Toy Manchester Clarice Litter

TOY MANCHESTER TERRIERS
SAINT LAZAR

CLARICE - LANCE LITTER BORN 3-25-05
Ch. Saint Lazar's Clarice & Ch. Saint Lazar's Lance
A WONDERFUL "PLANNED BREEDING" LITTER!

We will continue to update these pups as we receive information. Last update, 8-2-06

Ch. Saint Lazar's Clarice shown cleaning her new arrival. This pup is the first of four, 2 girls and 2 boys, and is about 10 min old when I made this photo. You can see she is still wet. All were delivered easy, and are vigorous and nursing good. Ch. Saint Lazar's Lance is the proud papa. See all four below

Three new Clarice babies at about 2 hours of age, 3/25/05. It took GOD only 63 days to grow these nifty little creatures from time of conception. They are just perfect. You will notice that they come with their little toenails already needing to be trimmed. See photo below!

Surprise!!! Although the x-ray only showed 3 pups, we got up Saturday morning, 3/26, and I found 4 pups. The 4th was a male. I had teasingly told Wanda that I thought she had another since Clarice felt "full" when I lifted her to clean her covers after she had whelped the first 3. She evidently had him very easy, as I didn't hear a peep out of her before I went to bed around Eleven, and she was only a few feet from me while I was watching Battlestar Galactica. Their little tummies are full, so her milk is coming in good. We have had a jillion litters over the past 3 decades, but Wanda and I still get just as excited as we did with the first. Thank you LORD!

I couldn't get a photo at the end of their first week. Lightning wiped out our main PC, internet satellite equipment, laser printer, one phone, and our DirecTV high definition receiver. So we were in a "dither" for several days. The insurance company is treating us okay, and we will wind up with a more powerful PC, and an "always on" internet satellite connection (DirecWay). The above photo was made 4/9 when they are 2 wks and 1 day old. They have about tripled their size, and as you can see, their eyes are open. They eat like little pigs, and Clarice couldn't be a better Mama.

This photo was also taken, 4/9, same time as above. Wanda's hand gives you an idea of their size. They are one of the most uniform and prettiest litters that we have had. Of course Clarice is a gorgeous girl, as her show record reflects, and Dad, Lance, has consistently produced superb pups.

Photo above taken 4/17/05, shows four Generations of Champion, and soon to be Champion Toy Manchester Terriers. Pat Mackesey (L) and Jim Burrows (R) are our closest breeder/show friends, and they own the Nations #1 Toy Manchester, "Jake" (in Jim's right arm). Jim is holding "Klay", Jake's Sire, in his left arm. Pat is holding Saint Lazar's Indiana Jones, "Indy", our resident house dog. Wanda Walker, Saint Lazar's breeding expert, is behind the Clarice/Lance litter on the table. They were born 3/25/05, and Indy was born 12/14/04. Klay is the Great-Grandfather of Indy, and the Grandfather of the Clarice litter, in addition to being Jake's Sire.

Here's a closeup of Indy with the Clarice pups taken 4/17/05. The pups are 3 wks and 2 days old. You can see how healthy they are, and how fast they have grown. I can't say enough about what a good mother Clarice is. They are already beginning to growl and bark (yip), which is unusual at this age. When you get a litter like this, you want to keep them all.

Here are the pups one week later on 4-24-05. The two boys are on the right. All are still growing like weeks. They now woof and yip at us more and more. These are really going to be hard to part with.

Here's a view looking straight down into their pen on 4-24, while Mama is outside exercising. We were wandering through PetsMart a couple of years ago, and we spotted this pen on sale. It's on long legs with rollers, and has a lid that lifts up. I call it the puppy "bassinette". We keep the pups in the house until they are about six weeks old, and then we transition them to the kennel, where Mama is usually about ready to wean them. They are right next to our kitchen, so they get plenty of "socialization", which is so important to their proper development.

This is the two boys photographed on 4-24-05. As you can see, like their Dad, they have great color, and wonderful density of coat, even at this young age. Same with the girls below. Try to find this quality in any other kennel in the U.S.

This is the two gals on 4-24, and as you can see, they are "cute as buttons".

One more on 4-24-05 in Wanda's lap. The boys are 2nd from left, and far right. They are growing so fast, they are a real handful now.

This shot was made 5-1-05 looking into the back of our Nissan Quest Van. We had just returned from two dogs shows at Lake Waccamaw, NC, and the pups had traveled 5 hours each way in the Sky Kennel with their mother. They were great. It was fun to listen to them growling and playing as we went down the road. We have taken them from their mother to be weaned, and they have just woofed down their first bowl of Eukanuba puppy bits in goats milk.

HEARTBREAK, AND THEN THERE WERE THREE!
I was working at the computer last Monday, 5/2, when I heard a cry of "distress". I quickly moved to the puppy bassinette, where I found the large male sprawled out on him tummy. A few moments latter he expired in my arms. In this case, we took him to Dr. Kristian Shriver, our Vet, but the preliminary results are inconclusive. We will have to wait to hear from the University. Shock is not the word. In the meantime, the 3 have been going on the deck to play for hours each day. Above are grandchildren Lauren (10), and Carter Iver Walker (4), who came to visit yesterday (Mother's Day). The surviving male in on the right. (NOTE - We have since learned that a bacterial infection attacked the little fellows heart. The other pups were only mildly sick. Dr. Shiver says this is a "freaky" circumstance)

Another Mother's Day shot with #4 grandchild, Samantha Sheppard (15). The male is on the left. I didn't recognize my own Granddaughter when she showed up, she normally has natural light blond hair, like her mother, Dawn. Kids! The pups are now out of the bassinette, and are in a large "puppy box" in the kitchen. Our kitchen, den, and living room all flow together in a large open space, so the pups see us all the time. They live to play.

Here is where the pups stay when they are not out on the deck. As you can see, it's right underfoot in the kitchen. Notice the two heads sticking up (I disturbed their nap taking). I am leaning against the couch in the den area, so as mentioned above, they can see us most of the time. Naturally they get lots of "pets" as we pass by.

This photo taken 5-18-05. The pups will be 2 months old a week from today. The weather has been excellent the past two weeks, so they stay out on the deck most all day. They have a "200" Sky Kennel to get in when they want, with plenty of water and food on hand. The big deal is cleaning up after them. At this age they are real fertilizer machines. The male is on the right.

Another 5-18-05 photo. Notice how their heads are beginning to take shape. Their ears are beginning to stand erect some. At this age, the ears go up and down, but when they are erect, they look so "elegant". They have nice proportional ears, and they are "set" well up on the head, and do not stick out sideways. (Some "commercial" breeders of Toy Manchesters strive to produce tiny dogs. One of the consequences is that the heads become "dome-like, the eyes bulge, and the ears stick out sideways.) Notice the nice "thumb prints" on the boy. Their personalities are a delight, they are all very friendly and outgoing. Wow Wanda, where did you get that nice bracelet? (heh, heh)

Why can't we come out and help in the garden? (5-18-05)

And then there were two. It comes so quick. Pictured 5/25 above with the "small" Clarice girl, is our good friend, Barbara Munafo of Lawrenceburg, KY. Barb has had Toy Manchesters for a while, and she has recently been bitten by the "show bug". She is a first class lady, and Wanda & I are tickled pink that Barb has asked us to help her get started showing, and to help her establish a show quality breeding program. Barb & Wanda choose the smaller Clarice girl to go home with Barb. (I am unabashed to admit I am quite teary eyed about the departure of this litter. They are wonderful pups, and I dearly love their mother) You can see above how ambivalent Barb is about this little gal, another future Saint Lazar Champion. Thank you Barbara! Note: This fine gal became an AKC Champion on 4/22/06, see her photo below.

Champion Saint Lazar's Rosie In Bloom

This is the Clarice male pictured 5-26. Wanda has definitely evaluated him as "show quality". We owe a male to a show home, and we are waiting to see if they are ready for one. If not, I am agitating to keep him for our show and breeding program. He is such a nice fellow, he has excellent rear angulation, which is so important to correct movement, very nice head and ear set, and his sire's fine coat density with correct color and thumbprints on forefeet. Best of all, he has the great Clarice disposition. Isn't it nifty to see this little guy at two months of age, with his ears now erect, and to compare him with the photos of when he was just born!

AND THEN THERE WAS BUT ONE - Wanda and I drove to the Atlanta airport after sunday school this morning, 5/29, to meet Rennie Fietz, who flew in from Albuquerque, NM to pick up the surviving Clarice male. Wanda is pictured above, waiting at the Delta baggage claim area with the little guy. Man did he attract attention. Rennie walked up seconds after this photo was taken. Rennie is a member of the American Manchester Terrier Club, so this boy is going to a "show" home.

Wanda has just handed the boy to Rennie. You can see they did not take to each other one iota. I think Toy Manchesters instinctively know a "soft touch" when they see one.

Time to go. We will really miss this little guy, but he is going to a great home. We look forward to Rennie calling us to tell us he is a new Champion.

LAST PUP - All have gone to great homes but this last girl. She is trying to get her ears up, and she is as pretty as one could ask for, plus she has her mother's super disposition. She needs a good home! Photo 6/6 - "D Day"

Grandson, Carter Iver Walker (3), easing up to Last Pup 6/6. He's a pretty good kid, but you really don't want to take your eyes off him for too long, much like his Dad at that age. Heh, heh, payback! The kids always play with the pups when they visit, and of course it's good training for both.

Last Girl with her ears up today, Saturday, 6-11. Their ears can go up and down at this age when they are teething. They love their "bones", and she and "Rush" (the Cassie/Jasper male a week younger than her) have been playing with it on the deck all morning.

Another 6-11 photo. Isn't she something, way to go Mom and Dad! Note: We sold this pup as a "show dog", but unfortunately we apparently made a mistake. As of 8-2-06, she has not been shown.

ALL ARE GONE - Last gal goes to Kristi & Greg Rogers, Perryville, OH, who plan to show her. Kristi on the left, is holding her new pup, Greg in the center, and Wanda on the right is holding Indy. We will really miss these pups, but GOD is providing us with 4 new litters during the next couple of weeks. Besides, show kennels like ourselves, get really excited when an entire litter goes to show homes. We could not ask for better. Keep watching because we plan to continue our updates as these pups mature.

Here is one of the first photos received from Rennie Fietz in Albuquerque. This is "Hyatt" on his 12 wk birthday. Rennie told us that this was taken with her husband Hal's new birthday present, a Canon Digital Rebel XT. Very nice photo Hal, what a pretty boy!