The doggies and I were fortunate to be able to spend some time up at a good friend’s cottage in Muskoka.  While the world is still a bit uncertain, it was fantastic to be able to get away for a couple weeks.  There is nothing better than fresh air, privacy, the loon calls on the lake and being able to swim and hike to our hearts content.  I didn’t bring my big camera but here are some highlights from my phone.

Taz, enjoying the view

Load em up!  Time to go fetch splash balls from the lake

Life jackets on for safety, Loki especially is determined around water.  He runs and jumps right in without much thought or concern!

Rob and a fishing buddy

Lake dogs!  I love how Loki takes off on his own at the end of the video

Beautiful views at the Oxtongue Rapids and great hiking

Finn is not a fan of swimming even though he’s certainly very capable.  This is very much his “I’m so not impressed with you right now” face.

Rory ready for another round of fetch splash balls out of the lake

As you can see in the video, she got very good at it!  She’s 8 months old in these clips and photos

Taz and Loki showing off their splash ball skills.  Taz is in the orange life jacket, Loki neon yellow.  Loki celebrated his 8th birthday the month before!

Is it time to go home yet?  Out of all my dogs, Finn was the most homesick.  He was especially missing the air conditioner vents that he lays right on top of when it’s hot. This is him pouting in the corner on his cooling mat, not quite as good as home but it’ll have to do.

Taz all packed up and heading home.  A quick stop for gas.

Until next time beautiful cottage.  Thank you for making our 2020 Summer wonderful.

As a side, I’m still getting numerous inquiries every day about puppies and although I’ve replied to some, there are many I just haven’t been able to.  I’m sorry for that.  I am trying to respond to the ones that have done some research, are familiar with the breed and have been following us either here or on Instagram but even that has been challenging.  With our area now well into stage 3 and most things operating (although differently) I was comfortable enough to move forward with a long planned breeding I had.  Please know that I currently have NO puppies available, even though I may be sharing some photos in the near future. If you have sent a comprehensive inquiry and I do end up with something available, I will contact you when I’m ready.

Along with demand of puppies everywhere, the price has sky rocketed among those “breeders” trying to take advantage of the current market.  As always, it’s buyer beware. This breed is still one that is very prone to significant health challenges.  Finding a puppy from a breeder who is doing the proper health testing in Ontario is becoming closer to finding a needle in a haystack, there isn’t many.  Please make sure you are seeing current health clearances by Cardiologist, Ophthalmologist and in this area especially, there is no good excuse as to why an MRI for Chiari Malformation and Syringomyelia hasn’t been done. Accurate and affordable DNA testing is available for Episodic Falling and Dry Eye Curly Coat Syndrome, it should be done long before a breeder has puppies on the parents. Do not compromise on something that is so easy for a breeder to do and can save a lot of future heartache. A certification for normal patellas and an xray for hip dysplasia are also important for this breed.

With the pandemic some of these clearances have been challenging to get updated or completed at all, however I’m happy to learn that several health clinics for breeders are going ahead as scheduled.  I’m looking forward to having my guys hearts and eyes updated with the East Lake Cavalier Club in September. If your breeder can’t provide current health certificates and is charging an exorbitant amount of money, my advice is to go elsewhere and be prepared to wait.

Quite the title right?  It absolutely fits.

For the past 3 weeks my phone has done nothing but ring and I’ve received tons and tons of inquiries about purchasing puppies through email, phone, and Instagram.  Some have been absolutely wonderful, others it is clear are just mass mailing breeders as fast as they can.  I’m terrible at the best of times about responding to puppy inquiries but this has been on a whole new level.  I do not breed very often, absolutely detest the concept of a waiting list and how some breeders take deposits for future litters, and in general have a very strict and somewhat difficult placing process for my puppies.  I’m never in a hurry to commit and I do not make any promises.  I place them when and where I feel is the absolute best home for my puppy.  That home may have inquired 6 months ago or it may have found me 3 days ago.  I’m very sorry if I haven’t got to you or responded to your inquiry, but it’s been absolute madness.

So a blanket statement here.  My breeding program is currently on hold and will be until the world is a more stable place.  It is NOT the time to be searching for a puppy.  Most Veterinary clinics are emergency only and even getting basic things done such as a puppy check, microchips and first vaccines are not considered essential.   New puppy owners will have no access to in person socialization or training classes that are so desperately needed for both owners and new dog.  Groomers for basic nail care are closed and even things like sourcing a raw food diet is starting to become a bit difficult as supplies are running short.

These puppies of mine were conceived at Christmas and I’m very thankful that I have no more on the way.  It’s been very stressful trying to find ways to creatively introduce them to new things and socialize them as we cannot currently have visitors over.  I am unable to meet their new owners in person and that bothers me so incredibly much.  Thankfully these guys are all going to people I either already know really well or who are good friends of my friends.  Thank goodness for some wonderful connections.

Enough of that, we had fun this afternoon taking some photos.  I’m not sure how but these guys will be 8 weeks old on the 21st.  Brutus our gentle giant of a nextdoor neighbour has taught himself to jump our fence.  It is a normal sized sturdy wood fence and yet somehow he scales it so gracefully.  He adores the puppies and just can’t help himself.  They honestly feel the same about him, thanks for the added socialization Brutus!

Our pretty black and tan girl Raine, looking very much like her Momma Cricket.

Grandma Ruff was on puppy duty today.  If Momma is outside, it’s all about her and we can’t get any photos!

Storm, this little BT boy is very confident and outgoing!

Our little man Cloud isn’t looking so little anymore!  I adore this sweet boy that started off SO small.

This is Finn’s “mini-me’ Frost just painted fully in red.  He reminds me so much of Daddy Finn, his looks, his mannerisms, and the way that he HATES to come inside.  A true outdoors kind of guy.

Our glamour girl Twister, she truly believes that she is a Princess already.

Storm on the prowl!

Storm and Twister thinking about what type of trouble to get into.  They’ve recently discovered how to dig!

What? Do I have something on my face?  ~ Raine

Oh, hey!  Look who is here?!  It’s Brutus!

Nose kisses for Brutus.

Brutus needs a hug <3

Storm and Brutus having a chat

We’ll see you soon Brutus, thanks for the visit!

Until next time, stay home, stay healthy.

In this time of uncertainty, I thought I’d try and brighten some days with sharing some photos of our new litter.  I’ve been getting a ton of inquiries for puppies “because we are home right now and have time.”  My phone and email are both going crazy and I’m left wondering, what happens when you don’t have time any more?  Unless you’ve been planning for a new puppy for awhile, it is not the time to bring one home.  I’m having lots of anxiety about placing these little ones, I typically like to meet potential homes in person several times and that obviously is going to have to be very different for these guys.  We’ll get through it, however I knowingly will not be breeding any of my dogs until the world is healthy and healing.

This litter was somewhat of a surprise, we of course planned and timed it properly and all the steps were taken like in any other litter.  Cricket (Embee Burbrook Silent Song) however missed on her first breeding and decided to not show any signs of being pregnant for this litter until very late.  She didn’t put on much weight and both her co-owner Peggy Wallace (Burbrook Cavaliers) and I were really surprised to find out she had 5 tiny babies tucked away.  They were born very small but have always been strong and feisty.  They are 4 weeks old now and doing wonderfully.  I’m enjoying listening to their little growls as they start to explore their world and figure out play.  Their names are all related to weather after their Daddy Finn, CH Embee Brinklow Whirlwind and their Grandpa Chase, GCH Burbrook Storm Chaser who was bred by Peggy and is owned by Carol Rose, Karlee Cavaliers

This is the little guy of the group, he was born the smallest and dropped the most amount of weight in the beginning.  I was the most worried about him but he’s turning into a very personable and curious little fella.  His name is also a bit of a tribute to a certain favorite video game around here.

His sister Raine wasn’t nearly as co-operative with her photos.  I think she’s going to be very sassy like her Mom and Grandma’s.  Typical black and tan girl!

Frost reminds me the most of his Daddy Finn, both in looks and temperament.  He’s the biggest of the group and very laid back and easy going so far.

His sister Twister on the other hand I think is going to live up to her name.  She’s a bit of a live wire and it was very hard to get a photo of her because she was moving around so much!

Last is Storm, a beautiful black and tan boy.  He is sweet as can be and very photogenic!  He really seemed to enjoy posing for photos.

Looking forward to sharing more photos as they grow and develop.  We’ll be spending a lot of time outside as the weather warms up.   Stay safe and stay home.