Mama and Abby

One of the last times  for snuggling for these 2.  Abbys ears checked just fine today!
I think Cinnamon is going to miss these guys

Mt Shasta

Coming up on mount Shasta on our way home. Hope Lorna Doone and willow are settling in well.

A last snooze in my lap, willow is heading to meet her family

Strawberry Inn in Mount Shasta

Creswell part 2

As far as Creswell

The road to California is a long one.

Dad hang in with the kids

Ready to go.

W put the crate into the pen just to see if they would use it.

May 24, 2017 Escapees abounding

This week we delivered eight of the eleven puppies either to Critter Cabana, whom I recommend, or to their new parents. We would have delivered nine, but Abernathe had an ear infection so we kept her for another week. Needless to say, but I'm saying it: it is a whole bunch quieter around the house today. The three who stayed are also the quietest three of the eleven, so it is peaceful in the morning, peaceful all day.

We are going to miss the puppies, but sort of in the way you miss your favorite obscure Aunt Claudia when she shows up. Love to see her come, love to see her go. We have to drive to Yuba City. California, by way of Red Bluff, to deliver two of our precious babies to their new parents. We also must take our Abernathe with us. It will be like traveling with a baby. Lots of stops, lots of hold the baby. We are not puppy free for the next week.

Cinnamon is properly upset and letting go very easily. Having a few hold overs is good for her. But she's good at this whole breeding business. She's a good mother,  pregnancy seems to improve her general health, and she is recovering very quickly. We are very proud of her.

The litter was a success in nearly ever respect. It is likely that the next opportunity to have another will be shortly following the Farm House being built. We are building a double wide tiny home which half of which will serve as the new kennel once we are out of it. We expect it will have the dogs quarters and a whelping room. time will tell, but the project seems to be going forward as planned. Maybe the first time this has happened to us.

Dog biscuits all around

Has you got chicken soup?

Is it suppertime yet?

The kids are enjoying the sun

Morning break

So big

Our last Thursday morning

Can't you see we're starving!?

Maybe they can all fit under there

One bad apple

Grasshopper is wearing of on the rest of them

Puppy proof fence working real well

How the heck did I get here?

I put up a semi-puppy-proof fence.

Special treats.

I threw a scoop of the big dog food into the puppy pen after clean up this afternoon because nobody pooped in the pen since this morning. I opened up the pen and they all ran outside to do their business.  So they get a special treat.

Bassets in repose.

Abernathe six week evaluation

Abernathe is a very good quality Basset when judged against the AKC standard. In appearance she is lovely, with one serious structural flaw in her tail. Her head is very good, highly domes in shape. Her ear placement and size are near perfect. Her skin is loose and well covered in a symmetrically colored coat. The muzzle is very good and her jaw set is fine.  Her eyes are properly set and quite droopy,
Abernathe 's stance is not very strong, but she makes up for this in strong personality.

At six weeks she gets three and one half points for AKC standard characteristics, one half point for beauty. Four of six possible points means a fine, but only pet quality, rating. Abernathe might be bred with a high quality male and achieve a fine quality result, but we do not recommend breeding her.

Grasshopper six week evaluation

Grasshopper is a good pet quality Basset Hound with some minor issues when compared the the AKC standard. His height is low and bone thickness a little light for the breed. His ears are properly set back on his fairly domed, but narrow skull. His jaw set is right and well within the standard. Grasshoppers coat is a bit tight and covered in short smooth fur. Eyes are well set, but without the droopiness one expects in a standard Basset Hound. As to stance he is very good, tapering from front to back.

Grasshopper will make a fine companion dog but should not be bred. Against the standard he receives two and one half points, one half points for beauty, but when taken on his own merits he is a very nicely built dog. We caution that this one is wiley and fast. Lock your gate.

Thumbprint six week evaluation

Thumbprint is a beautiful pet quality dog with fairly good Basset traits. Here frame is light and quite long. Her rear haunches are not deep, but well proportioned. Her exceptional ears are properly set at the back of a slightly narrow, but well domed skull. Her soulful eyes are sufficiently sad and full of love. Her stance is good. Her coat is a bit course, but colored very nicely. 

Thumbprint receives three and one half points against the five points we evaluate, and one half extra point for beauty.  She should not be bred as her narrower than desirable traits will probably pass to her offspring. She is a lovely pet quality family hound and will make a very good family pet.

Milano six week evaluation

Milano is a good pet quality female, but will win no beauty contests. However she is a favorite and will make someone a wonderful companion. She is light of frame and a bit high in the rear end. Her good ears are well set behind beautifully sad eyes. Her slightly wirey coat is fairly symmetrical on a slightly tight skin. She is pretty, but not a very good example of Basset Hound.

She receives only two and one half points against the AKC standard, and no beauty points, but Milano has a subtle interior beauty which shines through her personality. If I could, I would keep her with our family as a pet.

Nutter Butter six week evaluation

Nutter Butter is a good pet quality Basset Hound with a fairly light frame and legs which are somewhat at odds with his broad and well domed head. The ears are perfectly set, long, and hang well behind and below a beautiful droopy eyes. His coat is not at all symmetrical but covers a very nicely loose skin. His stance is merely good for a male, but most would think him a fine example of a Basset Hound when taken at a glance.

Nutter Butter is a very good pet quality hound which receives three of five points against the AKC standard but no beauty point. He should not be bred, but might sire good quality pups with the right dame. 

Snickerdoodle six week evaluation

Snickerdoodle is a high pet quality male which exhibits the desirable field dog traits which in our eyes make up the best sort of Basset Hound.  His heavy bone structure, broad and well domed skull, along with other features make him the pick of the litter. His stance is strong and naturally aggressive. His thick coat covers very loose skin. His ears are delightful and add to his overall appeal.

Snickerdoodle (the Dude) loses one half point against the five pint AKC standard for a questionable lineage, but recieves one full point for beauty, making him a five and a half point pet quality hound.  He might be bred, but to an unknown result. If I could award a point for personality I would do it.

This is what a high quality, but only pet quality, Basset Hound looks like.

Oreo six week evaluation

Oreo is a very good pet quality Basset. She has a fine heavy bone structure, a nicely domed broad skull and muzzle, great droopy eyes, and wonderful ears of indeterminate coloring. Her stance is good, but not naturally posed. Her loose skin carries a slightly wirey coat which is fairly symmetrically colored. She is a fine example of a Basset Hound but lacks a bit of weight in the rear end. This might change over time.

Oreo receives four points against the AKC standard, one half point for beauty, making her a fine pet quality hound. She might be bred, but the outcome is not at all sure.