HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Well I can't believe it a WHOLE year has gone by since Amber had her puppies, and what an exciting year it has been, Fern has turned out to be the funniest, happiest dog I have ever owned, she makes us laugh EVERY day and loves every one, she is still tiny weighing in at 5.5 kg when I last weighed her, but she makes up in spirit what she lacks in size, she is the center of attention where ever I take her and every one asks about her and quiet often wants to take her home.
Today I had emails from Benny and Alfie who are both doing VERY well and are loved and spoilt by their families. I am sure that everyone else is much to busy enjoying themselves to be sending me e mails !!
As you know Amber has had time off from being a Mum this year but I am hoping that she will be having a litter of puppies in the Spring, I will keep you posted with all the latest news as and when it happens.
Have a great time over the next year and I look forward to hearing from you all.
The LAST picture is of BENNY then a selection of Fern,Amber and Ruby
Karen, Amber and Fern.

Ferns new hair cut

Just a couple of pictures of Fern with her new clip.

The latest pictures of Ruby ,Amber and Fern

These are the latest pictures of Ruby, Amber and Fern .
Amber is still in season so is stuck at home much to her annoyance.
Fern has now had a radical hair cut she is SO much happier now she is not so hot, not only that brushing her is so much easier now.
We are having some terrible weather with very heavy rain for days on end.

Amber is now in season

Amber has now been in season for just over a week and I have decided NOT to mate her this time round.
I think that she deserves a rest from Mother hood as she has done such a great job with her last litter and still has Fern here to keep on order!!
She is not to happy with my decision and keeps on trying to get out, so she is not being walked and I am keeping a very close eye on her.
I hope she will be over it soon so that we can get back to normal.
Fern is off to the groomer tomorrow as her coat had got so long and matted and she was so hot during all that hot weather we have just had that I took maters into my own hands and clipped her, she looked likes a badly sheared lamb but is so much cooler.
I am going to get the groomer to tidy her up and clip her nails for me.
I will post some picture of them both when Fern is back from the groomers.

It is now over 6 months since Amber's puppies went off to live with their new families,
Fern is still enjoying life to the full and makes me laugh every day.
It is looking as though Amber is coming in to season any time now ,it must be all the HOT weather we have been having.
This would mean that if I decide to breed from her this time round the puppies would be born sometime in September and ready to go to their new families in November.
If you or any one you know might be interested in having a puppy from this litter feel free to email me at rubyamber@ymail.com I would be using the same stud dog as before as together they make BEAUTIFUL puppies with great temperaments.

Latest pictures of Fern

Well Fern has finished her puppy training class and I have singed her up for a new class starting on Friday. This is a clicker training class so hopefully I will get on with it slightly better than the last one. Having said that Fern now has a certificate and a Rosette to be proud of.
Today she had a good brush and I took some more photos of her. She is lying on her mark waiting to be recalled back to me. I can just about get her to wait to a count of 10. but only if there are no distractions.

Dogs Today Front cover

You may well remember that I took Amber and the puppies up to Slough last year for the Dogs Today photo shoot well they have made the front cover.
You can get a sneak preview at.
http://coldwetnose.blogspot.com/.
You can all be very proud of your puppies they are wonderful ambassadors for Cockerpoos.
Fern is doing really well and has us all wrapped around her little paw!!
She is enjoying her walks with the big dogs and tries so hard to keep up with them. We are just coming to the end of the 6 week puppy class I took her to, but because she was the smallest and youngest in the class they have suggested that we do it again.
She can do all the normal stuff not the stay or wait yet but I hope that will come,
she can also follow a target and find her mark.

LIVER TREATS

I made liver treats for Fern to use during training and while out walking.
Here is the recipe.
500g liver (the cheapest you can find.)
3 eggs (free range)
2 cloves of garlic.
100mil olive oil.
50-100g plain flour
1. Liquidise the liver with the oil,garlic and eggs.(including the shell)
2. Poor into a large bowl and mix in enough of the flour to form a sticky paste.
3. Poor into a GREASED shallow baking tin.
4. Put the baking tin into a bigger tin.
5. Place into a 160 oven and poor boiling water into the outer tin.
6. Cook until it is firm to the touch.
7. Turn off the oven and leave the treats in until cool.
8. Remove from the tin and cut in to VERY small pieces.(it will still be soft)
9. Place the cut treats on to a baking tray and put back into the oven on 120 until they have dried out and hardened.
10.Cool and store in the FREZZER until you need them.

While this may look like a lot of work the end result is more than worth it. You will not only save money but you will know exactly what is in the treats you are feeding your puppy. But BEST of all I haven't yet met a dog who doesn't LOVE them.

One last thing it is best to make these on a day when you can have ALL the windows and doors OPEN !!

Ferns FIRST walk

Yesterday Fern had her first walk out in the big wide world, she went out with the big dogs and my Mum's dog Daisy(also one of Rubie's puppy's). We where quite a sight 5 dogs and 2 ladies with sticks!
She did really well and went STRAIGHT off lead and never wandered far from my side.By letting her off lead from her first walk she learns to watch where I am and that coming back to me means a lovely liver treat.
She managed to keep up with the big dogs for quite some way and then just sat down looked at me as though to say I only have little legs,so I tucked her inside my fleece and carried her the rest of the way I am so glad that she isn't to heavy!!
Today I will try and remember my new camera and get some photos of her.

Fern is SO missing Sam

I have had an email from Georgie and she and Sam made it back to London all in one piece.She said that Sam had been a star on the train.
Fern is so missing him and just wouldn't settle so its 2.21 am and I have been sitting with her for the last hour as she wouldn't stop crying, normally I would have left her to get on with it but I have a teenager who is looking for an excuse NOT to go back to college tomorrow after her extended Christmas holiday and a lodger who has got to be at work in a care home at 6.00am. (This is her first night back home now most of the snow has gone she has been staying with her boy friend in town).
Fern is now asleep so I am going to creep back to bed.
I think that she was cold as she is so small, she was always using Sam as a hot water bottle. The one I gave her just wasn't the same,so I have put a heater on for her.Hopefully that will keep has asleep until morning.

Cockapoochat UK

While browsing the web I found a Cockerpoo Forum called Cockapoochat UK. I have joined and introduced Fern, so if you would like to get to know other Cockerpoo owners this would be a great way of doing it. They are really friendly and have made Fern and I feel very welcome.

Sam's long journey to his new home

Sam has gone to live in London with Georgie and her parents . She very bravely endured the weather and came down on the train to collect him. He fell in love with her and her with him on sight.
I have just put them back on to the train for the trip back to London. Sam was a sleep in his carry case so hopefully they will have a quiet trip back.
I am going to be waiting all evening to hear how the journey went and what Georgie's parents think of Sam.

Ferns rain of destruction

Hi
Sorry no new pictures today not only has Fern chewed right through BOTH the mouse and keyboard wires while I was sitting using the computer!!! /it just goes to show that you need eyes in the back of your head when you have puppies in the house. She got hold of my camera(I thought I had put it up in a safe place) and has chewed up the case rendering the camera useless. I only brought it just after the puppies where born as my old one gave up the ghost.
All of this was after I spent hours yesterday and this morning cooking her liver cake to use at training tomorrow. The whole house smells of liver and garlic!!
We have had more snow over night and I am trying to decide whether to walk the dogs now in the freezing cold and driving snow and gale force winds or wait until tomorrow, but will I be able to get the car up the road.
On a happier note Sam looks to have found his forever home in London with Georgie and her parents. She Is hopefully coming down on the train on Tuesday to collect him
I will keep you up to date letting you all know how it goes.
take care and keep warm Karen,Amber,Fern and Sam

A few photos for you to see

I am trying once again to upload some recent pictures of the puppies and Amber enjoying the snow.

Busy day

This morning saw Amber, Fern and Sam braving the snow and icy roads to go to see the vet for their second vaccination, the whole place came to a stand still while all the nurses the practice manager and the receptionist came to see the puppies and have a cuddle. They both took it all in their stride and the vet was very impressed at how laid back they where. neither of them batted an eye lid while they where actually having the injection and both of them sat nicely on the scales to be weighed,they have both put on weight while Amber has lost 50g over the last 2 weeks ,I think it must be all the running around she does while we are out walking.I took the big dogs to the river today and she had to be stopped from going in for a swim. Not only was it icy but it was flowing very fast and she would have been st the sea before I could have gotten her out.Silly dog The puppies had to make do with playing indoors today as it is still another week before they can go out.
I have been trying to upload a video and pictures all day but the system wont let me for some reason Sorry I will try again later on tonight or in the morning.

Why do puppies love the snow so much ?

Well like the rest of the country we are snowed in at the moment. All of the dogs have enjoyed playing in the snow but the puppies just love it and would stay out all day if given the chance. I fell and twisted my ankle and knee yesterday in the garden. I was so cross as I have been out walking the big dogs every day and not slipped or fallen over once. I am taking Fern, Sam and Amber back to the vets for their second vaccination this morning, so hope to start walking the puppies very soon. Benny's Mum called me last night and it was great to hear how he is doing,she sent me a picture as well, He looks like he is growing up to be a lovely dog, with a great coat.

Training Fern

I took Fern to training classes on Monday night it was -6 out side and not much warmer in the hall.
Fern was by far the smallest and youngest puppy their and the cutest (not only my opinion every one fell in love with her).
There where 4 collies,a rottie,a beagle,a terrier of some sort and a Golden retriever who hadn't come to classes as he hadn't had his injections.
Fern spent most of the class under the chair but did all that she was meant to when cheese and sausage where introduced!!
I took my camera but forgot to take any pictures as it was SO COLD in the hall.
We have home work to do this week so we are having to shut our selves away to practice. I am doing the same work with Sam so that he doesn't feel left out!! I may even take him to class next week.

More pictures of Sam and Fern

I tried to post these yesterday but my computer wouldn't let me for some weird reason.
These where taken yesterday so are their most recent. Fern is smaller and slightly darker in colour. Sam is bigger and a pale cream colour.
They love playing in the garden and are getting used to being up on the grooming table having their coats brushed and clipped (only a tiny tiny bit but it does get them used to the noise and feel of the clippers),they also have their ears,teeth,feet
and nails checked while they are on the table.This makes it much easier for the vet when they go for their check up or if they have an accident or get ill.

Christmas and New Year

Well both Christmas and New Year have been and gone!! I hope you all had a REALY GREAT time with your puppy and that they are now settling in and getting used to your routine. I have had some bad news, it seems that I am going to have to have a shoulder replacement as soon as a place comes up. This means that I have had to change my plans to keep Fern as I will be out of action for at least 3 months which just wouldn't be fair on her as she needs to get out and about as well as to training classes. I am Heart broken about this as she is such a sweetie. This means that I am now looking for a GOOD HOME for her and Sam they have both had their first jabs and the second is booked and paid for,both are well on the way to being house trained, have been out and about in the car meeting as many different people as possible. Fern is even booked into training classes starting on 4th January I will be taking her along and her new Mum or Dad can take over for the rest of the course. The classes are taking place in Tregony village hall at 7.00 on a Monday evening.