So the 4 little pups are growing fast and doing great!!!! I wish they were closer but I am planning on going up and visiting the pups in a few weeks.

Tirzah had her pups on Aug. 31st during my Father's service. It was an emotional day and getting photos through out the day of each pup seemed to make the whole day easier and bring the feeling that all of us animal people know all to well…. the circle of life.

Tirzah had an easy whelping and we have 1 rough blue boy, 2 rough sable merle girls and 1 rough sable merle boy!!! We were hoping for a few more girls and a few more blues but we just have to trust the Universe……. We are very excited about these pups and they and Tirzah are all doing GREAT!!!!

So we packed up the pups and headed to the great Northwest!!! It was a LONG but beautiful drive. We have a roadtrip rule….no eating at franchisey type places….only mom and pop type places. Needless to say the trip up and back was quite yummy!!!! We met up with my friends and had a great time!!! Good to spend time and laughter with people you love.
 Mashy showed in agility all three days and earned his AKC AX title. Gracie and Dax were entered all three days in breed. Two specialties and one supported entry. The pups had just turned 6 months that week. Gracie won her sweeps class andwas really considered for Best Jr. in Sweeps and placed second in her reg. classes. Not too bad for my little agility dog!!!! Dax looked wonderful. This was the first time ever in a show and it took a couple go arounds for them to get the hang of it all. Daxie boy Major Reserve Winners Dog at both of the specialties and Winners Dog/BOW at the Samamish KC for a Major!!!!! I was so proud of the pups!!!!

Dax ~ Easy To Spot Never A Dull Moment    WD/BOW For a 4 point major at 6 months. It was raining pretty darn good!! We told some of the locals… In CA we are lucky to get 2 days of rain and they said they were lucky to get 2 days of sun…and that we had them Fri. and Sat!!!!!!

Grace ~ Easy To Spot Never Look Back  Won her Sweeps class and the judge was looking back and forth between Grace and the puppy that took Best Junior in Sweeps. This dog has stolen my heart!!!!

 
Dax winning a Major RWD first time in the ring at the first specialty. This dog takes my breath away!!!!

Dax  winning  his second  Major RWD  at the second specialty his second time in the ring!!!

CA scenery.

Somewhere in Oregon.

My Dad was the perfect choice of a Father for me . He was strong, supportive, gave me the " You gotta do what you gotta do" & the  "You can do ANYTHING you set your heart, mind and soul to" attitudes and a glorious sense of humor!!! He enjoyed life to the full extent.
Dad had a full life with many challenges. He was my everyday hero as he had a major stroke at the age of 42 and rallied back to be fully functional…. driving, cooking, cleaning, gardening. Everything he did took extra effort as he had no use of his right side of his body…. putting on socks with one hand always amazed me. Dad was still Dad and it was good. Several years ago he started with symptoms of dementia/Alzheimer's…… which took its toll on Dad and the rest of the family. I am lucky enough to say that both of my parents are my hero's…. My Dad for overcoming such huge obstacle's and my Mom for showing such strength, courage, love and patience in being Dads main caregiver.
I would leave their house and just wonder how Mom kept it all together taking such good care of my Dad…. especially thru the later stages of this horrible disease. Always wondering if I had it in me to care for my partner in such a way. Scary stuff.
I am in a good place knowing my Dad is off to bigger and better adventures and just grateful that I picked him as my Dad.

My view of the heavens the night my Dad made his transition. Just glorious!!!!!

This is one of my favorite photos of me and Dad. He always encouraged and supported my passions.

Happy to introduce Aiden. He is the HAPPIEST little puppy!!! He just brings a smile to my heart 24/7.
I always knew I would need an "ol' lady" dog at some point……just didn't think it would be at 41!!!
Aiden is my first official Papillon and he is the BEST!!!!!

                                                                                 Mary Fish Arango Photography

Adylyn is growing up to be quite beautiful little girl. Her first show will the end of Sept. I can't wait to get her in the ring!!!!

                                                                              mary fish arango photography

Creating
You have to know what you want and see it, feel it, taste it!!!!! A true burning desire!!!!
I think the 2 hardest hurdles we as humans have to overcome when it comes to creating is being really specific about what we want and feeling deserving of what we want. I have had a harder time with the former. It took me several years to master this one and I have some pretty funny stories about the things I created and called forth and saying hmmmmm… OK I need to be more specific. I have wanted a pony since I was in the womb. My parents did the best they could….. They bought me a horse and I fell off the first time I rode her. I couldn't ride for a year and have a plate in my head. I had to sell that horse and with the money I bought my very own first dog……. Funny thing is that the purchase of that dog started me on a path that still is the biggest part of my life. I had to take her into be groomed and the first time I walked into the grooming shop at 11 years old I was blown away. I told the shop owner " I want to be a groomer" She said " No you don't" I replied "Oh, yes I do!!!" So I started working for her that summer and over 30 years I have worked with dogs in one way or another, Groomer, trainer, Studio trainer, kennel person and the list goes on. Thirty years later I own a Mobile Grooming Service Company since 1994 and a Dog Boarding Facility. Not to mention that it also started me showing and breeding dogs. I have been beyond fortunate to have discovered my passion at a young age…. Back to creating…. My Pony specifically …. So when I grew up I bought a couple of horses and it was fun and I learned alot…..but it was not my pony. So I started thinking and feeling what do I REALLY want?  I want a pony. Ok, but you are not a little kid anymore. So I needed to find a pony that could carry an adult. After all my research I came up with an Icelandic. Perfect!!! Sturdy little horse that looks like a pony!!! Gelding or Mare? Hmmmm…. I am a breeder down to my core…… A mare! Color? Ok, I know that one should never pick a creature on color…..I know this well….I breed Dalmatians and Collies…. A good dog/horse is a good dog/horse no matter what color! But, I am a visual kinda gal and I need photos in front of me to help with my creating/calling forth. So again color…….Black!!!! I found the cutest little mare and I have her photo beside my computer. She fits the picture in my head. I have sent out the request to the Universe and now I am just waiting for all the ducks to line up. I have made contact with her breeder and she is for sale. Her breeder sounds just like the type of breeder that I want to have a working relationship with. The kind of breeder I tell people looking for a puppy to look for. I called my friend that I play this creating game with and she said COOL!!! She is beautiful!!!! I have a horse trailer you can borrow!!!! I just adore my partners in crime!!!! Any way this is just a brief glimpse at the creating and calling forth of my perfect pony!!!! I will update my blog as the play unfolds!!!!

Her name is Fatima

and I can see her tolting in my field, I can feel her fluffy black coat between my fingers and I can taste that sweet horsey taste . Isn't she the cutest!!!!!!!

We are expecting a litter the end of Aug. We are VERY excited!!!! Multi BISS Tirzah was bred to 2005 National  BOB Bowen and Avalanche…. Ultrasound showed 5-6 puppies!!!!

All pups will be rough and will be raised on a raw diet and min. vax.

Photos of all 3 parents can be found in past posts.

Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in a puppy from this promising breeding.

We have no adults available at this time.

We currently do not have any Dalmatian puppies. If you are looking for a pup please feel free to contact me and I can send your request to my Dalmatian breeders list.

We have a 7 year old retired champion available to the right home. Freedom is neutered and very loving.

B-Naturals Newsletter, August, 2008

Basic Supplements for Daily Use in the Dog's Diet

Lew Olson PhD Natural Health

One of the most common questions people ask me when it comes to feeding their dogs is “What supplements should I add to my dog’s diet?”  This question is asked whether they are feeding a raw diet, home cooked meals or a commercial dog food.  Regardless of what type of diet you are feeding, all should receive the same supplements, with the only exception being the addition of calcium to home cooked recipes.

Each of these diets is already adequate in minerals. Commercial diets add minerals to their diets to achieve the NRA dog nutrition standards. Raw diets contain meat, organ meat and bone, which already contain balanced minerals. Home cooked recipes have meat, organ meat and added calcium carbonate, ground egg shell or citrate to help balance calcium. All of these diets, when a variety of proteins are used, also contain adequate amounts of minerals.  I do not recommend adding minerals to any of these diets without the advice and supervision of a veterinarian, again with the exception of adding calcium to home cooked meals to balance the calcium/phosphorus ratios.

The daily supplements I recommend are the ones that are harder to find in foods or are most fragile, or perishable in storage and handling. These include water soluble vitamins, vitamin E, omega 3 fatty acids, probiotics and enzymes.

Water soluble vitamins include B vitamins and vitamin C. Neither of these store well, such as in commercial dog food packaging, and are more difficult to find in large enough levels in fresh food. B vitamins can be found in meat, organ meat and dairy. B vitamins are beneficial for the nervous system and to help build red blood cells. They help in metabolizing amino acids which are found in proteins. Raw diets generally will be richer in this vitamin, as some B vitamins loose potency when heated. And while dogs can make some vitamin C, more is helpful for collagen repair, capillary integrity and as an antioxidant. Bioflavanoids are an important addition to vitamin C as it helps with uptake and absorption in the body.

Both of vitamin C and B vitamins are water soluble, which means they are easily excreted from the body. They are needed daily as they not stored in the body. I recommend giving both of these daily.

 Vitamin E is a valuable fat soluble vitamin that is an antioxidant that helps fight free radicals. This is also helpful in fighting cancer. It is also heart protective and helps lower blood pressure. Most sources are plant related, so it is important to add this important vitamin.

Omega 3 fatty acids are found in fish oils. They are also present in plant oils (flax, hemp) but dogs have difficulty converted the ALA in plant oils to a usable form of omega 3 fatty acids. It is difficult to find in many food sources, mostly because most feed animals are fed grains rather than grasses. It is also a fragile essential fatty acid in that it is destroyed when exposed to heat, light and air. My general recommendation is to give one capsule (180EPA/120DHA) per 20 lbs of body weight daily. Omega 3 fatty acids help to support the immune system, help the skin and coat, and is renal, heart and liver protective.

The last two supplements help with the digestion system. These help fight gas, help to assimilate and digest food better and aid in forming better stools. Digestive enzymes are composed of animal and plant based enzymes. Animal based enzymes help to predigest fat and proteins in the stomach, making the food easier to digest when it hits the small intestine. Plant based enzymes help to prevent gas.

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria, such as acidolphilus, bifidus and more. These help keep a good colony of ‘friendly’ bacteria in the gut to help digestion of food, reducing gas and producing firmer stools. They also help make vitamin B and vitamin K in the large intestine.

Daily Supplement Recommendations for All Diet Types

B-Naturals carries the Bertes Immune Blend, which contains vitamin C,  bioflavanoids, vitamin E, B complex, plus digestive enzymes and probiotics.  My recommendation is to give the Bertes Immune Blend at half dose to all my healthy dogs and give one fish oil capsule per 20 lbs of body weight daily. These would be recommended for raw diets, home cooked or commercial diets.

Fish oils are fragile, and must be given separately, in capsules. We carry two strengths, the EPA Fish Oil Capsules in 180EPA/120DHA per capsule, or the EPA Fish Oil Capsules in the 300EPA/200DHA.