THURSDAY 31ST DECEMBER

We had a fabulous Christmas and after just one day back at work I now have a fewseveral days off. Can't believe anoher year is over and the start of a new decade begins tomorrow. I'm too old to make NY resolutions but I am determined not to miss as many shows next year - fingers crossed that is possible. Having said that Kizzy's litter is due the day of Manchester so fingers crossed she has them a day or two early or we will start 2010 the way 2009 finished with many shows missed!!!!

Next year's show team will consist of Ollie, Ziva. Frankie, Nellie, Perry and Martha. Chester, Ginny and Ross are now retired. Kizzy will join in towards the back end of the year - Kerys will stay at home most show days keeping Kizzy company whilst she grows her coat back after what will probably be her last litter. Can you believe when she comes back to the ring she will be a veteran!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR FRIENDS AND FELLOW SPRINGER OWNERS.

THURSDAY 24TH DECEMBER
At last the snow is thawing and we can see more green than white when we look out into the garden. Hope all our friends have a great Christmas - can't believe it has come round so quickly.

TUESDAY 22ND DECEMBER
Just couldn't wait any longer, went to the vet today to confirm whether or not Kizzy was expecting. She certainly looked it but I would always rather have the "scientific proof". So we went to the vet and he could see at least 4 - amazing scanner, you could even see their hearts beating.

MONDAY 21ST DECEMBER
How frustrating to have to cancel Kixxy's scanning appointment today. With the channel tunnel being closed "operation stack" causes chaos and the motorway is used as a lorry park, all surrounding roads become clogged. I didn't fancy travelling with my "precious cargo" in those conditions. So we may just pop to the vet this week to have a scan - which will tell us if she is pregnant at least even if I don't get the full information that our scanning lady usually gives us. Hopefully I can get the car off the drive a bit easier this morning! With snow and ice still on the ground it was very tricky trying to get out to get to work yesterday!!

SUNDAY 20TH DECEMBER
As predicted another show missed, just not safe to travel far locally although I am sure the roads further afield were probably okay. Guess I wasn't too dispapointed, Ollie has been off his food with bitches in season and is subsequently lacking a little in the body department. He's always been a picky eater and uses any excuse not to eat, hoping he will grow out of it!

TUESDAY 15TH DECEMBER
Went to the Christmas Party at Tunbridge Wells & Distric Canine Society tonight - they put on a good spread of food, a quiz (which our table won) then it is on to the serious business of the evening with the "Dog and Puppy of the Year" competitions. Like most clubs all dogs that with the monthly match (in adult or puppy) qualify for this end of year final. I had two puppies through although Ziva stayed at home as she is in season. Ollie, looking a little lean (off his food due to Ziva being in season!) went well in the puppy comp but was beaten by a beautiful Borzoi. Frankie competed in the adult final and we were thrilled went he was declared TWDCS Dog of the Year. Following on from that the cups and trophies are presented for the dogs which have won the most points at open and championship shows throughout the year (for non CC winners only). Imagine our delight when Frankie was awarded top dog and Ollie was awarded top puppy. I was very proud of my boys. We even managed to win a bottle of wine in the raffle - so a pretty good evening all round!! Thanks to the hardworking organisers who put on a great party every year.

FRIDAY 18TH DECEMBER
Snow arrived today to celebrate the Kizzy Kids first birthday. Hopefully the snow will clear so we can get to the scanner appointment on Monday for Kizzy.

Not a lot of show news as we seem to have missed so many lately, looks like Sunday might be a "no-show" with this weather, we will have to see.

SATURDAY 6TH DECEMBER
Walter joined us a week ago and has his feet firmly under the table. He is a real sweetie.

More exciting news arrived on Thursday in the shape of Perry and Martha's Cord 1 results. They both came back CLEAR - HOORAH!!!! It means we could use either our own Frankie or Ollie with with Martha if it looks like a good match, likewise Perry with Ziva or Kerys. But that's way off in the future.

Great news from Vicky Warrener that Dexbenella Gracie May has been mated - fingers crossed for some lovely babies for you Vicky, it will be exciting to see the different colours as she has been mated to a b/w.

THURSDAY 26TH NOVEMBER
Exciting news that Kizzy has been mated to Seamus (Sh Ch & Nordic Ch Brecho Hold Your Horses at Peasblossom) - we will find out if she is in whelp just before Christmas. Fingers crossed.

We hope to be joined by a new member of the Dexbenella clan this weekend. Steve has found himself a super 17 month old Teckel called "Walter". A Teckel is a working Dachshund (standard size, wirehaired) they are used for tracking and he is going to work for Steve in his deer management.

MONDAY 16TH NOVEMBER
At last some pictures of the puppies posted today. We have made decisions on what to run on, and the new puppies are called Dexbenella Sea The Stars (Perry) and Dexbenella Sariska (Martha). These names come from the Derby and Oaks winners this year.

SUNDAY 15TH NOVEMBER
Had a really enjoyable day at Discover Dogs with Frank competing in the JW semi-finals. Frank was drawn into the half judged by Marita Rodgers - and we were delighted when he was pulled out in a shortlist of 10 dogs out of the 32 in his section. Despite trying his hardest for me we didn;t make the final 5 - but we had a lovely day and it was a pleasure to take part.

SATURDAY 14TH NOVEMBER
Apologies for lack of news, Having the house rewired has completely blown our routines. Had to miss another show last weekend as with 5 workmen in the house and the puppies being in the house still due to the expected fireworks it was impossible to get there.

SUNDAY 1ST NOVEMBER
It was the fabulous East Kent show today - they put up nearly £2,500 prize money - and everyone who is placed gets a share!! We entered three dogs an came home with out fuel paid and entries covered and a a nice tidy profit besides (enough for a takeway and a bottle of wine). My dogs did me proud. Ollie won Puppy, Kerys was second in Post Graduate (well out of her depth age and maturity-wise so I was very pleased with that), Ollie won the Puppy Challenge and then Frankie won a nice Open Class and BOB. Nothing in the group this week, but that is the way it goes sometimes. Kerys topped the day off very nicely by winning a lovely Puppy Stakes calss (and £20 to go with it). It was a lovely day at the show, leisurely brunch after the breed judging with friends catching up with doggy and non doggy news.

Not looking forward to the coming week. We are having the whole house rewired - what a nightmare it threatens to be. Hopefully I will want to escape and get to the ESSC of Wales, just hoping we have power outside in the grooming room - otherwise my dogs will not get trimmed and bathed for the show.

FRIDAY 30TH OCTOBER
At last some more pics of the puppies added today - as soon as I can get Steve behind the camera I'll post some standing shots of them.

SUNDAY 25TH OCTOBER
Hideously early start for Midland Counties today - would have been even worse if we'd been first in the ring. Ollie got a second in the breed and a lovely 4th in the Puppy stakes. Ziva delighted us with a win in Puppy bitch.

SUNDAY 18TH OCTOBER
One of my favourite shows today - the SWESSC - had a lovely day, lots of wins - Ollie was Best Puppy in Show. Came home with a stack of dog food.

SATURDAY 10TH OCTOBER
Puppies are piling on the ounces still, Nellie is being a super mum. Although we were a little disappointed to have just four babies, they are so easy for her to look after and she is doing them really well. Added some pics today - look in the Puppies/Nellie's first litter page.

THURSDAY 8TH OCTOBER
Been too busy gazing at the puppies to add any news lately. Happy to report that the babies have over trebled their birth weight and are doing really well. Enlisted puppysitters today (thanks Anne) and got to a show - the Horsham show at Ardingly. We had a pretty good day!! Franks was BOB and Ollie was BPIB under Maureen Read, then amazingly Frank won the Group and Ollie the Puppy Group under Sue Warrington (Zakova Cocker Spaniels). And to finish the day off in style Frankie went RBIS !!! I was very proud of my boys. Thanks go to Daisy again for helping in the challenge.