June's Rap Sheet

This post requires a bit of explanation. It's actually an adaptation from a page on one of my web site's previous incarnations in 2006.

Wasn't June a cute puppy?

The victim, one Chester chipmunk. Found in the state pictured 10 minutes after minor surgery to repair a torn ear and head abrasion.






The perpetrator, one June, AKA Zephyr's Day in June. Approach with caution. Do not be fooled by her wagging tail. She will take your toys, food or anything else that catches her fancy. And if you happened to be a small stuffed animal she will shake you mercilessly and rip the stuffing out of you.

Approach with caution. She can sometimes be distracted by throwing a toy or treat.

Something I thought I'd never see...

Is Lark pick up a duck. And yet, here she is, not too many months after I FINALLY got serious. I was a bit spoiled by her mother June who passed the WC without being force fetched. Lark is more like her great grandmother Gem, whose sensibilities regarding ducks required more “coaching” than June or Rosie. I'm glad I finally buckled down and did the work. Here's hoping a WC is in our future for 2013.

Brothers' play date

In between a lot of conformation shows last weekend we managed to find time for Chiron and Ian to have a playdate. It was challenging to take pictures of them outside because they hardly ever stopped moving. Eventually we all came inside to warm up and they did manage to sit nicely for a few moments. I also got lots of puppy hugs and kisses when I got down on the floor with them for a while. The brothers are from Eta's litter born 5/28/12.

 

A major accomplishment

No one was more surprised than I when the judge pulled June from the line at the Starved Rock Kennel Club show on December 7th and awarded her BOB (Best of Breed). As I had exhibited June in the Bred By Exhibitor class, this meant the judge put a class bitch up over three MALE SPECIALS!

I had to go to the superintendent's table to find out exactly what that meant in regard to points, as it is incredibly rare for a class entry to go up over Specials, and even more so for a class bitch to go up over male Specials. I was pleased to find out the win gave June a 4pt major. This from a dog I as the breeder nicknamed "scrawny monkey" from an early age and more or less gave up on the idea of ever finishing her a few years ago. Of course we're not quite done yet but this has given me incentive to think about taking her out a few times in 2013.

June was very full of herself both in the ring (which may have helped cement her win) and afterward. Those who show in conformation are familiar with the saying "the dog asked for the win." Knowing her personality, I think perhaps June might have even demanded it, though never in my wildest dreams did I think a judge would acquiesce.

June in flannel

It was a beautiful fall day but June decided she would rather spend it cocooned in flannel.

UACHX UCDX SHR UKC/NSDTRC CH Lonetree's Gem Adamantine CD RN WC AX OAJ

Gem - 2/21/95 - 9/22/12

Gem was our foundation bitch and our introduction to the breed. Under Evelyn Williams' mentoring, Gem was the impetus that brought us into the world of Tollers and caused us to become active members of the US Toller club. With her passing so fresh in my mind I'm finding it difficult to write about her, but a few years ago I put down some thoughts regarding our early experiences with her that sum things up pretty well: http://lifeamongtollers.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-it-started.html.

Gem earned titles in agility, obedience, rally, conformation and field. She was a recipient of the Rusty Jones award and also earned enough titles to qualify for the NSDTRC USA's Versatility Excellent Award (VCX), as well as one of the US club's first ROM dams. Despite all this, she was often a bit of a curmudgeon, especially in her early days, and really made me work for all of those titles she earned. She leaves behind a beautiful legacy in her pups, grandpups, great grandpups, and as of this year, great great grand pups as well.

Over the years Gem faced a few health issues but always managed to bounce back, outliving her siblings, Toller contemporaries and a number of her offspring as well. Based on recent symptoms of nose bleeds and some neurological abnormalities, our vet suspected we might be dealing with a tumor in her sinuses, though we opted not to perform the invasive procedure that would have confirmed this diagnosis. Her symptoms and behavior guided our decisions on when to fight and when to let go. It is very quiet around the house today with only her granddaughter June and great granddaughter Lark in residence.

Gem - 08/19/12

Gem - 09/19/12

Who ordered all the extra chrome?

If you read the post about Eta’s litter you might have noted two of her puppies have considerably more white than the average Toller. The male puppy has a wide blaze that extends down the back of his neck. He has one completely white front leg, as well as a generous amount of white on his back legs, chest and belly and a large white tail tip. The female puppy has all that and more as the white extends over her eyes, making her look a bit like a white faced border collie.

Color genetics is complicated at best and not an area I am comfortable expounding on, but it is worth noting that the same gene (the Irish spotting gene) which produces many of the white markings in collie type breeds is also responsible for the flashy white found in our breed. This gene has many possible modifiers, which makes it unpredictable (but interesting!) at best.

Soon after this litter arrived I took some pictures on my iPhone and texted a fellow breeder. Knowing the standard, I couldn't help but wonder if I would have trouble placing these puppies (who are healthy and normal in every other way). As it turns out, almost everyone (including some people "in the breed") were rather infatuated with these pups. These pups have been placed in active agility homes and their owners are prepared for any questions their odd markings might generate.

Spark

Stellar