As promised...

We did something worth blogging about! Sort of... ;D

Ordered 2 more toys for the girls, a treat dispenser ball that 'giggles' when it rolls and some peach flavoured (pet safe) bubbles :) Also set some things aside to order in a couple of days too, these 'Walkies' crisp packet toys that everyone seems to be obsessing over and a 'Zig a Zag' ball, which is basically a bright pink bobbly motorised ball. Should be fun for the Hilton clan to chase around, or so we're hoping!

Might do a video post when their new toys arrive, pictures wouldn't do them as much justice ;)

Back soon!
Love & licks,
Rio, Jonny, Buffy, Rafferty, Monroe & Lily.
xo
P.S As we always say, if anyone ever wants to know where anything is from, feel free to ask! Contact links are in the sidebar >>>

Happy half birthday Lily and Alfie!

Lily and Alfie turned 6 months old this month, on the 5th, I've been meaning to post about it since but despite taking pictures specifically for a post, I kept completely forgetting/being too busy, so time to make up for it!

I haven't got any new pics of Alfie, I'll have to get my dad to take some, but here's some 6 month birthday pictures of Lily, hope you enjoy! :)

How stunning is my girl growing up to be!?! 

Okay, so I might be a little biased, but I think she's gorgeous, just like the rest of my girls...
Speaking of...

I know this was supposed to be a (late) Lily post, but you can't leave out the rest of the Hilton clan!

We've don't really have anything to update, so we'll go away, do something blog worthy and return in a day or 2 with tales to delight! (And hopefully some pictures of Alfie!) :)

Ciao for now Bloggers!
Love & licks,
Rio, Jonny, Buffy, Rafferty, Monroe & Lily.
xo

♪♫...Red ain't nothin' but a Hound dog...♪♫

Crufts is over for another year and while our congratulations go to all the entrants and winners, a special congratulations is due a little closer to home...

So a huge well done to my mum and Red* for winning Best of Breed and qualifying through to the 'Hound group'!

You're our Best in Show always :) 

♥

*(Sengepabu St. Valentine)

To see a clip of Red in action, go here!

 

Find out more about my mum, Red and the rest of her gang at; Sengepabu Kennels

Crufts Controversy

It's that time of year again, it's Crufts! 

But this year, more than ever it feels, there is an underlying murmur of changes to come and clashing opinions in the air...

What should be a great opportunity for dog lovers, breeders, showers, experts and general enthusiasts to gather and share their love of all things canine, has become a massive bone of discontentment amongst those in the know...

But who is really at fault here?

Most people with any interest in dogs (breeds aside), will know that due to extreme selective breeding, often employed by less scrupulous breeders trying to produce the 'perfect' breed example, there have been many physical (and behavioural) issues, that could have been so easily avoided or at least minimised, if the temprement and health of the resulting litters, had been the key focus.

However, a lot of blame has been put on the KC and Crufts organisers/showers alike for having strict 'Breed Standards', but few can or would deny a lot of the issue can be traced back to both ill educated/back yard breeders trying to meet these standards in an often cruel, uncaring and unhealthy way and of course, the general public, a case of supply and demand.
The blame that lies with the general public is mostly due to a lack of education and down to ignorance about the magnitude of the issue.
The problem is less about the standard, more about how the standard is met.

Now however the RSPCA has really taken a stand and is trying to make the issue clear and known to all, by it's very public refusal to attend this years Crufts.

Although some may say it's coming across as a little too harsh, needs must and hopefully it, coupled with efforts from other charities and the KC themselves, will draw enough attention to get this issue on it's way to being resolved, which is long overdue, despite previous attempts to rectify it.
(Last year was also particularly notable, several shows surrounded the airing of Crufts highlighting the issue. It was touched upon in a memorable show called 'Good dog, Bad dog'.)

For the RSPCA's statement regarding what and why, click here!

(Especially shocking for me was in the above statement, a study showed that only 26% of dog owners researched illnesses that affect their chosen breed, before purchasing a pup. I'm very proud to be firmly in the 26% who did do their research and I'm proud to constantly continue improving my knowledge of my breed!)

To learn more about what the Kennel Club are doing towards 'Breeding for the future', go here!

For fact sheets released by 'Get Puppy Smart' (RSPCA), regarding Exaggerated Features click here and Inherited Diseases click here.

To learn more about Inherited Diseases, please visit the following sites and learn more about the health of your breed;
Canine Inherited Disorders Database/CIDD // Hip Dysplasia Scores - breed list // Inherited Diseases in Dogs/IDID

I hope the information I've provided is helpful, many thanks to the KC, RSPCA and Get Puppy Smart for the links and figures.

Here's to a better future for our canine companions and also to enjoying Crufts, with happy, healthy, beautiful winners!

Crufts is being aired 7pm - 9pm Thursday - Sunday on More4.
There are live shows available at http://www.dfscrufts.tv/
Live commentaries and discussions on Crufts FM (87.7FM)

Adorable Buffy?

Please take a second to vote for Buffy to win the 'Adorable Adult' category of Wonga's Dog Show! :)

Vote Here!

Doggy deliveries...

It's been about 2 weeks since our last post, so we thought it was high time to share some pictures and what not :)

Not much has really been going on, although by the name of the post you may have guessed we ordered some more things... ;)

We just ordered a few bits and bobs over the weekend, a giant (51cm tall) giraffe that squeaks and rattles, another tub of Coachies (as we were running low), some dried duck fillet pieces, some dried liver pieces, a slipper toy, a fleece tug rope, a twisty nylon chew toy, several Nylabones and Marrowbones in various flavours, (bacon, jerky and chicken I think) and our pièce de résistance, a huge batch of dried beef knuckles!

As hilarious as it seems to some people, that my 'wimpy handbag dogs' might be able to tackle these huge cuts of bone, they absolutely adore them and we'd recommend them to any dog owner, whether your pooch is big or small! ^^

A few pictures of the bits that have already arrived;

The giraffe... 

They love rugby tackling this, although Monroe spends most of her time trying to get it onto the sofa...

The fleece tug rope. 

(Yes, they are in the basket feasting on the beef knuckles, they were so distracted by them that the new toy didn't even register!)

Buffy trying to fit the entire bone in her mouth by the looks of things...

Buffy and Monroe :)

Buffy and Monroe again.

Lily joining them! 

(They're actually sharing them surprisingly well, mind you, the bones are so big I don't think they notice each other chewing it!)

Deliveries aside, we've been sifting through some junk on the pc and found some old pictures and videos* of Buffy and a few of Rafferty too.
We'll sort through them and we'll do a past times type post sometime this week, along with updates as the rest of our things arrive :)

Ciao for now!
Love & licks,
Rio, Jonny, Buffy, Rafferty, Monroe & Lily.
xo

 *Taster video of Buffy...

P.S As ever, if anyone wants to know where we got anything we've ordered, feel free to drop us a line via the links in the side bar! >>>