Tuesday, 16 April 2013

She's in Season!


Summer (taken 16/04/13)

Our lovely Tibetan Terrier, Summer, usually comes into season every 10 months; just like her mother!  So we prepared ourselves for a November/December mating. 

But then January came and went, followed by February and March.  Had we missed the occasion? 

Thank goodness, no! Or we don't think we did...

On April 11th she came into season (started to bleed).  We didn't believe it at first, but after about 4 hours of checking, we could confirm she most definitely had.


GOING BACK 10 MONTHS

From May to October 2012, having decided we wanted Summer to have puppies, (as a pedigree dog) we had to have a series of tests done to ensure that she had no genetic defects, and that her puppies would be healthy.

Following the Kennel Club guidelines, the health tests for a Tibetan Terrier are:
3.  DNA test - PLL   (Primary Lens Luxation)
4.  DNA test - NCL   (Neruronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis)

For the Eye Scheme test we had to take Summer to a specialist vets in West Surrey. It was a very quick test  involving looking into the back of the eye and dye, and was painless and straightforward. We received a certificate immediately to show she was clear. Excellent!

The Hip Dysplasia test was much more involved, and meant that she had to have a general anesthetic. The x rays were taken at our local vets who sent off their findings for the scoring. The results did take some time, and unfortunately the results were lost (not at our vets) but the normal process we would have expected from x-ray to results was about 6-8 weeks.

The PLL and NCL were just simple swab tests. You pay and order the kits online, wipe where you're asked to (!) and send them off. All clear too. Fabulous!

So the conclusion of the tests was that Summer has NONE of the problems listed above, and next step was to find a mate..


A MATE FOR SUMMER

At Crufts in 2012, also a first for me, I got to talk to a number of breeders and asked lots of questions. I'd travelled there with my friend Judy (also a TT - Tibetan Terrier - owner), and the breeder of her dog, Harris, was there also.

I have to mention, and this was pointed out to me by Judy and her husband, Rob, before the show, that TT owners (generally) are very friendly and happy people, ready to give advice and support. I was pleased to report that this was my experience too!

I digress. With a few names of breeders in my hand as I left Crufts and also having spoken to the people on the stand of the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme, I felt ready for the next step. To find a mate.

Now Summer and Harris (Judy and Rob's TT) are, what we say, "in love".  Boyfriend and Girlfriend. Love to be together, and play and protect like two dogs that live together. Same age. We take them out for walks together twice a week, exploring places like Box Hill, Headley and Nonsuch Park. 

Judy mentioned that Harris' breeder, showed Harris' brother, Claude, and thought he may be a stud dog, so I contacted them, and was so pleased to find out that he was. Harris is a gorgeous dog, laid back and happy. Summer is also a very happy dog but more sprightly and energetic. I suspect that Claude will be a mixture of the two, and what a wonderful combination of personalities the puppies could have!


A MATE IS FOUND

After a number of emails between myself and Rose at the Tyngeli Kennels, who breeds Pulis and Tibetan Terriers, and checking that the dogs were compatible through their breeding lines, it was decided that Summer (Margretas Desert Dreamer) and Claude (Tyngeli Mr Bojangles) could be a perfect match. Summer would have Harris' nieces and nephews!!

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