December 17, 2012

The puppies were three weeks old yesterday.  They're now walking and playing!  They're still figuring out how to keep their legs under them but are no longer falling over after a few steps, unless they get up too much momentum, in which case they tumble forward.  At least they're now walking with purpose as opposed to stumbling around.  They wrestle lightly and mouth each other's faces and ears; they seem to be trying to fit as much of each other's muzzle as possible in their mouths.  The ear canals are open and they pay attention to our voices and various toys that we squeak.  They're not quite playing with the toys, except to explore with their mouths and climb over them.

We had our first escapee from the box on the 14th.  I heard a little cry and thought that one of the puppies might be frustrated by by a littermate getting in the way of the nipple she wanted.  But the cry continued and I saw Holly sitting at the gate, as if wanting to get our attention (she's often subtle about that).  And there was Celeste, walking around on the floor.  She had boosted herself up by stepping on the ""pig rail" and tumbled out on the floor.  I bet she was pretty surprised by where she ended up.  I scooped her up to cuddle and she was happy to settle into my arms.  The cutout for the door is rather low, which made it easy for Holly to hop in and out when she was pregnant and first nursing the babies, but it was time to put up the lower of the two gates.

Yesterday I introduced their first milky puppy mush (I grind up the kibble in the blender and add hot water, then Esbilac puppy formula.)  The food goes into a "flying saucer" bowl with a raised center, which theoretically keeps them from standing in the middle of the bowl and gives everyone equal access.  The puppies didn't read the manual, however, and Orion and Luna plowed right into it.  They didn't know what they'd stepped in but figured it out immediately.  I touched my finger to the liquid, then to a couple puppies' noses, and in short order they were all crowding up to the bowl.  I didn't think they'd finish it, but they lapped it all up, taking turns standing with their front legs in the bowl, even straddling the raised center.  I'll load photos later today.

December 9, 2012

The puppies are 2 weeks old today.  They've been very busy nursing, growing, crawling over each other, pushing up on their little legs, and learning that they can yap.  They also murmur, squeak, squalk, and purr.  I weighed them twice a day the first week, once a day the second.  They range now from 1.6 to 2 pounds.  The largest puppies are Luna and Orion (they take turns being the biggest); smallest is Lyra, with Celeste and Sky in the middle.  But they are all vigorous and healthy, all growing at a consistent rate.  Even Lyra pushes her way in to get the best nipples.

Their eyes started opening at 8 days, which is a couple days earlier than I expected.  I kept the lights in their room low for a few days as their eyes adjusted to light.  They can't really see anything yet, just light and dark.

We hold and pet the puppies frequently, sitting in the box to cuddle with Holly and handle the pups. Holly always sits in Caroline's lap. From the first day I've held each puppy up to my neck and my hair so that they will learn my scent.  They like to be held close to the chest, with a hand around the body so they feel snug and secure.  I've trimmed the front nails twice; the back ones are a little harder to get to, especially because they squirm and protest more.  In addition to all the handling, I'll continue the bio-sensor ("Super-Dog") exercises until day 16. 

Holly is continuing to be a devoted mother, but she's a little more relaxed now, spending a bit more time away from the pups.  She lets her brother Charlie come into the room to see his little neices and nephews (he's fascinated and wags his tail like crazy), but we're keeping Elena and Mika out for a while longer.  Holly doesn't want to share her babies with her mom or her aunt!

November 25, 2012

Puppies are here!

We were blessed with our own small miracle this morning, Sunday, November 25, when Holly gave birth to 4 girls and 1 boy, all born between 3:45 and 6 AM.  All puppies look healthy and normal, with no complications during delivery.  All 5 have good strong lungs and let their mama know where they are and what they want.

We'll post photos as we're able.  Right now Holly wants to keep her brood close by, but we'll sneak them out one by one for individual pictures.

Three puppies are spoken for.  We're taking applications but will hold off on committing any more until after Christmas, when the puppies will be ready for visitors.  We're especially interested in show and performance homes, but the most important thing is that the puppies go to homes where they will be well cared for, and well loved.

Meanwhile, Papa Jack was celebrating his wins over the weekend at the Thanksgiving Cluster of dog shows, held at the nearby Eastern States Exposition Fairgrounds.  He was Best of Breed on Thursday and Friday and Select Dog on Saturday.  Well-done, Jack. 

November 22, 2012

Holly's x-ray!  There are four distinct spines and skulls, but a couple more are possible.  Click on the bottom right to zoom in.

October 27, 2012

Holly's sonogram on October 25 showed 4 and possibly 5 puppies.  It was pretty cool to watch their hearts beat.  According to the breeding dates, I assumed the litter would be due the week after Thanksgiving, but the vet said based on progesterone testing, she's due between November 22 (Thanksgiving day) and November 24.  We just might have Thanksgiving dinner a couple days late, depending on what happens on Thursday.

I was almost positive that Holly was indeed pregnant because she had a couple episodes of "afternoon sickness," and she started losing her waistline.  It was reassuring, however, to have the pregnancy confirmed.  She's still running around outside as much as ever, and she's just as agile as always, but I do think she's sleeping a bit more in the house.

At this point 3 puppies are spoken for.  We would like to line up a show home for at least one puppy so will hold off on making any more commitments at this time.  We're very open to placing a promising puppy with a novice show home.  If you think you'd like to learn how to show, I'd be very happy to help you through the process and find mentors who live near you.  If you'd like to be on our waiting list for a companion puppy, please get in touch via our contact form.

October 9, 2012

Holly is now officially CH Destiny's Hershey's Kisses!  Her championship was confirmed today on the AKC website.  She finished on September 23 at the Northwest Connecticut Dog Club in Goshen, CT, under judge Dana P. Cline.  Given the state of my nerves at recent shows, I asked professional handler Stacy Snyder to show her.  Holly was Winners Bitch for two points - the 15th point she needed, and another to spare.  Holly was owner-breeder handled by Caroline and me for 14 points; she's the first dog we didn't finish ourselves, but I knew she needed someone who bring her out more than I could.

While I was at the show, waiting for Holly's ring time, I got a call from the reproductive veterinarian's tech.  She said that based on the previous week's progesterone testing, Holly needed to be bred the next day, and two days after.

So the day after she finished, Holly and I drove to New Jersey for a breeding to Silver GCH Truepenny Oh The Places You'll Go, owned by Heidi Rubin Cohen and Fred Cohen, and bred by Marion Daniel and Kenneth Bartkus.

We are very excited about this litter, which is due the week after Thanksgiving.  We think Jack and Holly will make beautiful puppies.  Below are photos of Jack.

Jack taking 3rd in the Sporting Group, April 2, 2011, with handler Kathy Mines

In the ring at the American Spaniel Club show, 2010

Jack with his favorite doll, Malibu Barbie

August 22, 2012

Holly qualified for her second Rally Novice leg on August 17 at the trial in Fitchburg, MA.  Her focus on me was much better than at her first trial, but crooked sits cost her 11 points, for a score of 89.  We will work on straight sits before her next trial!

OFA thyroid certificates came in the mail this week, and results are updated on the OFA website.  You can click the OFA link on each dog's page to see the history of all their testing.

August 15, 2012

The lab report for Charlie's and Holly's thyroid tests came today, and both dogs are normal.  The results should appear on the OFA website in the next week or so.

July 22, 2012

Charlie, Holly and I had a busy day with a trip to Bethel, CT, for an OFA health clinic sponsored by the Newtown Kennel Club.  Holly had her eyes CERFed and both dogs had their thyroid checked.  Holly has two minor eye anomalies which are not uncommon in Welsh Springers: iris-to-iris persistent pupillary membranes (called PPM) in one eye and some extra eyelashes on both eyes (called distichiasis).  These were seen in her previous CERF exams, and the veterinary opthalmologist said that they were of no consequence.  It will be 2-3 weeks before we receive the thyroid results.

On the way down we stopped in Bristol, CT to visit with our friends John and Sally Palmer.  We met Holly's paternal half-brother Russell.  He's a really handsome dog!

July 20, 2012

Yesterday was the Pioneer Valley Kennel Club's annual picnic, fun match, and general meeting, held at a park in Northfield, MA.  In conformation, Holly won Reserve Best in Match.  In the rally match, she lost ten points because I performed a station incorrectly and another three because I initially misread a sign and started over.  We used treats so it was really more of a training exercise.  Clearly I'm the one who needs more training.

July 17, 2012

At the July 6 show I met a fellow Welsh Springer owner, Claudia, and she took these photos of Elena and Holly.  Thanks, Claudia!

Above, Elena watches me while Holly mugs for the camera.

Holly sits amid trousered legs to watch me as we wait to go to the ring.

July 9, 2012

Holly and I have just finished competing at the Independence Day Cluster in West Springfield, July 5-8.  On Thursday she qualified in Rally Novice B with a score of 90.  I was pleased that she qualified, but I learned that next time I should NOT have my husband outside the ring for moral support, because Holly was very distracted!  Now I know better.  Holly was Reserve Winners Bitch on Saturday, in a strong entry with a 4-point major win on the line.  We're looking ahead to several August shows, in hopes of getting that last point before the fall.

June 23, 2012

Our friends John and Sally Palmer, from Connecticut, came for a visit earlier this month.  The Palmers were among the first people I met when I started going to dog shows in search of Welsh Springers.  They have had three Welsh Springers from Carla Vooris of Mystic Acres kennel, the breeder of Mika and Elena, so their Welshies are closely related to mine.  Their oldest girl, also named Holly, is Elena and Mika's half-aunt; two-year-old Russell is sired by Divot, so a half-brother to Holly. 

The dogs loved the attention and had a great time playing with their new friends.  John and Sally brought them some really good dog biscuits and new Kong tennis balls, both of which were a big hit.  Chariie in particular was thrilled to play fetch with John.  Below is a picture Sally took of Charlie with his ball.  I think he was trying to hide it from the other dogs.

May 18, 2012

Lisa sends this picture of Meegan, Destiny's Dream Today, taken just yesterday.  She says that it "captures the essence of Meegan, the joy of our lives who nevers stops laughing and living life to its fullest!"  Meegan sounds like a typical Welsh Springer Spaniel! 

(Am. Can. Ch. Alzahna's Morgan Silverstone x Ch. Daytime Destiny's Red Moon CGC)

April 30, 2012

Holly was Best of Winners for one point at the South County Kennel Club show in Richmond, RI on April 28.  She needs just one more point for her championship.  Not to be left out, Elena showed in the veterans class.  Once again, she was the only Welsh Springer veteran, but she showed like the champion that she is and loved the applause.  We were hosted for the weekend by our friend Kristin Foerch, whose Ch. Seven Oaks My Seattle Love (Milo) won the Select Dog award.

April 6, 2012

A belated report on the New England Sporting Group Association shows on March 17-18:  We had an entry of 16 dogs in breed judging, with 4-point majors in both sexes. As our committee prepares for a Welsh Springer Spaniel Club of America supported entry at next year's show, we were thrilled with the numbers and expect many more in 2013.

Holly was Reserve Winners Bitch both days, and the judges took a long time deciding between her and the eventual winner.  Winners Bitch went to our friends Sandy and Rich Rohrbacher's Ky-Bryn's As Requested For Rysan.  Holly couldn't have lost to a nicer bitch, and I was very proud of her performance.  All of the class winners on both days - Winners Dog and Bitch and Reserve Winners Dog and Bitch - were owner-handled, competing against seasoned professional handlers.

Winners Dog on Saturday was Trystyn's Some Kind Of Wonderful, owned by Betsy Worthington; Reserve Winners Dog, Linda St. Hilaire's Clussexx Trick of The Tail At Corteo.  On Sunday they switched places, with Linda's dog taking Winners and Betsy's Reserve.  And in puppy sweepstakes, Linda's boy was Best in Sweeps on Saturday, Betsy's on Sunday. 

Best of Breed on both days went to GCH Riverside's Remington Magical Gun, owned by Robin Sieranski; Best of Opposite Sex to Remy's litter sister, Ch. Riverside's My Aim is True.  The winner's bitch  is a half-sister to these dogs - talk about consistency in judging!

Elena was the only entry in veteran sweepstakes, so she won Best Veteran in breed each day by default.  What mattered, though, is that she loved the applause and attention.  Her last appearance in the ring was at our National Specialty in April 2011, so it was an extra special occasion.

Spending time with friends and acquaintances in the breed was a joy, as always.  After showing on Saturday, our group got together to plan for next year's supported entry and shared a large potluck spread.  On Sunday we did a group photo with most of the owners and dogs.  Still awaiting photos from the photographers; I will post them when they come.

January 13, 2012

Thyroid results for Destiny's Musketeer, "Charlie," are now available on the OFA website.  Charlie tested normal.  A big thank you to Gail for getting this important test done.  We expect to get the results of hip, elbow, and thyroid testing on the other Mika-Divot puppies soon.