Before COVID-19, our family had decided it was time to add another Border Collie to our family (in addition to the two BCs we already have). We had originally planned on the timing being a little different, but on March 28 when a very special litter was born and we had the opportunity for pick of the litter, we knew the timing was perfect!
As the puppy would primarily be my teenage daughter's dog, we wanted her to decide which puppy we would eventually bring into our home. Though we knew it was too soon to choose, we were so excited at the news of the litter that we drove an hour to the breeder's ranch on the day the pups were born. We spent several hours just observing the pups with their mama, noticing the beautiful coloring of each pup and watching as they negotiated prime nursing locations with mama. It was such a great day and we enjoyed every moment!
March 28, 2020 Litter
We came back the following weekend and were amazed at how much the pups had already grown! Their color and markings were more pigmented, they were moving around more and interacting some with each other. Their eyes were still closed but we were already able to start noticing glimpses of personalities. We were there for several hours just watching the pups and my daughter assisted the breeder with puppy exercises. One of the pups snuggled close to my daughter and was so content he fell asleep on her lap. She sat quietly until he woke as she didn't want to disturb him, and with that her choice had been made. Her new puppy was a blue merle male with a black patch on one eye, one black ear and one merle ear. We named him Togo (GCR Togo is his registered name), after the inspiring dog hero in one of our favorite Disney movies.
We visited Togo at the breeder's at least once a week until he came home to us. With each passing week, the bond between him and my daughter grew and he would perk up when hearing my daughter's voice before he even saw her when we arrived. By the time we brought him home, he knew us and the transition from his litter mates to our family was a smooth one for him.
We were diligent in photographing Togo on our weekly visits to the breeder, and continued that tradition once he came home. Below are some of our favorites of him, starting at 7 days through 7 months of age. You will notice him wearing a black bowtie in some of the portraits. I love seeing how big the bowtie is on him in the younger photos and how the bowtie appears to get smaller and smaller as he grows. His eyes were at first a deep sea blue, then turned to a brilliant, almost turquoise blue, and have become piercing ice blue.
But his beautiful coloring and markings aren't what endear this pup to us. He is exuberant, loving, brilliant, entertaining, and is constantly adding joy to our lives. Because Togo has been such a light for us this year, I had to feature him as one of the things I am most thankful for!
Award-winning portrait photographer Shannon Edney's photos have been featured on multiple magazine covers with photos published in print and digital advertisements around the world. Based out of Missoula, Montana, Shannon specializes in portrait photography showcasing people, dogs, and horses (all breeds, with a focus on the Arabian horse). Shannon is known for her ability to catch the perfect expression and capture her subjects in unique lighting, resulting in portraits rich in artistry that will be treasured for years to come.
