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!

Bepops' son

Can you tell I am looking at puppy photos? I am preparing for more I hope!!
This is the lovely Doug now called Dougie from Bepops first litter. We had Dougie with us until about 5 months, although he used to go for mini holidays with his now owners during that time.So we sort of shared those early days.

Bepops' brother

I was looking for another photo and found this, I think he must be about 9/10 weeks old and is the brother of Bepop so must now be nearly 7 years old.

Bepops' husband to be- Deejee

Some further information about Deejee (see below), the rather beautiful boy chosen for Bepops last litter.
The owner of  Deejee, also owns his Father Jedi (another rather handsome chap)
For lots more photos of Deejee, please visit :
http://jedi-le-barbet.be/

Deejee Dakota Van de zonnehonden

dog show Bruxelles 2011: bébé très prometteur

certificat d'élevage

nationale d'élevage Chatel-Guyon lors du symposium 2012 : classe jeune 1er excellent , meilleur jeune mâle , meilleur jeune

exposition de Chatel-Guyon 2012 : classe jeune 1er excellent, meilleur jeune mâle, meilleur jeune

Tan

brevet de sociabilité

dog show Bruxelles 2012: premier Excellent CAC, CACIB, BOB

Barbet Puppy News

Fantastic news for  Eton and Toutes as puppies are due around the 1st December.

Some lovely photos on the Barbedoux website:

Barbedoux in Holland

This is the information about Toutes:
Laulava Toutes t'Adorent Dutch Champion
Dutch Youth Champion
 birth date: 25-09-2007
mother: Nelum-Himalis Aurore
father: Quaciëndas Aragon Unique
health: HD-A, eyes ok
courses: Puppy, Youngster, Obedience A, Hunting training
Character:
playful, gay, cuddler, loves to swim and loves a lot of action, greets anyone chearful who passes her path, loves especially (little) children, is absolutely not dominant at all.

Happiness is......

Three boys who like running, water and a completely empty beach.Life doesn't get much better for a Barbet.

Barbet puppies everywhere

I know I am biased but I think you all have to admit that Eton does look good.

Hellllllllooooo Eton

I have good vibes about 2013, will it be a bumper year for the Barbet in the UK.
2012 saw the arrival of 19 healthy pups, and in 2013 some of these pups will start being health tested for possible breeding. When I look at Hallie, she is just a babe so it is hard to imagine the future but I hope she will be part of the foundation that we are laying for the Barbet as a breed. As I have said before, without a strong foundation of excellant health and charactor we will not have the stability for the future. 

Naughty Hallie

Now this settee was bought for us (Humans) to be able to sit in the evenings and  have some quality time in the kitchen with the dogs. Hallie has different ideas about the settee, it is certainly her launch pad for attacking Bobby as he walks past, if she stands on the arms of the settee she has a great view of the entire kitchen and as she is now a qualified counter-surfer she can see any food left out from her increased height! We have a few times managed to quietly sit on the settee without her knowledge as if she spots you, her manners disappear and within seconds she will land on your lap, throw herself backwards for the ultimate tummy rub. It is rather sweet, but I do wonder what would happen if someone ever came to our house that didn't like dogs.
Hallie is growing up rather nicely, she has a brilliant coat still and a lovely brown hue to her curls, so some days she looks completely brown and other days she looks black, its a bit like owning 2 dogs.The best news of all is that Bobby has learnt to share his toys with Hallie, they spend most of their time together and the best game is a piece of cardboard that measures an inch square, they must both hold it with just one tooth, and their heads look like one, but hey it keeps them quiet and they seem to enjoy the challenge!

Barbet puppy news

 

Duplo at 8 weeks old
I am very pleased to say that Novaforesta Duplo is the proud Daddy of 3 pups born in Finland. He was a beautiful pup and always very sweet, so lets hope he has passed his genes on.

 Above shows Duplo in France after his confirmation, he is on the left with the white flash on his chest. That was one of our weekend away trips and brings back such good memories. Hopefully we have 3 lined up for 2013, and I am already looking forward to it, as we do have alot of laughs.

A big congrats to Duplo and his new wife Emma, and welcome to their 3 new puppies, photos when I get them.

 

Dog training or Gundog training or socialisation

Yesterday was a big day for Hallie as she went out on her first shoot. Hallie will be 7 months old in November. It didn't occur to me that she was too young, but one could tell on our arrival that when I mentioned her age there was an element of doubt about whether she should be there or not. Luckily, I am used to people doubting my judgement and with the explanation that Hallie was Bepops' grandaughter, there was a sigh of relief from most. We had a wonderful morning, I was in charge of Hallie, and I made myself aware of where all the guns were, so that we could avoid being too close. That worked well, although a couple of times we found ourselves rather near to a gun, and it took a quick shout to ask for clearance so that we could move away as I had a young dog.....teamwork on a friendly shoot.... Anyway back to Hallie, at the sound of any gunfire, she was praised, asked to sit and rewarded and I am pleased to say that after 3 shots she had learnt that we were sort of doing training which meant a cheese reward after a big bang as long as she sat down....Bingo. So first test achieved, and now my job is to maintain her confidence which is harder, one wrong move could ruin a dog so she will only go back to the shoot when I know that I can totally focus on her. What I found interesting is that when Hallie and I investigated a bit of fur in the grass, and it jumped into the air and ran off, we were as surprised as each other and out came the cheese and she was rewarded as she showed no desire to chase, the same happened with a deer that headed straight at us, Hallie hid behind me (which nearly threw me to the ground) I remained still as deer in theory go round you not through you, and yep you have guessed...out came the cheese, Hallie soon learnt that anything weird all you do is sit and cheese appears. My best moment was hitching a ride on the trailer, Bepop knows that you get lifted in and lie down as it is a bumpy ride and you can see the ground rush by, it is scary for them but dear Hallie even accepted the trailer, and learnt within seconds that life was more stable lying down than trying to stand, more cheese......So my summary of the day would be, her age was perfect and she learnt alot, she had fun and she enjoyed it and where ever you take a pup you need to watch their reactions, a gunshot is no more scary than airbrakes on a bus, or a youngster appearing round the corner on a skateboard. The downside of yesterday were the BURRS, Bepop as shown in the photo was covered, and Hallie and I didn't escape either but hey it did keep Bepops' fringe away from her eyes. I am pleased to say that Bepop was fantastic yesterday, although she was a little grumpy over all the male attention she was getting as all the dogs on the shoot are males, she didn't deserve the attention she was getting and she did get a tad bored with it, it must be her  doggy perfume, but she worked exceptional well and lifted the birds, she worked close to Julian and no running in.......so well done to Bepop as it is hard for a dog that one week picks up, the next week will be beating and as most of you may realise, Bepop is a free thinker and generally thinks her way is best, but not yesterday all it took was a quick reminder of her name and she returned. Gold star Bepop and Hallie. So is nearly 7 months too young to go on a shoot, I think it depends whether you know your dog or not........               

Hallie the Barbet puppy swims

She is 12 weeks old and took the plunge yesterday evening, she is a brave puppy or daft, as she doesn't pick good entry points to water but hey she loves it as we have made water fun.I will post a short video later as it shows 'doggy paddle' at its best.