The pups are strong, vigorous and active (when they're awake) for two days old. Not much fussing. Bird is a good mom and taking good care of them.

Bird had her litter on March 8, 2010. There are two males and two females. One female will go to Bird's breeder and one will be kept by us. One male has been spoken for but we will be looking for a home for the second male and will take names in case one of the placements falls through. They are healthy, lively, and Bird is becoming a good mom.

Bird has been ultrasounded and she is carrying at least three pups. We had to have her artificially inseminated because of her lack of cooperation in physical relationships, and AI litters are typically smaller. We're hoping there's one or two more we didn't see because a small litter can result in larger pups and possible whelping problems. At any rate, we will be monitoring her closely at whelping time and be ready to seek assistance if necessary.

Suzy's Buzz can be seen at her website, (www) hoofandpawfarms (.com, of course). Suzy is one of the leading trainers of Border Collies in the country and we're excited about the potential of this litter.

Okay, after much neglect of this blog, I am going to try to be consistent at posting. We've been looking for almost a year for a new place to live where I can train dogs and we can raise Border Collies and sheep. I've also been hoping for a place large enough to host trials, at least smaller ones. We think we've found the spot and we're in escrow now. Now we just have to wait for everything to be processed.

In the meantime we have bred our Bird to Suzy Applegate's 2008 USBCHA Nursery Champion, Buzz. Buzz is a mostly black, smooth coated, prick-eared herding machine. Bird has a prick ear...and the other ear is not interested in standing up. She is a strong dog and I am still working with her with optimism and the help of my friends. Lack of keenness is not her problem! She loves to drive and we're working on her driving where I want to go.

Here is Dub today, August 2009, at 11 months.

The latest addition to the bunch: Killiebrae Dub. We got Dub from Derek Scrimgeour at 12 weeks. He arrived at the airport in San Francisco in November, 2008, and proceeded to fit right in. He is the son of Killiebrae Laddie, the 2008 English National Champion (Jim 248214, who now belongs to Joan Jennings x Killiebrae Maddie, a Sweep 198150 and Lyn 227341 daughter). His dam is Fly (Derek's famous Ben 220939 x Whin, who is line bred Bobby Dalziel's Wisp).

We have great hopes for Dub, both as a trial dog (maybe my first pro-novice dog) and a future sire of pups for us. He shows great talent and power on sheep.

Pictures of Gwynn's kids: Jane, Ruby, Kitt.