Adios Puddles

 Every litter has one puppy in it that I would keep if I could.  I don't even try to pretend that Puddles wasn't my favorite this time. We go way back . . ..

When we were still Whelping babies eight short weeks ago we figured we were done at one point and Ann took off for the showers while I kept watch.  About ten minutes later I heard Lilly stirring in the whelping pen and found her just finishing up birthing a suprize bonus baby.  This was Milka, now Puddles. 

Puddles went to her new family today. She will be missed. But the new parents have another little girl Basset at home and promises to bring them around for vacations and visits. It will be good to see him grow up.

Last Vaccines

Today we're doing the last vaccinations. We did the last worming a few days ago so this is the last thing, other than invoices, we do. All of the veteranary things are in the Candies envelopes to take to the Vet. Along with AKC forms and Well Puppy checks.

The first flight of invoices went out this morning so it's winding down here a bit. We'll miss them all, but like being able to hear again. So. . . Bittersweet.

Six Weeks Evaluations: The International Candies Litter : Pocki (Harvey)

 At Six Weeks of age we evaluate our litters using a six point set of criteria. Five of these points are derived from the American Kennel Club Standard for the breed. One point is given that is subjective and purely based on what we like to see for coloring and aesthetic qualities. It is difficult to look into a puppy's future and see what they will truly become, but at six weeks there is enough of the traits emerging in appearance and personality to give it a good guess.

Our breeding program has been aimed toward breeding a smaller form of Basset Hound, something that won't exceed forty pounds when fully adult and perhaps less than fourteen inches at the shoulder. In this litter we only see two pups of this smaller form developing, four which will be of the more normal American Basset size (perhaps fifty pound fully grown and fifteen inches at the shoulder) and one standard sized little boy who will likely top out at sixty pounds. All of the Candies show very good traits, but as is the usual, the sire (Rocky) brought into the mix all that we expect in an American Basset Hound. The very long ears, head shape, boxy nose shape, and heavy foreleg size are all of Rocky's very good features. Lilly, the Dame, is a good example of the smaller form Basset and has very good features as well.

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Harvey is a great little pet quality tri-colored boy. The sort we often love just a bit more because he is so much fun and comes by often to get his snuggles in before running off to find some trouble to get into. He is fast, perhaps the quickest boy of the group, but one of the last to master climbing stairs. If someone has wandered off, Harvey is problably at their side.

Structurally he is a fine example of the breed. Though you can't see it in the picture (above), he has adequate ear length and well domed (sub-optimal) head shape, a wonderfully boxy nose (smaller than most) with large fews hanging low from his snout.  He is well made from neck to tail with stocky shoulders and heavy foreleg bones. His stance is not great, but is good enough so that excersize should keep his hip bones healthy. Harvey is a smaller form Basset, one of the two in this litter, so expect forty pounds, though it may take a few years to get there. His skin folding is good, but he will not become more European as he grows, more of a long eared Foxhound with short legs.

Coloring is not symmetrical and his facial fur displays a quirkly good looks. This is the very essence of pet quality; he is nice looking, but not a show dog in the making. His head will eventually turn all the way to brown and he will evetually have brown legs too.

Personality is the thing about Harvey. He is a dare devil, jumping from high places rather than finding a more suitable way off of the porch. He is slow to climb stairs, but the careful part of this boy leaves off at the edge, so be careful for him or he may jump. Harvey is a real snuggler and will become a great companion. Watch out parents, this one might be trouble if left unattended. 

Pocki (Harvey) gets four and one half points when compared to the Standard. He is simply a good dog, but there are a few areas where he isn't as good as others. Harvey gets half of the aethetics point simply because of his coloring pattern. Five of the Six points in a great little boy Basset wrapper.