The pups have grown incredibly quickly.
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8 weeks old and 4 weeks old
Posted in Uncategorized on June 29, 2025|
Pups are growing
Posted in Uncategorized on June 15, 2025|
Both the oops litter of border collies (don’t worry, they are very well bred, just a bit early) and the long-awaited litter of Irish terriers are growing like mushrooms.
Here are a few pics. 5 weeks old and 2 weeks old respectively.
Unexpected surprise
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged dog, dogs, pets, puppies, puppy on April 22, 2025|
So you know the principles of good old fashioned matchmaking, where the ‘parents’ look for a suitable suitor for their darling ‘daughter’, and find the ideal match, anticipating a respectable period of engagement before the wedding…
And then…, she runs off and elopes with the local scoundrel…
We hereby announce that June’s winter / spring 26 litter has been brought forward by at least 6 months and she is in pup to our Ben with pups due early May 2025.
Pups are likely to be tricolour, though black and white are also possible, and highly likely to work.
Both parents fully health tested on Mydog DNA (mother carries CEA, father clear for all 200+ tests).
June is a is a very good farm dog with a cool head and a great feel for sheep. She has a quiet power and is rarely challenged (even by moody Myrtle, our matriarch goat who enjoys a good game of toss the dog if she feels the slightest hesitation). She has also completed two nursery seasons, being regularly placed in both, and making the team for the run off against the Northern Ireland Sheepdog Handlers association. She has been placed in several intermediate trisls, winning one. She was placed in one of the first open trials of this 2025 season. She is a lovely consistent bitch, and I was really looking forward to the rest of the open season with her (now on temporary hold).
Pups from June’s 2023 litter are working well.
Ben is a young, well-bred dog who has just finished his first nursery season with some placings. He is fast, stylish dog with lovely movement and good potential for the future.
Videos of both parents available on request and both can be seen at home. For working / sporting homes.
Working sheepdog puppies
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged border-collie, border-collie-puppies, isds-puppies, sheepdog-puppies, working-dog, working-sheepdog on January 9, 2025|
Puppies born 05/01/2025
Available only to working homes (other requests examined on a case-by-case basis)
Puppies from Arjan’s Zel (M Baranski’s Treasured Til x Roca Lila) X Arjan’s Ben (M O’Malley’s Mirk x James Prenty’s Jess). Both bitch and dog can be seen at home.
Zel is a consistent bitch with open trial points. She has a wonderful temperament. She is truly a delight to own. She is small but mighty, and is not afraid to go out on the big hill trial courses, where she has performed well.
Ben is still young but shows class and style and is a promising prospect for the future. He has already shown results at intermediate and nursery level and has now begun running in the occasional open trial.
We don’t breed very often but this is a long awaited project given that Zel is entering her 6th year.
Both parents are fully DNA tested on the MyDog DNA panel, and clear of genetic diseases (Zel is a healthy IGS carrier).
Zel running at Barra O’Brien’s during the summer 2024
https://youtu.be/Hi5mpIO3HB0?feature=shared
Zel outrunning at Clare island hill trial https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrY0Y6mgzvz/?igsh=dDhiazAzNDN3NjI5
Some videos of Ben (note that in some of these he was just over a year old)
Woohoo the ceiling / mezzanine is in!
Posted in Uncategorized on October 8, 2024|
Due to unforseen circumstances, it has taken longer than planned to get the ceiling in but we’re finally there, so now the door is going on and it will be warm for winter.
Summer review
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged boarding-kennels, dog, dog-training, dogs, kennels, pets, puppy on September 11, 2024|
We have had a delightful summer, easing into our new boarding adventure. As we opened later in June and most people would have booked their dogs’ holidays well in advance, we have been able to take in some of the shorter stay dogs, the emergency bookings and the last minute deals. I’m also happy to say that some of those have been back several times.
We have had a variety of dogs from the tiniest little mini Daschund to a huge bundle of love in a Great Dane body, and everything in between.
We have had timid dogs unused to boarding who were given time to settle in, playful dogs, aloof dogs… Because we are so small, we have been able to cater to everyone’s needs and I can safely say that all our boarders have been happy and relaxed.
We have also had some tailor made dog training requests and it’s been wonderful to be able to provide help in areas others can’t. For example in stock habituation for a gun dog, or helping people with collie problems.
Here is a short video of a typical day at the kennels. One of the things I’m very happy about is that having extra dogs boarding has not triggered any additional barking. Some of our boarders bark when new dogs/people come in but otherwise peace and silence reigns and people arriving wouldn’t have any idea we run a kennels. For me that’s a sign of happy dogs.
Puppy training
Posted in Uncategorized on June 27, 2024|
We have a young pup at home for the moment and I’m trying to keep on top of her training, despite the numerous other things I could be doing.
Of course, we are doing the obvious, sit, lie down… But another thing we try to do with all pups is muzzle training.
I have found that this is something they remember far into the future and it has so many uses, the obvious one being vet visits, or if you are the owner of a restricted breed, but when living on the continent extends to relaxed train and bus travel. On some trains or buses it’s an obligation, on others it’s not but put yourself in the place of a person afraid of dogs travelling on a crowded bus and having to sit near a dog).
If habituated correctly, a dog will have no more issues wearing a muzzle than a collar. A dog’s perception is not the same as ours.
For more information on muzzle training, click here.
Lovely weather and happy dogs
Posted in Uncategorized on June 25, 2024|
It has been so nice to have some drier weather and the dogs have been enjoying it to the full.
We have had our first few non sheepdog boarders in for short stays and all has gone well.
Among them was this lovely lad who’s a big boy but so friendly he was able to enjoy socialising with others (as well as chatting up the neighbours).
In addition to his boarding, we explored some training tips and tricks to help the owners out with their big goofy baby.
Opening soon
Posted in Uncategorized on June 2, 2024| Leave a Comment »
Opening 10th June
We are currently working hard to get ready to open for the 10th June 2024.
Once we have cleaned up after ourselves and the builders, we will post photos of the kennels here.
In the meantime, here are a few photos of the surroundings.
Kilturra Boarding & Sheepdogs 