Novaforesta New World at 7 weeks

Novaforesta New World is my boy that used to sleep under the sofa ( and get stuck) however he has worked out he is too big now and hasn't done it for several days or maybe he now prefers to sleep under the grown up dog bed that we have in the kitchen! Having also now fed the pups on their own, he is not a fast eater either which was a surprise as he was always in the food bowl which made it harder for the others to eat.

Novaforesta New Start at 7 weeks

Novaforesta New Start is my quietest boy, he is playful with the others but is also happy to be on his own, he is my only digger at the moment but then I suspect he was the only one that found the hole which had been carefully concealed by a bucket but as he is normally nose down in the garden  he nearly always has something in his mouth. He is also still a very cuddly boy.

The Life of Pi the black and white Barbet

I have some news, sad news for me but at the end of the day it was my decision as sometimes you have to accept you are not ''superwoman'' . The lovely Pi, Netis Jitterbug came into my life with encouragement from my Mother, which was a surprise as she had always said I had too many dogs. She also suited my long term breeding plan as she was a lovely combination with a Dutch male that had come into the UK who I had a soft spot for, as his Father was the male I had the failed mating with Betsy the Barbet we lost at 7 years old. Pi passed all her health checks, 4/5 hips, 0/0 elbows, 2 clear eye certificates, D/D locus , VWD type 1 carrier,  Tan, an excellent show critique from France, the list is endless....she was a perfect dog for breeding as she is also of excellent temperament.Pi went to live with a wonderful family, it was a difficult time but I want all my dogs to be happy and Pi was looking sad at times as she is a very affectionate girl, it was a better life for her as I had only ever planned one breeding as there are already so many Barbets with similar genes, afterall I only have 2 hands to stroke dogs , it was  right for her but it took a long time for me to get over as I missed her terribly and felt very guilty. However in early 2016 I finalised my breeding plan for her, late in the day but I had lost my Father in 2014, and my Mother in 2015. So after so much grief what could go wrong ? Firstly the Dutch boy had been removed from breeding, so I chose an English Stud who when Pi was ready for mating drank some stagnant water and was immediately very ill and not feeling very passionate and he remained ill during her fertile time!, not being nervous about travelling we had a 48 hour window to find a male that would be a good combination for the breed in the UK, my first choice in Holland was denied due to Pi being under 30 months, then by chance we found another male in Holland that I was happy with  ( remember at this stage I am thinking of combinations for new blood in the UK and a combination that would work with Martha,) Meanwhile our window for breeding was getting shorter and we knew we were cutting it fine. So a quick dash to Holland arranged, dog wormed, channel tunnel booked last minute, hotel booked. A 5.5 hour delay at Eurotunnel meant we arrived at our hotel at 1am, we had planned to be there at 5pm. Anyway to cut a long story short, we tried first thing in the morning and Pi was really not interested, and timing wise I think we were pushing our luck had we got there at 5pm . As soon as we realised it was too late for Pi we left for home. We waited for her next season, and this time I had decided to try chilled semen from overseas, this failed once again over timings I believe, we don't have instant progesterone checks in the UK so we get our results in 24 hours or longer and this also means nothing over the weekend. In hindsight using a female who had not produced was my error and I also chose a reproduction vet that was useless over communication!. The lovely family who have Pi kindly said I could try again but it is now 2017 and this year ( very shortly) we will become grandparents and 2016 was my window to breed Pi as I also have my lovely Martha (2 failed matings last year is another story!) and her daughter Snoop who has passed her health checks with flying colours. I am only telling the story about Pi as I don't wish to hear rumours that she has been spayed for any other reason. Pi is very happy with her family and my breeding plans have changed yet again as Pi and her husband were to have made a male for Martha in the future! and when you hear that it is all about money...think again as Pi to date has cost me about £8000      

Novaforesta Joni Mitchell at 7 weeks old

Novaforesta Joni Mitchell met her Grandma Bepop today, I think Bepop thought she was cute :)

Novaforesta Joe Jackson at 3 weeks

Novaforesta Joe Jackson is the brown male with the white chest. He went to sleep during the photo session which was quite relaxing for me :). He is a sweet boy, and very 'text' book puppy but no doubt by next week I could be writing something entirely different so watch this space

Barbet mating plans

Charamese Hermione aka Hallie

Cooper du Pré de Redy 

http://pawpeds.com/db/?a=p&ids=3:1091211;2:958471&g=5&p=bar&date=iso&o=ajgrep

A good mating for us in the UK, 0/0 inbreeding over 4 generation and only 2.64% over 5 generations.

Hurry up Hallie, I want puppy time again :)

Barbet puppy chaos

Meet our new addition, NetisJitterbug now 3 months old. When you get a puppy it takes time to get to know them, she spent the first couple of weeks next to us at night but now has settled well with some of the older dogs downstairs, she is not crated as there has not been the need. I do have a puppy pen in the kitchen which she visits when she gets too hyper and starts to bite and generally is just over tired. The puppy pen also means a safe place for her numerous toys, as with older dogs who like nothing better than a soft toy to destroy it is nice to be able to provide her with some entertainment.
She is swimming well with no signs of panic

  Her biggest fault at the moment is the speed she runs when she takes something she shouldn't, you never chase a puppy but it is almost impossible to remain calm and wave a treat at her when she has a possible fatal object in her mouth! once I really understand what is going on in her head, then training will be easier so at the moment I am just learning what she responds to.
More importantly for a puppy is to go out and meet other dogs and people, so we are trawling the streets and finding the odd cafe or pub that takes dogs, she is very confident so this at the moment is easy as nothing has phased her, actually tell a lie.....she expelled her anal gland when Julian started the petrol mower, and she does hang out on the back door step when the neighbours mow the lawn, so we will have to deal with that.

Update on Obi

Obi is a pup from Bepop x Jedi and is now 9 months and enjoying the wet weather, a very handsome boy.

Barbet Puppies 2014

I am hoping that 2014 will bring forth the patter of tiny paws again.
Hallie and Martha have both passed the health checks for breeding, so once males have been confirmed I will be making official announcements.

Hallie

Martha

Martha and Hallie are related to each other as Eton is the Father of Hallie, and Effie is the Mother of Martha, and Eton and Effie are brother and sister.
Both Hallie and Martha love water and mud , and both retrieve well ( and I mean retrieve not playing fetch) but what they are really good at ,is cuddles.
     

Ralph the Barbet puppy at 6 months old

This is Ralph , a pup from Bepop and Jedi he is already 6 months old and growing into a handsome chap.

A Barbet boy to watch.....

Meet Toby from Holland, I have not yet met this charming boy but hope to soon as I am only hearing wonderful stories about his adventures. I really hope that Toby becomes a dog that will be part of the breeding history of the Barbet in the UK, but he is still a babe and it seems rather sad to be planning his future as an adult when he has months yet of silly puppy madness to entertain his owner.. His white bits look almost like paint, they are just so white against the black but I do know that he is like all Barbets and enjoys mud!!!!, so don't be fooled.

Novaforesta Imperial

Soon to be called Hugo, and soon to be travelling to sunny Wales. He was described as one of the quieter pups but that has changed since he has been on his own with Bepop and Martha. He has managed to exhaust them both in the nicest possible way, he is just so playful with them and he has one little bark that sends them both into lala land, I wish I could understand puppy language as whatever he is saying it sends Bepop and Martha into a frenzy and they have to tear round the garden at such speed, he on the otherhand just lies in the doorway watching the chaos. I will miss him alot, he is a cheeky boy and the good news is that he is dry at night and we are finally not waking at the crack of dawn.

What wonderful Barbet puppies

Peace at last, Rugby and Eton

Harpo in Holland 

Obi -the fishermans friend

Three updates from Rugby, Harpo and Obi.......

Novaforesta Imperial

Why the fascination about a tray, they all love to lie on it and they all like to piddle on it, Some have even surfed across the floor on it, trays are not on my puppy socialisation list so cannot tick that box!

Novaforesta Invincible at 7 weeks

His new name is Ralph, and he is normally the most lively of all the boys, but I haven't told his new family that yet!, he also gets himself stuck more than the other pups, so when I hear yelling it is normally the little girl for attention or Ralph as he is stuck somewhere!

Novaforesta Investigator at 7 weeks

Investigator does have a new home, but he doesn't yet have a name yet. He has a soft coat and I call him my squidgy pup as he is just one of those sort of boys.He has already developed a 'Barbet plea' with his eyes, and already has that Barbet wag of the tail that seems to mean that his back end overtakes his front when he is happy.

Novaforesta Imperial at 7 weeks

He is still my smallest boy, although I have watched him at feeding time and being small he just gets under the others and ends up in the middle so he is definately getting his fair share of food. He is a stunning puppy and is still available as like my little girl, plans have changed for him too. He is like a small version of his Mum, but has a very playful charactor. He is always the first to go to sleep, and often the last to wake up

Nvaforesta Iron Duke at 7 weeks

Iron Duke soon to be known as Obi, this boy will need to learn to swim in his new life!. Lovely chap who still loves a photo opportunity, and has learnt to sit like a star, probably because he is Mr Greedy. So a gold star for the quickest learner.

Novaforesta Irresistible at 7 weeks

She really is irresistible, she is such a sweetie but is the most agile and is the quickest mover, but maybe that is because she only has brothers.She has learnt to scale the whelping box in a matter of seconds, so she would probably make a fantastic agility dog.Plans have changed for this little girl and so she is still available for a forever home.

Bepop the Barbet

For Bepop, her Motherly duties are nearly over as she feeds them only a few times a day which is more for comfort than their needs.