This litter came because Liz Mowatt of TabanyaRuu had planned to have a litter from one of her own bitches, however as is often the case, nature intervened and the litter didn't happen. Instead Louise and Liz traveled to France for a mating with a rather stunning cream male, Dallas Jethro Gibbs.

It was hoped that the resulting litter would be a mixture of colours that would perhaps include cream.  He was a proven sire and had fathered some lovely pups.

The plan was for Kiva to go Liz's home to give birth and raise her pups for their first 8 weeks before returning to us.

Kiva started showing signs of impending labour in the early afternoon and we notified Liz that we thought things would be happening pretty soon - Liz set off from Surrey and arrived in the early evening of Monday evening, which was just as well as Kiva went into labour an hour later giving birth to Dylan at 7.23 - Florence followed 40 minutes later - Ermintrude coming just 24 minutes later - Dougal 1/4 of an hour later before Zebedee made his appearance just after 9.00. 

Within 2 hours of going into labour and 90 minutes after giving birth to her first pup the litter had been born.

Florence as she was known before going to her new forever home, was the second born of Kiva's litter and was the baby of the bunch weighing some 30% less than big brother Dylan. 

As a new born puppy she was a born fighter, there were a few days when Louise and I feared she might not make it through her first week. However she developed into a lovable and feisty little girl with a massive personality.

She lives with Sue and Ralph in Bridgend where she ruled the roost in a home full of loved animals.

Nushka was Ralph's companion on long walks in the hills and countryside around their home town, Sue her companion at home. Sadly they had to say goodbye to Nushka just shy of her 12th birthday. Sue wrote;

"A heartbreaking day after having to have our wonderful Nushka put to sleep today. She would have been 12 on the 16th of this month but the cancer decided she would not make her birthday.

She was a beautiful girl in every way and we were so very lucky to have had her in our lives."

There are some lovely photos of Nushka here

Or Zebedee as he was known before going to his new home, was the last born of Kiva's litter. 

He was always Louise's favourite and had, and still has, a head to die for.

Stig now lives with Kiva's sister, Impi, in Surrey (now Oxfordshire) with his forever family, the Baileys.

Rather than me write about him I thought that the best thing to do would be to ask one of his hufamiliy to do so, as a result Janine submitted the following.