I think, at a child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift should be curiosity.

I love curiosity, I have always been a curious person. And this is exactly the way little Eliza Langman-Rouse came into the world....

Eliza Langman-Rouse was born at 2.59am on Thursday 9th February. I can honestly say it is the most painful yet amazing experience I have ever imagined. Seeing her looking at me with her big brown eyes, exquisite and inquisitive all at the same time melted both of our hearts and healed so much in less than a second. She has already changed our lives and yet made everything so complete. Very surreal!

The Devongem household have been enjoying the new arrival. Reef gazes at her for hours, Fiji steals her toys, Bailey is very interested in her noises, Popi sleeps alongside her, Tik wiggles at her and Riot has not yet noticed her! We are very lucky to have such kind dogs.

We are very busy down here at Bowerland and the holiday cottages have been booking like mad - if you are planning on coming down make sure you check the availability on http://www.bowerlandcottageholidays.co.uk/.

In addition to this training is very busy and if you havent already signed up to these please don't miss out:

 

What do we have coming up?

Mark Laker - 10th March Course Running Day - This looks like an excellent day where we will be running a number of courses and trying to find the fastest and most efficient lines and testing the value of some of our behaviours under a bit more pressure. This day is aimed at the competitive handler only and really is looking to push you to the next level!

25th March Mark and Karen Laker - this day is really aimed to push you to the next level of your agility training. Karen is covering

Rewarding key positions (any level)

Tunnel turns (any level)

Movement, attention drive (any level, incl foundation) Jump Grids (any level)

She will, as usual, work with all different abilities and we currently have one or two spaces in each group available. Dont miss out on this with your youngsters, dogs that you are improving jump work with and all levels of dogs in the tunnel workshop. Last time I attended this workshop it was awesome and Karen insists there is more to come. As we all know placement of reward is VITAL so dont miss out on any of these. These could be combined so that you attend more than one session.

Mark is working on

Pre season circuit training (G3-4)

Pre season circuit training (G5-7)

Warm up for 2012 courses to get you in the mood (G3-7)

This is aimed at the competitive handler and will really push you individually with some great groups available. The pre season circuits work all of the drills and challenge both you and your dog. Dont miss out on this opportunity to get ready for the competition season and achieve your potential with these top class trainers on your doorstep

9.00 – 11.00 Grade 1-3 handling 11.30-12.30 YD Contacts/Weaves 1.30-3.30 Grade 4-7 handling 4.00 – 5.00 Young Dogs

These workshops are not to be missed. Jo has been working regularly with DD and we will continue to ask her to come and work with us whilst you are enjoying working within the GD system.

Lastly Jans Canine Development Day - this is one not to be missed!

These have been going down a storm and helping people to work with different types of dogs. On the 4th March we will be covering how do dogs learn?

· Classical and Operant Conditioning

· Aversive and Rewarding Reinforcement

· Stress, Anxiety & Depression

· Counter Conditioning & Extinction

This day is aimed to refresh and renew your understanding of dog behaviour, both for professionals and those who are interested in their own dogs learning. It is a day not to be missed with invaluable learning opportunities.

Also we now have our new, 'recommend a friend scheme.' We have new DD cards where you can write your name on the back, each time a customer books we will ask them if there is a name on the back of their card, if they make a booking you will recieve a £5 money off your next booking voucher and we will also add you to our list for our Christmas draw. We want to improve positive dog training and you can help us to access the people that need it most! If you need any cards please see Fern, Lauren, Kim, Mandy, Vivienne, Sian, Jon, Kelly, Fran, Carole or Matt.

Wishing you all much happiness in your training and hope you take up these days if you haven't done so already!

Lauren, Matt and baby Eliza xxxxxx

So proud of the Devongems.....

So with due day arriving I thought I had better update both blogs in case I never get a moment again. My agility babies, the Devongems are doing fantastically I have to say and I am so proud of them all.

Here are a few of my favourite recent photos, I am biased in my love for these collies I know.....

Many people have been enquiring about our 2012 litters, please see

 http://www.devondogs.co.uk/planned_litters.html

Re Free I LOVE the Reef pups however I am considering using Riot Matts Devongem boy or a very close relative. We are also waiting to see what Frees sisters pups are like so are keeping our options open. We also need to keep in close contact with Frees breeder as we really value her input.

Poppy is a friends dog and the pups are brought up in her home but we will be homing them as we have a lot more contacts and will find these pups only the BEST homes. We are not worried about agility status, more great active, understanding and well cared for busy environments, agility is a bonus but not the most important thing.

Our own dogs have been having a ball, the farm is moving along nicely and developments at Bowerland are great. We love living here even if it is hard work at times - it is great to see it all coming together so nicely.

If you have any up to date photos please send them over, hope to see you all soon and hope you are getting ready for the 2012 competition season or if not enjoying the great February weather.

If you havent had our training info email carole@devondogs.co.uk to be included next time:

Canine Behaviour day – for all of you who have a want to understand more about your own dogs, we have an excellent day on 18^th February which will cover relationship building for both puppies and adult dogs, with our excellent Dog Behaviourist Jan Windsor. This day should be full of variety as well as great for those of you that want to add it to your CPD. Her Day 2 on 4^th March – How do dogs learn? This will cover Classical and Operant Conditioning, Aversive and Rewarding Reinforcement, Stress, Anxiety & Depression, Counter Conditioning & Extinction. This day is aimed to refresh and renew your understanding of dog behaviour, both for professionals and those who are interested in their own dogs learning. It is a day not to be missed with invaluable learning opportunities.

Life Skills dates – the next one we have available is on 12^th February, we currently have 2 spaces available. This is invaluable for all young dogs, and dogs currently in obedience/foundation training. The next date is 14^th April and we cannot recommend these days highly enough.

Walk the Course – our February DD membership offer is a great one. We are offering you the opportunity to buy one – get one free. The Walk the Course workshops are paramount to your learning of how a course works, and being able to talk through the various exercises in a comfortable atmosphere.

Kamal Fernandez Obedience Maestro – we have one working space left on 12^th February, this is a must for all of you who are developing attitude with your agility dogs. The day is aimed to cover lots of motivational and control games to add to your box of tricks. He is not only an entertaining trainer, but a vastly knowledgeable one and we are very fortunate that he has travelled down to the South West especially for Devon Dogs. We also have unlimited spectator spaces on both 11^th and 12^th February.

Sian’s next workshop is on 31^st March. The Young Dogs group is completely full, however there is currently one space on the Grade 3+4, one space on the Foundation, and 2 spaces on the Grade 5-7. If you or anyone you know of that would benefit from Sian’s championship and international level expertise, please come back to me.

Her partner Anthony Clarke is also visiting on 3^rd March and he currently has one space on Young Dogs, and 2 spaces on Flatwork. Again if you are interested contact me asap as we expect these spaces will go quickly now that we have let people know of their availability.

Training on the Ring day is on 17^th March, this day is invaluable to all customers and we thoroughly recommend it. The day is not only of huge value to your learning but also an opportunity to meet and talk to lots of other like minded folk.

We also have the Lakers visiting on 10^th March for the day, Karen working with Relationship Building, and Mark working with Pushing Your Course Work, we currently have one space available on Karen’s day and 2 spaces available on Mark’s day. They are also visiting us on 25^th March where Mark currently has space in his G3-4, G5-7 and G3-7 and Karen currently has some space on all of her workshops.

Lastly Jo Tristram is with us on 8^th March, here G4-7 group is full, however she currently has space on her Contacts and Weaves, G1-3 and Young Dog sessions.







 I am sure I will see you soon,

Lauren
www.devondogs.co.uk
carole@devondogs.co.uk

The Poppy x Reef new litter have arrived....

Happy Poppy and her lovely 5 pups.



She has left them alone for a second.

Fascinated!!

These pups are just lovely. Poppy is a divine mum and Jessica (her owner) is really proud. I am really excited that some of the pups will be with customers. I feel very lucky.

Lauren xxx (I couldnt resist adding Mr Handsome at the bottom)

Reef x Free pups are EDIBLE :)

Been walking in the fields with Glen this am, he is very yummy! Here are some pics of the monkeys for you to enjoy.

All are homed and Glen will be the last to go on the 13th Nov. If you get a chance to have a cuddle be sure to pop by :)

 Boost -  Devongem Freakin Wow

 Spider - Devongem Free For All

 Boost standing shot

Riley has the spot - he would not stay still!

 Glen trotting

Lovely 'Free' x Reef Babies

We have decided that Free just disagrees with the text books right from mating day to the mating to the birth. She shocked us by having them 6 days early, and Matt also shocked me by being the best Mid husband ever.

Free has four lovely pups, all fairly classic and nicely marked. She has two girls and two boys and I am pretty certain that three out of the four are staying with some FANTASTIC Devon Dogs Clients so I am over the moon.

Below is Reef, Free and our last bunch of puppy cuddles and visitors last year :) We do love having our puppies.

I will really need some newspaper ASAP :) PLEASE help - drop it to my van anytime!

If you would like a visit for a cuddle let us know and we will let you know when and also if you are considering a future Devongem puppy we do have a second litter expected in November as we were unsure whether Free would have enough pups so please do contact us to see if you would be a suitable home for one of these gorgeous pups. We do have a list but things are always changing!

Hope to see you all soon,

Lauren x

One week to go...

We are really looking forward to having puppies at Bowerland again. Thankyou all for your enquiries. Frees' pups are pretty much spoken for but Poppy has some flexibility in her list so feel free to enquire for this litter or Poppy x Reef will probably repeat in 18months/2 years and Free x Jacquis choice of dog next year.

Free is enjoying all of her food and extra fuss. It is really funny in the last week of pregnancy the bitches seem to have this calm look of knowldge in their eyes and seem to sleep and rest a little more. Free still wants all of her walks though and I tried to leave her in the stables yesterday whilst letting out the young dogs and guest dogs at Bowerland and she was not having any of it. So normal walks it is!

I will keep you all updated on Free and Poppys progress and we should know in a week or two through scan whether Poppy is in pup.

Lauren x

“We are rarely proud when we are alone.”

It is great having so many people praising the Devongem pups lately and I have to say I am hearing them at every prizegiving, I am so proud.
Dont get me wrong, when you sell a puppy you know that the ownership is now gone however that does not stop you wanting them to do well and I have to say they have exceeded my expectations. Some are with experienced owners, others are with first time owners yet all are doing themselves and me very proud, I am happy for you all.

Matt winning two G5s easily at Gillingham, winning at KCI - you and Riot look fabulous xx

Fern and Cove G4 now and qualifying for every final under the sun lol :)

Linda and Brooke for winning a G5 at her first G5 show!

Dave and Boss for winning at KCI

Teresa and Zing - some fab places and speed!

Mist G5

Devo one win from G7 - awesome.

Tiki Olympia, G5 and at KCI too and making me giggle ALOT!

Chilli - qualifying for semis and being a very very talented girlie!
Bandit easily winning into 7 and making Dave and Sharon laugh!

We are expecting some more pups shortly - lovely Freebie to Reef - The Free pups will be lovely! These are all very spoken for.

And also a very talented bitch Poppy was mated to Reef last week - I cannot wait for this litter, they will be very talented and I expect similar to the Popi x Reef for temperament and type. See pictures below. We will scan at 3 weeks.