Weaning well now

Well, Have you tried taking pictures of puppies. :)
They do make me laugh as they jump and squeal at sudden noises and to get this photo I knelt down by the barrier to their pen and they all jumped as I stood up. Soooo funny.
They are starting to get very hairy now and at last they are starting to eat solid food as opposed to relying on Toffee's milk.
Toffee is spending less and less time with them and who can blame her with those sharp teeth and claws.

Like everyone else we are surrounded by water. I am trying to put the horses hay at higher ground so they aren't stood in water all day. My boys are being very good at helping with the hay. Well they are their horses and they should shoulder some of the responsibility.

Phoebe continues to do very well. She is very keen as she took hold of a pheasant's leg (unattached from it's dead body) and shot, like lightening behind a unit and could I get her out?.
I gave the rest of the bird to my other dogs and none were nearly as keen as her.
Perhaps she will prove to be a good ratter :) That would be a great help as there are quite a number around as I think the raising water levels are pushing them to higher ground. They usually make an appearance ready for winter so I am always prepared.

4 weeks old

Just about on their feet as they wobble rather than walk. Their legs get stronger by the day. Eyes and ears are open. I know they can hear as they squeal and jump at any sudden noise. They are of course getting used to family life which will set them up well for their forward life.

Phoebe, our gorgeous Rotti has settled in fantastically well. She is in the crate in our family room as she is going to be a house dog. This is good for me as I am for ever advising people about having a puppy and how to avoid having their homes chewed whilst still taking care of the puppy and training it well.

My very, very first job in the morning is to open her crate and take her straight out side to relieve herself. She gets to play with my other dogs then too. I feed her her meals in the crate where she has water at all times too. She comes out several more times a day and always outside first. I usually go out with her and once she has done number 2 I do some training with her. Either inside or out on the yard.
In her crate she has her bowls, bed and lots to play with. There are socks tied to the sides, ropes hanging from the to , a piece of coal and a paint brush.
She may wine a little at times but soon stops when she realises no one is listening.
My boys are really enjoying having her and are helping with the training too which can only benefit her.
She has had her second injection today so we are off to puppy training. Ill let you know how she gets on.

11 days old already!

Doing very well. They are all looking healthy and well hydrated. Toffee is eating like a horse but look how fantastic these puppies appear. Eyes and ears should open in the next couple of days or so.
Their coats are starting to break as they will have very hairy mop type coats when a little older as they are cockerpoos.
Toffee is very relaxed with the steady flow of human visitors but she will not let our other dogs visit yet. Much to Gemma and Pippa's disappointment.

Our guard dog !!

Meet Phoebe. She is 7 weeks old and gorgeous. We collected her on Friday and she has settled very well. She has learned her name, comes when called and can sit on command. Ok! we have a long way to go but she is off to a great start. My boys are all working well and enjoying her too. We are going to take her puppy training, starting as soon as she has had her second injection.

Labradoodle girl

This little girl is still available from Lulu's litter. (multigenerational)
She is very laid back and has a super, fleece coat and very dark nose and eyes. At 10 weeks old she is very ready to leave home.

Puppy sales are much slower than they have been for years and the price the labradoodles command is nothing like it was. I guess it is the economic climate and more people breeding.
Our future plan with Labradoodles is to use a miniature or toy poodle as using standard can produce enormous offspring.

Cockerpoos are here!

 Toffe is having a well earned rest from her puppies. She is looking fantastic and is a very attentive Mum.

Her cockerpoo puppies are gorgeous and all thriving well. We weighed a couple yesterday and the girl is 280g and male 300g

The rest of the managere is all fine. Life is so much easier with just 2 horses. The new horse if proving a bit tricky and as we found out recently he is very, very green so we are treating him like a 5 year old even though he is 14
I cannot wait to pick up our Rottweiler puppy. My boys are very excited about her too.

I am going to change some of the grills on the dog boarding to give a 5cm gap as some of the smaller dogs can walk through with ease :).
Christmas bookings are going well so far anyway.

Well, i have done it :)

For many years we had a most gorgeous Rottweiler, Max. For those who knew him he was a most wonderful dog, we lost him, aged 14, 3 years ago and we do miss him. He had a great presence and offered us enhanced security. We have gone for a girl (no name yet) that way we won't compare but I cannot wait to get her home. She is very well bred and the family is full health screened which is very important in such heavy dogs.  These are her Mum, Dad, Gran, Gran Dad and aunty all are stunning characters.

At last the dog boarding is having a lul which gives me time to clean and prepare for our next busy time. The cattery, on the other hand is so busy. I don't know why and long may it continue.

My boys are very busy at school, working hard and preparing for GCSE's and AS levels so the pressure is on for them and I know they will do their very best so finger crossed they do well.