Please be aware that some scumbag is putting antifreeze in puddles in Saltram, Jennycliffe and Central Park in Plymouth.  Antifreeze is highly toxic to dogs and cats.

The fluid is bright green so hopefully you would see this is in the puddle and you can seek veterinary treatment IMMEDIATELY.

Please see my article on antifreeze poisoning (health section) or simply phone up your vet for advice.

Melvin just over 14 weeks old "what a handsome boy!"

This litte pup is such a good boy.  I love him to bits.  He is just such a calm boy.  On a walk he sits and calmy looks at what is going on before he decides whether to join in the fun with another dog.   The boy has some swagger on him though (bless him).  His eyes are just the most appealing eyes I have ever seen on a dog.

Melvin has to be the most chilled out pup I have had so far.  He is a pup so chilled out that he had no idea he had slid upside down from the top of the cushions!

Melvin - fast asleep!

Melvin has now passed all the tests of settling in with the other dogs, establishing the pecking order.  Archie particularly wanted to be sure that Melvin was kept at the bottom of the pack, however…..even Archie has a soft tender side.

Archie on puppy duties....awwwww!

Melvin is FOURTEEN weeks old!  wow – I cant believe how the time is flying by.  He is a cracking pup.  He has a play with all the dogs, comes back when he is called, sits and stays.  So all going well.

My handsome boy - 14 weeks old

Melvin is turning into a fine little boy.  Out on a walk he is really taking everything in his stride, having a little explore before racing back.  He is learning to sit stay nicely and his lead work is coming on.  Characteristically he is just like his mum he needs his cuddles and the luxury of sofa cruising.  Though he has now taken sofa cruising to another extreme!

Melvin asleep on top of the corner of the sofa!

Melvin is now firmly part of the gang.  He gets to choose who he can play with.  He is a lucky boy he is always playing  with his mum but he also gets to choose between his half brother Stanley, his step dad Archie or Charlie to play with.  Failing that Lucy the cat will get leapt upon alongside an unsuspecting rabbit!

L-R Stanley, Molly, Archie, Charlie and Melvin at the front! What a happy family!

Melvin has lost a few of his teeth – as yet we havent found any of them.  So teething is well under way.  We have provided him with plenty of rope toys and hard rubberised toys for him to get his mincers into.  Luckily we havent suffered any loss of our own possessions…. yet!

Today we went to a fun dog show, we had a really lovely time, entering lots of classes all proceeds went to charity. 

Here are todays results:

Fancy Dress – Fourth place (out of five dogs).  Dressed as Santa Paws!
Best Puppy – Fifth place (out of five dogs).
Best Pedigree Dog – Fifth place (out of six dogs).
Best Colour Coat – Third place (out of nine dogs).  Really pleased with that.
Most Handsome dog – no place – 13 dogs
Most Appealing Eyes – no place….out of 23 dogs, can you believe it?  This dog has the most amazing eyes I have ever seen in a dog!!! we were, quite frankly, ROBBED!
Best Junior Handler – no place, which was a real shame as Katherine did so well, keeping a nice slack lead and praising Melvin when he deserved it. (out of 13 entrants).
Dog Judge woud like to take home – FIRST PLACE!!!!!!! out of a whopping 18 dogs.  Im so pleased!!!

To see Katherine’s face light up when she was given her red rosette was fabulous!  She told me she hadnt expected to get picked which made the moment even better really. 

Well done to Katherine and Melvin!

We have had a wonderful day out and Melvin has now crashed out on the sofa.

We have been taking Melvin for his little walks which he is enjoying thoroughly.  He walks really well on the lead and then when he is off the lead he does stay relatively close.  He is enjoying all the new experiences and smells.  He is a very friendly boy and wants to say hello to everyone.  His tail wagging so fast with aniticpation of a cuddle!  Today he went up to a dog to say hello then came trotting back. 

We took Melvin out today for his first walk.  He behaved beautifully on the lead.  We let him off to explore the park a little bit.  He was very confident and bold.  Sniffing everything and running off a little bit to have a look around. 

Melvin wanted to stay close to us so we called him back and forth between us.  His enthusiasm was a joy to see.

Good luck to his brothers and sisters for when you take your first steps of freedom in the park!

Melvins first walk

I cannot quite believe that 10 weeks have gone by.  The pups have been raised with love and now all too soon (for me) they are now in their homes.  All settling in, it is vaccination time.  Tomorrow they will be having their second vaccination.  Soon to be starting the next phase of puppyhood.  Walks and training!

Vets advise to stay in after the second vaccination – the advice varying between one and two weeks before starting their walks after the second vaccine.  We have tended to start walks a day or so after the second vaccination.  This is based on the area we walk in is clean and also providing we are not aware of any potential parvo outbreaks.  Socialising is key to the development of the puppy.  Exposing your puppy to new sights and sounds will make your puppy confident.  Now is the time to allow your puppy to soak up as many new things as possible. 

All the puppies have now left the nest…Amber left today.  End of a chapter and the start of new beginnings.  All the puppies have their futures to look forward to – let the training commence, the fun and chaos ensue.  I hope the puppies do not create too much damage by chewing up a favourite pair of shoes or a mobile phone charger.

I wish all of my puppies lots of luck and love in life, a happy and safe upbringing.   To their new owners – enjoy your puppies they wont be puppies for long and soon they will be a faithful friend that you wondered how you managed life without him or her before this atheltic and intelligent labrador came into your home.

The puppies did not ever, ever cruise the sofas so clearly I cannot be held accountable for any love of sofa’s these puppies may have ;0)

I have heard from all my puppy buyers and all of Molly’s wonderful special pups are settling in to their new homes.  A couple of them are being a little noisy at night so I hope they settle in soon and are not missing their mum and siblings….maybe they need the puppy carer Katherine to visit!  I have received quite a few photos so thank you so much – I am going to set up a gallery for the pups pictures. 

Anyone who has a puppy from me I hope knows they can come to me to ask anything at all. 

I will be using the diary to help the new owners remember when worming schedule is (tomorrow!!!!) and the vaccination is due next wednesday for most, apart from Rocky.  I will also giving details of feeding quantities that I am giving Melvin so it will help keep everyone up to date.  Melvin is currently on 35g 4x times daily and doing really well a very bonny pup.  I have advised for Rocky and Sam to go up to 40g as they are bigger than the rest.  So keep an eye on how they manage with this increases.  If you feel it is not suiting them then go down a couple of grams or so.