Upcoming Litter Plans at Northrock Barbets

Summer 2020

*** THIS LITTER HAS ALL BEEN SPOKEN FOR ***

   The interest list for a puppy from this litter is full.

Jack x Marie
GCH Treebeard's Jack of All Trades x CH Northrock's Forever Yours CGN

This litter is co-bred with Susan Luyendyk and the puppies will be born and raised at her country home which is located east of Toronto.  The dam of the litter is Susan's wonderful girl Marie (CH Northrock's Forever Yours CGN) and you can read more about her on her page.  The sire of the litter is GCH Treebeard's Jack of All Trades.  A healthy, handsome and good natured Barbet who is a big teddybear of a dog. Much gratitude to his owners Janet Black Evans and Brittany and Karsten Grolle for their support and co-operation in making this litter possible.  

New Beginnings for the Beau x Rizzo Puppies

CH Hickory Tavern Fool For Brookberry CM x 

CH Northrock's For The Joy Of It CGN 

And so a new adventure begins for each of the Beau and Rizzo puppies. They are such sweet-natured, pretty puppies with lovely personalities. They brought so much happiness into all of our lives and truly were a bright light during the difficult times that the world is facing.  

A big thank you to Beau's owners; Donna and Stephanie Forte and Judy Descutner for their support and friendship throughout.  Beau has certainly passed on his good looks to his offspring as these puppies are so homogenous it was truly a challenge at times telling them apart.  

Rizzo's co-owner and our dear friend Joy has also shared every step of this journey with us and what a good time we have had enJOYing these adorable puppies and watching them grow and mature. 

It has been an absolute joy sharing these last several weeks with the Happiness litter and now that they have gone to their new homes they are continuing to bring smiles to our faces when photos and updates are shared by their new owners.

I am pleased to introduce clockwise from the top right; Merry who now goes by Rey, Happy who is now called Carley, Giggles who is Belle and last but certainly not least is Jolly whose new name is Rosco.

Thank you to the wonderful families who have welcomed their Northrock puppy into their hearts and homes.  I know each of these special pups is already very much loved and cherished.  

The Beau x Rizzo Puppies: 8 Weeks Old

It was a fun filled week for the Happiness Litter.  The pups spent lots of time outside in the fresh air exploring the big yard as well as playing in the puppy pen. On warmer days they were able to fall asleep to the birds singing them lullabies.  

We had the puppies up on the grooming table many times during this week as we evaluated their structure and acclimated them to being up high and examined so they would be better able to handle their first veterinary exam.

Large bones were a great treat that they enjoyed a few times this week.  

The puppies spent time with the other dogs in our home and here they are with Summer who has always been an excellent "auntie" to our litters.

 I hope that following the development of this litter will bring you all much happiness. I invite you to like our Northrock Barbets Facebook Page where photos and videos will be posted on a regular basis for you to enJOY.

The Beau x Rizzo Puppies: 7 Weeks Old

The pups enjoyed another happy week here at Northrock with lots of play outside and exploring different rooms in the house.  They love playing with the equipment in their pens and the upside down turtle pool lid and swing are new favourites. 

The items in their indoor pen continue to be rotated and they still really enjoy interacting with their adventure box. 

We continue to play lots of different sounds for the puppies and rotate the speaker around the room. The pups are also going outside regularly for lots of potty breaks.  In this video they are playing outside while our "invisible group of children" plays on the speaker in the background.

  

Rizzo is a patient mother to her puppies and continues to enjoy spending time with them.

Puppy socialization during COVID-19 has caused us to make some adjustments to our protocols.  We can't take the puppies to yoga classes or for coffee and tea visits and we certainly aren't able to have the regular stream of visitors come to our home.  Because we couldn't introduce them to new people, we did our best to change our own appearances.  We wore wigs, and costumes, masks and even put on different scents. Our entire family had fun playing dress up. The puppies didn't seem to skip a beat and everyone had fun.

 I hope that following the development of this litter will bring you all much happiness. I invite you to like our Northrock Barbets Facebook Page where photos and videos will be posted on a regular basis for you to enJOY.

The Beau x Rizzo Puppies: 6 Weeks Old

"Tongue out Tuesday"

Every week it seems is a wonderful week with the puppies.  This is an especially fun age where they are active and engaging and enormously entertaining.

They have been exposed to different sounds that we play on a speaker for them but they have also been hearing outdoor noises coming through the windows and when they are spending time in their outdoor pen.  The weather has been quite nice so now they hear sounds of lawnmowers and other power tools, roofers and motorcycles...

Summer playing with the puppies.

The puppies also spent time with the other dogs in the house and that was very sweet to watch as they were quite gentle and patient with the little ones.

The pups are given new objects to investigate such as the musical mat which makes sounds when they step on the keyboard.

Another learning experience for the puppies! Here they are playing with the adventure box.  They become accustomed to objects bumping into them while they play and some of the objects are quite noisy so it helps them to associate these sounds with having fun.

I hope that following the development of this litter will bring you all much happiness. I invite you to like our Northrock Barbets Facebook Page where photos and videos will be posted on a regular basis for you to enJOY.

The Beau x Rizzo Puppies: 5 Weeks Old

 Oh we have had a fun time with these puppies during the past week. They are truly becoming little dogs now and their yips and growls and assorted vocalizations are very amusing.  They have the most beautiful little faces and I admit to being completely in love with each and every one of them!

Rizzo is a tender and loving mama to her pups. We couldn't be more pleased.

Although their indoor pen is still fairly small there are interesting objects for them to engage with and they enjoy time exploring outside of the pen as well.   

We've also started going outside with the puppies and with the warmer spring weather it's been so nice to have them experience the feel of the sunshine on their fur, the sounds and smells of the outdoors and the grass beneath their feet.

Watching these puppies play has been a great source of joy for us.  We hope you are enjoying them too.

 I hope that following the development of this litter will bring you all much happiness. I invite you to like our Northrock Barbets Facebook Page where photos and videos will be posted on a regular basis for you to enJOY.

The Beau x Rizzo Puppies: 4 Weeks Old

Well the pups are now four weeks old and the last week has been a week of big changes for them.  They now have a new space that's located on the main floor of our home in a busy area of the home next to the kitchen and living rooms.  They can hear all the sounds of family life, smell food cooking and it won't be long before they are venturing outside into the yard.

The puppies are now out of the whelping box and into a wire pen that they can see out of.  They have a sleeping area and a well defined potty area which they are using quite successfully.  

We continue to rotate different soft and safe toys for them to explore and are playing the radio as well as desensitization sounds on a regular basis.

Rizzo is doing an excellent job nursing her puppies and we have not introduced solid food to them yet.  That will come next week.  They are in great weight and their coats are healthy and shiny. 

Their coordination is improving although they are still very much toddlers. More and more they are interacting with one another, their mother and with their environment but next week is when we will really see their play and engagement take off.  Stay tuned!

I hope that following the development of this litter will bring you all much happiness. I invite you to like our Northrock Barbets Facebook Page where photos and videos will be posted on a regular basis for you to enJOY.

The Beau x Rizzo Puppies: 3 Weeks Old

The puppies have now finished up the Transitional Period which runs from day 14 to day 21.  During this week their ears opened and combined with the fact that their eyes recently opened they really do seem like little dogs now. 

Once their eyes opened I began to hang things above the whelping box for them to observe.  I also continued to rotate soft toys in the box for them to explore.

Here Merry is checking out a novel object in the box.  A large plastic tube that she was able to tunnel through.  She seemed to enjoy the experience for after going through it once she turned around and went back through the way she had come!

We finished up the Early Neurological Stimulation and Early Scent Introduction exercises on day 16 but continue to handle the puppies multiple times a day and everyone in the family is enjoying having puppy cuddle sessions.



We started potty training the litter this week by introducing pee pads to the whelping box.  The puppies have an innate desire to be clean and will move away from their sleeping area to eliminate away from their "bed".  Putting down pee pads helps to define a clear area for elimination and contributes to cleanliness habits and a maintaining a clean whelping box and later puppy pen.

The puppies are better at moving around and are beginning to interact with their mother and with each other.  Rizzo's gentle play with her offspring is wonderful to watch. 

I hope that following the development of this litter will bring you all much happiness. I invite you to like our Northrock Barbets Facebook Page where photos and videos will be posted on a regular basis for you to enJOY.

The Beau x Rizzo Puppies: 2 Weeks Old

The puppies are two weeks old now and have entered the Transitional Period of development.  They are beginning to get their legs up under them now and although wobbly, they are definitely more mobile.  Their eyes have all opened and they have limited, blurry vision which will improve as the days and weeks unfold.  


Soft toys, pillows and different footing are rotated in their whelping box as we feel that this offers an enriched environment for the puppies, albeit on a small scale.

When the pups need to pee they are now beginning to move away from where they were sleeping. I've now added pee pads as a defined potty area which is a small, first step towards potty training.

This litter is such a joy and we are all benefiting from being able to sit in the whelping box and experience lots of "puppy therapy" by way of cuddles and gentle handling.  Rizzo is an excellent mother to her puppies.  Keeping her little ones very well fed and clean.

I hope that following the development of this litter will bring you all much happiness. I invite you to like our Northrock Barbets Facebook Page where photos and videos will be posted on a regular basis for you to enJOY.

The Beau x Rizzo Puppies: 1 Week Old

The arrival of this much anticipated litter has been a bright light during these bleak days of social isolation and growing concern for our community.  March 2020 will always be remembered as the month the country was on lock down to slow the spread of COVID-19....  When feelings of worry start mounting, I'm so incredibly grateful to be able to turn my focus towards the whelping box and the poignant reminder that life goes on and hope grows.

Rizzo is proving to be a natural mother.  Attentive, responsive and gentle to her puppies and under her care they are flourishing.  Her daughters are all very consistent in weight at 1 lb, 8 oz and her chunky son is a hefty 1 lb and 14 oz.  They are a content bunch with glossy coats and full bellies.

During the first week of life puppies are incredibly vulnerable.  Their eyes and ears are closed and they are not able to maintain their own body temperature so must be kept warm, away from drafts.  

Mama Rizzo provides an excellent heat source and warm fleece bedding offers good traction for developing joints.  Rizzo's job is to feed her puppies well and keep them clean by stimulating them to urinate and defecate.  






In addition to lots of gentle handling by our family members I weigh the puppies two times a day to monitor their growth.  They have had their nails trimmed and Early Neurological Stimulation exercises have been started. The puppies are also being exposed to new scents in the form of Early Scent Introduction.  

Rizzo's co-owner's name is Joy and Rizzo's registered name is Northrock's For the Joy of It.  In light of this I really can't think of a better theme for this litter than Happiness...For the duration of the time that these precious pups will be with us, blue collar boy will now be known as "Jolly", pink collar girl will be "Merry", red collar girl will be "Giggles" and purple collar girl will be "Happy".

I hope that following the development of this litter will bring you all much happiness. I invite you to like our Northrock Barbets Facebook Page where photos and videos will be posted on a regular basis for you to enJOY.

The Beau and Rizzo Puppies have Arrived

Northrock's "M" Litter - Born March 18, 2020

CH Hickory Tavern Fool For Brookberry CM x 

CH Northrock's For The Joy Of It CGN 

We are so very happy to welcome the Beau and Rizzo puppies to the world.  Four beautiful puppies were born late in the day on March 18th (3 females and 1 male).  Mama Rizzo and her little ones are doing great.  Our sincere thanks to Rizzo's co-owner Joy Hettler and Beau's owners Donna and Stephanie Forte and Judy McMaster Descutner for their friendship and co-operation.  With the difficult times the world is facing right now, these precious puppies will be a bright light for us to enjoy in the days and weeks ahead.

All of Rizzo's puppies have been spoken for. 

If you would like to follow the progress of this litter, please like our Northrock Barbets Facebook Page where frequent photos and videos will be posted.

Upcoming Litter at Northrock Barbets - Puppies Expected March 2020

I don't know what could be a better Valentine's gift than the news that we are expecting our next litter at Northrock Barbets. 💖

Rizzo (CH Northrock's For The Joy Of It CGN) has been bred to Beau (CKC CH Hickory Tavern Fool For Brookberry CM) and puppies are expected mid-March.  Much gratitude to Beau's owners Donna and Stephanie Forte and Judy McMaster Descutner for helping to make this dream possible and to Joy Hettler for sharing Rizzo with me.  Joy and I hope that you will join us in thinking good thoughts that all will continue to go well for Rizzo and that we will be welcoming puppies here in the spring. 

More information about this exciting breeding is available on our website. If you are interested in a puppy for show, performance or as a loving companion, please send us an email providing information about yourself, where you live, the type of puppy you are looking for and the home that you can provide to one of our puppies.

The Polo x Gracie Puppies: Nine Weeks Old and Leaving the Nest

Snuggle puppy and blankie slumber parties in the ninth week.

It's been a wonderful time raising these puppies from birth to nine weeks.  Our final week with these little ones has been a busy and rewarding time.  

Our routine of frequent trips outside to potty is paying off. They are going out in the rain, snow, sun or dark. First thing when I come down in the am, after waking from naps, after eating each meal and before bedtime for a final potty trip. I'm so proud of them!!!!

These potty trips are in addition to regular recess playtimes outside for longer periods of time (weather permitting). 

Blizzard fast asleep on the car ride home from the vet

Bath time for everyone!

The puppies had their structural evaluations and chiropractic exams and also a trip to the vet for a full check up.



And amidst all the preparations to ready them for their send-offs we were sure to spend some quality time with them before they left.  

A great vet check up for the Polo x Gracie puppies.

Playing in the outdoor yard.

It was without a doubt an emotional week for as much as these pups are ready to move on to the next stage I have grown quite attached to them and will miss their characters and presence in our home.  However, the families that are welcoming the Polo and Gracie pups are terrific and I'm excited for these puppies to be joining them.

Here are the wonderful pups 

and their equally wonderful families;

From top left to bottom right: 
Frosty: Northrock's Lucky Moustache called Moustache
Mittens: Northrock's Lucky Mylah called Mylah
Blizzard: Northrock's Life of the Party called Louie
Chilly: Northrock's Lion In Winter called Hugo (the elder)
Winter: Northrock's Live for Today called Sachem
Crystal: Northrock's Luminous Luna called Stella
Aspen: Northrock's Laughter Is Sunshine called Hugo (the younger)
Cider: Northrock's Let There Be Light called Odin
Cocoa: Northrock's Lorelei and she remains Cocoa

I wish you all the best as you embark on this next chapter and look forward to receiving the updates and photos of life with your new canine companion.  Thank you and welcome to the Northrock Family.

The Polo x Gracie Puppies: Eight Weeks Old

You can really see the difference in the development of the puppies this week.  They do everything with gusto; run, bark, bite and play.  It's been a busy and rewarding week with these little ones.

















We continued having visitors over which is always a delight and an entertainment for the puppies. 

The puppies were temperament tested this week and we're really please with the consistency we are seeing throughout the litter.  Gracie has decided that for the most part she is done with nursing her puppies but sometimes she surprises me and wants in with her puppies to nurse them.  We let our dams decide when and how often they want to nurse and let them wean their pups as they wish.  She is such a good mother and it's been wonderful watching her nurture and care for her puppies.

Keeping puppies this age entertained is not an easy task so we continue to offer them new items to explore such as the crinkly, noisy tarp and the bottle pool.

We always take off the paper labels, unscrew the caps and remove the rings that are left on the bottles before giving them to the puppies. It's a loud, noisy and crunching good time for the pups.  At this age the bottles don't last long as the puppies can crush them fairly easily so the bottles then go off to the recycling box when the pups are through with them.

The puppies' eighth week wrapped up with an Adventure Field Trip to the county.  We packed up the car with puppies travelling by twos in crates except for one puppy who travelled solo riding shotgun in a carrier and drove for over an hour to Erik and Susan Luyendyk's farm. They were very good for the long drive and once they got out of the car they had a grand time rip snorting around the property, stretching their legs and exploring all the new sights and smells.

If you would like to follow the progress of this litter please like our Facebook Page where more frequent updates, photos and videos will be posted.