Beautiful Landscape

Rainbow with Sunrise