Barbet puppies 6 weeks and 6 days old

 How beautiful are they? and all reserved so all that is left to say is '' good luck in your new homes, behave yourselves and be proud to be a Barbet.

To the left is Annette feeding her 10 Spinone pups and the 5 Barbet pups, it was a calm affair which was almost surreal when I think back to feeding Bepops 12 pups and the chaos!I will post more photos as its great to see the Barbets and Spinone pups together.

Barbet puppies another update

My house is quiet, and this morning I had a lie in before work. Hope and Halfpint left yesterday to rejoin their litter brothers and sisters. I wasn't as sad as I thought I would be, maybe as I knew it was the best thing for them and of course I will see them again soon.I am so lucky to have learnt so much with these two pups, every stage of development is so easy to follow when as a human you are their provider. I mustn't forget the input from mainly Bepop as she was so good at keeping them clean. Strangely enough in the last couple of days, Bepop was less interested in them and Betsy was starting to be calmer around the pups, so I do believe that the roles of my dogs were just starting to change, as Betsy was wonderful at lying in with her own pups and playing.
When I look back it all seems a bit of a dream, but as 14 pups are now over 4 weeks and all taking solids it just seems quite amazing.  

Wet days and paperwork but lots of good news.

Another wet day in the UK, its getting a tad boring and with any spare time I should be down my allotment planting seeds. But instead, I am sorting out paperwork inbetween the most important distraction of puppies.
News today, two of the male puppies from Ebene and Ooli will be training for gundog work, One pup has already been signed up to start training with 'Huw' a wonderful gundog trainer in Wales where we spent a weekend several years ago. Lucky Huw will have another barbet to make into a steady gundog. The other pup will be trained as a gundog and be working on a family shoot.So 2 more barbets being trained is something to celebrate.
The video showing barbets training and working on land and water  that was requested this year by the organisers of the Sporting pavillion at the CLA Game Fair has been sent off ......a big thank you to Lorraine and David for that.
Finally the Kennel Club have been in contact over our recognition of the Barbet in the UK, the committee have  requested clarification over a few points in our submitted application. It maybe I have misunderstood a question  and ticked the wrong box, easily done at times! but I am seeking more information from France, where better than the home of the Barbet. On a positive note, more communication with our Kennel Club means I can now let them know about the 2 new litters born in the UK, our numbers have increased by 19 dogs since my application went in December. I will also be able to send them the video of the barbets working that will be seen at the Game Fair.
Strangely enough, the letter from the  KC also mentioned whether a breed club was being established, * cough cough cough* page 41 of the application........ I take that as a good sign that they never got beyond page 40.

Barbet Puppies having quality time

Annettes pups were 5 weeks old yesterday, and they are enjoying their freedom and learning the calming ways of the Spinones.

Ebene and Oolis pups 4 weeks old

What a wonderful litter these 5 are, Ebene has done a grand job of rearing them. I can't wait for my puppy visit again.I have delayed a visit because of having the two foster pups.  

Barbet puppies

How sweet is he? We had been calling him 'Roo' after Kanga and little Roo, but he is starting to behave more like a 'Rudi'. One day in the future I hope I will be in the situation that I can write his name given by his owners, it will be wonderful to see this boy as an adult. He has real charactor, he enjoys a cuddle after feeding whereas the little girl goes straight to sleep. Hand rearing these pups makes you realise how strong the instinct is to survive. I am trying to make sure that everything is as clean as possible, the bottles are sterilised and hands are washed continually. On a visit to the vet, both pups enjoyed sucking the vets tunic and of course they have been introduced to new germs just by moving house and living with 4 different dogs who are out in the forest walking.  

Barbet Puppies in the UK at long last.

It doesn't seem that long ago that I went as a friend with Annette to pick up her Canadian barbet from France.
We had such a lot of laughs over a mad 48 hours and Ebene was a darling from the start, she travelled without a problem and like both my girls accepted the transition of owners so well.
Yesterday she gave birth to 6 pups, as you all know the father is Ooli (Novaforesta Dudley). A fantastic day for the UK barbet as we have had a far too long a gap with no puppy photos and chat.
Have I mentioned that 2 of the pups are particolours, this is a first for the UK, so it adds another dimension to watching these pups grow. In another 2 weeks, more puppy news as Bonnie is growing larger every day, will she beat Bepops record of 12 pups.

French registration confirmed

Good news again, I now have  confirmation that the two litters planned for Spring 2012 (ish):
Ebene x Dudley (Ooli)
Dora (Bonnie) x Eton

will be French registered.
This means that these two litters in the UK will be issued French pedigrees UNLESS of course The English Kennel Club accept our recent application and recognise the Barbet as a breed in the UK.

A heartfelt thank you to the French Kennel Club for looking after their breed.