Please take some time to browse through our pages and blog posts. In order to share with you the beauty which is the Collie, Deep River has many wonderful collie images throughout this site. Scroll down on this page to read our recent blogs full of news and stories! Please experiment and click pictures, click on subject titles or headings, click on the quick links section in the sidebar, etc. Enjoy! Check out updated Available Collies on Navigation Bar in the right column.  See the new page on the Navigation Bar called Understanding Collie Eye Anomaly.

Puppy Aptitude Testing & Herding Instinct Testing went very well on Tues., Feb. 23.  Claire Apple did the testing at her farm.  The puppies will be 9-weeks-old tomorrow, Fri., Feb. 26.  Scroll down to Feb. News below to see the latest Deep River Champion, Crystal, who finished this past weekend for owner En Chang.

Pam took the 4 photos below on Thurs., Feb. 18.  All 10 puppies had good eye checks - normal/go-normal.  Read the article on Collie Eye Anomaly on this website (see navigation bar).

Sable Girl

Blue Boy (Pam is leaning toward keeping him) Deep River Bankside Blue Christmas (Elvis)

Elvis & Sable Girl

 Blue Girl (I’m leaning toward keeping her)

Taking photos of 10 puppies by yourself is a real challenge – ditto for taping ears!!!  Below are the Christmas Day puppies:

From left to right - Blue  Smooth Girl,  Blue Smooth Girl , Tri Rough Boy,  Blue Smooth Boy & Blue Smooth Boy

Sable Rough Boy

Sable Rough Boy, Blue Smooth Boy, Blue Smooth Girl, Sable Smooth Boy & Tri Smooth Girl 

Two Blue Girls

Tri Boy, Blue Boy, Blue Girl, Sable Girl, Blue Girl & Sable Boy

Two Sable Boys

Blue Girl, Tri Boy & Blue Boy

Tri Girl, Sable Boy, Blue Boy, Sable Boy, Tri Boy & Blue Girl

Sable Girl & Sable Boy

Blue Boy, Sable Girl & Blue Girl

Tri Boy & Blue Boys

Blue Girl, Sable Girl, Tri Boy, Blue Boy, Blue Girl & Sable Boy

Sable Boy, Sable Boy & Blue Girl

CONFORMATION NEWS:

En Chang sent Pam & I good news.  Her blue rough girl Crystal is now CH Deep River’s Snow Fall at Blackpoint earning her third major - 5 pts.  at the CCof HI specialty show this past weekend.  Crystal is co-breeder Pam’s first homebred champion! Congratulations, ladies! Sire: Deep River’s Let It Snow CGC, RL1  Dam: CH Deep River’s Consider the Source RE, HSAd

Good news from the Collie Club of America, Jay Kim’s CH Deep River in the Limelight (Diane) was the #3 winning smooth conformation collie in the country for 2009 in the CCA Hawkin’s Ranking System.  Jay returned to South Korea in October, so Diane was not shown for the last 2 months of the year, so this makes a terrific outcome for this team!

Mike & Tucky Vaughan are very excited about their blue smooth boy Moose (Deep River Moosetracks in Snow PT).  Dona Williams called from GA to say that Moose had won 4 pt. majors Sat. & Sun. Moose is by Frost (Deep River’s Let It Snow CGC, RL1) out of Mike & Tucky’s Kate (CH Deep River Kate at Deer Leap HSAs).  Moose now has 12 pts.

Moose also has 1 Q toward his HSAs

CH Ceildh’s Deep River Haute Couture  (Chanel) was BOS to BOV at the Columbus Collie Club in a large smooth entry. She is Mickie Elliotts beautiful sable merle Scout daughter.

OTHER NEWS:

Sandy Symmes writes:

Best purchase I have ever made!!  Jake’s body is warm to the touch after you take it off.  He loves it.  The yellow one is a rain coat; but works great for Sadie and her longer coat.  Keeps them dry in the rain except for head, tail and feet and legs. http://dogcoat.com/

From Alice W. in MD:

Alice Wilkenfeld sent these photos of Lily (from Gary N.’s litter by CH Tapestry Southwynd x Deep River’s Theme Song).  It’s a short leap from being Queen of the Snow Mountain to being Queen of the Dining Room Table!

Feb. 13 Snow @ Deep River

Pam B. & I spent Christmas Day whelping puppies – 6:00 a.m. until 6:15 p.m. Valerie (CH Deep River’s Shock Value, RN, HSAd) had a litter of 10 puppies by Scout  (CH Deep River’s Bow &  Arrow).  Mother & babies are all doing fine!  We have 6 boys & 4 girls; 6 smooths & 4 roughs; 4 sables, 4 blues & 2 tris.  Exact breakdown is 2 sable rough boys, 1 sable smooth boy, 1 tri rough boy, 2 blue smooth boys, 1 sable rough girl, 1 tri smooth girl & 2 blue smooth girls.  Some new photos below @ 6-weeks-old.  Photos taken, Tues., 2/9/10.

Eye exams scheduled for Feb. 18; structural evaluations for Feb. 20; puppy aptitude & herding instinct tests for Feb. 23; & physicals for Mar. 2.

6-WEEK-OLD-PHOTOS BELOW (2/09/10)

Tri Rough Boy

Blue Smooth Boy #1

Blue Smooth Boy #2

Sable Rough Boy #1

Sable Rough Boy #2

 Sable Smooth Boy & Tri Smooth Girl

Sable Rough Girl

Blue Smooth Girls

 4-Week Photos

Feeding Frenzy! (4-weeks-old)

Blue Smooth Boy #1

Blue Girl #1 & Blue Boy #1

Sable Rough Boy #1

Sable Smooth Boy

Tri Rough Boy

Valerie – the World’s Best Collie Mom!

CONFORMATION NEWS:

Vicky’s First Show with Patches went very well. Little 7-year-old Vicky is such a smart little girl and a quick study. She had no experience except one puppy match and the few lessons we had at my house, plus her practice at home.  She and her puppy are amazing! (Patches is a sister to Shelley & Charlene) Photos taken by Mike Vaughan during 6-9 mo. puppy sweepstakes class on Sat., Jan. 23. They placed 3rd in a very nice class.

 Tina & Larry Patterson (Divine Collies) called Sun. 1/10 to say that their smooth sable 7 -month-old Charlie/Joy puppy, Shelley (Deep River Divine Naughty By Nature), now has 13 pts. all majors! Way to go… Shelley is taking after her mom, Joy, who finished at 8-months. Show photo soon of superpup, Shelley!

Lyric, tri rough yearling girl co-owned with Micki Elliott, won a 4 pt. specialty major on Sat. in FL handled by good friend Dona Williams. New photo of Lyric coming soon.

PERFORMANCE NEWS:

Anne Hartranft from NY writes 1/11 about Lyric’s, blue rough sister, Julie:

 Rocco @ 14-wks. ”helping” Bobby’s hubby

THE SNOWY SOUTH!

Peggy Moorman from Murphy, NC writes:

Caryn Godin from Atlanta writes:

In case it didn’t reach the news in your area, Atlanta had snow last Thursday night into Friday morning …. anywhere else in the country it would be a non-event, but not here.  I chose to work from home on Friday and am glad I did … there was a 27 car pile-up on one of the highway ramps I would have been driving on!!!! 

Katydid Learns How to Weave!

Catherine & Katydid (lure coursing girl from Dec.) sent a video from MD. Watch Katy weave:

http://www.youtube.com/chippersdogtreats

CONFORMATION IN DEC.

Yvonne Shelton & Robin Perry report good news for Bogie & Tasha, but sad news for 2 of their rescues!

Two weeks ago we had to put Emma down (10 yr old AmStaff).  Yesterday morning we had to put Trinity, our nearly 17 year old rescue collie, down.

In the midst of this Tasha and Bogie were in Winston-Salem with Nick and Joel for the shows this weekend.  Joel called yesterday afternoon.  Tasha had won a 3 pt major!  That leaves her needing one major and some minor pts.  Bogie had gone reserve.

We put on brave faces and went to the shows today.

Today Tasha went reserve and Bogie went Winners, BOW and BOS to finish his championship.  We weren’t sure whether to laugh or cry.  Bogie has asked that we all call him Sir from now on.

We along with the two pooped dogs are home now after one of the most mixed emotion weekends I’ve ever had.

Bogie looked great today.  I can’t tell you how many people commented on how beautiful Tasha is. (Breeder Lorrie McCarthy – dam Deep River’s Victory Dance – Bogie’s sister)

Robin & Yvonne

 

Tasha’s Major

 

CH Deep River Ironhill Dark Victory (finishing in WS)

 

New Champion “Bogie” - having fun last month!

 Our little 6-month-old Charlie/Joy baby, Charlene, (Deep River’s Joie de Vive) went to the Sat. show in Winston-Salem with Dona & Taylor. We just wanted to get her puppy feet wet. She was RB to the major – what a little show girl! New owner, Susan Carbee, was very happy as were we!  Photo below at 4 months – show photo coming soon.

Our yearling tri girl, Lyric, also went to the trials and had two beautifully smooth PT runs, earning compliments from both judges! Lyric now has her JHD & her PT. Owner/co-breeder Micky Elliott is sending her to shows in Jan., so we were just in the Nick of time (little holiday pun)!

Lyric’s Sun. PT Run in the Mud

  

 

 

  FROM GAIL IN NJ:  Isis & her collie buddies went to see Santa! (Isis is peeking around St. Nick on the right)   

 BOBBY CHASTAIN GIVES SONNY & SAL A BABY BROTHER FOR CHRISTMAS! (SCOUT/GISELLE PUPPY FROM MICKY’S LITTER) Bobby writes: I have to give the little guy a lot of credit. He has spirit. He was in the car from Fl to NC. Then from Pittsboro to Asheville, spent the weekend in rain, sleet and snow then came back to his home in Wake Forest. The other collie boys adore him and actually, so did my cranky lab/rottie mix.
Here’s a pix we took at our renovation project. In this picture, Sal (rough) and Sonny are trying to reassure Rocco that it’s okay to go down the steps. They went up and down the steps surrounding Rocco over and over until he went down the steps. It was very cute. Just shows how great these collies are. Gotta’ love them. He is very comfortable here in Wake Forest too.  

 

From John & Cindy Reilly in MD – Rory negotiates the “big snow” and then relaxes! 

 

Waiting for Santa to bring more toys! From Fran in NC 

Shelly & her rescue pal, Duff – from John in NC

From the Moormans in NC – We all got sweaters for Christmas!

On Wed., Nov. 25, I drove down to Travelers Rest, SC to visit Nancy Parker & help her evaluate her litter (by CH Deep River’s Bow and Arrow x Pine Cone Deep River Mountain Spring). We had a great visit, and I had lots of fun cuddling and playing with puppies! I got home Sat. afternoon and downloaded photos yesterday.  Here they are. Nancy Parker  mtntisablu12@aol.com

Sable Merle Rough Boy

Sable Smooth Girl

Sable Rough Girl

 Sable Merle Smooth Girl

Blue Rough Girl

Isis & Mandi Help Honor Maeleine’s Memory:

Gail Wright emailed with her usual eloquence to tell me about the bench dedicated to Maeleine on Nov. 15:

For the first time in several days, the sun pushed through the clouds setting  the landscape  ablaze with reds, greens oranges and yellows.  A horse trotted proudly in the near field and the rider tossed a friendly greeting.   Beneath us, the grass was the deep green that only a summer of sunshine can produce.  Not sure where we were to meet , we had arrived early and decided to find the stream and follow its banks hoping to come upon “the bench” we were told was placed there.  Mandi and Isis had their noses pressed to the ground and seemed delighted to be back in familiar fields.  Jami and Paige, on the other hand, merely followed their new sisters.  After about forty minutes, we found Diane, a good friend of Maeleine’s and she led us to an opening where about twenty -four dogs were just gathering.  The dogs mostly moved easily among these walking partners. and soon Leslie, who had arranged for the hand-hewn bench with brass marker, explained that the stone had been chosen because Maeleine had admired it on a trip to Upton Estate.  She spoke of the walking events shared and of Maeleine’s love for all creature, great and small.   Liver brownies were shared in honor of Isis’ birthday on Thursday and Mandi’s today.

How Maeleine would have laughed at Isis and Mandi taking a “dip” in the stream in the middle of Leslie’s remarks, and how pleased she would have been when the girls responded to my recall.   How pleased we would have been if Maeleine had been there to share this glorious day!

Litter News:

Micky Elliott has a litter of four – 3 boys, 1 girl & 3 smooth, 1 rough – by Scout x Giselle. (See More Photos by Scrolling Down to Next Blog)

Nancy Parker has a litter of five – 4 girls , 1 boy & 3 rough, 2 smooth -by Scout x Spring.  I’ll be visiting them over Thanksgiving.

Conformation News:

Kathy Weare’s beautiful blue rough boy Sam finished his championship on Sat.,  Nov. 7,  in Greensboro.  Sam is out of Kathy’s CH Deep River’s Rotten to the Core NAP.

CH Hi Cliff Once in a Blue Moon

Yonne Shelton & Robin Perry tell me that their blue smooth puppy Tasha has won points 3 of the last 4 times she’s been shown and currently has five. Tasha is out of Lorrie McCarthy’s Deep River’s Victory Dance.

Tasha & Yvonne Going BOW under judge Lori Montero:

Micky Elliott’s Scout son, Chance, finished with a 4 pt. major in AL.  CH Ceildh’s Deep River Deal Me In is Scout’s 6th champion offspring!

Tina & Larry Patterson report that their 6mo. old Charlie/Joy daughter, Deep River Divine Naughty By Nature, won a major in Conroe, TX on Sat., Nov. 28! Shelley also won a major RB the weekend before.

Shelley @ 3 months:

Rally Obedience News:

At 3 shows in Ocala, FL, Shirley Conley & Ceilidh’s Forged at Deep River (Blade) earned a Rally Advanced title with two scores of 100 and two 1st placements!

Shirley & Blade – Nov. 12

Blade Likes His 1st Place Ribbon

At the shows in Concord, NC, Sandy Symmes & CH Deep River Crosswind Jake ‘O Lantern also earned the last two Q’s on Jake’s RA title with two scores of 95 on Nov. 13 & 14!

Jake & Sandy Winning BOV on Nov. 14:

Micky Elliott asked me to come to Orlando for a visit to relax and help evaluate her litter of four by CH Deep River’s Bow & Arrow (Scout) x CH Deep River Westwood Glamour Girl (Giselle). Photos of the 4 puppies are below (one smooth girl & three boys – 1 rough & 2 smooth). To find out specifics about this beautiful litter, contact Micky at pomicha@aol.com .

The annual CRC Reunion was a smashing success as usual!   It was at Donna Rothenberger’s – now Kelly Martin’s place – in Burlington.  Thanks, Kelly! 

We all missed Donna!!!

There was the usual great turnout for herding testing and lots of other activities!

Cathy Hartley conducted the Instinct testing:

I conducted the collie grooming session:

Agility equipment available to try:

Jean’s & Penny’s usual terrific booth set-up:

Fall is here at Deep River, and as usual, our wonderful owners and their collies are doing great things at shows and trials! 

ANNUAL FALL COLLIE MATCH NEWS

On hand at the PCC Annual Fall Match on Oct. 10 at the home of Dona, George & Taylor Williams helping out with the match are Deep River collie owners Pam Brown & Mike Vaughan.  Peggy & Ted Moorman were also there to lend support and drop off their girls Haylee & Graycee for Dona to take to upcoming shows. Mike & Christine, along with friend Matt, were present to help me and support 7-year-old daughter Vicky show her puppy Patches for the first time. We are very proud of Vicky & Patches who placed in the 4-6 month class.  Patches’ sister, Charlene, who is staying at Deep River, was Best Puppy in Match under judge Joyce Dowling (Shenstone Collies). We had fun visiting will all our friends, seeing all the other beautiful collies, and the food was delicious as usual!  Candids below – match photos from “offical match photographer” George Williams available soon.

Charlene & Patches are by our Kitleigh Charlie Brown PT x HTCh CH Deep River’s Comfort and Joy RE, HSAsdc, HIAs, HXAsd, HTD1s, HRD3s, RLF3s, HTAD3sd

Charlene

Vicky & Patches

HERDING NEWS

Susan Carbee’s CH Deep River Light the Night Sky PT earned two Q’s toward his HSAd title in PA at Scarlet Mill Oct. 9 & 10 with a 1st place 94.5 on Sun. Susan also finished the HSBd title on her sable boy Yeager – great weekend!

Sky

Mickie Elliott’s 14- month- old tri rough girl Lyric (Ceildh’s Deep River Soft Goodbye) has been visiting here for the past 6 weeks to work on a little herding with us. She earned her AHBA Junior Herding Dog title in Denton, NC on Fri., Oct 2, but not without a little snafu! Here’s what happened…

I left the house at 3:30 a.m. to take our Charlie/Joy sable smooth girl to the airport.  The best & shortest flight I could get for the baby left RDU at 6:15  for Austin, TX.  Shelly (aka Charlize) was going to her new home with Tina & Larry Patterson of Divine collies.  Meanwhile, Claire came by my house at 5:45 to pick up Lyric and take her to the AHBA event.  I got home at 6:30 and went back to bed for 3 hours.

When I woke up, I called to find out how things were going at the AHBA event. It seems that Lyric was totally silly – wouldn’t respond to her name nor any commands and was running around jumping on the judge and Claire! I was very surprised until I walked out the back door and onto the deck where I was greeted by Charlene & Lyric!!!  I looked over into the next fenced yard and realized the “terrible truth.” 

At 5:45 in the semi-dark, Claire had taken my 6-year-old tri rough girl Felicia instead of Lyric! Felicia has never seen sheep and has no training except for conformation. I told Claire that “Lyric” had a good excuse for not knowing her name, obeying her sit & stop commands and not herding her sheep.  Fortunately, Denton is only an hour and 15 minutes away, so Lyric & I drove over and Claire was allowed a run with the “real Lyric” who did a very nice job.  It all worked out – Felicia had fun (at Claire’s expense), and Lyric earned her JHD!

Felicia asks JHD judge Sandra, “What am I supposed to be doing?”

The “real Lyric” doing her JHD run!

THERAPY DOG INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Gail Wright  sent word that she had recertified Maeleine’s (scroll down to see Memorial) Mandi (10-year-old rescue) and  Isis (Deep River’s Image in Ice HSAd) Gail wrote: ”If there are windows in heaven, Maeleine was smiling out one of them on Sunday as her beloved dogs passed perfectly their therapy tests with me as part of the team . I really had no doubt about them, but Maleleine was a real dog whisperer, and I cannot compare. Mandi yawned during her time with people banging and shouting as distractions, and Isis, after placing her head on the lap of the woman in the wheelchair, “sang” softly as she had to her mom.  Both obeyed each and every command. 
 I am so blessed! I’m not sure how much Mandi at ten will be visiting, but she deserves to go if she wants to continue.  On the other hand, Isis will join Paige as soon as the paper work comes through at Saint Luke’s Hospital doing acute cardiac care and possibly Peds.  She really loves children and hasn’t had much time with them.  Isis has really settled in and loves the choice of five beds, changing her spot at will.”

Isis (Deep River’s Image in Ice HSAd, TDI) on her “bed of choice.”

 Joan Scaildone & Tanner (Deep River’s Chasing Shadows RN, NAJ, TDI) passed his TDI certification this past week (Oct. 26). Joan wrote:  “Mr. Tanner earned his TDI title last night.   He did a great job with screaming children, walkers, wheelchairs and banging pans.  The tester loved him—said he’ll make a great therapy dog.   I used to do nursing home visits w/Josh & Tiffany—they were great at it—think he will be as well.  I’d also like to do the read-to-a-child program—another good one.”

Tanner as a baby

OBEDIENCE NEWS

Shirley Conley’s smooth boy, Blade, went to 2 more Rally trials and earned two more perfrct scores of 100 for his RN title!  For more pictures of Blade & Shirley scroll down to Sept. news featuring Blade’s CD.

Blade & Shirley

Halloween Rally at the Hartford-Springfield Collie Club’s “Collie Triathlon” was a big success for both Joan’s Tanner and Anne Hartraft’s Julie  (Deep River’s Cache of Jewels).  Tanner came home with his second Advanced Rally leg and third place.  Julie earned her first Novice Rally leg with a third place and JUST missed her first novice leg in obedience (she went down on the sit).  The judge told Anne, that had Julie not NQ’d on the sit/stay, she would have been HIT with a 196.5!  Julie is only 15 months old and is Lyric’s sister. 

Julie @ 13 months

AGILITY NEWS

In New England on Sun., Oct. 4, Kathy Weare ran her blue rough girl Eve (Cora’s daughter – CH Deep River’s Rotten to the Core) in agility and earned a second Q in  Excellent Jumpers 20″ with another 1st place! Kathy & Jody have also started BOO in agility classes (Aaron/Joy son from 2007 Halloween litter).  He’s doing well and enjoying himself but is not ready for the real deal just yet.

CONFORMATION NEWS

In the conformation ring, Sam, brother to Eve pictured above, won two majors in Marietta, GA under Alice Inman & Anne Cross. He was BOW both times compliments of Dona & Taylor Williams. Congrats to Kathy on Sam’s wonderful wins! I believe he has at least 11 points now so should be a champion very soon.  Oct. 30 – Sam earns his 3rd major WD & BOW at the East TN CC under judge Phyllis Autrey – just one more point to go! 

Sam (Cora’s Son & Eve’s Brother)

Peggy’s Aaron/Giselle daughter, Haylee, won a 5 pt. major at the Collie Club of KY and a major reserve at the CC of GA with Taylor handling! Both Haylee & Graycee need 4 single points to finish.   

Poor Ted!  Peggy’s husband Ted “relaxing & watching TV” with Haylee, Graycee, Stryker & Lily! 

Jay Kim returned to South Korea for a 6 week visit  just after the Atlanta shows, but Diane will be out at a few shows while he’s gone with Rhanda Glenn handling.  This past weekend (Oct. 3 & 4) in PA at Fort Stueben KC & Beaver Creek KC, Diane was BOV and won a Group 3 at the Sat. show!  Diane was also BOV at Mad River KC  in OH and at Sandemac KC & IL Capital KC over nice size smooth entries and several other top specials  Oct. 17 & 18.  Scroll down to Sept. News to view photos of  CH Deep River’s in the Limelight (Diane).

Gail with Paige & Maeline with Isis – Sunnybank 2007

I’m so sad to report that my friend, Maeleine Loos (Rocking Horse Farm in Bedminster, NJ) passed away on September 30. She succumbed to brain cancer at home with friends and her beloved collies by her side (Mandy, her rescue sable rough girl and Isis, her blue rough girl from Deep River). Maeleine lived an active life teaching agility and obedience and enjoying her horses. She owned and trained “Jodi,” OTCH Waltstone Impulse, a daughter of CH Wickmere Chimney Sweep. Jodi became the first UDT Collie in the country to earn the OTCH title when it was introduced by AKC. Maeleine and her husband Ron were members of the foundation group for the Therapy Dog International program and worked actively for many years with this group, including work in NYC just after 9/11. Maeleine and Ron also rescued and trained several other Collies, along with two German Shepherds, and earned countless titles with them all. Each year at Christmas, Maeleine made donations to rescue groups including our own Collie Rescue of the Carolinas.  

Following Ron’s death several years ago, Maeleine, then in her late seventies, developed a new interest and began herding with her rescue collie Mandy HIAd, TDI and later with her Deep River’s Image in Ice HSAd, TDI (Isis). Having decided that she didn’t care to wind up hurt by a sheep, she, Mandy and Isis pursued duck titles, and Maeleine delighted in telling everyone how she learned to “shuffle” when she walked, so she wouldn’t step on the ducks and injure them! I believe this was advice that Claire gave her when they met when we were all in PA at the Scarlet Mills herding trials.

Maeleine was always wonderfully willing to help others with training and was always thrilled to see another Collie owner in the performance ring.  In our last conversation on September 25, Maeleine told me that her little Isis had helped her so much and kept her spirits up, picking up things she dropped and bringing her favorite slippers. Their devotion and love for each other transcended this life. Gail Wright, Maeleine’s good friend and collie training pupil and her understanding husband, took Mandy and Isis to live with their own two collies. Gail says that Isis especially seems to miss Maeleine but is happier since Gail brought a few items of her mistress’ that Isis and Mandy sleep with.

We will all miss you so very much, Maeleine! God Bless You!

Isis Sleeps with Maeline’s Shirt

From Gail Wright 9/19/09:

Dear Kathy,

What a wonderful afternoon we had.  The sun was bright and the weather crisp, the best type of fall day.  While unable to sit unaided, Maeleine, Isis and Mandy went to see the beloved horses, her health aide gently pushing.  While the horses made cider out of a few hand-fed fresh apples, Maeleine glowed at her family.  After finishing, Condor reached down over the fence and rustled her hair and then reached further and reached her hand.  All the while, Isis stood on one side and Mandy on the other.  As we went back to check on the fish, a car began down the driveway.  Both Mandy and Isis left Maeleine’s side and went straight down the drive standing side-by-side right in the middle.  I called and they did not move.  Then Maeleine called and they looked back, but did not move.  That was a shock!  The driver, one of Maeleine’s best friends who was coming from Maine to say good-bye, got out and walked to us.  The girls, however, were not going to let anyone proceed and hit their mom.

Last weekend Maeleine called those who meant most to her in her life, and now she is gracious beyond belief and living each day to the best of her ability.  Dr. Campbell said she would not make it to Monday — guess he didn’t mean last Monday after all.    Most of all, guess he doesn’t know the strength and dignity of this woman.

I promised you an update and here it is.  The girls are doing well, but their eyes tell of their concern.  They are never more than a few feet away from Maeleine.  I will bring Paige and Jami tomorrow and run them all in the fields to help strengthen their bonds.  Then we’ll play on the agility equipment.   They have always enjoyed each other.

Maeleine told Joan that Isis is the thing on earth that she most loves.   Thank you.  The gift of Isis was beyond measure for a gentle, loving, really strong woman at the time she most needed her.  She helped Maeleine get through Ronny’s death and now she is gently providing her support at Maeleine’s.   Priceless!

Gail

A Story for Young People Sponsored by Gastonia East Rotary 

Story by Jim Bretzuis & Illustration by Hunter Bretzuis

Featuring their 3-year-old sable merle smooth Collie, Pim, aka CH Deep River’s Watch Captain

Tuesday, September 8, 2009 The Gaston Gazette, 1C

Pim’s two favorite things to play with were his big red ball and his tug-o-war rope. He loved to chase the ball around his big backyard. He liked it best when his owners threw it for him but sometimes they were busy so he had use his long collie nose to push it along. The tug rope required some help from his human family or from one of the other dogs that often came to play with him.

He spent most of the day playing, stopping only for meals and to take a short nap or two. He had an unusual amount of energy for a young collie and took very few rest periods. All of this exercise made him very strong and it was rare for one of his dog friends to get the best of him during a tug-o-war contest.

One sunny spring day Pim was nosing his ball around the yard and running after it and nosing it again and again, running as fast as he could to keep up with it.  Suddenly the ball started rolling down the hill and went so fast Pim couldn’t keep up. The ball kept rolling and rolling faster and faster, then disappeared over a small rise and plopped down with a splash into a stream.

The swift current of the steam began to carry the ball into the deep woods with Pim racing along side trying his best to keep up. The ball got ahead, but Pim would never give up his favorite toy and kept going as it went deeper in the woods. The ball was almost out of sight when it suddenly stopped.

“Good,” Pim thought. “Now I can get it back.” He raced to the spot where the ball rested.

“Oh no,” Pim thought. The ball was caught in some branches that were blocking the stream.

Several times Pim waded into the water but it was very deep and he was not a good swimmer like some of his dog friends. He barked as loud as he could, trying to get the attention of one of them, but they were far off and couldn’t hear.

As hard as he tried he couldn’t get to the ball.  He hated to leave it behind, but he was out of ideas on how to retrieve it. He was about to head for home when he heard a small voice.

“Help me, please help me!”

“I can’t help you,” said Pim. “I’ve lost my ball and it’s getting late and I need to get home.”

“I want to go home too,” said the voice. “I’m scared , can’t you help me?”

Pim was confused. He knew he had to get home but something told him that he had to do the right thing and find a way to help.

He went back to the pile of branches and looked as hard as he could to find where the voice was coming from. He almost gave up when he spotted two tiny eyes and a little black nose.

“Who are you? Are you a puppy like me?” Pim asked.

“No,” the tiny voice said. “I’m a baby otter and I’m trapped in these branches. Please help me.”

Pim remembered tug-o-war and started pulling the branches with his strong back and teeth. One by one the branches loosened. Pim was almost exhausted when he grabbed a large limb in his teeth. He tugged with all of his strength and at last it came loose. The pile broke apart and floated down stream along with his red ball.

Pim started to worry about the little otter when all of a sudden, up popped the little shiny brown creature.

“Thank you, thank you. I never would have gotten free without your help,” said the baby otter. “But look you ball is floating away. Stay here and I’ll get it for you.”

Away swam the otter and a few minutes later he came back pushing Pim’s ball with his little black nose. When he got close to Pim, he flipped the ball into the air, slapped it with his tail. It landed at Pim’s feet.

“And I thank you for saving my ball!” said Pim. “I’m strong but you are a good swimmer. We both helped each other.”

“Come back and play with me some time,” said the baby otter as he jumped in the air, dove into the stream and started swimming home to his family.

Pim nosed his red ball home hoping he hadn’t missed his supper, thinking about his new friend along the way.

Pim – CH Deep River’s Watch Captain – (by CH Deep River’s Solid Stock x HTCh CH Deep River’s Comfort and Joy RE, HSAc, HXAsd)

Joy is now HTCh CH Deep River’s Comfort and Joy RE, HSAc, HXAsd, HTD1, RLFIII, HTADIII, HRDIII.  Claire and Joy teamed up in Berryville, VA to earn an American Herding Breeds Association Championship. On Sat. Joy was RHIT with a 91 from Level 3 Arena class. On Sun. Joy was High in Trial with a 96 from Level 3 Ranch class. Joy also earned Reserve High Combined for the weekend! We are so happy and proud! At the AKC trials, also in Berryville, Joy earned High Scoring Collie from HXAs class. Photos of the HIT run are below.

Jay Kim & CH Deep River’s in the Limelight (Diane) continue to shine ar the shows in conformation!  They earned 4 BOV’s at shows in Raleigh in early Sept.  Also in Raleigh, Yvonne Shelton & Robin Perry had their puppy Tasha  entered on Sat. & Sun. for her first ring experience. She was smooth WB & BOW both days for her first 3 points. Tasha’s breeder is Lorrie McCarthy whose Deep River’s Victory Dance (a Victor/Giselle daughter) is Tasha’s dam. (Tasha is pictured below Diane)

Jay & Diane

Tasha & Nick Joines

Yvonne & Tasha in their first obedience class.  Tasha was a star!

Sept. 18 & 19 in Atlanta, GA, Jay & Diane earned BOV under Linda More & Bob Slay.  At these same shows, Nancy Parker’s tri girl, Spring, (CH Mister x CH Wiggy CD, RE, HSAsdc, HIAd) was rough WB & BOW under the same judges all 3 days. I believe Spring has 8 pts. now. (Spring is pictured below).  On Sun. under Jim Noe, Chanel was BOV  smooths, and Chance brother to Chanel, by our CH Scout out of Mickie Elliott’s CH Candy was WD & BOW every day, and now needs 3 pts. to finish. Diane was also BOV at two Warrenton KC shows in VA.

Spring & Dona Williams (major from puppy class in Dec.)

Wonderful Agility News from New England!  Joan Scialdone & Tanner  had a wonderful weekend at trials earning a leg in Novice Fast, a leg in Novice Standard & 2 legs in 24″ Novice Jumpers with a 4th place and two 1st place awards!

Shirley Conley & Blade have been doing more great things in performance! Blade completed his CD with some wonderful scores & placements, and missed a HIT by only half a point! He’s continuing to more advanced levels and is also training for agility titles.  Blade is by Deep River Younghaven Alliance (Aaron) x CH Deep River Westwood Glamour Girl – co-breeder Mickie Elliott.  (See Blades littermates Haylee, Max & Keagan in previous blogs.) 

Blade Resting on His CD Accolades!

Blade & Shirley Congratulate Each Other on a Job Well Done!

Blade Learns Some Agility!

August began with 5 shows in Salem, VA where our good friends and their collies had many successes!  I will post August news updates as they happen and new photos as they arrive.

Jay Kim & his sable smooth girl Diane continue their winning ways…  The team was BOV 3 days in Salem and kept up their streak of impressive Herding Group placements, earning two Group 4’s & a Group 2.  So as of yesterday, August 2, Diane & Jay have accumulated 20 Group placements so far in 2009 as well as an Award of Merit at the Collie Club of America national show in Springfield, MA in May! 

In Harrisburg, PA, August 7-9 , Diane was BOV all 3 days & was awarded two Group 3’s.  In Atlanta Aug. 21 & 22, Diane was BOV.

The other 2 days in Salem, Mickie Elliott’s beautiful yearling sable merle Scout daughter (finished in June)  CH Ceilidh’s Deep River Haute Couture was BOV.

Chanel was also shown 3 days at the Greensboro, NC shows and was BOV at all 3 & earned a Herding Group 2, August 5.  In Atlanta, Aug. 23, Chanel was BOV.

Chanel in Greensboro

Also in smooths, Mike & Tucky Vaughan  are very proud of their blue boy Deep River’s Moosetracks in Snow PT.  Moose was WD & BOW 4 days in a row in Salem, VA for his first 4  points. Moose is pictured below with his close friend Vicky Sanderson – the blur in the photo is Moose’s tail wagging!

In roughs Kathy Drabik’s tri boy Mister, CH Westwood Steel Dust, (sired by CH Deep River’s Consider It Done) was BOV 2 days.  Mister is the sire Mya’s & Wiggy’s beautiful offspring born in 2008.

I missed a couple of really nice rough wins for Melissa McClain last month with her beautiful sable rough girl Karly (Deep River High Hopes).  Melissa had shown Karly in conformation & agility as a youngster where she accumulated points & Q’s. Then Melissa took time out to become a mom. She brought Karly back out last month in MN and added two nice BOV wins – one over a special. Also, Melissa tri smooth boy Piper (CH Deep River Aspenwind Piper) was BOS to Diane at those shows. Piper is a litter brother to my Joy.

Great news from Amhearst, NH agility trial yesterday, Aug. 9 from both Kathy Weare & Joan Scialdone! Kathy’s  two rough girls made her proud. Cora  (CH Deep River’s Rotten to the Core) earned her Noviced Preferred title with a 1st place.  Cora’s daughter Eve (Hi Cliff’s the Lady Eve) earned her second leg in Open Standard (3rd place) and her first leg in Excellent Jumpers (2nd place)!  Joan’s smooth boy Tanner (Deep River’s Chasing Shadows) earned his Novice Jumpers title with a 1st place!

Cora

Eve

Tanner

Joy’s little girls went to Claire’s to visit the sheep (puppies are 10 weeks).  Some fun shots below.  For more photos of Charlize & Charlene go to our Available page.

Charlize (smooth sable girl)

Charlene (rough sable girl)

Charla (blue smooth girl)

Monique Williams & her 8-year-old tri tough boy, Bandit, earned at 99 out of 100 giving Bandit his Rally Novice title. Scroll down to June News to see their first place last month!  Bandit is by CH Kirkhaven Knight Ruler x CH Deep River Younghaven Snow ‘N Ice ROM.  Shirley Conley recently missed High in Trial in Novice B Obedience by only half a point while working on her smooth sable boy, Blade’s, CD.  Blade is by Deep River Younghaven Alliance x CH Deep River Westwood Glamour Girl.

Sue Klien & her amazing 12- year-old, Rowan, have taken up free-style (dancing). Rowan was bored after retirement, so he and Susan earned all his Rally titles last year, so what to do this year…? Let’s dance! Sue just sent an unbelievavle DVD of Rowan’s routine!  I wish I knew how to convert it into stills!!! Below – a photo of  Rowan relaxing last month and below that Rowan & Susan at CCA 2006 going Most Versatile Colllie in Show when Rowan was 9.

U-CD NATCH CH Deep River Karizma Rowan UD, RAE, MX, MXJ, HSAs, ASCA-CD, RM, AAD, JM, SCH, TT

Rowan @ age 12.5

Susan & Rowan (age 9) @ Collie Club of America ‘06 – Most Versatile Collie in Show

CH Deep River’s in the Limelight (Diane) and her owner/handler, Jay Kim, have been doing even more wonderful Herding Group placing. In July so far, they have earned 6 more placements including her 2nd Group 1  just yesterday! (7/19/09) A collie friend who was ring stewarding at the shows in WI this past weekend gave rave reviews to this team – “smashing handling” for Jay & “fantastic & awesome” for Diane! We’re so proud of them, so here’s the scoop.

Last weekend at 4 shows in Duluth, MN, Diane won two Group 4’s & two Group 2’s. This past weekend in WI, she won another Group 2 and a Group 1!!! Diane now has 16 Herding Group Placements this year. Thanks to collie breeder judges Matt & Anita Stelter for Diane’s BOV wins in WI!

CH DEEP RIVER’S IN THE LIMELIGHT  (CH Bo-Dandy’s Rock Solid ROM x Deep River’s a Glorious Light)   DIANE @ 2-years-old with me just before she finished in four shows with four 4 pt. majors!

 More wonderful news…  Louann Young’s beautiful sable merle smooth bitch, Younghaven’s All That Jazz, won a 4 pt. major in Houston this past weekend. (CH Deep River’s Bow and Arrow x CH Younghaven Deep River Deja Vu)  Jazz needs 3 pts. to finish and join her lovely sable sister CH Younghaven’s Glorious Day.

Therapy Dog news… Patti Haire reports that her wonderful boy, Keegan (Deep River Younghaven Alliance x CH Deep River Westwood Glamour Girl) earned an Excellent on his Therapy Evaluation and is ready to start his visits. Keegan will begin working on his Rally titles soon. Keegan’s brother, Blade, who lives with Shirley Conley in FL has launched his Rally & Obedience careers with terrific scores. Sister Hayley, in NC with Peggy Moorman  is close to her champions and will be out this fall.  Mickie & I are very proud of these co-bred littermates!

Keegan as a baby @ Mickie’s house in Orlando:

Joy, our friend Vicky, baby Chuck & lamb are celebrating Independence Day! Joy went with Claire to Berryville , VA to AHBA Herding Trials. Today 7/3/09, Joy earned her Large Flock III title and another point toward her AHBA championship! Thanks, Claire!

Vicky Playing with Joy/Charlie Puppies (6-weeks-old)

Charlene

Charlize

Charla

My close friend and herding instructor, Claire Apple, has an additional talent. Claire has a degree in graphic design and is an accomplished artist.  She is offering original collie artwork in watercolor – generic or from the client’s personal photos. Please go to Claire’s page on the Navigation Bar to the right to see samples and contact information.

Our collies have been to a few shows this past month with some exciting results! 

Jay Kim has piloted his CH Deep River’s in the Limelight (Diane) to 10 Herding Group placements so far this year! Way to go Jay & Diane! Diane’s record to date is one Group 1; two Group 2’s; four Group 3’s & three Group 4’s! Diane is by CH Bo-Dandy’s Rock Solid x Deep River’s a Glorious Light. Jay with Diane in their “younger days.” (Jay w/his arm around Diane @ 6months)

At Vacationland KC in ME, Kathy Weare’s tri smooth, BOO, became new CH Deep River’s Haunting Ewe with a 2 point win under Tom Coen & 4 pts. and BOV over specials.  BOO is by Deep River Younghaven Alliance x CH Deep River’s Comfort and Joy RE, HASc, HXAsd (and a bunch of AHBA herding titles).  BOO is a half brother to Scout through his sire and is his dam, Joy’s 5th champion offspring from 2 litters of 4 puppies each!  Kathy’s other Joy offspring, Astrid, CH Deep River’s Bad to the Bone has a recent Group 4 to brag about!

BOO @ 11 months

Astrid

Peggy Moorman’s blue puppy Graycee has been out to 4 weekends of shows and has 11 points from the 6 to 9 class – including a 4 pt. major & a 5 pt. specialty major! Graycee is by CH Westwood Southern Yankee x CH Deep River’s Early Frost.

Mickie Elliott’s sable merle Scout daughter, Chanel, earned a 5 pt. specialty major & her championship at the CC of AL!

In Perry, GA, Micki Elliott’s, Lyric, (Ceilidh’s Deep River A Soft Goodbye) was WB twice from the puppy class for her first points under Robert Smith & Jim Noe. Lyric is by CH Westwood Steele Dust x CH Deep River’s Consider Her Mine.

Lyric @ 7 mos.

Monique & Bandit in Novice Rally! Monique Williams recently took her older boy out to play in Rally Obedience last weekend. He is out of our beloved CH Deep River Younghaven Snow ‘N Ice ROM.

A Wonderful Visit! Katy Harjes from Montana came to visit last week and picked up her baby boy, Brock-collie. Brock is 7-months-old and has been getting his basic herding skills by staying with me and training with Claire. Katy worked with Claire and Brock for a couple of days before the two flew back to the ranch that she and her husband Rich own in MT.  They just sent the photos below of Brock at the ranch. He’s going to eventually help with a flock of 100 sheep!

Katy says: It was a busy day for Brock.  He slept thru the night just fine and we were up early checking in on the sheep.  He got to meet Max and Bella, our guardian dogs and take a short walk thru the pasture to see some of the girls and their lambs.  We practiced our sits, downs and stays and are bomb proofing the recall (Venison jerky really helps with that one.)  We’re also working on trying to understand what a gate is.  The afternoon highlight was meeting Cyrus, one of our llamas, and looking in on the chicks while I changed out their water and filled up the feeders.  This evening we had a break in the rainstorms so and we took a long walk where we saw the neighbor’s horses.  I think he’ll sleep well tonight

Kathy Weare & CH Deep River Rotten to the Core – Agility News!  Kathy showed 6-year-old Cora this weekend in New England in Novice Preferred & earned 2 clean run Q with a 2nd & a 3rd place 6-20-09 & 6-21-09! Cora’s daughter, Eve, earned her first Open Standard Q with a 1st place.

Cora

Eve