We are excitedly preparing for a Spring litter here at Caliber. After a rather tenuous holiday season due to personal circumstances, we weren’t sure if this litter was going to happen. But, things are looking good for 2009 and we are crossing our fingers for a nice healthy litter. After a disappointing miss earlier in 2008 when she was bred but did not get pregnant, we are really looking forward to good news on her ultrasound confirming pregnancy. We are anxiously awaiting the appointment on February 17th.
Blast lives up to his name as he blasts off the line at a hunt test.
Kyle sent me a great clip of Marlin swimming. This was taken at his family’s farm where the spring water there is apparently quite cold! But, that doesn’t deter Marlin one bit. Here are Kyle’s comments:
A short vid of Marlin going after a stick, I think he lost sight of it and ends up searching around, but usually he is on top of things!
I was also told that Marlin has been filmed for a possible Purina commercial! Now that is exciting. I can’t wait to see if he makes the final ad.
I have been quite remiss in updating my blog and my web site lately. It happens to all of us, things just get in the way. It is not for lack of news to report, either. Some great things have happened. Angel was published in a major Canadian magazine, along with an article written by her owner, Jennifer Brown. Marlin has grown to be quite a handsome and happy young dog. Comox and Marcello continue to live a dog’s life in the Pacific Northwest visiting some of the most beautiful places in their travels. The dogs here are all happy and healthy and that is always good news, including our latest addition “Jackpot” from Keepsake Kennels in Alabama. I am making plans for Zeppe’s next litter this Winter/Spring after an attempt to breed her earlier this year disappointingly failed. I am excited about this new breeding and looking forward to having puppies again. Apple has passed her all prerequisite health tests so far with flying colors. I was quite pleased to find out she is PRA Clear - breaking my streak of carrier dogs. Angel made her agility debut at the Canadian Toller Club’s Agility Fundraiser. I had a fantastic time at the US National Specialty in California and still have to find the time to post the pictures I took while there. There is plenty of other blog-worthy news as well I am missing, and I really need to remember to post when things happen.
Pleasant news came today when we received the results of Zeppe’s Optigen testing for CEA. She has tested “Normal”, or Clear. This means she carries two normal genes and will never develop Collie Eye Anomaly (aka Choroidal Hypoplasia). She will also never be able to produce a puppy afflicted with this disease because her offspring will always receive at least one good copy of the gene from her.
As a bonus, Zeppe’s CEA clear status now means that all of the A Litter pups are also CEA “Clear by Parentage” as daddy Marcello is also CEA clear.
It’s not as rare as say, Mississippi, but when we get a good heavy snow fall it is always a treat for the dogs. We got just such a treat last Thursday. I wish I had some nice pictures of my Tollers to share, but unfortunately the camera wasn’t working and I got nothing. Lucky for me, Kyle took a few great ones of Marlin enjoying the snow.
Comox had a blast along with 40 or so other Tollers, including his Grandma Mia and Grand-uncle Pike, at the annual BC Toller Walk. Not daunted by the cold, icy water in Barnet Marine Park, he and pappa Marcello were found taking a swim on more than one occasion. More pictures are available on Patrick and Sara’s Webshots.
Happy Birthday to the A Litter!! One year ago today Zeppe gave birth to 4 beautiful puppies and Caliber Tollers was presented with their first litter. It is hard to believe they are a year old already!
Happy Birthday to:
Red, now known as Caliber’s Alpine to Ocean Livin aka Comox
Miss Orange, now known as Caliber’s Apple of my Eye aka Apple
Charlie, now known as Caliber’s Atlantic Blue aka Marlin
Miss Green, now known as Caliber’s Angioletto aka Angel
A big thanks to the Patrick and Sara, Frank and Jennifer, and Kyle for giving these puppies wonderful homes to grow up in.
This dynamic duo took home top honors on December 2nd when they won the 16″ division at the AKC Agility Invitational. Congratulations to Kim Simons & Slyder and also to all the other Tollers holding the breed banner high in agility and conformation at the 2007 AKC Invitationals.
I managed a few minor site updates this evening. Zeppe’s new titles have been updated. The “Our Tollers” page has been updated and Apple has her own page now. There are no pictures for Apple in the Gallery yet, but that is forthcoming.
