Brontillow

A visitor

Baxter has come to stay for a two week holiday while his family are abroad, he's made himself at home, sharing his toys with Mabel while Aunty Willow shares her bed with both of them. Bruno arrives on Saturday for a week, my Mum is coming to stay on Monday but I'm not sure how much peace and quiet she will get while she's here!

Learning Curve

Mabel's second night went very well, she put herself to bed about 10pm and zonked out, we put her outside for a wee at midnight then she slept all the way through until 6am. No wet or mess on her paper then straight out for both in the garden. Cuddles and play time for 90 minutes and she's taken herself back to bed. 
I'm convinced that rearing the puppies for the first five weeks in a crate has taught them that it's their safe place. 
Next on the list is to strive for a quiet car journey, she is not impressed with her travel box and takes about ten minutes to realise no matter how much she squeals she isn't coming out and nobody will pay her any attention.

And then there was one...

All of the puppies have gone to their new homes now, leaving the little girl I kept from Willow's litter, Mabel. She is quickly learning and is already taking herself off to her crate to sleep and learning to run to the door although she isn't too impressed with wet grass!

Helen flew over from Guernsey to collect her puppy, she is a vet and will take him to work with her. Helen is also going to have a go at showing him there.

Last to go was Robbie, my dear friend Carol has been without a dog for a few years and loved Brontë and Willow when I brought them home. He will be much loved and we are planning to go to ringcraft classes together when our puppies are old enough.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my puppies, I have met lovely people because of them and hope to keep in touch in the future.

Off to their new homes

It's been sad to see each puppy leave but a pleasure to see they joy on their new owners' faces when they leave for their lovely new homes. I am extremely happy with all of the allocations, they are all very well suited to each other.

Steve and Wendy came to collect Baxter

Rachel came for Bruno

Victoria collected Dolly for her mum, Cindy

Tom and Rose drove all the way from Cornwall to collect Teddy. Rose and Tom loved him from first sight and I was so glad that they got their choice.

Martin and Maureen came on the train for Stanley, he will live in London and Cornwall and have lots of grandchildren to play with. He kept his fellow passengers entertained all the way back to London then fell asleep as they pulled into St Pancras!

I am delighted with the standard of all of my puppies, they are healthy, confident, socialised and have superb temperaments. I would have been happy to keep any one of them as a pet, it has been very hard work, making sure that they were introduced to as much as possible, handled several times a day, kept clean and well fed and then compiling their information packs and liasing with owners but I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I have fulfilled a long time ambition and I'm already planning 'husbands' for my girls for next year.

 

Fun in the sun

The puppies have all been out to play in the garden with Willow and Brontë but our little pack gets smaller each day as new owners come to collect their puppies. The pups have all been living in their kennel, away from Mums, it was an easy transition for Willow and Brontë who both knew their job was done. They are happy to play with each other's puppies but neither stand still long enough to feed any of them although the pups still try! 
Time in the garden pen has been limited on hot days, they have plenty of shade but the heat isn't good for them so they play in their shaded kennel and run.

 

Bunty (Brontillow Nikola Poopa)

Bunty (what a fabulous name!) is Brontë's daughter and is settling in to her new home, already loved by her new family and her big brother, Baldrick. They very kindly sent me these photographs to share, she is going to have a wonderful life.

 

Expert Opinions

We are very lucky to have Ian and Sue Seath of Sunsong Dachshunds as our friends and mentors, their experience and knowledge of Dachshunds is probably second to none. Their dog Foxy (Zlofox Av Larhjelm at Sunsong) is the father of Willow's litter and they took time out of their busy lives to come and visit us and the puppies. Sue cast her expert eye over each puppy while Ian took some fabulous photographs which he was kind enough to share.

This was Sue's pick of the litter, he is bound for Guernsey.

Her second choice was Willow's girl, we were delighted as we had decided to keep her. We called her Mabel.

The puppy we call Teddy will definitely not make a show dog but he is our favourite puppy from both litters. He's the image of Willow, he is full of life, he's naughty, funny and loving. We were so tempted to keep him as a pet but he is going to live in Cornwall with a lovely retired couple (heaven help them!)

The fourth puppy is going to a dear friend, she wanted a puppy when I bought my two and I'm so pleased she is having him. He's called Robbie and will be loved dearly

Willow has been such a lovely Mum and really enjoys her puppies, she plays with them and nuzzles them all when they are together

Many, many thanks to Sue for answering every email and text with very sound advice and Ian, for his knowledge and photographs.

Not enough hours in the day

This last week has been very busy for us, the puppies are spending a lot of time awake now and playing quite roughly with each other. We have been so busy with visitors and chores that some evenings we haven't eaten until very late at night, collapsing into bed ready for the next early morning. If anyone thinks rearing a litter of puppies is easy then they mustn't be looking after them properly! Luckily the weather has been good and they have spent a lot of time out in their play pen in the garden. The brolly we bought for shade was caught in the wind and is battered and bent so we will have to find a better replacement.

We had a trip to the vet's for a check up, it was an experience. Carrying a crate of wriggly puppies was not easy, they were heavier than we imagined and some objected to their car journey but we all survived.

We also went shopping for their leaving baskets, each has a document file with registration, insurance, pedigree and advice. Royal Canin puppy pack with free food voucher. Food, measuring cup and tap water for the first week to avoid upset tummies. Fleece blanket washed with puppy bedding, slept on by mum and siblings. Toy from puppy kennel. Travel bag with microfibre towel, baby wipes, scented nappy bags and strong absorbent cleaning cloths.

 

Two puppies left for their new homes, both already have older Wires. One of Brontë's girls has gone to live in Marlborough with this lovely family,

"Bailey" has his new home in Redhill with his new family, who would have bought two if Dad had got his own way!

They have promised to keep in touch and we are looking forward to updates.