Taz is in heat

Our little girl, Tazlene, is in heat. Started today. Tomorrow I'll call Homestead and see about getting her the progesterone testing. If it all works out we'll have puppies in March and they'll be available for adoption by May. It's all a miracle when it happens so we'll pray for all to be well with mommy and babies. I'm nervous because Taz is my "baby" girl and every time I get a little scared.



I feel the roller coaster ticking up the track, the thrill of the ride and the way you feel kind of excited and sick all at the same time, (haha). Are we all ready for this? I guess if it's mean to be it will all work out. It's the most fun you can have when you're scared that's for sure!! Here we go again.......

Adele

Bulldog Christmas

The kids (Harley, Tank, Mugsy & Taz) had a great Christmas. They all got a new toy that was promptly ripped to shreds by the end of the day. I thought I'd gotten something fairly durable but they proved me wrong. It was fun tearing it to pieces though and I just picked up the pieces and threw them away. Once a year I suppose they can have that kind of fun. I watch them carefully to make sure nothing is swallowed or hurts them. We had a quiet day and didn't do much but sleep and keep a low profile. I thought about all our puppies in their new homes. I wondered if their first Christmas' were happy ones. Some of them went to homes where they were the only babies and some were traveling with their families for the holidays. Pets make our lives so much fuller and give us unconditional love and acceptance.

Harley is getting back to normal and her fur is coming in so soft and shiny. After having a litter of puppies she loses hair and looks kind of ratty for a bit. She's such a beautiful dog and her disposition is calm and loving. She's been sleeping with me at night again and loves that. She finds her "spot" and sleeps there all night. She doesn't move during the night. Mugsy is the same way but Tank and Taz are up and down all night long and wake us up a lot. Needless to say Mugs and Harley get that privilege more often than Tank and Taz. Taz has so much puppy in her and still bounds onto the bed like a bull in a china shop. She actually bounces when she hops up on things. I wonder if having babies will calm her and it will be interesting to see what happens.

She's due to go into heat soon so we'll see what happens. Mugsy is in heat now but we are waiting out this cycle for her. She's got a bum knee that is bothering her and the vet said she twisted it somehow playing and she needs a good long rest from anything so she can heal. I'm wondering if we'll breed again at all. She's my soft little cuddle baby and never got her AKC paperwork. Her babies aren't able to be registered but are so precious that it doesn't even matter. Lola and Eloise were two precious little girls. We miss them every day. Mugsy would just lay with them and cuddle them under her arm and they would sleep all snuggled up to her. That's the way puppies should begin their lives. Loved by their mother and protected by her. Mugsy was a wonderful mama and so was Harley. We've been so blessed with exceptional dogs. Even our vet has told us that.

Time to get ready for church. We've got family coming from out of state to visit with us for a few days so this should be a lot of fun. Our son and his new wife are here for the first time from Utah. It feels so strange without babies though.

Adele

Teddy & His Mom, Roxann

Hi Adele,

Here is a picture of me and Teddy after his appointment. The pictures are from my camera phone. That is why they are not as clear as the digital camera. Haven't gotten to download those pictures to our computer yet but when we do, we will send those pictures as well. Have a good day!

Tank Ramirez (a friend of Tank & Harley)

We love getting pictures of our friends and their bulldogs! Please send them to us so we can post them on our blog and let others see how handsome bulldogs are and how wonderful they can be as part of our families. This picture of Jack Ramirez and his bulldog Tank was their family Christmas card photo! We think Tank is a good looking boy and wish the Ramirez family a very Merry Christmas!! Thanks for sharing Tank's pictures with us all.

Hugs,
Adele & Craig

Lucie Growing Up

This is her baby picture. Lucie is the one at the top of the pile here. She was only a few days old when this was taken. Lucie is from Harley and Tank's first litter born February 10th of 2008. The following pictures show her growing up. She is so much like her father in color and like her mother in body type. She's a beautiful little girl and we love her so much. Getting to see her is such a treat for us!!











Adele and Craig,

I checked out the new website--very nice!! Miss Lucie is wonderful and we need to come visit soon. I enjoy your website so much and now we can blog as well--too fun! I promise to be better in 2009 about sending pics and coming to visit. She is such an amazing girl! I have not had her spayed yet because we are thinking about breeding her, but obviously we want to talk to you about that first! We would probably only do it once, but I do want to hear your thoughts.

See you soon,

Erin

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Hi Erin,

Well having babies is a wonderful experience but you'll have to have lots of help. One of our stud families actually hired a nanny for the puppies while they both worked and hey, if you can afford it, I say go for it! It's something you'll never forget. You worry about those babies just like you would your own and I would love to see her babies!!!! Of course I'll help in any way I can so let me know what you decide. It's a pricey adventure too so be prepared with about $2000 to get the breeding and vet costs all covered. I absolutely would go to no one else but Dr. Tom Geiselhardt for any of the vet issues because he's so reasonable on cost and knowledgeable on bulldogs.

We would love to see Lucie any time you want to come by. We are empty nesters at the moment and it feels so odd after two back to back litters. Very quiet around here. The next one to breed is Taz and we'll see how that goes. Any time now and then we'll have to decide if she's ready or not. Maybe.

Thanks for the letter and we'd love some pictures. Especially that one you took when you were here where she is getting a smooch from mom and dad. I'd love to feature that one on our site. I sure have a lot of fun doing the website. I might have found my calling, or one of them!

Hugs,
Adele

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Adele,

I know what a big investment it would be (both time and money)to breed Lucie so that's why we would never undertake it without talking to you guys first! We've seen, if only on the outside, what you guys have gone through and believe me, it's not something we would go into without a lot of consideration.

I actually downloaded the pics today from Lucie's last visit with you and so I have the "kissing" picture of Lucie and her Mama and Daddy to send out to you. Other cute ones as well of Craig and Lucie from that visit and of you and Lucie from when I picked her up at Dr. Tom's office. He is a terrific vet and I'm actually thinking of switching all my babies to him (only Lucie goes to him now) as my other vet is semi-retired.

I feel so fortunate that we live close by and that Lucie will always be near family. I know how committed you both are to our lovely bullies and that is special indeed. Rest assured that Lucie's well being always comes first, and we won't do anything without consulting you. I watched Lucie's birth DVD again the other night and it is very much a full time job. (She's just so beautiful, and Carson and I are such Bulldog lovers that we can't help but wish we could experience breeding her at least one time).

Merry, Merry Christmas to you, Craig and your Family. All the best in 2009 and we'll see you soon!

Erin, Alix, Tucker, Carson, Cooper, Emie, Madden and Lucie!

Update on Mr. Teddy Man

Hi Adele,

Well, Teddy had his appointment yesterday for his physical and his shots and he did great! The vet and vet tech fell in love with him. He is a healthy boy and is a whopping 20 lbs!! They said that he is one of the best looking english bulldogs that they have seen in awhile and that we picked a good one!! Which, we already knew that we did. He is beautiful and so smart!! He is pretty much done being potty trained. Derek and I am so proud of him! He doesn't mess in the house. The vet was so impressed cause she said that their bladders don't fully form till about 16 weeks but he has come along nicely. But I also think it's is cause I stay home with him and we work on it together. He is our precious baby and he has brought so much joy into our lives. His personality is amazing!! Just wanted to give you an update and let you know how our baby is doing. Have a good evening and a Merry Christmas!! Talk to you soon.

Love,

Derek, Roxann, Teddy

Mr. Major in Colorado Springs!

Thank you for the email card its so cute! Major is goin on his first roadtrip down to Georgia with us on saturday! We didnt wanna put him on a plane so we decided to drive he is doin well and gettin really big! Merrry Christmas y'all!



The Duffeys
Dusty & Mandy

(Major is from Tank & Harley's first litter this year, what a perfect little man)

Beautiful Baby Keith

Hey Adele!

I cannot tell you enough how happy we are to have Keith in our lives. We can't stand to be away from him for a second! Which is why I would prefer to bring him home with me for the holiday. I wanted to touch base with the vet that you recommended before however and see what his thoughts are on flying with him. Would love to get him in just for a check up maybe even.
Hope all is well with you and Craig and your holidays are wonderful!

many thanks again,

Katie, Rob & Keith

Winnie sees Santa!!

Our little Winnie got to see Santa with her family in Kansas City!! She looks like she's having fun with the "fam"

Thanks Kristin we love pictures of our babies growing up!!!

Adele & Craig

Teddy Bear's Happy Home

Hi Adele,

How's it going? Hope everything is going well and Christmas just right around the corner! Yay!! I love Christmas! Well, I just wanted to email you on how Teddy was doing (as now we call him, Teddy Bear). He is so precious and we love him to pieces. He is so smart and his personality is just awesome!! He is almost done being potty trained. Today, he has not peed on the house once. Pooping, he mastered like the second day here. Has not pooped since. He will cry when he needs to poop and I let him out and he does his business. Now, it's the same with peeing. He will go to the back door and cry just a little but to where you know that he has to go outside to do his business. I am glad that I don't work and I am able to stay home with him. He just chills with me in the living room and he is soooo cute that he will just lay his head on my leg when I am sitting on the floor with him. And he just loves to sleep with us in bed, He loves our attention and we love him. And as a matter of fact, he has an appointment this Friday for his second round of shots. Which I am so excited for! He have kept him here at the house and haven't taken him out cause we don't want him near other dogs or really any people till he gets his vaccinations. We don't want him getting sick or catching anything that's out there. Yes, we are very protective of him. Derek loves him so much and thinks he is the most awesome dog in the world! Of course I do too!! He is just beautiful and getting bigger day by day. He is eating very well, we give him his vitamins daily, we've bought him many toys and a bed which he loves. He is truly happy here (oh and he just loves the snow! we actually got quit a bit yesterday). Oh and another thing, he snores when he sleeps and its just the cutest thing on earth!! I have never heard a dog snore before and its quit hysterical! He sounds like a human being, or, should I say like Derek. Haha!! Like father like son. Hehe!! I love it though!! Oh my gosh, and let me tell you about his farts!! He can clear a room!!! Hahaha!!! It is sooooo funny!! Derek will think that it was me and then I will think that it was him, but in fact, it was Teddy Bear!! His are silent but deadly.....but still, I wouldn't trade him for the world. With him being almost human like......he is definitely part of our family...our baby boy. And that's what makes him special. He is definitely a special little boy. I am truly glad, that I had first pick of the litter and that I picked him. Thank you soooo much for him and just know, that your lil guy is loved by us and spoiled. Sorry for the long email. Just wanted to let you know how lil Theodore was doing. Talk to you soon and will be sending you pictures soon as well. Take care and have a great rest of your week.

Love,

Derek, Roxann & Teddy Bear

Baby Bella in her new home at 11 weeks old

Reindog Farley!!

Before the Reindog Parade in Cincinnati, he loved it!

Farley is from Tank & Harley's first litter and 10 months old this month, what a beautiful boy he has grown into!!

Adele

More pictures of Teddy

Here are some pictures we took last Saturday before Teddy left. He was 9 weeks old and beyond adora-bull!!