I have had a few enquires recently where people think they want to buy a dog to become a breeder.  I have to say on one hand it is the most rewarding job, when we hand a healthy Baby to someone. Who will then enjoy the life with their dog and it is nice knowing that we made a difference.

I would be lying if I said all is easy when it comes to breeding dogs.  Far from the rosey pictures you see on social media there is heart break. There is also many times huge costs.

I was speaking to a friend yesterday and we were talking about the lows of breeding, how when things go wrong its a very costly vet bill, one that most of us really cant even afford these days.  Insurances do not cover breeding bitches for enough so no-one takes up the £1000 breeding insurance as a vet bills is multiple £1000's these days.  Ive seen friends this year spend over 10k on breeding one litter, and have no puppies.  Then another spent 15k on a litter of just a couple of puppies.  Which did not cover the costs. The mum was spayed so cant be bred again. 

Please do not think that you can make money from dog breeding if you do it honestly.  If you do it on the cheap (Which you should not be), and not honestly, you can in fact make money but if you do things right and to the utmost of your ability to give your dogs good welfare, enrichment and breeding from dogs which are healthy examples it costs money and its big money.  I would urge you if you think it's a money making exercise to look at a different job.  You're tied to the house, you are always on the go, never time out. 

Our days start early, and end late. It is not a 9-5 job Mon to Friday its every day of every week and when your exhausted or poorly you still have to do it.  Last week I put my neck out and every day was a struggle but I had to still do it. I went to an osteopath and came home and felt like not moving for a day yet I had to walk the dogs still and clean up.  There is no day off.   The only time you get to yourself is five minutes at a time before something needs doing again.   

There is no money in employing someone to help you.  Not unless you have a litter weekly every week of the year.  But I would never want to be that big.  You loose that home raising appeal. 

If you are committed and want to breed knowing it's one of the hardest jobs then get in touch. But if you really dont have the commitment then I would never lift a breeding endorsement.

All our dogs come with an endorsement. This means sold not to be bred with and they can not register the offspring with the Kennel club.
 If you see someone saying they are going to breed a silvestre check with me as theirs only a handful of breeders who can in the UK.  We are aware of someone whose put online they are breeding their dog regardless knowing their is an endorsement.  You would be wise not to purchase from this person.  If they are going to under hand breed from a dog sold not to be bred with, do you honestly think they will treat you fairly with a puppy?  Surely they should come to me first to try and meet my requirements before I would lift an endorsement.  Also if they are licensed they have to KC register their puppies to meet the higher standard and meet 4-5 stars.  So if they are doing this they are also breaking their council license agreement.  Which means they could get stripped from breeding.  They are also breaking a legal document with the kennel club which they signed.  So walk away. 

We all look forward to Christmas with the family but sometimes we take our eye off the dogs because there is so much going on.  Dogs end up at veterinary surgeons for eating things they should not.  So what is toxic to dogs?
Chocolate contains theobromine which is deadly poisonous to dogs. But they have to eat a lot of it. Plus it depends on how big the dog is to how much it's eaten.  Contact your veterinary surgeon who will make your dog sick.
Grapes - Highly toxic. Keep out of reach.  Even if your dog eats two grapes consult your veterinary surgeon. It kills the kidneys. 
Raisins and sultanas - Highly toxic and causes kidneys to shut down.  
Do not give mince pies to dogs, or old fashioned Christmas cake. Not even a little bit.  Consult your dog if you have given the dog this. 
Mistletoe berries - highly toxic.
Holly berries - toxic
Yew tree - toxic. 
Hyacinth bulbs  poisonous

Baubles, tree decorations. lights. 

Make sure your pet is left over night in a safe environment, either a room with no Christmas decorations or crate.  Have a wonderful time with your family. But do think dog!

​To all my followers thank you for reading. 
Rachel xx

We endeavour to do as many health tests as we can do and Im very pleased to say Frooti our French bulldog was graded the same as her last test 3 years ago. She is a grade 1.  We will only breed from grade 0 or 1 here, although you can breed grade 2.  But we are aiming to produce the healthiest dogs that we can do.

Both Frooti and Reggie were also eye tested clear.

Willow and Ripley were eye tested clear also which means they have excellent eye health. 

Im very pleased with my small team of breeding dogs how they never fail me in their results.  Good breeding through selective dogs is key.   We always say that to breed good dogs you need good temperament, then we do health tests, and show wins are just a bonus.  But with out each point you should not really breed from your dogs. 

Breeding is not just something you should do because you can.  Any dog will produce but will it produce dogs to the breed standard, will it produce healthy puppies. By outcrossing and not breeding too closely is key.   We endeavour here to produce some of the best puppies we can. We have endless references for you to read.  Home raised babies is also so important for their welfare and needs. 

Whilst Darryl and I are having a break from showing dogs, we have some good news from the show team. 

Shelby with Clammy just won best of breed at a premier open show, and Erin with bea just won best puppy in breed at the same premier open show.  Well done ladies.  Photo below.   I always say this but I get just as much if not more pleasure at our little teams wins more than if I went in the ring myself.  Proving we are producing super dogs for the show ring as well as great family pets.

A big thank you to Dawn who shared with me some files which Ive added to my website.  I have many articles and always looking for more.  These can be so helpful as they are like mini books and in many cases more helpful than ones you can buy off amazon.  

I know quite often people who are looking for puppies do not think much about what happens next after having a puppy.  The difficulties that come along and not many breeders are going to help you.  

We are breeders who try to help you as best as we can.  We share as much info as we can do with you.   You must also accept you do need a dog trainer, and sometimes you will need more than a trainer and need a behaviourist.  If you're lucky your trainer will have a lot of dog knowledge and maybe able to help you on all parts.
A lot of work is needed by you in the early days.  By 12 weeks your puppy must of been in socialisation since 8 weeks and must meet lots of people. We can do this by carrying the puppy around, or put in a puppy pram and take around.  Being outside Morrisons is a great way of seeing lots of different people, men with beards, hats, sun glasses.  People that limp, or in a wheel chair.  All types of life they need to understand is normal.
 We always talk about the 16 week window but this is another important key development stage.  Your puppy must be in a training school before 16 weeks.  Even if you are sitting and watching other dogs.  We have a spread sheet in our files for you to tick off when your puppy has met certain things. 


I hope the files are of benefit to you and let me know if there is something you wish I could add to further knowledge. 
Rachel xx

Today. I changed the password to our hidden pages section.  Remember if you own a Silvestre dog all you have to do is contact me by what's app for the new password then you will have access again. 
​Rachel x

Very proud that Maverick, Indie, Frodo all passed their yearly eye test, and Frodo passed his Glaucoma testing also today at James Olivers testing days.  With out these clinics held all over the UK it would make it difficult for breeders like myself who live more countryside orientated to get to these events. So very pleased they are held. 

On the way back we diverted off to take the 3 boys for a boys treat to the Lakes. 

Well done to Nicki and her Silvestre girl called Silvestre Fit as a Fiddle for winning 1st place in minor puppy bitch at the Hungarian Vizsla society championship show today.  In second place was Silvestre Endless Love to Elytrim 

Both girls have done their owners proud this weekend as both qualifying places for Crufts 2025. 


​

I have now officially launched our new shop for Collars, Leads, Treats, Bad tags, and coming soon Dog fleeces.

This is a separate business to Silvestre show dogs.  Please please support our small business.

I started making collars for my own dogs a few years ago, and have gradually learnt my skill and improved.  Learning what works together and what does not. We were always finding puppy owners buying the wrong sized collars.
We sell the right size for 8 week old puppies, we sell the next size on between puppy and adult.
I sell Christmas collars, and a variety of different styles.
We have loads of slip leads, clip leads available.  I have again perfected the leads and now use a leather cover over stitching which does not slip. 

I hope to launch some new long lines, and different collars. 
www.stylishcountryhound.com
I am grateful to those Silvestre owners who have already purchased from me this week, and. I hope that now Im linking the site here you will purchase more from us in the future.   So a big welcome to www.stylishcountryhound.com 

Well done Deliah this week doing a scent trial and winning 100 Percent of the challenges.  She is so amazing and we are very proud.  Delilah is a French bulldog coming up to 8 years of age. She is half sister to our own Frooti.  Breeding dogs that can breathe, scent is all part of our ideals in the small breeding team we have.  Delilah is owned and cherished by Beverly Hoddinott. 

Well done Layways Dua Lippi who is a Maverick Daughter winning a huge puppy stakes class today at Midland counties championship show.  She has qualified for Crufts at several shows.  Big well done from daddy Maverick.