Tali's Tails: February 2021

Sunday 28 February 2021

Blanik Liszka

Siska - 7 weeks

The first of many in stance no doubt!

Saturday 27 February 2021

There's not much chance of getting a photo of one of these on their own when the others are out. I decided I had something to say about Asha and that I would get a photo of her to go with the post, but by the time I turned round to take the photo she had company. Trust me they only do it for treats!

Generally Asha is doing well, but as is often the case with old dogs there are some changes. She is very thin these days, pretty damn boney to be honest but she still eats well. She has lost some control of her bowels, if she needs to go she needs to go now .. not in 10 mins! She seems to have no stiffness, she can jump on the sofa or into the van, but she has seemed to have started to sway a little recently. The other very obvious change is her tail. It's just lifeless now, very odd really, but she doesn't care. She loves her walks, her food and is generally a very happy lady. I think she has lost some hearing, but I do think oldies can have selective hearing too ... I just hope the lockdown rules change and that I can take her to Llyn Cop again soon ...

First Time In The Field

Damn I chopped off Raven's nose

From front to back, Elka, Siska, Robin and Wren

Raven to the side

Our lovely Siska

Back in the pen

Robin, Siska, Elka, Raven, Wren

Seven Weeks

Raven, Robin

Wren

Elka and Siska

Weights of Pups

2. 5 weeks old

I'm finding myself getting more and more irritated at the members on a GSD advice page. A post from a lady who's concerned her 9 week old puppy is underweight drew my attention. At 3.7kg he is underweight, Siska was that weight yesterday at 7 weeks, but it's not the owners fault. She's had the puppy a week, if he's fit and healthy he will catch up. Worst case scenario of course is that he is ill, or he is a lot younger than he should be; with unregistered litters an unscrupulous breeder can easily lie about his age and puppies are often sold at 6 or even 5 weeks old. Well of course buyers should be doing their homework, there is a wealth of information available online, but so many see the pup and buy it!

I feel that people really should learn to be kinder, the owner realises there is a problem and needs advice not a fecking lecture, yes they may have made mistakes but the pup is with them now so it's too late. Get him vet checked, feed him well, 4 times a day, do as much socialising as you can in the current climate and he should catch up.

Just short of 2 weeks old

So therefore the breeder is to blame? After all he must have reared them badly. Well hang on ... Sammi had two litters, a litter of three and a litter nine. The average weight at birth of the litter of 3 was 1lb 8oz, the average weight of the litter of 9 was less than a pound. Both times Sammi had enough food for 9 puppies, three of them gorged whilst nine of them must have had plenty as they were content and happy but obviously smaller. At four weeks old Kaiah, who was the smallest in the litter of 3 was 5.1kg, yet Orin who was the largest in the litter of nine was only 4.3 kg at his vet weigh in at 7.5 weeks. The biggest of L Litter pups are heavier than the K litter, actually Siska is now 3.7kg and may well be close to the same weight as Orin by Tuesday's vet weigh in. Raven and Elka are big pups, but nowhere near the size of Sammi's three ... The other three are smaller but they get the same as the others, we have not reared some of our litter badly, if anything you concentrate more on the smaller pups don't you. Anyway what I'm trying to say is that people are too quick to judge, to point the finger of blame. Nature is amazing, but it has its own rules ... healthy but small puppies usually catch up and thrive.

Friday 26 February 2021

Today's Adventure

Most people know I have an issue with lateness. I hate being late and I hate it when people are late. My worst nightmare is arriving at a show 10 mins before I'm due in the ring. My appointment today was at 2pm so imagine my horror when I woke up on the sofa at 1.30pm.

The pups had been in the pen in the morning and all the others had been out. I must admit I am getting bored

with walking around the fields but taking everything into account it has been the safer option. Anyway, the pups had an early lunch and were put to bed, we had a sandwich, and we sat down for what I thought was going to be 20 mins. OMG it was 1.30pm. All the dogs got thrown out, I got the puppy bag ready, I changed the vet beds in the van and I heard MR S say "Have you done the fire?" Ahhhh ...

Puppies loaded and we were on route. God knows how but we go there at 2.10pm, I grovelled, but she seemed oblivious, as Steve said not everyone is as concerned about time keeping as I am.

I had been concerned that covid restrictions would not allow us to make the appointment, but everything was checked out and it was considered acceptable for us to travel for the puppies welfare. All safety measures were strictly enforced ... and you know what I even forgot I was wearing the mask!

Puppy Fitness

With covid restrictions stopping our usual selection of visitors I managed to get the pups booked in with Paws 4 Fitness for a socialising period. A little expensive maybe, but sod it, it was well worth it. After a successful van ride they were wonderful and had a great time on the equipment. I'm so pleased we took them. Lots of photos in their Facebook album.

Everyone Outside

Jezi and Nico

Siska, Robin, Wren, Elka, Raven

Kaiah, Orin, Ross, Sammi, Loki, Ziva, Asha

The Girls

Siska and Elka

A mid-week weigh in for Siska on Wednesday was very pleasing - 8lb

I don't think I need to bother again with a mid-week weigh in for her as she's done so well this week.

Tonight I'll have to weigh everyone and start the 3 day course of panacur. I do hope it doesn't upset any bellies!

"Liszka - Pronunciation of Liszka as a girls' name has the meaning "God is my oath". Liszka is an alternate spelling of Lisa. "

"Polish: from Old Polish or Polish dialect liszka ‘fox’, a nickname for a cunning person or for a redhead(English, Hebrew)" To be honest I just went looking for a similar name to Siska - found this and liked it!

In Hebrew and Arabic the word Leila or Laila means "night", "dark" and the name is often given to girls born during the night, signifying "daughter of the night". Loved the meaning as she was born overnight!

Baby O at 11 Months

Less of the baby now I think .. Just Orin or Mr O then?

Such a handsome boy - I'm very proud

Thursday 25 February 2021

The Boys

Raven, Robin

and Wren

The boys bits situation has improved with 5 out of 6 present and almost correct.

Still plenty of time for everything to fall into place.

The registered names Lancelot and Lysander were picked by the boys future owners.

"Lysander is a masculine given name. Of Greek origin, its meaning is "liberator". The name comprises the elements "lysis" (freedom) and "andros" (man)"

"The name Lancelot is a boy's name of French origin meaning "servant". In Arthurian legend, Lancelot was one of the most dashing of the Knights of the Round Table who eventually had an affair with Queen Guinevere."

I chose Laurent, "Laurent is a French masculine given name of Latin origin", you may recall though that Laurent is one of my favourite vampires!

Outside

Siska

Robin

Elka

Raven

Wren

Wednesday 24 February 2021

Finally

It only took 2 days short of 6 weeks.

Of course we now have to wait for the paperwork ... AHhhhh!

I'm really happy to get all the first choices of names though.

Ears

Raven keeping up with Robin

Siska has lost hers now - and Wren has one on the move.

Tuesday 23 February 2021

Just Saying ...

Sorry for the moan, these puppies mean the world to us. They are all precious. I understand people have favourites, but I do feel it a little when some people continually comment on just one puppy on social media. Maybe I'm being oversensitive but when it becomes blatantly obvious it is hurtful.

On The Sofa

Raven

Robin

Elka fka Pink

Wren

Siska

A Windy Vet Trip

Well the gales have returned. To understand the power of the wind up here I think you have to really experience it. I had to go out today and it took the two of us to help me into the van to get away. I simply can not hold the doors when the wind is so ferocious. I often speak to people who say, "Oh it was windy down here too", trust me unless they are on the coast it doesn't compare. Tesco first then a white-knuckle ride drive along the coast road to the vets. It was still very windy at the vets, but when I got home I literally got thrown into the bedroom wall. I don't mind seasonal weather, but I do fear this wind. The dogs will have to stay in today, it really isn't safe to be out there.

Kaiah was back at the vets with her infected anal gland. It was better but still had some horrid stuff in it. Anyway as she is not feeding the pups now she can have some stronger antibiotics which should clear it. Kaiah was weighed, she was 32kg, the heaviest she's ever been. The vet did make me laugh when she observed that Kaiah had not starved herself to feed her puppies. Bloody hell with all the food she was shovelling down I'm not surprised, but really it's quite a compliment that the vet noticed Kaiah looks so well. Honestly none of the bitches have ever looked as show ready as Sammi and Kaiah have after their litters, it must be the Titanium food, it has to be!

The little guys are booked in for their chips and health tests next Tuesday. The end of the road for us with them comes closer and I'm already wondering how I can ever let little Wren go. Bless him, he's such a darling, not the show dog of the litter, but he's the heartbreaker.

Monday 22 February 2021

Lovely Day

We were all grateful for the right weather to have lots of time out today. I put up the double puppy pen in the yard and had the pups out whilst the adults mooched. This afternoon we also had two sessions in the garden - we now have sleepy pups. Two wet days forecast now but dry again after that.

Geraldine (Yes still calling her that today) and Wren loving the sun.

Puppy Talk

Last night I decided to bite the bullet and announce to the world through social media that the tiny tot of the litter was staying. Puppy Geraldine will be puppy Siska, but I think most people were suspicious of that anyway. I don't think that currently little miss looks like any previous bitch in the line, but of course time will tell and no doubt I'll go back looking at photos to compare.

It's funny how many people tell you to keep two, or say "I'd be keeping them all." Trust me you wouldn't! Take it from an idiot who did it sibling are at best hard work, at worst a nightmare. Mikey was so needy of Asha and until she had her own litter he just couldn't cope without her. Her time away in the kitchen with her litter did him a huge favour. The sister started to fight at about 4 months, and by that I mean fight. It was the worst situation ever. I thought, I'm a trainer, I'll sort it, I'll cope. I didn't, I could never trust them again. Now they live separate lives, we can only hope that human error never lets them down. I guess the Seffe and Dexi scenario was different, he left for 4 months and came back, by then Seffe had already bonded with me. She and Dexi loved to play, but neither were needy of each other.

We have two weeks left with the little guys, the law is that puppies stay with the breeder until they are 8 weeks old. I agree that puppies reared in a home can learn a lot from their family and their environment, but maybe for puppies reared in kennels going to their home a week earlier would be beneficial? What do kennel puppies learn over that last week? How to play harder and fight harder! When I made such a suggestion on my Facebook post a friend commented; "Even my Shelties are ready to go by 7 weeks. By then their need for human company and direction takes over from their need for their mother and siblings." So not just me then! To be honest I never did let them go at 7 weeks, it was always 7.5 weeks, but now the law is clear - puppies have to stay with the breeder until they are 8 weeks.

These little buggers are already scrapping, they all want the same toy or a wresting game gets out of hand. It has to be sorted, unless Kaiah is there to sort it we have to show our disapproval. Of course they still cuddle to sleep and there are lots of fun times together too. They have now discovered the pleasure of eating poo and someone was screaming their head off at 3am. I didn't get up, If I go running to tantrums now then they will soon learn how to teach humans to do recalls! This morning they were all asleep at 7.30am, I felt like running in and going ahhhhhhhhh ....... childish? Yeah!