Just when I thought I had wrapped the blog up for the Easter I then get some cracking photos sent me and news of Reggie becoming a Dad again soon, so have been compelled to come and share photos and news of Reggie's up coming litter.
 Thanks Sue for these stunning photos of Maisy and  your other dog Milly. Maisy is from Primrose's litter born back in September 2012 with Reggie the Dad.

Happy Easter to you all ! Thought you'd like to see a couple of updates of our gorgeous Maisy, who continues to bring joy to us ! Recently had a couple days on Dartmoor which she loved.
Best Wishes, Sue x

Next piece of news is Toni emailed me to confirm that Poppy is in pups to Reggie.
Details are below if interested in this litter which will be ready for homes around end of June time.

Poppy is from Lucy's litter born December 2010 and her Dad is my sister's Miniature poodle Rollo. Poppy is now around five weeks pregnant and has been scanned confirming pregnancy and that she is carrying at least four pups.
Our Reggie is the Dad, so this will be f1b Cavapoos and below is an f1b Cavapoo from a litter that our Reggie fathered back in the early part of 2012 and this is what Poppy's pups will look like as adults. I would expect cream to apricot coloured pups from this union. 
Going back to the Poodle with the second cross should reduce further the chance of health problems common in Cavaliers and keeping the low/non moulting aspect but will look more Poodle.
Poppy is a healthy, active, lovely tempered girl and loves children especially and has been easy to train and will hope to pass these traits onto her pups. Dad Reggie really needs no introduction and is proven to produce healthy pups that are active, out going and love humans what ever size.
If interested in this litter that Toni is breeding from Poppy, please contact by email first at [email protected]  and if any one on my waiting list is interested in this litter, I will not be offended if you contact Toni and she can help you. Just let me know !

Happy Easter again !

Firstly tonight a big thank you to donations to my brother's charity page as he is so close to finishing the 6633 Ultra, all going well he will hope to be finished tomorrow. First time he has raced this distance and in the unforgiving climate of the Arctic, so if he finishes this at his first attempt and being nearly fifty I think that is some going. Donations can still be given at www.justgiving.com/Peter-Hawkins4 and if you go on this link www.6633ultra.com/index.html you can find out how he has been doing.
Easter is upon us and my is it cold here in the UK. Last night when I went out last thing we where having a flurry of snow but we have had snow later than this and love the way the doom and gloom merchants start ranting about the end is near because of snow in March but I think if we dig around we will find that we have had such inclement weather in the first week in May and that would be in my living memory.  The planet has always been ever changing, I'm not excusing the fact that we are not doing it much good but snow in March is not really that unheard of. I was foaling in a maiden mare back in March 1999 with snow on the ground outside and we had to rug the foal even though indoors, as it was so cold.
The dogs though love this cold dry weather and today with all children at school as our youngest does two days a weeks before starting full time in September, I was faced with a dilemma this morning, do the grocery shopping or go for a long walk with some of the dogs. I think most will know what I chose, so I will now have to for my sin, go shopping over Easter facing the Easter crush, we could survive on food in the house but toilet roll levels have become dangerously low.
 Its great to watch the dogs frolicking around in the chilly wind, seemingly not feeling its ice cold grip and when we get home, no drying and trying to clean the mud off. When I've been at work milking you can almost feel the calories burning off as you try to keep warm, that's one good thing with this weather if you work outdoors, you can eat very well and not put on an ounce.

Have a couple photos tonight of our dogs and a sweet video of Dolly cleaning Ysobel's ear. Dolly likes the ear cleaner I use to cleanse their ears with and when I do Ysobel's ears, she is happy to let Dolly lick them afterwards. Ysobel does look like she is really enjoying the experience. Thats what friends are for !

Next we have a video and photos of Jenson who is from Primroses litter born September 2012, so is now around 6 months old. Thanks Nadine for the update on your lovely boy.


Hi Jane,

I hope all is well with you and your mum is all better now?
I thought I'd send an update on Jenson.... he is 6 months old now. He had his 6 month check the other day and all is well. He is a very healthy, growing pup.
A few photos are attached. Some of his first proper haircut. He was as good as gold, even though it took nearly 2 and a half hours! 
He is very much settled into our family life. It is hard to imagine what life was like without him! 
Jenson is still a very lively dog, but endears himself to all that meet him. 
He is very loving, he has the soft, soppy side of a Cavalier and the mad side of his Dad, Reggie all mixed into one!

Take care, love,
Nadinex

We also have a cute photo of Poppy from Dolly's litter born October 2011. Poppy was born only weighing four and a half ounces, around half the average weight for a cavalier pup. She was one of eight and although born small was certainly not a runt and thrived and was one of the most out going of the litter. The only problem Julie has had with her is her anal glands filling and after visits to vets that considered that the opening to her glands where high thus causing her to not be able to empty them enough by just going toilet, it was suggested surgery may be the best option to remove them. Julie though got another opinion and changed her diet and when her glands filled was told to not empty them and see how she went and it seems to be working, so fingers crossed. If a dogs glands fill very often, it can be a good idea to change diet to something that helps the stool to stay firm and a more natural diet with less fat may also help. So I have attached Julie's funny email and hope this might help any one else who has a young dog with this problem, as some times over vigorous emptying of glands can cause more harm then good when a puppy.
Thanks for this Julie !

Hi Jane

We are all well here - hope you all are too.  Am attaching a recent photo of Poppy in her favourite spot lying on the back of the sofa where she keeps an eye on everyone going past.  Her very comfy dog beds are pretty much ignored by her but luckily the cats seem to like them.  

Poppy's anal glands have not had to be emptied since starting the new raw diet (end of October) so I am beginning to feel pretty confident that she no longer has a problem.  I had to make an appointment at the vets a couple of weeks ago for something unrelated and when I gave the receptionist her name she said 'Is that anal gland Poppy?'  When we went in to see the vet the vet said 'Ah - anal gland Poppy'.  Poor thing, despite being the most friendly, beautiful dog in the area it looks like she will be always be known as Anal Gland Poppy! 

She gets to see her half sister Maisy two or three times a week - I must get Sue to send you a video of them playing - they are quite mad together.  Maisy is now the same size as Poppy but her paws are much bigger so I think she might still have a bit of growing to do. 

Wishing you all a very happy Easter - I bet there is a lot of chocolate in your house at the moment!  We are off to the Yorkshire Moors so Poppy will enjoy the country smells and probably find new exciting things to roll in.  She is going to the groomers tomorrow so will be extra keen to get rid of that just washed smell.

Love Julie x

Lastly tonight I've found another good read "The Genius of Dogs" by Brian hare and Vanessa Woods. Last weekend with our oldest sons birtthday, Bert and me made a pilgrimage into Barnstaple to Waterstones to pick up a book I had ordered for him and could not resist a look around.  Yes, we are the odd people you see in the back of book shops sniffing books, unfortunately my son is also inflicted with my habit of touching and sniffing books, infact I now believe this must be a genetic inherited condition . My son in Waterstones approached me with an open book and his first words are, "Take a smell of this book,  Mum,"  I reply , "Shh, not so loud," but take a quick sniff and agree that the book does smell rather nice. If the book is leather bound and embossed, I may be transfixed for some time.Lol
Anyway we found this book  "The Genius of Dogs" which is recommended read by the author of "In defence of Dogs." Its hot off the press and I'm just getting started on it and is proving to be very readable and smells  good too. If you want to get a deeper understanding of your dog this book and "In Defence of Dogs" will go a long way to helping you.
Time now to wish everyone a Happy Easter holiday and lets hope it warms up soon, as I know some ladies (cows I milk) who would love to get out on the green stuff. 

Just finished emailing everyone on the waiting list with their number and its been a busy day. Yesterday when I promised to email every one on my waiting list I forgot about Charlie visiting us today with his family Vincent and Vincents Mum Sheila. Charlie is Primrose's and Smudge's Dad and I will be putting him back on  'The boys' page, as when we rehomed him at just over 5 years old, I took him off that page and so often get asked how he is doing, so I will put him back on that page under 'old boys'. As Sheila put it, "he may not live with you but he certainly is still in your life."
Sheila and Vincent took on Charlie for me after he had his heart examination over five and had a very subtle heart murmur, the start of Mitrial Valve Degeneration (MVD) and now just over two years later and Charlie now seven years old, his heart murmur has stayed stable and thankfully his MVD is not fast onset of this condition.
Sheila and Vincent took on Charlie understanding his condition having had Cavaliers before and that I would need an annual update on Charlie's progress and they have become a regular fixture on the calendar now each Spring to visit us from Reading.
Today they came for the annual pilgrimage with Charlie and they arrived at around 4.30pm leaving at around 9.30pm. Its always fun when Vincent, Sheila and Charlie visit and the children have been ticking off the days until their visit.
Its our youngest childs Birthday on Saturday and our oldest childs Birthday on Sunday with our oldest child hitting his teens at 13 years old and on asking him what he wanted for his Birthday, he was adamant he wanted chicken. We needed to replenish our chicken run, so my son has his chicken, so after Vincent, Sheila and Charlie had  the grand tour of the chicken and my son proudly gave them some of their eggs, my husband then arrived home early from work  for us to all sit and have a rather lively supper with much eating and talking. Eating is always a lively affair in our home with six children and tonight with two more places at the table to add to the mix it certain lived up to being  a lively affair, if you like to eat in silence best stir clear of our table. I am the youngest of six and remember one of my sister's bringing home her boyfriend who is her husband of some 24 years now and he is a one chick (only child). The first time he meet us all was at the dinner table and sat in stunned silence at how noisy we are, talking to each other, over each other and we could have three or four conversations going on at the table at the same time. He was used to eating in mostly silence. Obviously it did'nt put him of my sister though. Lol.

Today I also recieved an interesting email from another Cavalier breeding who has come to a cross road much like I did  four years ago. Was a bit emotional reading this, as totally understand where this person is coming from and that I suspect is wondering if they are doing the right thing crossbreeding. I say, "You have let in the light !" I will be contacting them and hopefully we can be supportive of each other. I will leave you with below with the email they sent me obviously with their name excluded and I'm off to recharge my batteries, all this entertaining takes it out of you.


Hello to you.
 I have just seen your website, and am amazed that I am in a very similar position to you.....in that I have bred Cavaliers for some years in our home, and am beginning to despair about the health problems that these little dogs now have. I have just, for the first time, used a poodle on one of my girls; something I never thought I would do. Like you, I do all the health checks, and was actually at Downs 2 weeks ago with my 3 girls (still waiting for results while one of the girls is really in season!) I have not used them before, and have been to Cambridge Veterinary College, or Chester......and so far  have had no problems with SM.

I have just  given up my Assured Breeder status, as it seemed absolutely pointless to me as I was never checked out, and was doing more than required already with my dog care and record keeping etc. And that was before I got the letter from the kennel club that told me I was going to have to re-apply to stay  part of something I had already paid to join – not to mention the patronising way that it explained all the new required things that now had to be done......that I was already doing anyway!

I hope you are lucky with your SM results – I don’t like this waiting game, but it has got to be the way forward for the breed.

I could go on and on with Cavalier issues..........and Cavalier people........but at least I’ve got some of it off my chest!

 

Sorry that I have not emailed all yet about the waiting list for our next litters but had some extra work come up at the weekend and Monday was spent playing catch up on the domestic front and today have milked either end of the day and then I had to choose between visiting a friend who has just come out of hospital after hip surgery or emailing, I'm afraid visiting my friend won. I will glue myself to the chair tomorrow and get every one up to speed. I'm going to say "promise", so now I will have to get it done tomorrow !
I have come on here tonight, as just eat my supper and thought, "Millie's litter from last year must be nearly one years old soon",  looked through my book and yes, they are one year old today. So a Happy First Birthday to Bayley, Lottie, Lola, Lindsay, Ruby, Meg and Scrappy. Hope all is well with you all and your familie's.
Below is an email update and photo's of Tiggy from Jean. Tiggy is from Smudge's litter of nine pups born last April, so not long before their first birthday. Thanks Jean for your lovely comments and thankyou for giving Tiggy a lovely home and letting me see what a handsome chap he has grown into.
 
Hi Jane,
I hope all is well with the family, this is Tiggy one of smudges puppies, he is such a sweet little dog who is always full of energy and fun and never stops running around and playing, the families socks are always going missing and are usually found with Tiggy ! 
Tiggy has made a new game up while being outside, if he spots a feather instead of going to see what it is he has decided to jump at it to see if it moves! 
it will be nice when it starts to warm up so he he can stay outdoors 

Thankyou for letting us have the opportunity to enjoy such a wonderful breed of dog.

Had one of those days when you get everything done you set out to do and more. Even got to get out with my oldest child this afternoon to the river with Millie, Smudge, Ysobel and Dolly and unlike when I broke my last camera managed to get some video footage of them and camera still in tact. My son Bert who came with me, if you are wondering is messing about with a sling shot he has made from an old belt and some string, so he got to collect an arsenal of suitable pebbles and some target practice in. I was impressed, as it worked and he could get the pebbles to go right over the river and I imagine the farmer who I know who owns the field will be wondering at harvest time later in the year, why he has so many stones in one part of his field.Lol
Took a while to upload these and now a bit later than I like to be on the computer, so this now will be a quick blog.
Warning : Keep volume down, as my voice and whistling may hurt your ears otherwise.
The first video is Smudge enjoying all the smells, as especially as we have Roe Deer around at the moment but she does manage to keep her ears open but only just !

This is them all just enjoying the water.

At this time Smudge is on the lead, as she does go deaf if in a group but you can see how these dogs  where bonnie little hunting spaniels. Very good for flushing.

Exactly Dolly, what are you rolling in ? It was where a fox had marked the tree and you will see her remove something from the tree and then rolling in it. It was a tiny piece of dry fox poo. Thankfully it had lost any smell my nose could register.Lol

In this last video Ysobel just disappeared and as I walk over calling you will see the steepness to where she suddenly disappered but returns up the easier route. Showing that Cavaliers are fearless little spaniels if allowed to be.

We are loving this dry weather at Poundlane at the moment and its hard to believe not that long ago the river Taw was over its banks and the damage of the water can be seen in the bareness of the banks, as the mass of water from the moors came through it and flattened and ripped out a lot of the brambles and gorse bushes along the banks. We never walk near the river when its running high for fear of a child or dog slipping in but it always amazes me how people with their children and dogs will crowd down to the river to watch it at close quarters, when it is at its most furious.
Now, it is way pass my computer curfew !