Nessa's Pups Start to Leave the Nest

Three of Nessa's girls headed off to their new homes today. Always such a bittersweet time; it's hard parting with the pups who have been such a focus of our lives for months. From planning the combinations to traveling for the breedings, confirming pregnancy, whelping and raising the babies...I've barely left the house for the past 9 weeks, but the wonderful pet families who share our pups make it possible for us to raise the quality dogs that we love.  We wish nothing but happiness to the pups and their new families.

Adelaide with Michele & Family in New Jersey (Nessa's Blue Girl)
Hickory Tavern Fools Gold

Mallie in the Allegheny Forest with Barb, Bud & Family (Nessa's Pink Girl)
Hickory Tavern Fool For The City

Name TBD with Liz & Family in Illinois (Nessa's Yellow Girl)
Hickory Tavern Fool For You

Videos for Training Your Puppy

Here are some short, free training videos that will help you with teaching your puppy many of the things that are necessary for a pup.

MBIS Ch Nuphar's Gift-Wrapped

Here is my beautiful Nessa, taken today, just 8 weeks after the birth of her 8 puppies.  Nessa was such a wonderful mom to her litter, attentive and meticulous, and her puppies sired by GrChEx Flacon d'Paris of Neigenuveaux are a beautiful, cohesive group with really pretty heads, deep chests, beautiful fronts, and rears with good drive. They are all of very similar type and I couldn't be more pleased with the litter. Nessa is a bit of a goof, and I wondered whether she'd be able to take parenting seriously, but her instincts were perfect and I am so proud of her. Nessa will be back in the ring next month!

Ready to head out to the vet for shots and microchips!

Our trip the Dr Gardners was extremely successful. All of the pups have great sounding hearts, and they were very brave for their exam, shot and microchip. They also rode perfectly in the car!

Today we took turns walking around with Ava. She is such a sweet and gentle girl; she's the perfect introduction for the puppies to meeting other dogs!

With the pups growing and the beautiful weather, I am having a hard time keeping this blog updated. 15 Barbet puppies keep me busy! Our routine has been a changing one as the puppies have gotten more active and independent. Instead of letting them all run around the yard at one time, I now find that it is best to take them in groups of 3 or 4 on our walks to the creek or through the yards. I try to do something new with them every day, and today's fun included a wild game of chase through the branches that I trimmed from the maple trees. There is also a 24 x 24 covered run set up for them, and they are able to spend hours outside running and racing. Some of their outside time is spent with all of them together, and other times they are separated into their own litters. We had a lot of puppy families visit this weekend, and I just cannot believe that next weekend will have the first of Nessa's pups already leaving here. This time has really flown!

A few of the pups went with me today for a walk down to the creek. Nessa's Red, Orange, Yellow and Purple pups made it out between the rainstorms. Hopefully tomorrow the rest of the crowd will be photographed!

Nessa's Pups

Claire's Red Boy
Kindly helping to remove dandelions from the yard :)

Claire's Blue Girl

The Benefits Of Diatomaceous Earth For Dogs

Diatomaceous Earth is a dirt cheap way to control external and internal parasites in your dog. Rather than dosing with toxic chemicals month after month, DE is fed daily without resistance or toxic buildup.

 Diatomaceous Earth is a non-toxic, safe substance made up from crushed fossils of freshwater organisms and marine life. Crushed to a fine powder and observed through a microscope, the particles resemble bits of broken glass. Diatomacous Earth is deadly to any insect yet completely harmless to animals.

Diatomaceous Earth’s mode of action for insect and parasite control is strictly mechanical. The microscopically sharp edges contact the insect or parasite, and pierce their protective coating, so they soon dehydrate and die. The larvae is affected in the same way.

The Benefits Of Diatomaceous Earth For Dogs

Internal parasites can be controlled by giving Diatomaceous Earth internally. It is very important to note that it must be food grade – the earth used in gardens and pool filters can damage your dog. Diatomaceous Earth can eliminate roundworms, whipworms, pinworms, and hookworms within seven days of being fed daily. To be most effective, Diatomaceous Earth should be fed for at least 30 days, to catch all newly hatching eggs or the cycling of the worms through the lungs and back to the stomach.

Another use for Diatomaceous Earth is the control of external parasites and flies. This is achieved by dusting your dog with Diatomacous Earth, along with his bedding area and surrounding carpeted areas.

Other Uses

Diatomaceous Earth has also been reported in scientific literature to absorb methyl mercury, e-coli, endotoxins, viruses, organophosphate pesticide residues, drug resides, and protein, perhaps even the proteinaceous toxins produced by some intestinal infections. Given this, Diatomaceous Earth is very useful as a detox solution, digestive aid and colon cleanser.

Dosage

For dogs, use one tablespoon per day of food grade Diatomaceous Earth in his food for dogs over 55 lbs. and one teaspoon per day for small dogs and puppies. For external parasite control, simply rub the powder at full strength into the coat for fleas and sprinkle on bedding.

The days with these puppies go by so quickly. We are all having so much fun. The two litters are still kept separately in the house, because I feel that the huge group living together would be more stressful than staying with their own litters for the majority of the day. The two litters have distinctly different personalities, and when we all go outside several times a day, it is so much fun to watch the interaction between them. Claire and Nessa still nurse them for very short periods, usually at night, and the puppies are eating three big meals each day. Everyone looks really great.

Claire's Red Boy

Nessa's Purple Girl

Claire's White Girl

Today the puppies got a new toy, which they dove right into! 

Barbet Care Tip

The Barbet's signature beard is a collector for everything their face comes in contact with. When they drink from their water bowl, all of the dust and dirt is washed from their face and left in the bottom of the bowl. Several times a day, dump out the water, wipe the bowl clean, and fill with fresh, cool water. Your Barbet will appreciate it!

Nessa's Purple Collar Girl

Claire's Blue Girl

Claire's Light Blue Monster Boy
He's a happy and confident guy

Nessa's Yellow Girl

Nessa's Girl

Claire's Yellow Boy
Still the smallest, he has a super confident personality and a sassy attitude. Love him!!

David and Nessa's Orange Boy
Everybody has fun with the pups!

What fun Isabel and I had today. We took all of the Barbet puppies out together for the first time. It was so cute how the younger puppies would follow the older, more confident puppies around. They all played a bit, then had lunch together outside. The pups were all worn out by the time we came back in! Having spring litters is so enjoyable.

Nessa's Yellow Girl and Claire's Yellow Boy

Nessa's Light Blue Boy

Claire's Blue Girl

Me Enjoying the Herd

Claire's Red Boy

Both Litters Together

Claire's Orange and Green Girls

Claire's Red Collar Boy

Nessa at the Pittsburgh Marathon with Pittsburgh Musical Theater

This morning, Nessa left her puppies for a few hours while we went to the Pittsburgh Marathon to watch Isabel and her friends at Pittsburgh Musical Theater sing with the Elite Show Band. It was a beautiful morning and the runners appreciated the West End crowds and energetic music. Some stopped to dance with the kids, or to give a bunch of high fives. We had a really great time and Nessa really seemed to enjoy her outing!

We also had several of our puppy families visit with the babies this weekend. It was great to see the puppies being so brave with their new friends and enjoying their play time.