Hellfire English Springer and Sussex Spaniels

The Weekend Loot

Mav had a great show in Coeur d'Alene picking up a Group 1 and Group 2 in the NOHS (for amateur owner handlers) and a Group 3 in regular Sporting...and with a great line up of top ranked sporting dogs.
Ice struggled in obedience and had a hard time letting go of all those girls in heat that crossed his path on the way to the obedience building. Unfocused squirrely would be an understatement! The girl distraction has been a major issue for him at the shows that have conformation as bitches in season are allowed to show - and boys must be well mannered gentlemen about it. He wasn't. 

 

A Scary Puppy Moment

We had a close call last night when this guy fell off the front porch after what I suspect was an older dog had gone through the doggy door and plowed through the ex-pen that is supposed to keep everybody SAFE. The puppies are just now starting to use the doggy door to go outside to potty, so I don't block it off when the weather is decent. 

I woke up to what I thought was one of the guinea hens being killed in a stranglehold out in my front field, but when I counted puppies I came up one short! Lots of scenarios started going through my head all at once, including death by coyote. When I went to check the pond and nothing was there I turned around and this little guy ran up to me. He was cold, and I have no idea how long he had been out there in the dark all alone, but he was sure happy to see me!  He got warmed up and enjoyed being snuggled in the bed covers. Today it's all forgotten, back to playing and napping. Whew!

"Mickey Face"

 

Deja Vu

Gives me goosebumps - it's Maia all over again.

 

2015 Updated Breeding Plans

 

Sophie JH

 

Bones

 

APRIL LITTER: The Storm X Mickey puppies were born April 18th. 

JUNE LITTER: Mia X Mickey were born on June 6 - the ultrasound showed three puppies so of course she had nine - all black and white. One puppy is available. These puppies will be ready to leave August 8th. I prefer they are picked up in person. Some shipping to northern locations may be available, but it's just too hot everywhere else.

JULY LITTER: Puppies were born 7/8/15 - This is not my litter - My dog Bones has been bred to a local field bred girl with a Junior Hunter title owned by a couple in Butte, Montana.  Sophie is a larger sized bitch, very neat and tidy in the kennel and very smart. I like her! Both Bones and Sophie are proven gun dogs and I would expect very nice hunting companions from this litter. Both parents have OFA hip/eye health certifications. Puppies will be sold under our terms with limited/non-breeding registrations to all but competition homes.  Pictures of parents are above. Contact breeder Donna Pressler directly at bdpressler@gmail.com 

FUTURE LITTERS: Haley X Mickey - this is most likely a last litter for them both.   Tina will be bred for the first time in early 2016, sire to be announced later.  

 

Blast from the Past

Happy  first Birthday (s) to the 2014 megalitter.  All black and white - Every. Single. One. 

Poor Maverick. 

 

The Super Hero Litter

It's been a bumpy, roller coaster ride, and a stressful, brutal learning curve over the past two weeks, but here they are, our first Sussex litter...born on National Super Hero Day.  We started with five,  now have three - two girls, one boy - Marvel, Rogue and Stark. They all look great.

Sussex are incredibly hard to get pregnant, ALWAYS have birth complications, and then after all that, the puppies spend the next three weeks (or more) trying to find new ways to die, so I'll update again after we reach that milestone. Such a heartbreaking, difficult breed, super rare for a reason, and yet the coolest,  goofiest, most devoted and wonderful dogs ever.

              

Our Deposit Agreement

  

I just want to openly clarify my deposit agreement stipulations as I recently had a guy (more like an angry housewife) request a deposit return after they purchased a puppy from another breeder because the "timing" was better in their life. They became upset when I said no, and both sides dug in our heels.

 Just for the record, I use a written deposit agreement to avoid any miscommunication for this exact situation. It says quite clearly on the first line, in black and white letters, for the whole world to read: "Deposits are not refundable if Buyer changes his/her mind."  I'm sorry, but that's the way it is. I have no control over when heat cycles come, and as with most breeders those plans can and often do change. It's rather unfair to think biology operates on a precise timeline or that I can breed around your convenience. However, when setting breeding plans, I'm not usually off by much, and never off by more than a calendar season. 

I'll work with you within reason and for good reasons, but changing your mind because it's more convenient for you, isn't one of them. There is nothing I won't do for puppy buyers and few people on the planet raise puppies better, but my advice is to think about things like this before, not after as I won't back down when I'm right, and I'll stick to my guns 100% of the time.

I just posted this on my Facebook, but I'm an open book with regards to this kind of thing, it's the very reason why I use deposit and purchase agreements (NO VERBAL MISCUES that way!)  and a contract is a contract.  Most people respect that about me, end of story.