Sleepless Night from Shiel

We bought Tania from Margaret Osborne in breeding terms.  Our first "real" Sheltie she was Royally bred, by Ch Swagman from Shiel out of Singing Night from Shiel, a daughter of Ch Monkswood Moss Trooper. 

We took her home in September aged 18 months and she almost immediately came into season.  The chosen sire for her first litter was Ch Parrock Red Dragoon and the resulting litter of 6 bitches were born on Christmas morning, 7 days early and just like bits of string.  I, in my ignorance thought I had 6 dog puppies!

They were very weak and Tania didn't appear to have any milk. Margaret Osborne came over on Boxing day and predicted that only two would possibly survive.  She suggested we bottle feed so we had a go.  Over the next few days, as predicted, 4 of the pups died.  We were distraught but I think, looking back, we probably drowned them in our determination that they should survive.

Margaret took her puppies and so began our dog breeding hobby.  I wonder it didn't put us off but the following year we tried again with her. This time she was mated to Tyneford Token Gold.  We had almost a repeat experience with 6 puppies born early again but this time 4 survived and we were able to keep a tri coloured dog called Blenmerrow Bandolero.  We decided that Tania would not be bred from again.