Talisman & Totem SportDogs

Update: All pups are spoken for, thanks to all who shared or inquired! ~~~~ Due to changes on our "list", we have a pup (female) available for companionship and sport potential. They will be ready to go home @9 weeks, after the July 4th holiday week, to ensure they are in a known, safe and quiet environment for their first holiday of sky explosions. Parents are health tested, etc. Pups seem to have good little noses already one will be training in detection work.  Pups have been raised in our home with lots of socialization and a variety of experiences-with environmental enrichment and age appropriate problem solving games. They have been wormed regularly and treated preventatively for external pests as well. First vaccination and health checks will be done at 8 weeks.  If you have serious interest, please email for a litter application. TalismanFarm7@gmail.com

  Currently raising some young pups who are six weeks old. It always amazes me how quickly pups grow, develop and learn!  So why am I exhausted, raising a litter is just "playing" with pups, right? NOPE!! Yesterday was all about house-training, getting the whole school of baby fish pointed in one direction and outside quickly to "GO" (at least 20X-getting my steps in!!!). They don't need to "GO" that many times a day, but working with a group of pups you never know who does and does not have an "empty" system. Basically, when such a young pup wakes up, plays, drinks water or eats-that will trigger them needing to "GO". Litter pans and potty mats are great for use indoors for a litter in their designated area, but don't teach the difference that if there is a roof/ceiling over their head, to keep that area clean. Think crate training...which they are also introduced to. Makes it so much easier when they go to their new home, if ...

  Happy New Year!!! This year has started off with a bang, after 2024 ending with similar pyrotechnics. We are officially a Senior Home with 4 ancient and wise ones. 😊Sisters, Ffire and Ggrail turned 15 last November. Sisters, C'ura and Quechee turned 14 on 1/7/25. I love that they are all doing pretty well and enjoying their days. I do think quality of life and a dog having the autonomy to go throughout their day, is important. Each day is a blessing! Meanwhile, the rest of us keep on and living as best we can. Human health stuff not 100% is never easy to live with, but got to try. 💔💕💓 Deja vu from late 2019/early 2020-for friends that know what that means...ugggh! But, we persevere!! Amazed I can put a sentence together after average 2-3 hours sleep, over the last few months. Chronic pain is exhausting. As always, if I am awake-my mind races as new ideas and plans fly across it-especially in the wide awake wee hours and the fevers, uggh the fevers. Being on "crate rest...

  ORBIT Talisman's All Around Guy OFA Good, Optimal Select panel Clear/Normal All 20 1/2"/44# AKC Registered (Talisman FFate (Ffire) x Surge II Available at Stud on Select Basis Orbit is a handsome, talented and versatile boy who has been busy traveling the country. He is a sweet natured dog with a solid temperament-with both drive and an off switch. Happiest being with his person, he also fulfills a working role in that capacity.  Sue and Orbit have been on a sports hiatus while he healed from an injury, but he is 100% again and ready to get back out there to showcase his skills. Like his littermates and close relatives who compete in Agility, Flyball, Frisbee, Scentwork, Dockdiving, USBCHA Herding etc. Orbit enjoys a variety of sports, focusing mainly on disc.                           Orb's parents-Ffire and Surge are both amazing dogs and doing well in their senior years.   You might have seen ...

I started this post two months ago and have been thinking about this A LOT!!!  Mindset: it affects everything we do, including how we train our dogs. How we perceive, regard others and approach life, is our attitude and belief system at work. Do unto others and golden rule and all that, or not.  With a move to a new area, I find myself re-evaluating my core beliefs in many ways, and for the purposes of this blog-in training dogs. In some ways I feel like I have stepped back in time, watching how some people are so harsh and corrective with their dogs, and shock collars-OI!!!! Some of whom were barely born when Clicker Training and R+ became the advent and light for cognitive and kind training for dogs. This reverse mindset has caught me off-guard. I see so much stress and avoidance in some dogs, while the human half seems oblivious. Two steps forward and ten back, for the dogs. We can all do better! I don't claim to be purely positive and definitely not a push-over, in what I ...

 It's a New Year!! Lots of new in 2022 and loss too, but hard as it can be-life goes on. Looking forward to this year by focusing on the positive. Kicked it off with agility (UKI), frisbee (UpDog) and herding (training for now).  Have some exciting plans for new endeavours & directions and for pups later in the year, but for now focusing on training and starting to compete with the younguns, to see how they handle the world at large and who they are, as they mature. Puppy Pren just turned one and LOVES frisbee! She has also shown some really nice interest on sheep-so that is our focus.  Older dogs still getting their training and out and abouts and hikes. Teg is happy to be back at training and will be helping out with new critters, as our new little farm takes shape.  Happy New Year!

Changing zip codes and have a couple of young dogs available. Health tested, terms can be discussed. PLACED! Female pup out of my Imp Glencregg Teg-looking for someone to bring her along. Showing keen interest on sheep, lots of interest in toys & good little retriever, strong swimmer already and Very cute! Housetrained, crate trained, rides well in the car, good with cats. Will be on the smaller to medium size when grown.  Serious inquiries only please. Email for more info: TalismanFarm7@gmail.com

Behind every well bred pup is a breeder who spent countless hours planning, raising and loving them.  Behind every well bred pup is a breeder who spent countless hours of their time talking to and screening potential new homes, that will love the pup as much as they do.  Behind every well bred pup is a breeder who feeds them the best food, has DNA tested and OFA screened parents, offers a health guarantee and commitment to future support for that pup- regardless of how old they are.  Behind every well bred pup, there is endless pedigree research-hoping to pinpoint genetic risks that can not be tested for, time and money spent proving a dog(s), and countless hours of effort-to make a breeding happen, training and socializing pups. That time and effort is part of what "makes" a well bred puppy.  Behind every well bred pup, is the person who held them on their first breath and  will love each of them forever.  Behind every well bred pup is years of experi...

PSA: YOU HAVE TIME TO GET YOUR PUP READY FOR JULY 4th! And summer thunderstorms, before they become an issue for your pup. I hate Fireworks! This July 4th might be your puppy's first time hearing major displays, depending upon where you live. First off, NEVER take them to a 4th of July display, like NEVER! Thinking ahead what can you do to help prepare them for the loudest day of the year? Do you wait until the day of and let them freak out? and potentially have them generalize scary noises later or become sound phobic? Or will you be pro-active and try to help lessen their experience? BC pups are often one trial learners both good and bad-if you can avoid them having BIG negative experiences while they are puppies (& as adults), or help them have a different CER (conditioned emotional response) to something that can be scary (like me playing games with baby pups of banging on things and tossing metal bowls for them daily while growing up here) they are more likely to get thro...

Yesterday started out like any day. It was suddenly freezing again after a milder spell, but off we went on a long drive to work sheep. Just Maven & I, focusing on her for the day. As we headed south, the frozen icy tundra of NH gave way to brown grass and a weak sun, trying to peak through greyness. Still bone chilling cold.  I admit I was nervous. A new to me trainer, recommended by a friend. The last few dogs I have started with other trainers, it has not always been pretty and definitely not always positive in training. I didn't know what to expect, but as we drove, in my cold-chilled bones I was excited about starting her and felt like it would be a good experience for both Maven and me. I had no doubt about her instinct and ability, but have waited with her, as I wanted that chance in hell of her working with me, not in spite of me. She is a strong minded, but cool headed and friendly pup-I am so glad I stuck by her to build our relationship.  So back to the day...

Glencregg Teg   As Winter begins to hit the Northeast US, looking forward to Spring with lots of exciting plans and training goals. To begin 2022, we have Two litters planned out of exceptional lines/dogs, both litters will be ready to go home in early Spring. Both crosses should produce excellent temperaments with working ability, suitable for sports as well.  Litter #1 Glencregg Teg X JumpinW Riggs and also possibly dual sired by our PLM Chalk. Time will tell, as will DNA. Teg is confirmed pregnant, pups due mid January. Talisman SoBright Litter#2 Talisman SoBright x JumpinW Riggs confirmed breeding done, pups due late January. At this point, no other litter plans for next year. List has begun, but we don't do a lot of advance announcing until a breeding is confirmed. If you would like more information and have interest, please shoot us a message at TalismanFarm7@gmail.com to discuss the process for being considered for one of our pups.  JumpinW Riggs PLM Chalk

I love training dogs. I think my dogs love to train too. It's a process, each at a different place in their learning, but each brilliant! The time change to turn back the clocks last week and rainy, chilly pre-winter creeping in, make outdoor training harder. Not sure how it goes from getting dark a little early, to pitch-black at 5 PM EST and I feel like going to bed at 8 PM is reasonable. Fighting the dark winter hibernation instinct, training helps with that.  Formal Training is probably only about 5-10% of my dog's lives, with hiking, etc and just being a dog important too. I do think my dogs enjoy training/working though, as my goal is always to build behavior and the bond. I am not a punishment based/aversive trainer. I think I would not enjoy my dogs as much, if that was our life together and training relationship. R+ training focuses on bringing out the best in each dog. The dogs might fail or make mistakes and that can build resiliency in learning, but I prefer not to ...

 Euthanasia is a shitty word. When you think about it, death is too. My old cat is dying and I am sad. Very sad. 20+ years on this earth, 15 with me, she was slated for euthanasia when I adopted her. I don't believe you can save them all, but something about this quarrelsome, cranky biter got me.  Her eyes looked like the Harvest moon, glaring a blood-orange glow as we drove home. She looked more like a Portuguese Water dog than a cat.  Shaved like a Portie-she had probably never seen a brush and with her thick coat of Maine Coon x Persian hair, she was a cat who needed to be brushed. That was one of our first agreements, there would be NO brushing. Nails were negotiable, but biting me was also an option.  Animals really do mark the passage of our lives. It seems like yesterday we were driving home. She had not been vetted at the shelter, needed to be spayed, was filled with Giardia and had an adverse reaction to Rabies vaccine on our first veterinary appointment. Bu...