The pups are now 20 weeks and range in the 30 pound to 40 lb range. This is about what Belle Starr weighed in at. So it seems as if the pups are going to be between Belle Starr's and Shadow's sizes. Bones in Frenchtown is very stocky and weighs in the 40 pound range. He is very beautiful and so Mary Ellen and I became co-owners just so we could show him. All that means is that I am able to sign him up for shows and show him. We will see how he does to see where we go with him. Her son Ashton is interested in showing dogs, so I will put him in the Junior Handler class as well so he can start showing Bones too. Storm Trooper is smaller and lankier but very mellow. He is going to be a good therapy dog, but not so sure about the show ring. His face is narrower and I'm not sure where he got that. His dad never had a narrow face. Belle Starr does, but her head is more blocky. So the Storm Trooper is a mix of his mom and dad. I have him signed up for the Internation Dog Show the end of March along with Bones to see how the two boys do. It will be a great experience for Storm Trooper to be out in public for some serious socialization. So let the fun begin. My little girl from Eugene should be coming to us the end of March as well. For sure I will be showing her the end of May. She is out of some good champion lines and hoping she does well. Most of the black girls look like Belle Starr but seem to have longer legs. I haven't seen the black boys, but from reports they are blocky and very mellow boys. Last weekend some us got together for our own puppy class training. There isn't much in St. Regis for opportunities to socialize dogs. So we decided to have our own little sessions. There were 6 puppies here last Saturday and we had a good day. Five of the puppies were from Bell Starr's litter. So of course they were very happy to see each other and that made for interesting training. Today we are meeting again and planning on meeting for a few weeks until formal training starts in Missoula. Now our next thing is WAITING for Belle Starr to begin her cycle so we can breed her for the next litter. I have some anxious people waiting to hear of puppies on the way. Unfortunately mother nature is in charge of this one. My only fear is that we have rescheduled our Hawaii trip for next week and I was hoping to have her bred before we leave. But that isn't happening at this point and if she comes in this week then we will have to leave her and Shadow at the vet while we are gone for the breeding. Something I don't want to happen. Too expensive and they are a week away from home. So I'm hoping that she now waits until our return from Hawaii. But it's Belle Starr, No one ever knows about her...Love her anyway. Things are good at Happy Labs Kennel...
