Oranges litter
Mushu x Penny
DOB 09/12/2024
5 puppies: 4 males and 1 female
DOB 09/12/2024
5 puppies: 4 males and 1 female
Sire
Ryla's BCs Guardian Of Lost Souls BCAT TKA
"Mushu"
DNA - Optimal Selection Clear
OFA - Good hips, Normal elbows, Normal shoulders, Normal patella, Normal spine, Normal heart
Dam
Old Hemp’s Lucky Day CGC TKI VHMA
"Penny"
DNA - Optimal Selection Clear, Carrier EAOD
OFA - Good hips, Normal elbows, Normal shoulders, Normal eyes
Ryla's BCs Guardian Of Lost Souls BCAT TKA
"Mushu"
DNA - Optimal Selection Clear
OFA - Good hips, Normal elbows, Normal shoulders, Normal patella, Normal spine, Normal heart
Dam
Old Hemp’s Lucky Day CGC TKI VHMA
"Penny"
DNA - Optimal Selection Clear, Carrier EAOD
OFA - Good hips, Normal elbows, Normal shoulders, Normal eyes
This is Penny’s second litter (first was the Apples litter) and Mushu’s first. Penny is my co-own from the National Parks litter, out of my Abigail and you can read all about Penny on her page.
Penny’s first litter is nearly 2 years old and they have grown into excellent dogs. Of the litter of 9, there are sport dogs (rally, obedience, agility, disc), one service dog, and several active family pets. They all have fabulous temperaments and are good natured dogs. Drive levels mostly fall around medium. Size ranges are from 30lbs on the small end to 50lbs on the large end.
Penny is a medium drive and overall low energy Border Collie with a wonderfully friendly, outgoing and stable temperament who enjoys doing whatever her person is doing, be it going to farmers markets, parties and events, walking around cities, going on hikes, beach days, or just relaxing at home. While she is a more medium drive dog overall, Penny does have very high toy drive - for tugs, discs, balls, you name it. Her favorite is probably tug and she has a very full and firm bite. She has some foundational training in a few sports (primarily agility and herding, where she showed a lot of promise) but is mostly a working service dog and excellent companion. She has a lot of potential for sports and has had great feedback from many trainers but her owner's life doesn't accommodate trialing at this point. Penny is very social, loves all people, is great with dogs, kids, and all of the hustle and bustle of city life. She doesn't show any environmental sensitivities and takes on new settings with grace.
Mushu is a high drive and medium/high energy Border Collie who is always up for fun. He is very sporty and has impressive physical skills like high natural hops and great coordination. He loves to play, loves disc and is naturally very cooperative. He also loves to tug and play competitively and will shake and thrash with all his might, but if he’s playing with a child (which he loves to do) he tones it down and is super gentle and intuitive with them. He and Penny are similar in what they do, as he is also a working service dog, task trained and public access trained, who dabbles in several sports with lots of potential for greatness but a lack of access to most dog sports. Although he is a high drive dog, he is very mentally stable and his structure is also very nice and functional.
I am expecting some great, very versatile puppies with lovely temperaments and the drive to do sports but also the ability to be good active pets and companions, like their parents.
Penny’s first litter is nearly 2 years old and they have grown into excellent dogs. Of the litter of 9, there are sport dogs (rally, obedience, agility, disc), one service dog, and several active family pets. They all have fabulous temperaments and are good natured dogs. Drive levels mostly fall around medium. Size ranges are from 30lbs on the small end to 50lbs on the large end.
Penny is a medium drive and overall low energy Border Collie with a wonderfully friendly, outgoing and stable temperament who enjoys doing whatever her person is doing, be it going to farmers markets, parties and events, walking around cities, going on hikes, beach days, or just relaxing at home. While she is a more medium drive dog overall, Penny does have very high toy drive - for tugs, discs, balls, you name it. Her favorite is probably tug and she has a very full and firm bite. She has some foundational training in a few sports (primarily agility and herding, where she showed a lot of promise) but is mostly a working service dog and excellent companion. She has a lot of potential for sports and has had great feedback from many trainers but her owner's life doesn't accommodate trialing at this point. Penny is very social, loves all people, is great with dogs, kids, and all of the hustle and bustle of city life. She doesn't show any environmental sensitivities and takes on new settings with grace.
Mushu is a high drive and medium/high energy Border Collie who is always up for fun. He is very sporty and has impressive physical skills like high natural hops and great coordination. He loves to play, loves disc and is naturally very cooperative. He also loves to tug and play competitively and will shake and thrash with all his might, but if he’s playing with a child (which he loves to do) he tones it down and is super gentle and intuitive with them. He and Penny are similar in what they do, as he is also a working service dog, task trained and public access trained, who dabbles in several sports with lots of potential for greatness but a lack of access to most dog sports. Although he is a high drive dog, he is very mentally stable and his structure is also very nice and functional.
I am expecting some great, very versatile puppies with lovely temperaments and the drive to do sports but also the ability to be good active pets and companions, like their parents.
In birth order;
Valencia - female
Sumo - male
Tangerine - male
Mandarin - male
Clementine - male
Valencia - female
Sumo - male
Tangerine - male
Mandarin - male
Clementine - male
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Valencia - newborn - 11.2oz/318g
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Sumo - newborn - 11.9oz/338g
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Tangerine - newborn - 13.3oz/378g
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Mandarin - newborn - 10.7oz/304g
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Clementine - newborn - 12.0oz/340g
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Valencia - 1 week old - 1lb 7.1oz/657g
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Sumo - 1 week old - 1lb 7.9oz/680g
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Tangerine - 1 week old - 1lb 11.1oz/770g
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Mandarin - 1 week old - 1lb 3.2oz/545g
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Clementine - 1 week old - 1lb 7.2oz/660g
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Valencia - 2 weeks old - 2lbs 3.9oz/1kg 20g
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Sumo - 2 weeks old - 2lbs 3.5oz/1kg 6g
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Tangerine - 2 weeks old - 2lbs 5.6oz/1kg 65g
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Mandarin - 2 weeks old - 1lb 14.0oz/852g
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Clementine - 2 weeks old - 2lbs 3.6oz/1kg 10g
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As both litters graduate from being neonates and make their way into the transitional phase and socialization period, let's talk a little about it!
Neonates are just tiny little heat-seeking missiles on a mission for sustenance, spending most of their time resting and growing at a very rapid rate. This is the stage during which we implement ENS (Early Neurological Stimulation) and ESI (Early Scent Introduction), which consist of small series of exercises that activate different parts of the pups' brains and nervous systems, providing lifelong benefits. These are the only real "work" that can be done with such young puppies, aside from lots of touch and getting them accustomed to being handled. Neonates are very fragile, and I joke that they're always just 24 hours from dire straits, so the biggest thing we do as breeders during this period is to ensure that everyone is healthy and thriving.
Then the pups wake up! They open their eyes, begin to hear, and start to perceive their surroundings. You'll start to see the dams licking the pups' faces and interacting with them differently. The pups begin toddling and playing with one another; they start to wag their tails and become social. This is when the fun really begins! I start to introduce new experiences every day, including sound desensitization, startle recovery, tactile experiences, classical music, their first toys, and even their first meals. I rearrange the whelping box a little and add a distinct potty area and separate sleep area—because yes, potty training begins this early! Pups will almost always choose to be clean and not soil their resting and living spaces if they are given the opportunity. You'll even see them, before their eyes are totally open, stumble away from the sleep nest to potty as soon as they are able to do so. It’s something I take full advantage of and continue to encourage as they grow! We also keep up with lots of love, snuggles, and handling, as well as visits from select people. This period of time is low-key and very fun. It's my personal favorite!
Neonates are just tiny little heat-seeking missiles on a mission for sustenance, spending most of their time resting and growing at a very rapid rate. This is the stage during which we implement ENS (Early Neurological Stimulation) and ESI (Early Scent Introduction), which consist of small series of exercises that activate different parts of the pups' brains and nervous systems, providing lifelong benefits. These are the only real "work" that can be done with such young puppies, aside from lots of touch and getting them accustomed to being handled. Neonates are very fragile, and I joke that they're always just 24 hours from dire straits, so the biggest thing we do as breeders during this period is to ensure that everyone is healthy and thriving.
Then the pups wake up! They open their eyes, begin to hear, and start to perceive their surroundings. You'll start to see the dams licking the pups' faces and interacting with them differently. The pups begin toddling and playing with one another; they start to wag their tails and become social. This is when the fun really begins! I start to introduce new experiences every day, including sound desensitization, startle recovery, tactile experiences, classical music, their first toys, and even their first meals. I rearrange the whelping box a little and add a distinct potty area and separate sleep area—because yes, potty training begins this early! Pups will almost always choose to be clean and not soil their resting and living spaces if they are given the opportunity. You'll even see them, before their eyes are totally open, stumble away from the sleep nest to potty as soon as they are able to do so. It’s something I take full advantage of and continue to encourage as they grow! We also keep up with lots of love, snuggles, and handling, as well as visits from select people. This period of time is low-key and very fun. It's my personal favorite!
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Valencia - 3 weeks old - 3lbs 0.4oz
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Sumo - 3 weeks old - 3lbs
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Tangerine - 3 weeks old - 3lbs 2.7oz
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Mandarin - 3 weeks old - 2lbs 8.6oz
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Clementine - 3 weeks old - 3lbs
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Valencia - 4 weeks old - 3lbs 10.0oz
Sumo - 4 weeks old - 3lbs 14.5oz
Tangerine - 4 weeks old - 4lbs 2.0oz
Mandarin - 4 weeks old - 3lbs 5.0oz
Clementine - 4 weeks old - 3lbs 15.0oz
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Valencia - 5 weeks old - 4lbs 15oz
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Sumo - 5 weeks old - 5lbs 4.2oz
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Tangerine - 5 weeks old - 5lbs 14oz
Mandarin - 5 weeks old - 4lbs 5.5oz
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Clementine - 5 weeks old - 5lbs
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Valencia - 6 weeks old - 6.2lbs
Observant, driven, mindful, outgoing, friendly, playful, very sweet with humans
Observant, driven, mindful, outgoing, friendly, playful, very sweet with humans
Sumo - 6 weeks old - 6.6lbs
Bold, outgoing, driven, playful, forward, confident, friendly, big kisser
Bold, outgoing, driven, playful, forward, confident, friendly, big kisser
Tangerine - 6 weeks old - 7.2lbs
Thoughtful, focused, observant, driven, friendly, mindful and calmer than siblings
Thoughtful, focused, observant, driven, friendly, mindful and calmer than siblings
Mandarin - 6 weeks old - 5.4lbs
Playful, driven, outgoing, confident, friendly, sweet, well rounded little guy
Playful, driven, outgoing, confident, friendly, sweet, well rounded little guy
Clementine - 6 weeks old - 6.2lbs
Focused, driven, sweet, affectionate, bold, confident, pushy, curious
Focused, driven, sweet, affectionate, bold, confident, pushy, curious
Valencia - 7 weeks old - 7lbs
This week, she loves laying on her back for belly rubs, tugging, and manding 
Tangerine - 7 weeks old - 9.6lbs
This week, he likes playing with toys, tugging, and doing drive by bites off my pants |
Sumo - 7 weeks old - 8lbs
This week, he enjoys biting the hose water, tugging, and giving kisses 
Mandarin - 7 weeks old - 6.4lbs
This week, he loves dangling off my clothes and tugging with all his might, and laying on his back for belly rubs |
Clementine - 7 weeks old - 7.4lbs
This week, he loves following me around, sitting for petting, and climbing out of the puppy areas
This week, he loves following me around, sitting for petting, and climbing out of the puppy areas
Temperament testing
Before we dive into each puppies results, let's go over what the test items are!
This is the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test (PAT). While I find the test to be a little outdated, especially in terminology, it's still a fine tool and it doesn't hurt to do. It basically just confirms my findings through raising and knowing my litter well. It’s always important to note that this test is a very brief moment in the puppy’s life whereas I have been watching all of their moments.
This is the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test (PAT). While I find the test to be a little outdated, especially in terminology, it's still a fine tool and it doesn't hurt to do. It basically just confirms my findings through raising and knowing my litter well. It’s always important to note that this test is a very brief moment in the puppy’s life whereas I have been watching all of their moments.
- Social attraction - This test is done right when the puppy enters the test area and is first met with the tester. The tester calls them over and scores based on what they do, testing social attraction and reaction to strangers.
- Following - Tester walks and encourages puppy to follow them, scoring their reaction. Another test of sociability and also biddability.
- Restraint - This exercise is when the tester lays the puppy on it's back and holds them there to see how they react. Gives insight to how the pup handles human spacial pressure and being restrained.
- Social “dominance" - But I like to call it Social forgiveness. It's done right after the Restraint exercise and you see if they quickly "forgive" the person for making them uncomfortable. Tester kneels there and strokes the puppy to see what they do. Can show a pup’s level of independence, confidence, sociability, softness, etc.
- Elevation "dominance" - This is another that uses the word dominance in a way I wouldn't typically use it, but the test is holding the puppy elevated just over the ground with both hands, seeing how they react. Another gage of the pup’s reaction to restraint and human pressure as well as body handling.
- Retrieving - This test is tossing a crumpled piece of paper and seeing what they do. Score can give insight to the pup’s toy drive and natural cooperation.
- Touch sensitivity - This one isn't major and is very easily trained to be better. The tester squeezes the webbing between the toes firmly but not hard and scores based on how quickly the pup reacts by pulling away. This is done for 10 seconds or until the pup reacts. Can give some insight to the pup’s ease of body handling/cooperative care.
- Sound sensitivity - Someone on the sidelines of the testing area bangs a spoon on a metal bowl and scores how the puppy reacts. Tests the pup’s reaction, sensitivity and recovery towards loud noises.
- Sight sensitivity - For this test, you have a cloth on a string of some description (like a flirt pole) and jerk it around the floor. All of my puppies seem to pretty much score 1s on this which is anticipated with my dogs. It means they looked, chased it, and bit and played with it. Another good indication of toy drive, prey drive, visual/movement stimulation.
- Stability - This test item involves the tester unexpectedly opening an umbrella and setting it down, seeing how the puppy reacts. A good gage of the pup’s reaction to and recovery from the unexpected.
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•Social attraction: 3-4. Interested in the environment but after a little sniffing around, went to say hi and get petted. Sweet, friendly, not over the top.
•Following: 4. Followed readily, but again was sniffing around and wanting to check out the place. Nice mixture of biddable and independent. •Restraint: 5. No struggle. Submissive and sweet nature. •Social forgiveness: 4-5. Easily forgiving nature, wanted to get back onto her back for more belly rubs. •Elevation: 4. No struggle, relaxed. •Retrieving: 3. Did a perfect retrieve to hand for the tester. •Touch sensitivity: 1. Ten seconds before response. •Sound sensitivity: 2. Listened and located sound, walked towards it. •Sight sensitivity: 1-2. Chased and attacked, tugging, very into it. High tug and play drive, stimulated by motion. •Stability: 4. Sat calmly and looked, wasn’t startled or cautious. Environmentally sound, not nervy. |
Valencia - 8 weeks old - 8.4lbs
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•Social attraction: 3. Wanted to check out the environment, but was happy to say hi afterwards. Curious, friendly, easy going.
•Following: 3. Followed readily, still wanted to check the place out a bit. Nice mixture of biddable and independent. •Restraint: 5. No struggle. Easily relents to human pressure. •Social forgiveness: 3. Very forgiving, cuddled right up for kisses. •Elevation: 4. No struggle, relaxed. •Retrieving: 3. Went and retrieved the item to the tester but then wanted to play keep away. •Touch sensitivity: 4. Five seconds before response. •Sound sensitivity: 4. Listened and located sound, didn’t go towards it. •Sight sensitivity: 1. Chased and attacked, lots of strong tugging. High tug and play drive, stimulated by motion. •Stability: 2. Went to check it out, wasn’t startled or cautious. Environmentally sound, not nervy. |
Sumo - 8 weeks old - 8.8lbs
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•Social attraction: 4. Started out with a few sniffs, then went up wagging and sweet to say hi. Calm, friendly, not crazy.
•Following: 4. Tail stayed wagging, more interested in checking the place out than following right away. Independent streak, but still engaged with humans. •Restraint: 5. No struggle. Easily relents to human pressure. •Social forgiveness: 4. Very forgiving, snuggled up calmly. •Elevation: 3-4. Relaxed almost the whole time then had a little wiggling at the end. •Retrieving: 3. Did a perfect retrieve to hand for the tester. •Touch sensitivity: 1. Ten seconds before response. •Sound sensitivity: 3. Listened and located sound, went towards it to investigate. •Sight sensitivity: 1-2. Chased it and also wanted to head it off, did some tugging, but more nonchalant about it all. Medium/high tug and play drive, stimulated by motion. •Stability: 3. No startle, briefly checked it out while wagging, then went about his way. Environmentally sound, not nervy. |
Tangerine - 8 weeks old - 11lbs
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•Social attraction: 4. Interested in the environment, then went to say hi bashfully. Calm, friendly, easy going.
•Following: 4. Politely sat and watched tester walk around, then followed briefly and did some exploring. Not over the top, observant, but still engaging. •Restraint: 3. Very little struggle but would rather be loose. Accepting of human pressure but has a mind of his own. •Social forgiveness: 4. Forgiving nature, but was ready to take off and get back to the fun. •Elevation: 4. No struggle, relaxed. •Retrieving: 2. Ran and got the toy, kept it to play with for himself. •Touch sensitivity: 1. Ten seconds before response. •Sound sensitivity: 2. Listened and located sound, walked slowly towards it. •Sight sensitivity: 2. Chased it and put his feet on it, didn’t feel like tugging (for once, as he’s a big tugger most of the time). Medium/high tug and play drive, stimulated by motion but not overly so. •Stability: 2. Quick startle then hopped inside to play, wagging all the while. Environmentally sound, not nervy. |
Mandarin - 8 weeks old - 7.8lbs
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•Social attraction: 3. Sat down for a moment then wiggled up sweetly to say hello to the tester. Thoughtful, friendly, sweet.
•Following: 2-3. Wiggled around following the tester, tail wagging and staying close. Social, biddable, into humans. •Restraint: 5. No struggle, made some eye contact. Easily accepts human pressure. •Social forgiveness: 3. Snugged up eagerly for kisses and pets. Very forgiving. •Elevation: 4. No struggle, relaxed. •Retrieving: 4. Ran to the toy and started to play with it, then ran back to tester without the toy. •Touch sensitivity: 1. No response. •Sound sensitivity: 2-3. Listened and located sound, went away first then went to investigate. •Sight sensitivity: 1. Chased and attacked, tugging and having fun, didn’t want to stop. High tug and play drive, stimulated by motion. •Stability: 2. Quick startle at first, then climbed into the umbrella to check it out. Environmentally sound, not nervy. |
Clementine - 8 weeks old - 9lbs
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