Alfie is so disappointed

But it's good news as far as I am concerned, as Dorothy and Stanley have got past flirting and hopefully we will have pups in about 9 weeks :-)

Making babies?

Unfortunately Sybil isn't pregnant, and is currently driving everyone up the wall with her continuous calling, bless her! She is back with Manuel, so fingers crossed for babies this time.

Dorothy is in season now, we are hoping to put her to one of Dilli's boys towards the end of the week. As both are new to the mating game, it is possible that the mating may not go according to plan, if this is the case I have a very keen Alfie as my back up plan :-)

My link to Flickr.com stopped working a couple of weeks ago, I am not technically gifted in any sense but had a go at rectifying the problem, but although the link appears to be working again, I can't figure out how to get it to show thumbnails of my recent pics :-( There are several recent photos to look at if you click the link and hopefully one of my techy friends will sort it out soon for me - Rosie?

Just a Quickie!

Back from a wonderful day at Crufts, where I spent far too much money (but the collars were soooo tempting!). Managed to watch a couple of the poodle classes, Spirits brother came 2nd in his class and Rhondas G.Daughter came 3rd in her class :-). I spent the day on fairly hefty painkillers as I think I have torn a muscle in my leg, so apologies to those I chatted with yesterday if I appeared a little vacant!
Anyway, the purpose of this post was just to say that Belinda was homed just before I went to Crufts and that this morning I had a lovely phonecall from the new owners of Dollars blue girl that was in need of re homing. I don't think she could have gone to a nicer home.

Will be catching up on bathing and clipping next week so I can take some pictures of Dollar and Dime in their very flashy new collars :-) - Couldn't wait, a very scruffy Dime modeling her bling!

Belinda needs a home

I was planning on keeping Belinda, she is a lovely kitten, beautiful markings and a friendly nature. But having thought long and hard I have decided that now just isn't the right time to keep a kitten, also I am hoping that Sybil is pregnant to Manuel and if that is the case I know I will want one of them as Sybil is going to have to retire at some stage (which will be so sad as she is the most natural mother, even producing milk to feed my other girls kittens when she has none of her own). She is currently registered on the active register, I would prefer her to go as someones special pet but would consider leaving her registration open, subject to further discussion.
We are very quiet here at the moment, which I have to say is much needed. It takes an awful lot of time and energy to properly rear babies and takes a huge emotional toll ensuring you find the right homes, so I am currently enjoying all my girls and getting back to normal routines. Audrey has resumed her agility training, which we both love, and I hope to start with Spirit in the Summer.
Most of the girls will be due in season in the next 2 months, I am hoping to mate Dorothy which should be exciting as it will be her 1st litter. This will be my only litter of puppies this year. Poor Alfie is going to be a bit frustrated by all these girls so I am considering getting him implanted (a chemical castration that lasts about 1 year, then completely reverses) to keep him a bit happier.

Stuipid Camera!!

Last week I had my bestest friend, Rosie, visiting. She very kindly offered to do a couple of group shots of my girls (and Alf) which involved careful positioning of each of the individual dogs on her special photographic background, after which she would put the pictures on her pc, work some magic and present me with the group shots!

So prior to her visit I spent the week getting all the girls clipped and bathed for the photos, a lot of work, but well worth the effort when you see the finished article. Spirit now takes approx 2 1/2 hours to bath and dry but I had managed to tie in a visit to her very talented breeder/groomer for her 1st big girl clip. All the shots that Rosie needed were taken on Thursday, unfortunately my camera developed a focus problem so I couldn't take any pictures myself, then on Friday we did a two hour drive to get her scissored, she looked phenomenal by the end of her groom, but as it was dark and wet when we got home, Rosie couldn't take any pictures (my lounge is full of boxes at the moment so no room for photos) and she had to leave 1st thing Sat morning. So after all that effort and the expense of traveling for a professional groom, I didn't get 1 picture :-(


However I had to share the photos that Rosie did for me, and today I bathed Spirit again, so although she doesn't have the crispness of a just scissored poodle, I still felt she was worth a picture or two.

Rosie doesn't know it yet but I have a number of people interested in paying her for some shots when she next visits, so I hope she can make it a long visit :-) I am absolutely thrilled with the shots that she took for me, she is a very clever lady.

Sybil kittens? and Dollar pup needs re homing :-(

I'll start with Dollars pup, Bella. She is one of Dollars recent litter, a blue girl, who was homed to a fairly local lady who already had a young min poodle. Bella is a well behaved girl who is fully housetrained and vaccinated, she unfortunately needs to be re homed as her owner has been told she needs a hip replacement and is now on a waiting list, as she lives on her own this means that she won't be able to care for her dogs and she feels that it would be best to find Bella a new home.
Having chatted to her owner today we both feel that it is in Bella's best interest to stay where she is until a new home is found. Much as I would love to have her back my current personal circumstances will not allow for this. Anyone who would like further information on this lovely pup should contact her current owner, Linda, directly on 01548 853223 or 07984567341.

Sybil is currently shouting her head off. Those who have followed my blog in the past will probably be aware that Sybil is not the easiest cat to get a pedigree litter from, she would much rather have a fling with the local Romeo! The only time Sybil conceives to a well bred lad is outside the confines of a cattery pen, to this end she visited a friends boy last year where they had the run of a cat secure garden, she produced a lovely litter of kittens to him. So following this lead I have allowed Sybil and Manuel free access in the garden and if the amount of matings that occur has any bearing on the size of litter, we are expecting at least 20!

Audreys Secret

Due to Spirit and Audrey having the same dad, who must carry the phantom gene, I have had Audrey colour tested. Sure enough she carries the phantom gene, which means that, statistically speaking, half of her pups will also carry the gene. I now have to try and find a black/tan or double red phantom, which will likely mean a trip abroad for the pair of us. If I were to put her to such a dog I will still get reds/apricots but in theory I should also get a couple of phantoms. All this is at least 18 months away but need to make some decisions and would be interested to know if anyone had any particular views on this idea. 












I do not intend giving up on the solid apricots as I love them and I consider my girls to be very nice examples of the breed/colour. One of Audreys pups will be coming back to have a litter sometime in the next few years, and she will definitely be going to a red or apricot.