Kira's first few weeks at home...

[phgsd]

Kira (v Wolfstraum) has been with us for 3 weeks now. She's about 3 months old. She is such an awesome puppy, I am having so much fun with her!

Last week I brought her to my herding lesson. I was just going so our trainer could meet her, but he told me to bring her out to see how she reacted to the sheep. So my husband got her from the car while Kessy was on the border.
We stood so she could watch the sheep from a distance at first. Then the trainer told Tommy to bring her closer to the sheep - and she marched right over, tail up, very intent on them. When she got close, the sheep spooked away and she got really excited when she realized that she MADE them move.
It doesn't mean she will make a great herding dog, we won't be able to really evaluate that til she's older - but is shows that she is one CONFIDENT puppy to march up to them like that!!

Yesterday I attended a canine first aid seminar - the vet giving the clinic is a local vet who had shepherds and is very well known in the S&R world. She's given clinics all over the world. During the break I brought Kira out just to potty and to do a little socializing. Kira is super social and loves everyone. The vet asked if she could use Kira as the demo dog for the next section - so when we started the seminar I brought her back out and everyone got to check her pulse and then she demonstrated different ways of carrying your dog. So I had Kira in a fireman's carry and then picked her up in different ways - and Kira wasn't the least bit phased by any of it. I wish I could have gotten pictures!!

Today our local vet had a health clinic and I brought Kira in for her microchip. I figured it'd be great socialization . The office was full of people and dogs - but fortunately ALL of the dogs were super well behaved, most were show or competition dogs. So she was exposed to all kinds of dogs in close proximity, and all the people working had to say hello. They were really nice about it and would crouch down to say hello - which would have been great if Kira was the least bit shy...but she bowled all of them over!! So I had to tell them not to worry about squatting...just to say hi normally so they wouldn't get knocked over!

I do some "drive building" every day with Kira, but I don't kid myself that I am "building" anything...she has so much drive that nothing needs to be "built!" But it's good excercise and bonding!

And I am doing a little obedience with her - she is heeling really nicely, although I'll admit I can get a little carried away sometimes. It's easy to forget that she is only 3 months old and sometimes I'll drag the sessions out a little longer than I should. But I am getting a better feel for how long I can work her.

I will try to get some video soon. I went back to school last month and it's hard to coordinate my schedule with my husband's to get pics/video since it gets dark so early. I was hoping to do more today, but DH came down with a stomach bug yesterday and I could only drag him outside for a few minutes for pictures!

And here are the pics - she has gotten so much darker, last weekend she was almost entirely tan, but now she's getting a lot more black!



Some heeling...

[Courtney]

Oh my...she is a stunning little girl and confident...she's one to watch and I look forward to hearing more updates about her.

I really enjoy reading your Kessy herding updates and the video's you post

[robinhuerta]

What a nice puppy! Congrats on picking a good breeder and for getting such a nice pup!

[wolfstraum]

thanks Meghan!!!! She looks super!!!! wahhh I miss the munchkin!!!


Lee

[phgsd]

Lee - we need pics of your two!!!

[Angelina03]

She is lovely. I love her colors, she looks like my Rocco.

[Barb E]

Look at that heeling!!!!! WoWzA!!

[FG167]

OOOOHHHHH she is gorgeous! The heeling photos are great

[PixieRN]

So cute!