O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all.
~ Robert Frost
Puppy Announcement
As the title of this post indicates, today there is a lot to read. We'll start with the good news that we have a new litter. Greta had three puppies on September 17th -- two girls and a boy. I think all have been spoken for. I am waiting to hear about one of the girls. If the answer is "no," I'll work my way down our waiting list.
Here are their pictures, taken at age two weeks.
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| Male |
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| Female |
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| Female |
Photos of our Two Up-and-Coming Show Puppies
The first two pictures are of 6-month-old Millie. Her sire is Josh and her dam is Bekka. Her registered name is Joyslyn's Moonlight Mystique
The next picture is of 9-month-old Winter. Her sire is Josh and her dam is LaVonne's Misty. AKC knows Winter as Joyslyn Mon Ami Winter Wind.
Photos of Autumn
Next are two photos of Autumn. (I still cannot bring myself to clip her down.) Autumn is Multi BISS GCH CH Joyslyn's Wind Song.
Notes and Photos from Others
Jan sent a photo of her Ernie. His sire is Josh and dam is Jan's Flash.
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| Ernie |
Mary sent this photo of Belle.
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| Belle |
From Janet: "Here is the latest picture of Pebbles.. As you can see she is even more ADORABLE than ever. CUTENESS OVERLOAD. I have never seen a dog that made everyone that meets her smile. She is currently going to puppy classes in Alton.. She is doing great.. Learns quickly, and has fun doing so. We are so glad she is a part of our life."
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| Pebbles Grace, litter sister of our Millie |
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| Eddie |
Eddie wrote (via Bill),
"Hi Grandma! Everything here is going well. I love my home and I am having bunches of fun playing with my 4 year old nephew. I am getting lots of exercise running around and I usually sleep most of the night because I am all worn out from play. I am doing very good with my crate and I started to lose my baby teeth a little over a week ago. The cats are very tolerant of me and don't even give me any trouble when I ambush them and jump on their backs. Mommy and Daddy are showering me with love and I return the favor. Attached is a photo showing you my first trim! I will write again when I have more to say.
Eddie.
PS. My potty habits are perfect. I never have any "accidents"!"
From Mark: "I am sure you remember LiLi (Lila), "Miss Me Me, Play Play. Well, she is still the life of the party, center of attention, hilarious, sweet, and affectionate."
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| LiLi |
From Kathy: "Hi, Joyce! I always wait eagerly for your blogs, and enjoy reading them very much…I am attaching a picture of Sophie, Macie, and Hunter at a “puppy sleepover.” As you know, Macie and Hunter are Marilyn’s Joyslyn’s Lhasas. Macie is also Sophie’s older sister. The pet sitter was astonished at how much Macie and Sophie looked alike in the face! Hunter is staying put under the chair!
Sophie will already be four years old next month! It’s hard to believe. She is a great joy, as well as being my protector and the police patrol of the cul-de-sac! She gets (and gives) plenty of love around our house."
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| Millie |
From Kari about Millie: "We absolutely love Millie and she loves everyone she meets, her tail is constantly wagging and her and our other dog love playing together. They love to be outside in our fenced in backyard. They could be out there all day if you let them! Thank you so much! She was a great addition to our family!"
Jim wrote about Daisy: "She’s a great dog that brings us lots of joy. Everyone that meets her asks what type of dog she is, comments on how great she looks or how well groomed or behaved she is. She recently became aware of the squirrels at the park (historically she has been fascinated with birds). She loves to play and cuddle; and when she’s allowed on our bed, she looks incredibly happy and could spend the whole day there. She also likes staring out our window, even though we are 28 floors up and she can’t see too much on the ground."
Food for Thought and Links to Articles
For those of you who might still be falling for PETA and HSUS ads that ask you for money, read about PETA employees who are not about protecting unwanted animals. This article was written by Patti Strand, President of the National Animal Interest Alliance (NAIA)
If you would like to learn more about, donate to, or join the NAIA, go to this website. I am a member and encourage all to join or to donate whatever you can afford to this worthwhile organization. It is not just for show dogs and breeders. If you love and value your animals and your right to own them, support this group. NAIA is a 501(c)(3)not-for-profit organization.
What is A Preservation Breeder?
Perhaps you have seen on Facebook or heard the term "preservation breeder" somewhere and wondered what the term means. Here is a paragraph of explanation, taken from an article written by Dan Sayers that appeared in the July 2017 issue of ShowSight Magazine. Sayers wrote, "The term “preservation breeder” is a somewhat recent designation. It is used with increasing frequency among dedicated fanciers to reinforce a commitment to produce dogs of quality as described by the breed standards. This new designation is a direct response to an AR [animal Rights]campaign determined to eliminate the controlled breeding and ownership of all companion animals. To a growing number of serious fanciers, the stakes have never been higher and the use of “purebred” seems out of touch these days, if not entirely obsolete. “Preservation” may best describe the work required of today’s breeders who wish to live in a world where Schipperkes and Rottweilers coexist alongside “service dogs” and “rescues.”
Other articles may be found by simply googling "Breed Preservation"
Today those who wish to purchase purebred dogs often face criticism from friends, relatives, or co-workers who have drunk the kool-aide of the animal rights people. Someone who bought one of my Lhasa puppies actually parted ways with a friend who would not stop criticizing her for her choice.
Now, as a breeder of purebred dogs, I may scoff at people who spend thousands of dollars on a designer breed with a catchy name (usually ending in "doodle"), but I respect their right to do so. If they want to pay a lot of money for what is basically a mutt, it’s their money and their desire to own such a dog. If someone wants to rescue an unwanted dog from an animal shelter, I have no problem with that. Again, it is their desire and their money. I always wonder why, then, do buyers of purebreds have to take flack from the buyers of designer dogs and rescue dogs because they want a purebred? It is a matter of personal choice.
Purebred dogs are bred to a standard that specifies the desired characteristics of the particular breed. Preservation breeders breed so as to preserve the characteristics that separate one breed from another, characteristics that contribute to the purpose of each breed: hunters, herders, retrievers, guards, companions, etc.
And while I am complaining…I also hate it when purebred dog breeders are accused of creating a canine overpopulation. Seriously?? People say the animal shelters are full of unwanted dogs that must be rescued. What percentage of them are purebreds compared to the cross-breeds? How many of them are designer dogs that did not live up to the hype of being "hypoallergenic" or "easy to potty train" or "non-shedding?" Where do these unwanted non-purebred dogs come from? Somebody is obviously breeding them, whether indiscriminately or purposefully!
Some shelters are running low on dogs, so they import dogs from foreign countries--and with them are importing diseases heretofore unknown in the USA and thereby are endangering our pets.
"According to the AKC, the growing numbers of imported dogs, often strays from developing countries, or from breeders who breed specifically for importation to the U.S., has led to an increase in the occurrence of zoonotic diseases (rabies, tuberculoisis, and brucellosis), screwworm, and canine (Asian) flu in dogs imported into the United States risking the health of the U.S. human and pet population and agricultural animals." (Source: AKC Asks Lawmakers to Scrutinize Imported Dogs and Disease)
Some shelters that have rescued pregnant bitches have discovered that selling puppies brings in more money so they are breeding their own for "adoption." Has anyone noticed how "adoption" fees have increased lately? Pet "adoption" has turned into a money making system for many rescue groups and animal shelters.
So, the next time someone gives you grief about owning or wanting to buy a purebred Lhasa, offer rebuttals based on information in the following articles.
The Importance of Maintaining Purebred Dogs
Why we need Purebred Dogs by Carlotta Cooper,
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A friend recently asked a question that provides some food for thought: Why do people use the euphemism "adopt" as in "We adopted a new puppy."?
Is it because "adopt" sounds better than "bought?" Is it because breeders advertise "Puppies for Adoption" instead of "Puppies for Sale"?
If you paid money to someone--a private breeder, pet store some guy at a flea market, an animal shelter--for a dog, you bought the dog. You are responsible for its health and well-being. While it is a beloved member of your family, it is also your property. You own it. It is yours.
Until next time...
Joyce
