Thursday, August 19, 2010

Jasper....my lil' boy's growing up!






I have a "new " love in my life and his name is Jasper...black and white pooch in these shots. We bought Jasper at just 7 weeks old and he is now a healthy, romping little man at 5 months. The above photo's were taken yesterday when we had a "play date' with Millie, who is just 7 months herself. These two pups LOVE each other and had such fun....so did I!

By the way....Jasper is a black and white stone in the Quartz family...(although it can be found in a wide variety of colours).

jasper cabs
"Found worldwide, a wide variety of named jaspers is found in the western areas of the Unites States; California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and Washington." Photo above is
a sample of the many sorts and colours Jasper stone available...note the black and white one....hence my pups name!

Photo below: renee blackwell design pendant of black onyx on top and black jasper on the bottom...lovely!




To learn more about border collies, one of the most loved, smart and energetic breeds known, go here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_Collie

Here's some cool stuff' about this wonderful breed:

History

The Border Collie originated in the Border Counties of Scotland around 350 years ago. They were developed by local farmers to work their livestock. Renowned for their low and quiet approach to the herd and their gentle attitude, the dogs are relentless workers who thrive on the mental and physical challenge herding presents. When Australia began its sheep farming industry Border Collies were imported to work the herds. The breed, one of the earliest ever brought to Australia, has been known here since the mid 1800s.

Today the shorter coated 'varieties' of Border Collies are bred and used strictly for working purposes. Some of these dogs are registered with Working Sheepdog clubs for trial competition, some are not registered but are bred purely for work. Any dog that is bought from a Australian Kennel Club registered breeder will not a true 'working' Border Collie. These show derivations of the original working dogs can be trained to work stock, but they are unlikely to be as good as dogs from working strains.

Appearance

Whilst displaying gracefulness and perfect balance the Border Collie should be sturdy enough to endure the long periods of activity it has been bred to undertake.

Coat colour and length: They come in black and white, blue and white, brown and white, red and white, blue merle and white. and tri-colour. The most common is the black and white. The coat is the most prominent feature consisting of a double coat, with a moderately long, dense, medium textured topcoat. The undercoat is short, soft and dense for good weather-resistance. The length and composition of the coat makes the present day pedigree Border Collie unsuitable for work.

Height: dogs 48-53cm (19-21in); bitches 46-51cm (18-20in).

Temperament

Border Collies thrive on work and love to be highly stimulated and worked for long periods of time. Border Collies are regarded as one of the most intelligent dogs due to their affinity for training and their eagerness to learn, but it is this very characteristic that in turn can be detrimental if the dog is not placed in the right environment. They are high maintenance dogs needing a lot of attention and time and from owners. If you are not prepared to bring the dog into your life as part of the family then you will have trouble. They must be exercised quite extensively every day and included in family activities as often as possible. A dog that is walked for an hour a day and left outside to its own devices will still be difficult. Bored Border Collies will always hunt for something to do or something to stimulate them. With people they should be friendly and affectionate.



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