4 Months

Hopefully I'll get some individual photos later, but I wanted to get this done. 

Zavi is 4 months old today – and I think his weight and measures are on the money for his age. 

He is 51cm and 19.8 kg, and Orin was also 51cm and 19.2kg. Couldn't be any closer. By 5 months he should be roughly 5kg heavier and 5 cm taller.

Just out of interest, I should have realised it was going wrong with Meerah, she was 49.5cms and weighed 17.8kg at 4 months. In comparison, Siska was 15.8 kg and 46.5cms at the same age. 

No Lunch!

At 4 months something always happens at Blanik. The recent girls didn't care, but Orin was mortified .... I fear a greedy Zavi will be equally disgruntled! At 4 months, lunches go off the menu. It really won't be a popular decision in Zavi's world. .

To meet their growing needs, puppies need a large quantity of food daily, but by 4 months old they are big enough for that quantity to be reduced to three meals a day. Here I continue to feed three meals till a minimum of 6 months old, and depending on the individual, sometimes beyond! 

Zavi loves food, he shovels it down. I am glad, there's not a lot more frustrating than a puppy/dog who doesn't eat ... is there Meerah!!!!

Reminiscing - The Boys At 4 Months

 

Orin

Having a puppy gives me the perfect excuse to reminisce – OMG - Look at them! 

Mikey's ears were up and down, Loki lacked strength in his head. Ross, well, always the clown ... and My Orin, just stunning. I was and still am so proud of all of them, who they were and who they became. 

Puppies

I appreciate that most of can't read this, but this lovely little pup is missing, presumed stolen from Rhosgadfan. The how it happened is not for me to question or judge, the fact is the pup has been removed from her home. How heartbreaking.

Rhosgadfan is the next village across from us, so yes, I'm pretty scared about it all. I know Zavi is never out on his own, and if Beti's overprotective nature of him at the last show is anything to go by, well, no one will get near him, but the ifs and buts continue to float around my mind. I can't think of much worse to be honest!

Anyway, what do you think of this chap? No, he's not anyone I know. If I had a 6-month-old puppy that looked like this now, I'd be devastated, but my purpose of this post is not to belittle anyone's dog. When I look at this dog, I see exactly what Blade looked like at this age, just legs and head, actually his head is very similar to Blades ... I know this chap is sable, but honestly I just see a young Blade, and at the time I thought he was perfect. The guy who owns the dog has shared the post as he hopes to show him. (He lives in America I think) What can you say? Well I just said, I look forward to seeing him when he fills his frame. I really hope he does exactly what Blade did and becomes a strong, unexaggerated, beautiful male. Buying a dog knowing what I know now, would I go to Blade's breeder? Hell no, but I'm glad that at the time I did! 

I suppose we all start somewhere. Blade was a little older here, maybe going on for 18 months, just starting to fill out, but as I said, all head and legs. I guess he had a little more length in his loin as he got older, he certainly wasn't short-coupled. A GSD needs a little bit of length; a short loin can restrict the reach of the hindquarters, meaning the dog cannot extend properly at a trot. To compensate for this lack of reach, the dog will often resort to pacing as a more energy-efficient gait. Dexi was just a little short in the loin and would pace at times too, and because his underline was short, he had a tendency to raise his overline. Not pulling my dog to bits, he was one of the best, better constructed than Blade, but there is no perfect dog out there! (Well, Louis was perfect in my eye... LOL)

Fencing

I'm glad to say the sheep haven't been back since they were chased, but of course they probably will be back! Ian helped me untangle the mesh on Saturday, I could never have done it alone, and Steve and I put the mesh up yesterday. It's only one wall, and we were short of about about 8 ft at the top of the field near the boncan. I feel we have done a pretty decent job, but there are still places to strengthen along this wall. I've ordered more of the metal bars, they are only £16 for 10 and they really do a great job. Whilst the sheep will never get over this fencing, strengthening it to stop twat sheep and her lamb breaking through it will be imperative. Then we start on wall two! 

A freshly brushed Orin now watching sheep in the photo, something he never did! Honestly I've had buckets of hair from him - but he still looks fab. 

Appointment Made

I've bit the bullet and done it - Meerah is booked in next month to have her hips x-rayed. If they are good, then she'll be scored; if they are not, she'll be spayed on the day! Please don't ask me the date; for my own sanity, I won't tell you ... but I'll write about it later! 

Whilst I'm writing about Meerah, I'd just like to say she has a lot of faults, the obvious being unmissable, but she is not unsound "going away". Actually, though she is leggy, she is very sound! Moan over. 

NWGSD Critiques

I'll let you decide for yourself if you think I'm happy with everything said. 

Oh hell, I guess mixed feelings

A Few More Pics Of Zavi In The Field

With Uncle Ross

Whilst We Were Fencing.

Steve and I have been fencing again today; one side of the bottom field is now done, but there is an awful lot to do. The dogs have been mooching about whilst we were out there, it would have been a great day to walk, but it was still a great morning for everyone to be out and about! 

Zavi has read the book, but he missed the page where it says, "Male German Shepherds typically start lifting or cocking their leg to urinate between 6 and 12 months of age, coinciding with puberty and rising testosterone levels." The photo just for a bit of fun!

Standing watching Sammi initially, but I just managed to get him to look my way for a split second. Isn't he looking great! 

Wait for me granny Sammi!

A Week On

                                  

The lights are different, but  you can see how much the tan and silver stripe have crept through the black. His coat is thickening daily. A few more days before he's 4 months.