Myrrh and Bryce
Check out the new pictures of Bryce on the "Sires and Foundation Dogs" page!
Myrrh-Bryce litter born 3/23/10!
The Myrrh-Bryce litter of 9 has 5 boys, 4 girls, 5 black/white and 4 black tricolors, beautifully marked, active and nursing well. All of the pups are very similar in size and vigor, a very uniform litter. I anticipate the majority will be smooth coated, but rough coat is possible, just too early to tell! These pups will be ABCA registered, and have an excellent herding-lines pedigree. For more info on Myrrh, visit her page on the website. Bryce's information is on the "Sires and Foundation Dogs" page. I have chosen "puppy names" that follow along the "herbs and spices" theme of their mother's name, including very old traditional herbs. winthropbcs@cox.net
Follow up on each puppy in its new home by clicking on the name below!
Here are the puppies and mother Myrrh 1 day after birth:
April 25,2010--A letter to all prospective new puppy owners!
In response to an inquiry about which 1 or 2 puppies I thought are the best in the litter at 4 weeks of age:
Yikes! They all are! It all depends on the moment, how sleepy, full or hungry they are. For instance, I thought Kale was lowest on the activity/pushiness level a week ago, but this week he's going around deliberately nose-bumping the toughest of them and confident as he can be! NONE of these puppies are shy or retiring. Nobody hides in the box, they are all right there ready to rock and roll. I know this is not the answer you are wanting to hear, you REALLY want to start keying in on a couple of the pups as maybe "the one" (just like everybody else on the list!) but I think you are going to have to wait and interact with them yourself to see which one(s) "click" with you! They tell me patience is a virtue!
I just got a new book, "Top Trainers Talk About Starting a Sheepdog" that is a compilation of interviews with 17 top USBCHA herding trial handlers, asking each the same questions. One of the questions was "How do you pick a puppy?" I avidly scanned each chapter, just for that answer. Almost universally, the answer was, "I just keep the one that's left after everybody else picks." Or, "I dunno, one just kinda takes my fancy." Only one guy had any specific criteria, which was he wanted to see the tail down! (Now to me, in a baby puppy that's as likely to be an indication of hesitancy and lack of confidence as "thoughtfulness"!) A top long-time BC breeder (Joyce Norris of Norwood BC's) told me "If you know the parents, just close your eyes, reach into the box and grab one--it will be a great dog!" She told me nobody was willing to even consider one puppy of hers, who had the best structure eval and was really the pick of the litter performance wise, because early on she had described the puppy as "laid back and having a little heavier bone than the others." After those few words, nobody could see the puppy in front of their faces for who he really was! Their minds were made up about him already (apparently they thought he was a Clydesdale), before they came to pick their puppies. We agility/performance folk seem to drive ourselves crazy obsessing over picking the perfect puppy... forgetting that if you have a good, sound pedigree to start with, the results are due to training and the relationship you develop with your dog.
With the litters I have raised, going back to a Cocker Spaniel litter about 30 years ago and including a Cavalier and 6 BC litters, I have never (did you catch that? NEVER!) ended up with the puppy I "picked" at 3-4 weeks old, even living with them every day. They just change too much as they develop, somebody else comes on and out-shines the original "pick" or one of the puppies just decides "I" am "the one" and doesn't want to go with anyone else. You can't turn down a bond like that, and every time that has happened, in retrospect I ended up with the best pup in the litter for me! Myrrh was one like that. I did NOT pick Myrrh, she picked me and "my" puppy that I picked and nurtured from 3 weeks old picked someone else, and it was so obvious that we could not argue with the situation, though I cried for 3 days! And just look at what a great dog I got! I would not trade Myrrh for any other dog on the face of the planet!
I know your mind is going 100 miles an hour, looking at puppy pictures and racing forward to the herding fields or MACH's with that little face! Imagine what it is like for me, staring directly into 9 little faces, getting puppy licks, and knowing that I do not have all the info I need yet to make my decision!
"Wait" is the hardest command I ever teach my dogs; harder for people! Margie
Now we return to the regular programming!
March 26,2010 I have started the "Super Dog" program with each pup, also known as Early Neurological Stimulation. On days 3-16, each pup is exposed to 3-5 seconds of very mild stressors (changes in position, damp cool towel, etc.) Scientific studies indicate that pups who go through this program are better able to handle stress as adults, tend to be healthier and learn better. All pups are gaining weight steadily.
April 6--2 weeks old! At 2 weeks of age, these puppies are tracking along exactly with the 2007 litter, with weights between 20.8-23.8 ounces. Mace and Tansy are at the lower end of weights, and Sedge and Clary are at the top of the weight range. With the last litter, my predictions as to what coat type they ultimately developed were very unreliable at this age, so I am not even going to try with these puppies! It was between 4-5 weeks before I was confident whether they would be rough or smooth coated dogs. All eyes are opening right on schedule! They are starting to make "other" puppy noises besides whines or cries occasionally--little barks, yips, and growls. All are up on their feet, toddling around the box. In another couple of days, I expect things to REALLY liven up around here!
Front to back: Rue, Tansy, Kale, Mace, Sumac, Clary, Dill, Sedge, Cedar
Nursing l to r: Cedar, Sumac, Dill, Rue, Tansy, Mace (and the other 3 are on the bottom row!)
April 13--3 weeks old! This HAS been a very active week! Two days after eyes opened, one evening all of a sudden there were puppies running all over the whelping box! Myrrh had the most surprised look on her face, glancing at me as if to say, "I'm not sure I want to go in there--it's a melee!" But she's been a real trooper and continues to mother them diligently. Today they are cutting teeth, started on a gruel of Eagle Pack Holistic Select Puppy Nourish and goat's milk, eating with gusto. I am playing an audio tape of distinctive noises, from thunderstorms to babies crying called "Puppy Racket" while they eat. I have put a small plastic crate in the pen just big enough for them to all sleep in.
Wk 3 weights: Tansy 1.78#, Sedge 1.98#, Dill 1.84#, Rue 1.78#, Sumac 1.90#, Mace 1.73#, Kale 1.74#, Cedar 1.88#, Clary 2.05#
Clockwise from 12:00- Rue, Cedar, Mace, Clary, Dill, Kale, Sedge, Tansy, Sumac
April 17, 2010--25 days old!
Mace and Cedar, the tri boys
Puppy pen set-up with crate where they often sleep, puppies playing lots!
April 22,2010 30 days old and on the move! The pups have been in an x-pen with a large 13" tall box as entry/exit for Myrrh to have access to them any time she wants. This morning, suddenly there was a puppy at my feet! Four of the pups had not only climbed out of the pen into the box, but out of the box again and were running around everywhere! And the others were about to join them! SO--I closed up the x-pen. Myrrh is about done feeding them anyway, and her main priority now as you can see is not so much feeding the pups as stealing the puppy toys!
Clary, the escapee, and Myrrh, the thief!
This week I have taken each puppy individually with me to the kitchen, covered porch outside, "dog room" and living room. Each pup has had the opportunity to function alone (without support from the litter) exploring, following my feet and doing recalls to light clapping and calling. They have been on tile, vinyl flooring, carpet, metal grates, cement and dirt. Minor variations in reactions, all did well, no puppy had a "bad" reaction to any of the new challenges. Each pup also got a 4-week-old birthday present--a new puppy collar!
Wk 4 weights: Tansy 2.86#, Sedge 3.37#, Dill 3.36#, Rue 3.23#, Sumac 3.52#, Mace 3.02#, Kale 3.05#,Cedar 3.28#, Clary 3.54#
April 27-- 5 weeks old! These pups are changing fast! I think their legs have all grown an inch in the last two days! A few days ago they graduated to the larger playpen on the back porch for most of the day, and are exploring the wide open spaces of the back yard when I am out there to supervise. They still come inside at night to their smaller x-pen.
Puppy playpen: Mace, Tansy, Clary, Sumac, Kale, Sedge, Cedar, Rue, Dill in the back chewing!
Sedge, Rue, Tansy, Cedar (front to back); Cedar and Dill at the big step.
Wk 5 weights: Tansy 4.7#, Sedge 5.8#, Dill 5.2#, Rue 5.8#, Sumac 5.1#, Mace 5.0#, Kale 5.0#, Cedar 5.2#, Clary 5.8#
Don't hold too much credence to these weights--they are getting much squirmier, and I really had to "guestimate" this week!
May 1, 2010--5 1/2 weeks Yesterday the puppies got a new toy--the upside down plastic lid of a trash can (it forms a bowl)! All had a grand time jumping in and out of the tippy toy, similar to the motion of a Buja Board! Last evening, I found them all sleeping in the lid! Kyle (who is getting one of the girls) came down today, and we took the puppies on their first "road trip" to Terry Parrish's sheep ranch. They were really good in the car, a little indignant crying about being locked into the crates, but no panic. At the sheep ranch they got to interact with 3 new men, 3 new women and a girl about 11 yo near the fence for the sheep pens. After some initial caution in the very strange setting with new scents, baaing sheep, dogs barking excitedly, and some frustrated handlers giving their herding dogs loud verbal commands, the pups all settled in nicely. After a brief nap, they all came into a large pen with sheep with me and 3 other people. Kyle took a bunch of pictures, which I have posted in each pup's individual section! I have a bunch of exhausted puppies tonight!
May 6, 2010--6 weeks Boy, this choosing is not getting any easier! Stacy Winkler, my agility instructor, came over for puppy evals last evening and said every puppy has good drive, good tug, good toy drive, is very out-going and loves people--everything she looks for in an agility prospect. They have minor differences in personality, but she noted that all of them fall in the normal range of temperament and behavior at this young age, none exceedingly dominant and none shy or retiring. I basically got the same report when I took them all back for the second time to the herding training facility today. I took Myrrh and a few of the pups at a time out in the big field with 4-6 sheep (yes, real sheep even though they are such tiny babies!) None of the puppies headed for the safety of the tents, every one of them showed much interest in moving the sheep, even getting face-to-face with them. Each of them actually moved sheep on their own, not just Myrrh pushing the sheep! The sheep had the most perplexed looks on their faces, staring at these tiny creatures, but immediately identifying them as SHEEPDOGS, and so moving away from them! I wish I had videos, but had no one to film. I was HOPING to get a little clarity on my choice of puppies, and also to begin to sort out which pups should go to herding homes and which would fare better with agility homes (and I know several of you are planning to do some of both.) No such luck! The litter continues to be very uniform and outstanding in every way that we have "tested" them.
Wk 6 weights: Tansy 5.8#, Sedge 7.6#, Dill 6.5#, Rue 6.5#, Sumac 6.2#, Mace 6.4#, Kale 6.5#, Cedar 6.5#, Clary 6.5#
Cedar, Tansy, Dill, Mace, Kale
Dill, Cedar, Tansy, Rue
May 11, 2020--7 weeks! This past week the pups have each been on a leash for the first time. They are getting even bolder in the yard, exploring and chewing on EVERYTHING! They had their first Distemper/Parvo shots on 5/7, and I wormed them again today with Pyrantel Pamoate. Kyle Trumbull-Clark came again and picked Rue; she is keeping Winthrop Rue as her registered name, but will call her "Bryn." I have decided to keep Clary, who gave me quite a scare later on the 11th! She went from her usual bouyant self to a very sick puppy with a fever of 105 in 3 hours. Turns out she got aspiration pneumonia during the "feeding frenzy" at dinnertime. She spent the night and most of Wednesday at the Emergency vet clinic on IV antibiotics. She came home Wednesday evening, has been getting lots of special attention, and is doing very well now. Needless to say, I have begun separating each of the puppies at feeding times three times a day to slow their eating down and prevent something similar from happening to any of the other pups! Luckily, the problem is nothing contagious, and all of the puppies were back to roughhousing and racing around by Friday!
Wk 7 weights: Tansy 6.8#, Sedge 8.9#, Dill 7.7#, Rue 7.7#, Sumac 6.8#, Mace 7.4#, Kale 7.8#, Cedar 7.6#, Clary 7.4#
Kale, Rue, Sumac and Mace
Cedar and Dill (sometimes the positions are reversed!)
Mace and Kale
May 15, 2010--Structure evaluations by Helen King
Helen gives seminars all over North America on canine structure as it relates to performance. Today she did structure evaluations on the remaining 8 puppies; I have entered her comments and a photo in each puppy's section. Over-all comments were that it is a very nice litter, "you did good!" All had good bites (placement of teeth.) The differences that she noted as to "this one has more angulation (or less) than others in the litter" she said are very minor. She did not note any glaring faults on any issues. She said that all of these puppies should be able to play well at whatever activities the owner chooses, providing they get the right training!
May 18, 2010--8 weeks old! I am now feeding the puppies separately, though they are together most of the time, playing. Most have had puppy diarrhea to one degree or another, treating all with Flagyl and that seems to be doing the trick. Several stool samples have all come up negative for giardia or coccidia, which puppies frequently get, but vet says there are other bacterial causes and the Flagyl is curing the problem in short order.
Wk 8 weights: Tansy 7.4#, Sedge 9.6#, Dill 8.3#, Bryn (Rue)8.3#, Sumac 7.8#, Mace 7.8#, Kale 8.4#, Cedar 8.2#, Clary 8.3#
Individual Puppy Updates
Tansy--now Poppy, call name "Emma" Black/white girl: Tansy (A strong herb, toxic in large doses. The colonists brought it to America, now grows wild. Used as a "strewing herb" to ward off insects in home and garden. Germanic people hung it in their homes to ward off monsters, also burned it as incense.)
2 days 
1wk 
16 days
When Tansy's eyes opened, she came alive! Playful, sweet personality. She'll tussle with the big boys. The most "talkative" pup.
26 days 
5 weeks old! 
In with sheep!
7wks
Structure eval 5/15/10: Liked the structure of the pelvis, long, good length from tailset to the ileum bone. Not quite as much angulation in the rear as a few of the others. Very prominent sternum, has a longer neck and very good shoulder placement, good upper arm length. A very pretty girl.
May 23, 2010--Home with Akiko and Michael, San Diego, CA! She will be training in NADAC agility and as a Therapy Dog.
Sedge, call name "Edge" Black/white male: Sedge (A broad term denoting plants of the Cyperaceae family, resembling grasses and reeds, but with triangular stems. Widely distributed throughout the world. Species include the Chinese Water Chestnut, Papyrus, and Sweet Flag or Calamus, which has had medicinal uses for thousands of years, including treatment of colds and congestion, as a stimulant and mild tonic.)
2 days 
1wk 
16 days 
Look out, here comes trouble! Bold, confident, he walks with a swagger. Highest energy level of all of them! Maybe a rough coat?
26 days
5weeks old!
Structure eval 5/15/10: Such a big boy! I expect his structure will continue to change. Back is long, torso (ribcage) is long. Good pelvis, but might want it to be a little longer because he is so big. Strong hocks, good angulation. Shoulders are not bad, very good upper arm angle. Has a lot of sternum. Would like neck to be a little longer.
May 29, 2010--Sedge went home with Adriana to Mendocino, CA!Sedge will be a "demo dog" in Adriana's dog training classes, starting with her puppy class next week. He will be learning agility, herding and maybe some obedience. She has also trained dogs in Search and Rescue and protection work, so maybe....? Adriana with Edge and her old dog, Atomic:
Dill, call name "Switch" Black/white boy: Dill (Feathery leaves used as a seasoning and flower heads in pickling. Aroma clear, spicy, herbaceous, grassy, fresh and clear. Used for settling the stomach, relieving gas pains and colic, mildly antibacterial. In the Middle Ages was used as a charm against witchcraft.)
2 days 
1 wk 
16 days
Dill was the first to initiate play with the other pups. He's a calm guy, friendly, very inquisitive. Maybe a rough coat?
26 days 
5 weeks old! 
7 wks
Structure eval 5/15/10: His high tail set makes the distance shorter from tail root to ileum bone. He has more rear angulation than some of the others (a good thing.) Nice loin length. Nice, long pelvis. Shoulders are nice, would like to see a little more layback. Shoulders are set a little forward, but not bad. Sternum okay. Has good shoulder angulation. Viewed from above, looks a little heavier in the front than the rear. Would make a nice herding dog, fine for agility as well.
May 23, 2010--Home with Tamara, Hilliard, Ohio! And nary a peep from him on the long plane flight home! Plans for Dill ("Switch") include agility and maybe some herding.
Rue, call name "Bryn" Black/white girl: Rue (One of the oldest cultivated garden herbs, known as "The Herb of Grace." Can ease headaches, poultice for pain, insect repellent. In the Middle Ages used as an anti-magical herb; the Basilisk has no effect on rue--anybody seen the Harry Potter movie with the dragon Basilisk?)
2 days 
1 week 
16 days 
25 days 
Rue is wound pretty tight! High energy level, knows what she wants and goes after it.
26 days 
5 weeks old! 
7wks
May 11, 2010--Home with Kyle, Leona Valley, CA! They will be training in herding and NADAC agility.
Sumac, now Henna, call name "Stella" Black/white/tan tri girl: (Henna leaves, seeds and flowers have been used since the Bronze Age to dye skin, hair, leather, silk and wool, as a perfume, antifungal, and to repel some insects and mildew. Many religions celebrated marriages by adorning the bride and often the groom with henna. Henna is referred to twice in the Song of Songs in the Bible. Henna was regarded as conveying blessings and applied for luck as well as joy and beauty. Favorite horses, donkeys and salukis had hooves, paws and tails hennaed.)
2 days 
7 days 
16 days 
First to climb out of the whelping box, she loves to scamper around. Sweet, cuddler. Initially avoided confrontation with the other pups, but she's now learning to hold her own and gives back what she gets! Maybe a rough coat?
26 days 
5 weeks old! 
Structure eval 5/15/10: Nice pelvis, good length from tail root to ileum bone. Rear angulation okay, mid-way between the other two females. Sternum is not as prominent, but okay. Good shoulder angulation, good upper arm. Shoulders are set a little forward. Such a beautiful girl!
June 12, 2010--Home with Daniel and Sarah, Encinitas, CA! Stella will be introducing her new family to agility and maybe herding--but mostly she will be a cherished companion for them and Pomeranian Archie!
Mace Black/white/tan tri boy: Mace (The outer bright red waxy bands that surround the nutmeg seed, mace dries to an orange or brownish hue. It has a flavor similar to nutmeg, but milder with a hint of pepper, used as flavoring in a wide range of dishes, from desserts, potatoes, and sauces, to roast meats. Useful in treating the nervous system, digestive problems, relieving cough and congestion and in pain relieving ointments.)
2 days 
7 days 
16 days 
At 3 days (blind and deaf), went out on his own and explored the whole whelping box, not upset, worked it out until he got back to Mom and the litter. Mid-level in the litter as far as energy, usually one of the first to investigate new things.
26 days 
5 weeks old! 
7 wks
Structure eval 5/15/10: Big boned, but BC's tend to grow into their bone. I like his pelvis slope, good distance from tail root to ileum bone. Length of loin is good. High in the stifle. Decent rear angulation. Better shoulder angulation than some. Sternum is not as prominent, neck is a little shorter, shoulders set forward. Wide chest.
May 23, 2010--Home with Doug and family, Encinitas, CA! Mace will be having a blast as an only dog for the whole family, learning herding, maybe agility, and who knows what else?
Kale (was Sage, but returned to his original name...) Black/white boy: Heartiest of all vegetables, rarely susceptible to pests or diseases. A Scottish word derived from Greek/Roman "coles" referring to the whole cabbagelike group of plants. Highly nutritious, powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, protective against a wide range of cancers. A key provider of vitamins and minerals through the Middle Ages, in Britain in WWII rationing, and in the poor rural South, recently recognized as one of the "Super foods" in healthy eating.
2 days 
7 days 
16 days 
Likes human interaction. Active and inquisitive. Initially was "low man on the totem pole," but now sticks up for himself and nobody pushes him around!
26 days 
5 weeks old! 
7 wks
Structure eval 5/15/10: Pelvis is okay, a little short. Longer in torso (ribcage.) Sternum okay. Shoulders are good, upper arm well angulated. Strong hocks, flexible neck with good length of neck. A very nice boy!
May 23, 2010--Kale is staying right here with me! We are already working on manners and self control, will be training in herding, with maybe some agility as well. We will just see where his talents lie!
Cedar, now Sage Black/white/tan tri boy: Sage (A perennial evergreen, member of the mint family. Has had culinary and medicinal uses for centuries. Slight peppery flavor with distinct aroma. Latin name "Salvia" means "to heal." Used since ancient times to ward off evil, treat a variety of ailments and promote fertility.)
2 days 
7 days 
16 days 
Active, first to open eyes. Sticks up for himself, but usually doesn't instigate trouble. Very playful.
26 days 
5 weeks old! 
7 wks
May 23, 2010--Home with Kathy, Plain City, Ohio! And slept perfectly in his Sherpa bag on the plane! Future plans are for an agility career, with some herding on the side.
Clary Black sable girl: Clary (An aromatic perennial herb with hairy leaves, similar to sage, documented in herbal lists before 1538 in England, a bitter, astringent, warming herb. This herb's essential oil is "bright, earthy, herbaceous with a subtle fruity note" used in perfumes and imparts muscatel flavoring to wines. The herb is useful for treating digestive problems, stimulates appetite. Also known as "Cleareye," used as an eyewash and also for minor wounds. It has a calming effect, relieves anxiety.)
2 days 
7 days 
16 days 
Calm temperament, but very active. Holds her own with the big boys! Looks like she will actually be a smooth coat sable (black outer coat, but brown undercoat) rather than traditional tri.
26 days 
5 weeks old! 
What are those wooly beasts over there?
7wks
Clary is staying right here with me! She is so much like her mother Myrrh in attitude and intensity...
7 wks!
Structure eval 5/15/10: Long pelvis with about 30 degree slope-good. High tail set. Good length from tail root to ileum bone. Good rear angulation, a little high in stifle, but I expect that to drop. Loin is a touch long, not bad. Nicely sloped upper arm, shoulders placed fairly well, could use a little more layback. Front is good, rear is good, could use slightly more reach in front.
Clary will be training in herding and agility, just like her Mom Myrrh!