NEWS

                                    Mirk in action - very dynamic!

As a complete change from maternity duties, Diva had a trip out to the sheep field this afternoon for a herding lesson with younger brothers Blaze, Cawley and Mirk (formerly Murphy).

In the winter sunshine, the Beardies sparkled with energy and gave us some exciting moments.  Diva's enforced absence has done her no harm, and as she stood in the gateway quivering and sniffing the lovely sheep smells, it was obvious she was raring to go.  Blaze showed more enthusiasm than he has ever done yet, and we were well pleased with his efforts, while Cawley was a little more cautious and took longer to warm up.

Mirk was our star pupil and is making tremendous strides with Jackie as his trainer and the benefit of at least a couple of lessons per week.  His keenness is beginning to be tempered with obedience, and he is learning to work on whistles, very impressive!

                             A portrait of Mirk - aged ten months today

 The third and last of Diva's babies left home today, and the house seems strangely quiet without any of our black bundles of fun.

Pictured above is Archie sleeping off his bath and dreaming of new adventures to come!  Good luck to his new family - see "Diva's Litter" page - and to all of our families newly embarked on the joys of Beardie ownership.

If you have half as much fun with your pups as we have had with their mum, the versatile and ever-willing Diva, then we're sure you will be well satisfied with your new additions!

Happy New Year to you and yours, and to all friends old and new at home and abroad, and hoping 2009 brings you all you could wish for!

Diva's second daughter left today for her new home, and it is certainly quieter here without our two girls.  Lotti has always reminded us so much of her mum both in looks and ways, and we know that her new family will have a lot of fun with her.

She has a hard act to follow but will do her best!

Above our little sooty-faced charmer pictured with her mum Diva - a family group can be found on the "Diva's Litter" page.

Today the first of Diva's puppies, the bitch puppy Libby, was collected to go to her new home, and we wish all the best to her and to Ian, Sandra, Chris and especially Katie for whom Libby is clearly a little dream come true - in her own words; "....better than Christmas!"

Libby went off happily enough and early indications are that she has travelled well and seems to have taken things in her stride.

(For a lovely "family photo" see the "Diva's Litter" page.)

Well with Christmas safely behind us it's almost time to say goodbye to Diva's little family, and over the next few days Libby, Lotti and Archie will in turn say farewell to Crambe and move on to new families and new adventures.

Though few in number, this litter have been big personalities with huge appetites and impossible stamina for playing puppy games, and for the past nine weeks we have enjoyed having them attempt to take over our lives.

At nine weeks today they weigh around sixteen pounds apiece and are almost capable of bowling over their long-suffering mum when they rush to check underneath her for the milk bar.

They are the best of buddies!  Here they share their last rabbit on our patio, in the familar shamrock formation.

Wishing a very Merry Christmas  to our doggy friends and relatives at home and overseas, with a special greeting to the spring pups enjoying their first Christmas with their respective families.  Hoping that the New Year brings everything you need - health, wealth and happiness for the humans - and health, fun and plenty of loving care for the special four-legged ones who enrich our lives daily.

With love to you all from Liz, Mick and family, and all at Talraz

We always have a soft spot for this local Open Show, not only  for its festive seasonal atmosphere but also because it was the first ever show we attended as novice exhibitors in 1979 with our first Bearded Collie "Razzle" (Rayre's Rhapsody-in-Blue). A red rosette and a few kind words from famous all-rounder judge, the late Mr Bobby James, set us off on a hobby which has now become a way of life!

Today it was Liz's turn to judge, taking on the Pastoral Breeds.

Pictured below at the close of judging are the Pastoral Group winnners.  Best in Group the Bearded Collie and Best Puppy in Group the Samoyed, which we were delighted to see go on to Reserve Best Puppy in Show.

Last night we supported our local canine society with a trip to the Christmas Match Meeting.

Numbers were understandably down due to the current weather conditions - biting winds and black ice making driving conditions treacherous - but all the same there was a reasonable turnout and we were delighted when Blaze ended the evening as runner-up Dog of The Year under judge Mr John Evans.

Blaze is pictured below proudly showing off his posh rosettes!

Just back from a trip to the annual Club championship show at Ryton-on-Dunsmore near Coventry: a lovely show with a sociable and Christmassy atmosphere.

We were disappointed that Ellie had to miss this adventure, due to being in season, but Honey enjoyed showing young cousin Cawley exactly how to get the most fun out of a Travelodge stay on Friday night.

Today being Honey's third birthday, it was rather nice that she celebrated with a first prize win in the Post-Graduate bitch class under judge Una Cornthwaite (Braddabrook), well done Honey!

                               HONEY : Photo by Linda Peirson

Cawley was very much the baby of his class but went well to take a Highly Commended (6th) place under the dog judge Mr Robert Ballantyne (Bustroc).

The weather seemed to be against us, but luckily relented enough yesterday to allow us to hold this event at The Glebe, the final large meeting of would-be herding Beardies of the year.

Eleven dogs took part, including our dear Meg and six of her offspring, and all had a wonderful time and gave us a lot of fun.  Thanks must be given to Jackie for her hospitality and for the quality of training she gave to our assorted bunch!

Below, muddy and tired but happy after our sessions with the sheep!

This message was first posted in June and perhaps it is time it was repeated.  Pat McKay has generously given permission for her book "Natural Immunity" to be made freely available to all for downloading, as it is now out of print and no longer available from the bookshops.

www.dogsonholiday-uk.com/PDF/Natural_Immunity_Pat_McKay.pdf

 Click on the above link to read or print out the booklet.

Blaze with his brothers Cawley and Mirk enjoyed a herding lesson on Monday.  Mirk - formerly Murphy - shows great talent and is already several lessons ahead of his brothers, and Cawley again produced some nice efforts. We were delighted to see Blaze begin to waken up to this new game as well.

The above picture shows him circling the flock at a nice distance, clearly he isn't as willing to get up close with these woolly things as his brothers are!

All three will be taking part in the forthcoming Beardie Herding Event to be held at Pickering in a fortnight, and we look forward to meeting up with litter sisters Milly and Willow who also intend to be there.

For more information about the event please visit the herding website www.spanglefish.com/HerdingBeardies

Just a little brag from Creaglion, slightly belated so apologies to Kirstine, proud owner and trainer!

Creaglion came joint second in their recent competition at training classes, winning a nice diploma and a new toy, the toy being greatly appreciated.  Creaglion is being trained with the clicker method and having a lot of fun - of course like all of Meg's pups he is super-intelligent and learns fast.

Well done the pair of you and congratulations from all of us here.

All three babies continue to do well, they now have their eyes open and are fairly mobile, and able to chase their mother around the whelping box when they need her!

She still cares for them diligently, but allows herself "time off" for her other pursuits as well.

New photos will be posted to the dedicated page for your enjoyment!

Diva's pups are one week old today and are growing really fast!  She rarely leaves them (except for her morning walk which she refuses to miss even for her new family) and spends all day either feeding them, washing them, or cuddling them. The four of them are all very affectionate with one another, and love to cuddle up, this pose is very typical and extra cute!

All the love and good care they are receiving from their mum is obviously just what the puppies need to thrive, they are gaining weight almost visibly, and all are over two pounds now, with the boy at a magnificent 2lb 4oz - well done Diva!

We are happy to announce the safe arrival of Diva's new litter of THREE very large, very fat, plainly-marked and totally beautiful puppies - two girls and a boy.  Mother and babies now doing well after rather a traumatic start with the first girl being a difficult breech delivery which left us all in need of the Rescue Remedy!

Diva has settled down nicely enjoying cuddling her little family, and we don't anticipate any problems.  For us it will be something of a luxury caring for a mere three puppies after our recent eleven, but we do realise there are going to be some very disappointed prospective puppy owners. (Note:  we have details of another Beardie litter elsewhere with a couple of nice pups still unsold, please contact us ASAP if you would like some information)

As ever, it won't be a question of first come, first served, but a thoughtful attempt to place these precious bundles in the very best and most suitable homes where they will be loved and cared for as they deserve.

Just time for a quick update on our mum-to-be!

Diva has struggled a bit today, she didn't want her breakfast and has only had a bowl of goat's milk for her evening meal.  She has put herself in the whelping box and dug up some newspapers, in between sleeping peacefully.

It looks as if we won't have much longer to wait before the patter of tiny paws, so fingers crossed everybody please for a safe and speedy delivery.

Another Beardie Herding Event is being planned for November, to coincide with the North of England Bearded Collie Club Championship Show - the show is on Sunday 23rd and the Introduction To Herding on Monday 24th.

All are welcome at this event including absolute beginners and any spectators who would enjoy watching dogs using their natural talents in a controlled, but still fun, environment. For more information please see the Herding Beardies website www.spanglefish.com/HerdingBeardies

We're pleased to say that a couple of Talraz youngsters have already put their names on the list to take part, and it looks like being something of a family reunion.

Diva will of course be hugely disappointed not to be able to join us, but she expects to be otherwise engaged on maternity duties!

WE are pleased to say that Murphy seems to be very happy to be back with his family, and doing very well.  A visit to the lovely Liz Harris, McTimoney chiropractor, has brought dividends, and with his neck, back, and pelvis now working in harmony, he is shaping into a beautiful free stylish mover.

He loves his herding lessons and is making progress already, Diva had better watch out as she has serious competition here!

The return to the natural diet also seems to be suiting Murphy, we have noticed he is much calmer, and more able to concentrate.  With a little more muscle, he seems physically more balanced too, and is making a nice young dog.

In the meantime, thank you for all the wonderful offers, but it looks like just the right home has come along for Bella, and we wish her much happiness in her new life with Karen, Neil, and family, plus Mickie the Beardie of course.

Genuine offers of homes for older Beardies are always appreciated and will be passed on, where appropriate.

Just back from a successful day out at this friendly limited show held at Ganton, a mere half an hour's drive away, so as we thought a nice little run out to give young Blaze some experience.  We entered Honey too, to give him some company and moral support.

The day started well with Blaze winning the AV Minor Puppy class, and continued with Honey winning both of her classes and eventually Best in Show.  Somewhere along the way we also picked up a "lucky catalogue" prize of a rather delicious-looking bottle of wine.

And finally young Blaze went on to be awarded Reserve Best Puppy in Show, so obviously it was our lucky day!

Both dogs received some lovely compliments from our showing friends, and from the judge Mrs Marilyn Pursglove (Roguesmoor)

 Our lovely Princess Jessica today celebrated her 13th birthday by doing all the things she likes best.  A morning walk, enjoying the interesting scents amongst the autumn leaves, was followed by paw washing and a  good grooming session.........    

The birthday girl  had her favourite breakfast of fresh chicken before posing for a couple of photos.....

She then told us that it had all been marvellous fun, but it was high time she retired for her nap, and, within minutes was snoring away in her usual fashion in her Princess Bed.....

        Happy Birthday Dear Jessica, Happy Birthday To You!!!!!!!

Young Blaze had his second trip to a dog show yesterday when he accompanied Honey to the N.E. of England Working & Pastoral Breeds Open show on a slightly muddy Newcastle racecourse.

He behaved beautifully and took everything in his stride despite only having attended one ringcraft class in his life, which is a great tribute to his steady amiable temperament, and we were delighted with a third place in a strong puppy class.

Honey turned in her usual sprightly performance, showing no trace of the mysterious lameness which afflicted her in the ring last weekend in Scotland, to take second place in the Limit class.

Judge was Irena Fransson (Beardcapers) all the way from Sweden. We were so pleased when she awarded Best of Breed to the veteran Ch Kiltondale McAuley.  At rising ten years old Blaze's grand-dad could still outmove many Beardies half his age, well done!