Hellfire English Springer and Sussex Spaniels

Weekend Warriors

My dad enjoyed shooting over Mickey this weekend. He did okay for a field champion, although just for the record, Spanky did just as well. :)

  Spanky's spawn, Chiquita Pistol,  proves that patience is a virtue and finally scores a tail feather...

and a wing...and bazinga!

2 Weeks

 

The puppies have morphed into wobbly quadrapeds and all eyes are open. Been super busy this last week, but now that the puppies have become vastly more interesting, let the puppy games begin! 

Peppered Woodcock

That Pepper. She's such a show off. ;)

Northern Lights

The puppies are starting to open their eyes and toddle around. They are completely adorable! Zeeza deserves a Mom of the Year gold medal for keeping them spotless and making my life easy and stress free. I'll update pictures this weekend.

Great auroral display last night. We had two blasts of dancing lights, one around midnight and another around 2:30 am. Last year I saw them a few times, but this is the only time I've seen them this year. Apparently they were seen as far south as Arkansas, with a rare vivid red display. I only saw the green here with a hint of red flash. 

 Toby and I tracked with a tracking pal today and he is just about ready for the TD test. Wish we didn't have to wait until June to take it! Will get Cheetah going here shortly and maybe she can take it next Fall. Never would have thought tracking would be as much fun as it is! 

(Almost) One Week

     
Almost one week old! Zeeza is the BEST and I'm grateful to have an experienced, extra cautious mommy this time around. The puppies are big, strong and very beautiful. I'm going to have one hell of a tough time picking one! Per usual, it's a male that catches my eye...

Baby Chica is growing like a weed and is already obsessed with running through thick cover and retrieving things. I ADORE this puppy. She has a lovely temperament and everybody who meets her loves her too. I will be really excited to start her field work!

Singer has been bred to Mickey a couple of times now, but she's had a weird, super long heat cycle and I'm unsure of what to think about it, especially following the botched surgical AI by that horrible vet in Victor earlier this year. They make a great pair and I think Mickey's super stable temperament and more traditional body type is a nice match up for her Amazonian spirit and longshanks.  I'll know in a few weeks. 

D-Day

Endured the necessary evil of dew claw removal and tail docking today. My small litters have spoiled me and it took forever with 8 puppies, plus had to listen to lots of puppy screaming. So glad they forget all about it, even if I don't.  :(

 The boys:

 The girls:

 

Day 3

Day 3 is drama free. :D 

Ramona the Pest. I mean Chica. ;)

Hello world

We finally stopped at 8 puppies. All huge. 4 males (3 b/w, 1  l/w) - 4 females (2 b/w, 2 l/w). 

More photos later. I'm pooped.

Quick Updates

ZZ puppies are due this weekend. She is huge. If there are only 3-5 puppies in there like the ultrasound showed, they are 2 pounders, otherwise I'd say there are more. I'm hoping the timing will work out where we can do an elective C-section on and try to minimize any potential loss.

The Ruby X Mickey breeding didn't take so we will be breeding Mickey to Singer this week or weekend, probably around the time the ZZ puppies are due, because CHAOS is my middle name.

Spanky's puppies have left, leaving me and Chica to enjoy some quality time. Her first night alone was quiet and peaceful. Clearly, I miss her brothers more than she does. She is an awesome, tenacious but very gentle puppy, and I ADORE her. 

That's all for now...I have a GAZILLION things to get caught up on and will post again when I can find the time.

 

Pheasant Opener

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