Bank Holiday Monday saw us having a visit from Jake and his family, Sarah, Richard and their son Ollie. Jake was known as Little Brian for a while and although to us he was a bright star in the litter, as often can be, he was the last to be picked of the litter. Jake is from Smudge's litter born this year on the 24th February with Reggie being the Dad.

Jake left us nearly three months ago and he was a little unsure as he jumped out of the car to meet me, but once he saw the children as he went to the front door, I think some recollection was coming back. He meet his Mum, who at first woofed at him, but soon excepted him in the home and then Granny, Millie and Dad, Reggie introduced themselves to Jake. Dogs remember each other by scent and the scent memory of dogs is thought around a couple months and as three months had passed, from the behaviour displayed on meeting again, the dogs did not have any scent memory of each other, but soon excepted the presence of each other. We got a couple photo's of Jake with Ollie and then noticed the similar hair colour, which Ollie told us others had already commented about.

Jake is now a six months old male and in our home with a plethora of dog smells, especially as recently three have been on heat, the invitable happened and Jake done a couple little cocks of the leg to leave his calling card. Sarah was a little embarressed by this, but she need not worry, as over the years practically every dog that has come in our home, even bitches have embarressed their owners and decided to do a marking wee.
 
Now to understand this behaviour of a housetrained dog embarressing it's owner like this, we have to give ourselves a dog brain. When your dog is housetrained, it does not think, "I must not pee or poo in a house", you train it to not toilet in your home, to them is your living area, so when it comes into my home which is not their living area, your dog just thinks, "lots of dog smells here, I better add mine." Marking wees also are just that, the dog leaving information about themselves, a bit like a business flyer in the post box, spam email or basically any advertising, it's not the same as a dog doing a big puddle of wee in the middle of the room.

 Penny 1, a Cavalier I had many years ago, who I blogged about and posted photos of on the 02/12/2013 "A rather long walk down memory lane"  Penny 1 in our home, was housetrained and a very clean dog and she though, once did more than just a marking wee as an introduction. Lol.

Years ago I rented stables just up the road from where we live now. I rented the stables from an old couple who owned and lived in the bungalow next to the stables. They decided to sell the property and very kindly told me, "they would sell the bungalow with the hope that I could carry on renting the stables," which was very kind of them and they stayed true to their word and they moved out and in moved a family from Surrey, who came from a farming background and had owned and run a on farm produce shop and were happy for me to keep renting the stables from them.

The day they were moving in, I was up the stables and noticed them arrive with a furniture lorry and was about to go up and introduce myself, but could not find Penny 1, who always came with me when at the stables. I could not find her and wondered whether she had made her way up to meet the family moving into the bungalow, so thought I would kill two birds with one stone, by going up to introduce myself to the new arrivals and inquire to if, they had seen Penny 1. 

I approached the bungalow to say, "Hello !", to see Penny 1, and the new neighbours laughing, thankfully.  Penny 1, had beaten me to it on the introducing themselves department, as the bungalow doors were all open, she had made her way into one of the bedrooms and had found a bed, jumped up on it and pooped on it. Luckily it was of a solid nature, the poo, that is and the bed had a cover on it. It certainly was an icebreaker and I'm still friendly with the family to this day. So if your housetrained dog cocks it's leg when in someone else's home, be thankful they did not squat. Lol

Thanks Sarah for getting in contact with me whilst in the area and your family and you taking time out of your time off to let us see how Jake is growing up. He's a beautiful young dog and you are doing a great job with him.

Keeping it in the same family tonight with next an update from Jake's litter sister, Kayla and she was the first to be picked of the litter. Thanks Lynne for letting me know how she enjoyed her first holiday with you all. Land's End in Cornwall looks lovely as usual, we do have some stuuning countryside and coastline in the UK.

Hi Jane,
She thoroughly enjoyed her first experience of being on the sand and playing by the sea - as did we watching her!  The sea coming towards her frightened her at first, then she just charged down the beach into the sea and swam back out.  She then thought it would be a good idea to dive head first into the sand and roll around in it to dry herself!  She got sand everywhere, including in her eyes, so she had a shower when we got back in the evening.

Best wishes

Lynne

Finish on a funny bit of video our oldest son, Bert took of Henry and Treacle play fighting. I was sat at the computer when Henry was making the funny noise he makes and I think he sounds like a whale. Treacle makes me laugh, as although smaller than Henry, she gives no quarter to him.

As I loaded up all the updates from my inbox yesterday, in came another update which was a bit special, because it also reminded me that our Primrose turned four, a few days ago, as it was from one of her sisters from her litter, Foxy. So a belated Happy Fourth Birthday for the 19th August for Primrose and her three litter siblings, all girls, Foxy, Millie and Maisey. Hope you are all well and had a lovely day.

 Foxy is a bit special, as when we had her and Tracey had already visited to view her and they had picked each other, I then just before she was six weeks old noticed what felt like an inguinal hernia in her groin area. The vet confimred my suspicions and at six weeks old she was booked in to repair the hernia, as these types because of their position and risk of prolapse of the bladder etc are best done sooner than later, it was then on return from the vet, that I them had to break the news to Tracey and she was still happy to have Foxy after I explained everything. Thankfully all went well, Foxy was amazingly brave at the vets and had a fan club by the time I picked her up, on the afternoon of the surgery being perfomed in the morning and came home and seemed to be totally unaffected by the whole experience. She healed really well and very quickly, and then she went to be in Tracey's care, were she is a much loved part of her family. Foxy's story from discovering the hernia to it's operation and Foxy leaving with Tracey can be found on the blog at "Inguinal Hernia" 27/09/2010, "Foxy" 30/09/2010, "Foxy the little star" 04/10/2010, "Foxy fighting fit" 06/10/2010 and "Fiesty Foxy leaves for her new home with Tracey" 19/10/2010. Thanks Tracey for getting intouch to let me know how you all are and thanks for the lovely photos of your special little Foxy.

Hi Jane
 
It feels like only yesterday that foxy came home and it has been a fun filled four years. foxy is a little character a very fun loving and very affectionate little girl.  Very much mummy's girl. She has brought so much joy to my life and the lives of the people she meets. We are blessed when we are in the company of such beautiful animals....
 
I thought I would send some pictures for you to see how foxy is doing.  Foxy does enjoy being around people and other dogs and likes to be in the thick of it. lol 

I hope you are all fine and well 

Tracy xx

Next is an update from Janet, who has Henry who is from Lucy's (The Old Girls) second litter with the Dad being Reggie, born December 2011. I had to check that date again, as could not believe that Henry is coming three years old, is it really that long ago ? Thanks Janet for the great photo of Henry showing his obvious disdain that you are watching the tennis, rather than watching him, mind you, he has figured out a way you can do both, by the looks of the photo. Lol

Hi Jane,
Sorry I have not sent this photo sooner, but the summer seems to have been rushing by,  I thought you might like this photo of Henry getting bored with me watching the tennis at Wimbledon!!!
I hope all is well with you and your family.
Best Wishes
Janet Peet

The next update is a two in one and the first part is an email from Lynda who has Maddie from our last litter born 9th May this year from Primrose and Reggie the Dad. Thanks Lynda for letting me know how much Maddie has brought into your life and all is going well.
The next bit is an email from Lynda's daughter, Alison who has Millie, and  Millie is from Smudge's whoping first litter of nine pups born April 2012 with Reggie being the Dad again. Thanks Lynda for the naughty photos of Millie and Maddie together trying to do the job of the dishwasher.

Hi Jane

It is now a month today since I collected Maddie from you and I thought you might like to know how she is doing. She has settled in (or more like taken control) so well. I can't imagine my life without her now. She has been clean since day one which is a blessing and those early days of not sleeping are well behind us. Most nights she goes in her cage without a murmur. The kisses I get in the morning are fantastic.  She doesn't like being left but I know she soon settles and never notices I have returned until I enter the kitchen.

She is still a character, is very determined, and I have to laugh when I correct her she acts like a sulky teenager. She almost shrugs. It is so funny. All the grandchildren adore her. I have never had so many sleepovers. Millie and her get on like a house on fire. I wonder if they sense they are half sisters. We have let her off the lead when we are with Millie and she comes back when I call her. I'm not sure of letting her loose when I am on my own though. 

She has been to the beach which she loved, visited my elderly aunt who adored her and is drooled over by all my friends who have met her.  She starts her doggy training classes this weekend which will be interesting. 

I promised you I would give her a happy life and I'm pretty sure she is happy. I certainly am. She has given me that purpose in my life that I needed and I thank you for your part in that.

Keep up the good work!

Best wishes to you all,

Lynda

Hello Jane,

We hope you are enjoying the summer just thought we'd send you the latest photos of Maddie and Millie as you can see they are best buddies !! 

Maddie started puppy classes today and is keeping Nanny busy.

Bye for now,

Alison and family x

The next update is a quick email from Colin's family to say all is going well with him. Colin is from our last litter this year born the 9th May and Primrose is the Mum with Reggie the Dad. Thanks Andrea, hope all is going well in the US for your daughter and look forward to seeing Colin on youtube.

Hi Jane,

Just a very quick email to let you know how great Colin is doing.  Now with us just over 2 weeks and from the second night as slept through and we’ve only had 1 little accident.  He is totally adorable and has charmed even the hardest of hearts.  He’s so easy with
everyone he meets and has made great friends with my in-laws very large black lab and my sister’s 18 mo old Golden Retriever – (his body guards!)  We’ve been to one puppy party and he starts puppy training classes this week although he can already do sit, stay, off and recall pretty consistently.  I’m off very early tomorrow morning to take my daughter to US for uni so Daniel and husband in charge. Daniel loves him of course and has started building a ‘Colin the Cavapoo’  youtube channel.

Will send some photos when I get back but just wanted to let you know what a joy he is.

Best wishes,

Andrea

Another update from our last litter born this year from Sue and Colin. Thanks for letting us know your vets view on spaying, it's good to talk to your vet about this, but also good to look around at information available from other medical sources to make your final decision on the timing. This vet mentions spaying a bitch before the first heat and surge of oestrogen, and this is to lower the chance of breast cancer, but some may argue that the breast cancer risk is that low, that the importance that some believe that this oestrogen surge is to quality bone growth, outweighs the breast cancer risk argument. It's good to put some leg work into making this decision as not only is the choice made from medical reasoning but also enviromental issues, such as living in a heavily dog populated area and/or having an already over sexed male dog living next door. There is no black or grey with when to spay, it's what you think is best for your dog and your dog's circumstances. Thanks Sue and Colin for letting me know all is going well and sharing your vets advice on spaying.

Hi Jane,
        
Just wanted to let you know, our first visit to our vets with Dottie went very well.The vet was so taken with her i almost had to wrestle her out of the vets arms to get her back! Given a full bill of health and the vet was so impressed, for once seeing a puppy from such a responsible breeder.
I noticed on your blog that Kaylas owner was in a dilemma about the best time to have her spayed.I was also surprised when my vet said that the  new advise is  to recommend that it is done before the first season,aprox 6mths. Apparently its so they don't experience that first surge of oestrogen, so  giving them protection from
developing breast cancer.The vet said that there are some
exceptions a few breeds not suitable and if the puppy has had some urine infections, then they would recommend after the first season.Don't know if that information may help her with the decision.
Although Dottie has only been with us for just over a week now,it feels like she has always been here.We are delighted with how quickly she has settled in.I'm amazed how she even sits before her dinner is put down,thank you Jane for all your hard work,its really
given Dottie such a good start in life.

Kind regards

Sue and Colin

Another update from our last litter for this year and this is from Lottie who left us on the same day as Dottie above did. Felicity has Lottie, but this lovely email is from her Mum, who came with her when she came to visit us to view Lottie and pick her up.
Daphne asks if acorns are poisonous ? Yes they are to dogs, there not overly sure what the toxins in them are that cause the problems to dogs, but they do and it is also advised not to let dogs drink from puddles of water or water troughs that oak leaves are or have been soaking in. There is also slow build up acorn poisoning which is where the dog eats the occasional acorn seemingly without any health effects at the time, but over time a toxin build up eventually can start to effect their health, so be careful with acorns, if they eat them whole they tend to pass them undigested and cause little problem but best to avoid them altogether. Thanks Daphne for letting me know how you are all gettong on with Lottie.

Morning Jane – its 8.30am on Friday. 
How the week has gone by.
Felicity just texted me saying she is ‘going walkies’. It was a lovely surprise that Lottie asks to do her toilet outside, as Felicity and Sue have already said.

Lottie is a great puppy with such a personality and knows what she likes especially ‘cuddles’ and sofas.  Must say she has sharp teeth!  The three of us went for a really long trot round yesterday morning and in the evening, and Lotts looked at other passing dog walkers but did not go near the dogs.

This tired us out more than Lottie, especially after the few disturbed nights. However, Lottie loves her squeaky toys, running round and round the garden chasing her ball, trying out the growing flowers and happy digging holes in the garden where allowed.

She is learning to ‘sit’ at the roadside before we cross over and sit before any treat.  Just a query – are green or dried up acorns poisonous as the tree nearby is starting to shed some?  We don’t encourage her to eat them of course.

Thank you again for all you have done (and to Primrose as well)

Best wishes – Daphne. 

Last update is from Mollie, who is from Smudge's litter born this year on the 24th February with Reggie the Dad. Mollie had just had her first haircut and was ready to go on holiday. Thanks Rhian for letting me knoa all is well with Mollie.

Dear Jane

Mollie wanted to send you a little photo of her first haircut.

I had my first haircut today and I was very good, the water was very wet and I didn't really like it but I was very well behaved, and I suppose to look as good as this I will have to put up with it. I want to look lovely to go on holidays on Sunday, they even put a pink bow in my hair which my mum and dad thought was quite funny, but I got fed up and took it out after a few hours. I will try to stay clean for a little while but I may not!!!!

Lots of love to all of my brothers and sisters.

Love 

Mollie

Wow, I have cleared by inbox to just four emails, it's late, so I'm off to join the boys in dreamland.

Tonight is another letter from Bella after her first lovely letter that I published on the blog on the 10th July 2014 telling us about Ruby coming into her life. Bella is from a litter we bred of Cavapoos at the end of 2011 and her Mum is Dolly and her Dad is of course, Reggie and this was his first ever litter. So tonight the next installment of life in Beautiful Bucks with Ruby, the chickens, and now, also a fish named, "Yul"


Hi Dad, it's me again Bella from Bucks - ooo Bella from Beautiful Bucks oooo Bella from Beautiful Bucks who loves Balls, Bouncing, Biscuits, Bed, Bacon (no I don't get that). Silly me must get on with this letter.
 
I am bored - another b! - Mum has just cleaned my ears, they didn't need it, they were squeaky clean, Ruby has very dirty ears and Mum keeps doing them, they are getting better, it's once a week now but at first poor girl she had them done every day.  I HATE MY
EARS BEING CLEANED, but it's a good game, Mum has to catch me first, I always know when she wants to "do" something to me and the game to catch me starts.I am very good at avoiding being caught and know lots of tricks but Mum pulled a fast one today and threw a ball down the alley at our house and I was cornered - I did try and rush between her legs but even though she is a bit old
she caught me. Why don't chickens have their ears cleaned? Naturally Ruby is very good she gets groomed and teeth cleaned and everything because she has not learnt to be devious and cunning - she will learn.
 
Last week we went to see a friend of Mum's as it was the friends birthday, she has two Jack Russell terriers and they were sent upstairs with their Dad and I was allowed to play with their toys, Ruby just wanted to sit on Mum's lap and be cuddled. It was OK I was having such fun trying to get Mum's friend to get on the floor and get the balls I had sent under the sofa.  I kept talking to this
lady in my special language and she just laughed at me.
 
Something else has happened since I last wrote, I am an Auntie - Mum's human son has got himself a puppy - his name is Stanley (the puppy not Mum's son) and he is a Border Terrier, he has
been here to play and learn about grown up dogs.  Ruby isn't that keen on him and tries to be leader of the pack and put him in his place with growls and sort of pushing the back of his neck.  He just rolls over and shows everyone his boy bits - yuk......  Actually he is very sweet and quite brave because when Ruby goes away he chases her and plays up.  Silly boy he will get too brave one day.
 
Life is great here now, Ruby even goes off the lead and gets excited when it's time for a walk.  She looks at everything alive and flying about, it's a wonderful new world for her. She chases anything she can and Mum has had to stop feeding  the wild birds because of the squirrels coming in the garden and wood pigeons.  They are ok for food though there is a corn field just over the way.  We go there lots for our walks, we go down a very very old track way that has been
there for hundreds of years - I see the ghosts of people walking along but I am not telling Mum she might be scared.  I am sure I have seen Roman Soldiers and horses and cows and sheep - I am getting away from my letter again.
 
What's next that is new oh yes - Mum has a new pet and talks to him and tells him what a beautiful man he is - you wouldn't believe what it is Dad, it's a fish.  His name is Yul after Yul Bryner who was an actor. The fish is a Siamese Fighting Fish and this chap Yul, who had no hair, was the King of Siam.  I think he died at the end of the film, so sad.   The fish is red and I suppose very beautiful really. But Dad, fancy talking to a fish.
 
Mum has had to stop Ruby and me going out into the garden when the hens are out as Ruby now thinks her main job in this house is to chase them. So we have garden time and the hens have to go
back in their run - then we can play in the garden, when we are tired they have a turn in the garden.  Funny girl, I know not to chase them just to walk around and find the LOVELY poos they do, that is the chickens not the mealworms, yummy, Mum uses mealworms to get the hens into their run.
 
We went scrumping last week with my friend Ellie and her brother Alex, and I went on a BIG heap of mown grass - Mum told Ellie and Alex not to go on it as there might be adders, which I think I like big worms, in it.  Mum has explained to me about these big worms that they are dangerous but only bite if I disturb them - no thanks.  Must get back to what I was talking about - on this big pile of grass there was the most gorgeous smelly mess you have ever smelt and seen. Yes you got it Dad I had a wonderful time.  Unfortunately bath when I got home and called "Smelly Bella" for days.
 
Your Human Mum Jane sounds a laugh getting covered in milky water - Cleopatra used to bath in Asses milk do you think that's similar to cows??  and now you have no puppies to play
with, shame that Dad.  I love looking at the pictures of ALL you lot eleven dogs that must be such fun.  You must keep an eye on that Henry - he is so good looking - I could fancy him, another shame I have had an op so I am not interested in  S   E    X.
 
Another bit of news was that we were in the park the other day - being good on our leads - and a dog was running around on it's own but with it's lead dangling.  Mum talked dog talk and she caught it. Some people said it had been running around for over an hour on its own.  We took it to the Vet who has his surgery near, Ruby and
this dog put the brakes on as they don't like the Vet but I love it in there so I pulled them all in.  He had a chip (not potato) computer in his neck and they were able to let his people know.  He had escaped from a car on his way to the Vet the night before.  So now I am a Rescue dog and well as Ruby, but she was really rescued by my Mum.  We also found, I am afraid to say, a dead cat two days later, Mum sorted it all out and it's owners were able to bury it in their garden.  Very sad, Mum is a good person.
 
My eyes are closing and I feel a snooze coming on,oh yes we keep meeting Cockapoos and everyone says I am more beautiful.  Ruby is very beautiful too but in a different way. She does get jealous if I give Mum too much attention but I don't mind as I said before I am
told what a wonderful nature I have, how calm and safe I am with children and most of all have the most wonderful Doggy Parents and Human Parents a daughter could have.
 
Enjoy your Summer Dad, give Human Mum Jane a hug from me and Bella and the chickens.
 
Bella x
 

The year is rolling on and we find August upon us. Getting up for milking, we have just started to notice the days shortening, as you wake it's dark again, with the light just starting to peep through as you eat breakfast. With the heat this summer milking has been more tiring than usual. Last Friday though saw me arrive home in the evening after milking, after a rapid cool down. The milk tank at one of the farms I milk has the line for milk entering the bulk tank at the outlet valve at the base of the bulk tank via an umblical pipe, when you finish milking, you flush the line with cold water and two pumps and most of the milk in the system is flushed through and you then disconnect the umbilical pipe, as the first cold water follows through.
Well, Friday night for some reason the pump went twice and I then went to disconnect everything and the pump as I was doing this decided to cut in again, sooner than normally expected, with over six thousand litres of milk already in the bulk tank, you can imagine how much pressure happens when the pump pushes the milk into the tank and with the valve half open, you can pretty well guess what happened next, I got covered in milky water and because of the heat I had no water proofs on, not even an apron. As I was crouched lent forward onto it, my face and chest took the main brunt of it. Who I was milking for then came in the dairy and jokingly remarked on me having a bit of an accident and I noticed him averting his eyes, as I think he was concerned that with my t-shirt being saturated with cold milky water, that I might be resembling a contestant in a wet t-shirt contest, but when out and about especially working,I always wear harvest festival under garments, which means what ever happens you are always safely gathered in, so he did not have to worry about my virtue.
I loaded up all the photos for this blog a couple days ago and its taken until now to get back here and do the words bit. Children are home on the summer holidays, so its not so easy to spare the time at the moment, so lets get started on updates.
The first two updates are from Dottie and Lottie who are the last two pups of Primrose's Cavapoo litter to leave us and departed this last Saturday, both updates are about their trip to their new homes and their first night in their new homes.
Thanks Sue and Colin with Dottie and Felicity with Lottie for letting me know that you got home okay and the first night was not to traumatic for all.

Hi Jane
Well Dottie is a complete star, after our 6 hour journey home, she coped far better than us, very chilled and took it all in her stride. Thanks for all your hard work. She easily got the idea of where to do her business. We made the mistake of the three of us falling asleep on the sofa.We went to bed and after a few whimpers she slept in her crate. A bit short lived as at 3.00 am she decided it was long enough, so took it in turns to stay with her. She was quite happy to doze in her crate.
Hopefully we will get into a better routine over the next few days.
Love Sue and Colin

Hello Jane,
The journey home yesterday took quite a while, but Lottie was absolutely fine and we had no'little accidents' (wees etc) in the crate at all, just a few whines soon after setting off from yours. Once we were home and she had a good look and sniff around house and the garden.I think she 'forgot' just once who i was yesterday evening
as I quickly went upstairs and wheni came down she had a little woofing and growling session at me but soon calmed down!
I slept on the sofa last night and although it too a while for her to settle and didn't want to goin her own bed, she ended up lying on or next to me. She does seem to breath a bit quicker at times when asleep, but is that maybe a bit of stress or a bit warm??
I had to be up early this morning anyway, so took Lots out around 6 o'clock and she did few poos!
Is eating fine today and has had a good play, so we will see how 'things' go tonight - I aim to try andbe in my own bed tonight, so will be listening out for her!
She is just a lovely little girl and thankyou so much for the start you have given her in life.
Will obviously keep you updated and enclose a few photos taken this morning.
Best
wishes,
Felicity.

Next update is from another of Primrose's pups, Buddy who left us just over a couple weeks ago. Thanks Lee and Alison for letting me know the first week with Buddy has gone well.

Hi Jane,
We hope you, David and the family are all well. Just a quick note to let you know that Buddy is settling in fantastically well. We had a few nights last week were he was very unsettled but that has died down a little now and he’s much happier going to sleep and stays asleep until around 6am now (much better than the 1st few nights!). We have found a vets that carries Nobivac L4 and he is due for his injection this coming Friday with an additional anti Parvo (as you thought they might), 2 weeks later.
Buddy went to his 1st social engagement yesterday at the vets puppy party. It was mentioned that he was a little timid, I just think he didn’t much like the look of the 1 German Shepherd and 1 Doberman and 2 Lapso puppies (complete with nappy!) He was an midget amongst giants even in the puppy world.
We took him to the local park to meet our friends 1 year old CockerPoo and he had a whale of a time with lots of running around and play fighting, it’s just about wiped him out as he’s fast asleep panting now. Attached is a piccy of his 1st outing to the Barbican for a walk and some fresh air.
We hope all the rest of the litter are settling in with their new families as you prepare for the last ones to depart and the house gets a little quieter.
Many thanks
Lee, Ali, Jakes and Emily

Now for an update from Sue who has Lucy, who was a bitch we rehomed a few years ago and comes to stay with us when Sue and Jim go on holiday. Hope Lucy is fully recovered now and the house move is going okay. They say that after losing a spouse, family member or close friend, the second most stressful thing to do is move house.

Hello Jane 
what a hot day, trust all good at Poundland we are still here , people at bottom of chain pulled out with a week to go, but there is a new buyer at the end now so it's fingers crossed again.
Just a picture of Lucy today she is feeling bit sorry for herself yesterday how she did it heaven knows, she managed to cut her foot and break a nail, vet said too painful to pull it out without sedation so had it done this morning,her bandage will hopefully be off Saturday, by the way it's got little red tractors on it!!!!!

Next is an update for Kayla and a question, which I have already emailed and answered best I can for Lynne, as I reply all emails privately before posting them on the website. Spaying is something you need to do your research, talk to your vet, who can see the dog physically and then the decision is yours. Spaying before the first heat is something I have never done, but know people who have dogs which have been done before their first heat and I know some who were advised against spaying before the first heat by the vet due to the sexual immaturity of the bitch, as their vulva's were very small for their body  size and it was felt best to let them have a heat, as the vulva after a heat will become bigger. Thanks Lynne for the photos of your lovely Kayla and hope you have been able to decide when you will get Kayla spayed.

Hi Jane
I hope everyone and every dog is well!  Kayla is doing well and is getting quite tall.
I was hoping you'd be able to advise whether you feel the best time to spay is before or after her first season.  When we first had her my thought was to spay her before, which the vet agreed with.  After looking on the internet some people say it should definitely be done after, so I was going to do that.  I've looked again and people are saying there a far more health benefits to having them done
before.  Now I'm just confused!  As you know, she will be 5 months old on Thursday and I need to make a decision soon especially as we're planning to take her on holiday with us.
I look forward to hearing from you soon and have attached a couple of photos of Kayla.
Best wishes
Lynne

A bit of a special update now for Oliver, as Oliver is Smudge's brother , so the son of Millie and Charlie. Oliver was a special pup, as his siblings except Smudge who we kept, all left us around eight weeks old and Oliver stayed on with us until around thirteen weeks old, as Madeleine had something she had to honour and could not take him until then and although she lives in Leicestershire, she visited him three times before he left us. The other special thing about this update is Madeleine is expecting her second child, so a big congratulations to you both. Thanks Madeleine for the link about the skull research and thanks for keeping in touch over the last four years.

Hi Jane
Long time no type. 
Oliver is fine and getting on well. I did have him neutered finally almost a year ago. He started guarding the pushchair and growling at male dogs! Things that would have eaten him alive too! Since the
op he has stopped this so very pleased with the results. He does now have a love of food like never before and I have to monitor his weight but I am keeping him trim and he doing great. 
Henry our eldest (I say eldest as I am 32 weeks pregnant with our 2nd son) loves Oliver to bits (19months now) picks up his lead to walk him and desperately trying to throw a ball for him. (Usually it
is just dropped in front of him! Lol) 
Saw this article and thought you might be interested. 
http://cavalierhealth.org/sm2.htm#UK_researchers_find_two
_aspects_of_cavalier_skull_conformation_are_associated_with
_the_development_of_SM
 Can't say I understood it all. But thought it might be useful to you as a breeder. 
I see you have a Henry of your own. I am interested to see what he produces. But we will always be a one dog family so hopefully I won't be back for another dog from you for a good decade yet. 
Added a photo of Oliver post wash on Monday as we met up with another mucky Cav who claimed to be the muckiest in the
midlands... 
She lost! Oliver won! 
There is a photo of the mucky pair too. 
Hope you are well. I haven't been on your site in months so I'm behind on your news sorry. 
Madeleine xx

That now makes me up to date at this moment with updates and a cleared inbox. I hope I have replied every email up to this evening, if I've not replied you yet and you contacted me over the last few weeks, I may not of got your email, as Yahoo have been messing about with upgrading and when they hit a hitch and put me back on my old account and format, they warned that some emails could be lost in that process. I try to answer everyone enquiring about Poundlane pups, even if it sometimes takes me a little while, so if I have not replied you in the last couple weeks, it might be best to resend the email to me.
We are now puppyless until 2015 or in other words, we will not be breeding another litter of pups now until 2015, so what to do until then. With six children and eleven dogs to care for alongside relief milking for two cow herds, I have plenty to keep me out of trouble and although I sent the last pup off with a bit of heaviness to the heart, its good to have a break and get freshened up before the next litter.
 2015 will be a year unlike 2014 that we will be definately retaining pups from one if not two litters. We will hope to bring together Smudge and Henry, really excited by the prospect of this litter, Brittany cross Cavalier. Smudge will be five this coming May, so fingers crossed for her health tests. The other litter we are looking at is breeding a pure Cavalier litter with Primrose and Toby, again this will depend on health tests. If these two litters go ahead we will be retaining pick of litter on both.
The other maybe in 2015 is breeding from our Cavapoo Belle, I skinned (clipped) Belle right out the other day for the first time, it has been hot but the main purpose was to get a good look at her muscular skeletal structure and I was pleased with what we saw under her fleece, laying hands on a dog is okay, but watching them move around freely with the coat taken back enough to see not only the dog move better but be able to see the muscular movement is even better, a dog can look perfect stood well and feel like everything is in the right place, but its when the dog moves that the fullest picture of its muscular skeletal structure can be ascertained and when I say move, I include running, jumping and playing rough and tumble with you and other dogs.
Belle is three years old in October and has so far displayed very good health, with Belle the questions are, should we go back to a Cavalier ?  Have we attained enough skull change to risk that cross back ? This crossback would be to breed offspring to potentially be mated with offspring from the Smudge with Henry litter. The other option is to mate her to Henry our Brittany, she has enough size to consider this mating and then offspring from this potentially could be mated with offspring from the pure litter from Primrose and Toby.  Just a few thoughts there, that we are running over at this time with liitters for 2015.
The rest of the time before we reach our next litter I will probably spend boring you all with photos of the pack and us with the pack ,with the occasional anecdote thrown in with a very little or no connection with dogs.

So lets finish on two anecdotes tonight, the first a little sad and the second a little self indulgent.
A couple nights ago my husband and I settled down to watch "Family Guy", yep, I'm a fan of this cartoon series and also the other Seth MacFarlene offering "American Dad." Its a new series of Family Guy, so we were settled down enjoying seeing Stewie and Brian back in action on our screen. Brian is a cartoon dog in the series, but he is not just any old cartoon dog, he is special and to find out why, you will have to watch a few episodes of Family Guy to understand what I mean. You will either get Family Guy or not, so this is for the ones who get it. 
Stewie had just crushed his time machine at the dump and Brian saw an old hockey net with sticks and pucks at the dump and suggests taking it home to get themselves in better shape, so they arrive home and start setting up the net and the next bit is a bit hazy because I just turned my head as our son oldest son came in the room and turned around to see Brian being run over, surely Seth MacFarlene was not going to kill off the best double act at this time in comedy, but he did and he made my husband and I both gather tears in our eyes. As my husband looked around at me and said, "You got tears in your eyes", I replied, "The same as you darling, how sad does that make us, crying because a cartoon dog dies ?"
Bert our oldest son also saw Brian's demise and the next day with the computer turned back on, we googled, "is brian from family guy dead", I think a lot of people had googled this before me, as I only put "is brian" in the search bar and google guessed the rest right for me. So a lot of people out there were concerned for Brian. Apparently in November American audiences suffered the loss of Brian and people got a bit angry and even an online petition was started to get Brian back. Brian is coming back, as I thought, Stewie will rebuild his time machine and go back in time and save him. Phew ! crisis over.
Seth MacFarlene did it to shock apparently and was surprised (Yes, I believe you Seth, not)  that people cared that much about a cartoon character to be angry at him killing him. For most I suspect was what it did was took us to that moment when we lost our own dog and the desperation we felt and grieve, for a lot of us seeing Brian lying still, that moment was our own moment when our dogs lay still and lifeless, so the anger maybe came from, for some, the fact that we watch "Family Guy", because it is escapism and makes us laugh (maybe in a some what dark fashion from time to time), but Brian dying was to near real life, real life we would rather not relive. 
Seem to have gone on a bit tonight and will finish on cricket and hopefully a laugh, trying to keep this bit short. Our oldest son, Bert is cricket mad and can actually throw a ball, I should say," bowl a ball."I was tortured with cricket as a child, if test cricket was on the telly, that was all that was going to be watched on the telly, when Mum was around. Did I grow to love it ? Well, I don't hate it, don't love it, but know a bit about it.  
He plays for Chulmleigh youth team and seems to regularily get picked for the senior team. When they play home games, we are asked to help towards the players tea with providing food, so I have been providing cakes in various forms and my son says, "Your cakes always go down well Mum and I'm not sure I'm making the senior team for my playing skill or my Mum's baking skills ?" Nothing like a bit of pressure, so now if I don't send a tin of cakes and my son don't make the team next game, am I going to feel like a bad parent ? Lol. Not bloody likely. As my son tells his friends, "My Mum cares, but not that much."

Primrose's last two pups from her litter left us today, so we are now officially puppyless until 2015.

Lovely Lottie was the first to leave us late this morning with Felicity and her Mum going to live with Felicity in Hampshire. Lottie is a very sweet robust pup who is like her Dad, Reggie a bit of a licker. She is a lovely little girl. All the best Felicity with Lottie.

Then last to leave us just after midday was Darling Dottie. Dottie is the smallest of the pups in this litter and although the smallest, she easily holds her own and has come over as a reasonably laid back character, a real sweetheart. Lottie left with Sue and Colin for their home in Kent.
All the best Sue and Colin with Dottie.
Photos below are of the two girls over their last few days with us.

The first video shows Dottie and Lottie letting off steam outside a couple days ago.

This last bit of footage is Mum, Primrose having a play with Dottie and Lottie, and then letting them have a little comfort suckle.

Last group of photos are of some of the rest of the pack. Smudge came on season a week ago, her first heat after having her litter of pups earlier this year, so it's a bit of a juggling act with the dogs at the moment making sure none of them have a romantic meeting with Smudge. Luckily we do have a secure kennel and run area outside on the property, so this makes life a lot easier and less stressful for the boys, not having an on heat bitch in the house right under their noses with only a door between them.
The photos include one of our sons relaxing with Reggie, or as he calls him, "Raj", Bert later then reciprocated by taking some of me relaxing with Jessica and Toby.