No puppies this year

We have decided that we won't be having a litter of Schnauzer pups from Nena again. She's had a litter, and then had a health issue, and it's time for her to retire, or at least take a long break. Nena was a good mum, and she had lovely puppies, but this year, we won't be breeding her.

Our two Pharaoh hound girls won't be having puppies either this year, Ananka has finished her breeding career, and Missy won't be starting her breeding career until she's had a year of being a show girl.

Missy is still only just out of puppyhood, and hasn't had many shows, which is a shame - she is a lovely girl. This year will be her year in the show ring.

Kharis always thinks it's time for more puppies, whenever he thinks one of the girls in coming in season. At least, he wants to mate them, I don't know if he realises puppies are the end result of his actions. When Nena comes in season, she gets locked away securely. Schnauzers and Pharaohs - no mixing please!

So, no puppies. I love having a litter of pups around the house. They are so cute, with their funny puppy ways. Anybody who can't smile at a litter of puppies has a heart of stone!

But having a litter of puppies brings responsibilities too. The breeder has to study the pups, make sure the best have the best chance of getting into the show ring. They have to vet potential owners, make sure the puppy goes to a home that understands the breed.

The right new owner should not be the next one who comes in the door with the money. Money is only a small part of what makes a person the right owner. Both of our breeds have special characteristics, and it is our job as breeders to ensure new owners are aware of this.

Breeders who sell puppies to just anybody can be the reason why pure bred dogs sometimes end up in pet shops. Pure bred dogs should be the job of registered breeders to sell, making sure the right dog goes to the right home. Pet shops don't care about the puppies beyond getting the money for them.

Registered dog breeders should emphasize the lifetime relationship they are prepared to have with their new puppy owners. I love hearing from puppy owners, their snippets of news, and their troubles as well. I am responsible for helping the owners sort out the troubles, or at the very least, commiserate with the puppy owner.

You don't get that from a pet shop, where the puppies may have been born in a different state, and shipped across the country. I have seen puppies up for sale in pet shops where the supposed parentage was obviously incorrect. Obvious to me that is, the staff in the pet shop were happy to believe what the shipper told them.

Pure bred dogs should come from registered breeders!

Update on Jenne

Jenne seems completely well now, no swelling of eyes or gums. I took her to Chris, our vet, this morning for her vaccination which had been postponed until she was well. 

I wanted to keep Jenne safe on the vet trip, so I put her in our soft crate, which has plenty of room whether there's a baby Schnauzer in there or an adult Pharaoh Hound (I don't think Kharis would fit in there though!).

Jenne, of course, loudly let me know that she resented being locked up like a common criminal. I just turned the volume of the radio up, and tried to ignore her. I've become passionate about securely tethering dogs in the car. Terrible accidents can occur if dogs can get loose. It doesn't bear thinking about. 

Anyway, Jenne's been pronounced fine by Chris, we just need to keep an eye out for any reaction to the vaccination. With Jenne's immune system problems, it may always be something to keep an eye on. It's such a shame, Jenne is the sweetest little puppy - naughty, but very cute with it!

I'll also be keeping a very close look on Jenne's mouth for another reason. Recently I looked at Jenne's mouth and was saddened to see her bite is not a correct scissor bite, but is undershot instead. The next day Jenne was at the vets and Chris looked at her bite and confirmed the undershot bite. Chris thinks it may be because Jenne was unwell at a crucial stage, and perhaps it may come good when Jenne's adult teeth come through. I certainly hope so - if her bite doesn't come good, it will be the end of her show career before it even starts. 

Jenne can still eat just fine thank you very much, no problems there! If the bite doesn't correct itself, Jenne will be looking for a pet home though.

Puppy News

Well, we're down to two schnauzer puppies now, and things are going nicely. Little Jenne has gotten over her illness, Jebadiah has found his new home, Jeebers is trying to convince the older dogs he has opinions worth listening to.

They don't believe him of course and they have to yell even louder to drown him out. I'm glad my neighbours are great people, because the barking today was even me mad. I must learn a secret trick to teach them to shoosh when I tell them to.

I've been getting even more into this whole blogging deal and wasted/spent several hours today on a couple of new blogs. It's all writing, it's all fun, but it doesn't get my novels written, our dogs groomed or housework done.

I've got a few writing things done today, not my own writing, but volunteer things that have been weighing on my conscience. I feel much lighter for having made a start on them. I recommend it for anybody who's prone to procratination, like I am. I know I'll sleep easier tonight, no waking up with a feeling of impending doom like I did the night before last.

Doom is not a good feeling, but I smiling now.

What is Jebadiah looking for?

Jebadiah is looking for a new home, that's what he's looking for. Jebadiah is the last of out 'J' litter of schnauzer puppies to go to a new home. The only problem is he hasn't found that home yet.

We've been looking too, and we hope someone out there knows where his new home might be. He's a standard schnauzer, a lovely boy, just not as gorgeous as the boy and girl Holkschter Kennels are keeping for showing.

He is very cute though, but cute won't win, you need more than that. Cute can do protecting your home, playing with your children, sitting on your lap, if that's what you want. Jebadiah can do all of this and more! Obedience training for sure, maybe even trialling if that's what you want.

Jeb's sister Jenne is allowed to play with him now, she's feeling a lot better, still limping a little bit, but her eyes are looking good and the other symptoms are looking much better. We've all been worried about Jenne, but I think after our next visit to the vet on Monday, the news will be even better!

Jenne home again

Jenne the pup is home now - she slept alone last night in a crate in the lounge room, away from her brothers & sisters.

This morning she was glad to go outside, but still limping. I gave her all of the medicine she needed, and this afternoon she seems a little less sore.

We have to continue the medicine for about a week and in another day she can go back with the other pups.

Hopefully all will be well very soon.

It's freezing cold and threatening rain outside at the moment, so I don't think Jenne is all that unhappy to be inside. She's much better off than Kharis who is outside, woofing his head off. He probably wants to be inside on the bed - his favourite place to be.

Who can blame him.

One gone, ? to go!

Well, one of the puppies has gone to her new home, three are set to go next weekend. Now all we need to do is decide how many of these cute babies we're keeping and find a home for the ones we don't want to keep for showing.
It's all fun, watching the puppies as they trot around the back yard, discovering new things and trying out their hunting skills on bugs, birds, each other. I know which pups will make the best show prospects (well, I think I do, I'm not the show judge though, am I? I'm only the backyard judge!) We're keeping at least one girl.
Do we want/need to keep a male schnauzer? Well, the big pepper and salt boy is such a good looking boy, it's hard to look past him really. I'm sure we can find a way to peacefully have three intact male dogs here. Well, 'sure' is perhaps not the right word. I 'think' we can, would be more correct, or maybe I 'hope' we can! If we can find a show home for him then that's the issue solved.
Anyway, that's what I've been thinking about lately as I watch these schnauzer puppies. It's all good fun!

Puppies eight weeks old tomorrow!

The puppies are almost old enough to go to their new homes now. They are a lovely bunch of babies, all with different looks, different personalities. Some of them have yellow tied aroung their nicks now to show they have a family to go to, the others are still waiting.

The two pups we are keeping to show have yellow too, and it does make it easier to tell the difference easily. At least Schnauzers are different shades of pepper and salt, so it isnt' impossible to tell between them. Pharaoh Hounds are a lot trickier - they all look the same - with our last litter of Pharaohs it was easier to tell between them, and I'm sure it will get easier as we continue to breed them. We've been breeding Schnauzers since 1989, Pharaoh Hounds only since 2006. It makes a difference.

Kharis, our comfort loving PH, was up close and personal with one of the pups last night as we were watching TV. The puppy wasn't sure about him, he wasn't sure about the pup, but it all went well. The puppies' auntie, Ch Holkschter Rangler Jane has played with the pups a few times now, and she seems to like them - they haven't worked out that she doesn't have any milk for them - they try regardless!

They are the best way to waste time there is - I could watch them for hours!

puppies over seven weeks now

There that feels better, I spelt it correctly this time.

The little guys are currently being barked at by La De and Missy (pharaoh hounds, and they're trying to play with the bigger dogs through the fence. Very cute.
I'm feeling only slightly OK, damned cold and throat problems with it - I'm sure it was amusing last Saturday when I could barely talk.

I, like the Queen, was not amused - well only a bit.

I've got chilblains in some of my toes now, which isn't fun - I wish I had a fire I could put my feet in!

Babies are vet checked now!

Well our schnauzer puppies have visited the vet again, and got his OK, healthwise. Well, almost, there's only one small issue with one pup, but it's not a major health issue at all, and easily fixed.
Our the vet told me which puppies were the best, in his opinion, and I was slightly saddened that my Sunshine didn't get his vote - I was going by her temperament, he was going by heads. But our vet breeds dogs which have very strong heads, so that's his 'thing' I suspect. I do agree with what he said though, so I'll have to consider his words to some extent - he is a dog judge afterall! Temperament in the show ring is important, but correct breed type is just as important.
It's no good having the happiest, most confident dog in the ring, if the judge can't tell what it is! I can remember in the early years for my husband and I - some of those dogs left a lot to be desired on breed type issues - I'm not talking schnauzers here, but other breeds in the show ring. I'm not naming names at all here, and it's just my opinion anyway. I can remember one dog show whan a quite well known dog exhibitor told me our dog Ming was probably the soundest dog in the entire show - and she was a mutt! Gorgeous though.
The schnauzer babies are going well, getting wormed again later today or tomorrow morning. They still getting visits from their mother Nena, but I feel they're all kidding themselves to some extent. I doubt that she's got a lot of milk at this stage. The pups can go to their new homes within a fortnight, so we're looking for Nena's milk supply to dry up soon anyway. Purina ProPlan Puppy is all they need, milk from mum is just a bonus, and it's more about playtime anyway.

Life outside

The schnauzer puppies have moved outside all day now - loose with their mother, Nena in the back yard to start with, then shut in the puppy run with their breakfast.
They're managing quite well, but haven't realised yet that they are big enough to get up onto the dog bed that's in there for them to sleep on. I won't be surprised if it's the puppy I've been calling Sunshine is the first to figure it out. Either her or the black girl - they're the ones who try things out first.

Sunshine was the one who this morning realised she could get over into the puppy run without me picking her up and putting her in there. I just hope she doesn't go on to become an escape artist like her mother!

The young Pharaoh Hound Missy is fascinated by these little babies - she's too big to play with them, but I bet she'd like to. I think the little babes are too precious for that - Missy could accidently do damage, and we'd all hate that.

Our Pharaoh Hound Ananka is fascinated by them too. She might be nice to them, but they're not her babies and I'm not going to risk it yet. It can wait another few weeks yet.

The great outdoors

The puppies have spent a bit of time outside now. They're four and a half weeks old, and they're starting to show their personalities. All very cute in their own ways, and so cuddly!

Jake and I played with them yesterday and today outside, and Jake took lots of photos. We have names for some of the pups, but new owners can change the names at this early stage.

I'm looking closely at the girls to make sure we keep the best for showing.

re the basket of goodies

These darling little babes all have their eyes open now, and they have been eating solids for two days now. Just a little bit, and Nena their mum is their main source of food, but my harder work is starting soon.
Looking at these little cuties, it's all worth it!
They will all have a name that starts with 'J' - I've been calling the big black pup Juggernaut, and the black girl Jezabel. We have a list, subject to change - there's plenty of time yet. And of course whoever ends up having a puppy in their life will name it whatever they choose. We just decide the pup's 'official' name.
Life is good!

I'm back again! I've been busy showing dogs, cleaning up after dogs, asking dogs to shut up/stop digging/sit down.

But in the past week I've been busy looking at our totally gorgeous puppies. It's been so long since we had baby schnauzers here that I'd forgotten just how cute they are. At the moment they're just over a week old, and they look like wombats, but way cuter than wombats. They look like wombats that have been brushed with 'Cute Dust' by a good fairy.

We've got a black boy I'm calling Juggernaut (he's a big boy, that's for sure!) , and a black girl I'm calling Jezabel (named in honour of her wayward mother).

The other babes are pepper and salt in colour, two boys and four girls. It's hard to choose between them in quality at this stage - they all look like best in show winners to me, but that might change once they get up on their feet and they're running around.

Most of the pups have different coloured wool aroung their necks to make it easy to tell between them, and they're gaining weight very nicely indeed. Considering how lean their mother always is, they are absolute little butter balls.