Happy Birthday Puppy Dog!

Yes, today is birthday for one of our dogs. Lah Dee, show name Holkschter Lah Dee Dah, is having his 6th birthday today, according to my calendar. So we've lived with this funny and frustrating hound for six years. He drives us crazy with his naughty habit of digging holes on the back lawn, but he makes us laugh with his funny ways and his goofy playfulness.

Hounds can be like that - the goofy playfulness seems to be a common thing with Pharaoh Hounds, and other sight hounds too, from what I've seen and read. The other dog breed I know well is the Standard Schnauzer. Std Schnauzers don't usually have as much goofiness, and certainly I haven't seen it in our girl Schnauzers, just the boys sometimes.

Even though it's Lah Dee's birthday, we won't have anything much in the way of celebrations for him. I've given him an extra pat today, and I think Jake has too, but that will probably be it. We've never really gone in for birthday celebrations for our dogs over the years of being into showing and breeding them, and now that our dogs are pets only, we still don't do much.

It may be because we look on our dogs as dogs, not replacements for children. I'm not sure. I know other people make a lot more of a fuss for their beloved pooches on birthdays. I'm OK with other people doing that, it's just not our way.

Do you celebrate your pet's birthday? I'd love to hear about you ideas on this. Please leave a message and tell me all about it!

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!