Karen and David have been involved with dogs for over 20 years.
We breed because we enjoy doing so, and believe that our collective experiences enable us to produce quality puppies which have excellent temperaments.
All of our dogs are reared in the home, and all have wonderful opportunities to socialise with other dogs and puppies as part of their early development.
Breeding enables us to continue to further and enhance the quality of dogs we have available for ourselves for the show ring, but fully recognising and appreciating that all of our dogs are foremostly pets.
In most cases we have both the Sire and Dam at home. We always have the mum.
Where it is deemed appropriate, and indeed the opportunity arises, we will also attempt to introduce new bloodlines into our breeding programme. This approach enables us to produce healthy puppies with very low COI's (co - efficient levels associated with health and longevity)
We are Kennel Club Assured Breeders, members of a variety of Breed Clubs / Societies, frequent exhibitors at Open and Championship Show events and always happy to provide support and advice to enquirers. Both of us have taken a range of different examinations and assessments and David now judges.
Puppies will leave with the following in their pack:
Food / diet sheet
Initial inoculation
Health card from vet
Information sheet about the respective breed and care plan
Kennel Club Breed Standard
Free 6 - weeks insurance
Pedigree / Kennel Club Registration documentation
Contract
Contact details for after - sales support and guidance
Kennel Club questionnaire
David and Karen are members of the Kennel Club Assured Breeder Scheme
Information On Maltese
Maltese have sweet little faces and desire to be loved are just irresistible. They delight in their own sibling company. The love to cuddle up on the sofa with us, but also just love to run around the park together.
The pet Maltese is very easy to care for, but that does not mean that they want to be left shut in a room for hours every day. We try to ensure that the puppies we breed go to loving homes, where owners have time to spend with their puppies.
The Maltese coat is striking when fully grown, and the long silky straight coat gracefully moves with the dog. Their big dark eyes and black nose stand out beautifully against the gleaming white satin coat.
However, if the Maltese that you purchase is not to be shown the coat can be trimmed to suit your lifestyle. The puppies look like little white teddy bears and this look can be maintained with frequent trimming. The top knot can be either kept or alternatively trimmed short on the head.
Whichever coat length you decide to keep for your pet – remember the dog needs to be groomed daily, even if it is just the face that is to be wiped. Puppies need to be trained to keep still and learn by being handled early.
Tear Stains
There are many articles around and even more preparations to use on the face. Puppies can develop staining when stressed, going to a new home having injections or as they are teething. Having consulted my vet, nothing needs to be done with a small amount of staining as a young puppy. Generally the staining reduces as the puppy grows – be patient as this can take a while to disappear. Careful wiping around the eyes with baby shampoo and using a dab of cornflour under the eyes can help reduce staining. The flushing of tear ducts is not helpful on a young puppy and is usually unnecessary.
History
The Maltese is acknowledged as one of the oldest breeds of dog, clearly identifiable over hundreds of years. The beauty and lovely name of these small dogs has been acclaimed from pre-Christian times by poets and artists alike.
Why the name Maltese? This has never been fully agreed by scholars. In A.D 25 it was written that ‘There is a town in Sicily called Melita whence are exported many beautiful dogs called Canes Militei’ there is also reference to Melitei Dogs from the Island of Melita, the Roman and Greek name for the Island of Malta.
General Appearance Smart, white-coated dog, with proud head carriage.
Characteristics Lively, intelligent, alert.
Temperament Sweet-tempered.
Head and Skull The skull is gently rounded viewed from the front and sides but never 'domed' or 'applehead'. Stop well defined. Nose black. Well filled under eye. Muzzle broad, not snipey. Slightly shorter from nose to stop than from stop to occiput. Nose black.
Eyes Oval, not bulging, dark brown, black eye rims, with dark haloes.
Ears Long, well feathered, hanging close to head; hair to mingle with coat at shoulders.
Mouth Jaws strong, with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Teeth even.
Neck Medium length.
Forequarters Legs short and straight. Shoulders well sloped.
Body Well balanced, essentially short and cobby. Good spring of rib, back level from withers to tail.
Hindquarters Legs short, well angulated.
Feet Round, pads black.
Tail Feathered, carried well arched over back.
Gait/Movement Straight and free-flowing, without weaving. Viewed from behind, legs should neither be too close nor too wide apart.
Coat Reasonable length, never impeding action, straight, of silky texture, never woolly. Never crimped and without woolly undercoat.
Colour Pure white, but slight lemon markings permissible.
Size Height not exceeding 25 cms (10 ins) from ground to withers.
Faults Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
Note Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
Maltese Club
http://maltesedogclub.co.uk/home.html
Helpful Websites:
http://www.laffordtoydogs.co.uk/
Information On Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is a charming, cheeky little character. Small
and sturdy with a long flowing coat and chrysanthemum – like face that is
presented with a top knot to give an oriental expression.
The Shih Tzu originates from Tibet. In China the Lhasa Apso
and Pekinese were bred together, and so the Shih Tzu was created.
The Shih Tzu is today a very popular breed. Most dogs are
kept in a short coat.
Loving company and enjoying short walks, the Shih Tzu make
an ideal pet. However, they can be stubborn and need gentle persuasion at
times.
Kennel Club Standard For Shih Tzu: General Appearance Sturdy, abundantly but not excessively coated dog with distinctly arrogant carriage and 'chrysanthemum-like' face.
Characteristics Intelligent, active and alert.
Temperament Friendly and independent.
Head and Skull Head broad, round, wide between eyes. Shock-headed with good beard and whiskers, hair growing upwards on the muzzle giving a distinctly 'chrysanthemum-like' effect. Not affecting the dog's ability to see. Muzzle of ample width, square, short, not wrinkled; flat and hairy. Nose black but dark liver in liver or liver marked dogs and about one inch from tip to definite stop. Nose level or slightly tip-tilted. Top of nose leather should be on a line with or slightly below lower eye rim. Wide-open nostrils. Down-pointed nose highly undesirable, as are pinched nostrils. Pigmentation of muzzle as unbroken as possible.
Eyes Large, dark, round, placed well apart but not prominent. Warm expression. In liver or liver-marked dogs, lighter eye colour permissible. No white of eye showing.
Ears Large, with long leathers, carried drooping. Set slightly below crown of skull, so heavily coated they appear to blend into hair of neck.
Mouth Wide, slightly undershot or level. Lips level.
Neck Well proportioned, nicely arched. Sufficient length to carry head proudly.
Forequarters Shoulders well laid back. Legs short and muscular with ample bone, as straight as possible, consistent with broad chest being well let down.
Body Longer between withers and root of tail than height of withers, well coupled and sturdy, chest broad and deep, shoulders firm, back level.
Hindquarters Legs short and muscular with ample bone. Straight when viewed from the rear. Thighs well rounded and muscular.
Feet Rounded, firm and well padded. Well covered with hair.
Tail Heavily plumed, carried gaily well over back. Set on high. Height approximately level with that of skull to give a balanced outline.
Gait/Movement Arrogant, smooth-flowing, front legs reaching well forward, strong rear action and showing full pad.
Coat Outer coat long, dense, not curly, with moderate undercoat, not woolly. Slight wave permitted. Hair not affecting the dog's ability to see. Length of coat should not restrict movement.
Colour All colours permissible, white blaze on forehead and white tip to tail highly desirable in parti-colours.
Size Height at withers not more than 27 cms (101/2 ins), type and breed characteristics of the utmost importance and on no account to be sacrificed to size alone. Weight: 4.5-8 kgs (10-18 lbs). Ideal weight 4.5-7.5 kgs (10-16 lbs).
Faults Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.
Note Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.