MORGAN RIVER GABRIELINO CHIRP

WTCH Rockngs Kodiak Bear DNA-VP  X  Morgan Rivers Wylie G Dancer TD GS-E JS-E RS-N DNA-VP

Red tri, 17", 40#, full dentition/scissors, DOB 11 December 05, MDR-1 Normal/Normal, OFA TBD late 2008

15 months old, first time on cattle, laying down the law to Tony the Steer

To view Cricket's cattle album, click HERE

To view Cricket's puppy pix, click HERE

To view more Cricket puppy pix, click HERE 

Last puppy album, click HERE

More Cricket and Cows, click HERE

Cricket's first time on sheep, click HERE

Cricket's first time on the steers, click HERE

Morgan River is pleased to welcome its 4th generation home with the arrival of Cricket, daughter of Dancer, Ho Dog's little sister (Chaps X Catera II); granddaughter of Catera (Jack X Jazzee I); great granddaughter of Jazzee (Wally X Morgan I) and great-great granddaughter of our foundation bitch, Morgan.  We're really please and excited with this long awaited cross of a good son of WTCH Red Baron with Dancer!   Now that we have moved to a working cattle and sheep ranch, as soon as we can we'll get the round pen built for her and start her going.  We figure her to be maybe too much dog for us, just from what she's already shown on the cattle on the other side of the fence!  She definitely has eye and a quiet working style.  She has shown that as soon as the cow "gives in" to her, she'll relax and reward them.  There were 20 cow-calf pairs and one BIG bull for 41 head of cattle on the ranch last summer.  They belong to one of our neighbours (www.greatgrassbeef.com) and were helping mow down our overgrown pastures.  To see this little morsel of a pup eyeing down 1200+ pounds of beef is sometimes hysterical.  Even the bull respected this little dynamo.

On the conformation side, things are improving dramatically.  Personally, I'd wish her about an inch taller and a bit shorter backed.  Her head is about perfect; typey and feminine.  She shows a bit toed out in front right now; as she matures and her chest drops in, that should straighten out as it tends to do in our lines.  Her rear is still changing, from near perfect to slightly straight.  However, front and rear angulation is about as good as it gets.  Her side gait is strong, quiet and efficient, just as it should be.  Topline has gotten much stronger, and that odd "cape" of long hair that goes from the back of her skull to just past her withers is diminishing as she sheds out her puppy coat.  Hopefully she'll get matching hair all over!  But in reality, she's not too bad at all, especially for a young pup from slow maturing lines.

Her personality is so cute - she's a real softie for the most part, like grandma Catera; a doofy goofball like her uncle Ho Dog; uncannily intelligent like great-great grandma Morgan and with that totally loving and loyal disposition of her great grandma Jazzee.  She is much like Hoke around strangers; not at all happy about them being around, but eventually deciding that if they're okay with us, they're sorta okay with her.  Very much true Aussie, this one.  Certain people she likes pretty well; most she just tolerates a quick petting from.

Should she turn out (genetically, health-wise and working ability-wise), we have planned a breeding of her and Hoke for late 2008.  All red, all working.  These pups will NOT make good couch potato type pet dogs!  They will ONLY go to working homes, no exceptions.  A good Aussie in the wrong home is not a good Aussie at all, but a disaster in the making, and that is why we will insist on a signed contract stating that the owners WILL work these pups, whether in agility, SAR, obedience, tracking or the stockdog arena.  These pups will need a job and a strong, experienced owner dedicated to making them reach and exceed their potential.  We have 6 reservations currently on this cross (if it happens); please re-read the above paragraph again before contacting us about a reservation on this litter.

We plan on having a great time with this little red powerhouse!  Stay tuned!