Merry Christmas from Hemlock Australian Shepherds

Sharon Ruppel (and Santa's helper Chelsea in the back row) is celebrating a dog gone Christmas in Connecticut. Pictured in the front row left to right are Sketch and Dancer. In the back row left to right are Boulder and Gracie.

Merry Christmas from San Francisco

Sizzle and Dax enjoying the holiday festivities at the Scharf home in San Francisco!

From Stonepine South

Just received this updated photo from favorite owner/handler Phillip Gault (Alabama) and Stonepine Southern Gentleman "Gentry" (Ch. Hisaws Its A Cinch for Gingerbred x Ch. Stonepine Shiraz).

Introducing...Stonepine Fuel Injected "Enzo"

Enzo is starting his show career with owner/handler Robin Paboojian of Sanger, CA. What a great team! He is one of the incredible Sash (Stonepine Sheer Silk) and Deacon (Heatherhill Dazzle Revival Man) litter born March 2010. Photo courtesy of Trista Hidalgo, Dynamic Dog Photos.

Stonepine Silk Kimono "Hailey"

Hailey and Joanne Prada have been busy having fun in not only obedience, and rally, but also agility. Hailey's current list of titles: CD, RE, OA, OAJ, NF, RS-N, JS-N, GS-N and counting. Photo courtesy of Trista Hidalgo, Dynamic Dog Photos.

Young Adults Available

He loves the water and plays in the mud! Pilot and three other adolescent Australian Shepherds are available from Stonepine Australian Shepherds at this time. These fun-loving pups are dual registered, and will be sold to pet homes on a mandatory spay neuter contract. They are structurally sound, and healthy. I have one blue merle dog, two black tri girls and one blue merle girl available only to outstanding pet/performance homes. They are all crate-trained, leash broken, socialized and have won ribbons at ASCA shows! Three of them have quite a bit of drive and would do well in performance homes or homes that have already owned and trained Australian Shepherds. One girl is more casual. Call for details (831.726.2700).

2010 ASCA National Specialty

Stonepine Jaded "E.D." had a fantastic Nationals in Waco, TX. Many thanks to transporters and caregivers Stephanie LeBarron and Cindy Taylor and to our wonderful handler Viktoria Patzold. E.D. was Reserve Winner's Bitch at two Nationals Pre-shows and won a highly competitive Open Black class at Nationals. Thanks to the judges who bestowed us with these wins.

Website Updated

So pleased to announce that the new website is up. Please take a moment to scroll through some of our new pages and slideshows. If you would like to be included just email me with the information and a photo. Feedback and comments are of course welcomed!

The Newest Members of Team Stonepine!

Please meet Stonepine Son of a Preacher Man "Graham" (rear) and Stonepine Preachin' to the Choir, Chorus (front). These are my picks out of the Sash (Ch. Stonepine Sheer Silk) and Deacon (Ch. Heatherhill Dazzle Revival Man) litter. Pictured at 9 weeks. Thanks again to photographer Trista Hidalgo.

Best in Show Baby - Bucharest National Show

Susie Q, aka Heatherhill Volcano (Ch. Heatherhill Without A Trace x Ch. Heatherhill Jada De Ville) co-bred by Alan McCorkle and Nannette Newbury at her very first show in Romania. Not only is she pretty, but she can move too!

Silk-Turner Litter Week 6.5

The breathtaking Silk-Turner litter is rapidly approaching 8 weeks old. I have come close to making my selection and now have some outstanding pups available to select homes. Call me at 831.726.2700.

Available

Meet 8Ball! She is 8 weeks old and ready for her forever home! She actually was one of the pick puppies, but due to unforeseen circumstances her home became unavailable at the last minute. Call me at 831.726.2700 for details.

Silk-Turner Litter Week 5

      The Silk babies went outside today! As it is going to rain tomorrow, it was good timing. Hard to get them all together in one picture.

Sash-Deacon Litter Week 6

First time out in the big world, it was a little too warm and too much California sunshine. The group shot is missing one pup as he is hiding in the shade under the van! They will go for "walkies" again this evening and hopefully we will get some better pictures of everyone.

Silk-Turner Litter Week 4

Way cute!

Silk-Turner Litter Week 4

This isn't the entire litter, I am missing three of them! They are moving around and developing their personalities now. They love being outside and our weather has graciously cooperated this week.

Sash Grins

The best grinner in the world! Not to be confused with bad behavior! This is one happy mom!

Silk-Turner Litter Week 2.5

Their eyes are now open and they are enjoying learning about their surroundings. They are still a little too young to go outside and enjoy the nice weather, but will probably be ready to play on the green grass next week.

Sash-Deacon Litter Week 5

It is hard for me to believe these gorgeous babies are now 5 weeks old! They got to romp outside a bit this week in between rain storms and are having a blast! Great temperaments, fun to snuggle and love on; a truly wonderful group of pups.

Silk-Turner Litter Week 1

Eight wonderfully healthy pups (four males and four females). I am really pleased with the vibrancy of the color on the merles. The copper points are so rich and deep at 1 week and they will only darken with age. Looking forward to watching them grow up!

Dam: Ch. Stonepine Silk
Sire: Ch. Heatherhill No Stone Unturned "Turner"

Sash-Deacon Litter Week 3

Seven absolutely gorgeous, fat and healthy puppies (four girls and three boys)! Their eyes are now open and they are sucking on each other's faces!

Dam: Ch. Stonepine Sheer Silk "Sash"
Sire: Ch. Heatherhill Revival Man "Deacon"

Are you a Great Home for An Australian Shepherd?

A trend of new puppy owners is to research the breed, and the suitability of the breed on the internet alone. I refer to this as the “E” or EDUCATION portion of the learning process and the internet is indeed a valuable tool to utilize. There are however two other “E’s” that are equally important in the process, EXPOSURE and EXPERIENCE.

Exposure comes from spending time around Australian Shepherds. Meet as many different Aussies as you can. Talk with the owners. Babysit your friend’s Australian Shepherd while they are on vacation, go to doggie cay care centers and watch Australian Shepherds in action. Visit dog parks and observe the energy level of this working dog.

Experience comes from more in-depth, immersed exposure to the breed. Most often this can be accomplished by attending an all-day Australian Shepherd dog show, making appointments to visit quality breeders at their homes, attending dog training classes where there are Australian Shepherds in attendance. Experience is attained from exposure over time.

After all three “E’s” have been obtained, you will be able to make a truly educated decision about whether an Australian Shepherd is the dog for you and your family.

Sash Pups at Two Weeks

It was hard to get a Week 2 picture as these guys were all over the whelping box! They are very mobile now, eyes are just starting to open. These are very fat and healthy puppies!

Silk Litter Arrives

Silk (Ch. Stonepine Silk) whelped her gorgeous litter on March 20, 2010. The litter is sired by Ch. Heatherhill No Stone Unturned "Turner." She had three blue merle girls, 1 black tri girl and four blue merle boys.

Sash Pups are Here!

Sash had her gorgeous litter on March 9, 2010. Here is their first photo shoot. Mom and pups are doing well. Four boys and four girls!

Meet The Cat

(Aromas, CA) Chang the Siamese loves puppies...up to a point. The pups are still interesting at this stage and don't overwhelm him. He actually sleeps in the puppy pen. This is the first day out in the big world for the Jade-Trace pups and meeting Chang on his turf. Yes! Aussies get along with cats...if you train them to and socialize them around cats.

Sasha and Maryse Shank

(Arizona) Sasha got her Novice Agility JWW (jumps with weaves) title yesterday.  We qualified in each class we ran so far, now we are on to the Open level.  I've just finished the first day of a 4 day trail.  It has been such fun with Sasha doing agility.  She loves it and now that my handling skills have improved, we are a great team.  She never knocks bars and checks in with me to be sure where to go on course.  I'm lucky to have had a great mentor, who has taught me so much in just a few months.  I'm sending you a lovely picture that a photographer took at our first trial on New Year's Day.  Isn't she beautiful!!

Peaches and Wiyot

(San Diego, CA) I thought I'd send you a picture for your blog. Peaches is on the left and Wiyot on the right. They're on the pause table out at the training yard - taking a break between classes. Connie and I help out at classes at Kindred Spirits (Liz Palika's canine training school) near San Diego every Saturday and Peaches and Wiyot are often demo dogs for the classes. They are also best buddies and we often take the other dogs out of the play yard to let them have time alone. (They are also faster than all the other dogs and love to chase each other. Peaches is half Wiyots' age and yet you'd never know it when you see them together. She is one fast puppy!). I love seeing all the other dogs on the posting. The new tri litter looks gorgeous - I hope you put more pictures of them up.

Katelyn and China - Westminster 2010

 

(Madison Square Garden, New York) We couldn't be more proud of Katelyn Scott (Lehi, UT) and Stonepine Shanghai "China." The Scotts had retired China from her Junior Show career, and had replaced her. The time arrives for getting on the airplane to fly to NYC and Katelyn's new show dog is injured and China has to fill in at the last moment. "After pulling three chihuahuas of hair out of her, she cleaned up nicely," according to Katelyn's mom Sherrie. This talented team made the Top 7 in the Junior Showmanship finals at the Garden! Whooooppppeeeee!

Dax, Sizzle and Jenny too!

 

(San Francisco, CA) If anyone ever doubts placing a dog in a forever home as a young adult, take a look at this picture of pure bliss at the Scharf household. Sizzle (blue merle) was placed at approximately 6 months of age and was just recently joined by her cousin Dax (red merle) at 25. years of age. Pure heaven.

Jade-Trace litter

(Aromas, CA) The hoodlums (minus one) pictured at 4.5 weeks having a barrel of fun in the puppy yard. It becomes increasingly difficult to clean the yard and almost requires combat gear to complete the task! All pups passed their eye exams this weekend with flying colors!

Dax and Sizzle

Dax and his new BFF Sizzle headed to San Francisco to rule the roost at the Nick and Jenny Scharf home! Congratulations!

This is Bliss

(San Francisco, CA) Christine Wue sends a picture of Otis on husband David's pillow. Spoiled rotten dogs live here!

Jazz Rules

(Lake Tahoe) Just a quick note to let you know that Jazz is great and I'm having a blast with her. She just loves life and every person and dog she meets. I'm sure if I sent her to high school she would become the student body president and head cheerleader! Kathy Murphy

Jade-Trace litter

(Aromas, CA) Day 13. Eyes ares opening. We are starting to sit up and suck on ears and faces and toes!

Dax!

 

Dax is a young neutered male (sort of sorry about that now!) out of Ch.Stonepine Shiraz "Rozz" and by Ch. Hisaws Its A Cinch For Gingerbred, "Cinch." Dax is only available to a very special home! He is dual registered, obedience trained, house broken, been in the show ring and is working towards his altered championship. He is tons of fun and very creative. He even has taught himself to ride a skateboard!

Pebble Beach Concours D'elegance

BFF Lou Edmondson (Elizabethtown, KY) and Stonepine Makes Cents (Trump). Lou comes out to Pebble Beach each August to volunteer as a Class Host for the premier car show in the world, held on the 18th hole on the ocean! I have had many dogs that were unofficial class hosts attend the event with us over the years. Unfortunately the powers that be decided dogs were not welcome last year. We no longer volunteer. Since this pic was taken Trump has become a permanent part of the Edmondson household and continues to be spoiled rotten!

The Other End of the Leash

 Just about anyone who has purchased a dog from me has received this book recommendation. Everyone that has taken the time to order the book (very easy from www.amazon.com) and read it, raves about it. It is a quick read! I re-read it every year just keep focused! Enjoy!

Jade Pups @ 8 days

I love it when they line up like this!

Four Days Young

The very first pics of the Jade (ASCA/AKC Ch. Heatherhill Jada Da Ville) x Trace (ASCA/AKC Ch. Heatherhill Without A Trace) at four days of age. The litter was born on February 3, 2010 and is thriving. They are fat, healthy and gorgeous and yes, it is an "all-Black" litter. Pedigree available upon request.

Sally as an Artist's Model

Sallie's new owner Linda Harris is a talented fine artists and also gives lessons. She reports, "Sallie attends our studio painting classes, and I have included a foto here that I think you will enjoy, Sallie as artist's model; she took to our model David right away. Soon after I shot the pic she got up and tried to crawl into David's lap, and that's when I shooed her off the model's stand. She spends class next to me and my easel, or following me about. She has been my shadow every since she arrived, pretty much, and we have fun together.

Stonepine Jaded

Introducing Stonepine Jaded, E.D., (Ch. Heatherhill No Stone Unturned x Ch. Heatherhill Jada De Ville)

ED and PJ

I don't know what it is with the initial names, but these two Stonepine girls took top honors at the 2009 San Mateo Kennel Club dog show in December. Pictured on the left is ED, Stonepine Jaded (Ch. Heatherhill No Stone Unturned x Ch. Heatherhill Jada De Ville) at her first show. She took a three-point major from the 6-9 month puppy class! Her bestest buddy ASCA Ch. Stonepine Stop N Stare, PJ, owned and handled by Melissa Ruble (Peppered Acres Australian Shepherds) was reserve winner's bitch to the 3-point major! PJ is by Stonepine Makes Cents and out of Ch. Stonepine Sheer Silk.