Icelandic Sleddogs?

In November of 2008 Jon and I had quite the Adventure with our two younger boys Kaffi and Jolasveinn. We took them to a "Run what you Brung" offered by Catherine and Eric Benson of Maryland Sleddog Adventures, LLC

http://www.marylanddogsledding.com/Run_What_You_Brung_Gallery.htm

Yep that's Kaffi and Jolasveinns little Chocolate and Vanilla butts in the middle of the Benson's wonderful dog team. It's true what they say, unless your the lead dog the view is always the same

Jon, myself and the boys were introduced to mushing equipment, training and conditioning techniques, and commands. Catherine and Eric put all this information in an easy and friendly format, giving you a hands on experience. The boys learned terms such as "line out" a command to have them keep the lines out tight to prevent tangling and as in the photo above "Gee-over", or move over to the right

Yep, that really is Kaffi and Jolasveinn working as part of a Sled Dog team! Well Kaffi was working, Jolasveinn was playing, poor Kaff' was tired out by now -- or just plain annoyed with Jolasveinn and just really wanted to get away from him!

This Photo was taken by Eric Benson, one half of Maryland Sled Dog Adventures, LLC for more photos taken by Eric from our Adventure go to:

http://pets.webshots.com/album/568720583BHbZub

This was a really great autumn day for Jon and myself out with the dogs, and were the boys ever tired out on the way home. Catherine and Eric have several different programs throughout the Chilly months to introduce people to Dog Powered Sports. I also had the opportunity to be able to join them for one of their Boy Scout Programs... the review the Scouts gave "They all loved it!" For more info go to: http://www.marylanddogsledding.com/Index.htm

In Memory of Runestone Cacao - Hrafn Tinna

On December 28, 2008 Kaffi's daughter, Runestone Cacao, was tragically taken from her family. Treasured by her family she was called Hrafn Tinna. "Tinna" was eagerly learning agility and being trained and handled by one of her girls.

We mourn Tinna's loss along with her family.

In memory of the life Tinna led we are sponsoring one the dogs rescued from Michael Vick's residence who was used in his dog fighting operation. Forty seven dogs were rescued from these horrible activities and Twenty two of the most aggressive and unpredictable dogs from Vicks operation were sent to The Best Friends Animal Rescue, to be housed and rehabilitated. We are sponsoring, Meryl, the baddest of the bad, the most unpredictable and aggressive of Vick's rescued dogs. She was court ordered to remain at Best Friends Animal Rescue for life. She is making progress by leaps and bounds due to the care and attentions of the staff, bonding with her trainer, learning agility, and even making friends with other dogs. The story of Vicks dog fighting operation broke my heart; that these dogs were abused for sport and amusement in the most cruel way possible is far more than criminal.

We will sponsor Meryl, now known as a "Vicktory Dog" for as long as she resides at Best Friends Animal rescue, sending a donation out every September 20th, Tinna's Birthday.

To learn more about Meryl and her progress,

click the link below

http://www.bestfriends.org/dogtown/index.cfm?csid=3789&csii=3790&csit=Set

to read more about Best Friends Animal Shelters role in rehabilatating the "Vicktory Dogs,

try some of the links below

http://news.bestfriends.org/index.cfm?page=news&fps=1&mode=entry&entry=AD2802EC-19B9-B9D5-9D9C19F7DD13ACF1

http://news.bestfriends.org/index.cfm?page=news&mode=entry&entry=C7CE9083-19B9-B9D5-9DBCEF4815A35C17

http://www.bestfriends.org/vickdogs/

http://news.bestfriends.org/index.cfm?page=news&mode=entry&entry=440622EA-19B9-B9D5-9D32E1B37EA45BCA

UKC Champion Fox Meadow Jolasveinn

I'm happy to say that our little boy Jolasveinn ... aka The Little Juvenille Delinquent, surprised us all this weekend by earning his United Kennel Club Championship in Conformation under Judge Austina Heinz at the K9 Connection sponsored event in Beltsville, MD

Fox Meadow Jolasveinn Meets Santa

Kaffi brought his son Fox Meadow Jolasveinn ( which means Santa Claus in Icelandic ) to meet the Jolly Old Elf himself for the very first time. Clearly our little guy was thrilled to meet the "Original Jolasveinn". I'm sure he assured Santa that he had been good all year.

Fox Meadow Trommari update

Tromarri at almost one year with two thirds of his fabulous family on a pretty autumn day

UKC Champion Isi Kaffisukkolathi

Isi Kaffisukkolathi earned his

United Kennel Club Championship

on Oct. 12 of 2008.

He was also named to the

UKC's list of top Ten Icelandic Sheepdogs for 2008

Fox Meadow Bjölluhljómur, "Bjalla"

We are so happy to have received the recent update on Bjalla, Elsie and Kaffi's only daughter. She looks very much like her dad and 1/2 brother Runestone Toblerone.

From Bjalla's Family:

she is stunning and incredibly sweet and funny . She is very athletic , she likes to play Frisbee , jumps high and never misses . if she does not see you throw it she visually searches the entire property and then uses her nose never giving up and always finding it . Really amazing

Fox Meadow Snaefinnur

"Finn"

Is sure growing up just like his brothers Trommari and Jolasveinn

He has Dad Kaffi's head and Mom, Elsie's build, coat and markings in gold white and brown instead of Elsies pale yellow, white and black.

Our Icelandic Landscape Crew

About the middle of summer, the grass always seems to start to fade and thin out under the two giant maple trees in our yard because of the dense shad, heat and lack of rain. Our all Icelandic landscape crew has completely transformed our yard so we set them to work on this project. They assembled their very best Lawn watering team for the task! Although their landscape designs might not be for everyone, our landscape crew provides us with hours of entertainment.

We have also been designated as an official wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation we are now Habitat No. 105,533. We have had countless rabbit families raised in the backyard, butterflies abound, robins hatch regularly, hummingbirds are frequent visitors and now we are raising pheasants for release next spring. I sincerely doubt that they had the kind of "wildlife" pictured in our little video in mind when they granted it that Certification. Kaffi and Jolasveinn have the very best time playing together.

A young Robin looking for a hand-out and one of our young pheasants

Fox Meadow Jolasveinn and Trommari discover swimming

Fox Meadow Trommari learned recently that not only could he swim....

but that he really liked it!
His family took him to the lake and he discovered his dog paddling talents!

He was even retreiving balls in the water and paling around with his boy! I bet Trommari will never look at a deep mud-puddle the same again!


Fox Meadow Jolasveinn recently had his own deep water experience with expert swimmer Viking Hippi at his side while visiting Hippi's kennel Mom and Dad, Liz and Bob Hurley



Hippi swims like a Beaver and even clears Beaver Creek of sticks while he's at it. Hipp' doesn't even create a splash when he swims.

Jolasveinn was really enjoying exploring the creek

He had this fabulous idea that he was going out to join Hippi, since he was just "walking around" out there.

Little did Jolasveinn know but Hippi was swimming around in a pretty deep trout hole..... one of the best in Beaver Creek! He bounced over and went right under like a chocolate submarine. It was one of those moments you wished you had a camera and did! Here he is "resurfacing"

Hippi looking out for the little guy led our Chocolate Submarine back to shore

where Jon assisted with the rescue!

My Friends Iceland

It still totaly astounds me how having Icelandic Sheepdogs in your life can open so many doors for you that you never imagined before. One of those doors is the friendships we've made in the Icelandic Sheepdog Community both here in the United States and throughout Iceland and Europe. One of these fabulous people is Brynhildur Inga Einarsdottir at Reykjadals Kennels in Iceland

http://notendur.centrum.is/~borg1

Brynhildur Inga recently had a litter of three Black -Tri-color boys out of her Tofra Homfrildur Hrifla and our Elsie's half brother Thordunu Sera Somi. These puppies will be incredible, both their parents are beautiful examples of the breed. Meet Reykjadals Séra Skolli and
Reykjadals Kópur Páfi
and Reykjadals Bróðir Djákni. they were born on June 23, 2008. These pups belong to the rare "O" family in the Icelandic Sheepdog, commected to it by their dam Homfrildur Hrifla



Brynhildur has been so very generous to share with me her Iceland while out on adventures with her dogs and grandchildren. I have had the opportunity to learn a little about Iceland and the Icelandic Sheepdog through her. It is gratifying to know that ISD owners everywhere are pretty much the same. We all enjoy our time spent with our dogs and family most of all. It is photos like these and information on Iceland's history that help us learn how to be better stewards of this incredible breed in the United States. Learning why an Icelandic Sheepdogs coat must be a certain way, or their ears, why their effortles gait is so important after seeing photos of the snowy mountainous countryside; without them being correct, a dog could not have been able to function in the manner in which it was intended.

A photo taken by another dear friend and native Icelander Maggy Pease while Visiting Brynhildur. A gal in traditional dress in an old sod house at a living history museum. Brynhildur says that....

Þjóðveldisbærinn is the name of this special sod house which was build in 1974 after the one at Stöng that went under the ash from the Hekla eruption back in 1104. Even Reykjadals Mori was able to visit.






I wonder if the original sod house this one was modeled after had an Icelandic Sheepdog like Mori walking around its low walls.... bet it did!








On another Adventure with a very expectant Hrifla.

The Reykjadals gang exploring Volcanic Rock covered in a beautiful thick moss

Mori enjoying a warm day by the falls in Iceland. What could be prettier than this place?

Thanks Brynhildur for sharing your Iceland with me!

Kaffi and Jolasveinn havin' some Spring Fever

Kaffi decided to show his son Jolasveinn how much fun the farm can be in the Spring running through hay fields. They were having an absolute blast running through and bobbing up and over the hay like deer in a corn field. I was having just as much fun watching them.

Happy Spring Everybody!

Fox Meadow Pups and their kids!

A child needs two things in life, a dog and a mother who will let them have one -anonymous

"Finn" and his girl
The dog was created specially for children. He is the god of frolic. ~Henry Ward Beecher

Fox Meadow Trommari spends a playful Sunday morning with his boy! These boys are certainly growing up together, Trommari is almost as big as his best buddy now!
A dog teaches a boy fidelity, perseverance, and to turn around three times before lying down. ~Robert Benchley

Our Viking Herder puppy

Fox Meadow Jolasveinn meets one of our yearling rams Fox Meadow Gryphon for the first time today after we finished shearing; and lays down some ground rules for him
Alright everybody get moving, you too Pembrooke!

I said stay right there!

Don't even think about moving or maybe it was don't make me come back there!

Fox Meadow Snaefinnur taking on Agility

Fox Meadow Snaefinnur and his "Mom' are setting out to do some puppy agility and By Golly - I think the little guys got it!. He's doing incredible for a 12 week old little guy! He is now known as "Finn" at home, the call name chosen especially to come out quickly in a competition.

Go Finn!

Finn in "the pause box" looking to his person for the cue to be released!

Fox Meadow Snaefinnur "Finn" and the weave poles

Finn looks like he really is enjoying himself and his new found talents, as you can see the "jump" is very, very low. Puppies should be at least 12 months old before they begin really doing jumps allowing for their growth plates to close to prevent joint damage. Finn is able to just trot over the jump while still learning to move between the poles.

Fox Meadow Bjölluhljómur and her "Black Sheep"

Bjalla's really growing up! She looks so much like her half Brother Runestone Toblerone!

Bjalla and her own personal Black Sheep Odinn the Bernese Mountain Dog! Her family sent us a little update on Bjalla
Bjalla has became a very big and happy girl and she LOVES Odin. Bjalla is always playing with Odin and our cat Ockey. Bjalla has been doing a GREAT job on herding the family together.
Odin is teaching Bjalla the ropes an is a great play mate too! I have taken and eddited these pictures myself especially for your blog. Im going back to pet Bjalla now (bye)

From,
"Bjallas boy" Ryan

A boy and his dog -Trommari

I've been so very lucky to find such awesome families for Elsie and Kaffi's puppies . Trommari has a an incredible little boy to grow up and experience knew things with and a couple of awesome adults who just adore him. They work with him daily at obedience and say he's is really coming along well mastering downs, stays and is rcalling really well.

I hope to see them at the Altoona PA. Gathering, maybe he'll be ready for his Canine Good Citizens test!

YAY! Trommari and Friends

Jolasveinn meets the sheep

After we finished some shearing today, Jolasveinn finally was able to meet the sheep. He was a little startled at first, he trotted past a lambing jug that our best ewe Fiona and her 3 day old twin lambs were tucked away safely in; she's a great mom and even though they were on opposites sides of a fence she stomped her feet at him then head butted the gate as he went by. The little guy quickly recovered and went out to meet the larger group.

He was immediately greeted by one of our Shetland rams Pembrooke, who gave him a little back off snort and stomp but otherwise was happy to let him be around his ewes so long as Jolasveinn didn't get too out of line with them. He ran them up from the lower pasture to the upper one, where the video stops he had also stopped to wait for us to catch up with him then went on to finish the job.

The Icelandic Sheepdog naturally herds in a droving style rather than Gathering like the Border Collie. They use their voice to move the sheep away from the shepherd, they can although be taught to Gather and drive the sheep toward the shepherd. The ISD rarely needs to resort to getting nippy or "grip" the flocks they herd. Our flock of Shetland Sheep are not dog broke and are not an overly flocky breed but even they can respect the authority of a 12 week old Icelandic Sheepdog

Jolasveinn meets the sheep part 2

Jolasveinn successfully brought the sheep up from the lower pasture and held them at the gate until we could open it. It's a real good thing these dogs have a natural talent for this stuff because as a handler I'm not all that accomplished. For a 12 week old he did amazing! I just wish he'd do this well in obedience class, it's probably not exciting enough!!

As I am certain you heard in the video, Jolasveinn gave a "vocal correction" to the sheep when they got out of line. He discontinued vocalizing ( OK barking!) when they were all in the correct position. This breed can be a talkative one.