1 week and a day old

Following popular demand, here are today's photos. One week and a day old, the pups are very calm and cuddly and very very cute. Their back legs are getting very strong now, moving about well when they want to and Molly is keeping them very clean and full. This is one of the little boys.

..and again

Another, slightly smaller little boy

Crocus

and yet another :)

and here is Snowdrop - so cute and gorgeous

A week old already!!!

Well, it has been a bit of a week one way and another. The pups are growing rapidly and Molly is a laid back mum. She keeps a good eye on them and feeds them well, but enjoys a wander with the family now.  Bramble, at 5 months is learning to help; cleaning the pups while Molly feeds. Teasle takes a look but does not involve herself. Having done her bit in the Autumn, she likes to take it easy.

At the same time, Teasle and Bramble have had some good training sessions. Teasle is a little under confident but willling when it comes to retrieving and is remembering what it is all about. She is being reminded of recall and sit and is improving daily.  I have been very pleased with Bramble, who recalls very well and is getting better at retrieving a dummy and holding it centrally. Getting right down to her level has her holding the dummy until it is time to release.  That tactic also works better with Teasle, coming home more quickly. Bramble goes back well and will ignore dummies being thrown quite well while walking, but shoot off to get them when sent on her name.  She is staying well when left at the front or back door, and quite well when out in the field.  She did really well the other day when I sat her out and threw dummies around her, including over her head. She looked but didn't budge.

 These photos were taken on Thursday - before life suddenly got rather busier even than currently. There are 2 separate pairs of pups, all looking rather gorgeous! I will do my best to get some more photos tomorrow :)

Back to the pups - having realised that they were born on the first day of spring I have decided on 'harbingers of spring' for the Kennel names. The girls so far are: Karalanstars Snowdrop, Crocus and Daffodil.  The boys are maybe: Karalenstars Lark, Swift, Swallow, Aconite, Forsythia with one name still to find :)

Day 3 in the whelping box revisited

Sleeping on my bro :)

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Hey! who's got the sat nav???

They are all very nice but can't someone else take a turn?....Teasle??? You're my mate aren't you, and you know all about this stuff - just the one night? I'll sleep with Bramble - please...please???

Harbingers of Spring!!! Molly's Puppies Arrive!!!

Here is Molly this morning, looking a tad grumpy as she is trying to sleep - and a young mum of 9 needs her sleep!!! See the pups in the foreground - a close up of these is below. Molly did very well - much better than me. I needed my security blanket - Gaynor who came over when I finally decided nothing was ever going to happen. So 3 minutes after I phoned out popped the first pup :) Now that shows what a good trainer Gaynor is!!!! :D

See the pups here. Lovely chocolates with skin to grow into. 3 girls and 6 boys, they are all feeding and really really cute.

Raff Looking Good

Here is Raff looking very handsome like his sire - Styleside Xanadu. His dad, Richard, took these photos this month. Xan is also the sire to Molly's pups.

He has been attending classes as is a favourite, learning very quickly. At 5 months he walks to heel and sits and stays well.  Bramble will have to sharpen up if we are to maintain any competition !!!!

The Pack in March 2011

There were 3 in the bed and the little one said "Roll over..."  The game is to work out where one chocolate labrador ends and another begins!!!

Zoe's Pom has a zuzz away from the mayhem!

The gang - hoping for food!

Teasle and Bramble commune together.

Bramble taking more notice - a walk may be available!

Teasle has given up!

Bramble looking beautiful!

and again...

Oh, now the noble look - she has been watching her Aunty Molly!

..and the cute puppy look!

oh - what's that?

Kiwi, Zoe's other moggy watching the approach of the dogs

Pom is a little more bold! However, she knows that Molly is 7 wks pregnant and does not corner very well at the moment!

We can all look noble!

...but Molly thinks she is the most noble dog ever - and we don't disagree ... it would upset her ;)

Loook at us now!!!!

Bear Fuller in January

Columbus riding shotgun - a great pal I hear!!

However, Columbus does need his sleep!!

Paws in December, now just why do they all love shoes???

Rafferty newly home, with big bro Barnaby looking on!!! Not too impresse    This photo from Richard: more here: http://www.dogtraining.isgreat.org/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=232d.