Our first progesterone test shows that it is beginning to rise....

That is very good news. It is my intent to take her in again on Friday for her second test. I should have those results on Saturday and then begin making plans for her 'date' with Chico.

Everyone gushes over Clara Belle at her vet's office. They tend to call her Cleopatra because her eye rims are soooo black they appear to have been painted with ebony eye liner!!

Clara also sits on the people bench, like a little lady. Sitting on the floor to wait does not cross her mind at all. (very cute!)

This is a pic of Clara Belle when she was about 7 weeks old. You can see how dark her pigment was even as a pup! Her nose literally sparkles!

GREAT NEWS!

I have just been informed that Clara Belle is 'in cycle'! Whoopie!

I have an appointment to begin progesterone checks beginning on Monday. It will take a few days for her numbers to climb, but when they do, we will be on our way to R.I. to have a date with Chico.

A 'loose' timeline is pups arriving in late October for placement in late January or so. Stay tuned!

OH MY, OH MY, OH MY!

I received a call this morning from Clara Belle's guardian that she is exhibiting signs that a cycle is impending! SUCH WONDERFUL NEWS! I have been waiting and waiting and it appears that puppies may be arriving in the fall - YIPPEEEEE!

Of course, I am jumping the gun here, but according to my records Clara's cycle is suppose to arrive in the month of August so she is right on schedule.

If all goes well, I will be driving down to Rhode Island for her 'wine and dine' date with the dreamy Chico and hopefully have delightful ruby red/apricot puppies in possible red/white parti colors as well as solids.

Click on Chico's pic link to view his good looks and impressive stats located on our Home Page!

When is the next litter?

Hello to those that call and send me emails! I would love to tell you that a litter is coming, but my three 'prospects' are really giving me a run for my money! They are in cahoots with Mother Nature and they are torturing me with these 'cycle' games!

It appears Cadbury has decided to skip her cycle! What a nerve!!! I was so looking forward to having some outstanding cafe's and apricots from this girl. Chico did his best to woo her, but she simply refused the invitation. :+( We are hoping, with a bit of wine and roses, she may change her mind at the next invite. Perhaps a spring/summer litter '10.


Next in the mating game is Clara Belle. A delightful lady of soft curls the color combo of a cream sickle - YUM! We are hoping that Chico will be able to 'sweep her off her paws' when they meet, hopefully in late July or August. I am expecting apricot/red with cream partis and some solids with perhaps a bit of white on their heads or tails. Cute as fall pumpkins I bet!


Also on this dance card is Olive Oyl. We are again looking at Chico to do a great 'tango' and produce some silky, shiny blacks and deeper red/apricots. What a performance that will be!! Although these coats may shed just slightly, the type of coat will be phenomenal and easy to maintain. My favorite doodle to groom here. :+) I am expecting her to cycle around the same time as Clara Belle (who is her litter sister!).


So it appears I could have three girls cycling at the same time, or they will have pity on me and give me a bit of space between them so that I won't have to make choices as to whom to breed when.

On a positive note, this will be my first summer in 6 years that I am not tied to the puppy room! I am looking forward to some gardening, taking my doodles to the beach and simply enjoying the sun and freedom of summer. :+)

Gretta goes to a home.

As many of you know, my plan was to keep Gretta and add her to my breeding program. She actually went to a guardian home, but they felt that raising a puppy involved more time and energy than they felt they had to give. So, we took her back and I made the decision to sell her to a young couple who was ready, willing and able to 'spoil' my precious girl. :+)

Gretta happily resides in Boston and is enjoying the city life meeting lots of new furry friends, greeting new people and going to exciting places. She does not affect her new daddy's allergies and that has made everyone very glad! Sometimes, fate intervenes in the nicest ways. :+)

Kate and Gretta. Kevin was doing the dog supply shopping! Gotta love that.

Lulu Belle goes home!

Since they are now 8 weeks, I am hoping I will be able to get them to understand what that dogie door REALLLY is for - POTTY OUTSIDE! :+) They use it to go an play without a problem and SOMETIMES they use it for pottying. It is my goal this week to help them connect outside with pottying as well as fun!

For this week's pics I used a bit of 'soft' focus around some of the pics just for a change. :+)


This is our champion shrimp - Yellow Girl at 6 lbs. 3 ozs.




















Green Boy aka 'Hummer' flattens out the scale at 11 lbs. 4 ozs.




















Holding true to the medium size are the 3 muskateers with Blue Boy at 8 lbs. 4 ozs.




















Black Boy at 8 lbs. 4 ozs.




















and Stripe Boy at 8 lbs. even.




















Teal Girl is holding her own petite size at 7 lbs. 4 ozs.


















Today was a special day for this family as they had to wait another week to bring their little bundle home.

Six years ago, they made a trip up to Annabelle Doodles for their first pup, named 'Fuzzer' (on left). Today, they happily added a redhead to their household - little Lulu Belle.

Lulu Belle waits.

Lulu Belle is being very patient, but she is looking forward to her new owners coming to get her on Saturday. :+)