Dog shows, Our Dogs

Mouse -Top Stud 2018

We are so happy to announce that Mouse, Foxthyme Maori, is Our Dogs‘ Lancashire Heeler Top Stud 2018.

He is a very handsome chap with a jaunty step and together with our Pickle, Ch Rosepip Neteret Eset, has given us three amazing litters.

2018 was a stunning year for Madincrowd and Mouse’s Madincrowd offspring helped earn him his title:

  • Dora, Madincrowd Bathsheba JW, winning her first Challenge Certificate at Crufts, and then a second at Paignton Champ Show;
  • Katy, Madincrowd Mercy Chant, winning her first Challenge Certificate as a puppy at the Welsh Kennel Club Champ Show, and taking Reserve CC at National Working & Pastoral Champ Show
  • Boris, Ch Madincrowd Gabriel JW, winning Challenge Certificates at East of England and South Wales Champ Shows
Katy – The Mighty Mouse – Boris

Crufts, Discover Dogs

Discover Dogs, Crufts 2019

Once again we helped out on the Discover Dogs stand at Crufts 2019 on Thursday and Friday.  It was extremely busy both days and lots of interested people to talk to.  We were even interviewed by a group of French students who were doing a school project on Dog Breeders, their English was very good as my French is virtually non-existent but their list of questions was two pages long!

It was fun that we were on the stand with Flora and Trevor, mother and son, who are beautiful liver and tan Heelers.  Many people were interested to see the two contrasting colours as our dogs are the usual Black and Tan, and often the photos do not do the liver colour justice.

Trevor, at just five months’ old, attracted an awful lot of attention 🙂

It is an exhausting day for both dogs and owners but we all love doing it since we are happy to talk Heelers all day long!

Crufts, Discover Dogs, Dog shows

Dora’s Crufts Trophy

For the past year we have been looking after a fourth Heeler though unfortunately we shall have to say farewell to her this week; Dora’s Crufts Trophy for Lancashire Heeler Best Bitch will be returning to Crufts to be passed on to the next winner of the title.

 

Dora, Madincrowd Bathsheba JW, won the beautiful wooden trophy which was presented last year by Foxthyme in memory of Jackie Cartledge, who we all sadly miss, especially around the show ring which is an emptier place without her.   So we wish everyone attending the best of luck and enjoy your day in the ring – we all take the best dog home whatever happens!

 

We won’t be showing this year but will be on the Discover Dogs stand as usual so do hope to see some of you at Crufts 🙂

 

Game Fair

Hampshire Country Show – May 2018

It was a blisteringly hot couple of days at the Hampshire Country Show on 6-7 May 2018 – quite the opposite to Thame a month ago!

Everyone was feeling the heat and we had taken our cool coats for the dogs which they wore all day long.  Many people were asking why our dogs were wearing coats in the heat and were surprised when touching them how cool and refreshing they were – we were also asked if there was a human version as there was very little shade on the showground!  Maybe there is a marketing opportunity here?  We were allowed to pack up slightly early on Bank Holiday Monday due to the heat for the sake of all the animals on display.

 

Trying to keep in the shade
Dave doing his first stint at entertaining the public!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were joined by Dave and his family – Dave was the puppy dog from our December 2017 litter and is now living in Calne. He was a natural and enjoyed entertaining his adoring public!

Spot, Dora’s brother from our first litter, came with owner Sandra for both days to help out.  He also managed to find the energy to enter Chase the Bunny Competition on the Monday where he was competing against all sizes of dogs (apart from greyhounds and lurchers) and he performed brilliantly to win through and become Chase the Bunny Champion!  He will now come to Bowood Game Fair for the Chase the Bunny Grand Final later in the year – a great day for Heelers all round 🙂 and our grateful thanks to our helpers and their dogs.

By the end of Sunday we retired to the caravan exhausted, the dogs had done so well and kept going in the relentless heat – Bilbo, whose batteries never seem to run down, eventually caved in and flaked out covered by his comfort blanket:

Agility, Fun with dogs

FAB Agility Show

Today we attended our first proper FAB Agility Show at the Turnpike Showground in Motcombe.  Just took Dora for practice and to fathom out how an agility show works – quite a lot of waiting around for your turn but everyone is very friendly and helpful to “Newbies”!  Our trainer Tracy Ryan was there competing and pointed us in the right direction although in the excitement of running the course I completely lost my way but Dora was amazing and did the correct route regardless – we didn’t do the weaves as we haven’t got the hang of doing 12 yet!

It was lovely to have the company of Jean and Jazz who at 10 years’ old had not forgotten what agility was all about!  And thanks to Jack for taking the video of our first run.

Dora taking a break
Agility, Fun with dogs, Health

Couch to 5k with your dog

How to get fitter for agility – Couch to 5k with your dog!

Dora and I have started a 9 week course of Couch to 5k with Poole Joggers.   Well, I have joined Poole Joggers and Dora accompanies us on the two practice runs in between! It is a course especially designed for beginners – based on the NHS Couch to 5k plan  – and is ideal for anyone looking to take up running, meet new friends and get active!

You can download the NHS App from the above link and do it yourself or, as we do, use the app to help you on the two runs you have to do during the week.  Dora kept up really well and has the company of her friend Podrick, a standard poodle, who runs rings around her while the rest of us are struggling to keep up the pace at the moment!  I am sure it will get easier in time 🙂

More photos to follow, if I survive …

 

Our Dogs

Dora in pastel!

I decided I would like a portrait of Dora in pastel for my birthday/Christmas present last year to go with the portraits we have of our other dogs.  I wanted an artist who could capture her look and after some research found a local Dorset artist, Mark Hankinson, who had done some amazing dog portraits.

So, here is the finished portrait which has just gone off to be framed – we think it has caught Dora’s look exactly as she often sits like this in the sunshine, watching the world go by, but with an eye out for mischief and ready to shoot off at the drop of a hat – after a pigeon, squirrel or postman!

 

Fun with dogs

Recipe for Liver Cake

Making your own dog treats isn’t that complicated and is a way of knowing exactly what ingredients go into the treats.   Our dogs absolutely love the liver cake treats and will do anything for them!

This is a very easy recipe and you can basically use whatever sort of flour you have in the cupboard – I often use a mixture of wholemeal and oats for example.  The garlic is optional but I add it as it helps keep the dogs healthy and as added protection against ticks and fleas.

For the little cupcakes in the photo above I made the recipe below but used the tiny cupcake cases for some of the mixture as it was for a party occasion 🙂  The ‘icing’ is a blob of basic cream cheese.

Recipe 

1lb liver

8oz pl flour

1 large egg

3 tbs olive oil

5 tbs water

Garlic – optional

 

Liquidise liver with egg, garlic, oil & water

Add flour to get a dropping consistency (add more flour or water if required)

Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper and spread the mixture in the tin

Bake 35-40 mins – 190C / 375F / Gas 5

Cut into tiny squares

Will keep for a week in fridge or can freeze in batches

Fun with dogs

How to make a Snuffle Mat!

Snuffle mats can be made very easily and keep dogs occupied using their nose to find either small treats or kibble – especially useful when the weather is wet – they are also easily portable and washable.

 

Click on Dora to see her in action!

 

You will need:
  • A fleecy throw or two (I found some in Wilko)
  • A Rubber mat – you can use an outdoor mat or a sink drainer
  • Sharp scissors
  • Plus some patience and a good film on tv!

Cut the fleece into long strips about 2 inches wide and varying in length from between 7 – 10 inches

  Knot the strips through each hole of the mat.

Keep going and either make up a pattern or keep the colours random – the dogs won’t mind!

 

The back will start to look like this.

 

Turn it over and the mat begins to take shape.