The Talented Mr T.

As our deerhounds are getting geriatric and not really up to the job when it comes to lamping rabbits anymore, Andrew thought it would be good to train T to retrieve the ones he shoots. Guess who got the job of training him???!!! Well here is one of his early attempts, and as you can see he has a special style of holding his rabbit, that is causing some amusement to onlookers!!

While he was out doing some training yesterday, he went on point into some long grass, he held point on command (what a star) and when sent in to flush, he suddenly started to get very excited, and came out of the long grass carrying a pheasant poult! After 2 solid days of rain it was wet, soggy, cold and hungry, so we took it home and put it in with some young marans we are rearing, and now shes looking quite lively and comfy! Hopefully release her back once shes a bit sturdier.

would a bloodhound be suitable for...............?

I have had a variety of bizarre puppy enquiries over the last few weeks including a sheep farmer who wanted one to catch foxes, an elderly lady who thought it would make a nice fireside companion, a man who wanted one to take in a kayak, and, a guy in Ukraine who wanted to know if they liked snow...and do we even have snow in UK. Now its very likely that there would be a breeder who WOULD sell to an old lady for her fireside, for fox hunting and for kayaking......sadly there are people out there who care little about how many pups they churn out, or where they end up.
However Im glad to report that bloodhounds do like snow....and having been given some great references for the Ukraine family (who are already at the very top in another breed close to me heart), then a farlap puppy will hopefully be taking up residence in 2010.
Oh...and heres the proof!

Like a duck to water..........

Having introduced him carefully and slowly to water work (unlike the prat who suggested "chuck him in") Im glad to report that the training with T. is going well and that his working ability is continuing to impress. Here he is enjoying a pond in Cornwall yesterday. He retrieves quite confidentally from lake and river and sea, so it bodes well for the few wildfowling and flighting trips we have planned next season!
he has also taken jumping to a new level when yesterday he cleared a 6 foot Cornish bank... then went back to do his "mr cool" pose on top (see other photo!)

Hiding her light (her Candle) under the bushell

Ive had several calls and emails from people who wanted to see Candle (she won resBPIS) after the fabulous write up from mr Ken Miller in the dog press, so, here she is the day after her win. (excuse my serious face!!)
I wish I could get Tennant to stand as well as I can get the hounds to.... considering he has more braincells than the hounds all put together, he just doesnt seem able to grasp the "show stand" despite being able to undertake numerous gun dog commands!!! Maybe hes too smart and knows if he plays up Ill go back to gundog training!?
Andrews new toy is one of those electric tennis bats for swatting flies.......we have openly declared war on flies this summer and this is the latest in our armoury of gadgets, sticky papers and swatters and certainly is proving the most fun of any of them yet. The hounds however are terrified when they see a demented mother running from room to room and waiving the sparking arcing bat wildly in the direction of the flies! Good job no one has got a photo of me doing it yet!!

Who says they aren't lap dogs??

Baily obviously thinks hes a lapdog!!!

Im sure that somewhere in my "owners manual" theres a paragraph about "dont let them sit on the furniture as puppies because they will want to do it when they are adults"
Baily is definitely turning into one of the "characters" from the litter!!!

Just a Quickie!

Our dear friends Pavel a Lenka Kopecky from the famous "Roborovski" bloodhound kennel in the Czech Republic, arrived last night with their lovely bloodhound, International and Multi Champion Astrid Roborovski, for a quick holiday romance with our Generous.
Im glad to say all was successful and now we have our fingers crossed for the patter of tiny paws very soon, and hope that they all recover from the journey OK (it was over 2000 miles trip)

windsor

I knew the day wasnt going to plan when, I took the wrong turning in Windsor town centre, and ended up in a high security cordon and was escorted out by armed police!!!Having watched the 1st few classes today I was reminded of why, some years ago I wrote in my show-diary. "never again" next to our judges name!!!! Bas and logic both came 2nd in their classes and luckily I had decided not to take Candle as I felt it was too hot for a baby. Some people dont seem to have such consideration and I even heard there was someone there who had a new litter at home......unbelievable how some folk are so desperate to win!
Well the highlight of the day has to be the worst photo ever taken of me......so if you want a laugh go to the BBC Berkshire website!!!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/image_galleries/windsor_championship_dog_show_gallery.shtml?10

I look like a demented moron who doesnt own a hairbrush! OK.....you may think thats my normal look but it isnt, honest!!

babies!!

We have babies......but not bloodhounds!!!
Miss ferret is proud mother to a litter of polecat and white ferret babies. Heres one of the "poles".
We have 3 female poles available and 2 female whites, to experienced ferret homes or homes where owners are prepared to learn about proper ferret care. These kits have been very well handled and both parents are lovely temperaments and excellent workers so we envisage the babies being good as pets and workers. Local collection in Devon or could possibly deliver to a show if weather not too hot. £10 each.

bath Time!

Farlap Curate, AKA "Dominic" who lives in Mexico, has had to start getting ready for the show season. Here he is stood on a grooming table (no....I couldnt believe it was possible for a bloodhound either!!) after his bath, waiting for the hairdryer. he now has a professional handler for his pre show training so Ill be watching the results with great interest.

Our little Viking

Heres a fab photo that arrived today from Denmark, of Farlap babocka (Heinrik to his friends!)....he looks so much like Grandad Fergus its uncanny!

The Good, the Bad and The Ugly

well we have had it all this week!!!
First the Good.... great news from Austalia that Farlap Cautious has had another good weekend at a show, getting reserve BOB bloodhound as well as beating many puppies of all breeds to won the Puppy group. Well done Steve and Shelly!!
The bad......well the bad news started when Andrew found his friend dead on his tractor last week, and as if that wasnt a bad enough time, we have had to get one of our pups back as the home didnt work out. Its been a very stressful and worrying 24 hours, one that i dont want to repeat again, but thankfullyhes safe home with us now. It does mean we are looking for a very VERY special home for a 7 month puppy male, pet only, neutered, but possibly suitable for hunting/tracking.
The ugly?? .....well thats a story for later........

Unbelievable day

what a fantastic day we had at the Bloodhound Club Championship show.
over 70 bloodhounds entered, and Logic won the bitch CC and best in Show. Farlap Basnicky (from my last litter) won Dog CC and res BIS. Farlap Candle won best puppy bitch and was a real star.
it was also great to have Farlap Crofter and his family come along.....I think they deserved a medal because Andy flew in from Saudi just to attend the show with their pup, and then went back the same night!!!
The fantastic day was marred by a really unpleasanty incident in the carpark where an aggressive bitch grabbed hold of one of the puppies lip and bit right through, and such behaviour is not acceptable in a hound in my opinion (and that of several other people who saw the incident). One has to ask what sort of hound would intentionally attack a 6 month old puppy? I am sure we will hear more about this soon.

green eyed monster on the bandwagon

I hear that the green eyed moster has struck again.......funny how one minute people are criticised for sending a puppy so far abroad, and the next minute......what a coincidence, they are sending pups to all ends of the earth...even ones that arent even born yet! Wish I had a crystal ball like that, that could tell me how my pups would turn out at such an early stage!

Cautious does it again

Farlap Cautious whom I own jointly with Steve in Austraila, has won best minor Puppy in Show (All breeds) for the 2nd time this weekend. Fantastic news! Cant wait for the piccies.

Baily gets Busy (Lizzy)

This one cheered me up!!! His owners sent me this great shot of Farlap Crofter helping with the gardening.......I think the halo has now been thrown away!

The week gets better and better!

I was away for a few days working at Royal bath and West show, and when I unpacked my tent, I discovered that the last time it was used and packed away....someone..... who will remain nameless, left a half pint of milk inside, and it had grown into a wonderful cheesy culture enveloping most of the inner sections of the tent! I spent 3 nights camping in the van instead!!!
Then on the last day of the show I cricked my neck and have been in agony ever since, unable to drive or walk, and struggling from one chair to another. To top it all, Drizzle managed to knock the latch on one of the ferrets houses, and unknown to us they escaped....suddenly we heard the most awful screeching and discovered one ferret with its leg caught in a trap we had set for the rats. Andrew tried to release the trap but its a fenn trap and very powerful and not easy to release. I held the ferret but then the hounds came to see what all the noise was about so I moved her away from their noses, and she took advantage of the new position by latching onto Andrews hand. So now theres a screeching ferret (you wouldnt believe how loud!), Andrew swearing, the hounds all jostling for a front row view, and me trying to prise its jaws apart with a teaspoon! Eventually the only option was to whack her on the nose with a spoon and shock her into releasing Andrews hand...this seemed to work and we got the trap of her leg and after a few hours she seems fine. The other ferret is still at large somewhere which in itself presents a problem because last time we had an escapee, she went over to the farm nextdoor and killed their hens. That was 6 months ago and guess what....yesterday they went out and bought new ones, so now we are just awaiting a phone call and a bill for more chickens!
On to bloodhound news, if anyone enjoys the breed calenders that are produced in the USA each year, you may be pleased to finally see some European hounds, with nice furnishings and bone are appearing in the 2010 ones. Cythar, Basnicky and Tarnish are all starring in glorious full colour!!

Catch me if you can

Poor Baily....the halo is around his ankles now!!! Just have a look at this video that his owners made of him!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8WqrMqfh0c

The halo is slipping

OK, remember the sweet angelic Baily in the Bluebells photo??? Well his true character is now coming out, and the halo has slipped!!!

Flower power

I was sent a lovely pic of baily (Farlap Crofter) in the bluebells by his owners.

Good news from Australia, where Cautious won Best baby Puppy in hound Group and was shortlisted for BPIS.
News in from mexico, and it looks like dog shows are getting back to normal after the Swine Flu pandemic. Farlap Curate has his first show at the national Show in mexico City soon, so fingers crossed for him!

Girls Day Out

The girls had a day out last week to visit their brother Harry. Poor Harry didnt know quite what had hit him at first as he is used to the quiet life, but after a few minutes he was sharing his toys and showing them all around his fields.