Well ,who could have believed it, certainly not me! Cassie, Crumpsbrook Acacia, won her Limit class which was a large class of quality bitches. This was surprise number one . Then a few minutes later, after I had calmed down and topped up the pain killers for my hip, we went into the bitch challenge.

I was so chuft at my Limit class win then when the judge, Mrs Crawford, called Cassie out as the Best Bitch Challenge Certificate winner you could have knocked me over with a feather. I didn’t blub this time, I was so happy (maybe 

 something to do with my tablets !). I know tears were shed around the ring by special friends and Crumpsbrook puppy family members. It truly is an amazing feeling especially with so much support from the ringside. I would love to thank you all for your many congratulations. It is a hobby for me, breeding and showing my gorgeous Munsters, but that doesn’t mean I don’t give it the care and consideration it deserves. I feel truly vindicated that my decisions of mates for my girls are proving correct. Cassie was from my first and only litter from our amazing Willow. The gorgeous, handsome Jasper (Tanzenbach Chevalier) owned by Carol Saunders was the father. Thank you Carol, I still feel I hijacked your lines. 

Some of you may remember Cassies daughter,  Jas, from her first litter by Harry, Tanzenbach Waterboatman, another bred by Carol, won best puppy at Crufts last year.  Cassie wasn’t there then, due to being pregnant with her second litter also by Harry. Amazing. We have some lovely young dogs coming out in the ring this season from that litter too.

To top it all, you may be aware we have been waiting for Jas to come into season. Well my day couldn’t have been more perfect ,when we arrived at Crufts with the girls, Henry, Loki and Dougie were all keen to say” hello” to Jas. Ebby my Shepherd is in season and they often bring one another in but the day before when Jas had her bath for her big day, there was no sign of a season. Obviously meeting such handsome boys did

 the trick, she is in season, hurrah. The only slight negative was the hormones had obviously taken effect and she was a bit flat for her moment in the ring. 

Dougie, Paddockridge Rulander, who is to be the dad, had a great day too, winning his working class and standing second in Open to the Hargreaves Ghyllbeck Rapax who then went on to be Best of Breed. It looks like Jas’s timing means I can officiate at the mating, Chris, Matt and Kate would have had to be the gooseberries !!! 

My congratulations must go to Karen, Henry’s (Crumpsbrook Hickory) owner. She managed to control her nerves and took her lovely boy into the ring. She won a valued 3rd place Crufts prize card. I remember my first time with Cassie, it really is nerve wracking. We won a third too and I was overjoyed. Well done Karen you did me proud.

Thank you all for sending me such wonderful photographs. Such a brilliant record of a special day. We will continue to sort them and add more of them soon.

Had a lovely day at Mid Western Gundog last Sunday Dougie and Jas finished BOB and RBOB The engaged couple looked lovely together. Fynn had a good day too getting Best Puppy. Cassie had to go in open and had a 3rd out of 5 which I was pleased with. So all in all a splendid day .

We have had a few visitors recently, Milo, a Portuguese Water Dog has been with us for 4 weeks ,he came last year too and really fitted in well with the girls making himself right at home. Sully ,comes regularly when his mum has to work and the other Munster is Otto who just came to play . I love seeing them together they are so good sharing beds and snuggling up at night .Washing all those paws is a chore we could do without, but seeing them content and sleepy in front of the fire of an evening is delightful . Milo really enjoys his holidays ,being an only dog he seems so happy playing with the girls, he is besotted with Ebby my GSD 

 I have had my Pre Opp appointment through for the 4th March which is exciting and scary so I shall dose myself up and enjoy my day at Crufts, it could be the last time I shall be running round the ring with my girls for a while. I fully intend to keep showing ,lots of lovely people have offered to help .

 I plan to visit my new GSD pup before my operation can’t wait to see the litter I shall take photos and put them on my blog.

Hope you are all keeping safe and dry ,as some of you may be aware we were flooded here at Catherton during the Summer of 2012 twice. Our flood defences were installed and they have worked brilliantly, thank goodness.Muddy dogs are a nuisance. The horses are home now, they wintered well got very fat and woolly and are  very happy watching the rain from the comfort of their  stables . We have not ridden much, the weather has not been conducive to hacking and my hip has deteriorated over the winter break which does not make it enjoyable. Still at least I know that is a short term thing,can’t wait for me new hip . 

Since Christmas my business, Mannerly Mutts has expanded. I have joined in partnership with Steve Tolley, a long term friend of ours. He is operating a dog walking, sitting and boarding service. This is something that I am asked to do frequently but do not always have the time  so I felt there was an opportunity for these services. Steve is a retired police officer. He spent several years in the mounted division and was a  dog handler with German Shepherds and Springer Spaniels.

I will continue to focus on the training and behaviour ,which I love. I am still studying for my degree with The Cambridge Institute in Dog Behaviour. My obedience training classes will be starting up again in March and my behaviour consultations are ongoing . If you wish to be nosy take a look at my website  www.mannerlymutts.co.uk .

We are still waiting for Jas to come into season, she persists in keeping us guessing. Apparently good things come to those that wait. Exciting news is my German Shepherd puppy has arrived, born yesterday 14th Feb arrh !!!! I wish they were nearer but I shall have to be patient for a few weeks to go and see her.

Chris has started a new job which is exciting, working with start up and small  businesses in our area, something he enjoys. So added on to his other jobs he will be busy.

I love March it is one of my favourite times of year. It kicks off with Crufts  followed by The Cheltenham Racing Festival, two brilliant days out. If Jas can wait till after then to come into season and my hospital appointment arrives shortly afterwards that would be pretty perfect. Too much to ask ? Whatever, we will cope .

 Stay safe and dry everyone, see you at Crufts perhaps. 

 First show of the season at Stafford show ground and what a great day . Cassie’s and Harry’s son Fynn won Best puppy in Breed ,he is 9 months old.I took him in the ring for his mum as she has rather poorly so what a boost for her to watch her boy. Then Henry went into Post Graduate with his mum Karen and won that class too. He is another son of Cassie and Harry but from an earlier litter the same one as Jas so they have just had their second birthday.The first picture is Jas, Cassie, Fynn and Henry, left to right .Then I was in again with Jas and she won 2nd behind the bitch that won Bof B, really pleasing. Cassie had to go in Open bitch as her class, Limit ,was not scheduled. A difficult class with quality bitches entered but I was happy with her placing of 3rd.

I am so proud of all my Crumpsbrook puppies whatever they achieve in life, but Sunday gave me a real sense of achievement.

  GO  CRUMPSBROOK ! 

My other piece of news is that I shall be running around the show ring like a spring lamb !! I am now officially waiting for my new hip. I can’t wait. It was quite nice being told by the consultant that I was young, he meant of course to have a hip replacement ,but he agreed with me that quality of life is paramount and has agreed to do it . WOOPEE. 

I find this time of year a bit dreary so it was really a boost to receive my seeds through the post for next seasons vege garden .I have had an hour or two in my greenhouse tidying up and  I have started a few flower seeds in my propagator.

The horses are due back soon,we are waiting for our bedding delivery.They are so fat and hairy they look like overgrown Thelwell ponies .As soon as they are home the clippers will be in use and they will soon look smart again .

We are off to City of Manchester show on Sunday ,the first of the year, I am so looking forward to it. The girls will have to have a wash and brush up.The common is so wet and muddy they don’t look much like show dogs at the moment. Still they are all well and this morning the sun shone so Chris and I managed to take a few photographs. Jas had her 2nd birthday last Saturday and received a few birthday emails from her litter brothers and sisters.

I am about to do my Crufts entries for Cassie and Jas. Cassie had a tummy full of puppies last year so didn’t go and Jas fullfilled my wildest dreams by winning best puppy in breed . I doubt this year will beat that, Jas is in Post Grad and Cassie Limit . Whatever happens I’m just proud to be there.

Thought I would share some moments with you of our lovely Christmas here at Catherton.Firstly we had a drinks party for all my training class clients, plus a few neighbours,the Sunday before Christmas. At its peak we had 40 people and our girls came in individually to say hello.Kate and Matt came with Dougie who was keen to say hello to Cassie who was just coming to the end of her season, but I’m afraid he will have to wait for another Crumpsbrook girl ,Jas ,when she comes into season.

Christmas morning we go for Champaign cocktails to our friends over the common ,this will have been our 25th year! Such a brilliant start to the day. My friend Jackie came to stay with us and bought her little dog Hetty, so she to enjoyed her inaugural “Margarets.” We ate lunch at about 4.00pm, turkey (which had lived a happy life a couple of miles up the road) and all the trimmings followed by last years Christmas pud. I make my own and keep one until the following year, then watched Downton falling into bed after a wonderfully satisfying day. 

Boxing Day we traditionally go to the Meet at Ludlow. The hunt gathers at Ludlow castle which is such a pretty sight. Following on from that there is a tug of war which happens across the road between two Tudor coaching inns, The Bull and The Feathers. Rather a haphazard affair ,health and safety is forgotten for a few minutes as people pile on the rope. The traffic is forced to a stand still by the volume of people who crowd onto the road to support their team. Chris and our good friend Pete always pull for The Feathers, the underdogs, due in part to the slippery cobbles they have to pull on . Those of you that know us well will know Chris is not a competitive soul, but even he gets into the spirit of things, Pete on the other hand,well he means business! Bless them, neither have weight on their side ,but they pull their damnedest. This year the first pull was won easily and Marce (Petes wife ) and I, who were shouting and screaming our support, thought this may be our year .The second pull was lost after a really long “hold” I thought they were all going to expire. The arguments over the third pull will go on ,but basically The Bull team cheated !! I even attacked a well built chap who was standing with his Labrador and said ” I’m a dog trainer I’ll hold your dog ,get on the rope ”  to no avail. Still there’s always next year.We then came home with Jackie and Pete and Marce to watch the King George from Kempton. We had been into the bookies in Ludlow and placed our bets . I had nothing, but Pete’ s selection won. Later that evening a few friends came to us for supper and silly games . Chris had bought me a Onesy , didn’t think  for one minute  I would ever wear one  but  they are sooo snuggly , perfect for curling up in front of the fire .  The photos are from that evening , I am doing a Charade!  Thanks Pete for taking the pics on the I Pad .

Friday I was judging Munsters and I found my champion in Dougie ,not surprising after all he is going to be the father of my next litter. Then a quiet evening in.

Saturday and Sunday were family days. Josie and her family (Chris’s sister) came to visit and the weather was gorgeous we had a lovely lunch with them before they returned to Buckinghamshire.

Monday we had a visit from one of our puppies from Cassie’s first litter, Zennor with her mum and dad, Mark and Liz. They came for a walk with us, then we had lunch and a good catch up .They run a wonderful B&B in Devon, one which takes dogs ! If any of you out there need somewhere to stay I can put you in touch. Zennie as she is known is a delight. Liz did worry when she squeezed under the fence into the wood to hunt, as Munsters do, but I knew she was safe and Chris managed to lift her back . We both love seeing our “babies “again and seeing how loved and adored they are,plus hearing what an array of  activities they all do. They have such active lives.

 New Years Eve was party time again and we managed to stay awake for Big Ben. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful circle of friends. Heather and John did us proud. After more Charades we returned home at 1.00 am. Unheard of for us. New Years Day was a bit of a damp squib ,we often go racing to Cheltenham with Pete and Marce ,but Marce had to work, so we had made arrangements to travel to Yorkshire to see another of our “babies” Simon, and his Mum and Dad Annette and Roger. Annette also rides and had offered to allow us to ride her wonderful dressage horse. Unfortunately my hips would not allow me to indulge, but Chris was really excited . Still it wasn’t to be, it poured with rain and blew a gale,so we have postponed the visit .

2014  looms upon us ,I am excited about many things for the year, new GSD puppy hopefully, and Jas’s litter, plus the usual shows .This year there will be a few more Crumpsbrook  pups out in the show ring. Mandy has her own bitch puppy, Poppy, Oscars daughter and Mandy’s mum kept a boy pup so hopefully we may see him out too. A couple of Cassie’s second litter pups are taking up showing, so will join Jas and Henry and Karen.

Jas ,Cassie and Henry are all off to Crufts this year too ,so that’s  exciting.

Ebby continues to be in rude health so hopefully she can be a good role model to the new arrival.

Lots of you have sent photographs which we have updated on Munster Puppies 2012 and 2013 plus I have updated dog show results for Cassie and Jas for 2013, another good year.

Enough of my ramblings, can’t you tell the weather is awful!

Hope you all have a wonderful 2014 and enjoy whatever the year holds for you . 

I can’t believe it was the beginning of September since I last wrote my blog. I seriously don’t know where the months go.

Some of you would be aware that we have had several attempts to get Ebby pregnant. She is my GSD. She was scanned not in pup after her last mating in September and I was thinking hard about what to do. Then out of the blue she started to drink and wee lots more than usual. I suspected a pyometra and took her to the vet with a urine sample. This was clear so we had a  blood test. This came back negative for any infection, the only thing abnormal was her calcium level which was high, this can be indicative of a tumour, somewhere.  Anyway to cut a long story short she had full body xrays and scans, more blood and urine tests, but all of these came back negative, except for this high calcium level. Our vet was wonderful, thank you Alex, but she was struggling to give a diagnosis. After she did more research and speaking to a veterinary cancer specialist we decided not to have a referral for a brain scan and bone marrow biopsy, as Ebby had been through enough tests.  Anyway the good news is the improvement to date is wonderful to see. Her drinking and weeing are back to normal and she looks really well, has loads of energy and is loving  herding the Munsters on their walks!  She is back to normal, how long for who knows, but long may it continue. 

The upshot of this is she will not be bred from so I have decided to have another Shepherd puppy. I have booked a puppy from Hilary, the lady that owns John. He is the long coat boy that I had chosen for Ebby’s husband. The mother to be is a beautifully bred girl with 2 of my favourite dogs in her pedigree, Zamp vom Thermodos and Ice vom Steinhauerberg, and to top it all a long coat. I am so excited so fingers crossed everything goes to plan.

While on the topic of puppies Mandy my partner in Yorkshire had a lovely litter from her girl Esther , the father of which was Oscar whom she bought off me almost 5 years ago !! Chris and I drove to see the litter when they were 5 weeks old. This was Mandy’s first litter and she should be so proud, they were beautiful. I felt really envious. She has retained a bitch puppy “Poppy” and she will hopefully come out in the show ring next year. I think she enjoyed the breeding experience as much as me and hopefully Crumpsbrook will go from strength to strength. “From little acorns mighty oaks do grow” . Here’s to a successful 2014 for us. 

Chris and I genuinely love hearing about the exploits of our puppies ,so many of you are brilliant at keeping us up to date. Please keep the photos and updates coming. We hope to see 2 of our babies over Christmas one from Cassies second litter who lives  in Yorkshire whom we have been invited to go and visit ,the other Jas’s sister from Cassies first litter, is coming with her parents on a visit whilst on route to friends. We always feel so proud of our puppies when we see how they have grown up .

Some of the pups are making appearences at a few shows, which is lovely to see .We still have plans for Jas next year to have a liason with Dougie,which is exciting. This litter will be our 4th generation of Munsters and all being well this will make Willow a great grandma.

We are always willing to have visitors here to meet our Munsters and we have had quite a few families being Munstered recently,such a lovely part of breeding dogs. Don’t forget we will be at Crufts in March so try to come and see us there. We are competing on Sunday 9th and I will be manning the Munster stand with various dogs on Thursday 6th.  

Finally for this year, enjoy Christmas with your doggies and I wish you all a brilliant 2014.

 Cassie, Jas and I  went to City of Birmingham Dog Show on Sunday.

In my last blog I said I hoped to qualify Cassie for Crufts next year,she has obviously been busy with motherhood and hasn’t been shown until August. I genuinely felt time was running out. I am proud of all my dogs, but this takes the biscuit, she actually won her Limit class which was in itself excellent. Bless her. We the then had to go into the challenge which is for all unbeaten bitches. Cassie and I have little experience of the dizzy heights of “the challenge”. Needless to say she was brilliant and after Christine won the ticket with Freya, I sensed the judge was looking hard at Cassie, then when he walked over to shake my hand I was so thrilled. Cassie had won the reserve ticket 4 months after having a litter of 11 pups. This now means she never has to qualify for Crufts again and Crumpsbrook now has 2 dogs, Cassie and her brother Oscar, with stud book numbers, both from Willows litter. 

Thanks to Mick Howes for thinking so highly of Cassie. I think she is beautiful, but then I would wouldn’t I !

Not wishing to leave Jas, Cassie’s daughter, out, she showed really well and was placed 3rd in a good class of post graduate bitches. She really needs to mature and grow her coat back. She is moulting at the moment, but I was happy with that result. 

Since the pups have gone, back in June, the weeks have gone by in a blur. The garden has kept us busy with a bumper crop of fruit and veg , there is nothing  quite like picking your own produce and the summer weather has been brilliant, such a difference to our floods last year.

Jas has been out and about. She did her first working test at a beautiful estate called Hall Barn. It was a first for both of us so quite nerve-racking, still she did me proud even though I made a few beginners errors.

The split retrieve test pleased me as she or I had never done one of those before but we scored really well. For those of you not in the know a split retrieve is when the dog sits by your left hand side and stays put while 2 dummies are thrown in 2 different directions. The handler then nominates one dummy to send the dog to first. The dog is then sent and must retrieve the chosen dummy and present it to the handler and then wait to be sent for the second dummy. As you can imagine lots of dogs get very excited and rush off to the wrong dummy or some try to bring back both at once!  Jas was a star and retrieved both correctly for me.  I was so excited, she did her “dancing dog”.  Not really a gundog requirement ,but I love it.

Having so many animals at home plus my training commitments at a weekend make it tricky for us to do more of these but both Chris and I hope to next season.

Her showing has had highs and lows. She has moved up to Post Graduate now and she looks very much the baby of the group. She seems to be recovering from her fright at a show earlier in the year when a Munster boy decided to try to mount her. 

Cassie is at last coming into coat again and she too has had to move up a class to Limit having won out of Post Graduate. She has had two 4ths so far. I’m hoping to qualify her for Crufts before the end of the season. She is beginning to look really well so here’s hoping.

One of Cassie’s pups, Micah or Shep as he was known ,came to stay while his family had a holiday. He fitted in so well, such a lovely boy. He came to Hall Barn with us with Jas and Cassie and behaved brilliantly. His gardening exploits were amusing, he loved to help!  He learnt incredibly quickly to ignore the poultry,which is always a concern with visiting dogs, but having chickens and ducks  that are used to dogs all helps. We were sad to see him go but delighted to see how happy he was to see his family again.

Ebby my Shepherd has had a busy Summer lots of sex !! Unfortunately to no avail, so far. She stayed with John in June for a week and was mated 3 times. We had our  fingers crossed but when she was scanned at 28 days no puppies. She had already missed earlier in the year so I was undecided what to do. Bless her, she made my decision for me by having a split season. These are fairly common. When a bitch fails to ovulate for what ever reason she often comes in again 4-6 weeks later. I quickly arranged with Hilary to visit John again and after lots or blood tests to pin point her day of ovulation Chris and I shared the 3 1/2 hour each way drive to Carmarthen on what hopefully was the ideal day. Time will tell. She is such a special girl and I have a list of people waiting for her puppies. Not a typical situation for Shepherds as they are a lot more common than Munsters. Fingers are crossed here.

 
We had a wonderful day at the seaside with Carol and Otto and all our girls. There were 3 humans and 5 dogs, plus picnic in Betty, my Berlingo. No mean feet. We were all invited to The Rushan’s holiday cottage in Aberdovey where Sully (Jas’s brother) was on his holidays. We all descended onto the beach there ,which is amazing.  Most of it is dog friendly even in the height of the Summer. I think people thought they were being invaded by Munsters 5 of them plus Ebby of course, but they loved it. It was a glorious day, we all paddled and watched the dogs playing in the waves .

We then walked back to the cottage via Aberdovey’s ice cream shop where we all indulged, even the dogs were treated by Carol. The day ended with Fish and Chips, perfect. 

Mandy, my Crumpsbrook partner in Yorkshire, is on tenterhooks at the moment waiting for her first litter from Esther. She has been confirmed in pup to Oscar, Cassie’s brother, so exciting times ahead for Crumpsbrook Munsters. Can’t wait to go and see them. I know she has a huge list. Both Mandy and I are really choosy about our pups new families and people genuinely seem to appreciate our extra care. 

Some of you may be aware plans are afoot for next year for Jas .We are planning to mate her to Dougie, Paddockridge Rulander, who belongs to Kate and Matt our friends in Stourbridge. They are as excited as we are here. I have received so many enquiries  for pups already but there is a long way to go yet.

Thank you all for keeping us updated with info about your Crumpsbrook dogs. We absolutely love being kept informed as to their exploits. So many are doing various exciting activities including agility, showing, hawking and more traditional gundog activities.

It makes us so proud and all the hard work of raising a litter more than worthwhile. It really is why we do it. Keep the photos coming. We have updated the most recent litter photos and will update the older litters soon.

Sorry this blog is so long but the summer has been busy with lots to fill you in on. 

 Hope it won’t be so long until the next one.

We went to W.E.L.K.S at Malvern today, it was lovely to be outside after last summers awful weather. Jas’s brother Henry came to his first show with his owners and Karen was brave enough to show him herself. He did Crumpsbrook proud by gaining second place and a Crufts qualification for 2014 . Brilliant.

I think Karen and Henry enjoyed their day enough to come to some more shows and join in in our lovely hobby . Henry is a super boy and will improve with maturity, much like his Dad Harry. Everything is correct and with practice he and Karen will make a winning team I am sure..

Jas maintained her winning form by being placed first in her first junior class. Bitch classes are always tough but she shows so well, really striding out and looking so happy, she is a joy.

Congratulations to our friends Kate and Matt their Munster Dougie, Paddockridge Rhulander got the reserve CC. Well deserved.

Jas’s next outing is The National at Stafford in a couple of weeks.

Happy Easter to everyone. I feel I should be sending Christmas cards. Enjoy these pictures and video clip of Pepper doing his Quarter Horse impression in the snow.

Thanks to everyone for sending photographs and video clips of mine and Jas’s wonderful day at Crufts 2013. Enjoy!

Just got back from the vets ,Cassie scanned in pup ,hurrah ! saw 3/4 just like last time and there were 11 so who knows . The only down side is she will not be going to Crufts now on Saturday , with Jas. Still she will have many more years ahead of her

I have been fairly confident for a few days now about Ebby also being in pup ,her tummy is really growing. I waited until today just in case I had my doughts and I could have had her scanned too . But it really wasn’t necessary,she is positively blooming!

Chris and I are chuft ,I do get puppy withdrawal symptoms .I have several puppies already booked for both litters, anyone interested do get in touch.

I will let everyone know how Saturday goes ,wish us luck.

I am pleased to report both Cassie and Ebby had positive liaisons with their respective partners. Cassie surprised me by coming into season earlier than expected but that’s dogs for you . Chris and I made the decision to go with both as there is no guarantees either will have pups.Both litters are due at the beginning of April. Fingers crossed both pregnancies will be trouble free.Both girls will have scans the last week in March, so watch this space. Bookings for both litters are very pleasing with some lovely people declaring interest. Do contact me if you wish to chat about either litter.

Jas has had her DNA. test result for HUU. which is clear. She had her xray results for her hips and elbows which are 2,3 hips 0 elbows so I am delighted .

Crufts is coming up on the horizon only a few weeks, Jas is going but Cassie will stay at home ,the risks are too great with so many dogs in one place .

Its raining here again and I am pleased to report no floods !!

Introducing our new family member, he along with Sky has come to stay for a short while !

Well the girls got their wish granted for snow to play in. Chris took me to Manchester Champ Show at Stafford on Sunday. We got there fine the main roads were good , the homeward journey was another matter it had snowed all day here and Betty my car only just made it home. Still it was a good day Jas won her first junior class under a Munsterlander specialist judge, against some good opposition. Cassie is very hormonal at the moment, she is not eating terribly well ,normal for her, she often does this when her season is due and is very apathetic so she was not interested in showing herself off .Something she does very well normally. Next outing weather permitting is the club show.

We had a good journey to meet John in Carmarthen, thankfully the week before the weather degenerated. I am in love, what a handsome boy and I feel the pups will be divine. Take a look at Shepherd Puppy Plans 2013 for pictures of John. Ebby came into season and will be due to visit John for her romantic liason in a few days. I am working on Chris to allow me to keep a long coat bitch puppy, fingers crossed.

Congratulations must go to Matt, Kate and Dougie. They have done a magnificent job of making Dougie ,their Munster, up to a full champion. In other words he is one of a few Munsters that is a show ring champion and a working gundog champion. What an incredible achievment.

Jas has had her hips and elbows xrayed and I am awaiting her scores .She has also had her DNA. test for HUU. and much to my delight she is clear.Fingers crossed for low scores for her hips and elbows.

Enjoy the snow with your dogs, while it lasts .

Cassie and Harry’s puppies are one year old today. Thanks to Ben and his folks for Jas’s card. Here she is, posing with it.

It is so rewarding for me to know how loved the litter are and what special people they are becoming.

All the girls are hoping for some snow to play in , lets hope it’s not too much !

We had various visitors over the Christmas New Year break, I managed to take the photo of Jas and Sully lying in a brief moment of sunshine ,watched over by Patrick, our donkey . We had a family walk with Otto, Willows son ,Cassie’s brother and Sully with their respective owners which was lovely ,we rounded it off with lunch and a glass of wine or two at our house. The final photo is of Cassie, Otto and Sully taken before Christmas in a dull but very pretty frosty morning .

I have had my first Munsterlander  judging appointment, which I thoroughly enjoyed,even though it was a long wait ,but that’s another story! I found it difficult not fussing the dogs and Dougie especially wondered what he had done to upset his Aunty Jo.

Ebby my GSD. Is hopefully going to have another litter, she is due in season in February. I have always had a soft spot for long coat shepherds ,Ebby’s mum Ash was a long coat and holds a special place in my heart,( do look at her page under Shepherds) so I am excited to say we are going to see a male with a wonderful pedigree and excellent xray results ,something I have struggled to find. I will let you know how the visit goes.

I still intend to do a repeat mating with Cassie and Harry,so it looks like 2013 might be busy . That will be the last litters for a couple of years until Jas grows up as my girls only do the motherhood job twice.

Any interest in either litter do contact me, both have wait lists started.

Happy New Year to everyone, keep the news coming .

What a year its been, started with a wonderful litter of Cassie and Harry’s puppies. All the pups went to wonderful homes and are keeping busy in a variety of pursuits, ranging from agility, showing ,working gun dogs and hawking. They are excelling at being family pets and are truly adored. I cannot let this moment go without mentioning Cheshire Quill. Her family had the most awful experience of having to deal with the loss of their baby. She unfortunately died from liver damage due to poisoning. The  post mortem results could not confirm the type of poison. It just gives us all a wake up call to be ever vigilant of what our precious pets have access to.

After a very dry early Spring it started to rain, it feels like it hasn’t stopped since. As previously mentioned we have been flooded twice, but our new drainage ditches appear to be working well.

Johnson my cob became very ill and had to spend a week in hospital with peritonitis, I was so lucky to catch it early and have such wonderful service from my vets. He returned home and enjoyed a wonderful time competing with Pete, a good friend of ours, who has used Johnny to give him some much needed experience doing dressage show jumping and cross country. Poor Pete has had a rotten time with his horses and has now hopefully found a new partner Fergus,  he is only 3 and has a way to go yet .Chris and Pepper and Johnny and Pete have had a brilliant time both being succesful and getting rosettes every time, Go Boys !

My car “Berty Bellingo” became terminally ill and was replaced by “Betty Bellingo”, something we could have done without. So all in all it has been a year of high’s and low’s.

Cassie and Jas have had a good season in the show ring. Cassie has won out of Post Graduate now and will move up a class to limit. I am so proud of her. Her daughter Jas came out 1/2 way through the season annd even though her growth has been irregular i.e. she has been bum high, she finished the season on a high winning a couple of classes. Both she and her mum have qualified for Crufts so along with Oscar, Cassie’s brother, that will make 3 home bred Crumpsbrook Munsters at Crufts, unbelievable! If any of you fancy coming along to support us on Gundog day, Saturday, come along,  it would be great to see you. There is a kennel club Crufts website.

My behaviour degree has had to take a back seat during our flood repairs but I am back on course now and will do my dog aggression modules next year. I am loving my training and behaviour work and I seem to be getting busier which is fantastic. I have separated my training and behaviour from Crumpsbrook  and now have a separate website www.mannerlymutts.co.uk . Take a look if you get a minute, Chris will add more articles as time allows.

I have decided to mate Cassie again to Harry in 2013 at her next season. I have been so thrilled with the last litter, their adaptability, characters and quality is so good and Harry is not getting any younger, he is 11 now so hopefully he will be up to the job in the Spring. I already have bookings for this litter so if anyone is interested do get in touch.

Do keep in touch with your news on your puppies activities, I realise the website has taken a back-seat this summer, (Chris has posted new photos on the Musnterlander puppies 2012 page) but hopefully we are back on the case now .

All that remains is for me to wish you all a merry Christmas and a happy 2013

Jo