Here's Jake!

We were so pleased to receive some photographs of Jake. He has grown so much since he moved out to his new home! He looks really well and is quite obviously enjoying life.

What a gorgeous boy! (another pea from the same pod as Nemo)

My Toy!

Jess always had a thing for duck toys, she has passed it on to her babies!

Look into my eye's......

I love this one!

And this one! He's a bit advanced for his age!!

Wonderful! Thanks for the photo's guys, much appreciated x

Bailey's first swim

Whilst I was away, Andy took the dogs down to the river with our friends Mischelle and Nige who own Nemo's friend Bailey, and another friend of ours, Kilo. All the dogs enjoyed a good play in the river and Bailey had his first swim! I understand it was by accident - he stumbled into a deep bit, but he still did it. Well done Bailey!

Kilo took some fantastic shots of the fun and games and here they are. I am sure you will agree they are fabulous!

Jess loves the water

Bailey does his Jess impression

Molly likes to just stand and watch these days - whilst licking her nose

Jess swimming

Stand back........

I did warn you!!!

Bailey braves the water.........

But not for long!

Nemo loves his Mummy, but just look how goddamn big he is!!!

Teething troubles

Hello and apologies for not blogging for so long. I have been overseas with work again and boy was I in for a surprise when I got home. I left behind a little puppy who was scared of the hoover, I came back to find a 4 stone dog had taken his place! I could not believe how much Nemo had grown, or how much like his Mum he had become. I have even mistaken Nemo for Jess when he has been a few feet away from me in the woods, and it won't be long now before he is as big as his Mum. Jess is in for a shock.

 We keep telling her to make the most of being able to dominate the little rascal, because very soon the roles will be reversed. She needs to make sure he knows who is boss before he is too big.

I found these photographs on the camera - this is what they get up too whilst I am away - big knuckle bones - Andy bribing them all for a bit of peace and quiet!

It's just too much!

So, yes, Nemo is doing well. He is enjoying his little walks. He hasn't done any swimming yet but enjoys a paddle with his Mum , his Aunty Molly and his best friend Bailey.

Down at the river with Bailey

There is no stick too big for Jess!

Nemo and Molly are best of friends these days. Nemo gives her kisses all the time and is allowed to sleep on her whenever he wants. He has really won Molly over.

His current favourite thing is emptying the waste paper bin in Andy's office and shredding everything in there. He particularly likes window envelopes - when he chews the window it makes a noise, and he really enjoys that.

He has now started teething, so he keeps losing the odd baby tooth and gaining a new "adult" tooth. He has got very sore looking gums and does a bit of crying and feeling sorry for himself every once in a while. It's nothing a pigs ear or a sausage won't cure though.

He is best friends with the hoover again too - Andy was hoovering him this morning, so I guess he is anyway!

What's that coming over the hill? Is it a bear?

We have also received these photographs today of the rather gorgeous Rufus. He seems to be turning from puppy to a bear. He looks enormous on these photographs! He certainly seems to have a very, thick heavy coat, which will be clogging the hoover up in the future. I know Jane has already got Rufus  very well trained with the grooming - Jane you are doing a fabulous job with him, he looks great.

Doing his best bear impression

I think Rufus is thinking about attacking Keegan from behind!

Wow, he is so cute!

He still stares into your eyes, just as he did when he was a tiny pup. He looks huge now, poor Keegan must be getting worried!

Ever wondered why Newfies grow so fast?

This is an e mail we received from Ian, Elwood's owner with the answer........

Hi,



I had to share these with you's, I was laughing taking them. Woody was having his mad half hour and a bit more, so to calm him down Iput him outside, he had a bark and started chasing his tail - amusing himself so all good. It was cold so I shut the conservatory door and went in to make a cuppa, next thing I look out of the window to see this, I ran upstairs to get the camera and he was still sat there, I took a few photos and he just barked at me so he was quite comfy there chewing the lavender in the next pot (keeps his breath fresh).......... so now we know why Newfies grow so fast, planting themselves in compost on the sly. Keep an eye on Nemo next time he is out.


Ian

So there you have it - keep an eye on your plant pots!!

Crufts 2010

Congratulations to our friends Dianne Barrass of Priorscove and Suzanne Blake of Sandbears who both did extremely well at Crufts.

 Whilst Dianne did not compete herself, some of her pups were shown by their new owners and all achieved great results. Here is a photograph of one the Priorscove dogs - George, looking rather stunning before showtime. This photograph was taken by a Reuters photographer and has been sold to newspapers across the world. I think you will all agree it is fantastic and George is gorgeous!

Suzanne had a superb Crufts. Lots of the Sandbears family were showing at Crufts and all were highly placed in their groups. Suzanne must be extremely proud to have achieved 1st place for Limit Bitch with the very beautiful Luna - who then went on to gain Reserve Challenge Certificate

The further adventures of Elwood

I was sent this wonderful photograph this weekend by Dianne at Priorscove Newfoundlands. Ian and Cath had taken Elwood to visit and poor Woody had been set upon and savaged by Dianne's 9/10 week old pup Lily. Like Nemo, Lily lives in the land of giants and has no fear of other dogs, Elwood was fair game as far as she was concerned.

Poor Elwood, I am sure he will get his own back next time!

Look out for Dianne (Priorscove) and also for Suzanne Blake (Sandbears) at Crufts this week. Good luck to you both x

The Fear Factor - Nemo 14 weeks

The last week or so Nemo has discovered fear. It is a stage all puppies go through around this age (between 8 to 16 weeks) and again at 7 to 8 months. You may have noticed your pup going through something similar. I don't remember seeing Jess go through it but it has been quite noticeable with Nemo as he has always been so cock sure of himself.

So far the things he has become scared of are - the hoover, the dark, Jess and Molly barking, the wheelie bin, and the window cleaner - more to do with his ladders than the window cleaner himself! It really has been quite remarkable. There was nothing in this world that would have convinced Nemo to walk past the window cleaners ladders - not even a treat I am sure, he was turning somersaults on his lead to avoid going anywhere near them.

The hoover has become public enemy number 1 to Nemo and that is really funny because even as a tiny 4 week old pup you could push the hoover right up close to him whilst he was sleeping and he wouldn't bat an eyelid, this week he won't go near it.

Otherwise Nemo is doing really well. He is continuing to grow at a pace - his paws are as big as the palm of my hand now - (I do have quite small hands though). He is enjoying a 15 minute walk in the woods each day. He would love to be able to keep up with his Mum, but he has got no chance. He walks really well on the lead but can get distracted by the other dogs, but for his age he is doing really well. He has mastered sit and wait but down is always a bit more difficult. I have never met a dog who took to the down command particularly well, they see it as submissive and don't like it, so it takes a little more time and patience. But with a few treats and some gentle encouragement he will get there. Even now Jess doesn't like being told "down", so she is also going through a re training program.

Check out the size of those paws!

Training with Andy

Elwood's Great Escape

Having been made to wait until  12 weeks for his final injections, last weekend Elwood was finally allowed out!! It must have been a great relief, not just for Elwood but for Cath and Ian as well. Finally, all the new experiences of the big wide world were available for Elwood, and we all know and appreciate just how exhausting this whole new world is for the pups. Oh yes, after enjoying their first lovely walk along the beach with Elwood, Cath and Ian were looking forward to the little rascal being totally tired out and giving them some peace, ha ha.
I can understand just how much hard work it must be for Cath and Ian. They have no other dogs to entertain Elwood, no small children with loads of energy who want to play for hours on end with pup. It's all down to them. Both Andy and I will admit that having Nemo here with his Mum has made our job so much easier. Jess is happy to play with Nemo for most of the time, Andy and I are quite often excess to requirements.Somedays all we have to do is make sure there are regular breaks in proceedings to take Nemo out to do his business, bring him back in, ring the bell and let the next round commence! Nemo does like to play with us sometimes,( I think he can see when we start to feel left out), and of course Jess does need a rest now and then. Nemo loves cuddles and will quite often come to us for some attention and just some reassurance, after all, being a Puppy is such hard work..............

So anyway, back to the star of todays blog, Elwood. This extremely lucky little pup just happens to live on the beautiful Northumberland coast. So his eventual escape to freedom really was great, as his first walk was along a stunning stretch of beach - the stuff that Newfie dreams are made of!

Jess would be so jealous if she knew! (I know I am)