I Weakened!

I got some mince and added it to Ross' breakfast. Only a tiny bit, I cut the pack into 12 portions. Been doing it for a few days now and yes he's eating 4 meals again. Just hate seeing him look so skinny and don't want him falling behind like Louis did. This is something I don't normally do but as it was the diet he was use to with the breeder it was harder on him just to accept complete. I don't think I'll bother with the hard boiled eggs that he was also getting. I'll try him like this for now just adding mince to breakfast and lunch.
Actually he's also decided he likes biscuits, well pedigree gravy bones anyway and he now waits by the door at night to run in to bed to get his biscuits. He still loves the fish treats and the burns biscuits Ian gave him.
Ross does seem to have grown a lot over the last week .. I mean in height, and does now appear to have more substantial bone than he had, that of course is another reason I want him to eat well now. If he has shot up as it appears to me maybe that's why he appears to be currently a little more lean too. Anyway once we get to the three month mark on the 30th we'll get him weighed and measured on a monthly basis and take it from there.
It's going to be a big week in the little man's life ... his first dog show will be on Wednesday. Only to observe of course, but still a big deal and I hope it all goes to plan.

Critiques From RWAS In May

We've been waiting a while for these from the Royal Welsh, but better late than never I guess. 

Puppy - (6) 2 Stanley's Blanik Jeevana. Seven month old black and tan bitch with a pretty head, sensible temperament, good topline and well angulated, moved well for her age.

Open Dog (2) 1. Stanley's Lokean of Blanik ShCM. Two year old black and tan with a masculine head and alert expression. Eyes could be a shade darker, good height to length but handler must not overstretch him. Moved with drive, holding his topline. Balanced when standing freely

Open Bitch (3) 1. Stanley's Blanik Ivana ShCM. Strong yet feminine black and tan bitch of three years, excellent outline with a flowing topline, very good front and rear angulation. Sightly steep croup. Steady side gait and sound coming and going. No exaggerations and excellent temperament. Best of Breed and Group 3

Brown Puppy In Cwm Dulyn!

 Straight in with Loki

 He loved it

 Soggy Brown Puppy

Loki just loving it

After my post on Facebook the "brown puppy" statement was the talk of the show yesterday and so many people found it absolutely hilarious. Equally many was absolutely gobsmacked that people who are/were involved in the breed for so many years would describe a sable as "brown!"  I think now it may stick and Ross has his first nickname .. "Mr Brown!"

Success At WKC

Loki was second in limit dog 

 the judge said she was splitting hairs between him and the winner and that they would swap places many times... they do!

The star of the show for us was Kaiah who was 1st in Puppy Bitch, beat the minor puppy to be Best Puppy Bitch and then the dog puppy to be Best Puppy In Breed. A fantastic achievement at this Championship level and her best win to date. 

We now have 2 open shows coming up .. bet you she'll be last! 

Haha, this is the one that counts!

Ring Training

Having a go last night after the class. I wasn't feeling up to taking 2 down last night so Leonie helped me with Ross instead of having her lesson with Loki. 

Mr Brown

I must admit I'm quite amused. Someone has asked Linda "why the hell has Rhian bought a brown Shepherd?" Linda tried to explain that he was a "Sable" and how much research I'd done to find compatible bloodlines .. but the reply was .. "but he's brown!"  So funny and because I know who saw us at the vets the other day I know where they got their information from. Both parties have been involved with Shepherds for years, one even previously owning a "Blanik." 

Breed experts and know it all's eh!!! 

Name and shame wasn't something I was going to do .. 

But Mr S has a big gob and has posted on Facebook!!!

First Colour Changes

 

A standard coat black and tan puppy always gets it's first new coat like a band half way up the tail, then on the tip of the tail followed by a stripe down the spine. It seems sables do the same, though why would I think they wouldn't I don't know? I know it's not quite the same with a Long Coat. Ross' new coat is coming through as black on his tail, making him look quite amusing. Talking of coat, that is one of my only reservations about him. With his sire not carrying the L/C gene he may not produce huge coats .. I can live with that, he doesn't have  to have a Nico coat, as long as he has enough to get by like Loki then I'll be happy. Having enough coat is important in the show dog. Otherwise to be honest I'm quite happy about how he's coming along really, for his age everything is where and how it should be!
His feeding habits haven't improved, he really doesn't seem to want to eat till mid afternoon. He eats all his dinner and supper but has no interest in breakfast or lunch. It's only a worry as I can't get enough food into him in two meals, though he would probably eat it then the quantity is just too much at the moment.His breeder use to add mince, tripe or hard boiled egg to his food, I'm reluctant to start that at the moment, but may weaken if it continues .. Ooops did I say that??

Regarding his size, it seems he is on a par with a friends puppies. They look huge in the photos, but apparently not, the males's weight is the same as Ross, though if he doesn't eat a little better he'll get left behind! I know things balance out, Kaiah and Kyle were huge at this stage and Kaiah is now a lovely size and weight, though I have to confess a tad taller than I expected her to be, but not as tall as Sammi. She would definitely not be over sized to get a breed survey class one .. something to think about if health tests are successful.

Three And A Half Walks

 Too Lazy To Take Off Jezi's Muzzle For The Photo

The Ladies 

something about Sammi in the background amuses me

Kaiah and Loki

The Half  A Walk 

For the little person!

Vacs and Weight

Ross has been for his second Vacs today. Lepto 2 of course. He was confident and happy in the consulting room but did take offence at a rather large boisterous Labrador in the reception. No man or little old lady, as it was, is equipped to hold such a large dog like that on a fecking harness, bloody crazy!
Ross weighed 9.50kg, so putting weight on but again just a tiny bit behind Loki at the same age. Loki did eat a lot better than Ross though, I'm already thinking of cutting out his lunch as getting 4 meals a day into him isn't that easy.
This pup has a very strong character, and last night we had serious words, though I did win it made me realise that he would not have made an ideal first time GSD for anyone.
He will need some careful handling or he is seriously at a risk of becoming a nightmare. To be honest he has the temperament that I usually like, you know a bit of a challenge, but I worry that at the moment I'm mentally too weak for the challenge! He's brighter and more devious than the males I'm use to dealing with, he feels very important and can't be allowed to win any battle or we will sure have a war on our hands. He reminds me a little of Krizzie and Sammi as youngsters .. the brighter ones sure are the hardest!

Last Chance Saloon

Nico

Summer came back to Nico yesterday. This is her 4th mating to him  and so far she has produced one, very handsome singleton pup. - Hans. Because of Summer's age this is the last chance really. They had an A1 text book mating, both parties more than willing and a 20+ minute tie. Here's hoping this time eh!

Hansome Hans, Summer and unrelated Darcy 

The amount of puppies born is down to the bitch and how many eggs she has to fertilize, it seems Summer has few and far between but a small litter from her and Nico this time would be wonderful. She is bred on working lines and is not my type of dog at all, but her character is fantastic and I can't help but like her very much. Her son to Nico is stunning so her working bloodlines is obviously compatible with his show line breeding. Interestingly Loki's mum is also three quarter working line and quarter showline and that also produced quality puppies.
Not that I want to flood the market, but I do wish Nico had been used more. He's a fantastic dog with a fantastic character who has produced super puppies to a variety of bloodlines. I feel he has so much more to offer the breed and wish he was given the opportunity to prove it.