Snow in March, the end must be nigh ?

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

                      Video of Jenson

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

Poppy from Dolly's litter 2011

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.