We run out of bread today, so rather than go to a shop. I decided to knock up a loaf of white and wholemeal bread, handmade, which went nice with homemade Chicken, vegetable and noodle soup. I was hoping that some of the white bread would be left for husband, David to make a sandwich with for his pack lunch tomorrow, but that was not to be. He has though got a tub of the soup to take to work with him.
Ysobel (she is the Grandmother of Sasha, who we hope to breed a litter from in 2019) will be twelve years old this coming April, and I caught the lovely photo below of her this morning, as she watched me eating my breakfast before going off milking. Frighteningly, half of the pack (ten of our dogs) will be six years old or over in 2019. Thankfully all of them seem happy and healthy. Long may that last.
On Christmas day, I wondered why Teagol seemed to be on sentry duty by the tree. I then realised she was just keeping an eye on the gifts our two youngest children had made for all the dogs. Little homemade bags filled with homemade doggy treats. My husband, David milking this morning took an interesting photo of a cows teat home. The interesting bit is the markings on it. David thinks it's a sign from dog, but I see a pig running along juggling three balls.
The Poundlane official Christmas broadcast, because you can never have enough cheese at Christmas I'm now off the internet for a few days. "Merry Christmas!"
Thanks for all the Christmas greeting, and wishing you all a Happy Christmas! Teagol has grown in to a lovely little spaniel. Really, really pleased with what this mix can produce. It's now just waiting on the MRI scan results, which I don't expect to get before the new year. If you look closely you will spot her Dad and Mum in the photos, as she sits regally on my computer chair, awaiting my return, as I had just gone to answer the phone. First time we have seen the sun for a day or two. A welcome visitor this morning. Bertha is Sasha's sister, and although to look at from a conformation point, she is a very good type. She is though lacking in the type of temperament, that we would want to breed from her. Saying that though, does not mean she is not a lovely dog, and she is a lovely pet dog, especially attached to our son, Thomas. We will look to spay her alongside Treacle in 2019.
CavalierHealth.org for sometime has been publishing concerns about the EPIC Study which has given way to the earlier giving of pimodendan aka vetmedin to a dog with Mitrial Valve Degeneration (MVD). We now have more and more cardiologist vets airing concerns about the EPIC Study's finding Cardiology researcher Dr. Anna Beber disproves EPIC Study's definition of enlarged hearts for cavaliers and Univ. of Bristol cardiologists slam the EPIC Study for not investigating arrhythmias in its pimobendan group.
As I've said before, "You need to now your stuff when it comes to MVD" Just saw this very interesting passage from the book SOS Dog: The Purebred Dog Hobby Re-Examined by Johan and Edith Gallant posted on the CRUFFA Public Group | Facebook page by Jemima Harrison, on a post about dogs unable to mate naturally, From SOS DOG: The Purebred Dog Hobby Re-examined by Johan and Edith Gallant. Which makes reading my blog Twelve month review part one: Blottie and Ernest's litter interesting. Many years ago we traveled a reasonable way to get one of our Cavalier bitches mated with a breeder, very up in the breed. It was obvious to me that when we got there, the bitch was not on enough to be mated, but this breeder with her so called vast experience of breeding dogs insisted she should be mated regardless, as his sperm would last until she ovulated. What I then witnessed, I can only describe as "rape." That bitch never produced pups from the mating, and when we found a breeder who would allow natural mating, she would act terrified, I mean really terrified if any male came within feet of her. She never had puppies, and I never have forgiven myself for allowing her to be traumatized by that breeder.
![]() Shooting today, on the beat with Mum Blottie, Dad Ernest and their daughter, Teagol. Very windy and wet on the first drive, so an early break for a soup and sandwiches. Thankfully we had a better time on the next two drives, and then the heavens opened again, and it was in by the wood-burner for an early supper. Blottie's first time out, and she lived up to expectations, taking it all in her stride. Three tired, but content dogs, fast asleep on our sofas tonight. In the photo, is me holding the dogs with our daughter, Florrie beside me, after finishing the first drive, and hoping the weather was going to improve, whilst we all had the earlier than usual break. All went well in Bristol yesterday with Teagol and Sasha. By the way they reacted to seeing me when I picked them up only 5 hours later, it was hard to believe that they had been under a full anesthetic, other than the tell tale bald patch on the top of their front legs. Now it is waiting on the BVA - CM / SM scheme to grade them, which can take up to a month or so. I had a wonderful surprise to open my email inbox this morning to see Happy 1st Birthday Greetings! from four of Teagol's litter siblings. Jack"Jack would like to send Happy Birthday greetings to all his nine siblings. He is having a great day; birthday frisbee arriving from Cooper, and a celebratory bag of prawn crackers from his other best friend Claude the cat. Off to class tonight, he is the youngest and smallest but very keen to do well. He had the snip and his extra tooth removed last week, all is going well but he still has to wear the collar. Hopefully only until Thursday. Lots of love to all the family in Umberleigh (human and canine) and thanks to Ernest and Blottie, his parents! Best wishes Penny and Tony" SkyeLooking longingly ( but it’s mine )!!😂 Skye didn’t miss out she had plenty doggy pampering 🐶🐶x Skipper"Dear Jane, We have been counting down the days to Skipper's birthday since the children's birthdays in November! It was lovely to see your message on your website wishing the whole litter birthday greetings. I hope the Bristol trip went well. I have no doubt that Teagol's will all be as you wish. Skipper is continuing to bring joy to all six of us (us five, and my mother next door). He is a friendly, sociable, affectionate, adorable pet, and also a good running/ walking companion too. Thank you for breeding him! Happy Birthday to all of his siblings! Best Wishes, Fiona & Joe & family in Oxfordshire x" Charlie"Hello Jane
Hope you and all the family are well and looking forward to Christmas. Charlie has enjoyed his first Birthday (the photo was taken today) and hopes all his siblings have had a lovely time too. He really is such an affectionate, loving character; great temperament. He absolutely loves the beach and his runs at Beck Hole, exploring the woods! Good luck with the scan results. Kind regards Adrian & Sandra Berryman" |
“The greatest pleasure of a dog is that you may make a fool of yourself with him, and not only will he not scold you,but he will make a fool of himself, too.”
― Samuel Butler Me (Jane) with Puddin' and Teagol, waiting patiently to flush a patch of kale, December 2019
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