PUPPIES

Golden Litters:
We mated Hazel to Drizzle in December and we now have a litter born on 6th February 2009.
We have also just mated Holly to Baz [Stormerick Don Sebastian 2 RCC’s Sh CM & JW]. If Holly is in whelp she should be due about 6th April 2009

Spaniel Litters:
We plan to mate Teal to Wilts Flake, another of the Sussex Cocker crosses owned by friends Chris & Maria Eels, which will put a bit more of the Sussex line back in, but the working ability will be top priority as he also works. This mating will be almost the same as we did last year as Teal is Tillie’s full but younger sister. [Photos of Tillie’s litter on Tillie’s page

Our Breeding Objectives and Policies.
We try to breed stock to meet the standard of the breed as defined by the British Kennel Club. We place great emphasis on retaining the ‘working’ qualities of our dogs and only breed from healthy stock, producing sound and typical examples of the breed. All our Golden Retriever Breeding Stock have below the Breed Average Hip Scores and Current Clear Eye Certificates and we hope that using Stud Dogs with equally good hips and Clear Eyes that the puppies that we breed will be as good or better than their parents. But it must be understood that breeding any living creature is always a gamble and there can never be any guarantees !
Please bare in mind that a large percentage of hip problems can be caused by bad handling and over exercise and food intake during the first year. So with this in mind whatever breeder you end up getting a puppy from you can’t lay the blame for health problems squarely at anyone’s feet, as there are many factors and genes that make up everyone of us therefore no guarantee who will end up with which genes and from which parent they came in the first place. The perfect dog (or human for that mater) has yet to be bred ! !
Over the years we have bred the full range of colours allowed within the Golden Retriever Breed Standard.

Purbarn Ought To Be Here (Otto) & Purbarn Razzle Dazzle (Razz)
with very contrasting coat colours.

A Precious Purbarn Puppy

4 of a litter by Drizzle out of Hazels litter sister Megan

We are not influenced by colour when picking any of our potential brood bitches or stud dogs. Our choices are made by temperament, conformation, working ability, and health checks, not necessarily in that order. What catches the eye tends to come first. All our dogs (and cats for that matter), spend some time in our bungalow, limited to only three or four at a time normally though. This applies particularly to the bitches who need to be house trained before coming in to have a litter.

The litters are born under my Computer table and I have a sofa bed which I sleep on beside the litter for at least the first 2 weeks.

Hazel under pc table

When breeding we look for sires that have all of the desirable attributes we are seeking to stamp into our kennel lines. We do line breed sometimes, but Storm our first Champion, was a total outcross with only one dog in a 5 generation pedigree cropping up twice, so bearing this in mind we will often go for ‘type’ more than line breeding.

Visits By Potential Owners
When looking for homes for the maybe one or two litters of puppies that we have a year, we expect the prospective owners to visit us here at least once before coming to collect their puppy. More frequent visits are welcomed to see the pups growing up, providing the visit can fit in with both parties. We need to know that the puppy will become a new addition to their family. It is very rare for us to have pups during the Shooting Season, as we do not feel we can give the time needed to rear a litter at that time of the year. So most litters are born between February and early September.
Something to bear in mind if you would like a Purbarn Puppy is that we like to have met the whole family at some point before the puppy leaves here. (This can be difficult for people abroad, but it is possible!) We like to know that a puppy is going to fit into your life, which could mean some rearrangement of your routines and possibly some changes to your home (fencing etc.).
We like to know about other family pets past and present, we would welcome seeing photos of where the pup will end up living and walking. We hope you understand that our motives for this information is to ensure that the puppy’s well being is going to be looked after and that is our first consideration.
When prospective new owners have been ‘Vetted’ by us and passed with 110%+ then and only then will they be considered to be the privileged owner of a Purbarn Puppy and at that time a deposit will be required to ‘hold’ a puppy for them from that particular litter. The purchase when completed will be the subject of a Puppy Purchase Agreement, a copy of which can be supplied in advance if requested.
For those wanting a companion to spend lots of time with and to shower with love and affection (but not spoil) we will guide you towards which puppy in our opinion will fit best into your lifestyle.
For those wanting a companion and a dog that they would like to take out on shoots and have some fun with, we suggest you listen to our advice as to which one would have the better temperament to fulfil those requirements.
For those wanting Show potential puppies it must be understood that no puppy can be guaranteed to come up to expectations. Puppies are fortunately not ‘mechanical designed’ and the perfect show dog has yet to be bred! But we try very hard to produce show quality puppies but we can only advise you which in our opinion is the puppy with the best show potential, our views are always informed but we are not infallible! That is why we do leave the final decision to the new owner, but throughout the choosing process we will always be available to provide advice.
Our responsibilities as breeders certainly do not cease when the puppy leaves for his/her new home, we are always available to offer advice and we will always will be interested in the progress of your Purbarn puppy.
Every puppy that leaves here leaves having been Wormed, Insured for 6 weeks (from the time they are carried out of our door) and will have been Tattooed for Identification and if required can also be Microchipped. The also leave here with a bag of the type of Puppy Food that they have been reared on and large file full of lots of useful information.

All our puppies are well socialised with other dogs and children, plus are regularly played a CD of noises and sounds that they are likely to hear when they leave us for their new homes.

We are always available to give advice when ever needed.

Hazel and Drizzles litter were born on 6th Feb 2009. Bookings now being taken, so if you are interested please do get in touch.

Just one so far and Hazel is looking a little surprised !

More settled now, but only bitches so far !

One week old today and look how we have grown. It's tiring being a puppy though !

Getting used to children early one with Grandson Jack

Me and my sister

Getting up on our feet, but we still fall over

Life is very tiring still though

Hey who are you ?

Mr Happy makes a good pillow

Are you edible ?

Just playing

But you don't seem to want to play with me

What do you think of our new found friend?

Now we have grown so much it is hard for us to all fit in along the milk bar not like 3 weeks ago!

Give us a kiss Ted

Play time for some

Can I get all your head in my mouth ?

Cuddly toys make good pillows

Mr Happy makes an excellent pillow along with the pink duck

My turn with the Duck, but I am going to make it a Dead Duck 1st

Now it's my turn with the now Dead Duck

Mums good for sleeping on too, well until she moves that is!

We are beginning to find it a bit hot indoors under the PC table

There has got to be a way of getting out of here

Cream Crackered, after trying to think up an escape route

Now food time is worth waking up for!

Its standing room only at the Milk Bar now

Now we said we would find an escape route and we have found Mum and the Milk Bar which was worth all the effort

First time in the kennel, enjoying exploring!

Comfort from Mum under the heat lamp in the straw bed

This straw stuff is nice to lie on

Hazel keeps out of the pups reach, up on the bench, but she still keeps a watchful eye on them

We are all big girls now and can feed from a big bowl all
together

When Mum is not with us we like to lie on the big dog

Now you stay there while I climb over you

Playing on the big dog is fun too also playing with the insides of Loo rolls

Give us a kiss Marcus. Note 2 pups trying to pull Marcus's shoe off

And the puppies enjoy having someone else to play with besides me

Dylan got bored, but Jack and Marcus enjoy the puppies company and the puppies lover their company too !

Socialising with the Grandchildren, the big dog makes a good seat for children, while playing with the puppies

Jack loves the puppies and they seem to love him too

Hey don't go we were enjoying your company. Maybe we will have to work out an escape route from here too !

Now the Sun is out we have been able to try out grass under our feet for the first time. Hazel looks on from a distance

Hey at least we get fed out here too !

Green Head

Green Head

Green Shoulder

Green Shoulder

Purple Head

Purple Head

Purple Shoulder

Purple Shoulder

Red Head

Red Head

Red Shoulder

Red Shoulder

Holly has now been mated to Baz (Stormerick Golden Retrievers) and she should be due 6th April 2009 .

We plan to have one litter of Chocolate Drop Spaniels [Cocsux] this year and the plan is to mate Teal to Wilts Flake. This is almost the same as we did last year as Teal is Tillie's younger full sister. Photos of Tillie's litter on Tillie's page .

WHELPING

Whelping can be a long time in starting
The pups and their mum, a long time parting
The bitch can be puffing and panting and ever so fat
Which leads me on to tell you that
While you are waiting you could do the spring cleaning
Or even, if you wanted, be painting the ceiling
But apart from all the silly things you could do
Keep a close eye on her if she goes to the loo
The bitch may have a far away look in her eyes
While puffing and panting and giving big sighs
She may dig up her bed, you’ve so neatly made
Where mother and pups, you hope soon will be lade
Some lick and clean themselves up
Especially where the pups will soon start to suck
Most bitches will wait till its quiet and dark
Or keep you awake all night, just to start with the lark
Now the bitch I have got in front of me now
Looks much like a very fat cow
Her temperature has been taken every day for a week
To note when its falling is what we seek
Now at its normal its thirty-eight point three
But now its down to thirty-six point five you see
Don’t be alarmed if this stage goes on for two days
It can be a very long drawn out faze
But if during this time a push you do see
Hopefully soon you will be dancing with glee
The time of that push you must write down
As if the vet asks and you don’t know, you’ll feel a right clown
After more pushes your first pup could arrive
Hopefully yelping and well alive
But it can take an hour or more
And your bitch may be exhausted and sore
And if, as often is the case
All you want is to be in your usual sleeping place
Well you can forget that for quite a while
It maybe hours before you can sit back with a smile
The time now is three thirty in the morning
And I am yawning and yawning
Magic mean while has gone to sleep
But not for long so my vigil I must keep
I may leave her for a minute or two
Just so I can take a quick trip to the loo
Oh no she’s heard me and followed me to the door
But I must go or there’ll be a puddle on the floor
She’s waited for me at the foot of the stairs
And she’s giving me some anguishing glares
So back to the kitchen, she follows me ever so close
I think now I am up I’ll make some coffee and toast
Now I have had a drink and been fed
She has decided to dig up the bed
This bitch I can see
Could be hired to the confetti factory
We have news paper in little bits
So deep I can’t even see her great sagging tits
The vet bed is under the lot
Not that she cares a got
Now out of the box and into the hall
Now back again she does not need a call
Back in the box for another digging session
I think maybe she could give the confetti people a lesson
Now out on the patio for a quick tiddle
When is she going to start pushing, that’s the riddle
She’s back and forth like a flipping yo-yo
She’s up again going to and fro
This stage has gone on for over twelve hours
Out on the patio between the showers
Back in the house and into the whelping box
Feeling her belly to see if it feels like lots of small rocks
Now its time for the rest of the pack
To go out for a walk up the farm track
Sally will watch her while I am out
I shall have my mobile so she can give me a shout
When I got back things were much the same
Also I was glad to be back as it looked like rain
I decided at about one ‘o’ clock
To get in the car for a ride round the block
A car ride might give her a ‘bump start’
So that with those pups she would part
Now this seemed to have the desired effect
All the bumps I drove over I expect
Now things were getting moving
I did plenty of verbal soothing
Now the pushes were coming thick and fast
Oh what a long wait we’ve had, but at last
Here was the first pup on its way
Its taken over twenty-four hours already I’d say
Now here comes the pup back feet first I’m afraid
Not with the first I had prayed
Here he comes, but his big head is stuck
Another strong push and he should be out with luck
Now here he is at long last
And the placenta has been passed
What a good size, all of one pound
Oh what a beauty a really sound hound!
Now we’ve just got to wait for the rest
I wonder if he will be the best
Now at last we have got going
Things seem to be really flowing
One after another
Here comes a little brother
Now we have had six
And there all the same sex
Please give us a bitch
Preferably without a hitch
Magic’s out on the patio for a quick whirl
Now were back in, great here’s our first girl
Here we go again tearing up the bed
If she doesn’t stop soon it’ll be over her head
Now were up to ten
She’s like an old mother hen
But no we haven’t finished yet
There’s a gush of fluid and the beds all wet
And now there’s eleven
Someone was wrong when they guessed just seven
She wants to go out for a tiddle now
She’s started to push again, Oh wow!
It’s just popped out right into the puddle
I’ve picked it up but it’s cold that’s the trouble
Get it inside for a rub with a warm towel
And all of a sudden she’s let out a howl
Now Magic you can stop, twelve is quite enough
And even if your not I’m quite out of puff
I don’t believe it here’s another push
And another pups come out with a great whoosh

Now thirteen is an unlucky number for some
But now she feels as though she’s got a flat tum
I’ve never had such a large litter
We all need a good sleep, Sally will be my baby sitter
For all she has got it didn’t take long
And nothing seemed to go really wrong
From the first push
To the last whoosh
Just seven hours that’s all it took
Now to sit back and relax with maybe a book
Well it’s been a long night, it’s now seven thirty
Magic the box and I are all rather dirty
So now its all over all that’s left to do
Is pop up to the loo
Then I can make Magic a large gruel
Then leave it for a while to cool
And if I can persuade her out of the box to eat
I might just get the box cleaned out and all nice and neat
I just hope Magic can cope with such a large brood
She will have to have plenty of extra food
It needs lots of dedication and hard work
No duties that you can shirk
But I will enjoy it just the same
It will be fun to see them have a game
When they are all big enough to go
I shall have seen them grow and grow
I shall be sad and glad to see them leave
Like all good Goldens I hope they will learn to retrieve

Food for thought
You don’t want to get caught
To do it, you must have planed everything well
With at least a few friends to which the puppies you can sell
Think what you would do with a litter of this size
I know its not normal, I was quite surprised!
So think ahead before you mate your bitch
And if you do I hope it all goes smoothly and without a hitch.
Jenny Frankland –Burton.
February 2000.