Alderforest Down Under
Australian champion

Merlin

Born 30 May 2003

 

Little Clumbers are growing!!

Merlin has a very good time in Australia. He has won serveral shows and classes! Finally I have a picture of him. He was grown to be a very nice Clumber. We are very proud of him. I am prody that I had the opportunity to raise such a lovely dog!

 

Merlin 2 years

 

 

 

       

 

Merlin is my foster parent puppy. My friend Elseline bred this beautiful dog. Merlin lives with me because he has a long quarantine. Merlin goes in March to Gayle in Autralia. It is fun to have another breed in my house. I give dog lessons and I wanted to know how to raise a spaniel! Clumber use their nose very often so they can't hear you. And I can tell you, he is a lot diffrent than a sheltie! But they are so sweet and clumsy.

Did you every heard a dog sleeping? Than you have to hear a how a clumber sleep!!

Merlin came in when he was 10 weeks old and when he leave he is 10 months. We will miss him deeply.

 

Merlin thanks for the beautiful friendship we have.

 

  

 

 

How Merlin came to us!!

How become a Clumber with people that love shelties?

Elseline Elfferich live two houses apart from us. I contact her in the time that she started her kennel Alderforest Clumber Spaniels . I saw her walking with Kelly and I go to her to ask what kind of breed she has. I had never seen that kind of breed. And so we started a nice friendship talking about dogs. I worked a  40 hour week at that time so to start with a dog was not an option, but Elseline and I kept in touch. Elseline gave dog lessons on the KC Zeeland and when I had time I would go with her to see how other people trained with their dogs. There where a couple of shelties and I love to watch them. And I had a nice time seeing all those dogs. I was looking for a sheltie when I became a housewife. After Manon and Thijn were born and they were old enough to go to school, the  time was right to get a sheltie! When I had Dusty Elseline and I started to walk on the dikes with the dogs. And believe me a lot of dreams, wishes ,breeding and other dog stuff are planned on that dike! The dogs running around us (mostly the sheltie ,you have to wait often on a Clumber) Clumber owners know what I mean lol. We had a lot of fun together. On the same dike Elseline told me that she will breed Beryl. And I told her that Aleta also has an upcoming breeding  for me! So a bunch of new plans where made. We planed our holiday (because the litters will born at the same time) and other stuff. In April we heard that both females where pregnant. We were so exited about it! Elseline decided to go on vacation in May because the pups where born in the summer. When Elseline was gone I take care of Beryl so she can stay at home. Mid may Aleta told me that the puppies where born. They were all males!! And I wanted a female so my plans for a pup this year where gone. Elseline ask me if I want to be with the birth from the litters. And I was very pleased that she ask me. Beryl loves me and know me so well. Elseline called me on 30 may 2004 on 4.00 am that Beryl started into labor. But on 6.30 there where no pups yet. We went to the vet for a caesarean section. The vet and Elseline give me a quick lesson how to bring a puppy to life. And believe me you do not have the time to watch how many o what sex dogs you have! There were 4 females and 3 males.

 

                     

One female did not make it, she was too small and could not drink. Every day I go to Elseline to see how the pups developed. One day Elseline told me that one male goes to Australia. She said it will be a busy time to raise two puppies. I said for fun: why don't you put him in my home? My puppy has not arrived yet. A couple of weeks later Elseline ask: did you mean it what you said. And I told her that I had to discuss it with Erik. Because it takes a lot of care to raise a puppy. Erik said it was okay if we raised it on our terms (not jumping on the couch). Elseline and I talked about the rules for raising Merlin and when he was 10 weeks old he came to us. I do not regret to raise Merlin. He is so sweet and a well behaved dog. He is almost 7 months and over 6 weeks he is going to Australia. I am really going to miss him. But it was my choice to raise Merlin and I knew that he was going to Australia. I have a lot of funny photo's from Merlin most of them sleeping.

Merlin when you are gone I miss you deeply but than I think of the time you where here and I see a lot of joy and happiness .

Merlin thanks for the wonderful time that you spend with my family.

Gayle I wish you good luck with Merlin.

Geraldine

 

                     

 

                   

 

                    

 

                      

 

                       

 

                     

 

                   

                                                              

                     

  

   

 

 

                 

                

 

On March 7 2004 Merlin FLIES to Australia

This are his last photos in the Netherlands

 

                          

                   

 

Merlin good bye, thanks for the joy and happiness!

 

 

© Geraldine Jansen