Clumberdoodle Puppy Archie

Clumberdoodle Puppy Archie

I have been searching for a Cockapoo for ages.  You can read about my search on a previous blog here  The Search Is On For My Cockapoo Puppy In 2017

Archie is not a Cockapoo but a Clumberdoodle, so please read on as all will be explained.

Clumberdoodle Puppy Archie

I became very frustrated with Cockapoo breeders and out of the blue on the 30th April 2017, I was emailed with an alert from Freeads about a litter of eight 4 week old Clumberdoodles.  However I knew nothing about this cross but I made contact with the breeder Sleepy Hollow Cumberdoodles who was most friendly and helpful and as they were fairly local made an appointment to go and see them the  following day the 1st May.

I immediately did some research and went armed with some questions as I wasn’t sure if it would be what I wanted as my heart was with a Cockapoo, but I wasn’t going to know if my mind could be changed unless we went to see them.

We arrived at Sleepy Hollow and were greeted by Molly.

Molly who was two, was a pup that the breeder had kept from Martha the mum’s first litter. Having Molly there was great help as we could see what the puppies would look like.  Molly was utterly adorable and I fell in love immediately and I think my mind was made up at this stage, and I hadn’t even seen the little puppies.

Clumberdoodle Puppy Archie

MARTHA IS ON THE LEFT AND MOLLY ON THE RIGHT

These super little pups were all asleep snuggled together in their basket with Mum, Martha who is actually 3/4 Clumber Spaniel and 1/4 Working Cocker Spaniel.  Dad is a very handsome pedigree miniature Poodle called Jasper.   Martha had given birth to this lovely litter on the 2nd April 2017,  5 little girls and 3 little boys. Four of the pups had already been sold, but as I wanted a little boy, Kelly (the breeder) showed us the only little boy that was left, which made choosing a lot easier.  Archie was chosen and a deposit paid.

We plan to go out and see Archie again in a couple of weeks and then the final time will be to bring him home and then the fun will start.

PUPDATE 21st May 2017

Our second visit to see the pups and gosh they had grown quite a lot in 3 weeks.  Most of the pups were asleep but Archie was wide awake and after a little cuddle and a little chew on my fingers, he then went out into the garden and was promptly followed by one his sisters to have a play

Mum, Martha and Molly also came out, I suppose just to check on them (and us) and as you will see  Martha looks for a little bit of peace and quiet from the pups, and has a brilliant place to do just that.  There is a garden table and benches where she can be out of the pups’ way but still keep a watchful eye on them as they cannot jump up on to the bench seats – yet!!!

We have decided that Archie is going to be one that likes his food, as when Martha was actually down on the ground he latched himself on to her.

Archie and his sister took a liking to both mine and Steve’s shoe laces, so no doubt we will have to have a supply of them as I can see any laces will not be safe.

The next time we see Archie will be to collect him, which at the moment will be the 8th June.  Kelly (the breeder) wants to stagger the pups leaving and Archie I think will be the last to leave.  We are having a small extension to the side of our house at the moment (a washing off dirty dog and boot room) perhaps the most expensive dog? as he has cost us thousands and he hasn’t even arrived yet.  I haven’t even started on the actual “doggy” shopping!!!

I hope the work will be finished by then as it would not be wise to bring him home whilst there are workmen, cement, muck and chaos, and with Archie running riot (which no doubt he will) it could take even longer to complete.

So the next time I update will be when Archie is here (can’t wait) and when our nice peaceful, clean and tidy house will no doubt be turned upside down!!!

A little note, I have been contacted by an owner of one of Archie’s, brothers who lives locally to me and saw my blog, which was lovely, and we have arranged to meet up, once they have both had their injections.  We can compare notes, and I am sure the brothers will love meeting up again.  So if there are any other owners of any of his siblings who live locally to Ivybridge in Devon,  please get in touch as it would be lovely to get together and keep in touch with the pups’ progress.

PUPDATE 23rd May 2017

Just to say that the “doggy” shopping has begun.  Yesterday we went to various local pet shops and apart from a collar and lead that is all I purchased.   Today it was to the local charity shops where I bought 3 soft toys (so much cheaper than the ones you buy in pet shops, but making sure that the fillings are okay).  I am now in the process of ordering his crate online from one supplier and then quite a long list of other items from another online retailer and the ££££££’s are mounting up!!!!

PUPDATE 8th JUNE 2017 – ARCHIE HAS ARRIVED

Well the day arrived and excitement and trepidation mounted. I decided to the housework before he came, and no doubt the house will not look as clean as this for years!!!

We got to Sleepy Hollow at 4.30 p.m and Archie was waiting, and gosh hadn’t he grown since we last saw him 2 weeks ago, and had a lovely podgy tummy. Martha (his Mum) was out for a walk, so it made separating them a little bit easier for both Archie and her. He sat on my lap in the car  for the 45 minute journey home and on the whole was very good. He did get a bit fidgety where he wanted for some reason to climb over my shoulder and into the back seat, but he eventually calmed down and fell asleep just as we were nearly home – typical. But no wees, no poohs and no sick – amazing.

As soon as we got home, first stop was the garden where he christened it immediately and then he had a little explore being fascinated with the buttercups and the daisies.

He was also fascinated with a frond from our palm tree and had a great little tug of war with it with Steve

Then it was an explore indoors and straight to his bowl for drink of water and a little bit of food. He could have actually had a swim in the bowl but he will grow it into it!!!!

After all this travelling and exploring his new home it was time for a nap, in his special bed (actually a range of different items known as “Archie’s Bedding”,  so naturally I could not resist to buy the “Archie” bed, and he took to it straight away.)

Clumberdoodle Puppy Archie

After some more play with some little toys which he loved it was time for another nap, but he decided he would snuggle up to Steve on the floor and when both men fell asleep it was bliss!!!

He appeared to have settled in so well and didn’t seem to be missing his Mum, and was extremely good with the toileting, as every time he went out in the garden he performed, so we had no wees or poohs in the house.

Then after watching some of the election results, it was time for us to go to bed, and a last visit to the garden and then for Archie to try out his crate in the kitchen.

Well we hadn’t even got out of the kitchen door, before the whimpering started, and it gradually got louder and louder and at some points he actually sounded a bit like a very angry peacock. This crying, whaling and moaning was quite distressing and it did go on for about 3 hours. I was very tempted to go downstairs but after reading all the information and other peoples’ experiences I had to block it out and just let him cope. The loud protestations gradually got quieter and eventually it went quiet and we all got some kip.

PUPDATE 9th June 2017 

I went down to the kitchen at about 5.45 a.m although he was quiet, I thought he might want to go out for a wee. He was sat up in his crate looking a bit forlorn, but once the door was open he was out.  It was straight out in the garden and as soon as his paws touched the grass – relief!!! It was still very early, and I know I shouldn’t have BUT I took up for cuddle in bed, where he became very comfortable and quiet and all 3 of us had a little doze before we got up at about 7.30 a.m.

He ate his first breakfast and time for a play in the garden.

I will probably take him out for another  ride in the car again today, but this time in his crate in the boot, as Monday will be his trip to the vets for his first injections.

I have also read that at about 8 weeks, some people  say  it is a good idea to give puppies a bath as they are very smelly, so if it is going to be warm I might give it a go, as he does smell and also get him used to the hair dryer as he is going to need it on a regular basis.

Well, it was warm, and yes, he did have a bath which was done in the utility sink.  He wasn’t that keen on having water all over him and fidgeted a bit, but I managed to get a very weak solution of shampoo rubbed into his fur and then rinsed it off.  He did however love being towelled dry (he is used to a towel, as when it is wet outside his feet get towelled dry before he comes in, and he actually stands and waits on the towel before he goes any further into the house).  Whilst I was towelling him from his bath, I left the hairdryer by the side, switching it on and off and every so often blowing it on him from a distance.  I have to say he wasn’t overly keen, but I kept it on to the side and blew into a dry towel so when I wrapped him  up in it, it was lovely and warm.  Then is was a nice brush and mission accomplished and a much sweet smelling puppy.

Over the next few days, he has been finding his feet, and is very playful and loves playing with a tennis ball in the garden (well all sorts of balls really) and is very good at retrieving as he usually brings them straight back, even without any treats.

Clumberdoodle Puppy Archie

He likes most things except the rain and  it is a real struggle to get him out to go to the toilet when it is raining, and he sits and looks at me whilst I am out getting wet and he is sat in the doorway in the dry and I am sure he is thinking “silly woman, why is she out in the rain, I am staying put in the dry, and will widdle on the floor inside!!!”

I had to include this photo of him in his “Archie” bed as you can see he absolutely loves it.

However not liking the wet failed a couple of days ago, as he was investigating areas around the garden that he hadn’t taken any notice of, and fell head first into the small fish pond, well I say it is fish pond, but there are no fish as they have all died, now so it is what I refer to as my wildlife pond.  Steve had to fish him out and he (Archie not Steve) was covered from head to toe in duckweed.  Being absolutely soaked he was not a happy puppy.  Such a shame I didn’t have the camera handy.

The Crate Pupdate

I have kept the crate in the bedroom, and he is happy to go in there at night and we do all get some sleep but I am slowly moving it away now, so hopefully in the next few days he will be back downstairs.

Pupdate 12th June 2017

Big day today – the Vet for his first injections.  A friend of mine who is very “doggy wise” and who has 2 dogs of her own, suggested that when I got Archie injected to only have the Lepto 2 vaccine, as the new Lepto 4 vaccine has had lots of bad reports about puppies suffering with terrible side effects.  I have 3 local vets to choose from but on contacting each one 2 out of the 3 only administer the Lepto 4 which meant that this narrowed down the choice to just  one, as they only administer the Lepto 2 vaccine. This is an independent vet unlike the other two which are part of the big conglomerate of the RVCS Vets.

Archie was a bit calmer in the car as I moved the crate to the back seat so he could actually see me.  We got to the Vets and he was very calm in the waiting room and then when it was actually in to see the Vet he fell asleep on the table.  The Vet gave him the once over, checking his “bits” whilst Archie just lay there.  I thought when the needle went in, it might be a different story, but no, he still laid there and just wriggled a little bit when the needle went in, then he went back to sleep.  The Vet did remark that he had not quite seen such a laid back puppy.

Pupdate:  Archie meets Henry – the perfect Role Model of the Doggy World

Then after he had been to the Vet he could now meet other dogs that had been vaccinated, but can not put him down anywhere where other dogs have been, so he is still being carried everywhere to the explore the outside world.  In another blog post you will see that I regularly walked a neighbour’s dog, an elderly  Golden Retriever called Henry who is an absolute gentleman of the “doggy” World.  Unfortunately Henry is unable to go for walks at the moment as he has a problem with his front paw, so he has been resting, so the walks have tailed off.

It was his Henry’s birthday so Archie took a birthday present (sad I know) over to  him at his  house and to meet him for the first time.  Even though Archie was used to dogs, as his breeder also had her own pet dogs, he was a bit wary at first, but  Henry is a big dog and must have seemed like a giant to Archie, but it wasn’t long before he plucked up the courage and started to play. and even played with his birthday present.  Henry as we knew was very patient and is just the perfect older dog to tolerate a youngster.

Clumberdoodle Puppy Archie

It had been a very busy and tiring day, so we all had a relatively good night’s sleep.

Pupdate 13th June 2017

As Henry was mobile now, we thought it would be nice for him to come and have a little play with Archie in our back garden this morning and they both had a lovely time, again Henry being very tolerant with Archie.

Clumberdoodle Puppy Archie

Archie at play with Henry

Crate Pupdate 16/6/2017

It is slowly being moved further away from our bedroom and we are now on the landing, and he actually cannot see us from there, but he is still not sleeping through the night, although he does start to cry and whine, but it appears to be for a reason as when I take him out in the garden he does pee/and or poo.  I hope it won’t be too long before he will settled down in the kitchen

Follow Archie’s progress when I will publish regular PUPDATES the next one being his first Day Out on the  16th June 2017
Clumberdoodle Puppy Archie