Ysobel's pups all leave us, updates, health tests, DNA profiling and I have a theory

We are now puppyless. Friday saw Bailey leave us with Carol and on Friday evening Tracey with her family visited us with Roxy before leaving with Charlie on Saturday morning. Tracey had Roxy from us back the beginning of 2011 and it was lovely to catch up with the family and see what a beautiful dog Roxy has grown into.
She is a credit to you Tracey, especially coming into a strange home with strange dogs and within minutes really unconcerned by it all. Although she did have to tell Reggie off a few times, as he thought she maybe was here to visit him. Lol
On Saturday morning we also saw the departure of Dexter with Caroline and Steve. Then lastly Olive off to join Fay's and Adam's family.
Hope all is going well over their first days and nights with you and I'm here if you need me.

We have one update already for Dexter and it seems after a bit of initial stress in the car, he is taking things in his stride. Thanks so much for this Caroline and I wish you all the best. Dexter is a lucky chap.
Dear Jane and family
Just to let you know Dexter arrived safely, after an initial 50 mins of whimpering and howling. He finally fell asleep on my lap, listening to Cliff Richard ( let's just hope he doesn't need Cliff every time he wants to drop off!)LOL.
He loves running around the garden, eating leaves ( which I'm trying to discourage) and particularly likes games with the garden broom. He's very clever and has produced the ' goods' in the desired place. A couple of accidents inside but that was our fault for not reading the signs.
You won't believe this though!. At 10 pm last night Dexter moved from sleeping on the floor ( near his bed) to his bed, settled him self comfortably and then fell asleep. During the night he didn't cry or whimper, not even once!!!. I woke a couple of times and listened out for any sound but to my absolute amazement not a peep was heard. When Steve got up in the morning Dexter sat and looked up at him. They both had a cuddle before going outside for a little wee!.
Dexter has a couple of favourite toys. One being a ' string of sausages' and the other a squeaky duck.
We're certain Jane that it is due to you and your family's love and patience that Dexter is such a wonderful puppy.
We will keep in touch regularly with updates.
With love to you and your family.
Caroline, Steve, Josh, Sophie and Dexter xxx

Next a few more photo's of Molly over there in Jersey. Molly is from Dolly's litter that left us just over a month ago.Thanks Lynne for the photo's and sharing that lovely landscape. 
The shedding that is being experienced from Molly at this time I would put down to her shedding her puppy coat, as her sister, Treacle we have kept is dropping her puppy coat at this time.
A bit of moulting can be expected from this cross but much less than the Cavalier, even Poodles do moult but it is so low that it is almost not noticeable. It is good to remember this and if looking at the cross between the Cavalier and Poodle because of dog allergies it is adviseable to meet a Cavapoo and try to work out if you are allergic to them or not before purchasing a puppy of this cross.

Hi Jane
Beautiful sunny day today and so we all took Molly on a cliffpath walk for over an hour this afternoon. She is exceptional off the lead and always waits and comes back when called.
She is moulting somewhat at the moment, will this last or is it just puppy fur being shedded?
Have a lovely weekend
Best regards
Lynne, Andy, Alfie & Emma

Always love to see Maddie, she is so much like her Mum , Millie especially in these photos of her taken at Alison's local Church before the Blessing of the Animals Service. Thanks Alison, love the one with Ray looking at her and she has her eyes closed in apparent enjoyment of all the attention, just like her mum and her sister Smudge.

Dear Jane,
these were taken on Sunday before the Blessing of all Animal Service. Apparently they may be in one of the papers.
Hope you are all well.
Love Alison

Lucy at 6 years old

Thanks Sue for sharing this photo of Lucinda (Lucy) on her 6th Birthday and without a heart murmur. Lucy is a bitch we had that we took on from another breeder just before she was two and we bred one pure litter from her and because we where a bit over dogged we decided to rehome her and Sue who with her husband who live not far from us took her on. Lucy comes and stays with us from time to time when Sue and Jim go on holiday and in 2014 we will, all going well have her company a couple times.
Reggie is back to full health. Thanks Sue.

Sorry to hear Reggie has been poorly hope he soon gets his usual VIP and vigour back sure he will with your tlc hope all good at Poundland just a nice photo oh Lucy enjoying last of the Summer sunshine on her birthday.
Best regards,
Sue

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With no pups around I should now be able to get on with getting the dogs health tests up to date.
Its a bit late now for me to type much more but I have been looking up more on health and it looks like it is a wise choice to get the Cavaliers tested for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and this condition is seen in the Brittany, so it looks like Henry should be tested as well.
I was looking at a website that promotes health in Cavaliers and is not keen on crossbreeding and this site says for this condition males are affected and females are only carriers but go on this link http://www.laboklin.co.uk click on Dogs on the side bar and then you will have a list in alphabetical order of the health conditions they offer tests for and you will find Muscular Dystrophy, click on this and you will find it is not quite a simplistic as males affected and females just carriers.
I'm also thinking that with no register for crossbreeds to record parentage in this country, I will be the only one recording my dogs heritage, so to substantiate my crossbreeding records, I think it is wise for me to DNA profile all our dogs and this would be done through the Animal Health Trust (AHT) who offer this service at £25 per dog. Its something been thinking I should do for a while now whether pure or cross breeding. I personally think all purebreeds should be DNA profiled and all breeding dogs in general but the Kennel Club drag their heels on this. At £25 a dog we can hardly put it down to it being to costly. I have a theory, remember I said, "a theory", would not want to be sued. Could it be that they are a little frightened of maybe some dogs not being what they are on paper. I know with other domestic species that have gone down the DNA profiling route and surprise, surprise some animals where not what was on their pedigree and these where animals being bred at the top end of the market. Surely a Show pure dog breeder would not be guilty of such a thing ? Lol.
Click on this link http://www.aht.org.uk and you can find out more about the AHT  and the DNA tests they do for dogs and other species. Animal Health Trust is a charity and work hard in helping animals, so maybe you might also like to make a donation towards their valueable work in the field of animal health. 
I did say I was not going to type much more but got a little carried away. Just noticed its gone midnight, I can hear lots of dog snoring, I'm off to join them. Will hope to nail myself to the floor soon on litters for 2014, once I cast it in stone it will be set, unless on going health tests uncast it.