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...

Crufts 2012

This was taken before the new SDHC memory card gave up working. Steve managed to take about 8 photos but none of them is clear. Bless him, he didn't have decent sleep last night because Harley kept barking, and ended up sleeping in our bedroom rather than staying downstairs in his cage. Harley was whining softly which I could hear but Steve couldn't. So, Steve was dropping off to sleep but then I kept waking him by telling Harley to stop whining.  So, Harley was keeping me awake, I was keeping Steve awake, so I got sent to the spare bedroom so Steve could sleep.

Right, back to Crufts today. It was a long day, very tiring, but very enjoyable as well. Lots of things were going on. I spent most of time around the ESS breed ring side, wormer and frontline topped up enough for a year. Harley did not get any price, but we were still very pleased just to be part of the show. If he can be qualified this year, I would love to enter next Crufts with him again with a trusted memory card and lots of good photos:)

I was totally wrong

My last post said that Harley wasn't interested in Maisy... How wrong. He seems to be able to catch the right time - 11 days onwards. Last night when I took him away from home to the training class, he was whinning in the boots all the way. He is also not eating his food well either.

After this time, we definitely need to have Maisy spayed...

Other than that, we are almost ready for Crufts tomorrow:)

Important Day Today

Maisy and Mack tied today, it is the 11th day after the first sign of Maisy's discharge.

Fingers crossed. Fortunately Harley is not interested in Maisy at all so luckily no trouble this time...

Coventry Gundog Show

As a warm up exercise for Crufts next week, I took Harley to Coventry Gundog Show today. The judge was Mrs Jean Selby(Maoroke). 

The weather was awful, raining heavily and very cold. I hesitated for over an hour if I should go or not. My several friends from Leamington Dog Training Club told me that they would go no matter what the weather would look like so I thought it would be nice to catch up with them anyway.

To my supprise, there were quite good entries of English Springer Spaniel there. Harley was place 3rd in his class. Chatting with friends outside the rings was very enjoyable so despite the weather it was a very nice Sunday morning.

Southern English Springer Spaniel Club CH Show

I took Harley to SESSS on 18th Feb and he was placed 4th in the Junior class.

It was a bit mess in the morning before we set off for the show. I just realised that the GPS for Kia was loaded with an American map by Steve because we will go to LA in three weeks time. I had to take Harley in Jagaur. He felt like dog royalty in the Jag.

Eve though we did not get better place at the show, we had a really nice walk in the countryside...

Snow.....

An Old Photo--Lovely Memory

Professor Yan visited us from Shanghai when Harley was three weeks old...Love this photo:)

Dog Trimming

Three of them have been trimmed this week. Harley is almost 15 months old and has grown a fairly long coat. It's getting more difficult to keep him tidy. Unlike Maisy she does not require much trimming...

I have enterred Harley at Southern English Springer Spaniel Champinion Ship Show in Feburary and Crufts in March, so really need to keep him in a good condition for the forthcoming shows...

Stratford Upon Avon

Photo was taken today. It wasn't planned journey so we didn't have
enough time to feed Mack a tablet
for travel. Poor Mack stayed at home
while we all enjoyed the sunny afternoon...

Mupties are happy again

We were away to London for three days with Jenny's parents to celebrate the Chinese New Year.  Our friend told us that Harley barked whole night when we were not here for them...Poor dogs.

Hope they can have decent sleep now...

From Steve's facebook today

Harley did it again!!! We went to Hatton Locks yesterday and when we we about to leave there was no sign of Harley. I called him........ whistled, he would normally be back in seconds but there was no sign of him. 

My first thought was that he had been stolen but no cars had left the car park, I looked round, shouted him, whistled.......... nothing. Jenny was staring to panic!

Then I spotted him in the canal by the bank trying desperately to crawl up the vertical side.'Buggar!! there he is about 2 feet below the path'!!

The look of terror on his face, Jenny Arnold screaming now!!

So, I bent over the side grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and hauled him out still looking terrified. As soon as he was out, I was licked and nibbled........... not by Jenny, by Harley. Well two of my commendations in the Police were for saving live, I guess the doggy nibble was the equivalent!!

Kenilworth Abbey Fields

The following photos were taken at our local Abbey Fields today.

Harley

Maisy

Harley two hours later...

Game Time

Mack is mad with a ball and can play whole day if someone throws it for him.
Photo is taken today before his action. He has the most beautiful round, deep
eyes for an English Springer Spaniel...

Harley&Xander

Harley is very patient with children. I love this photo: two good boys:)

Christmas Day

MUPTIES

Now we have a kennel name MUPTIES. Steve always calls a dog Muppet so this is how the kennel name comes from:)

We are just in the process of changing our dogs' names accordingly. Harley's registered name will be "Mupties Love Cats", and Maisy will be " Trimere Top Totty at Mupties", Mack is "Petranella Keep Counting at Mupties"

I think that I have taken the dog showing business quite seriously now:)

Coventry Gundog Open Show

Today we took three of them to Coventry Gundog Show. Harley enterred the junior class, Mack was in Graduate and Maisy was in Open class before the judge Brenda Hutchison.

Harley was place the first at his class. What a supprise as it was a quite strong class. I was pleased that Mack obtained his second place at his class. Mack had some problem with his tail today, a little bit upset this morning, but he did really well in the ring.

I was supprised that Maisy only got a third at her class. I thought that she behaved herself and stood beautifully when the judge went over her, not bothered at all. She walked nicely in the ring as well. Well, never mind. As they say: whatever happens, you always take the best dog(s) home.

Although it was a local show with no long journey, we both felt tired after the show. Perhaps I should still mainly show Harley to reduce the amount of work for preparation&showing.

English Springer Spaniel Club Open Show

27th November 2011, ESS club open show was held at Village hall in Nether Whitacre, Warwickshire.
Harley was just over 12 months so attended the junior class. He was placed the second at his class. I was
quite pleased with the result.
The judge's critique has already posted on Southern ESS website " a well presented 13 months young lad..." Thanks lot. Harley was a good boy at the show, apparently he liked the judge and decided not to run away from him:)

Birmingham Gundog& Terrier Club Show

It has been a long day today at Birmingham Gundog Show. We arrived at 9:30 but did not get into the ring until 12 noon. Long waiting...Harley was very patient and did very well in the rings. He gained the first at his class and Reserved best of breed. We waited for another three hours until he was judged again in the puppy group. He was placed Group 4. So a very good day today. We are so tired but so happy:)

Show News

On 12th October at Wales Gundog Championship show, Harley was placed the 3rd at his class.
Shortly after that, it was Wales English Springer Spaniel Open Show, Harley won the 2nd at
his class.

All this experience is building up Harley's and my confidence for the Crufts 2012.

Harley at Leceister Show

On 29th August Leceister Canine Society Open Show, Harley gained the best puppy dog at his class and the best puppy in breed.

Harley&Mack

Jess is here

Jess's family is on holiday for three weeks, we are dog-sitting now.

Harley has got ticket to the next year's Crufts

On 8th July 2011 East England Championship Dog Show, Harley was place the Second at
Minor Puppy Dog Class, therefore he has qualified for the Crufts 2012.

We are so proud of him. We don't think that bad enough for three months showing....

Harley at Windsor Champinonship Dog Show

2nd July 2011, Harley was place the First at Puppy Dog class.

Photos of girls

The below two photos are the biggest

sister in the litter Harlequn, now CASSY.

She is owned by Debbie& Rob and has

won the 3rd in her first Champanion show.

Well done!

The below is Mutley, her name is Daisy. She is owned by Heather and Jim.

Thanks lot for Nick and Helen sending Zebra's photos. Her

name is Jess now. The below is pretty Jess.

We are so pleased to hear that all the puppies are happy  in their new homes.

Thank you so much!

Harley in Companion Dog Show

We went to a Companion Dog Show in Walsall today, Harley won

the Best Pedigree Puppy

and the Second in Gundog Group

We are so pround of him.

Mutley

Mutley will be moving to a new home in a weeks time as she now has loving new owners so our postings will become less frequent. She will come back to us for a week in March when her owners go on holiday so its great that we will see her again soon. Actually Maisy is playing with both Mutley and Harley right now, so she will be glad to have her back for a week as well, she really has been a great mum to the pups.

We have no intention of having another litter from Maisy for at least another 12 months to give Maisy a good rest,and if we do that will be her last litter, but we will update this blog with photos of Harley, and the other pups if they come back to us when their owners go on holiday. As Jenny has fallen in love with Harley he will be staying with us and she will show him.

So, thanks to all the lovely people who have bought pups from us, just let us know if you want to leave your dogs with us when you go on holiday, provided  we  are not away ourselves we will help. Sorry, to those people  who were considering one of these pups, you have lost your chance. And thanks to those who have visited the blog just to watch the pups progress, we will continue to update it.

Family

Jenny and I will be going to visit her parents and other family members  from late January to the beginning of March so will not be available to allow puppy viewing. Two of my friends will be stopping at our house to look after the dogs and pups so they will be well looked after but its not fair to ask them to do more.

So if you are interested in Mutley, please ring before 20th January, we have decided to keep Harley Fat boy.
Mutley is completely paper trained and largely house trained. She is a lovely little girl with the best markings in the litter, and with a very loving nature.

Puppy training

Puppy training is going well, both Mutley and Harley come when called and sit quietly. We can now go into the  dogs without them jumping up excitedly, and have almost stopped them hand nibbling. They are used to using the garden as a toilet, and have learned to go as soon as they go outside.

We are working on getting them to go to the toilet on command and they are starting to pick up the idea. English Springers are really a pleasure to train as they learn really quickly. The only problem is the longer you have them the more you get attached to them. We will be sad to see either of them go to new homes.

Nine Weeks Old Today

The above is Mutley at nine weeks old.

The above two photos are Harley.

Mutley is sitting quietly.

Dad Mack

This is Harley looking at the camera.