New additions to the Cuckavalda Gang

Our #FridayFavourites making them #SaturdaySpecials as these are the ones we are building back up our Cuckavalda Gang .Heeling up already with Minty in charge Youngest cockers are 7 weeks old . We were very touched that when we lost the 13 dogs in the accident that people, some we didnt even know got in touch and offered to give us a pup from their litter .It was just not one person but many .People were so kind and we feel so humbled by this and will never forget it.As much as we were truly grateful for their offers, we needed to keep our own blood lines which made us who we are today. So Peg and Molly the cocker spaniels have given us Lucy,Blue and Twig .You will see 3 black Labradors too These were not actually bred by us but we bought them from the lady who bought a Cuckavalda Labrador from us 3 years ago and had just mated her with one of our stud dogs the week beofre the accident happened. We were keen to jave some as Guy is the grandfather, he was one who died. So as we started with 3 fox red Labrador pups many years ago we now start 20 years later with 3 - Well it was going to be 2 but Anna came home with an extra one as it seemed only right as a nod to the orginal 3. 2 have collars on as trust us 3 black Labradors are very hard to tell apart. So here we have Chloe- who we didnt name.. and Sky and Abbey. You will also see Minty out with them and Lucy too. We have to look to the future.

.

Cocker Spaniels and Bluebells -

A combination of cocker spaiels and bluebells makes for a delightful picture to get you through the day. There is something about walking through a wood full of bluebells that raises the spirits. We are lucky to have our own bluebell wood and a couple of cultivated ones to which only 2 days ago had hailstones and snow on them. The weather is vey temperamental. Is it mother nature's way of saying //the population havent learnt from lockdown wanting to clamber on to the first holiday plane to leave our shores. They said people would take on board to enjoy take things slower and look after our planet. And nature is now giving us a reminder. Anyway enough preaching for today even though it is Sunday. Yorkshire puddings to be eaten and important things like that to think about.

Puppy Love

Sometime you just have to help out. These two were just getting their noses poked out a bit as their mum a cocker spaniel had 9 puppies - 4-5 is usually what they would have. So these two are living a 5 star life on top of the Aga and having the best lives. When they get a bit older they will be introduced back into their canine family. What we would like to stress is as adorable as they are and look ,puppies turn into adult dogs and when you consider buying one you should remeber a dog is for life just not for a few months. Dogs give you unconditional love and they should have the same back.We are not saying spoli them or buy them expensive things . We know a lot of people do . Just look after them well and they will be your lifelong faithful friend.

Our #FridayFavourites as we wave goodbye to them all now .

They were delightful to watch them grow but we cant keep them all so they have now gone to their new homes. Cocoker spaniels are little children all their lives ,they never seem to grow old. Do they grow wiser we ask. They are the happiest little dogs and their tails never stop wagging.

Cuckavalda puppies walking with the Boss - 11 week old Labradors and 10 week old cocker spaniels

Black cocker spaniel pups

Troy has become a father again. And talk about a chip off the old block. Very happy little pups that seem to wag their tails for ever. Ready to go shortly.They have been well socialised as since they were born we have had lots of b and b guests who like to go around to see them and also Isabelle who is staying with us from Sweden who when she isn't working can be found in with the pups. Their grandmother was Mallowdale Wren who lots of you may remember better as Sally and was often featured in photos with Jack. Sally is now retired and lives down in Suffolk with Peg. Here you see mum sitting guarding them and making sure they don't go too far out of her sight. You would think it was Sally sat there.

Cocker Pups at 4 weeks

These little cockers are starting to explore. It is surprising how they come on in a week. People who have left deposits when they are very young usually make one or two trip if they have time to come to see how they are developing. Daisy is quite happy to be away from hem for a short time now. They are all penned in so they cant get into the pond or under car wheels.You can spend ages watching them as they play together with their siblings . This si all part of growing up and if people sell them too early they miss all this.A week ina pups life as young as this is a long time. People say they cant wait to get their pps but we are not swayed and tehy stay here until we think they are ready to go it alone. As they get older we move them into big space which is near the kitchen window and love to watch their antics. We do honour peoples holidays which often means they are a little more than a bundle of fluff when tehy go .

Cocker pups with French bread.

 

After yesterdays lunch we had lots of food left. Nothing has gone to waste but the French sticks had gone hard so something for the young pups to play with. They were light enough in weight for them to carry around. But soon they decided it was more fun to eat them. We still have these pups here as although they are spoken for and named their new owners cant have them for a week or two .SO we are having the pleasure of watching them get up to their antics. Now they are laid flat out asleep enjoying the sunshine. Ollie is going to live near Leeds to a lady whose daughter bought one from us last year.Monty to Marton near Borobridge as their friedns have oneof our too. Harry will be going a bit further away to Staffordshire. Just realised this has not up loaded as a video. You can watch it on Youtube under TheCuckavaldaGundogs.

Coco- the perfect mother

Although Coco is over 4 and these are her first pups she is the perfect mother . Maybe her offspring don't think so as she is always washing them and tidying them up. They are tiny compared to the other cocker pups who are a week older. It is hard for people wanting to come to choose a pup to have to wait a week but we are determined to try to give these little dogs the best possible start to their lives. A week in their life time means a lot in the time they spend without outside intrusions into their lives. Most people understand this and are happy to wait to see them when we think they can ready. Some people cant wait,that is their lose. Maybe such people aren't fit to own a dog in any case.

Daisy and her brood

Daisy's little cocker pups are doing equally as well as the young Labradors although they are now 2 weeks old and people will be coming at the end of the week to see their puppies for the first time. By then they will have their eyes open and be crawling about more.After 3 days of their eyes being open they will then be able to focus.Their hearing will come too until that happen they are deaf to any noise around them. During the day if it is hot outside they do not need a light over them and they seem quite happy as Daisy joins Bess and Coco for a mothers meeting in the sunshine.