Smokey

Here's a couple of photos of Smokey, the rabbit James let us have. He is such a sweet natured rabbit, he has started to come to us and climb up to get on our lap. He loves all the different veg (we grow lots in the garden) and has an addiction to dandelion leaves and corn on the cob. Have you found homes for the other rabbits yet James.

Still not the best but a bit better to show what I was meaning.

This is not the best picture by any means to illustrate, I have not got a good stand picture of Ceilidh but front legs straight, back legs a little back

and I kneel down beside her to hold under her chin and lift her tail at the end, infact I will take a better picture on walk tonight and post, that one is awful and I could do with a good pic anyway. I must start going to ring craft soon, don't want Ceilidh to forget everything over the winter! Although will do open shows to keep up her work.

Showig

I'm glad that I'm allowed to kneel down, with my back the way it is I don't think I'd be able to bend over her to get the stand right! With regards to Crufts, I definately want to go this year, I missed it last year as I was over in France with my Dad at the time. So, unless Cassie manages anything at the Midlands Counties show next month, I'd be grateful for any cheap ticket that may be going! I haven't even checked the dates yet, when is it?

I am now counting the days until my sister gets back from Italy. These four dogs are wearing me out. This morning the eldest one (a staffie cross who's 12) decided to change his normal habit of coming halfway on the walk and then sitting down and waiting for me to pick him up on the way back. Instead he decide to take himself off on his own walk. I walked the other 3 as usual, did my normal circuit, expecting to find him sitting, watching the world go by - but no sign of him! I took the others back and went hunting. Me and another dog owner looked all over the place, I was just about to start phoning the police and the dogs homes when I spotted him. Quite happily ambling along the sea wall, heading away from home - good job he's slow on his feet!

I was in a panic, it's bad enough when it's one of your own, let alone someone elses! Thankfully, only two more days to go. Six managed to lock me out the house again this evening, I had rigged a bit of rope around the living room door handle to stop him being able to get to the front door (which is the one that he keeps knocking the latch down on) and he still managed to get in and do it again. I had (wisely) left the back door unlocked and the gate unbolted, so at least I didn't have to climb any roofs this time. Friday can't come quick enough!

Ring Craft

I'm taking Cassie along to a ring craft session on Monday, the guy who runs it, whilst usually shows gun dogs isn't too familar with Munsters. He asked me whether they need to be "free-standing". I can't remember what was happening at Paignton - I was too busy just trying to get Cassie to stand!

Club Show

The club show at Yelvertoft, whilst not wanting to show Ringo, would it be alright if we bought him along as it is only a few miles from where we live?. It would be lovely to meet you all.

Crufts and club show

Schedules for Crufts come out usually end of November, you could phone the KC and ask to go on the mailing list then you will get sent onewhen they're available. As for entries you get one pass per dog entered unless the dog is in a partnership or joint names then they will sned 2 passes. So no need to order extra, Karen when I enter they give us the choice to buy more tickets but at a fraction of the cost so I can do that for you too.

Club show is 5th October at Yelvertoft village hall, Northants.

Ali

Thank you, that is so kind of you to give up a Crufts ticket, although Charlotte wants to come too and it'll be just as quick to get to the NEC from here. I only went for one day last year and I really want to go for two as I liked watching all the agility and other displays too, plus Charlotte wants to see the junior handling. I'll give you a call later. I do hope to come to the Club show, I just need to check when it is etc.

Elspeth, check on the Crufts website, they should have the schedules and timings for entering your dogs. The visitor tickets have just gone on sale.

Karen that is so exciting that you are coming to Crufts, I am itching for March to come. Does anyone know when entry for dogs opens? Do exhibitors get in for free or do we need to buy tickets for entry too? It is a miserable looking day so Ceilidh and I are all snuggled up on the couch with the lap top to get work done.
How is Smokey Karen?

Karen

DON'T order tickets I always have a spare one, why don't you come and stay here and come up with us. We may even do a day when judging isn't on for the shopping, if not you could come and go off shopping whilst I stay with the dogs, whichever you're always welcome. Are you still coming with me to the club show? I have entered 4 so if you want to show any help yourself!!!!

Training and Crufts

Maggie's training sounds fun Karen. We are still going on Wednesday evenings but I do still have the problem with Domino and collies, she just doesn't like them and the training class doesn't allow for any free running apart from one dog at a time with the others still on leads. The lady who ran the animal behaviour course last year (http://www.petbehaviourtherapy.co.uk/) has offered for us to go over to her training field and have Domino meet her collies which she uses for behaviour work, so hopefully that'll happen next week sometime and she'll probably sort me out too as I get nervous when we meet a dog that I think Domino won't like and I'm sure that doesn't help.

I'm just ordering tickets for Crufts next year, if any of you go for more than one day, do you stay overnight and if so where do you stay? I'm considering camping but would that be really mad for early March.

Some lovely Ilka and Ceilidh photos.

LMC Membership

Sophie, sorry i meant to put this up for you, go to the club web site, www.largemunsterlanderclub.co.uk
go to membership and you can download a form there, the cost is £8 singel membership and £10 family, if you're quick you should still a get a June newsletter too, only a few left otherwise it's just the October one new members will get this year.

Any problems let me know.

First training class

Started Maggie's training class this morning near Banbury. There were five of us in the group, a labradoodle, flat coat, westie, cavy and Maggie. The chap (Tony Orchard) that runs it came out and said 'oh no - not a Munsterlander!' I questioned this reaction and asked if he knew the breed and he answered that he only knew that their owners have a sense of humour )lol. Maggie was very good mostly after she stopped wanting to roll around in the grass. We had to do some, sit & stays, down & stays and stand & stays. Maggie did the stand and the sit fairly well but with the down she kept crawling on her belly towards me! When I ask her to lie down I bend over and point to the floor repeated saying down. He said I should only say it once and why did I feel it necessary to bend over at which I told him because she won't do it any other way. He told me to do it again, only saying it once and not bending down and just wait until she lay down. She stood and looked at me for what seemed an age but eventually lay down at which I praised her. By the end of the lesson she was going down first time - I was amazed. We also did some heal work on and off the lead - she was better off. Got lots of homework - really enjoyed it though. Tony told me to do more lead work when I'm out with her as she isn't getting much at the moment - not looking forward to that )lol

Ali

Yes I have my work mobile, am at home too if that helps?

Great pictures Sophie, I am recharging my battery again to download pictures in a minute or 2.

Photos

Got more photos than I thought I had so hears the first lot and will put more up later or tommorow will be some running ones. Have never worried about Ilka she's always eatten and been fine and was not thinking of changing food just interested and yes I think duck and rice is good, and just had not weighed her or seen how tall she was for ages (she's just over 28.5kg and about (she kept moving) 64cm, not allot different to last time), anyway glad Ceilidhs putting on weight and now eating.

Catch up

Well the newsletter is done once again!!! Hope it's as well recieved as the last one was.

Sophie Ilka will be quiet and change a little at the moment as being in season does affect them, she will be back to normal, if not a little more mature, as soon as she finishes her season. I would keep her on the Skinners Duck and Rice, it's what Logi, Diva, Summer and Prima are fed on and it suits them well.

Great pictures love the punk look for Sid, and Elspeth do you have your work mobile with you? Ceilidh is looking really, bless her.

Now need to get on with decorating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pics.

You can never have too many pics of munsters!!! Thanks all. Always need pics for the photo site AND for "associated projects"

Two things, we use Skinners Duck and Rice for all our dogs now, and all are having trouble keeping weight down! or - should I admit - when I feed them they gain, when Jo is here and feeds them she is more strict!!!

Secondly - sorry not on and posting much - those who know me - know just very busy with other things at the moment!!! but please, please, keep in touch via photos!!!!

Sophie

We were on Duck and rice but she stopped eating the meal altogether licking mince and gravu off of it and leaving every last piece of meal. Now we are using Royal Canin which is putting a bit of weight on her which she was needing to mature. She seems to like it better than the duck and rice as she is actually eating it. I would not worry about changing Ilkas, she has a lovely body, it was just because Ceilidh wasn't eating that I changed it.

Great pics Elspeth, what food are you using and what had you been using? just interested, Ilka was on Skinners f and t Muesli for a while but is now on duck and rice which I think is probably better? will weigh her tomorrow and see how tall she is.
Will also put some pics up tomorrow.

Just a few pictures from today. She is getting a bit more hyper on her new food but nothing a good telling off doesn't sort out. She is putting on weight though which is good.