2020

"So" said Mrs S, Mr S squirming and screaming "don't start a sentence with so." I continue, So 2020 was it all a crock of shit? 

Someone has commented on Facebook "look at them mountains covered in snow," and the beautiful little voice inside my head is screaming "those" its feckings those mountain. But I don't know the person well enough to say anything so best if I don't, but they're not even Welsh, so they haven't got an excuse. We do have an excuse, a brain working in Welsh sometimes malfunctions before the translation is complete, and following 2015 mine malfunctions anyway! I remember lying in ICU in Walton hospital telling them "Please tell me that in Welsh!" Lol No one could or did!  Anyway I've digressed. 

2020 - A year we will never forget.  I came into it heartbroken at the loss of something that was never really there. I even had a name for the puppy in my dream, my sable bitch puppy would be called Vixen. But I had to replan and move on. Sammi was mated to Fransisco and 9 beautiful babies joined our world, the best distraction ever to covid though I was concerned about their future. There was of course heartache along the way and the loss of 3-week-old Winnie was unbearable, she knew love kindness, warmth and plenty but the last few hours of her life will always haunt me. 

Choosing a name for the boy to stay was not easy, though I like the name Orin, it would not have been my choice of name, though of course he was my choice of puppy! So next time it's my turn and I already know what I'm calling my next little girl, and no I'm not saying before she gets here safely! 

The heartbreak of the year for us was the unexpected disappearance of Isla in May. Having lived here 25 years I've never lost a cat before. It has been heartbreaking beyond words. The not knowing in the killer, there can never be closure without knowledge. I have to try to accept that she is probably dead, accept that we will never see her again, but still some days I find myself searching as I'm walking. Sensibly what would make a happy well-fed, middle-aged cat leave home? There is no answer that will ever give me comfort.

As Steve always says we really didn't need another cat .. but early Autumn when the rescue centres are full to busting and your heart is still breaking then nothing can help it heal as well as offering a home to another special little chap. No, we may not have needed another cat, but lots of little guys need what we can offer. This place is as safe as anywhere can be for a cat, so we welcomed Archie To Blanik! 

When we came into 2020 I thought Brexit would cripple the country, little did we know what was to come!  Living here and having the litter really took us through the first lockdown without too much difference in our lives, but of course socialising the puppies became extremely difficult. When Orin really needed to be going and doing it just wasn't possible to go about as normal. Luckily for us though we were able to adjust and visit friends in their gardens and fields, Orin even going into the houses on his own. Pets At Home and garden centres were a huge asset but still I feel Orin has missed out on so much. By now he should have been to the NEC, to a champ show at Malvern, to an agricultural show and to a leisure centre, the list of experiences that he's missed out on are endless, and when you look at the big picture of what's going on in the world, well Orin's lack of experiences are really insignificant.  

So now we are at the foot of 2021, ready to take the first step in. I'm nervously excited about the next couple of weeks, lot going on and not just the imminent birth of the "L" litter to worry me. Here's hoping it will be a healthier year for the world and that soon, very soon normality will prevail! 

Fun, Snow And Stunning Skies

More Snow

Woohooo

Posing naturally - just love the photo

Smile everyone

The Two Babies Of 2020

Orin - or Fat Fudge as he was known in the litter. A puppy who has known nothing but kindness, warmth, plenty and love. He's discovered the mountain, the lakes and the woods. He has a huge family who adore him, teach him and play with him, accepted and adored by the pack  .. lucky from the start. He has a super nature, he's mainly a happy boy, a bit of a clown to be honest. (I blame Ross!) He's affectionate, reasonably obedient and sweet natured. He's beautiful looking with great colour and a huge coat .. given the opportunity he has the potential to be a winner ... here's hoping.

Life didn't start so well for Archie. Trapped and rescued as part of a feral colony Archie was none too healthy. Snotting, sneezing, full of worms, runny eyes and generally neglected, a 6 week old Archie and his siblings were lucky to find themselves in the care of Niel in rescue. From there, there was no looking back. Archie is affectionate and naughty - full of fun, but cuddly. In my opinion his striking good looks could not be equalled by any pedigree cat. 

So yeah, blessed to have 2 babies in 2020 - but soon they won't be the babies of the house! 

Archie's Adventure

The Cottage roof is the ideal place to play in slippery snow ... NOT! 

Stop taking picture and get him down ... errr  HOW? 

Asha

 Now I'm more concerned about her, She hasn't finished her breakfast. That is a huge concern, let's see how the morning goes then. 

In Between The Snow Showers

For the first time ever I had to cut the girls walk short. Asha just wasn't up for it and obviously that concerns me greatly. I know she's an old lady, hopefully an old lady having one bad day, but I do worry. I felt a little sorry for Ziva and Sammi, but that's life and though you would never believe it they are veterans too! Five veterans in one house, but five fit veterans!

The snow started to come down on the last walk, we loved it. It's also snowed for a couple of hours this afternoon so a nice fresh covering this evening. I've not put anything on Facebook about Kaiah being pregnant, but if you were looking at my photos really could you miss it? I think not! 

I'm Not Amused

Now it's not funny, stop laughing, it's actually bloody dangerous, that is why I never leave the door open. In my defence I had done a load of dog bedding, I took them out and came back to clean the machine, there was no real danger to Mr Archie so it is just a little bit funny.

Less funny as far as Perry was concerned was that Archie then found Perry in the tunnel where he was trying to sleep. Archie decided to join him in the tunnel and all hell broke loose with Perry eventually leaving to find somewhere else to sleep! 

All the older cats want to do during the day is sleep, Archie wants to play, fight and run ... and really only Luther is game to join him, for a while anyway. Such a shame that Luther never stands out in indoor photos, he is such a stunning cat. 

Orin Is Jealous

His brothers Bruce and Merlin had a lot more snow than we did! 

But Orin still had lots of fun! 

Breeding Plans

After commenting yesterday that Kaiah would have to go on the lead at the beginning of the walk if she didn't start taking things a little slower, she was more stead today. It's great that she feel like going full pelt but safer not to, especial in the ice today.

I didn't walk too far from home either, but I felt that as she going quite well, slow and steady that we would mooch in a circle around the property rather than walk off into the distance. The snow on the grass was crunch and easy to walk on, but far more slippery on the tracks. When we got home Kaiah had her lunch, and as usually we all had our afternoon nap! 

Again I have more interest in males from this litter, though some people are flexible in their choice other have a definite idea of what they want, as is their right, and as do I! With Orin only 9 months old it would be unwise of me to keep a male, and I've always said I want to keep my bitch line going through Kaiah. The LSH question always comes about. I would prefer a SC, but if the LSH was obviously the better bitch then I would consider it. I do admire the LSH, but I am a genuine SC enthusiast. With Kaiah and Sisco carrying the LSH gene then 25% of the litter should be LSH ... as it should have been with Sammi to Sisco but as you know we only had the one there. 

Chatting last night I realised that Sisco is the only male I've ever used twice. It's not a repeat mating, but the bloodlines clicked so well with the mother, then theoretically they should with the daughter. Now this is a question, how will Orin be related to these pups? They will have the same father but his half sister will be their mother. Hmmm best I don't try and figure it out, it'll be like something off Jeremy Kyle! 

I do regret not using Arko Vom Hunhnegrab twice, his litter to Nikki was superb, but her second litter to Fablehalf Arazi was very average. Still we live and learn. To date we have only had 11 litters from 7 bitches over a 25 year period so not exactly flooding the market! Kaiah's litter, the 12th litter is due within days of the 25th anniversary of the birth of the "A" litter - Dexi, Seffe, Aria, Rocky and gang were born on the 10/1/96.

Very Little Snow

Sammi, Asha, Ziva

Jezi, Nico

Orin, Ross, Loki, Kaiah

Spot The Blanik

 

My god she's her mother's daughter!

Blanik Kamri - Isla in the centre 

These are Sarah's trio 

Isla with Sully 

Sully is very closely related to Nico through his sire Conbhairean Freddie, half brother to Nico. 

Kaiah Today - Day 50

A waddle around the field and then a big sleep

A Little Snow

Just not quite enough - I'm not greedy I just like a lot!

Posing

Playing 

Just A Little Snow

Archie wasn't that impressed - but Luther has gone hunting 

Meat Loaf - Paradise By The Dashboard Light

Did you know this was one of my favourite songs? Such a bloody classic! 

Did You Donate?

 Yesterday Sarah took the plunge in the freezing cold sea for GSD Welfare. If you love this breed, if you care for the individuals then please make a donation to the dogs less fortunate than our own. Large or small every penny counts towards the care of these dogs. 

Just an example ... 

"Just before Xmas Welfare took in 4 GSD bitches. Mother and 3 daughters. Their elderly owner could no longer cope with them. These dogs have lived their lives in kennels. Never had a lead on or been walked. They have never been brushed and they are not used to human interaction. They are very nervous. Getting them from the kennels to the van was like something off "you've been framed". It really doesn't look like they will be going anywhere soon."

There is a video on my Facebook page of Sarah taking the plunge, but as it's not my video I'm not able to download onto here. Therefore, I'll share a photo of Sarah on the beach with 2 welfare dogs. 

 Donate via PayPal gsdwelfarefund@gmail.com or visit the website http://www.gsdwelfarefund.co.uk/ and hit the donate button.  

The Next Two Walks

Orin, Ross, Loki, Kaiah

Ziva, Asha, Sammi 

Look At The Lights

 

Amazing yeah. 

Nico and Jezi in both top photos

7 Weeks

Kaiah

Today is 7 weeks from the day of mating. Yesterday was 7 weeks from the day of ovulation. I know I'm repeating myself, but it's as much to remind myself as anything else. When calculating the due date then it's 63 days plus or minus a day from the day of ovulation not the day of mating. In a normal pregnancy when owners think the pups have come early or late then the pregnancy has been calculated from the day of mating. In her first litter Sammi was mated on the Saturday, yet the puppies arrived on the Thursday, day 61 from mating, but she ovulated on the Wednesday, so they came 63 days +1 day from ovulation. Similarly, for the second litter she was mated on the Saturday and Sunday, the pups were born on the Thursday, the progesterone test proved she ovulated on the Friday. 63 days - one day from ovulation. Obviously when things go wrong bitches go into labour early, but a normal pregnancy is 63 days plus or minus a day from the day of ovulation. 

Sammi 

Kaiah is 33.5" now, still smaller than Sammi who was 35" at 7 weeks. Of course, it was Sammi's second litter, she was probably a little looser. (Sammi was only 33" at 8 weeks when carrying the "J" litter of three) As I've said before bitches carry differently so this is of no significant value really other than it helps me know that things are progressing and the little guys are growing. I'm starting Kaiah on her 4th meal a day now, they are not huge meals but better spaced out for her than adding to the meals she's already on. 

Boxing Day

Walk one and a chat with Larry delayed things. Larry "The Goose Man" came marching over as quick as he could. He always reminds me that he's afraid of dogs and that they always bite him, but he blames himself as he doesn't know how to be around them. I always put mine on the lead when I see people anyway and Larry's need for a chat is greater than his fear of dogs. There are very few people that I spend time talking to on my walks, Larry is an exception, he's an eccentric, interesting and pleasant man. 

The kids had their new toys today, but Ziva decided she didn't want hers, well not until Asha decided she did want it anyway! Three new orange toys as tradition for Xmas. Ross now has 4 kongs, 2 black and 2 orange, though the older orange one really was on it's last legs.

Twice I put him back and both times as I turned round to take the photo Orin was rolling in the heather, ah well best take it like this then, at least he's the right way up. I've taken to carrying a small towel with me on the walks in case Kaiah goes in water. Normal moderate exercise is now very important, but rock climbing and jumping in ditches is not so wise ... Yes I'm paranoid and constantly watching her!