Posts filed under ‘Puppies’
Puppies: week 7
After enduring endless weeks of rain, high winds and unseasonably cold temperatures, conditions have at last returned to more normal for August and the puppies have finally been able to get out onto the grass, making life more interesting for them and much easier for us. Now fully weaned and (most, at least) with a full set of puppy teeth, they are readily tucking into their raw diet interspersed with goat’s milk and will soon be heading off to their exciting new lives in their loving new homes, so this coming week will be their final one with the whole litter together.
THE GIRLS
Miss Lime
Miss Orange
Miss Pink
Miss Purple
Miss Yellow
THE BOYS
Mr Black
Mr Blue
Mr Grey
Mr Red
BONUS / CUDDLE SHOTS
Mr Black
Miss Pink
Miss Lime
Mr Red
Puppies: week 6
Time is flying by and the puppies are looking very grown-up now, fully weaned from mum and getting stronger and more boisterous by the day. Once again, the often terrible weather has meant that they are indoors more than outdoors, but they certainly make the most of it when the sun does make an appearance.
THE GIRLS
Miss Lime
Miss Orange
Miss Pink
Miss Purple
Miss Yellow
THE BOYS
Mr Black
Mr Blue
Mr Grey
Mr Red
Mr Red – stacking practice
Puppies: week 5.
The pups have been dodging torrential rain and gale-force winds throughout most of this week but we’ve still managed to get them out for at least a few hours every day and, as a result, they have quickly become immune to all of the racket from the storms raging in the trees around them.
They have also enjoyed lots of visitors and additional cuddles through the week, as well as becoming super-adept at eating solids from their feeding bowls. Now, at 5 weeks of age, they have transitioned almost entirely onto their raw food diet with mum making visits to feed only once a day, and this will drop off further over the coming days so they should be fully weaned by this time next week.
Developmental changes are more gradual this week, but a brief break in the rain (if not the wind!) did allow us to get some extra head-shots of them today:
THE GIRLS
Miss Lime
Miss Orange
Miss Pink
Miss Purple
Miss Yellow
THE BOYS
Mr Black
Mr Blue
Mr Grey
Mr Red
Mr Red – Bonus Shot!
Puppies: week 4
Another huge week for the youngsters as their eyesight finally comes fully online allowing them to play and chew their way excitedly around their ever-expanding worlds.
Semi-decent weather has allowed them to be outside in their run for at least a few hours every day of this past week, taking in the sunshine, rain, winds and all points in between. Just like all Belatarr generations before them they also immediately gravitated towards their mini den for snoozy puppy pile-ups:
They are now well on their way towards being weaned and have quickly become experts at eating solid food from their Weenafeeder in-between visits form Mum. This is also the most significant change in their head shape, as muzzles elongate, eyes widen and skulls develop to give them fully formed puppy heads. Here they all are, outside in the dappled sunshine this morning:
THE GIRLS
Miss Lime
Miss Orange
Miss Pink
Miss Purple
Miss Yellow
THE BOYS
Mr Black
Mr Blue
Mr Grey
Mr Red
Puppies: week 3
All change for the pups this week as eyes opened fully and full vision slowly came on-line, accompanied by better mobility – although 4 to 5 steps followed by a quick tumble is still very much the order of the day.
All up and motoring about.
Mum checks that everything is in order.
Head and muzzle shapes became much more pronounced too, although next week will see an even more dramatic evolution in their heads, whilst coats are also developing rapidly now.
Mr Red, just nodding off.
But it’s very much the case that 90-95% of their time is still spent snoozing.
Sister snuggles.
Puppy pile-up.
THE GIRLS
Miss Lime (snoozy)
Miss Orange
Miss Pink
Miss Purple.
Miss Yellow
THE BOYS
Mr Black
Mr Blue
Mr Grey
Mr Red
Puppies: Week 2
Snoozing Sisters.
After another week of serious eating and sleeping Lyra’s 9 pups are now just about up on their feet, albeit still very wobbly. Their eyes are also just beginning to open, with Miss Pink leading the way on Day 13. For the most part, they still have their eyes closed and even once they have opened fully it will be another week before they can really see anything besides blurry light and shade.
Even so, the combination of being able to start to detect light and being able to propel themselves around more effectively has meant that they are now much quicker to zoom towards mum’s food when she appears amongst them.
They remain an extremely even litter in terms of size/weights and colours/coats, although a few are just beginning to gradually look distinguishable from their siblings, so, let’s introduce them all properly:
THE GIRLS
Miss Lime
Miss Orange
Miss Pink
Miss Purple
Miss Yellow
THE BOYS
Mr Black
Mr Blue
Mr Grey
Mr Red
New Belatarr Babies!
We’re absolutely thrilled to announce the arrival of the next generation of Belatarr puppies.
Our beautiful girl, Lyra, gave birth to her long-awaited second and final litter of 5 girls and 4 boys on the 4th of July, sired by the UK’s only dual (Show and Working) Champion HWV dog, the magnificent Champion Zoldmali Szeles Morganna JW, (AKA Tarot). We have known Tarot well from a first meeting shortly after he was imported at a few months of age by Rachel Newman, at the multi-award winning Morganna HWV’s. He has grown into a hugely well-balanced and superb example of the breed, who, at only 2 years old, already has many awards to his name, including a victory at Crufts 2019, where he was awarded Best Dog.
The sire, Tarot, from the Morganna Kennel.
We have been patiently planning this mating for the past 18 months, wanting to combine the strengths of these two lines, and are delighted with an incredibly even and well-matched litter and even more so that mum and pups are all absolutely thriving. Now a week old, all pups are close to double their birth weight and Lyra is definitely appreciating having slightly fewer to feed/clean/corral than with her first litter of 12, in 2017. So without further ado, here they all are in a record of a first week busily filled with feeding and sleeping, sleeping and feeding:
The Whole gang together, just a few hours old!
…and all together again, now at 1 week old.
More Puppy Group Placings!
Although still only 6 months old, the new Belatarr generation are certainly making their mark out in the show rings already.
Hot on the heels of his two PG4 placings, Belatarr Jupiter (Luka) went two better at his next outing, the Birmingham & District Gundog & Terrier Club Open, where HPR specialist judge Maxine Munday awarded his 1st in HWV Puppy Class followed by Best Puppy in Breed. The subsequent Puppy Group was judged by Kathy Gorman and she awarded him a fantastic Group 2 Placing, with the critique:
“This was an outstanding group of puppies. 2. Spillane’s Belatarr Jupiter. HWV. A lovely example of the breed, very well constructed and moved soundly with drive.“
Kathy Gorman
Not to be outdone by her brother, Luka’s litter-sister Belatarr Pandora (Dora) also scored a great result at Blackwood & District Canine Society, where Judge Sheila Appleby awarded her 1st in AVNSC Graduate, Best AVNSC Puppy and then Puppy Group 4. This was a terrific achievement for Dora and Zoe as together they are learning how to show for the first time ever. Their critiques from the show were a real testament to all of their hard work:
“1. 7-month puppy bitch, with lovely head, soft expressive hazel eyes, well-balanced overall with good proportions. In good coat, moved effortlessly, covering the ground well. Two lovely puppies but preferred movement of one.”
“Group 4: Very pretty bitch puppy with sweetest of expressions, balanced in proportions, outgoing on the move, nicely handled.”
Sheila Appleby
Jupiter Rising.
Just a few days after hitting 6-months of age young Belatarr Jupiter (Luka) made his show debut with fabulous back-to-back Best Puppy in Breed, Reserve Best of Breed and 2 Puppy Group placings – Jenny reports:
“We spent all weekend showing but it was worth it! Debut shows for our special Belatarr Jupiter, Luka, at just over 6 months old and he was a smashing boy. So grateful to all the judges who were gentle and patient with our baby boy. Saturday saw us at Grantham & District Open where big brother Belatarr Hercules was BOB and Luka was BPIB followed by shortlisted and then a lovely Puppy Group 4. Sunday we moved more locally to Hitchin & District where Luka was again BPIB, as well as being awarded Reserve BOB and went on to gain another Puppy Group 4. Cue lots of cuddles.”
“Very smart and well-balanced dog of just 6 months. Moderately broad
skull, broad nose, lovely eye, ears hanging close to cheeks, correct, clean and complete dentition, strong neck set
neatly into well-placed shoulders, well-proportioned body, excellent quality bone all through, nice feet, moved very
well. BP. RBOB and Puppy Group 4“
Martin Rees (Hitchin & District)
“I was very taken with this youngster. Well balanced all through with excellent head and expression. Well constructed. His coat just needs to
come on a little more. Accurate movement and very sound.“
Becky Johnson (Hitchin & District)
Lyra’s Puppies are 6 months old!
…and the time is long overdue for a puppy picture progress update!
Belatarr Jupiter (Luka)
Belatarr Mars (Rufus)
Belatarr Mercury (Freddie)
Belatarr Neptune (Enzo)
Belatarr Saturn (Rufus)
Belatarr Eris (Eris)
Belatarr Europa (Roux)
Belatarr Himalia (Esther)
Belatarr Leda (Luca)
Belatarr Luna (Luna)
Belatarr Pandora (Dora)
Belatarr Venus (Iris)
