Note To Self

Don't put the smallest bitch at the back - sorry Ziva!

At least I got more of her in here - Mother and Daughter 

Photos take of the guys spending some afternoon time in the field

Busy On The Mountain

Super first walk, though I thought Ziva lacked a little spark today. Maybe I'm watching and thinking too much.

Yep someone's taken his head collar off. 

I was coming across from the kissing gate and saw the Viszlas being walked briskly on the leads across my path. Hmm that's not like her, we usually give each other space and time. Something caught my eye on the left - the answer - bull terrier man. No wonder the Viszlas were rushed out of the way! Zeus was on the lead and little miss excellent came straight back. I must admit, I was shocked to see bull terrier man hanging back and giving me and the Viszlas time to get out of his way. I appreciated and acknowledged his unusual, well-mannered behaviour. 

OMG -Bull terrier man again -far enough away though.

Yesterday

 
What can I say about yesterday? Probably one of the windiest days we've ever experienced in Fron. When bringing Loki in from the garden mid-morning I realised the garden gated had been smashed to pieces. Thankfully, there's no chance of Loki considering leaving home. In the evening I let the gang of 6 out for a pee and 10 mins later opened the door to let them in - no dogs. Ross arrived, grabbed his kong and legged it back out. The gate into the yard had ben rattled so much it had opened - 5 of the 6 came in on the first call - I could just make out no 6 having a poo in the field. Steve wedged the gate with rocks, but by 9 o'clock it was open again and the little shits legged it out again. Of course we have the 5 bar gate onto the property so they were safe, but I've seen similar stories on Facebook this morning where dogs were not so safe! 

At 10pm a friend posted about the lightening. Lightening? What lightening? I switched the router off and went out to watch the most fantastic electrical storm. By the time we were in bed the thunder had joined in - according to Steve it was well after 1am by the time it went silent. 

This morning there is little damage really, but the silence is eerie ...

What To Do On A Windy Day?

With the wind so bad it shattered our garden gate I decided to stay in today. This is what I got up to. I have to admit I'm happy with it, but as ever I lack self-confidence and have asked others to check it. I've now sent it to the GSD National Magazine for inclusion in the next edition, If it prints well I may also ask for it to be included in the Crufts edition next year.

This evening I let the troops out for a wee and went to open the door 10 mins later to find no dogs - the back gate had been blown open. Wow I can only think of that happening a couple of times before ever. I called them, and all but Orin came charging in. I went out with a torch and could just make him out having a poo in the field, bless him he too came charging in as soon as he could. 

The animed parcel came and Steve braved it to get the parcel from the top gate. Eight dogs and 7 cats now "drontaled!" 

Lets hope this drops soon or we won't be sleeping tonight! 

Thoughts And Decisions

Steve took this of me and Zeus on the sofa last night. He's such a lovely, affectionate chap. (I mean Zeus of course!) He's well settled into his new routine, due to our sad loses he now gets a lot more time with us.

Unlike the others who'll take on any weather, Zeus doesn't really like extremes, he doesn't like the heat and he doesn't like wind and rain, Oh, and he doesn't want to get up before 8am either. This morning we slept in till 8.15am, wow a whole 15 mins, but hearing the wind whistling through the cottage Zeus still wanted to stay in bed. With gusts of up to 70mph I doubt we'll be going out today.

The never ending moult continues, though I've been made less concerned by other owners of L/c's sharing their photos with me on Facebook. 

I regularly get messages asking about Ziva, she is doing so well. Back to normal now really, maybe a little "lazy" on her back legs, but hell she is 11 so we could understand that in normal circumstances, let alone after what she's been through. One thing that we have noticed after stroking her head is that she shakes her head, especially if we have been anywhere near her right ear. She responds as if something is in her ear, flattens it, shakes her head then carries on with life. I can't help but wonder if there is something on the right side of her brain. Another answer we'll never get! (If I've previously said left to you, then I was thinking of my left as I stroked her, I get easily confused)

I try not to study Loki too much these days, to just let him get on with things - but my god the boy is doing so well. His recovered has gone far beyond our expectations. I watched him go off in front of me down the field at a walk, those back feet come clearly off the floor again now, no dragging at all. I bet you the majority of people would not see a thing wrong with him now, such a shame there are no open shows about, I think I'd stick him in a veteran class - honestly he's that good! 

Kaiah is carrying a little too much weight still. Nothing dramatic but it needs to come off. She'll be going into another moult soon, she may lose it naturally then as they lose condition with coat, and then I guess she'll be in season around Xmas time ... the joys! I hope that this is going to be Kaiah last season and that we only have to put up with hormonal Hannah once more. Ideally, I'd like Siska to get pregnant at her next season, and then I can spay Kaiah. I don't want to risk spaying Kaiah now, where dogs/breeding is concerned it really isn't worth putting all your eggs in one basket, we know full well that the risk of the basket breaking is just too great. If Siska misses next time then I don't know what I'll do, the option would be try once more with Siska or mate Kaiah at the following season. A decision to make at a much later date! 

Another stunning male has come into the country, an Asap Vom Aldamar son. Asap is one of my favourite dogs in many a generation, but sadly this boy is a L/C and for now that does put him behind Vesco and Zalu. I've now seen for myself that people are struggling to sell L/C's with two Fransisco progeny still with the breeder whilst the S/C's have been sold. In Yarna's litter to Orin the L/C's were also the last to sell, with no interest in Joe (Mr Green) for quite a while. I do think that since the coat variety became accepted as part of the breed standard that the L/C breeders have flooded the market, and with so many being bred just for coat their cash cow is now drying up. Though a decision has not been made, I do feel it's highly likely that my first choice for Siska will now be Vesco. 

Second Time Out

Just the most beautiful day. My ideal weather, sunny, warm and just stunning on our mountain. Sadly, life has changed so much and I can't now just go off walking every day. Tuesday is now shopping and lunch with Mum, I don't begrudge it one little bit, she needs to see us, and actually we need to see her without fail twice a week these days. 

I took the troops to the fields this morning - and again this afternoon, it's not quite the same - but it's better than not getting out. 

No Posing - Just As They Are.

 Far too beautiful to not take photos but no one was placed or posed 

- Happy Blaniks!

Ross and Loki

Loki, Ziva, Siska

Ross and Sammi

Orin and Siska

Kaiah, Siska, Orin

Siska, Kaiah, and Orin how did you get in there???

Zeus

Parasites

Little miss standing watching her mum in the field yesterday. I swear I didn't place her in stance or move a single foot, the only thing I did was say wait wait wait, whilst I got the phone out of my pocket - woohoo - got it. 

We are really struggling with ticks here right now. They always seem to thrive in Fron in Autumn. I'm finding one or two on someone most days, and Steve has even had one on his arm. I shouldn't laugh but "Get it off me, get it off me" is still ringing in my ears. With all the medication he's on I doubt it would have survived anyway. Poor Siska had two around one of her nipples the other day, it did look odd and I initially questioned what I saw. The cats seem to be getting them more than the dogs, but Orin had one on his head and his body reacted giving him a huge lump. I don't have any device or potion to get them off - I simply pull them off like my Nain (grandmother) showed me when I was a child. As the weather cools the little shits thankfully become less active.

We have been lucky again this year with fleas. To be honest I now realise that in the past most of them came home from Freshfields on me! I continue to spray the house twice a year so that any eggs simply can't hatch, that ends the life cycle if we do bring any passengers home from a show or from training. I have been using Staykill for years and have therefore not had to put any chemicals on the dogs in almost a decade. Worms are a different matter here, the cats are killing and reinfesting themselves on a regular basis, so everyone needs doing. Thank god for animed! 

Same Place

All the photos taken in the same place but changing lights, sky colour and temperature too. 

Note to self - take a bigger coat! 

Critiques From NWGSD