Archie Could Become a Daddy

There could (could, being the operative word) be some more little Archie’s coming into the World.   Our Clumberdoodle Archie who is now 3 years old is still entire (for those of you who are not doggy people, he still has his important bits!!!).  My husband and myself were at odds with each other whether to have Archie neutered or not when he was younger. My Husband (naturally) was for him keeping his important bits, but I wanted them removed.   We did speak to our Vet and he said that it was an unnecessary operation and if Archie was okay then best to leave them for now, but if problems arose later then to think again, (huge sigh of relief from both Steve (my husband and Archie!!).   Now Archie has never dry humped, he as never shown any signs of aggression towards other dogs (who are still entire, which can happen and can be a problem) and has never shown any interest in the females-until!!!
Archie Could Become a Daddy

When we go out for our walk, we pass 2 very nice houses and a little brown spaniel bitch lives in one.  Archie has met her a few times when she has been out in the lane and all they wanted to do was play.  However on the 9th July 2020 when we had been for our walk and were walking passed her house, Archie’s nose went up in the air and he suddenly ran down the rest of the lane and through their open gates and disappeared.

I went in to try and catch Archie and was greeted by the owner who said that Bella (I have changed her name for legal reasons!!!) was in season and she was at her “ripest”.  Oh no!!!  Well Archie and Bella started racing around the very large garden with us humans trying to catch them and shouting at the top of our voices, all in vain.   First of all it all seemed like play as they were just chasing each other.  However I did see Archie in the distance trying to mount her shoulder (I always knew he didn’t really know what to do with his manly part).

However we kept  losing sight of them both as they raced around the garden, up into a small wooed area at the back and being obscured by hedges.  So most of the time they were out of sight  so had no idea if Archie did  manage to actually succeed in the deed.    Well after 20 minutes the owner finally managed to catch Bella and once she was caught I was able to restrain Archie, which I have to say I was very grateful as I was exhausted (I don’t do running these days!!).

I apologised profusely as Archie was just ignoring any of my commands – naturally and  like any typical male he had other more important things on his mind and coming (probably the wrong word to use) back to me was way down the list.  However the owner also apologised and she said she should have closed their gates, well yes!!!

However, she didn’t actually seem too worried that Archie might have had his wicked way with Bella, as she said that she was actually thinking of letting her have puppies which was a bit of a relief. After 20 minutes of running around the garden (perhaps interspersed with some other business) and after a 11/2 hour walk beforehand, Archie look shattered.   We didn’t have far to walk back to our house but he was in a bit of a state.  Panting like nobodies business and he kept wanting to lay down and as soon as he got in the front door he just collapsed in a heap!!!

The next few weeks every time I passed Bella’s house I was hoping to see the owner to get a progress report and it was only on the 3rd August I saw her.  She said that she didn’t think that Bella was expecting, although she was very tired but there didn’t seem to be any signs of any pregnancy.  Again she sounded a bit disappointed.  Apparently her daughter had seen me out with Archie and thought that he would have made a very suitable father and I have to say that with Bella being so pretty and Archie so handsome they would be gorgeous puppies.  The owner said that she definitely wanted Bella to have puppies and implied that she would be more than happy for Archie to help out (that is if he still is intact as I did threaten to take him to the Vet’s!!).  I suppose if he was going to have his way with a female then Bella is perfect as she isn’t just any run of the mill bitch but actually a “rich bitch” as she lives in a lovely big house, 2.5 acres of garden and a swimming pool!!!

I am afraid that I do not have any photos of Bella so you will just have to imagine what she looks like.  I can describe her as a dainty cross spaniel, tan coloured with some white on her and she is very pretty.  Of course my website has many photos of Archie so perhaps you can picture what the puppies could look like.  So if Archie and Bella meet up again  and successfully mate then there will be some gorgeous puppies for sale and you never know Archie might have one of his offsprings come to live with us!!!  What am I saying?????

Archie Could Become a Daddy

Gosh this brings back memories, Archie at 4 weeks old, as you can see he is much lighter in colour than when he was a tiny puppy.

This is what he looks like fully grown

So watch this space and I will update if there are any further developments, but it might be another 6 months until Bella has her next season.

PUPDATE (LITERALLY) 22nd August 2020.

On our walk up to the moors past Bella’s house I saw her owners who told me  that Bella had to go the vet and whilst she was there she was scanned to see if she was pregnant.  It was confirmed that Archie is not going to be a Daddy, so as I have always suspected he really does not know what to do with his “tackle” or else he fired blanks!!!!

Can I also make a point whilst writing this particular post for any dog owners, can I please ask that anyone who has a bitch in season, to please keep them on a lead whilst out in public.  If a male dog smells a bitch on heat which can be from a great distance and she is off the lead, all recall commands will go out of the window – naturally, as he (and she) will have far more important things to be doing.  If your bitch is kept on a lead then if a male dog is interested he can easily be restrained.  It really is not the male dog’s fault if you do not want your bitch to be mated, with the prospect of becoming pregnant.  If they are running freely then you have no idea if she is in fact in season. 

Archie and I were walking in a public park and he started to chase and play with a dog and would not come back. The dog’s owner asked when we were in earshot if my dog was a male, to be told that his dog  was “in season”.  He said that his bitch liked to flirt with the dogs, so it obviously happens quite a lot.   I managed to get hold of Archie when they were close enough and I ended up putting him on the lead as the owner of the other dog just carried on walking with his bitch off the lead.  Perhaps he will regret this one day!

I do welcome any comments on this subject.

Pupdate October 2020 read the latest story here To Castrate or not to Castrate a Dog Who Decides??