Trial season has begun

Time flies!

Fall is here without doubt. Nights are getting colder and days become shorter. Best season for training outside, especially when it does not rain. The weather has been so beautiful lately!

The trial season started with some troubles. All three dogs have got mysterious wounds. Prima on the head, just over her eye. Brita on the tail. Ruda on her paw. I never worried about Primas wound though I think it should be fully healed by now and it´s not. I does not look so serious though.

I put all my attention on Ruda and Brita. Both had big abscesses and needed both antibiotics and special care. Whilst Brita was just irritated of the dressing I put on her tail Ruda was unable to walk on all four. Her toe has swollen dramatically and it took a week before it burst and started to heal.

I had plans to compete with her in obedience. Had to cancel. I took Prima instead. I did not think she was well prepared but I just wanted to see how she would cope.

The first trial ended up in an excellent result with 262 points. She was good in all quick exercises but heeling was a disaster!

The second trial was a new experience for me. Everything was different. The exercises were not performed in an usual sequence and there were 2 rings and 2 different judges. Right before I entered the first ring Prima bit me while taking a reward during our warm-up. I did not notice anything but when we came in my hand was totally bloody and the blood dropped on Primas coat. She was a bit disgusted and did not want to be near me. Afterwards there was a long pause while organisers tried to find plaster to stop the bleeding and wash my hand. I think both me and the dog lost the focus in that moment. I wasn´t even very nervous, just more distant. She performed very well under the circumstances and collected 253 points, just 3 points away from the excellent result. But her heeling was a disaster again and she was rather slow through the whole program.

Well, I think we are just being in a dip in her training and I need to go back to basics. It happens all the time. It will get better. But I am extremely proud of myself that I did not chicken out from a very uncomfortable situation and went for it though I easily could have stayed at home. It was a new experience for me and I managed to handle it. I think I can learn to like trials!

Ruda seems to be more tagged but I could not train her much lately. We have another 2 weeks though as the next trial is planned to Oct.4th. Her paw has recovered almost completely.

My little donkey is six months old! She is a sweetie and a real genius in obedience but first of all we seem to have a very special bond!

Her sister from Norway, Fifi went to 2 days Belgian Specialty show and was BIS puppy both days! Well, well, proud kennel mama, that’s what I am! She is a real beauty!

Last pics of Charmy are impressive also! I hope his new owner will want to show him some time in a future when Corona situation allows to organise dog shows. The biggest one in Stockholm is cancelled…And the specialty was cancelled here too…He looks so promising little Charmy!

No news from other owners recently. But everything is certainly fine.

Here at home we harvest last vegetables and slowly prepare for winter.

I still can enjoy my flowers and the garden but soon the weather will change. I hope for mild winter!

Hot again

On the picture above our dogs and the dogs of our co-workers after a visit to our lake. They are hot already, though still wet. The temperature exceeded 30°C in the early afternoon today and more days like that are expected. Good for those who stayed in the country for their vacation, not so good for those who planned to train dogs, like me for example.

Of course people are different, some of my friends thrive, I do not cope with that heat so well. We try to air the house during nights and spend the days inside. The dogs sleep a lot and become active again in the evening. Sometimes I take them to the lake if I feel I can walk despite my hurting leg and the heat. But I get dragged by water and the great relief swimming gives. I have been bad recently, my spine is hurting more than usual and one of my legs hurt terribly when I move. And I am losing feeling in this leg, must be from the pressure on the nerves in the spine. Well, well, a new operation needed? We will see what doctors decide…

The only thing that keeps me going and lets me forget about the constant pain is training with dogs. Right now we are having too long break and I am getting insane!

And, as it wouldn’t be enough, Ruda has got a tick fever and was really low until we diagnosed her and started the treatment. She responded well and is back to normal now but I have to give her antibiotics for 2 more weeks. She has been protected against ticks all the time but probably there was a too long interval between the tablets and some of the ticks survived long enough to get her infected.

Must have been a tick she got when we visited my sister in the countryside at the Baltic Sea coast where more ticks can carry tick-borne diseases . But dogs, unaware of the risks, had fun of course and loved to be there!

Except some visits at my sister’s we spend some time in the countryside with our friends where we usually stay during summer. There we can swim many times a day as the lake is so close to the cottage.

Brita has learned to jump from a bridge on our side but sometimes I took them even to the other side of the lake where there is a little sandy beach and so much easier to run in and out of water.

Little Brita has finished her puppy classes where she was a star. The course was well organised and there were 8 puppies altogether. The whole idea of letting her be around other puppies was a brilliant one as her behaviour towards other dogs has changed dramatically. I can pass dogs on our walks now without her reacting at all! We have to plan other activities, like show training or walking with a group of dogs to let her continue the training. As soon as the temperature drops back to normal...

I hope for moderate temperature also the day the first obedience competition is planned for this year, in just a month! I do not feel Ruda is really ready for that, after a long maternity leave and hot summer. I am definitely not ready either but I have to do something about my fear!

I both look forward to first start and panic when I think about it…As usual…But I know it will be better as soon as I survive the very first start! It always does!

Back to normal

We went to my favourite lake today, all three dogs and me, for the very first time this year. I really missed it! Every summer I usually start the day with a swim in this quiet and beautiful place in Tyresta National Park and feel revived afterwards. I finally decided that the puppy was big enough to join in the 1,5km walk through the forest and back. She is now 4 months old and very fit.

We all enjoyed swimming in the lake and I noted with pride that Brita has finally learned the main rule of being together in water and did not try to climb on anybody’s back. Which means no more scratch marks on me and no more stress for adult dogs! Clever puppy!

The rather chilly and rainy weather which we have had over the past couple of weeks allowed us to go back to normal everyday training and some other activities. It’s such a joy to train a puppy! And Brita is such a happy, playful and wise little novice!

Ruda and Prima enjoy coming back to our daily routines. Everything would be just perfect if not the fact that Prima attacked Ruda a couple of days ago! It has been such a long break in this behaviour ( since January) that I was again(!!!) caught off guard and tried to separate them with my hands instead of giving them a proper shower of cold water. Which I had an access to. With Prima hanging at Rudas throat I just grabbed Primas rear legs and dragged her away until she let go which left me shaking in my whole body and Ruda bleeding from her scratches. Once again I promised myself this was the last time! The wounds were not so deep but Ruda has been rather low since and I cannot relax when they are around and active. And I cannot really understand what it is that triggers the behaviour. I think I have to keep one of them away if the other one plays with the puppy because this was the situation which caused the attack this time. I cannot understand and accept such behaviour, it has such an impact on my well being! So sad!

I think I have to consider giving Prima away to my son sooner or later…But it is so hard to even think about it!

Back to more positive news!

A week ago or so puppy Contra and her owner visited us here in our place. The puppies did not recognise each other and were rather stressed in the beginning but eventually started to play. It was fun to meet Contra, which develops very nicely, and see them enjoying the meeting in the end. Have to keep this alive and let the sisters meet soon again! So they would not forget each other this time!

Contra

Brita

I have regular reports from all puppy owners and they all seem to be happy with their new friends. Some owners post a lot of pics and video clips, some just write a short message but the most important thing is that I have a very positive feeling when receiving the news.

Fifi ( Carma )

Charlie ( Covira )

Maia ( Carisma) has found a friend among Jack Russels

I don´t have any decent pic of Charming but he is doing fine as well. His owners are ready to leave home after the quarantine so I hope they will move around and see the outside world now.

Last update: I have stolen a pic of Charming (now called Charmy) from his fb page. The ears are huge but they are up!

So far so good!

Next plan is to start a puppy school with Brita this Saturday. Not that I need help with training of basic obedience but I have to let her work with her excitement around other dogs. It might require a lot of effort but I am sure she will be able to get over it pretty soon, she is such a clever little thing!

And in the meantime we all enjoy the lovely Swedish summer!

Hot summertime

Today is a rather sad day. The last of the puppies, Maia, is going to leave soon and start her long travel to Poland with a pet transport company. I know she is well prepared for travelling by car and I know she will be treated well and get a wonderful home. But it hurts…

It felt a bit different when I left Charming. His new owners came to Sweden in a camper and stayed first here at our place for few days. Afterwards we all left to celebrate Swedish Midsummer on the countryside. They had their older Laekenois with them so Prince Charming had time to get to know his new people and his new mate very well. I don´t think he was missing us a single second when we left him in their care.

We all had wonderful time on the countryside. Perfect weather, nice company of our new friends and everything else we needed was provided. All the pups started their acquaintance with water and enjoyed short walks in the forest. And they had each other to play with! We even met my friends from Tjällmo with their sweet daughter and their 3 dogs so they would have the chance to see the puppies. Tried to train some obedience as we usually do but it was too hot! I enjoyed the dog chat and their company instead.

Brita and Charming

Maia

Prima waiting for some action

Charming and Maia posing

Brita posing

Ruda enjoys water

Morrigan, our guest likes to swim, he even looks like an otter

One can always try to steal a stick from Prima

The girls

Some more action with all three of them

Roughrags Morrigan and

Prima, our Midsummer hosts

Totally unaware of the situation little Maia takes a nap inside the house where we just have 24°C and it feels quite comfortable in comparison with 31°C outside and full sunshine. It´s so hot! Too hot for me and the dogs. No training is possible and it´s difficult to find places where we can swim as they are all occupied by people. Brita and Maia are too small to be able to walk to our favourite lake in the forest. And I think it would be too hot for a walk anyway. We stay at home then and I feel a bit down…

Last minute update.

I just said good bye to Maia. She was put in a spacious cage in an air-conditioned car. She got a piece of dry meat to chew on and she accepted it. It was a sad moment to see her being taken away. I also had a phone call from Charmings owner saying that they were on their way back to Germany too.

Good luck little ones! I miss you already!

Charming and Maia in the countryside

Getting bigger

A real spring is here in the end and we are able to be outside most of the time. Bigger chance to get the puppies housebroken. And to let them watch the world around. They grow so fast!

I train them in different environment every day. One day we might be watching my sons rugby training, the other visiting a flea market or walking in a city park. Wherever we go the puppies drag the attention of everybody around. We stop frequently for cuddles and talk and we all enjoy it.

Mostly I am very pleased with their behaviour, the only thing they do not really master is meeting other dogs. Separately they will do fine and stay calm, in group they will be excited and bark a lot before I can catch their attention and calm them down. This particular training is difficult for me to arrange. Due to Corona crises all the gathering of people and dogs under controlled circumstances like show training, agility or obedience competitions have been cancelled and I have to relay on every day encounters, which are not always so positive as I would wish. But I am doing the best I can!

The puppies are very sweet and I really enjoy spending time with them. It´s a bit difficult though to concentrate on my own but I hope no harm will be done and I will be able to compensate for that later on.

I have made up my mind and little Cabrita has been chosen by the whole family to stay here. She will be called Brita. She is more outgoing than Carisma and this was the main reason for my decision. Not that Carisma is afraid of strangers but she does not run out to them like Brita does.

Brita is also the first one to take a bath in our pond! And the first one to run out through the cat flap!

Little Carisma is going to Poland in the end of June when she is clear with all required vaccinations. She will be called Maja in her new home which makes me little proud! She is a happy and playful puppy, I think she will thrive in a house full of Jack Russel Terriers.

Little Charming, so far called Charming, will be united with his new owners a bit earlier as they plan their holiday here in Sweden before he will be able to cross the border of Germany. I must say he is a real favourite of anyone who meets him!

I am getting only positive news from all the owners of the three pups that went to their new families. Funny pics of Contra being adopted by their dog for example. Fifi ( Carma ) starting her puppy school and Charlie ( Covira ) being such a clever girl and housebroken already. I am so happy and proud of this litter!

Contra with her new mummy

Charlie 12 weeks old

Fifi

If I may complain about anything is their ears. Enormous! And unstable. In different configuration every day! I hope they will stand properly one day. But their father has huge ears, like Dumbo! But they are up! So there is hope!

And I really wish I could make better pics of the puppies! Next time, if there will be next time, I really want to make pics like a pro! Have to buy a better camera though…

Three left, three stayed

Little Contra left us the very first day she became 8 weeks old. She is going to live on a farm with horses and chickens and two older hunting dogs. Not far away from Stockholm and on the way to my sisters country house which gives us opportunity to visit her sometimes. But the moment she was leaving was rather sad.

Last picture at home

With the new owner

Well she will certainly be loved and have wonderful life with her new family! Be happy little girl!

Next to go was Carma and Covira.

The situation was more complicated with these two as they were to move to Norway. Their new owners were actually allowed to cross the Swedish border but two weeks of home quarantine afterwards seemed to be hard to accomplish. We decided then to meet at the border so nobody would have to cross the line and I drove the puppies there. Despite some pushbacks everything went well in the end and I felt relieved leaving them in arms of those wonderful people after the long drive.

Carma, now called Fifi

Covira, now called Charlie

Good luck girls! Have long and happy life!

So now I have 3 puppies at home for some more weeks. Hopefully the boy will leave sooner as he also has Norwegian owners but they are living in Germany. As soon as they will be allowed to travel Mr Charming will be collected here and wait in Norway until he is ready with vaccination against rabies. The little girl going to Poland has to wait until the end of June when she is prepared for travelling within EU. She will be sent by pet transport.

This Corona crises has complicated everything!

I have to offer them as many experiences as I can. The best time for learning is now!

So I have a plan for every day and, even if this terribly cold weather makes everything more difficult, I try to fulfil the plan.

We have visited my sisters country house while we still had 5 pups. We went to the beach and they really enjoyed running on sand and some of them even took the opportunity to steep the feet. But it was Ruda who was the happiest one!

Carma

Carisma

Cabrita

Mr Charming

I have been to the City and let them see the crowd. I have to do it few more times. The traffic does not bother them but running people and screaming children on the playground seemed to concern them. Walking around in strange buildings works better and better and visiting strange places is just pure fun! Which means I have to move to the City…

Choosing the right puppy for myself is a real dilemma. One day I prefer Cabrita, the other day Carisma.

Good for me that I do not have to hurry!

Trio today, from left Cabrita, Charming and Carisma

Leaving soon

Difficult to comprehend the fact that my newly born puppies have become big enough to leave the nest and start their own big adventure with their new owners!

Lately I have not had so much time for any other activities than trying to prepare them for leaving. I am doing my best but I still have the feeling of not doing enough… It has been cold weather most of the time and a friend that was supposed to come and help could not travel because of Corona…Being alone with 6 puppies is rather tough as they can disappear anywhere and anytime. And sitting outside in cold weather is not a best option either…And I am not so young anymore…

Training them to travel by car has taken much longer time than expected. But yesterday, when we were coming back home after daily activities outside the total silence reigned in the car for the first time. And all the bites of dry meat were gone. This is the best proof that they feel comfortable enough.

We have been looking at the traffic from longer and short distance, met different people and played with them, seen some dogs, have been in zoo stores and discovered new places. New collars and leashes were purchased and the worse part of the breeders job has been started. I am quite pleased with their leash training but we will see how it works in reality. Today we plan to use them on all 6 at the same time. We will visit a green area with big parking lot and hopefully meet some runners and in the afternoon I will take them to my dog club. I want to show them as much as I can. My friend Anne has offered help and everything is so much easier with her around. Thank You!

I wanted to make 7 weeks pics from a side, like serious breeders do. A friend of mine, Nathalie, made the pics while I tried to make the puppies stand nicely on the high table. Some of them found it a bit scary, some wanted to get the treat I had in my hand which resulted in awkward positions. But who ever said photographing puppies in this age is easy?

Enjoy the fantastic quality of these pics instead! Thank You Nathalie!

Lakkebo´s Contra 7 weeks old

Lakkebo´s Carisma 7 weeks old

Lakkebo´s Carma 7 weeks old

Lakkebo’s Cabrita 7 weeks old

Lakkebo´s Charming 7 weeks old

Lakkebo´s Covira 7 weeks old

Otherwise I feel I do not do anything else than count to 6. While other, wiser breeders keep their puppies inside small dog playpens our puppies are allowed to run around our big ground and discover new spots every day. It means they can disappear in 10 seconds and I have to look for them all over the place…I am so thankful to our cat Rost for coming in full gallop when I call. The pups usually follow him and he loves to be around them all the time. I can easily find them when he shows me where they are. And they are so happy climbing the rocks, running around the trees and hiding in the bushes.

Our other car, Xenon stays away and watches the pups from a distance. He is wise enough to know how quickly they grow. He has already done his duty raising Basqa.

Ruda has stopped nursing. She eats her food, calls the pups and throws up for them. Wonderful instinct that has not disappeared despite all that time the dogs have been fed by humans but so unnecessary in my eyes…More washing and changing as she usually uses their bed as a serving plate…

I still have not decided which puppy will be staying here. I have two to choose between. Cabrita has more bone and looks better than Carisma, my second choice. But Carisma has something, some kind of irresistible charm that has captured me the very first day I saw her. Maybe I shall follow that feeling?

Time flies

Two weeks disappeared and I just could not find time and peace of mind to write something during Easter and afterwards. Despite Corona pandemic all children were here and we all concentrated on playing with the pups, making food and just enjoying family life. And working outside in the garden. Soon there will be time to start to sow the vegetables and everything has to be prepared.

The puppies sleep a lot during daytime so there is still chance for doing other things. But this is going to change soon. I am rather tired as I do not get enough sleep lately. Ruda still feeds the little ones during night at least one time and then they want to play a while before they fall asleep again. I have to be there to help her get into the box which has much higher walls now and afterwards I have to clean the mess they made. But I do not mind as they are the sweetest things in the world!

It´s difficult to describe all the progress they made during last two weeks. Generally they enjoy being outside and discover all the different places we have here around the house. They eat both dry and fresh food with good appetite. They play with toys and each other. They love all people they meet and my granddaughter Alli is their favourite.

Here are the puppy pictures when they are 4 weeks old.

Lakkebo¨s Covira 4 weeks old

Lakkebo’s Carisma 4 weeks old

Lakkebo’s Carma 4 weeks old

Lakkebo’s Cabrita 4 weeks old

Lakkebo¨s Charming 4 weeks old

Lakkebo’s Contra 4 weeks old

Our younger cat, Rost, found a role of a babysitter very exciting. They love him and follow him as an extra mother. Outside they play hide and seek in the bushes and inside they play wrestling. I was little concerned about his claws but he seems to have good control over them and incredible patience.

All pups are spoken for and I have at least 4 people who would like to get one if somebody would cancel. I never expected such interest in Laekenois and I am so happy that more people discover their irresistible charm! I really think I should let Ruda have one more litter next year, if we will find a nice male of course.

Ruda has been a wonderful mother. And now, when they are so many she can really tell them to stay away if she does not want to feed them. It was different last time when she only had one puppy. That one has never learned submission.

I have been very noisy lately. I scream, clap hands, throw things on the floor and play CD “Sounds & noises” on high volume. I would really prefer to listen to bird sounds but I have to prepare the pups for our trips to the shopping centre first and then to the city. We live in a quiet area.

Here come their 5 weeks old pictures

Lakkebo’s Contra 5 weeks old

Lakkebo’s Charming 5 weeks old

Lakkebo´s Covira 5 weeks old

Lakkebo´s Carma 5 weeks old

Lakkebo’s Cabrita 5 weeks old

Lakkebo’s Carisma 5 weeks old

Of course puppies in this age are not only very sweet all the time. They test their sharp teeth on each other and everything else around, dead or alive. It does hurt sometimes! I am not so sensitive but I admire my granddaughter Alli for being so patient and loving! In the end they fall asleep in her arms and I can see happiness all over her face!

The plans for this week are to get them used to the car so I can start showing them the big world. Today they were put in the trunk and offered lots of small pieces of meat that they had to search for. After a while they all fell asleep. I want them to feel safe and comfortable so I will take small steps before we drive longer distance.

In the meanwhile there is plenty to discover here on our ground!