Raven is from the second Jess x Jack litter in 2004
Fast, agile, smart, and eager to please.
Raven is one great pup and we are proud
to have her join the pack.
Raven at 5 months is showing a tremendous prey drive. But a controllable one. She will chase and drive poor ol 'Tuffy' all day, but will 'leave it' when commanded. She never catches him, but in tune with his every move.
She is smart, fast learning, biddable, very athletic, and bonded to me, just like her mom Jess. I am very excited about this little pup!!
She attended puppy class her first summer and of course passed with flying colors, learning every new behavior in just a few quick sessions.
Raven and Nipper
Typical sisters, can't share!!
Raven is a beautiful dog with wavy and glossy coat. She is very fast and agile and we are looking forward to trying out agility soon.
She is excelling in obedience after only a few classes, which we recently started taking again, and was an instant favorite with our trainer Jeff. She has graduated from intermediate level after only one 5 week session, and is ready to move on to the advanced level.
Raven lives to please me and tries very hard to understand what I am asking of her.
Raven at Bond Falls Michigan.
Merry Christmas Raven!!
Meet your new baby sister,
Brandi
Vacation in the U.P. of Michigan,
Oct. 2006
Perfect weather, beautiful scenery,
and my amazing Raven along for a hike,
life IS good!!
Photo courtesy of Collin Kowitz
Raven made quick friends with a passing group of preschoolers at Bond Falls in October 2006.
Always happy to pose for the camera!
And always ready to go for a ride!!
Photos courtesy of Collin Kowitz
Below are pictures of Ravens first litter of pups
Brandi wants to help Raven with the puppies, not too sure Raven needs any of her kind of help though.
Big Sister Brandi, just has to be in the middle whenever I try to get pictures.
She is a good baby sitter!!
3 beautiful red merles.
Zoinks!!
Mikayla
with a perfect 7
on her shoulder
Itty Bitty Gracie
In Loving Memory to my beautiful Raven,
sadly she was struck by a car in January of 08.
some things you just never get over......
Hello, Patti
After looking at the site again Buddie looks just like Raven did I'm sorry to hear about her we couldn't think about loosen our Buddie. He is doing great he is the guard of our three going on four year old. The hole world could be jumping around but if Gwen is not he wouldn't care, He watches her like a hawk. she was the little baby that came with to pick him up if you can remember. We have since had Madyson who turned one on the 19th. he loves her but still only has eyes for Gwen. Madyson can take treats away and his bone he is so careful with her but only plays with Gwen he just is all about her.
Buddie
Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of Raven's page to read about Gracie, her very special pup, who serves as a therapy dog to my firefighter friend!!
Gracie was the smallest pup in Raven's litter. In fact she is the smallest pup we've ever had. At birth she was strong and fed well, but later the next day, I found her off to the side, or behind Raven, several times and she was quickly getting weak.
On my last check before bed that evening, about 24 hours after birth, I found little Grace again off to the side, this time she was cold and stiff, but when I held her face up to mine, I cold feel the tiniest breath.
I was determined to do what I could for her, but was sure at that point that is would be the first pup I ever lost.
I tucked her into my shirt to attempt to warm her up, fed her corn syrup to raise her bloodsugar, and made a heating pad out of raw rice, warmed in the microwave, and slept very little that nite. By morning she was alert enough to nurse from Raven just a little. I went to the vet that morning to pick up supplies and get a quick lesson on tube feeding pups. My vet was skeptical as to wether or not the pup had much of a chance of survival, but encouraged me to try.
Gracie was tube fed for the first two weeks of her life. She remained small and delicate, but with a strong will to fight. And she did put up a fight every time I pushed that tube down her throat.
By 2 weeks of age she was able to lap milk from a saucer, and by 4 weeks, she was eating solid foods along with the rest of the litter!!
I had originally sold Gracie to a woman in Texas who wanted to train her to work livestock. I knew Gracie was too small and delicate to succeed as a stockdog, so I ended up giving her to my friends Kris and Jeff, I couldn't let her go too far away!!
I will let Jeff tell her story from here.......
I had been a professional firefighter for 24+ years. May 1, 2006, taking care of people at medical and fire calls, when a slip on the mud responding to another call, changed my life. I herniated two discs in my neck and had cervical spinal surgery May 31, 2006.
Post surgery recovery did not go well with excruciating neck pain and headaches. I would be laid up in bed for one to two days at a time. I suffered deep depression and was not happy with life at that time.
My wife and I received a female red merle border collie from Patti in June, 2007, who we named Gracie. Who would know that a little border puppy, would end up taking care of a male who had taken care of people for 24 years.
On days when my wife was at work, Gracie would either play ball in the backyard with me or lay quiet for the day, while I lay in bed, not wanting to move. I would babysit her or she would babysit me, depending on my day. While in bed if I would roll over or get up to get a drink she would raise her head to make sure things were OK.
I had another cervical fusion in June, 2008 and again Gracie was there to make sure things were OK. At the present time, if I get up to go somewhere in the house, she is there following me to see what is going on.
Gracie has been the best therapy for me, beside my wife. She has been better than the Doctors and medicine for coping with everything during this very trying time. Patti is great with her dogs and any pups she has raised. Thanks, Jeff
