Our Feline Family

The Girls

Princess Posh Cat - Isla -Quite the "Lady." 

Affectionate and sweet, but a little more demanding than the average cat! 

Temperamental Tortie Tia 

Enough said! 

The Boys

Baby Cat - Junior
Fun little guy who loves to be where you are doing what your doing! 

Oliver Blue - Mr Handsome 

Nervous and shy with strangers, but my baby!

The Main Man - Jamie - Mr Cool dude 

Little Old Man - Our Billy - Funny little guy

Kia's Kids

At 8 weeks Nico and Kia's babies have nearly all flown the nest. They are keeping a long coated black and tan male and still have a lovely sable bitch to sell. Such beautiful babies, so proud! 

 

Trip Out

Our circumstances dictate that we will never get holidays abroad, or even in this country. 

It's impossible for us to go for days out together, or even travel to visit family. That's why these days are so important, just a 20 minute drive and an adventure of discovery on our doorstep, then a short drive home. A lovely couple of hours together. 

Please don't ever feel sorry for me, look at what I have got. A man who I adore and who would do anything he could for me, a super wonderful family, both canine and human, wonderful friends, and I'm blessed to live in one on the most beautiful places I could dream of. 

Puppies and Kittens

Or Puppy and Kitten maybe!

Junior and Sammi

My only concern is the size difference, Sammi doesn't seem to understand why it can't be the same game as she plays with the others. Junior doesn't seem to realise that getting away from it is sometimes better than just lying there. Games are strictly supervised! 

Baby Cat

 Is growing up fast.

The poor boy is now teething and suffering a little with it! 

 Junior

A Couple Of The Kids

Cal today on his walk at Elidir Fawr

Luna with her new friend Oreo

So Chuffed

Last night I took Ziva to dog club for the first time in about 2 years, it went 10 times better than I thought it would. Due to a catalogue of bad experience in the club at a crucial time in her socialising period, Ziva hated dog club and anything to do with anyone touching her whilst she was in a show stance. For the first year or so I continued to take her, but i eventually realised that being in that room in that atmosphere was detrimental to her. To be honest it wasn't helped by the fact that I got more and more wound up and emotional about it.
Ziva is a happy bubbly playful person who loves life, she is confident around anyone and everyone, until she has to be shown. Well the moving bit is not a problem, she loves it, and neither is the standing still, but mixed up memories seem to come flooding back as soon as the judge starts examining her backend. If she is not in "stance" this does not happen and she's happy to accept any contact.
Ziva has not been in the show ring for about a year, I had felt that if she hated it that much, then what is the point? But with Sammi being miss cocky confident and not really needing ring craft I thought I would give our Zee one last go. Two years ago she would have been curled up on the sofa shaking when she saw me getting ready to go, last night she came with me happily as if we were going for a walk. She walked into the hall confidently and for the first time showed them her true self in that club. She was sociable and happy, she moved like a dream and was happy with any contact, until I stood her. As the trainer approached her in stance she moved her bottom sideways and clearly showed signs of being uncomfortable being "gone over!" But after 3 or 4 attempts of just "standing" on a loose lead she relaxed and settled down well. Again we attempted it in stance and she moved sideways - but free standing she was comfortable and relaxed. I too am in a very different frame of mind these days, back then it ment too much I guess, I was also ill and didn't yet know it , and the death of a friend has put a hell of a lot in life into prospective for me. If I can get Ziva back in the ring and enjoying it then I'll be over the moon, if I can't, what the hell? In her I have a wonderful friend who has and does give me so much of herself.
Watch this space ....

Remember The Runaway Angel?

It's now been 2 months since the last scary "runaway angel" incident. I don't know why she suddenly stopped doing it, but my god I'm glad she did! Was it just a phase she was going through or have the two interventions influence her behaviour? You may remember after a frustrating and scary 20 mins of trying to catch her at the end of a walk she came flying down the track behind me; with precision timing that's usually alien to me I grabbed her and pinned her to the floor holding her down for about 20 seconds before marching her home on the lead. I don't believe in smacking as it simply makes no sense in doggy language, but I did swear a fair few choice words in her face as she was pinned to the floor!
Only days later she charged off towards some campers by the lake, but in fairness returned to a recall a fair distance before getting to them. I was so chuffed to see her coming back so enthusiastically and was ready to praise her, sadly for her her mother had other ideas! Ziva threw her to the ground and growled aggressively in her face, keeping her "down" for a fair few seconds before allowing her to get up and continue with the walk.
Between us I guess we both reprimanded her in a similar way, I comforted myself at the time that I was walking away and not calling her, so I caught her in the act so to speak. But Ziva did exactly what we have been told never to do,  she reprimand the puppy on her returning to the pack which now makes me doubt everything I have been taught, we still have much to learn from pack behaviour.
Now I'm not saying all our recall problems are over and my heart still churns as I return home to the top gate. Will she come in or will she leg it down the track again? But with every day and ever walk that passes my confidence in her builds. Like I said I don't know why the behaviour changed but from the day I caught her charging down the track from behind me she has never done it again. No I'm not complacent, this is Sammi Belle, bright, inquisitive and very confident of her own self. Maybe I've won this round, but I fear there's a few more rounds to the war just yet!

Some Photos

 Sammi out in the evening sunshine

Tasha and her beautiful babies

Kai taking a dip 

Yesterday's Walks

With the bloody cows hanging around here I decided the only way I could get decent walks was to put the dogs in the van and go over to the other side of the mountain. I honestly believe these large animals should not be roaming free through the village and on common land where people walk, but obviously my opinion counts for nothing! 

I set off with Nico, Finlay and Jezi, taking my camera with me as I usually do these days. I wonder, are these the most photographed dogs in Wales? lol  Anyway the route was mapped out in my head, but best laid plans and all that eh! Within minutes of setting off Jezi submerged herself in a mud filled bog. Too late to do anything about it I got the camera out and took some piccies. They were strangely dark and unclear, I blamed the sun for being in the wrong place! So with smelly dog in tow we changed the route and went down to the lake ... again the photos were dark and unclear. Though it did give a wonderful light on some of the scenery shots! Thinking there was either something wrong with the camera or the very cloudy sky was affecting the light I gave up and carried on on my walk. 

By the time I was doing walk number two the sun was in it's full glory so the camera came out again, still the quality of the photos were poor! It was only about half way through this walk that I realised I was having a blonde moment ...the camera was set to Sunset!!!! 

No comment.

So above a dark photo of mucky Jezi, Finlay and Nico

below a nice photo of,

 Ziva, Asha, Mikey,Tali and Sammi in front!