New CKC Rally Title for Northrock's Dance With Me "Lyric"

To say that this past weekend was a success for Glenna Spelrem and her Barbet Lyric would be an understatement.   Friday's CKC Rally trials in Red Deer, Alberta saw Lyric earning her final qualifying leg for her Rally Novice title.  What was especially exciting was that Glenna and Lyric obtained a perfect score of 100 going HIC (High in Class).  We are so delighted with their performance.

Lyric and Glenna after Friday's trial.

However, this pair wasn't finished dancing yet. Glenna's own words capture the thrill of Saturday's achievement  

"...AND we danced!! Even though, part way through, my mouth was so dry my lips were stuck to my teeth and my heart felt like it was trying to get out! I'm more than over the moon! Lyric earned a 100 Rally Novice A High In Class today! But I was absolutely stunned and full to bursting with pride, when we were also presented with the Virginia Cummings Memorial Trophy for Highest Qualifying Score Rally Novice. What an amazing partner I have in Northrock's Dance With Me ~ Lyric! "

To cap off their exciting weekend, on Sunday, this dynamic team earned yet another score of 100 Rally Novice A High In Class.  What an incredible team.  Thank you Glenna for getting out there with Lyric and showing people what the Barbet is capable of.  I'm so proud of these two and so happy that they have such a beautiful relationship.  Lyric is from our Oreo x Sophie litter (MBIS GChEx Treebeard's Galileo CGN x UCD Ch Neigenuveaux Fleur d'Northrock WC CGN).

Carpe Diem

Unfortunately we won't be having any puppies out of Sophie this time around.  Pregnancy was confirmed by palpation but either that was inaccurate and she was in fact never pregnant, or she resorbed the litter.  It's certainly disappointing but instead of sitting around moping, Sophie and I celebrated the fact that she is well and healthy and we went field training.

Sophie is such an awesome dog and I look forward to many more days in the sunshine together doing what we both enjoy so much.  My thanks to Shelly Blom for the photos and to the members of the Mountain Valley Retriever Training Club for the fun time and fellowship.

Upcoming Litter Plans

UCD CH Neigenuveaux Fleur D'Northrock WC CGN "Sophie" and Northrock's All Night Boogie "Boomer"

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the Christmas holidays Sophie has come in season.  This past week we travelled to Quebec where Sophie was bred to Northrock's All Night Boogie aka Boomer.  Boomer is a wonderful male with a lovely personality.  Our visit went very well and we are hoping for puppies to arrive round about February 8th.

Thank you to Robert Souchereau and Sylvie Marleau for your hospitality.  We believe that the combination of Sophie and Boomer has the potential to produce some very nice Barbets with good health and structure and happy, friendly temperaments.  More information can be found on our website. For updates about Sophie and other news about Northrock Barbets, please check out our facebook page 

A waiting list for puppies from this breeding has been started.  If you are interested in finding out more about Northrock Barbets contact Stephanie at northrockbarbets@gmail.com 

The Winston x Sophie Puppies Are 2 Weeks Old

It's been a great week here at Northrock for momma Sophie and her pups.  Everyone continues to do well.  Today wraps up the end of the Neo-Natal Period which lasts from one to fourteen days.  We continue with the Bio-Sensor and Early Scent Stimulation programs and will continue with these exercises through day 16 of the puppies lives.  

The pups have all gained very nicely.  As of today's weigh-in they range from 2.2 3/4 lbs to 2.7 1/8 lbs.  Duchess and Duke were the first to open their eyes followed closely by Minx.  We are still waiting on Lady and Rogue.

The puppies have been spending most of their time sleeping and eating.  They are a quiet bunch as Sophie is a very attentive dam and keeps them well fed and comfortable.  Her whelping box is always clean and you can tell she is very pleased with her little family.   We look forward to watching the pups continue to grow as they move into the Transitional Period (14 - 21 days). 

The Winston x Sophie Puppies are One Week Old.

November 5

The Winston x Sophie puppies are doing great.  They are a week old now.  Small and precious, these little neonates still have not yet opened their eyes or ears.  They do however taste, touch and smell.  Their mobility is improving and they are pretty good at moving around in the whelping box and climbing over one another and their mother.  The puppies are weighed daily, they have all gained well and have more than doubled their birth weights.

Lady - November 7

We started the Bio Sensor Exercises and Early Scent Introduction on day three and enjoy doing this with the pups.  They receive lots of cuddles in these early weeks and regular nail trims have commenced.  The puppies are absolutely marvellous.  I love to sit in the whelping box with them and listen to their little coos and murmurs.  The tiny little gulping sounds they make when Sophie's milk lets down are music to my ears.  We are all so in love with these darling pups and are looking forward to getting to know their little personalities over the coming weeks.

The puppies now have litter names:

Rogue wears the camo collar

Lady wears the red collar

Duchess wears the lime green collar

Duke wears the blue collar

Minx wears the pink collar

Frequent updates and photos are posted on our Northrock Barbets Facebook Page if you would like to follow the litter's progress.

Duke - Nov. 9

Northrock's "E" Litter - Welcoming the Winston x Sophie Puppies

Announcing the arrival of the Winston and Sophie litter!  Five lovely Barbet puppies were welcomed into the world on November 2nd, 2014.

Introducing:

Miss Pink born at  4:32 pm 10 1/4 oz - Black

Miss Green born at  5:24 pm          9 7/8 oz - Brown

Miss Red born at  6:40 pm         10 3/4 oz - Brown

Mr. Blue born at 10:45 pm         10 1/2 oz - Brown

Mr. Camo born at   1:30 am               11 oz - Brown

Sophie is doing a wonderful job caring for her puppies.  She is a calm and attentive mother and her puppies are strong, happy and content.  We are grateful to Winston’s owners Denyse Rousseau (BleuZorange Barbets), Isabelle Auger and Derek Duguay for making this litter possible.  My dear friend Nellemarie Hyde was once again great company and a fantastic whelper helper.

Please visit our Facebook Page Northrock Barbets for frequent video and photo updates.  We will also be providing updates via the blog, just not as often.  

Upcoming Litter - Winston x Sophie

Sophie is doing great throughout this pregnancy.  She’s such a sweetheart, always wanting pets and cuddles.  It’s not too much longer until her puppies with Winston are due and she is definitely looking pregnant.  

Here is a photo of her taken on our walk today.

We are able to feel the puppies moving and if you look close enough you can even see little ripples in her abdomen as they move about in the womb. We are able listen to the rapid tic, tic, tic of their little heartbeats with the stethoscope.  The miracle of new life growing never ceases to amaze me.  We are very much looking forward to meeting these special pups.

For those who are interested in seeing how puppies develop check out this poster developed by Matt Beswick http://barksandwoofs.blogspot.ca/p/embryonic-puppy-and-dog-development.html

More information about this exciting breeding can be found on our website http://northrockbarbets.com/litters.html

We anticipate that these pups will have many of the wonderful qualities their parents possess.  If you are interested in a puppy for show, performance or as a loving companion contact  Stephanie at northrockbarbets@gmail.com 

Upcoming Litter - November 2014

Sophie has been bred to Winston and puppies are expected at the beginning of November 2014!

At the beginning of September my daughter Olivia and I drove to Quebec to breed Sophie to Winston.  We had a wonderful time and enjoyed visiting with Isabelle Auger, Derek Duguay and their boys and Denyse Rousseau.  Winston is a lovely Barbet and we are very excited about this litter.  More information can be found on our website.

CH BleuZorange Xed dit Winston, the sire of our upcoming litter posing with Isabelle

Isabelle and Derek live near Old Quebec City.  Olivia, Sophie and I were able to take some time to explore the city while we were there.  Here are some photos from our visit.  

UCD CH Neigenuveaux Fleur D'Northrock WC CGN "Sophie" and Olivia - View from the Citadelle de Quebec.

Taking a little break beside the St. Lawerence River. 

On the promenade de Samuel de Champlain.

Sophie is doing very well.  Her pregnancy was confirmed by palpation towards the end of September.  She getting a little bigger now and her svelte little tuck up has disappeared. Sophie is in great shape and we are enjoying the beautiful fall weather we have been having by going on lots of walks together.  We are so looking forward to the Winston x Sophie litter and we are very grateful to Isabelle, Derek and Denyse for letting us use their beautiful boy.  

 We anticipate that these pups will have many of the wonderful qualities their parents possess, especially their outstanding temperaments.  If you are interested in a puppy for show, performance or as a loving companion contact  Stephanie at northrockbarbets@gmail.com 

Cottage Memories 2014

With the warm summer weather come several trips up north to the family cottage on Georgian Bay.  The dogs enjoy getting out of the city just as much as the humans.  Here are some photos from our trips to the bay this summer.  Enjoy!

Gemma enjoyed her first season up north.

Kayaking with Gemma

Beach babe Kelly

Sophie

Gemma and Kelly

Sophie with her cords

Kelly and Gemma

Kelly

Gemma retrieving her Dokken duck

Sophie and her daughter Gemma

The Next Chapter Begins for the Oreo x Sophie Puppies...

It's hard to believe how quickly the time has passed for the Oreo x Sophie puppies.  Their 8th week was a busy one with many visits.  They had their appointment with a canine chiropractor, structural evaluations and a check-up at the vets.  Last Friday they turned 9 weeks old and two of the girls have left for their new homes.  We are so happy about where these puppies have gone and we look forward to hearing stories of their many adventures with their new families.

Violet has gone to live with Glenna and Keith in Alberta.  Her registered name is Northrock's Dance With Me and she is now called "Lyric".  

Lyric - en route to her new home.

Lily now lives in Kingston, Ontario.  She shares her home with Julie and Jamie and their three wonderful children.  Lily is now Northrock's Dare to Dreem and she goes by the name Sadie. 

Sadie is a delight to her new family and is settling in well.

Rose is still with us and is now Northrock Diamond in the Ruff.  We are calling her Gemma as it seemed that when the litter disbanded we ought to change her litter name too.  Gemma is a joy and a blessing and she will remain with us for the time being.

Oreo x Sophie Litter Update - 8 Weeks Old

The puppies were busy during the last two weeks. We have continued to have visitors to our home so the puppies are always meeting new people.  

We have also begun taking the puppies on excursions outside of the house.  They have gone on several car rides now where they have experienced riding together in a crate as well as riding alone in crates.  I'm pleased to say they are very good little travellers.

They have all had solo expeditions to another house where they experienced being away from their dam and litter mates in an unfamiliar environment. Happily they all walked into my mothers house  and quickly made themselves at home!

 

During their seventh week we temperament tested the litter which was a fun time for all involved.  We are delighted with how confident, curious and clever these little moppets are and are looking forward to seeing what adventures they will get up to with their new families.

The Barbet is in the Canadian Kennel Club's Sporting Group of dogs.  They were traditionally used as waterfowl retrievers and also hunted small game and upland birds.  Some Barbets are still used in this capacity today.  Sophie has her CKC Working Certificate.  In order to earn this title Sophie had to do two single retrieves on land and also two in the water.  The birds are thrown by a gunner out in the field and the dog is sent from the line to bring them back.   Ducks were used on all marks in Sophie's test but sometimes a test will have pigeons or chukars in the land portion of the test.  Preserving the Barbet's natural instincts is important to us at Northrock.  We expose all of our puppies to birds while they are with us so that we can see how they react to them.  We want to know how interested are they in the birds. Do they pick them up?  Will they retrieve them?  Happily all of the pups in this litter were interested in the duck wings and pigeons when exposed to them.

The puppies celebrated their 8 week birthday with a trip to a farm where they were able to run around, explore and meet some chickens.  It was a long car ride and they all did well on the ride and had fun checking out the new sights and sounds that country life has to offer.

Oreo x Sophie Litter Update - 6 Weeks Old

Socialization Period (5-16 weeks) and the Curiosity Period (5 -7 weeks) 

It’s been a busy time for the puppies here at Northrock.  The last two weeks have seen many changes in development for Oreo x Sophie’s little girls.  Their pen has expanded and the whelping box has been packed away.  There are lots of interesting things for the puppies to explore in their pen.  Mirrors, stools, toys, hanging objects, a pool filled with balls, a tunnel etc....  They are certainly enjoying their new space!

The pups have been taken outside for several excursions.  

They have mingled with the big dogs and hung out with our cat.  They have also had the opportunity to explore different rooms in the house.

“The more chances a puppy has to be properly exposed to something new during the critical socialization periods, the less bothered it will be throughout the rest of its life when confronted by other new or frightening things.” (Hastings and Rouse 2004:28)

The puppies still nurse from Sophie but they are also eating 3 meals a day that consist of ground meat and bone, organ meat, tripe and goats milk.  They are given raw meaty bones to gnaw on which helps to exercise their jaws, neck and shoulder muscles and ease their sore gums as their teeth continue to erupt.

The girls have all been given their first bath and blow dry this past week.  Here is a photo of Lily in the tub looking rather unimpressed with the experience.

Visitors continue to come over to help socialize the puppies and we welcome the opportunity to have the puppies meet an assortment of men and women and children of various ages. It’s been a great deal of fun helping Sophie to raise her three little girls.  Stay tuned for the next update of the Oreo x Sophie litter.

Hastings, P and E.A. Rouse, Editors. 2004. Another Piece of the Puzzle: Puppy Development. Oregon, Dogfolk Enterprises. 110p.