Russell Irish Setters

The pups had their first bird exposure the other day as a group.  Today I took each one into the yard individually and showed them one of the Homing pigeons in a harness (saved me catching 14 birds!)  Despite the newness of being alone in the yard, the longer time in the cold and snow, and the bird flapping, the pups showed great boldness, sustained interest, and almost all of them exhibited some tendency to sight point or stalk - and PLAY bow at the bird!  LOL!  Two or th...

The pups are going concerns now!    They almost all ventured otside today despite temps of -11C!  They didn't stay out for long, but they did go out.  Purple and Periwinkle even climbed a snowbank.  All have "Big Dog Collars" now, and even no collar has one - a striped brown and blue collar.  Rainbow has to wear a red and yellow collar, and periwinkle a purple flowered one as finding 14 collars with the right colours was a challenge.  It cost nearly $50...

I posted some better photos of the pups into the RioXHope 4 week album that I took with the big camera.  Taken the same day as the last photos, but with a better camera and lense, and I think there is a pic of each of them, but to be honest I think I lost track. 

Pups had their second deqorming today, nails - again - I swear the nails on pups are getting smaller as I get older, and new coloured ribbons.  The bites are looking good, eye colour is looking chocolate brown o...

I posted some better photos of the pups into the RioXHope 4 week album that I took with the big camera.  Taken the same day as the last photos, but with a better camera and lense, and I think there is a pic of each of them, but to be honest I think I lost track. 

Pups had their second deqorming today, nails - again - I swear the nails on pups are getting smaller as I get older, and new coloured ribbons.  The bites are looking good, eye colour is looking chocolate brown o...

I got the OFA Results for Russell's Make Mine Meg yesterday and she came back OFA Excellent!!!!

The pups are four weeks old now and I have come to the realisation that I am going to have to pull out the good camera.  They move too fast for the iphone now, and this is such a great time to take photos.  So I promise I will get the big gun out and take some good pics.  If I can get help I will take some individual pics too as they are beginning to do baby puppy stacks now.&#...

Oh the pups are sooo much fun now!   They are eating like little horses, running, starting to look like little dogs!   They look really nice, and they are super easy to teach things to, and definitely coordinated for their age.  They come to a whistle: all 14 of them, in various imitations of straight line running...but they all come and they all are friendly and happy.  It is fun to watch who is the first to explore new areas of the basement, and how they react ...

Christmas Holidays are nearing a close, and I am anxious to get back to the litter!  Ryan has been caring for them and has sent two pics of the pups, but it is not the same as being there, for sure!    Today I went for a short hike with family and took some pics of Raisin in the bright green forest.  Darned iphone doesn't really do the colours justice, but you'll get the drift.   Raisin had a super run and is now curled in front of the fire.   She ...

The pups are doing really well, Hope is a great Mom.   She is feeding them all herself and they are gaining weight and she is keeping weight on.  Mind you, she is eating eight cups of food a day - nearly three times her usual.   The eyes are opening at the corners, and the pups are all yawning incessantly - a sure sign that the ears are opening too.   They enunciate their little barks - BOW WOW!  It is a fun age.   They are also starting to re...

Hope began having pups at 7:30 last night and had a pup every ten minutes for the first three, then had a few twenty minutes apart, then a short break, then two in a row, then a long break then back to about every twenty minutes - until there were fourteen!   She is such a calm and capable mother, no fuss, gets down to business, cleans them all, and is careful with them.  With Ryan and I keeping an eye on things, and putting colours on them, the whelping came off without a hitch. &#...

So it has been nearly a year since I last updated the site.  I have placed two of my dogs with good friends which has eased the homefront somewhat, and I have been fortunate to have worked out an agreement with Czarnecki's for Jack to spend a few months with Trena trialing. I will not be at the ISCA National field trial this year due to a recent bout with pneumonia, but I will be there in spirit.   Jack, Joey, Meg, Sister, and John will be there.   Mary has gone to live with my...