So There WAS A Puppy In There!

One single puppy.

Sally didn't think Holly was pregnant, but just to be sure she took Holly in for an x-ray last week.  And there it was - a single puppy.  I didn't post anything because I didn't want to jinx anything.  I've been telling Sally all week not to worry.  Things would go smoothly.

And so far - they have.

Born to CH WoTeH'sin Breakfast At Sniffanys (Holly) out of CH WoTeH'sin-S'Dandi Black Tie-N-Tails (Tuxedo - a singleton puppy himself!) one single baby girl - black and white - arrived tonight - of all nights - 10/10/10!  No C-Section required!  Thank you God!  And thank you Sally!  You are an amazing friend and mentor!

Momma, puppy and Sally are all doing well.  Pictures to follow.

Now to come up with an appropriate name!

We are truly blessed this wonderful October evening!

Disappointment

When you only plan on one litter every year, maybe two, each breeding is of monumental importance to the future of your breeding program.  Usually if you breed this infrequently, you have only a few brood bitches on which you've chosen to build your line and move forward.  You have taken care to keep or purchase only the best in your opinion and every breeding happens for a reason.  You may on occasion breed a bitch back-to-back (and recent studies I've done with reproduction specialists say it's not a taboo practice).  I still hate to do it, but will do so when cleared by my vet AND the situation warrants.

But here are two things you can take to the bank - if the bitch isn't REALLY ready she won't take and everything happens for a reason.

Suffice it to say that Sally believes Holly is not pregnant.  :(  We were very hopeful and all of the early signs were there.  But unfortunately, it was not meant to be.

If the bitch isn't ready - she won't take.

So what is the next move?  Hmmmm . . . interested readers will just have to wait and see.  But I can tell you this - I have a few possibilities that are VERY exciting.

Everything happens for a reason!

Stay tuned!  :)

Could there be the pitter patter of little paws in the near future??

CH Tuxedo

X

CH Holly

Fingers crossed! :)

Update:

We'll know soon! Puppies would be due in early October!

Breaking News!!

WoTeH'sin Shih Tzu is thrilled to welcome into the world our newest litter of babies - 3 girls and 1 boy. Proud parents are Violet (WoTeH'sin Booty-N-Charm) and Magic (Intl CH WoTeH'sin Smoke And Mirrors). Here they are at less than 6 hours old having their lunch!

This is a repeat breeding of our little guy Tuxedo, BPISS CH WoTeH'sin S'Dandi's Black Tie-N-Tails, who went Best Puppy at the Metropolitan Atlanta Shih Tzu Fanciers Specialty preceding the Nationals in 2007. Tuxedo is owned by Sally Watkeys of Traverse City, Michigan and since Tuxedo was a singleton puppy, we decided to repeat the litter hoping lightning would strike twice! We've not had a litter since Tuxedo was born and I am so excited I could just burst!

Momma and babies are doing great! The puppies are all striking black & whites with beautiful markings! I hope to have one make it onto the mats in 2010! Daddy Magic needs only a major to finish his AKC title in limited showing, so he better hurry up! I don't want to keep two dogs in coat!

Puppies - puppies!

We definitely have some puppies on the way! Violet is as big as a house and she still has about 10 days to go! She's so big she mostly lays on her back to sleep at night.

Today I can just about feel some slight movement in there. It so exciting! This is the first litter here in about two years - and it's a repeat of the singleton litter that was BPISS CH WoTeH'sin S'Dandi's Black Tie-N-Tails, aka "Tuxedo".

Dang, I can't wait to see these puppies! Please let there be a beautiful little girl in there for me!

Anticipation!

It's been a while since we've heard the pitter-patter of little paws around here! Specifically, my last litter was a singleton puppy born in 2007 (that turned out to be something pretty spectacular). Tuxedo was Best Puppy In Show at the Greater Atlanta Shih Tzu Specialty that proceeded the Nationals last year! I thought then, and I still think, that was pretty AWESOME! Thank you again, Sally, for believing in me, my breeding program and that special little boy!

Well as luck would have it - I finally have an opportunity to repeat that breeding! Violet is cooperating and I'm sure Magic will when called upon! :) Now all it has to do is take!

So if all goes well, and I hope I'm not jinxing it, we should have cute little black & white puppies in June!

Now, as if that wasn't enough to be happy about, my little Holly is also in season! I've been able to work out the logistics and Holly will be bred as well.

I've been planning these two litters for well over a year now. It's been a rocky road to get to this point too. I won't go into details, but let's just say that I didn't think I'd be able to breed either girl! It figures both would come in at the same time! But I've been blessed to be able to work out the details. And I'm very excited!

Pictures of course will be posted here for bragging purposes!!

Pictured above is Violet (WoTeH'sin Booty-N-Charm) with her singleton son Tuxedo (CH WoTeH'sin S'Dandi Black Tie-N-Tails).

Here's Holly!

I know, it's been MONTHS since Holly finished her championship, but I'm just now getting around to getting her picture! Here she is in all her glory, finishing with her third major under Judge Betsy Dale, and handled by my dear friend, Sally Watkeys. Sally did such a wonderful job with Holly - her coat looked FABULOUS. This particular weekend in Traverse City I was so lucky because Holly finished on Saturday and Tuxedo finished on Sunday and I got to see them both finish! What a weekend THAT was!

Holly is an Iris daughter (and Crystal's grand-daughter), and Magic's full litter sister. She is also Tuxedo's Auntie!

So enjoy!

Shown above is Holly - CH WoTeH'sin Breakfast At Sniffanys.

Champion Tuxedo!

Here he is at nine months and 17 days old. What else is there to say?

TWO NEW CHAMPIONS!!

What a weekend!

Holly finished Saturday with yet ANOTHER major and Tuxedo got his finishing major on Sunday!

Pictures coming soon!

More from the Nationals

People keep sending pictures one at a time to Sally of her showing Tuxedo at the Nationals last month. Here they are during Sweepstakes. The judge is Wagner Fernandez of Wafer Shih Tzu.

If you enlarge the picture you can see where Wagner is going over Tuxedo's head and you CAN SEE the span of that headpiece between Wagner's fingers! What a head!

Tuxedo placed fourth in his Sweeps class. Not bad considering the number and competition in his class. I'm still so very proud of this little dog! And thanks Sally for your wonderful care and presentation.

PS - Can't wait to see the little fella later this week! :)

Tuxedo and Sally at the Nationals

Pictured is WoTeH'sin S'Dandi's Black Tie-N-Tails

Tuxedo's First Major Picture

Here he is at 6 months and 11 days old getting a four point major!

Amazing!

Shown is WoTeH'sin S'Dandi's Black Tie-N-Tails

Winning Streak!

Well, the kids of WoTeH'sin continue to tear it up out there in the rings.

Tuxedo (WoTeH'sin S'Dandi's Black Tie-N-Tails) now has 10 points, needing just one major and a couple of singles. This little guy is only 8 months old! What a thrill it has been during his whirlwind show career!

Holly (WoTeH'sin Breakfast At Sniffanys) gained another point last weekend and only needs three singles to finish!

Both Tuxedo and Holly are in the expert care of Sally Watkeys of S'Dandi Shih Tzu. Thank you Sally for your hard work and winning ways!

And on the home front, the kids and I went to Sierra Vista, AZ a couple of weeks ago and Garnet (S'Dandi's Crimson Crystal Of WoTeH'sin) beat the snot outta Magic (WoTeH'sin Smoke And Mirrors), taking WB, BW and the breed for her first point! The little brat! She had lots of fans by the end of the weekend, including one of my co-workers, Lauren, who joined us for the trip. Garnet is such a happy puppy, not to mention a stunning color, so people just gravitate to her. Red really does attract a lot of attention in the ring!

I was also approached by several folks in search of a good quality Shih Tzu puppy. Sorry to say that my next litter won't be bred until December! Ah but that breeding will be SO worth the wait - most likely a repeat of Tuxedo! Beautiful black & whites on the way! I hope this time there's a girl in there for me!

Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures in Sierra Vista - it was WAY too windy and I could barely get topknots in. I'll try to post some other candid shots if I can get any around the house this weekend.

In the ribbons!

Well, Tuxedo continued on his winning ways, placing at the Nationals Friday and Saturday. I'm so proud of this puppy! Thank you Sally for showing him to perfection!

Pictures soon!

Specialty News!

Metropolitan Atlanta Shih Tzu Club
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Best Puppy In Show
WoTeH'sin S'Dandi's Black Tie-N-Tails
Bred By: Yours truly :)
Owned By: Sally Watkeys

Picture to come!

GADS I'M THRILLED!!!

Solo is flying high!

If you've read through this blog, you will remember a little black & white boy born last August that I called Solo. He was a singleton puppy who grew up here fearing nothing. He began playing with the "big dogs" at 6 weeks of age. He was fully confident when he flew to Michigan last November with me to his new home at S'Dandi Shih Tzu. And Solo is now known as "Tuxedo" - officially WoTeH'sin S'Dandi's Black Tie-N-Tails.

Before he flew to Michigan he went to work with me one day and he was officially nick named "Killer" by one of the guys at the office. This puppy was havin' a ball being the center of everyone's attention during my workday. He spent the day being held and coddled by complete strangers, wagging his tail every step of the way. I knew then that he would be fine leaving the nest.

So off we flew Thanksgiving morning, and not a peep out of this puppy during the entire trip. We got to Michigan and within a few hours, this wonderpuppy was running Sally's kitchen with her crew - all complete strangers to him. And he didn't miss a beat. His tail and head held high, little Solo ran the kitchen, played with toys and started making friends with the other puppies, show kids and old timers of S'Dandi.

Sally kept saying how much she liked this puppy she now called Tuxedo. I was simply grateful he had a wonderful show home - hoping he would indeed be show worthy once he got old enough. I saw him again in January when I flew out to pick up Garnet. Tuxedo was just one of the gang and he didn't even give me a second glance. I watched him strut around thinking he had really nice movement. I was still in love with his headpiece, his topline and tail set too.

At the ripe old age of 6 months and one day, Tuxedo went Winner's Dog in Ft. Walton Beach, FL, and got a single point. It ended up he actually got another point due to an error in entry of another dog in his first show the day before - hey we'll take it! And not to be outdone, the following weekend, at 6 months and 11 days old, Tuxedo went Best of Winners for his first major! Four point major to boot! Gads - was I thrilled! This lovely puppy had 6 points before his 7th month of life was complete!

Pictured above is WoTeH'sin S'Dandi's Black Tie-N-Tails

Five Generations

This week has been so hard for me. Learning that my little Crystal is dying has tragically rocked my world. The hardest part is facing the choice of choosing to not put her through surgery and chemo and ultimately not knowing when her last breath will come. So instead of focusing on this, I am trying to make her final days happy and comfortable. I see her smile when she is outdoors - her favorite room of the house here. She lays on the patio overlooking the yard, just daring those birds to stop by so she can run and give chase. Seeing her this happy makes me smile. It seems she's got some good times left yet.

Today one of my co-workers came over with her daughter and they helped me take pictures of Crystal and her legacy - five generations. I am blessed with a part of her being passed down to each of these wonderful reminders of what a Shih Tzu should be. And it all started with Crystal.

Today reminded me of all that I have even though I feel great loss on the horizon.

Shown above is Crystal with her daughter Iris, her grand-son Magic, her great grand-daughter Violet and her great great grand-son Tuxedo.

How cute is this??

Here's Solo, just snoozin' away this morning with his blue dog. His momma dog isn't spending the nights with him much anymore. She sleeps on the bed next to his crate and hops in when he cries for her. He's eating solid food now and drinking from his water bottle at 5-1/2 weeks. Next weekend he'll get his first booster shot.

Time flies. He's growing up nicely!

Our newest addition

We welcomed our newest addition on Tuesday, August 28. A special little boy was born to my girl Violet, sired by Magic.

Welcome Solo!