Thornfield English Springer Spaniels

April 2015

Em (Wrangham Cathy Earnshaw RRD JDM SD) x Banjo (Mistral Acheron (IMP NZL))

Born 23rd April 2015

Clear by parentage for PRA, Fucosidosis and PFK deficiency

Liver & white male ("Jim" aka Thornfield Embargo, now known as Murphy)
Black & white male ("Sir Humphrey" aka Thornfield Emblazon, now known as Humphrey)
Black & white male ("Bernard" aka Thornfield Embody, now known as Zac)
Liver & white female ("Dorothy" aka Thornfield Empower, now known as Ginny)

The prediction is four! Can you see them all?

First born, Murphy (L) and second born, Humphrey (R):

Zac and Ginny: All together:

Em was a very attentive and protective first-time Mum...

Weigh in: New surfaces:

Early human contact aka cuddles!

On Day 3 we started Early Neurological Stimulation & Nail Trimming: building resiliant and tolerant puppies.

Even Mothers need a bit of mothering...

THE YAWN!

What a sight to behold...Day 11...

Day 13...eyes and ears are opening so this is the perfect time to start playing sound desensitisation CDs and expose them to everyday household noises such as the coffee grinder, blender, vacuum cleaner, dropping pots on the slate floor, slamming doors, banging gates and a variety of power tools. For this reason our whelping box is set up near the living area and everyone is instructed NOT to creep around the sleeping babies! Sheets and blankets are hung around a large pen to give Em a sense of security as woe betide the dog or cat or stranger who pokes their head in the box when the puppies are so vulnerable. We still have a little way to go before they can read complete sentences...

Upside down goodness!

Getting mobile now...

Time to change the puppy set up to accommodate their new level of activity...Em reminds Ziggy and the cats that she's not quite ready for visitors. The calico bag contains squares of material that have been exposed to various scents - the veterinary clinic and the forest to name but a few - so that we can stimulate the puppy's olfactory system in addition to the senses of sight, hearing, touch and taste.

New toys AND new visitors!

A new taste sensation and a (cat) tunnel adventure...

Exploring the great outdoors..."hello Uncle Ziggy!" As the puppies slowly wean and become more active, Em starts to relax and happily allows Zig and the cats to interact with them.

Love the balance discs for building confidence...

So many adventures...

But there's always time for a top up from Mum and a snooze...

Thornfield puppies learn that crates are a great place to be...here we've placed a cat crate (sans door) on a wobbly balance disc to help pups prepare for their first car journey. Apparently it's quite relaxing! Dizzy was fascinated by what was in his crate.

Ginny meets the chickens and contemplates some gardening...

When people come over to cuddle...I mean socialise...the puppies we ask them to bring something novel. We've had puppy ramps and steps, balance discs large and small, a stethoscope, clippers, huge Christmas baubels and even this 1970s style lime green pouffe....the babies loved it and we were just pleased to be able to return it to our friend in one piece!

When the puppies were 5.5 weeks old, Ziggy the Dalmatian and Sally had (literally) a flying visit to Brisbane for the 2015 Dalmatian Nationals. Zig was outstanding - Best in Obedience Trial, 1st place Masters Jumping, 1st place Masters Agility, 1st place Open Jumping, 2nd place Open Agility and Best in Jumping Trial - so I think he deserves a gratuitous photo of his own!

Back to puppy land and it was off to our wonderful vet for purely a social visit before we returned for vaccinations and microchipping. Plenty of lovely comments about our strong, healthy babies.

And of course we couldn't go home without a new toy!

Puppies started turning their noses up at the minced chicken carcasses, much preferring to munch on quartered frames.

Gumboots are pretty fun to chew as well!

Handsome boys!

Mummy! Do you want to play?

Ginny is staying at Thornfield, so at 8 weeks of age it's time to start separating her from her brothers and embark on some new adventures...funnily enough the lads immediately ceased to escape from their pen...I wonder who was leading them astray...

The lads are learning that sit = please, a lesson that can be used throughout their lives!

Meanwhile, it's time for the boys to start heading off to their new homes....this is not goodbye but "au revoir" to Zac, Murphy and Humphrey...