"Blue Boy" is one of four black males in
this litter. He weighed approximately 7 oz. at birth. He is an extremely outgoing and
sociable puppy. He comes when called and will follow one to the ends of the earth with
tail always wagging. He does exhibit an inquisitive nature and is neither timid nor
fearful of new experiences. He approaches new obstacles cautiously but with a desire to
investigate. His attention span is extremely good at this age and he demonstrates good eye
contact which suggests to me that he will excel in aspects of training and learning. He is
extremely docile and submissive, enjoys being handled and cuddled. Interacting with his
littermates, however, I find him neither timid nor shy nor is he a bully. Though not an
instigator of trouble, when crossed, he is fully capable of defending himself. From a
conformational standpoint, in doing my 6-7 week evaluation of the litter, Blue Boy is one
of the more "typey" specimens within the litter (i.e. his bone and structure are
very typical of his English line). He has a well- domed head and I expect him to develop a
beautiful, broad head also characteristic of his English heritage. His muzzle is short and
tapered reminiscent of his grandmother’s, as is his expression. He is thicker and
shorter in neck than some of his littermates, and has a straight, correct front. Shoulder
angulation is adequate and shoulder blades could be a little more set back. Bone and
substance is exceptional in this puppy. His topline , as well as his length of leg are
shorter than his other littermates and combine to present a balanced picture. His weakest
point is his rear angulation; he is straighter in stifle than I care to see, however, I
expect him to develop a double-thigh (a greater width of upper leg demonstrated by many
English dogs) which may serve to correct and balance this fault. I expect him to be well
within the standard in terms of height and probably reach a mature weight of approximately
80-85 lbs. Additionally, although this litter on a whole does not give me concerns for
structural soundness, because he is the largest puppy in the litter, is heavier boned and
appears wider through the rear compared to his littermates, I do recommend moderate,
low-impact exercise to keep muscle tone (ex. leash walks, etc. ) and that his body weight
be maintained lean especially through the first year of development to avoid excess weight
which may put stress on developing joints and bones. --- P.A. Davol