Cricket the Athletic Kelpie Puppy ~ Adopted

Cricket is a little Australian Kelpie, born around the beginning of September. This little girl was one of several puppies we rescued from The Dog Pound of Athens, Alabama. That was a hard day. We knew we could rescue 6 puppies, but there were over 30 there. How were we to chose? It was so difficult. The day before I had looked at the photos on the Athens Dog Pound facebook page , set up by community members attempting to save as many pets as possible. There I had seen a photo of a puppy that looked very much like my Tenakee, a red and white Aussie who had died of lymphoma at age 6. I was determined to save that one. But when Friday rolled around, and Stephanie went to the Pound with camera in hand, e-mailing me photos off puppies, none were of that pup. I asked her if she had seen it. No, that was everyone, but she’d look one more time. A few minutes later she called me back ~ Yes, she was still there, in the back. The photo came through and sure enough, it was my mini-Tenakee! And so “Cricket” became the first puppy saved that day. (FYI we were only able to pull 6 puppies, but the Friends of Athens Dog Pound became so energized, that many local fosters stepped forward and no dogs were euthanized that week, a huge victory!).

I had thought Cricket was an Australian Shepherd, but when she arrived, I realize that she wasn’t. I couldn’t figure out what she was, though. I’d seen that look before but couldn’t put my finger on it. A few days later, her ears started to stand up and I thought, “Australian Cattle Dog mix!” When I posted some photos on our facebook page identifying her as an ACD, Michelle posted back that perhaps she is a Kelpie. And that is it! I had forgotten that Kelpies can come in red, often with white chest blazes and occasionally with white tips. That is exactly what this little one is. And boy, does she have the personality! The reason I call her Cricket is that she jumps so high. She is a total wiggle monster when you hold her! But most striking is that she is extremely ball oriented. No matter what she is doing, if you throw a ball, she goes and chases it. If another dog gets it first, she doesn’t give up until she has snagged it away (remember, she is one of the smallest puppies!). I think she would be amazing at flyball!!!

You can see lots of photos of Cricket in her personal photo album. If you are interested in meeting Cricket, please review our adoption process and then e-mail us.

This is a video of a similar appearing Kelpie actually working sheep. Kelpies are known to to run across the backs of closely packed sheep to get to the other side of the herd. Watch this dog do just that!

November 22nd Update:

Cricket has just bloomed! When she first arrived she was pretty much over the top with energy. I was concerned that she would HAVE to go to a home where she competed in frisbee, flyball or agility, or perhaps even one where she worked with sheep. However, I am now happy to say that I don’t feel that such is the case. Don’t get me wrong ~ I think she would do great in that type of setting, but I don’t think it is a requirement. She needs an active home because she’ll never be a couch potato or even a medium energy dog, but she isn’t over the top. I think she was that way when she arrived because this intelligent, focused, energetic puppy had been confined to a small crate with two other puppies for who knows how long! Now that sh is decompressed, well, she’s terrific.

Cricket continues to be very ball oriented. Throw a ball and she’ll stop whatever she is doing to go get it. She sometimes brings it back but she actually tends to be more of a collector. She stashes balls, toys and other treasures in “secret” places around the house and yard. I tried tossing a frisbee the other day and she was pretty excited about that too!

Here is a video of her playing with my daughter in the living room. Notice how her eyes stay on the ball. You can see the focus!

November 24 Update:

Ever since Cricket arrived she has been very ball oriented. Today we got out a Frisbee to see how our girl would do with that. No surprise here ~ she did great! In fact, she even started returning it to us. This is one smart cookie!!!

December 5th Update:

I am so proud of Cricket. When she first arrived she was a bundle of energy and rather pushy with the other dogs. Now she has really found her pace. She plays with everyone now, even KitKat the Border Collie who at first tried to herd her ~ silly KitKat! They had a tete-a-tete and now all is good. They play and wrestle and agree to herd the dachshund puppies!

December 10th Update:

I just love my Cricket. She can make a game out of anything!

20 December Update:

Do you know how hard it is to get footage of the puppies playing? As soon as they see me get my camera out they stop doing what ever cute thing they were doing and start playing let’s-trip-the-fool-with-the-camera. fun….
But I got ’em today! They were outside playing. I sloooowly slid open the sliding glass door just enough for me to slide my hand out. With as little motion as possible I positioned the camera and pushed down the button. And actually got some good footage of them being goons Oh yeah, a typical afternoon at my house!

December 23rd Update:

Oh, the fun of puppies! Having poured my first cup of coffee of the morning, I sat down on the couch to enjoy it. Before I could say “Boo,” I was swarmed with puppies. Rather than fight it, I switched the coffee for the camera and caught this video for you. You can tell I haven’t had any coffee because I keep calling the dogs by the wrong names. Ha! Cricket is a hoot. Count how many toys she picks up during the six minutes of filming. I just adore this girl!!!

Merry Christmas To All!!!

January 1st Update:

Well, it’s happened: my beautiful Cricket has found her home. This one was a hard one for my family. When Cricket arrived, she was pretty much a wild animal, but today? Oh, today she is spectacular: loving, attentive, focused and athletic. And ready for her forever home.

Anita wasn’t looking for a dog. She was actually looking for a flyball class for her ball-obsessed 8-month-old Border Collie Banjo. But when she saw a link to our blog on a Border Collie website, she followed it and got hooked (Some of you totally relate to that!). But even when she saw Cricket’s photo, she wasn’t interested. After all, she has three dogs, and who ever heard of an Australian Kelpie anyway??? But Christmas Eve her husband asked her what she wanted most, and, much to her surprise, she answered, “Cricket!”

We’ve corresponded and talked for a week, and today she and daughter Madison drove up from Boca Raton to meet Cricket. We all knew they’d love her, but what about Banjo? He loves balls and plays rough. How would he be with a dog equally ball possessive and quite a bit smaller? Silly us! He was a gentleman. They met and took each other’s measure. They chased balls ~ Banjo returned his, Cricket hoarded hers under the hedge. Smart Banjo eventually pretended to drop his ball; when Cricket ran to get it, he ducked in and grabbed one of hers. And they were both good with it. The crowning moment was when Banjo trotted up to Cricket with ball in mouth, and rolled it to her! Anita’s mouth dropped open, and I near ‘nough cried!