After a cold start to the planting out season, my pumpkin plants managed to survive with a lot more help than usual. It's been hard to get seeds this year because of lockdown, but we have planted out a lot more this year than usual, Covid 19 has made us get our garden forks in and get on with getting more beds down for planting.

Caught on video the end bit of Puddin' and Teagol having what seemed a loving moment together. I don't know if they are in love, but it's obvious they have a great fondness for each other and as Thomas Moore wrote 'No, there's nothing half so sweet in life as love's young dream.'

The yelping you hear in the video is Billy, our young Cavalier boy shut in the kitchen and had finished his breakfast, and wanted to be let out. Hence me stopping the video.

Received this lovely message from Lynda (who has Maddie) on her reading about the passing of Primrose the mother of Maddie. Maddie is from ​Reggie and Primrose's six pups born May 2014.

"Hi Jane
I’ve just read the sad news about Primrose. I must say a lump came to my throat. She was a lovely little dog and a great mum to my little girl Maddie. You are surely comforted with knowing that she had a wonderful life with you all. I will give Maddie an extra cuddle or two today. My granddaughter Amy (who has Millie) only took this photo yesterday of Maddie.
Thinking of you all
Lynda"

Teagol turned two and a half years old this month. Yesterday, I was lucky to catch some photos of her stood up on the lawn, looking almost as if placed, but she was stood of her own making. Nearly two weeks now, since her last union with Puddin'. Fingers firmly crossed!

Reggie, who is the pinch of Poodle in our (hopefully) next litter, as paternal Great Grandfather to Teagol. Shows us (below), he still has his rumble. He will be 10 years old in December.

After publishing Primrose's farewell, I received a lovely email and photo from Sue and Colin, who have Dottie. Dottie is one of  Reggie and Primrose's six pups born back in May 2014. Thank you for sharing such a lovely moment between your daughter Daisy  and Dottie.

"Dear Jane ,
I was so sad to read the news about Primrose ,she was such a beautiful looking cavalier and such a good mum to all her pups. What a hard decision for you it must of been ,I hope it gives you a little comfort that she lives on through her offspring . I have given Dottie a few extra cuddles today .
Thought you might like this picture (below) of my daughter Daisy reunited with Dottie after months of covid separation , I think you can see how much they adore each other .
Sending you all our love
Sue and Colin x"

When our bitches are on heat, it is the only time they spend kenneled outside. Last night Teagol came back indoors from being kenneled outside whilst on heat and fingers crossed, now hopefully in pups to Puddin'. I think you can see from the photo (below) of her asleep on my chest, she was glad to be back indoors.

Yesterday, we put Primrose to rest. Primrose was still in a pretty reasonable place, and we decided to let her go, before getting her into an unreasonable place. Primrose had always been such an active little Cavalier, it was obvious it was becoming hard for her to live with the restrictions Chronic Heart Failure due to Mitrial Valve Disease was putting on her.
It is never easy making the decision of when to euthanize a pet. When is the right time? As I drove yesterday to the vets with her, as she caught my glances, they were met with a trusting stare and gentle wag of tail. My, I questioned my motives for this most final of decisions. 
I sat with her in the back of the car, as the vet administrated the finality of my decision, with my hand against her ribcage, I felt her heart fall still. A heart enlarged and working so hard it would give her the appearance of gently rocking, when she tried to rest. It did not feel right, it did not feel wrong, it felt like she was able to finally rest, something that she was finding increasingly hard to do.

​Restwell, Pretty Primrose.

Just read an interesting article over at ​CavalierHealth.org by ​Clare Rusbridge about Chiari-like malformation (CM) and syringomyelia (SM). Note she says, "The condition is most common in Cavalier King Charles spaniels (CKCS) and their crosses (eg, cavapoos), especially if the cross is with a smaller dog than a CKCS." So, for those wanting a Cavapoo, the cross that will produce a better outcome for health is with the Miniature Poodle and not the diminutive Toy Poodle. I have warned about crossing the Cavalier with breeds smaller than them, and that it could aggravate health issues already in the breed. The main reason for crossing should be to improve health, not to create extremes, such as a dog that looks like a tiny teddy bear. If you want a tiny teddy bear, go and buy a stuffed toy, not a dog.

I have decided to change where I get my data from to use the internet, so from the 8th July 2020 you will not be able to contact me on my old email and my new email address is now [email protected] Anyone contacting me about what we are doing for the first time, I still prefer you to ring me on 01769 560969.

Yesaterday Treacle turned 7 years old.  Treacle is from ​Reggie and Dolly's litter of eight pups born the 14th June 2013 and she is the Mum to Ernest, so paternal Grandmother to the mother, Teagol of hopefully our next litter of pups. She is very fit and well at 7 years old. Still very much a pup at heart being a very cuddly, happy little dog.

​Happy 7th Birthday to her seven litter siblings!

And another lovely 7th Birthday update for one of our Treacle's litter siblings, Molly.  Molly is from ​Reggie and Dolly's litter of eight pups born the 14th June 2013.

"Hi Jane and family
Hope all good with you all.
All well here in Jersey, here is a photo of Molly just back from a birthday swim on the beach with her new toy!  Where have those 7 years gone?!  Best thing we ever did getting her from you!
Best regards
Andy, Lynne, Alfie, Emma and Molly"

Lovely 7th Birthday update for Darcey. Darcey is our Treacle's litter sibling. Darcey is from ​Reggie and Dolly's litter of eight pups born the 14th June 2013.

"​Hi Jane!
I hope you and yours are well?
It’s 7 years since I waited with bated breath for a black puppy to pop out and then one with white ballet slippers did!
After 7 years she hasn’t changed one bit! The puppy that was given the ballerinas name is still a hunting any thing that moves and still has her cheerful disposition.
Thank goodness for her during my 11 weeks of shielding, her and her brother from another mother have kept me sane!
Here she is reluctantly modelling a crochet bandana - absolutely rolling her eyes lol
Take care and stay safe
Karen xxxx"

Puddin' and Teagol consummated their relationship last weekend and their last mating together was on Wednesday. So now it's just waiting. Will hope to scan her around 28 days from her last mating to confirm if in pup or not. If our vets are happy to do so, as of yet they are still only doing emergency procedures. 
I can normally tell by palpation around 28 to 35 days if in pup, but I still prefer to use a scan to be sure before announcing to the public and it also lets me know roughly how many pups to be prepared for when they whelp. If I cannot scan it will be the old fashion method of watching and waiting a bit longer before confirmation of pregnancy.