Pippa

A totally confidential chat at the Sieger had me buzzing. With 17 dogs, her owner would probably need someone to take Pippa on for campaigning later in the year. OMG Yes please! I came home and told Steve all about it ... he wasn't too bothered, or certainly didn't seem to be at the time.

Yesterday, whilst waiting outside the vets came the call, "are you still interested in taking on Pippa?" My heart sank; the timing could not have been worse. The new Blanik bus is almost ready and has bled me dry, and Zavi is still so young, but I've thought so much about Pippa over the last couple of months. Could I somehow make it work? Pippa's pen was already sorted (she is currently a kennel dog), and she would be able to sleep in the utility room ... in my mind the plan was coming together. I was sure I could scrape up the cash, after all, this German import bitch with the very best bloodlines was probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for someone like me. 

Sadly it didn't go well with Mr S and he lost the plot. He asked me, "When are you going to stop collecting dogs? This is a one-bedroom cottage. Where are you going to put her?" Well, yeah, I get it, and I know he's worried about the situation of something happening to him and me being unable to cope financially. I know we have always said 8 dogs is the maximum so we are running at full capacity .... but as I said, this was probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. The conversation ended with "Well I would never stop you doing anything, so do what you like, but I'm not happy." 

I pondered over it all day, and even though it crushed me last night, I messaged her owner and told him that I was between a rock and a hard place, so I could not take Pippa. I've cried, of course I have, but at least I can focus my attention on Zavi when the disappointment comes over me again. I didn't tell Steve until this morning, and then I simply said, "I've contacted Pippa's owner and told him we won't be having her!" He replied, "Why?" I wanted to scream, "well why the feck do you think?" But it would only have caused more unnecessary upset and tension, so I simply replied .... "I don't ever want to talk about her again!" Yeah, that is how it is, I don't want to talk about her again, I simply have to move on ... at least I have a spare pen now! 

Perfect Zavi

You always hope for a perfect photo in stance and you always hope for a beautiful headshot – well, here are both, thanks to everyone who helped, including Isla and Jamie!

Family and Vet

For the second time in as many days, someone has said, "Oh, I didn't think that Beti was a Blanik!" Eh? Well, she may have been bred at Pinchmill, but Beti is as much a Blanik as Meerah or Siska or any of the others; half her pedigree follows my breeding line. It just happens to be the top half from her sire and not the bottom half from her dam; therefore, of course, Zavi is the same! 

Today was vaccination day for Zavi, we saw Malan for probably the last time for a long time to come. Malan, who I knew before she was a qualified vet, is now very pregnant and has just a week left to work. We really will miss her. Anyway, back to Zavi, he was just great in the car park watching traffic, in the waiting room, and in the consulting room. He stood on the table chewing his fish and didn't even notice the vaccination – such a brave little soldier! LOL His Auntie Sharon came to meet him, and he was confident and happy. Today he weighed about 11 kg. 

With compliments on his bone and substance, his colour was mentioned again today ... it got me thinking, to me his colour is pleasing for hiis age, so I looked back. Of course coat and colour will not be determined until adulthood, but here is Zavi, Beti and Orin at 10.5 weeks old. I think the colour is pretty much the same, but even here you cab see Orin's eyes are lightening. 

Meerah's Sibings

Marley (Jet)

Seren (Opal)

Both are looking very nice, but neither are lacking in length of foreleg. ( yes I have seen photos of Marley out of the water! LOL )

Meeting Beti's Mates

Beti adores these guys; mind you, so do I! 

Big snogs as usual.

Zavi did so well, no nervousness, yapping or backing off, just curiosity

 I'm happy with that. 

Come on Beti, kiss them goodbye now!

Happy Birthday Meerah

Lovely Walks With The Guys

Zavi At 10 weeks

The only screenshot from the video that doesn't contain Jamie cat! 

At 10 weeks Orin was 8.6kg, exactly the same weight as Ross, Loki was 8.8kg. 

Zavi is now weighing in at 10.1kg. 

A Memory To Treasure

 I suddenly remembered that Zavi was 10 weeks today, Oh hell no photo. Not meaning to disturb anyone, I had a plan, well as you can see it didn't quite go as I'd hoped - but this is a video to treasure! 

Zavi's Day

He spent the morning with Auntie Linda, then had a visit from Uncle Ian, after a big sleep, he went socialising to Tesco. Another good day of positivity for Zavi.