The puppies didn't want to wait until the new year to be born. Two days before expected whelping they arrived. Eight bitches and one male. The first seven puppies were bitches so we had nearly lost the hope of getting at least one male but then he was born as number eight. Our guesses are that he will have his paws full with his eight sisters in the future. The whelping went really good and and all puppies were born in eight hours. We'll update with some photos tomorrow. Now, time for bed!

Christmas day today and we have a feeling of the calm before the storm.  Everything is very quiet and peaceful here at home and the mum to be is growing and growing and is now huge. It's exactly one week to go but one or two days before would not surprise us by the look of Lily at the moment. It's not a lot of feelings that can be compared to that of the anticipation and excitement one feels when it's new puppies coming. You are like in a vacuum and just waiting...

Lily is now at home. It's two weeks to expected whelping. I have looked at photos of Lily when she had her first litter at the exact same time in pregnancy and I think the tummy looks a little bit bigger this time. Last time she had five big puppies. We are hoping for one or two more this time, but it will have to be a surprise as usual.  Now we only have to put the whelpingbox in the bedroom, the champagne on ice and wait...!

Ziams Top Model - BIS-1 puppy at open show in Moheda!

Ziams Top Model, 4,5 months.

The little hairy lady in the kennel is growing and thriving. Here are some new photos taken of Ziams Top Model, Tia, now 4 months old.

Today it was KC. Int. show in Växjö. It's very nice to have only 10 minutes to a show. The result for Charlescroft bred dogs was as following. C. Beck And Call, Tuva, was BOB puppy (congratulations to owner Eva Frisk ) with sister C. Bootylicious, Molly, as 2nd with Price of Honour. C. Little Bear, Sixten, was 2nd in youngsterclass with CQ (congratulations to owners Hanna & Hasse Anderstedt). Our little shih-tzu Tia was introduced to the world of dogshows for the first time. Although only as a spectator but she got some very good training for the future. Tia thought that all in all it was a very nice experience being at a show.

Charlescroft Beck And Call blir BIR-valp på SKK Växjö Int.

I have spent the most of this weekend on the roads. Just a reflection, it's a very long country we live in, it feels like you're driving forever but you're not even in the middle of the country. Anyway, I started with Lily back in the car, very early Saturday morning with destination Årsunda where Messi, Barecho Zuper Playmaker, was waiting. We arrived before noon and the dogs met. We managed to get a mating but not 100%. For those of you who don't know that much about the lovelife of dogs I can just say that he had "half in" ;-) Well, better than nothing. Helene and David had a party to go to in the evening so I took Messi with me and we spent a nice evening and night at a hotel nearby. After a well needed sleep we got a succesful mating at the hotelroom the morning after. Then we went back to kennel Barecho and said thanks and bye to Messi. It's not everytime you get to spent so much time with a dog that you use in your breeding but it's something that you really should do everytime. Messi is a very charming young man, a bit wild and crazy as a typical youngster but a dog that I became very fond of. Now we have to wait some weeks before we know if there are any puppies in the making but hopefully we'll pop the champagne in the puppybox as eventual puppies are expected New Years day. IF there will be puppies I think they will be named after different hotels!

Then we went south again and next stop was Norrköping and our good friend Lina with two and fourlegged family. Belle, C. Bling Bling, was very happy to see her old mum again and I was happy to see her. Thanks for lunch, coffee and cake. It's always so nice to meet even if it was a short visit this time. We took some new photos of Belle, now 7,5 months. We look forward to what the future will bring for this young, good looking girl.

We have been celebrating a lot this week as our daughter has turn 4! Yesterday our two old ladies celebrated their 9th birthday! It's evident that the years have gone by and they have quite a few charming greys in their faces  (although mum plucks them regularly) but they still have energy when it's called for and they work excellent as bed and sofawarmers. What's better than a couple of warm dogs beside you in the bed, especially now when the colder months of the year are here. Lily, C. Magpie, is now here and we'll make the trip up north during the weekend for a date with young and handsome Messi, Barecho Zuper Playmaker.

Belle, C. Bling Bling, was at spaniel & retriever show in Mjölby today. She won her class, was BOB-puppy II and BIS-4. Congratulations to Belles owner Lina Lundqvist and thanks for keeping the Charlescroft-flag flying!

Lily, C. Magpie, has come into season and mating is planned in the end of October. Lily has spent the day here with her old family. Besides being trimmed we also took a new photo of her. See more about our planned litter on the puppypage.

I have been thinking of getting a dog another breed for many years. After some thinking I decided that I wanted a small dog and it should be different to the springers. The choise of breed was then a very easy one as I have loved shih-tzus for a long time. I have got to know lot of wonderful individuals in this breed, all with a larger than life personality. So I contacted kennel Ziams and wanted to buy a puppy bitch from then. And now, finally, after many months of waiting, we have got our new little familymember at home. Se mer på hennes egen sida, Ziams Top Model.

Today it was time for the puppies to make their first appearance in the showworld at spaniel & retriever show in Gränna. It was the first time they ever set their paws on a showgorund and the did really well and I think they had as nice a day that we had.  Their sister Belle, C. Bling Bling was also participating. BOB-puppy was Belle with our C. Bee's Knees, Olof as BOS. Our wild child, Molly, C. Bootylicious, thought she was a flying springer and was second behind her sister who who was a bit more in contact with the ground today. Belle was later placed as 5th in the final. Big congratulations to Lina Lundqvist, kennel Winright. I also showed Sixten, C. Little Bear, in intermediate class and he was 2nd in the class with CQ today. Judge was Therese Schmidt from Switzerland.

I have been to kennel Ziams  for yet another visit to see the puppies again, they are now 7 weeks, and of course first and foremost little Top Model. She seems to be a very determinded little lady already who knows what she wants and not, but oh so cute and charming.  The plan was to take the puppies outside to look at them but storm and rain all day made it impossible except for a very short photosession. Just as well as her breeder was holding her otherwise she would have blown away. Not long now until we'll get her home... A big thanks to her breeder Leslie-Anne for letting us have this little girl and for sharing your great knowledge and experience.

We have spent this weekend at kennel Winright where we, among other pleasant things, met little Belle again. She's of course not that little anymore and just like her brother and sister she's got veeeery loooong legs at the moment. Typical springerpuppies at this age.  Anyway, both we and Belle were happy to see each other again. Ella also made a new friend in little Tristan, 12 weeks. Thanks to the family Lundqvist- Hagberg for this nice weekend and we'll see you soon again!

Are you cuirios about our plans for next years litter? Have a look at the puppypage.

This weekend was a weekend filled with dogs, dogs and more dogs. On the Saturday I was looking at shih-tzus at a breedspecial show in Linköping. Of course you want to learn as much as possible when you are soon to have a new breed. Participating on the show was among others our future puppys sire, Ch Ziams Snow Dancer and grandfather, Ch Tanbell's On Demand, two lovely championsdogs. Meanwhile André and Ella visited a big indoor playground so I think everybody was happy with their day.

In the afternoon we drove up to the small, pittoresque village Askersund. We had booked a room at a cosy Café with a genuine B&B-feeling to it. The evening was spent at a restaurant at the seaside with garlicbread, live music and pancakes. Then we turned in for quite an early night so that we should be all bright and shiny the morning after.

On the Sunday it was time for me to judge Springer Mellansveriges Open Show. This was my third time judging the breed. The show was held at the same place at the SweKC. show which was held the same weekend. The ring was very nice and spacious and as usual at these shows there was a huge amount of nice prizes on offer. When we came early in the morning the sky was very overcast and grey and it was very windy as well. But the rain never came and the wind calmed down after a while so we got a day with perfect showconditions, a lot of nice dogs and a nice athmosphere around the ring, the latter is what I have heard afterwards as I was fully concentrated on my task for the day. I really enjoy judging and you really have to think and question your own opinions and ideals and what's most important in the breed. As a breeder you judge your own and other peoples dogs all the time but it's not as easy and straighforward when you are in the middle of the ring. You get a lot more humble and are not as quick to critizise from ringside. There are things which can't be seen from outside the ring, some things can only be felt when you have your hands on the dog. You can see more photos from the show by clicking the photo below.

Today the family went west for a long awaited visit to kennel Ziams and their lovely shih-tzus. They have a gang of charming five week olds and one of the bitches will soon move in with us. We are looking forward to a new breed in the kennel and we can hardly wait to get her home! Photos by Lars Berqvist.

There is a wellknows saying that  a picture can say more than a thousand words. We would just like to add joy, action and power.  C. Bootylicious, 18 weeks, is strutting her stuff.

In this hot weather the energy is not on top for neither two and fourlegged. But we managed to take some new headshots of our puppies, now 4 months old. It's amazing how different two siblings can be. Olof is our very, very sweet little boy with a smiling face. He seldom makes naughty things and when he does it's almost always his sister who taken the initiativ. He absolutely loves to have a cuddle. Molly, on the other hand, is a real little rascal, a little mishievous madam who takes every opportunity to do naughty things and she seldom has the time to cuddle for very long, she's busy thinking out her next move. But they are both two wonderful personalities and really lovely tempered puppies. One of the nice things, among many, with dogs is that there are so many different characters, all with their own personalities, just as with us humans.

Since latest update the summer has really arrived here.  The dogs are starting to get used to the heath and they have a pool (that they share with our daughter) in the garden. It's very appreciated, mostly by the puppies of course, but also the older ones are happy to take a cooling dip now and them. So it's mostly lazy days at home for the dogs while we continue working some more weeks before we take some well deserved time off from work.

This weekend it was Jönköping Int. Triple Dog Show. We didn't have any of our own dogs with us but I showed  two dogs bred by us on the Saturday. The debutante did it best, C. Little Bear, who was shown for the very first time got CQ and 1st in youngsterclass and went on to be 2nd best dog with CC and r-cacib. Not a bad start to his showcareer!  The judge, Jens-Martin Hansen from Denmark, held very tightly to the CQ's and it was only two dogs who got it this day. We are very happy for Sixtens nice result and again, big congratulations to the Anderstedt family who owns him.

Congratulations to  C. Storm of Sweden, "Agility-Vera", and dad Andreas for very good results in agility. They are now moving up in the classes and we keep our fingers crossed for them in their future agilitycompetitions. 

C. Magpie has been to the vet and had her eyes checked, all clear. Now it's just the question of who is going to be the future dad to Lilys second litter. We have a special boy in mind but we have to wait for some healthtesting to be done first... Mating is planned in the end of this year.

C. Bee's Knees and C. Bootylicious, 10 weeks.

We have now got some initial reports from the puppies who left us and it's so far only good ones. We are happy that all have taken the move in their stride and already made themselves feel at home together with their new owners. It makes us very happy as breeders to hear that they are doing so well! Here are some photos of the emigrant in the gang, C. Bold As Brass, now (hopefully) listening to the name Brutus and living the happy life in Norway.

Both we and the puppies have had a busy but very pleasant weekend with friends and puppybuyers. Now we have only four puppies left at home. Two of them will stay here and two have got new owners but will stay a bit longer with us and their siblings. We wish the ones that left home for new, exciting experiences with their new owners the best of luck and these are C. Beck And Call, C. Brown As A Berry, C. Bold As Brass och C. Brassed Off.  New 8- weeksphotos are now on the litters own page. 

Thanks to our friend Lina and daughter Hanna who's been here visiting. We promise to take good care of your little Bling Bling until you can come and take her home.

All the puppies in this litter have now new owners. We are planning next litter in early 2011. More about this on the puppypage, planned litter.

Yet another eventful day for the puppies. They have been running in the agilitytunnels that our daughter has arranged in their outside run and they also got some training with collar and leash. Sometimes slightly chaotic but very funny and I think I speak for both child and puppies. You can see more photos from the training by clicking the photo below.

The puppies were 6 weeks yesterday. The are spending more and more time outside when the weather permits and they interact a lot with us and the adult dogs. Yesterday they went on their first forestexcursion, a great adventure even if it happend just a couple of meters from home. Our daughter loves spending time with them. She will cuddle and play with them for hours. She also tells them what to do and what not to do in a very good and natural way. Having children when you have litters is wonderful, the puppies which grow up here are used to all kinds of sounds and movements thanks to our daughter. Next week we are planning some trips in the car, a bit of collar and leashtraining and also their first meeting with the scissors. We took new photos today. You can see them on the litters own page.

We have had an active weekend. Our friend Sara has been visiting and we all got some training in tracking. All the dogs went tracking and they were very tired afterwards. It's fun to see them working and enjoying themselves. We were ecpecially impressed by our young bitch Labolina who did a very good job on her first try at tracking. The puppies have also had an eventful weekend. Besides visitors and a lot of cuddling and playing they have also taken their first trip in the car, visited the kennels and doghouse outside and got some training by our daughter. The puppies are 6 weeks on Friday and we'll take new photos in the weekend for those of you who are interested.

The puppies playing and exploring in the kitchen. Tomorrow we are planning their first visit outdoors and also a photosession. Hopefully we can take some nice photos of them standing.

The puppies were 3 weeks yesterday. Today they ate by themselves for the first time. That was no problem at all for this greedy bunch. Full action in the foodbowl.

The puppies are 12 days old today and they have started to try out their little legs with mixed results. We have fun weeks ahead of us now, the pups are starting to walk around, their eyes  are soon fully open and soon they can both see and hear us, they are starting to sound more like little dogs and sometimes you can hear a little tiny bark and soon their individual personalities will start to show. In a week they will start eating solid food and everybody who has had a litter, knows that that's when the work starts. But it's so fun as well, otherwise, one would probably never have had more that one litter. We are hoping to take new photos of the gang during the weekend when everybody have opened their eyes.

We had a visit today by C. Hail Storm. Bamse is now 2 years old and has grown into a very handsome boy. He looks very much like his mother Lily, but in a masculine version, of course. The weather didn't allow any photos to be taken outside so we took some snapshots in the trimmingroom, so you'll have to excuse the boring background and the ugly slippers on the handler ;-)

The puppies are now four days old and everything is just fine with them and mum. Maggie is a very cool and laid back mum. Mostly it's quiet in the puppybox, except for at mealtime, then it's very lively. Some of the puppies are very loud when the food doesn't arrive as fast as they want it to.

I forgot to tell you about what our daughter thought about her first whelping. We were lucky that the whelpning started in the middle of the day so that we didn't have to wake her up in the night. She was very interested when the first puppy came and then we waited and waited...Maggie took her time between each puppy so I told her that it was OK to leave the room and do something else since it can take a long time until the next puppy arrives but she didn't want to leave, she was afraid to miss the next one. After an hour and a half she went out but was back again in time for puppy number two. Then she looked at a movie while we waited and fell a sleep after a while and missed number three and four. Then she woke up and saw number five and six being born. Them Maggie took a long break again and the seventh puppy came at midnight and two hours later the eight, the last one arrived and the little midwife had then, of course, gone to sleep for the night. She was pleased although she missed some of them.

We have taken photos of the puppies. You can see them on their own page. Click the photo below to get there.

At the exact date Maggie delivered her puppies. 3 males and 5 bitches. Mum and kids are doing just fine. Maggie is a very cool and sensible mother. Here are some photos of the puppies. You can follow the puppies as they grow on their own page. You'll find it via the puppypage.

It's a bit special that this years litter was born the same date as last years litter. We congratulate C. Little Vocie, C. Little Bear, C. Little Wolf, C. Little Hawk and our own C. Little Face on their 1st birtday.

Today it's one week left to expected whelping and the mother to be has been photographed. The tummy is quite big now and the resemblance with a hippo doesn't feel that far fetched.

We have started the countdown to puppies and meanwhile we are shoveling snow! We have had a fantastic winter so far but what to do with all this snow!?! The dogs seems to think it's a bit too much of this white stuff now since they are limited to exercise in our digged out  mazes in the garden and the same goes for the road where we take our walks. It's a bit too much to be fun! The puppybox is in place and now the puppies can arrive when they see fit. But we probably have to wait at least two weeks more.

We congratulate our old man Todd, Graftonbury Total Recall, who's 9 years old today on Valentines day. Yesterday we were at a show in Mjölby where Charlescroft Little Face made her first official debut., She was placed 5th with CQ in a very strong juniorclass with 10 bitches entered. Judge was  Christina Daniels. This young madam has a lot to learn about how to behave in a showring. For example that it's wise to keep all feet on the ground a marjority of the time  instead of in the air.

With exactly one month to planned whelping and with more than half the time of the pregnancy behind us it's appropriate with an update. The expectant mother is mostly occupied by trying to find things to eat and she thinks her daily portions of food are far too small. She's not much for our walks, she's trotting along but with no really entusiasm and often some steps behind the rest of us. So we are now looking forward to the usual preparations for a whelpning. Our daughter will participate this time and she has got us to promise to wake her up in the night or come and get her att playschool if needed. It can never be wrong with an extra set of small hands.

We have also some other news to tell you about but it will have to wait a while but it's about something that I wished for for many years !

It's now two weeks since Maggie was mated and it's still to early to tell anything but my gut feeling says it's something there and it hasn't been wrong before. Anyway, Maggie seems to have found the ideal place to have puppies, in Ellas bed. Soft and cosy and clean sheets now and then. But we have to wait a while before we can say anything for certain.

Goldmoore's Betty Eagleton is now mated to Lelica's No Reply. With two good matings we are now crossing our fingers and toes for a good result in the middle of March. Look in on the puppypage for future news about the expected litter.

Both child and dogs, and of course we, are enjoying the snow to the fullest and we have a lot of snow here now. We let some of our dogs try the work of being sleddogs. Really funny to see how they enjoyed it even though they had to pull quite a bit. Our daughter enjoyed it as much, not counting the falling part though. Click the photo to see more.