St David's Show

We do try to support the local companion shows in our area, particularly if they're held to raise money for charity.  They are a great place to give young dogs some ring experience, and the same for young handlers.  They can also be useful to try new techniques with a dog that is having some difficulty in the ring, you might not want to try something new at an open or champ show.  These events tend to be well supported by our ring craft club and the horse and pony community who bring their dogs to the shows alongside their equestrian pals.

The sun shone on the day, I think that last year was quite wet and cold so the sun was most welcome.  Eleanor had Eve entered in the Sporting (gundogs, terriers and hounds) class and was thrilled with her 2nd place in this huge class.  She is still rather immature at just under 18 months but looked great.
Tasha had entered Trio in the open class, open to all breeds, a class that she won to our surprise!  She then had to stay in the ring to contest for BIS, which she was awarded!  Such a lovely way to go on maternity duties - out on a win.

The girls were in the same age group for a change for junior handling, they pushed each other really hard and Eleanor was awarded 1st with Tasha coming just behind her with a 2nd. 

They both entered a number of fun classes with all of the dogs, and came home with a lovely collection of rosettes.  They also each brought a trophy for the cabinet, well done girls!

We then stopped off at St David's airfield for a lovely walk before heading home all ready for a rest.

The National Dog Show

This was our first champ show since Crufts in March, it was a bit of a shock to start the day so early!  Anyway, 4.30 saw us on the road, a wet start but we hoped that we would leave the rain behind - which we did.  It wasn't exactly glorious sunshine when we arrived but at least it was dry.


9.00 o'clock saw a very prompt start for junior handling and LMs.  Eleanor and Tasha took themselves off to the BIS ring for their classes whilst I got Morry ready to go in the ring.  Rookie (Seahaven Celtic Commander) was first in the ring for us with Jess in the Under Graduate class, which he won.  He looked fab and has matured so much over the last few months.  Morry (Seahaven Celtic Psalm) hadn't been to a show since last summer, but he was such a little star and settled back into it like an old hand.  He gained a VHC in the Post Graduate class, and moved like a dream so very pleased with him. Rookie was back in for the challenge, but didn't go any further.  Eleanor was asked by Lynn to move Alfie (Raycris Quite the Charmer) for her as he has such a big stride and she felt one of the girls would get the best out of him.  Eleanor did a fab job handling him to a 3rd in Open Dog.  Can't wait to see what he and Trio produce with her puppies next month.


The girls were in soon after, with Megane (Seahaven Celtic Cariad) in both Undergraduate and Post Graduate.  Hazel had worked so hard to settle her before going in the ring, and it paid off with her winning both classes!  She also qualified for the challenge, and didn't go any further, but this was a fab achievement for her and Hazel.


Seahaven had put together a team for the breeders competition, and we won the best breeder in breed with Rookie, Morry, Megane and Trio!

LM Team in the Breeders Competition, best breeder in breed and gundog group 3

For the first time ever the tollers were in adjacent rings, and after a very short break were in the ring.  Bron (Seahaven Gloriana) and Eve (Seahaven Parish Bell) were both entered in a large Junior Bitch class.  Bron was awarded 3rd, and Eve VHC so pleased with this results is such a strong class.  Bron then went on to beat her older sister Milly (Seahaven Red Andromeda) in Post Graduate Bitch!  Bron having a 2nd and Milly having 3rd.  Tilly was in Open Bitch and went well, even if she was very short on coat to get a Reserve.  Tasha had been asked to handle a couple of younger dogs who were having their first time in the ring, she did a great job and like Eleanor was delighted to be given the privilege of handling for someone else.  We also entered the breeders competition with the tollers, the first time we've ever had the two breeds entered at the same show.  We we managed to best breeder in breed for the NSDTRs as well!

We were very quickly ushered over to the main ring as they were waiting for us to start the judging of the breeders group comp.  So not much time to gather our thoughts or strategy!

NSDTR breeder team- Eve, Bron, Milly & Cooper

The girls led a team each, Eleanor with the tollers and Tasha with the LMs, so a little bit of friendly sibling rivalry! Well the Tollers won the group, with the LMs getting group 3!  So very proud to have the support of owners staying for this, it really does mean a tremendous amount to us.

We've Been on Holiday!

I set off for Pembrokeshire with the pups this last week for a long awaited break!

We stayed in a place geared towards dog owners so it was perfect, a static caravan in 1/4 acre enclosed by a 6ft fence!

We arrived in the evening and had a quiet night after the long trip. In the morning we set off for Marloes beach, which was lovely, but I had read the tide times wrong :) whoops. So we nearly got stuck!

We then met up with Donna and the Seahaven girls and after a lovely lunch headed out for a walk (minus my antisocial girls!!)

Tilly

Trio looking gorgeous

Tilly and Rookie

Rookie a bit upset that toller is stepping on the ballie haha

Rookie, Eve, Tilly and Trio

Tilly

Rookie

Day 2 we went to Freshwater East

Day 3 Freshwater West which was completely beautiful!

The next day we headed to Sandy Haven, a very pretty inconspicuous little place.

The next day we had a more relaxing day and decided to explore the fields and the woods around the area we were staying.

The most dramatic point to date haha. Rabbits in the undergrowth!

And the final day we went to Barafundle bay, a lovely cliffside walk with RABBITS EVERYWHERE!! So the gundogs stayed on the lead until we got to the beach! 

An early start the day after to go to Stafford for the National Dog Show, where Rookie won Undergraduate Dog. 

He was a good boy and enjoyed his day out with lots of attention! Well done to the rest of the Seahaven crew, a great day and fab to see you all :)

Jess and one sleepy munster Rookie.

Aberystwyth Open Show

After the very quiet spring we seem to have become really busy really quickly!

Friday saw us (Eve & I) travel to Portsmouth, along with two friends and their dogs to have their hips/elbows x rayed.  It was a first for all of us to attend the Southern Canine Imaging Centre, and we were all delighted with the way the dogs were treated.  The x rays were all completed under sedation meaning that the dogs could leave just after they images had been taken.  This allowed us to then enjoy a lovely lunch in a nearby pub before heading home.  Now we have to await the results from the BVA, we will all have to be patient as the current wait is about six weeks.

Today we took all four dogs along to Aberystwyth for the open show, a favourite of ours.  It was an early start as the juniors were first in the ring, but it was worth the effort.  Eleanor won both the JHA & YKC class with Eve, they are now qualified for the Crufts handling finals in 2015 and Richmond finals in September.  Tasha worked well with Trio to gain a 2nd place in both of her classes with Trio, qualifying for Richmond as well.  So pleased as all of the classes were strong in terms of numbers and quality of handling.

Trio  with Tasha in breed

Large Munsterlander class, saw Maddie winning and Trio second, and Maddie having BOB!  No breed class for the tollers so they had to make do with a AVNSC class.  Eve wasn't placed in her class but litter sister Bron (Seahaven Glorianna) was awarded a Res in both Graduate and Open.  Tilly just pipped her to gain a 3rd in the open class.

 

LM judging

Bron

Eve

There was such a long wait for the stakes classes that we very nearly didn't stay!  Good job that we did as Tasha handled Maddie & Trio to 1st place in the brace, with Eleanor handling Tilly & Eve to 3rd.  This was out of a huge entry of 13!!
It was a lovely day spent in good company and the rain held off which meant that judging for the gundogs remained in a large outside ring.

Large Munsterlander Litter Planned for the Summer!

Trio (Seahaven Borrowed Heaven) & Alfie (Raycris Quite the Charmer)

After a lot of thought and consideration we decided to go ahead and mate Trio!  As her season was so late and we knew that she could go even longer until the next season we thought that it was time to have another litter.  This did make planning this slightly problematic, as we were planning on having her eyes tested when we go The National Dog Show in May as she was due a eye test.  Thankfully there was a clinic being held in Swansea yesterday and we hoped that we could get an early appointment, however as it was Easter we couldn't get hold of the clinic to make an appointment.  Thankfully Mr Cormie was very accommodating and fitted us in at short notice, this would enable us to have the test and then travel north to Alfie.

The day didn't start well with us planning on arriving in Swansea early to at least be available if the clinic was running ahead of time and have the eye drops in.  We managed to set of at a decent time but after ten miles realised that I'd left my purse at home!  So a quick return which initially delayed us by half an hour, the traffic was dreadful as the rain was creating a lot of spray on the road and visibility was poor. We arrived at the clinic as Mr Cormie arrived and he put drops into Trio's eyes straight away so that he could test her as soon as he had set up.  As she was in season we left her in the car until the last minute, when we did go in it was a German convention!  A LM, two Schnauzers, and a Doberman!  Thankfully all was well and she got a A1 pass!!

We were all set to travel up to meet with Alfie!  Just over four hours later we arrived in Rotherham, Lynn had kindly agreed to meet us there to save us travelling another hour to her house.  A quick cup of tea and a catch up with Lynn, Christine and Ray and then down to business. 

Alfie was a complete gentleman, and after a little bit of coaxing got down to business.  Trio wasn't the usual wanton hussy and took some persuasion! However we did have a successful mating and a good tie of 20 minutes.

After travelling all the way up it was then time to travel home, and finally arrived home in the early hours of Thursday.  We did have a bit if fun (only word for it!) on the M43 at Birmingham trying to get on the M5, we passed the sign for Shirley more times than I'd have liked!  We even managed to very nearly visit Lucy's old house just off the A45, how the satnav sent us there I'll never know!  Over 10 hours of driving and over 600 miles, we certainly travel for the best.

Now it's time to wait and see if we have the patter of paws at the end of June!

Cooper is back!

Well - seems like ages since I've written anything so just a quick catch up.

Today we went to the West Country Dog Show in Thornbury Leisure Centre. We really like this show - easy to get to, good free parking, acres of fields and woods to run around after, and lots of space in the hall to strut your stuff. A really well run show. Toller classes too which is welcomed in an Open show. I was in Post Graduate. There were only two classes, with Open as well. Fifteen toller entries - for an Open show that is really good. I went well and got a Third - not as good as last year, but it was a tougher class.

On Saturday I'm in WELKS in Malvern, then early in May it's up to Stafford. So a bit of travelling to come. I love the shows but not the ring too much. I like to meet all the other dogs and have a good scream when I see others getting excited. I'm also at the age now when I'll tell off any other testosterone fuelled dogs if they push their face into mine. Hey - I know I get a row for it but you can't be a shrinking violet all your life! It's all handbags really - I'm fine in the ring.

Had some fun last week with a few walks along Neath Canal. A bit of excitement one day in particular when I detected a distinct "duck" smell down an embankment off the side of the canal. Rushed down to have a closer look and a huge Mammy Mallard took off. And you know what was under her - a load of lovely looking eggies. I sniffed all around them - they smelled really good - they looked even better. But then Dad screamed at me to come back before I could have any for breakfast. Pity - because I'm sure they'd have been delicious. Dad took me back the next day - on a lead at this part - to check everything was OK and lo and behold, Mammy Mallard was back in the same place, keeping the eggs nice and cosy. I can't wait to see those little ducklings swimming in my canal!

Having a Relaxing Spring

Well after such a busy start to the year, we've been having a more restful April and it hasn't done any of us any harm at all!

The dogs have been enjoying some nice walks, and it's been so much easier with the drier weather and lighter evenings.  We've even managed to get some of the agility equipment out now that the ground has dried up, and Eve will start her agility classes in a few weeks time.  Eleanor has been introducing her to some foundation work and she is very keen to work for her, so all is looking positive.

We have changed our vehicle back to a van, and just need to oganise caging to have it ready to go for the show season.  It was sad to say goodbye to the Tepee, but another member joining the Seahaven dog family we just needed the extra room. 

The tollers are being walked separately at the moment due to both Maddie and Trio being in season.  It's amazing the difference in how the dogs act on their walks depending on who's with who.  The munsters really do encourage the tollers to move when they're all out together.  On the plus side they have been much more enthusiastic to swim, as they are so keen with the munstes as they get to the retrieve first.

Tilly & Eve

Having fun in the river

Decisions, decisions!

Trio is late coming into season, and we are planning a litter from her. Do we mate her this time, or do we wait until next season?  Really not sure what to do, we have some people on our puppy list, but would prefer to have some more before going ahead with a mating.  If we wait we may well lose some of these!!  If anyone is considering a LM puppy please do get in touch for a chat.