Puppies at 5 weeks old.
The constantly wet weather has meant that the pups have only had one fairly brief trip outdoors this past week, but, whether indoors or out, and like all Belatarr generations before them, they have been greatly enjoying their little puppy den (aka the cat carrier – note the chew marks from past inhabitants!)
The pups have now been fully weaned from mum, and have quickly become very proficient at taking their meals from the Weaner Feeder:
…and this week’s headshots have some extras again this week:
Puppies at 4 weeks old.
It’s been a huge week for the pups, as all their senses (and all of their limbs) come fully online, and the world suddenly becomes a huge playground.
Their nails have been cut and filed for a second time, teeth are now beginning to erupt and, when they are awake, the pups will be chewing, romping or chasing, often all at the same time.
The pups have also now moved into their extended indoor run (attached to their whelping box and bed, from which they are busting out, above) and, when weather permits, will also be able to use their outdoor run (tomorrow, for the first time, hopefully!)
With big physical changes underway, too, we have done a double set of headshots for the gang this week:
Puppies at 3 weeks old.
Big changes for the gang over the last week as they start to look more like puppies and less like little wrinkled guinea pigs. Their eyes are fully open now, but they still have quite limited and very blurry visibility so are only just beginning to explore their world and its boundaries and possibilities – mainly chewing one another ears and toes and trying to figure out if Mum has come back to feed them.
Their legs are also beginning to get stronger and they are fully in what we like to call their “wobbly spider” phase, meaning that they take 3 or 4 steps and then fall over or sometimes do full body-rolls!
Little bursts of activity are still very short, though, and, at this age, 90% of their time is spent asleep – digesting and growing.
Puppies at 2 weeks old.
14 Days old today, the puppies have had another busy week of snoozing and eating.
Eyes and ears have now just about all opened but it will be another week or so before they can see anything clearly, so all is currently a big blur for them and they still rely almost entirely on their sense of smell to navigate their world….all of that is about to change, though!
Time now to properly introduce the gang, with their first official head-shots:
Puppies first week.
We’re pleased to report that all pups and mum are thriving, and, in fact, Aja is producing so much milk that the puppies doubled their birth weight when just 5 to 6 days old – even sooner than Aja’s first super-feeder litter.
Eyes and ears are tightly closed at this age, and they cannot thermoregulate either, so the puppies operate purely by their sense of smell and warmth-location. As a result their sole tasks this first week are to eat, sleep, repeat – tasks at which they are certainly excelling!
Kodi wins his 10th CC!
In the midst of all the puppy shenanigans, Show Champion Belatarr Kodiak won a superb victory at the Darlington Championship, becoming only the second Belatarr show dog (and much the youngest) to reach double figures of Challenge Certificates.
Under breed specialist judge, Maxine Munday, Kodi scored his 7th CC of the year and his 10th in total, before going on to be awarded Best of Breed, his 4th Champ Show BOB of 2024.
“Such a worthy Champion, he has improved so much since I last judged him. So masculine, robust but moderate in all the right measure! Love his medium size so well balanced, everything flows, excels in shoulder placement, strong in frame with well-developed muscled thighs giving a powerful far reaching stride, a picture stacked & moving, I do like a horizontal tail carriage but very few in the breed, especially males, have it. Handled to perfection, pleased to award him CC & BOB.”
Maxine Munday
Congratulations, as ever, to David & Jenny – what an exciting week this has been!
Puppies arrive!
We’re absolutely thrilled to be able to announce the safe arrival of Belatarr’s 7th generation – 5 girls and 1 boy – born to our beautiful girl Aja.
The births were very easy and all 6 pups are feeding, squeaking and wriggling well, gaining 15% weight across the board on their very first day, and all are very even in size and weight, with Aja a completely devoted and attentive mother to them, as ever.
As usual, we will be adding weekly updates to show the progress and development of each of the puppies, with much snuggling and snoozing to come!
Nearly there…
Just a few more days before the puppies arrive and we are starting to see them wriggle around inside mum. Aja is increasingly uncomfortable, but that hasn’t stopped her from running around the meadow, albeit at a slightly slower pace than usual.
Puppies on the way!
We’re thrilled and very excited to announce the imminent arrival of Belatarr’s 7th generation, with Aja – Belatarr Aja – confirmed in pup to Benő – Áldozóvölgyi-Drótos Nyertes at Starshot (IMP HUN):
With the litter due to arrive in mid-Sept, Aja is now looking pretty heavy, but she’s certainly not letting that slow her down:
Watch this space!
Championship Show Roundup.
The busy round of Summer Championship shows has seen more amazing success for Jenny & David’s Belatarr Boys.
The Three Counties Championship was judged by Becky Johnson and saw a memorable 1-2 with Kodi (Sh Ch Belatarr Kodiak) winning his 4th CC of the year (his 7th in total):
“Excellent overall balance. Head of good dimensions with good breadth of skull and moderate stop. Well-muscled neck leading seamlessly into well-laid shoulders. Chest of good depth with elbows well placed. Level topline. Ribs carried well back. Well-muscled hindquarters with stifles moderately angulated. Coat of excellent texture. Ground covering movement with good drive from the rear. CC”
just ahead of Luka (Belatarr Jupiter) who was awarded the Reserve CC:
“I like this dog very much indeed and he was so close up for top honours today. Well balanced all through. Scores in his head and forehand construction. Deep in chest and long in ribcage. Strong, well-muscled hindquarters with moderately bent stifles. Excellent coat texture. Moved out really well covering the ground on a good length of stride. I just wish he was half a size smaller which was the deciding factor. RCC”
Becky Johnson
Just 7 days later Kodi picked up his 8th CC at the Border Union Championship under breed expect Terry Pearson:
“What a stallion of a dog this is, everything about him shouts HWV male from his size, coat and conformation. He has the most masculine of heads, broad over skull, correct skull to muzzle ratio, broad nose, the most kind expression. Arched muscular neck, enough layback of shoulder. Body well proportioned, topline level. Chest deep, hindquarters muscular with decent bend of stifle. Tight oval feet. Has the most glorious double coat, just enough facial furnishing to complete the picture. His movement is without doubt, ground covering. “
Terry Pearson
His 9th CC was not long in following, being awarded by Pam Blay at the Paignton Championship on 3rd August:
“No wonder he appealed, I have admired this affix for years & always done it well! He is a nice type who moved well to cover the ground with ease yet determination on well-boned legs & feet, he is balanced & quality with enough coat which has the correct texture & well presented, good strong topline with a well set & carried tail, well-muscled hindquarters, he is masculine with a good head & expression with a correct skull & ear set, lovely neck & shoulders, showed to advantage to take the CC.”
Pam Blay
…and Luka then scored another Reserve CC on 17th August under Pat Butler-Holley.
Belatarr Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla. 