This blog will give you updates on the litter; only the latest three weeks will be displayed as the picture heavy content is taking up a lot of webspace!

10th August

I'm still behind! It was great to meet the puppies on Saturday, we all went back to Christine's for a lovely lunch then a walk on the beach near Carrickfergus. Taz came too and didn't mind his sons trying to play with him, although he did try to mount Murphy at one stage! Paul took him to "get the feel" of an adult Homer, although I don't think he will be as big as Taz. Murphy is still as lovely as ever too, and I had lots of puppy kisses.
Some good news today, the Bull Breeds show in October is scheduling baby puppy classes so Dizzy and Dazzle are going! They will be "officially" in the ring from 1st November but it will be great to give them a practice first. Baby puppy class isn't eligible to compete for the Green Star but it will be good for them especially under a foreign judge and no doubt provide some light entertainment for the spectators.
The sun has come out at last and I managed to get some pics. It's "play with mother" today and here is Daz with Diva, you can see how well he is growing...



Here is Dizzy with Diva:






14th August

The Munster Circuit is underway so it is a week of getting up in the middle of the night, lots of driving and five shows between today and next Saturday. Dazzle and Dizzy are in the kennels being thoroughly spoilt I expect, so nothing to report really...
Strangely, I miss them a little...

16th August

A day off today, Taz and I were at Clonmel yesterday which was hot and sunny for a change, we are off to Killarney tomorrow for the next show which involves a 2am start... Maura reports that Dazzle and Dizzy are fine and having a good time, probably because I gave Maura their toys at Clonmel yesterday to bring back, having forgotten them when the pups were dropped off last weekend. Bad mother!
It's VERY quiet without them and it's going to be a looooong week... luckily if I get home at a reasonable time on Saturday after the Tralee show I will be able to pick them up. Ahhhhhhhhh...

21st August

Hurray! The Munster Circuit is over, Taz and myself made it to the end against the odds, as the driving down to each show was something of an endurance test. Anyway, after the Limerick show on 19th, I met up with Harry and we went back to his home to visit Donna and Charlie, who are looking very well and Donna is as cheeky as ever, peering in the window when we were having a cup of tea. She eventually remembered me and tried to jump in the car but I insisted that she stayed. I could have sworn there was a look of relief on her face when she scampered off to annoy the other dogs and ponies. Charlie is very chunky and handsome, but more polite! Many thanks to Harry for letting me visit, and to his wife Ann and son Colin whom I met for the first time, the tea was spot on and I'm sure helped me to drive home safely (and awake!)
Although I am back now, I am collecting Dazzle and Dizzy on Monday morning so I am properly prepared for them, then it's ringcraft Monday night for the first time. I might just take Dizzy this time and see what happens, so Daz will have to stay in the playpen with his mother while I am out.
Normal service will be resumed from Monday...

24th August

The pups are back! A little thin and without their toys (which I forgot about) but that was soon remedied by "loaning" them Taz's Nylabone and Deccy's black Kong which seems to be fully acceptable (but not to Deccy!). Dazzle has his future confirmed, he is going to be an Essex boy from late November, going to a very good friend of mine who lost two of hers in fairly quick succession a while back, and will be ready soon to take on another to keep her remaining boy, Duncan, company. He will be called DEXTER, luckily he comes to anything said in a silly voice so he should be used to his new name by the time he catches the ferry for his new life, which I am sure will be very happy.
Here he is back home yesterday re-acquainting himself with the dog paddock...



The day ended with me taking Dizzy to ringcraft for the first time, once she had got over the shock of new dogs - all sizes, colours and coats - she made friends with all of them and even managed to get the hang of bouncing alongside me as we "did a triangle", more or less. Standing four square may take a little longer! I was pleasantly surprised with how much she enjoyed it and we will be back next Monday. Lots of homework to do before then!

25th August

A peaceful night, I got up before the dynamic duo woke up and got them outside where they did what was required so that was a good start to the day. I have to puppy proof the house a bit better, as they can both carry off my full handbag, my fleece and just about anything that is within reach on their way to the front door!
Dizzy is moving into her new occasional quarters today, she will be crated for short periods during the day to help with the house training process, and give Daz(zle)/Dexter a chance to spend some time away from her, he might listen to me a little more then... ha ha  I'm not holding my breath! Besides, the puppy bed is now getting a little too small for the pair of them, although last night Dexter hogged it at bedtime, leaving Dizzy in a tizzy of yapping and bouncing as he wouldn't let her in! I put some fresh vetbed beside it which Dizzy settled on and you've guessed it, Dexter decided that it was far better than the plastic bed so they both settled on the floor. Today, they are sharing nicely...



MAM!!! NEW BED PLEASE!!!!!!

30th August

A difficult few days, I had a small accident triggered by an ongoing health problem and Dexter (Daz) is still not well and not responding to current treatment so he'll be back to the vets later today.
However, some brilliant news yesterday that Penny, one day short of 17 weeks, went to her first show (an Agricultural show so very young puppies may be entered) and won BEST PUPPY IN SHOW!!!!!!!!! Well done to her and her owner Denise who also won best junior handler, Dizzy had better sharpen up her ideas! We are off to ringcraft again tonight if all goes well at the doctor's/vet's appointments so I'll see if she's improved. trotting along beside me seems to be okay but standing on all four feet is another matter...

4th September

A difficult week with Dexter (ex. Daz) being unwell and under the vet who scratched his head a lot, but after a diet of roast chicken, whiting and rice (and digestive biscuits which Dizzy liked too) and a lot of helpful advice from members of DALNET (thanks guys) he's back to full speed and annoying his mother, he's even put on some much needed weight. Fingers crossed it's all positive from now on.
This morning I dug out one of the old adult dog beds which had been in the garage for three years. After a lot of scrubbing, disinfecting and rinsing it doesn't look too bad and Dexter is pleased with his new bed and after trashing the pen briefly - you can still see evidence of his paper shredding - he's settled nicely. He's not quite as happy to find he needs to share, and so far has only allowed Dizzy a tiny bit of one end, but as I type she is pushing her feet out and gaining a few more inches by the minute.



5th September

So much for the pups sharing the new bed nicely. I've had to reinstate the smaller bed so they now have one each, although when I last looked they were both snuggled up in... the small one. Ho hum.
They will all be growing fast now, here's a pic of Donna - "DADDY! BED TOO SMALL!!!!"



In the meantime, my two have discovered the joys of blackberrying. They spend a while trying to find the fruit...



Dizzy finds it first!



Luckily, most of the bushes are out of reach, for now at least. I'd better get picking, just in case!