We Didn't Need This

 Siska shredded a blanket last night and has vomited her breakfast and bits of blanket today. She's really quite flat and I'm obviously concerned. What happens now if she needs to go to the vet?

Honestly, her eating habits do my head in!

Test Two

Positive of course, I didn't expect it not to be. The main question being asked is "where did you pick that up?" Well with a 2 - 10 day incubation period I guess we'll never know!

Last Tuesday we shopped at Aldi, went to the garage in Porthmadog and had lunch with mum. Last Wednesday I had to get shoes and whilst Steve had a hair cut I wondered through some shops in Caernarfon, in the evening I went to dog club. Thursday I only visited mum and Friday I was at Leeds show - out in the open air. I didn't think anything of it at the time, but I really didn't eat much, I just didn't want food, not even cake! 🙈 Saturday I visited mum with no stops anywhere, Sunday we stayed at home. I had a shocking headache and felt washed out, only to be expected I thought? Monday morning I was a mess anyway, but I didn't feel ill. As we left Meifod on Monday again I felt washed out and my legs were aching, but I just presumed it was normal stress and mental exhaustion. Tuesday morning I just couldn't stop sneezing and I had a dreadful head cold, but I honestly still thought it was just a cold.

Yesterday it was very much a one-man band here. Steve couldn't stay awake and stayed in bed till after 2pm. Even after getting up he slept. I cried a few times, I was so weak, I would have done anything for someone to make me a cuppa, to let the dogs out, to hang the washing out .. but there was no one, and I had to be a brave little soldier and get on with it whilst the cavalry slept! I really hope it stays off his chest this time, last time they thought with the excess coughing that he'd collapsed a lung. Still we have to live with this thing now, I'm not going to hide behind closed doors, as soon as we are negative and feeling up to going out and about we will be doing. Life is too damn short to live in fear we need to live it!

I've sat and thought a lot yesterday - the youngest bitch I've ever mated was Ziva. She was mated at 26 months and 28 months when her babies arrived. It was the easiest pregnancy, the easiest birth ever. Nikki wasn't much older mated at 28 months. They always say the younger bitches make the better first time mothers (2 - 3 years old) If Siska goes another 7 months then she too will be about 26 months by her next season ... hmmm, it's a thought, but just a thought and no more right now! 

I'm going back under my blanket now!

O's Boys

Day One

Little miss is now in season, so just over 7 months. I was expecting her in around the 14th of June, but it's not too ridiculous a gab to think of planning ahead. Her next season will be next year, I'll have to see how long she leaves it before decisions can be made. With so many people using the same bloodlines, if things work out for us, I'm still team Zalu!

Studs

Interesting read on a breed Facebook page about what stud dog owners require from breeders to allow them to use their dogs at stud. Everyone has their own principles and ideas. I refused one this week, she was willing to do health checks, but the bitch had no KC registration. She thought I was very unreasonable, but my dog, my principals, my rules. I understand she will probably go elsewhere, but I don't want to be partly responsible for an influx of unregistered dogs. Someone answered on the post saying she would allow her dog to be used in a similar situation, as long as the health tests were successful, "after all," she said, "at least you'll know they will be nice examples from healthy parents." Yeah, I get it, but, whether I'm cutting my nose to spite my face or not, it's still a no. 

 On the same post others insisted on a maximum hip and elbow scores on the bitches, they would not allow their dog to be used on a bitch with a score over a certain figure - other saying there's more to consider than hips and elbows. An outstanding female with a slightly high score could be a loss to the gene pool, yeah I agree ... so that situation must be dealt with on an individual basis, and the scores of bitch's ancestors obviously considered. There must be a cut-off point, as you know I refused the bi-coloured bitch as she had an elbow score of three, no matter the family history, it doesn't get worse than that.

Three Counties Critique

Stanley’s Blanik Liszka. Feminine head and good expression. Good for quality and general type but would prefer better front angulation. Topline firm and of correct length, slightly steep in croup. Moved fine away and back and easily in profile movement.

Covid And Season

 It just get's better, so now I've got covid .. and no doubts Steve will have too. I'm not too bad, just a nasty head cold and a bit of a cough, what next? Will these dogs ever back to a normal routine? 

There is a bit of interest in Siska again, so I'll need to keep an eye on her now too. It's seven and a half months since her first season so it's quite possible that it could be brewing! 

The Fab Four

It's mixed news from Staffordshire today. Yarna has had her puppies, but sadly lost the last two, one male, one female. It's really hard to lose little ones, we know that from experience, but it must be harder to lose the only bitch when you had your heart set on keeping one. Still, Jane is keeping positive and said the fab four are awesome. I'm looking forward to lots of photos and updates! 

Still In The Fields

When you hope things may get into some kind of normal routine, you realise it's not going to happen. These dogs have been amazing and have coped with less exercise than they deserve. Now we have about three weeks before daily drives to Glan Clwyd ... I have one show already entered that period, I can only hope somehow that I can get help so I can go. As it was a Champ show and a breed champ running side by side it was a lot of money to pay out for a no show!

Nos Da Dad

It's been one of the hardest days of my adult life, I can only thank those who stood shoulder to shoulder with us to get us through today. The cards, e.mails, texts, calls and messages all mean so much, but some who I thought would be there for me have been conspicuous by their absence. (or silence)  Today was emotional beyond belief, but a wonderful tribute to my lovely Dad. Still it was difficult, and I can't think of many worse situations than to be sat 2ft away from a coffin of a loved one in a very religious ceremony when you yourself find no comfort or solace from religion. Of course doing the right thing is important, my parents are religious and honouring their beliefs was a must. Thank you to all who have supported us and stood by us, not just today, but throughout these last difficult months. 

We've lost the first battle, but typically now we have dates for the second battle, and I'm f*cking damned if we are going to lose that one! 

Kids At Home

Leeds Video

Katie sent me the video of Orin winning the class, this is just the end of the class, but still lovely to have. As you know Orin is with Ian and is pulled out first. Jago is pulled out second, Derrick third, Valco fourth and Valko fifth. Other dogs in there that I've mentioned before in the blog are Ocean Cruise who is at the back of the line with the lovely Sylvia, and Floyd who's in front of Orin in the original line up. The other dog is one Ive seen, but he's not been in with us before. 

Any Day Now

Yarna is on countdown

Oh Siska!

A couple of head tilts before the great escape

Leeds Ch Show

 With family organised to look after mum yesterday, I got to go to Leeds Ch show. An early morning start and picking up a friend and her dog on the way. Everyone had been prewarned via social media that all I wanted was a normal "show day" and I thank them all that it happened. 

I was overwhelmed that Orin won numerically the largest class of the day, it was also in my opinion, with three RCC winners behind him the strongest class of the day. With Ian on the end of the lead the boy looked amazing and the judges' honesty got him past the faces at the end of the leads! I have to admit I was really gutted that he didn't go further in the challenge, after such a high my heart sank into the pit of my stomach. Not taking anything away from the principal winners, just me feeling sorry for myself and wondering, when will it ever be our day? I still think Orin is amazing and he's doing so well in the shows, to be honest looking back at the video on facebook yesterday you can see that the judge pulls him out, he is her obvious winner but then struggles to place the rest of the class. Oh hell, I shouldn't be so ungrateful, these days we are knocking on the door of the big one, in years gone by I was happy if they were in the top five. 

I had no expectations for Siska. With no yearling class I'd entered her in PGB, so at 18 months she was in the same standard class as Orin. I figured she would be out of her depth, but the girl did so well and was placed second to the eventual CC winner. That's the second time she's been second to the CC winner - well done baby Siska.

With just Ian and I with the Blanik team it was impossible to get photos in the ring so we took a couple outside the ring before we got ready to leave. There are some hilarious ones of Siska who as usual was not taking things seriously .. bless her she's so funny. I have to admit the two of them were great, so well-behaved and boys were great together too. Not a cross word from either Khaos or Orin. Looking forward to the next show now! 

Louis' Birthday (21/07/03)

These "memories" are sometimes just too much to bear. But now I usually think of him with a smile instead of a tear. Without him in my life for 9 years my life would have been a much emptier/sadder place. As a puppy I was advised by the people in the know not to keep him as he would be too short in foreleg for a show career, I was told his brother was better. But I didn't listen, I went with my gut, this little dog had my heart. I guess they were right to a degree, he was smaller than some - though still easily within the standard, and he had a fantastic show career. He was an Amazing boy inside and out. He was my world, my best friend, my mister "Amazing," my dog in a lifetime, he was my Louis. Happy Birthday where every you are today my precious boy and thank you for the wonderful memories.

Daughters

Nica, Orin and Toyah

Nice yeah!

Sisters

Isla

Ginger 

Jazz

Fly

Bro Number Two

Merlin (FKA Ken) - Just stunning

O's Bro

Loki B (Basil) looking lovely hiding from the hot sun. 

Sharing

 

                               

The other photos I took of him this evening. 

Orin Two Years Apart

He just gets better and better.

I'm so proud!

My Orin

Not the best photo with the various lights, but I had to grab the opportunity to take it as it was at the time. I'm not clever enough to give him colour without making me orange! A moment to treasure, my beautiful kind Orin looking after me. He is so precious, as special to me as his mummy Sammi is, and his Grandfather Nico was. I know the Zeus Facebook fan club don't get it, and they make their preference known and obvious, as is their right, but this is my main man, as is my right! 

You Said What?

There's been a bit of tension between me and Zeus. I won't go into detail because we've moved on, but this dog is definitely affected by stress and tension. The others are carrying on as normal, but without doubt Zeus has picked up on the lack of balanced and overwhelming emotion here. Currently, his pack leader is weak and stressed, and that I think brings back memories of worrying times in his life. I do think that in the wrong hands or pushed that Zeus would choose fight, not flight. I'm not saying that that is normal behaviour for him, after all I've only experienced it twice in 15 months, and on both occasions he's reacted to my high state of tension. The night that we had words was the night my father died, so there is no doubt that I was not functioning normally. Unable to deal with him "in the moment" I walked away from the situation, but got a lead and put Zeus in a crate. The following morning as I sobbed in the kitchen, Zeus showed great concern and would not leave me alone. I've cried several times since in the company of the others, but not one of them has shown the compassion that Zeus did that morning in the kitchen, in all honestly unlike him they seem oblivious to my sadness.  

Zeus doesn't need stress in his life, normally he's a happy, fun, relaxed kind of guy. Sadly I know he's experienced more than his fair share of mixed messages, stress and lack of balance in his life, but currently what can I do? I'm in a place that is alien to me now,  I just haven't got it in me to be strong, focused and dependable at the moment. I'll just have to try and follow a normal routine and try not put myself or Zeus in a place of uncertainty.

Outside

We are still exercising in the fields, hopefully things will get back to normal in the near future.

To be honest the guys have been great in accepting the new but temporary routine.

Yarna

Yarna hasn't got long to go now, I do feel for her in this heat. If my memory serves me correctly she tested 22 on the Tuesday, 33 on the Wednesday and was mated Thursday and Friday - my chosen days would have been Wednesday and Thursday but we all have our thoughts on what is correct and obviously there is in most cases roughly a three to four day window for mating, catching that optimum time for fertilisation can be tricky with some though. Even though Yarna was mated later in the week the puppies could come from Monday night onward, so everything at the ready for her owner from the 25th!

Focusing on this pending litter is the perfect distraction for me right now .. as well as looking forward to more Nico grandkids from Ian's Kasey!

They Still Make Me Smile

 I needed a photo for a short story from the Blanik household today, just a photo of Ross and Orin together. No bitches - just two boys. They both jumped on the bench and I walked away to take the photo.

Attempt 1 - Thanks girls. I pulled Kaiah away and went to move Siska

Attempt 2 - Oh sod it I had to take the photo as she'd put herself so nicely in it. I know I'll move the boys away and try again.

Attempt 3 - I put the boys in the corner by the side gate. Oh hello Siska now your on that bench!

  I give up! 

Oh and the story, well it's kind of an anti climax now. The boys were wresting in the yard this morning and someone knocked Steve over .. he fell hard which with his issues he really doesn't need! So who knocked him over? Well, he says both were involved, but I kind of have a feeling that I know who never looks where he's going or what he's doing!!!

Nos Da Dad

We lost Dad last night. After saying on Monday that I was not going back to the hospital again, I couldn't not go yesterday. (sorry dad -bad grammar) Mum decided she would like to come too, and Steve insisted on taking us. Dad's eyes were open, but I'm not sure he was there. Still you can't take the chance and we spent time talking to him. Just generally telling him about the day, Everton news and just chatting. I'm now so glad that I went, things will never be the same again. 

No Second Season

I've had a look back last night, Siska came in season on Dec 14th, so she's now a month overdue and showing no signs of a second season. I'm sure Asha did something similar, but I didn't keep such accurate records then, and my memory is not something to rely on! Siska went through the motions of chucking her coat and getting a new one just as they do before a season, but she should have been in the same time as her mother ... so yeah a month ago! 

Before It Gets Hot

A soon as the Lawton's were off shopping we went out to the fields. A perfect morning for me, sunny but overly hot with a breeze. Everyone was happy and full of fun, though Sammi is really "noticing" how many treats an off lead Siska gets! 

Siska was still tormenting her mother on the second walk so spent more time on the lead so Kaiah could have some peace. I would never have believed that Kaiah would put up with so much from her. 

Don't blame me for the photo - not guilty but the only one he took!

Puppies

Toyah and Nica's  first go around the ring last night

Yeah they did well!

Nica has stayed with Delwyn the breeder and is very similar in style and conformation to Orin at the same age.

Toyah is with Ian. 

At 6 weeks they were so alike, but now there are huge differences in the sisters, but bloody hell Toyah reminds me of Siska at 10 weeks!