Happy Birthday

Lovely Kiara is 13 years old today. 

But who is Kiara? - Well to us she's a very special lady indeed. 

Kiara is Nico's mum and full sister to our awesome Kaiser. Of course I remembered this morning that it would have been Kai's birthday, but having lost him so young in 2012 I honestly didn't think that his sister would still be with us. It was heartbreaking to loose the awesome boy so young but I take comfort from the privileged of living life with his super nephew and his progeny. 

Nico -looking a little like his mummy we think?

Kai - Happy Birthday My Awesome Boy

Moel Tryfan

Can you believe in all these years I had never ventured to the top of Moel Tryfan, well today I decided I was going! Yes there was one steep and difficult section and after making it up I wonder how what had gone up would come down .. but I did, and on my bottom, but from choice. 

The rest was an easy climb up with stunning views and only a few sheep in the distance. 

 Yes Kaiah we are coming

 Nearly there

 Of course those two were first!

 Well two of them sat to prove they had been there

Can't wait to go again, but on a less blustery day. 

Walks One And Two

 Nico and Jezi

 I didn't know why I came, it always upset me to see it this way

but it did get me inspired for walk number three.

Sammi, Asha and Ziva

The Countdown Begins

But Kira is still getting on Rachel's bed! 

So how many puppies do you think? 

I'll go for eight.

Stop Off On Way Home

Between everything I feel like I have a lot on my plate at the moment. Talking of plates, that is one extra thing on my agenda. With my mother being incapacitated at the moment I'd providing meals on wheels for my parents .. haha (Health and safety would close me down, dinners and dogs in a muddy van) There is never much I feel I can do to help them but cooking is one thing I'm more than capable of doing and I'm glad for once that I can help them. 

On the way back this morning I stopped off in Golan again to give the youngsters an extra run out. It was raining, but warm and the three of us had such a great time. Not a soul to be seen. 

 Planning the day's mischief 

 Lots of space, trees and a river - happy Young Guns

Mr Poldark showing off the river. Last night my concern over other things in my life was slightly redirected towards him. Not that I'm not concerned about him, but there are other more immediate and concerning issues that currently are not my place to write about on this blog. He'd kill me! lol

So Ross, I can write about him ... last night as he wrestled with Kaiah I could hear the elbow clicking, and honestly it goes right through me. It doesn't bother him at all, though neither does my own right knee's clicking most of the time I guess. Ross is full of fun and life, happy, loud and playful; when the pano is not bad this elbow just can't be hurting him much, can it?  In later life it may well be an issue, but I'm very much for living in the now and I will not restrict his adventures. 

Last night I felt my dreams where shattered, but really as long as he's OK and enjoying his life then the end game can always change. It will be disappointing to not have Ross babies, but not a disaster to Blanik. It would be a disaster to Blanik to not be able to move on through Kaiah and hopefully we  can set plans in motion for that next year. 

A Year On ...

Twelve months ago today this loud, cocky, happy young man made his way from Suffolk to North Wales. There have been so many laughs, and believe me some tears .. but what a character he is and what a year he's given us. Whatever the future holds this is my Ross and I adore him.

Asha And Ross

So Asha ball of the day was this red one and she was happy chomping away at it until Ross decided that was just the toy he wanted. But nobody takes a toy from Asha, not even her precious Loki, and as Ross tried he was told in no uncertain terms .. "No You Can't Have It!" Asha is always firm but fair and Ross lay down close by to observe. As Asha had a scratch as quick as a flash and without her realising he was there and he'd grabbed it and gone. She turned round and looked quite puzzled, "but it was there, I know it was!" 

Ross now started to parade around the furniture with the ball in his mouth, he was so proud of his achievement, Asha was less amused. But in true GSD female ways she hatched a plan. She went into the toy box and got my snowman head out, she bounced it about and shook it in front of him. Of course Ross took the bate, he dropped the ball and went to grab the snowman .. the instant he dropped the ball Asha grabbed it and Ross was left with the toy that maybe he didn't want quite so much after all! 

Later Ross sat proudly with both toys, but only because she didn't want either by then!

Cooler Day But Hot Tempers

A morning walk to Llyn Cop was completely ruined by Kaiah's aggression towards her mother. This is no game, no over excitement this is pure nastiness and spitefulness. In the end Sammi was so afraid of her bully daughter that she walked behind me. I won't put her through it again. I'd sooner she missed out than she was put through this again.  

I doubt I'll be going back there for a while, the near side of the lake is empty, the far side is so low and dirty. It'll take a lot of rain to make it a sweet little sanctuary again. 

Windswept walks on home ground this afternoon. I took Sammi and Loki again with Asha and Ziva. It really upset me to see how wary Sammi was at first. It took her a while to realise Kaiah cow was not there. 

 Jezi and Nico 

With grass blowing over Jezi's face I decided she should have her own photo too.

Still No Coat

Not stood, just standing ready to pounce on Kaiah.

Shape wise not a lot to complain about is there really 

I'm thinking I'll pop to the Garden Centre tomorrow and get some miracle grow! 

Here's hoping it comes back to this ...

Look Who's Admiring The Sunset

Took this of the lovely sun set with my phone last night but forgot to look at it till now

... Is that Jamie I can see???

Zooming in ... yes that's him!

Louis

That photos of Ross with his chuckit yesterday made me smile so much but it also made me think of this precious photo of Louis. I got passed Louis' birthday this week without a tear, a few emotional moments, yes .. but no tears. Today it's caught up with me, today I miss my Louis xxx

Chuckit

Someone is sulking because it's too hot to play Chuckit ... 

But someone else is refusing to accept it's too hot to play with her chuckit!

Still nothing back from the Chuckit company about Ross and Asha's broken chuckit balls, 

I guess I should give them a week? 

Not A Happy Family

There is tension in the main pack at the Blanik household this morning .. The heat? Or hormones maybe? One thing is for sure Kaiah does not need her mother fighting her battles for her, she really doesn't need to feel anymore important than she does!
Kaiah is due is season so I guess it's mainly hormonal here, and to be honest though it's hot at 25 degrees we've had it a lot hotter being close to 35 a couple of weeks ago.
Ziva put her head over Kaiah shoulders this morning, a dominant stance. Kaiah grumbled but had her chuckit in her mouth so let it pass by, but Sammi didn't and came over grumbling and snapping at Ziva. No one tells her precious daughter what to do .. but maybe if she did herself then Kaiah may not be as much of a handful. Not long after that Asha told Ross off over a toy they both wanted and he had a go back at her .. that's a first and bad manners really.... And Loki? Well he's just grumpy anyway!!!

One Week To Go

Nico Babies are cooking - and so is poor Kira too I would think in this heat. 

One week to go from the date of ovulation, so she'll probably be due Wednesday, Thursday or Friday of next week. Hope it's a bit cooler in Bristol by then!  

For Me A Special Photo

It doesn't happen often as they walk separately

But here's Sammi, (center) with her parents

Ziva and Nico 

I guess there's a bit of both of them there. 

An Extra Walk

by the river in Golan I hope will tire and please the Young Guns

Ross loved mooching by the river and playing in the water 

Kaiah was far more keen on going and exploring. 

Hopefully they both got a bit of what they wanted!

It's a little dark but I love this photo 

Are You Sure it's Not Sunday??

Maybe just school holidays and nice weather then?

 Lovely walk to Llyn Ffynhonnau with Nico and Jezi 

Not a soul about 

 Only girls allowed walk - but look who's peaking behind the rock

A few people around but within a safe distance but the walk completely ruined by the cattle who appeared from nowhere and made their way towards the van where Jezi was waiting. 

I't no secret I'm afraid of the free roaming cattle, especially when they have calfs. In my panic and fluster to get to the van I lost Ross' embroiderer Silkenwood collar and lead, I realised quickly but was too afraid to go back for it. I have to admit I came home feeling stressed, annoyed and emotional.

There was no was I could go back To Llyn Ffynhonnau for my last walk and I headed for Cwm Dulyn, sadly it was awash with people and sheep so I was only able to do the walk along the wall. But with the path closing with grasses, nettles and brambles and me in short trousers it was a shorter walk than expected. Again I came home feeling fed up!

Hydro With A View

 At least with the sunny weather it's not hard keeping Ross' swimming up.

I wonder how much they pay in the hydrotherapy pools? 

 Don't you just love that happy smiley face!

 Mr Loki with the new gundog dummy - better not loose this one mate

Paddling with my boys and Linda's Lexi 

I Wished ...

Last week I was offered a puppy .. I had noticed her in the litter and made a few comments on her photos. For me this sable L/C stood out as a special puppy, real quality. The breeder had decided to keep her B+T sister and a sable brother was booked to a show home, but the breeder really wanted a home where she could be shown too. With my sensibly hat on I told him it was not right for me at this time, but maybe I could find out what would be needed to use her father at stud. (He's in Ireland) Though I know things have changed since Dexi was used on an Irish bitch, it can't be that difficult .. can it?
Anyway last night he advertised her on a public page. I was not wearing my sensible hat and asked Steve about having her .. he said No. But he would come round, he always does, just a few days and I could wear him down, I always manage too. I even went to bed thinking about names, I could call her "Demelza" - Demi for short. I also considered partnership, should it not work out for her to live here then maybe one of my "show" friends would like to go halves. With agreed contracts between friends it could work. After all Ross is in joint names and it works.
This morning when I got up I was still thinking about the practicalities. Would it work? Could it work? How would these accept another bitch into the family .. Kiri was made most unwelcome by the old gang, but many others bring in bitches with no difficulties.
After walking the dogs I went online and quickly realised I'd missed the boat. Of course this stunning puppy had been snapped up, of course she was already sold. Hard for me as it's Ross' breeder who's bought her, I had to admit, stupid as it may sound I was so disappointed that I cried. Steve didn't get why I was so upset and uncharacteristically sympathy was not on hand. Sometimes I feel it's unfair, so many people have who and what they want, but the way I keep my dogs means I'm limited to these numbers. Of course I wouldn't have it any other way, I could never bring a puppy home and "Stick It In A Kennel!"

I guess my other reason for being so tearful this morning was that I'd been thinking back to a year ago. All those plans, the excitement and expectations for the future with Ross. This mornings I felt my dreams were shattered. The clicking in his elbow continues and I honestly feel he has an elbow abnormality as well as pano. I can continue to show him with the possible elbow abnormality, but of course my hopes of breeding would be dashed. Yes here I go again .. worse case scenario .. but really what else other than an abnormality would make a joint click in a young dog?
Ross' coat is currently a disaster too .. he has very little as it is and now that he's had this unbelievable moult he looks pretty shit. Hopefully that will come with time and I have him on Evening Primrose Oil and Fish Oil .. both considered to improve the quality and texture of the coat.  His coat is currently dry and coarse .. I've also ordered him some Melatonin which is used as a sleeping aid in people but is listed as a product used to stimulate hair growth in dogs. Should you wish to read further click on the link in pink facts-about-melatonin-will-it-grow-hair .. it may or may not work but as it says in the article It's no guarantee of hair growth .. but it can't hurt to try!

I'm sure you know I adore Ross, and all this probably just brings us closer. He is so much fun and is loving living life to the full. He's pretty obedient for a young man, and he is getting more and more affectionate. A tired Ross loves nothing more than cuddling and sleeping on my lap .. a naughty Ross can be calmed down by tickling his chest .. he goes all gooey eyed and floppy .. lol, but an OTT, loud Ross can still be hard work. His behaviour has improved dramatically but he still has his moments and when he and Kaiah are at their worst they can really push us and the other dogs to limit. Still they are youngsters who are joined at the hip, partners in crime ... things will only improve.
With my glass half full instead of half empty, if it comes to it the Blanik line should be safe without Ross' influence. I have two lovely bitches in Sammi and Kaiah and if it's not Ross then there will be a special boy out there for one of them. (maybe if I decide to breed from Sammi again I should let her choose her own man .. after all she did last time!!!)