Embee Blogs (rarely)

If you’ve been following my Instagram feed lately (embee_cavaliers) you’ll know that we’ve been busy with some new additions.  I’m still a bad blogger but I’ve really been enjoying the quick and convenience of Instagram.  If you have a smart phone with a camera,  I encourage you to join and follow us!

Molly would like to introduce her four beautiful puppies, born at the end of Feb.  In typical Molly fashion they were all black and tan, the only colour that exists in her world. 🙂   It wasn’t an easy delivery for her, but she’s feeling 100% back to normal.  We have 3 boys and 1 girl, all doing well.  Two of the boys were born extremely little but never had any trouble gaining weight or eating.  They are still playing catch up in terms of growth, but they are chubby and sweet just like they should be.

This is an extra special litter for us as it will be her last.  She’s given us some incredible puppies and has been a fantastic mother to them all.  Although some would say to breed her again based on those reasons, we feel it’s best for her to be done with motherhood.  She’ll continue to have duties as chief farm dog.   Chasing bugs,  mice, and squirrel’s,  vising the cows,  making sure my niece and nephew know all about being adored by a dog, and of course being the ultimate potato inspector.

In typical Embee fashion all of her puppies were given call names within 24 hours to distinguish them.  Some breeders use colours and numbers, we prefer names, even though we know and encourage them to change when they leave here on new adventures.  We have Raina, Rudy, Rusty, and Rocky!

Molly, only a few hours after they all arrived

Size difference?  What size difference?

Feeling more like herself and loving those babies!

We’re just at the stage where everyone is opening their eyes.  Still waiting on little Rocky to get his fully open.  This is the big boy, Rudy!

Raina, she’s going to have those brothers of hers running circles around her

Little Rusty, eyes not quite fully open yet.  He’s so cute.

Molly doing what Molly does, feeding them!  I was attempting to clean out their box and she felt they couldn’t go 5 minutes without food.

Clean bed, waiting for Molly to finish nursing!

Upside down girlie again!  With her purple monkey.

Since I stole both Molly and Ebby, Zoey and Ruffi have been filling in for farm duties.  My Mom is so good to send pictures of them, but I can’t help but notice a common theme…

Cupboards open, empty food dish, and poor starving Zo.  She’s so hungry that she taught herself to open the kitchen cupboards and help herself.  Obviously no one feeds her there.  (Too bad everyone knows that Zo is my naughty dog!)

Anxiously wanting to share news about these two.  No news to share yet, it’s why I’ve had time to blog this afternoon!

Lastly, note that we’ve updated our puppies page.  We’re hoping to have a litter in the summer from Sadie.  If you are interested in a ruby or a blenheim, now would be the time to get in touch, not when they arrive or are a few weeks old.

To spring, puppies, and some nicer weather.  

We’ve been neglecting our blog again but I figured it was time for an update. Below is just some of what has been going on around here.

I’ve been to a couple dog shows with Ebby, Ruffi, and one with Zac.  We’re going to do one more show before the end of the year and then look at some for February.   While at our shows we coordinated and participated in two meet the breed booths.  Breed education is so important.  It made for some really long show weekends but Ruffi is turning into a booth pro.

Working at our meet the breed booth at the Caledon dog show last weekend after winning Reserve Winners Bitch and Best Puppy in Breed with her good friend Jen.  

Ruffi – Our little lady is growing up!

At the end of October the Cavalier Fanciers of Southern Ontario held their annual heart and eye certification clinic.  It’s an event that I feel is very important and make sure that I am around to help all day if needed. We completed close to 100 exams for both heart and eyes and I was at the clinic from 8:30 to around 5pm.  This is a clinic that any owner can attend, breeder or not.

Most of the Embee crew attended and had their heart and eyes updated. As we all know, Mitral Valve Disease is very prevalent in our breed.  It’s not a question of IF it’s going to occur, it’s almost always a question of WHEN. Our goal is to eliminate early onset cases of MVD from breeding programs, breed knowing the inside and outs of their familial history, and to monitor all Cavaliers closely so that treatment can be started immediately if symptoms start occurring.

An old picture of Mylee helping with an echocardiogram
 

The problem with MVD is that it doesn’t have a consistent pattern.  Cavaliers can be diagnosed with murmurs early in life and have them never progress.  They can also get murmurs when they are older and have them progress quickly.  There can be many variants and you never know what path it is going to take.  That is why having an annual auscultation by a cardiologist once a Cavalier reaches 5 years old is extremely important for both breeding dogs and family pets.  If you are still in contact with your breeder (and I very much hope that you are!) let them know the results.   Monitoring heart health, feeding a high quality diet and keeping your Cavalier fit  are the best defences against the disease. 

Our news on the day was mostly good.  Molly at 5 1/2 years was heart clear, along with her sons Loki and Bucky.  Ebby and her brother Hansel also had clear exams.  Both Sadie and Zac need to be updated in the next few months, and Nika isn’t due until April.  Zoey’s murmur (originally diagnosed when she was 6, has progressed but only slightly. It hasn’t progressed very much in two years.  My downer of the day was my little red dog.  She just turned 7 and had a clear heart on her previous exam.  She now has a moderate murmur that we will be watching carefully. No matter how prepared you are to hear the news that your Cavalier has a heart murmur, it still completely sucks. Everyone had uneventful eye exams. 

Mylee says if you are over 5 consider having your heart checked by a Cardiologist!

After getting his health clearances all up to date, Loki received the news that his painting was done.  He’s now convinced that he is famous!  Talented artist Charlene Elliott fell in love with one of Loki’s photos (taken in our magic photo bathroom!) and approached me about painting him for her collection.  It certainly wasn’t a hard  decision for me, of course she could paint him if she wanted to!  I believe that prints of Loki’s sweet face will be available to purchase. I will let you know when I know more.

Charz is so incredibly talented, LOOK at this gorgeous piece

Mr. Famous himself has adorable puppies in Kansas.  I’ve been very much enjoying watching them grow up from afar.  Every time their breeder/owner sends me cute pictures, its taking all of power to not jump in the car to go for a visit and snuggle.

Can’t.handle.the.cute

 
I’ve also been having some fun with my camera again.  I took this beautiful photo of Lolly, now 15 months old at the Caledon dog show.  She’s officially known as Brinklow Embee Lollipop and I co-own her with Norma Moffat (Brinklow Cavaliers).  Some may recognize her as Dottie! 

People are usually surprised to learn that both of her parents are black and tans.  She’s just my type!

While Zac was visiting for his show he had to put up with my photo taking as well.  I’m so thrilled with how this boy is turning out.  He is such a sweetheart and completely gorgeous.  He’s just the right combination from his parents.

So handsome – Embee’s Burning Bright “Zac”
 

Poor Riff-Raff and Zo had to visit the Vet to have teeth pulled.  Zoey cracked a tooth right along the gumline and it was starting to abscess underneath.  I of course was freaking out about having her put under anesthesia due to her heart.  Ruffi had retained puppy canine teeth that needed to come out at some point, so I decided they both could go together and keep each other company.  They did just fine, despite my worry and anxiety over Zo especially!

What do you mean I have to go get teeth out?!

Zo is feeling much better and is back to chewing with both sides of her mouth.

That’s it for now!  As a bad blogger I won’t promise anything but I do have more to write…. at some point, 😉  Happy Friday!

We held a party at the end of August…….and it was awesome. 

The Embee Fam Jam is a time to get together and celebrate, connect with other Embee Cavalier owners, and visit with family.  For me, there aren’t enough words to describe the feelings of pride, love, and admiration that is seeing our puppies being adored by their owners.  It just means the world and makes it all worth it.

A very special thank you to Debbie at beyondthedogdish.com and her husband David for their always beautiful photos.  We had a fun photo booth this year and without their help it wouldn’t have been possible.  Also thank you to Jen who coordinated and kept the photo booth running smoothly, and to my sister Julie who snapped many of the pictures below when I was otherwise occupied.  We’ll do it again next year!

Getting the party started!  Everyone ate well including the doggies. Handmade cookies courtesy of Madison’s owners and dehydrated sweet potato treats.

Mylee always loves a good party

Pretty baby Tess, taking it all in and having a blast

Remy looking adorable

Bingley checking out the photo-booth!

Booster, can you tell that this is his favourite spot and person?

There may have been some brother tail pulling antics.  Fenton pulling his sister Tess’ tail! Photo courtesy of David Souch

Jetta, enjoying the BBQ

Calvin came to visit all the way from Utah, I haven’t seen him since I kissed him goodbye at the airport over 2 years ago.  I was spoiled and got to visit with them for several days, more photos of our adventures soon

Zoey’s sweet Charlie Bear.  Charlie hasn’t been feeling well over the past several months. Between Mitral Valve Disease and a incredibly nasty ear infection we’ve been very worried about him.  His Mom was worried about bringing him but he had so much fun and he even played ball for the first time in months! Love his happy smile in this photo

Meshayla with her wagging tail, what a happy party girl!

Madison’s sweet little face, she came decked out in bows and stole a few of the boys hearts, one in particular.  Poor tricolour Charlie was head over heels in looove. 

Max and Jax, the definition of bromance.  These two spent the entire time playing together. Photo courtesy of David Souch

Molly made sure that everyone had a good snuggle and a visit with her.   She is the Queen after all and everyone needs her cuddles.

A beautiful photo of Charlie waiting for the ball!  One of the photos I did manage to take

Visiting with family, what it’s all about.  Molly and her son Charlie

Ball crazy black and tans, Guinness (with the ball) and Bucky in front, Loki and Ruffi behind.  Party girl Ruffi played and played and played.  Photo courtesy of David Souch

Zoey, Fam Jammed out!

Annnd last but not least, the Photo-booth  slideshow!   I’m also going to put it up on Our Family page.