Gundog Training Day

Friends of mine organised a gun dog training day for charity yesterday so I took both Mack&Harley there.
The venue was actually in the friend's farm where almost 30 dogs and their owner(s) attended.

It turned up to be the most enjoyable day for the boys. Although the weather was funny and we were dry, wet and dry several times, Harley did very well in finding and Mack was just brilliant with most tasks, quick learner, full of energy... I wished that we could have more opportunities to do these rather than ringcrafts:) Mack even had a go with water retrieving...

Upon return I carried on some search on the internet about the gun dog training, unfortunately we just missed Coventry Gun dog training for 10 weeks summer session. Will definitely keep eye on this...

Maisy into 7th week's pregnancy

Maisy is rather large now as you can see in the photo. The last three weeks we have started to
separate her from the other two and of course other dogs today...She is not happy to stay on
her own in the study room only if I am with her, so that means from today I will have to give up
watching programs on the big TV:( Hopefully after couple of days she will be better...

We are at Crufts 2012

A friend took this photo last month by the ring side, Harley moved really well...

A Photo From ESS CH Show

Thanks Mrs Jane Eyeington for sending me this photo. But actually I should have hated her, shouldn't I? Firstly her Banjo then her Chaos, blocked the way for my Harley to reach his career height~~~~

Maisy

Maisy is half way through her pregnancy now. All her health checks are up to date and she is doing very well. Her tommy's swelling is noticeable but she still looks fit and strong.

I have gradually changed her diet to a puppy food and feed her a bit more. She does not have SO CALLED "MORNING SICKNESS" at all, loves her food always. I have to be carefully not to overfeed her at this stage, otherwise she could have difficulty with the delivery. She still has her normal walks- four times a day, in total about 1 and half hours.

Fingers crossed for her and her babies...

English Springer Spaniel Club Ch Show 2012

Went to ESS Club Champion show in Leicester today. Harley was placed 4th in the junior class. After passing his puppy age, competitions are getting tougher and tougher. I also have found it is not easy to manage his curly coat although I use a dry coat on him after the bath as well as overnight sleep. The above photo was taken today after the show. You can see his coat around the waist not flat so I need to find a way to improve this.

Several people at the show today told me that Harley has come mature nicely. I am very pleased with him in the ring crafts and no need to worry about him running off from me anymore:) He knows what he should do now:) As my first show dog, Harley means lot to me. Without him I would not have involved in this show business. Compare to the other exhibitors, most of them have been in this for over 20 even 30 years, how can I be so lucky to beat them? Therefore I have decided not to enter any shows which require a long distance drive(more than 60-70miles:) so we can easily get to the venue and just to enjoy ourselves no matter what kind of price we can get.

Today's show is only 35 miles away and the roads were so quiet. People there were friendly, chatting with some who know much about this breed and explaining to me how to judge them were even bonus to me.

Harley has played too much

Nearly a month from the last post... We were away to the States for two weeks after the Crufts. We drove over 2000 miles and visited LA, Santa Barbara, Las Vegas, The Grand Canyon. It was great and we really enjoyed it, particular the helicopter ride of Grand Canyon, it's breathtaking:)

As usual we had our friends stopped here to look after the dogs. However, I noticed a lump on Harley's shoulder when we came back. The friends didn't see it so it must happened shortly before our arrival. I booked Harley in two hours after we arrived home and drove him to see the Vet. The lump was of a duck egg size. The vet checked&got some of fluid&examined, then told me that he must bumped on something but nothing to worry. I was so relieved and all the sudden could fall in sleep in the clinic because of the jet lag:)

Now after almost a week the lump is getting much smaller, I can see the possibility to take him to the show on Sunday. Fingers crossed...