The puppies continue to grow and as they have been growing, I have studied each of their little bodies, temperaments, heads and expressions.
Most reputable breeders are breeding for themselves in hopes of improving their line of dogs with each generation. Sometimes you will get lucky and have a litter with all puppies being outstanding examples of the breed, but truly that is the exception. Most breeders are happy to have one fine dog that stands up well to the standard that the breed club writes for the breed. It is the blueprint for which you go forward with. Temperaments and health are equally as important, as we do not live with all of the dogs that we produce and it is not fair to the puppy buyer to have to live with difficult or unhealthy dogs.
The puppies hit the 8 week mark, which is the critical time for evaluation. Whilst I had hoped for another wonderful girl from this repeat breeding…….it was not to be this time. Here are the four puppies profile pictures………..can you tell me which one stands out to you?
Standing with the puppies is my youngest daughter, Hannah. Hannah has been raised with the dogs as she and my oldest Cavalier are only months apart in age. She is a fantastic little dog handler and just adores all of the dogs. You may ask………….."how did you get the puppies to stand so still?" Peanut-butter…….LOL.
With one of the puppies though, you will notice that she is nibbling on a piece of ham instead………she loved the peanut-butter so much so that I was afraid she was going to choke on it..!
The puppy that I call Big Boy (I need to come up a real name now) will stay, at least for a while. I will run him on to see if he continues to hold his body together as he grows for the show ring. Breeders are much harder on the boys at evaluation time, than the girls because you can not improve on them. With a girl, you can try to find a boy that will overcome a fault or two, when breeding for nice puppies……..but the boys don’t have that luxury…….they need to be really nice to go forward in a breeding program.
Whist all of these puppies have great temperaments and will make lovely companions, only one meets the standard close enough to go forward into a breeding program. The other puppies all have wonderful homes waiting for them.
Now Back To Knitting
(Too many hobbies my dh keeps telling me……too many hobbies)
With my morning coffee, while I read my favorite blogs, I have been slowly working on this Morehouse Merino Scarf. As it was moving along, I wasn’t sure that I liked the striping effect. Morehouse recommends using 2 skeins at a time, alternating every 2 rows, which I decided to do after the second narrow green stripe showed up. I still wasn’t sure that I liked it and was going to rip it out and work on a lace scarf instead, but something held me back…………………
If you could feel just how soft and extra cushiony (is that a word) you would understand my hesitation. The stitch in this pattern gives the fabric a WONDERFUL handle. I decided that given it is Paprika and I plan on wearing that paprika sweater and the paprika vest planned for my hand-spun yarn, a lot, that the softness of this fabric outweighed any of my questions about the striping.
Spring IS coming………….did you see the grass that little puppy is standing on?
WOO~HOO!!!!!!
The Woolen Rabbit 
I just love learning about these puppies! Will Hannah adjust to them finding new homes? I know what you mean about the MM – I think of it as cotton-y.
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the second puppy from the left stands out to me, but they all look great! If you’re only going to keep one, does that mean that the one nicknamed “Mouse” is going to a new home? Your daughter is a natural!
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The puppies……AWWWWWWWWW!
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I agree with Kristen. The pup with his or her tail curling up is the one that looks really well formed to me with a really attractive head. But i am not familiar with the breed standard, so I can’t really say. Just my preference. 🙂 They’re all so precious! 🙂
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I think the third picture of the puppy with a curl in his tail is the right dog..but what do I know. They are all beautiful. And your knittin’ ain’t half bad either:-)
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Oh. My. Gosh! Those puppies are beautiful. I’ve enjoyed watching them grow on here. I guess its a good thing I’m not a breeder. I know I’d get way too attached to the little darlings and go into a depression when I had to let them go. How’s mama’s back?
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Oh. My. Gosh! Those puppies are beautiful. I’ve enjoyed watching them grow on here. I guess its a good thing I’m not a breeder. I know I’d get way too attached to the little darlings and go into a depression when I had to let them go. How’s mama’s back?
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sorry my heart belongs to mouse
hahaha
what a cutie..
I adore her
vi
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Ooooh, puppy pics — a treat, as always!
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All of those puppies are just perfect to me. I will miss the puppy pictures when the go to their new homes. Just gorgeous little dogs. The scarf is coming along nicely.
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They are all so adorable! Do they already have owners?
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The second one stands out to me. Was there a “right answer”. They are all cute as heck!
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It’s Big Boy all the way. He has outstanding confirmation and I don’t know that much about dogs, but I used to know a lot about horse confirmation. If he has a pleasant disposition, all the better. I still think that little puny girl was a cutie and I think she overcame that runt thing.
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I don’t know the standard, either, but if I was picking a puppy for myself, I’d go with puppy number 3, with the little curl up to the tail. I like his stance; seems confident and the set of his shoulders. They’re all beautiful!
I’m glad spring is on the way for you, too!
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I kinda like puppy #4. He doesn’t have the curve in the tail, but looks how nice the curve in is neck is. But, I have no idea what I’m talking about since I’ve never even owned a dog. 😉
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I’m probably wrong, but is it puppy 2? I just wish I could reach into the PC and pick them up for a cuddle..:) I’m really gonna miss this batch when they are gone. They are special cause they were there when I first discovered ur blog. Happy spring time!
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I’ve no idea about puppy standards, but I’ll go for number 2 – nice straight back.
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They all look beautiful, you must have a good eye to spot the keeper.
How much do they weigh now? And when are they leaving? I’m sure going to miss the pictures and your writing about puppy raising.
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The puppy picture n°3 stands out to me. Is It that? But I see the grass that little puppy is standing on! What will be their real name now for their confirmation? Definitively : I love them!!
So long…
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Lovely puppies … you do an amazing job at raising them. But … the knitting project is fabulous and inspiring.
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