Wearing her Grandma Sparkle’s glasses, Capella shows off her festive four-year-old look.
Capella is an absolute gem of a dog 💎 Perfect, in fact 🩷
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my wonderful girl 🌟
We have a couple more Bright Stars to celebrate before we start on the Moonshadows 🌗
Happy Saturday, Friend!
These birthday updates are so much fun! Today we begin with Xeena and this update from Kim:
“It is hard to believe that Xeena is already 4 years old. I still think of her as “the baby” but she really is all grown up now.
Xeena continues to be sweet and gentle but can be a bit persistent when wanting attention from her favourite people - she has the arm bump perfected.
Xeena has also become quite the “chatty Cathy” over the past year and she makes her opinions loudly known, especially when she thinks there should be some snacks involved.
Who knew such a big voice could come out of such a petite girl.
Xeena has really blossomed in nosework this past year and I think she loves it more than ever.
She has gained a lot of confidence in her searching and we are really starting to mesh as a team. I am looking forward to the trial season starting again.
Xeena has been such a wonderful addition to our family.
She is silly and sweet and very smart.
She makes us laugh every day and I am so grateful to have a Bright Star puppy (well, not so much puppy anymore).”
Kim is such a perfect home for Xeena — I love seeing all that she gets to do 🩷 Since we hear about Nosework frequently — and not everyone has a visual for what that looks like — here is a brief clip of Xeena practicing her Nosework skills.
Thank you Kim and HAPPY BIRTHDAY XEENA!! 🎉
Xeena lives in Canada but Atlas is basically my neighbor now 💙 We have this report from Kira about the life and times of Bright Star Atlas:
“Atlas - the dog who’s convinced he’s not a dog.
Atlas likes to be involved in everything everyone is doing, he’s positive he’s helping.
But the truth is, Atlas has helped us, every single day for the last 4 years.
This photo is from my house!
He came to us when Jay first got sick and has remained a rock for all of us.
He has a way of putting a smile on all of our faces by demanding he’s the first one everyone says hello to and the last one everyone says goodnight to.
As much as he loves all of us, he loves his dog brother Onyx. They can always be found together.
Atlas lives for their daily walks together.
I see so much of Claire in Atlas, in looks and personality.
Thank you Mary-Ann for entrusting us with such a special guy ❤️”
I am not sure how and why things work out as they do but I am struck by the reality that Atlas and his littermates somehow wound up in their exact right places.
Thank you, Kira, Jay and family for Atlas’s amazing life and all the other ways you make my life better 🙏
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ATLAS 🎂
I love these two updates together because they are such wonderful illustrations of two dogs having such different lives but sharing a similarity that matters so much to me as a breeder — Zuber and Tobie may be doing different things but both are living such interesting lives 💙💙
Just to remind us how very small they once were, this is Zuber as a baby.
Alison sends us this update about Super Bright Star Zuber:
“Zuber's past year has been one shaped by draft work which led to travel adventures hither and yon.
We started in MO at the National Specialty in early April where he settled easily into the adventure of our rented RV and had a successful Novice Draft pass in the middle of a very busy week.
We headed home to embrace Spring and then some down time while I recovered from a hip replacement.
Tom was recruited to continue Zuber's weight conditioning…
…and we started meeting up with his new brace partner, Lindy.
We juggled equipment and handlers all thru the summer and had the pleasure of watching the team mesh and having the flexibility of three different handlers.
In September we headed to toasty OH and came home with four new titles: DD, BNDD, BDD and ANDD. On to PA, MA (MDD) and then VA (ABNDD).
What a dog! What a brace! What a lot of miles in the car!
Zuber adores draft and we have successfully kept up his conditioning through the winter as we aim for early Spring tests. He received 5 inches of fluffy snow for his birthday. Yippee! Snow adds magical zing to all outdoor activities. Berner heaven.
Happy Birthday to all the Bright Stars and Moonshadows.”
Thank you to Alison and Tom for so much of everything that matters — friendship and support and amazing lives for their limited edition Kaibab dogs 🙏
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZUBER 🎂
On the opposite side of the country, Bright Star and Champion Hiker Tobie is having a beautiful life with his family. Cheryl sends us this update:
“It is hard to believe that Tobie (and all Bright Stars) are 4 years old today!! What a gift of joy he has brought to our lives. 2024 was another year that was full of adventure and new experiences for Tobie.
Fall in our backyard in Hailey
Tobie loves to travel and is such a good traveler.
On a walk in front of our home in Indian Creek at Christmas
Travels this year included multiple trips to his second home in Idaho and to a family cabin at Odell Lake. He loves these places, especially in the Winter when they have abundant snow.
In the snow at Sun Valley; he loves the snow and cold weather!
This past year we also traveled to Yosemite National Park in our motor home. He loved to explore this majestic, beautiful place and to greet people from all over the world.
Looking at the Half Dome in Yosemite National Park
In his life at home, he loves to be with his mom. His “job” seems to be to keep her company and to bark if any threat comes to our home (the doorbell, delivery people, wildlife).
A hike to Three Finger Jack Mountain in Oregon Cascades
During the day he has access to 2 acres and shares this space with three other “shop dogs”, who come to work with their dads to Tobie’s dad’s business every day.
In the field on our Eugene property
He loves to go for his daily walk with his mom; he delights in sniffing every bush and every blade of grass until his mom says it is time to move on. During Summers, he loves to hike with his mom each week in the Oregon Cascades or Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho. Our longest hike so far has been 12 miles; he is a great companion and seasoned hiker.
At a hike outside of Sun Valley (The Pioneer Cabin at the base of the Pioneer Mountains)
Tobie continues to attract attention wherever we go. Strangers are drawn to him. Every walk we go on, someone mentions how beautiful he is. We routinely have cars stop, roll down their windows, and comment on what an incredible dog he is. Tobie is still shy when strangers approach, but he warms up to them once he realizes there is no threat.
At the lake in Indian Creek, close to our home in Hailey, Idaho
Tobie is incredibly affectionate with “his people”. Every night he jumps up on our bed to “say goodnight” and he is back on the bed at exactly 6 a.m. to give us a good morning kiss. What a wonderful way to start each day!! He has woven himself into every part of our lives and brings life, joy, love to our lives (and just a little bit of frustration when his independent nature kicks in). We are full of gratitude for Tobie and how he has enriched our lives. Happy Birthday to all of the Bright Stars!!”
Thank you, Cheryl! What an amazingly adventurous life Tobie is having 🙏
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOBIE 🎂