Yesterday was a very long and busy day for me, I had to go into work due to people being out sick so once Larena woke up, I made my way into the office for a few hours, getting home around 5pm to find that Larena had set up a small puppy area in the living room for Vegas' babies.
They are growing so fast and it is getting to be the time to introduce them to gruel. I usually like to do that in a larger pen, so it is easier to clean up and they don't get it all over the whelping box. This is actually 1/2 the size it will actually be when we bring in all the puppies together but it is perfect for getting them used to the idea that they cannot go and escape under the pig rails that they so like to do. We have it attached to a large crate which has a blanket over it so they can escape and get in a cave, seems all puppies like having a cave or a dark place that they feel safe in.
We brought them out for about 45 minutes, sat in the middle with them and petted and let them climb all over us. Brought mom in so she could see and nurse them and they were tired afterwards. Great time to take pictures is when puppies are tired. I think it was the easiest photo session with the Big puppies yet, wham bam thank you ma'am and they were done. After about 45 minutes we moved them back to the whelping box and they crashed big time. It is pretty stimulating and I didn't want to over do it. We will bring them out a couple more times today and see how they do. I would like to introduce them to Gruel either later tonight or depending on how they do in the living room, it may be tomorrow. I just know that it is time and Vegas will be happy for some help.
Kenya's puppies are pretty sure they are starving these days, they are sucking her dry as well. She is such a good momma. We are supplementing them with a bottle more and more and their eyes are getting more and more open. Now when I go into the whelping box to assist Mint girl get on a nipple, the puppies gravitate to me instead of mom, looking for their bottle. They are all growing like weeds and it will be no time before they are all together in one pen.
Ladybug
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Friday, December 6, 2019
Naps are Good
No Pictures for You - not really, just delayed! Yesterday there just wasn't enough time in the day. Part of that is probably the 2 1/2 hour nap that we each took and the fact that I needed to go get dog food since the girls are eating me out of house and home.
After that, since it is the last Thursday that Larena will be here at the house, she encouraged me to take Dallas to his evening Nose Work class which he was super excited about and totally rocked it. Even found an extra hide that hadn't been picked up from a previous class, which was super awesome since he refused to leave until I paid him a cookie for finding the hide. Considering he has missed three weeks of class, I think he was going to make up for it any way he could.
Kenya was beyond mad when I left with Dallas. She likes Nose Work classes too and she refused to eat her dinner until Tigger (Larena's cat) threatened to eat it for her, then she decided she had better eat. Soon enough, sweetheart, soon enough you will get to go back to class too. Every dog in class had to smell me from one end to the other, because I smelled like puppies. I had put a change of clothes and clean shoes in the RV so that I wouldn't bring anything back into the house from being at the training center.
I am super careful about not bringing anything into the house when I have puppies. When people come to visit, they need to be wearing clean clothes that have not been around other dogs and all shoes must be taken off outside on the front porch. Hands washed before ever coming in contact with the puppies. If it's warmer and they are outside then I tell folks to wear older clothes that you don't mind if you get a bleach solution on, because I will be spraying the bottom of your shoes with a bleach solution. I have heard horror stories about people losing entire litters because a visitor brought in parvo on the bottom of their shoes. So better safe than sorry.
Kenya's puppies are doing the puppy frenzy when she comes into the box, almost everyone's eyes are open now except for lady bug and I expect hers will open tomorrow. Mint girl is definitely improving on antibiotics and I am hopeful that will continue to happen. Today I watched her actually go in a somewhat straight line to mom and she was able to latch on and nurse without falling off, that in itself is a major thing.
Vegas puppies are just growing like weeds. They have teeth now, lots and lots of teeth. When I was weighing them yesterday, I was trying really hard to get them to stop moving so I let them suck on my finger and you can feel front and back molars coming in. I am going to start them on puppy gruel Saturday afternoon I think. I have to go to a funeral on Saturday and would prefer to do it in the morning, but don't want to leave Larena with the mess, so we will do it when I get back.
Larena kept hearing Vegas puppies yelp out and couldn't figure out what was going on. Finally she was watching when it happened. A puppy will be sound asleep and another puppy will start chewing on an ear or a leg or a tail and actually chomp down, causing the sleeping puppy to cry out. They really do this after we have supplemented with a bottle. You feed one, put it back in the box and the others can smell the milk - like hey, where did you get that, I want some, they are just getting so cute.
We will get pictures done today, I promise, still might be a nap involved and I will have to go into the office for a little bit, but we will manage to do pictures at some point today
Puppy picture of the day was Pink Girl falling asleep on the pig rail.
After that, since it is the last Thursday that Larena will be here at the house, she encouraged me to take Dallas to his evening Nose Work class which he was super excited about and totally rocked it. Even found an extra hide that hadn't been picked up from a previous class, which was super awesome since he refused to leave until I paid him a cookie for finding the hide. Considering he has missed three weeks of class, I think he was going to make up for it any way he could.
Kenya was beyond mad when I left with Dallas. She likes Nose Work classes too and she refused to eat her dinner until Tigger (Larena's cat) threatened to eat it for her, then she decided she had better eat. Soon enough, sweetheart, soon enough you will get to go back to class too. Every dog in class had to smell me from one end to the other, because I smelled like puppies. I had put a change of clothes and clean shoes in the RV so that I wouldn't bring anything back into the house from being at the training center.
I am super careful about not bringing anything into the house when I have puppies. When people come to visit, they need to be wearing clean clothes that have not been around other dogs and all shoes must be taken off outside on the front porch. Hands washed before ever coming in contact with the puppies. If it's warmer and they are outside then I tell folks to wear older clothes that you don't mind if you get a bleach solution on, because I will be spraying the bottom of your shoes with a bleach solution. I have heard horror stories about people losing entire litters because a visitor brought in parvo on the bottom of their shoes. So better safe than sorry.
Kenya's puppies are doing the puppy frenzy when she comes into the box, almost everyone's eyes are open now except for lady bug and I expect hers will open tomorrow. Mint girl is definitely improving on antibiotics and I am hopeful that will continue to happen. Today I watched her actually go in a somewhat straight line to mom and she was able to latch on and nurse without falling off, that in itself is a major thing.
Vegas puppies are just growing like weeds. They have teeth now, lots and lots of teeth. When I was weighing them yesterday, I was trying really hard to get them to stop moving so I let them suck on my finger and you can feel front and back molars coming in. I am going to start them on puppy gruel Saturday afternoon I think. I have to go to a funeral on Saturday and would prefer to do it in the morning, but don't want to leave Larena with the mess, so we will do it when I get back.
Larena kept hearing Vegas puppies yelp out and couldn't figure out what was going on. Finally she was watching when it happened. A puppy will be sound asleep and another puppy will start chewing on an ear or a leg or a tail and actually chomp down, causing the sleeping puppy to cry out. They really do this after we have supplemented with a bottle. You feed one, put it back in the box and the others can smell the milk - like hey, where did you get that, I want some, they are just getting so cute.
We will get pictures done today, I promise, still might be a nap involved and I will have to go into the office for a little bit, but we will manage to do pictures at some point today
Puppy picture of the day was Pink Girl falling asleep on the pig rail.
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Happy 2 and 3 Week Birthday
Lady Bug is 2 pounds! It's the little things that make me happy these days. She is doing so well and is a tough little thing. She gets latched on to mom and no matter how much the big ones push and try they cannot knock her off, which makes me so happy. I have a feeling she is going to the feisty one of the group and she deserves that honor with everything we have been through.
I have been talking to quite a few breeder friends about Mint Girl, and one of my friends in Colorado had a puppy very similar to her, he ended up being deaf and is living the good life with her Vet. She said that he had made a turn around when he was 4 months old when they had to put him on antibiotics for something else and she thought I should try antibiotics for Mint now to see if we can get her on the right path earlier. I reached out to my vet, and she agreed that it certainly couldn't hurt her. Not sure if it is hopeful thinking but Larena and I really think she is a little bit better and not throwing her head around as much, and is actually able to latch on to mom a little bit better after two doses. I am trying anything and everything I can to give her a good quality of life and of course time will only tell. Tonight I also dug out my little heart puppy plush toy that I have used on my singletons in the past. It is a toy that has a little heart that you turn on and stuff inside the toy. When she couldn't settle down, I put the toy down next to her and she fell right asleep.
The rest of the Kenya's babies are all thriving and doing well. Their eyes are starting to peek open, they have the frenzy when mom comes into the box and Kenya is starting to sit when they nurse rather than lay down, which makes it hard for Mint, but she is managing. They are also all outgrowing their collars so they will be changed today for when we do pictures.
The Big puppies, oh my gosh, what can I say. They are getting to be a rowdy bunch. They have been having a hard time settling down and I decided they are probably too warm. Opened up a window in their room for a few minutes and they all crashed. So I have moved the portable heater into the whelping room for the little puppies and turned down the thermostat in the house so it is more to the big pups and my pocketbook's liking.
They are getting more and more fun to watch, playing more, interacting with each other and all want to escape out of the whelping box. My dad brought up new boards to go across so we can make the opening harder for them, but this also makes it harder for mom to get in and out too. Vegas is super mom, apparently the 4th meal of the day is having a great impact on her milk because they hardly even want a bottle anymore, I think we are down to topping off 3 or 4 times in a 24 hour period rather than after each feeding, so life is getting easier for me.
Today we will get new pictures for you and they will be up tomorrow.
I have been talking to quite a few breeder friends about Mint Girl, and one of my friends in Colorado had a puppy very similar to her, he ended up being deaf and is living the good life with her Vet. She said that he had made a turn around when he was 4 months old when they had to put him on antibiotics for something else and she thought I should try antibiotics for Mint now to see if we can get her on the right path earlier. I reached out to my vet, and she agreed that it certainly couldn't hurt her. Not sure if it is hopeful thinking but Larena and I really think she is a little bit better and not throwing her head around as much, and is actually able to latch on to mom a little bit better after two doses. I am trying anything and everything I can to give her a good quality of life and of course time will only tell. Tonight I also dug out my little heart puppy plush toy that I have used on my singletons in the past. It is a toy that has a little heart that you turn on and stuff inside the toy. When she couldn't settle down, I put the toy down next to her and she fell right asleep.
The rest of the Kenya's babies are all thriving and doing well. Their eyes are starting to peek open, they have the frenzy when mom comes into the box and Kenya is starting to sit when they nurse rather than lay down, which makes it hard for Mint, but she is managing. They are also all outgrowing their collars so they will be changed today for when we do pictures.
The Big puppies, oh my gosh, what can I say. They are getting to be a rowdy bunch. They have been having a hard time settling down and I decided they are probably too warm. Opened up a window in their room for a few minutes and they all crashed. So I have moved the portable heater into the whelping room for the little puppies and turned down the thermostat in the house so it is more to the big pups and my pocketbook's liking.
They are getting more and more fun to watch, playing more, interacting with each other and all want to escape out of the whelping box. My dad brought up new boards to go across so we can make the opening harder for them, but this also makes it harder for mom to get in and out too. Vegas is super mom, apparently the 4th meal of the day is having a great impact on her milk because they hardly even want a bottle anymore, I think we are down to topping off 3 or 4 times in a 24 hour period rather than after each feeding, so life is getting easier for me.
Today we will get new pictures for you and they will be up tomorrow.
Wednesday, December 4, 2019
Eyes are opening
We see some eyeballs starting to open up with the Littles. All but Lady Bug are now over two pounds and I expect her to go over the 2 pound mark today. They are all starting to walk like drunken sailors and it's so funny to see their little noses start to twitch when mom comes into the box and they try to get to her as fast as they can. They are right on the mark of where the other litter was a week ago.
The Bigs, well what can I say, they are noisy, very, very noisy. A couple of them have the hardest time settling down after mom feeds them and it doesn't seem to matter if we have topped them off with a bottle or not, they still have to grumble themselves to sleep, just like little kids that don't want to go to bed. We are changing their bedding and toys twice a day and each new toy is an experience, they still are not sure of what they are, but they mouth them and like to lay on them. They are also starting to recognize us and yesterday I saw a few tails wagging when I went to pick someone up
Not much to report today, all is well at Casa No Sleep, LOL
The Bigs, well what can I say, they are noisy, very, very noisy. A couple of them have the hardest time settling down after mom feeds them and it doesn't seem to matter if we have topped them off with a bottle or not, they still have to grumble themselves to sleep, just like little kids that don't want to go to bed. We are changing their bedding and toys twice a day and each new toy is an experience, they still are not sure of what they are, but they mouth them and like to lay on them. They are also starting to recognize us and yesterday I saw a few tails wagging when I went to pick someone up
Not much to report today, all is well at Casa No Sleep, LOL
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Teeth
I swear these pups are changing by the day - Orange boy has teeth poking through on the top and a few others are starting to poke through as well. They are getting more and more active and playing, tails are starting to wag when they see me and I am now taking bets on who is going to be the first one out of the whelping box, my top three will be White, Pink or Green
This is the second whelping box that my dad threw together for me, so I don't have the boards yet to put into the opening as the puppies get bigger. I told my dad yesterday that we need those and soon as I expect we will have an escapee in the next couple of days.
Larena had to go meet up with her next pet sitting gig yesterday - I am going to be so sad to see her leave on Sunday and my 28 year old son came to watch the pups so I could go into the office and at least pretend like I am still interested in what is going on. My staff was very happy to see me and it was good to get out of the house for a few hours.
I had to laugh at John when I got home, he meets me at the door - "They are all porkers - Man can they chow down and inhale the food" "Mom, you do realize how big these puppies are, they are not going to stay in that whelping box for long, do you have a plan for moving them to the living room? I think he thought it would be a cake walk to sit and watch puppies for a few hours, Haha! Now he knows how poor Vegas feels. I know when I top them off with a bottle they can suck down two ounces of food in nothing flat, makes me wonder how much they are taking from mom. Poor girl is getting fed 4 times a day now and we just keep piling on the food. I am constantly checking her weight and we keep increasing her food intake. I will have to take a picture of one of her meals, it is a smorgasbord of anything and everything I can throw at her and she just inhales it all.
Yesterday in my stupor, I managed to knock over the little pups formula - Some of it splattered onto Vegas, all of it on the floor and cabinets, what a sticky mess that was. Vegas had a look of what the hell - why did you throw that at me. Then she realized what it was that had landed on the floor and she was on it. I guess that is one way to get the kitchen floor mopped but it certainly wasn't what I had intended for that formula.
The Little pups are also growing by leaps and bounds and when they smell mom, the frenzy is real. All of them except Mint and Lady Bug are over two pounds now and the two little ones are not far behind. I keep expecting to start to see eyeballs and thinking any day now that should be happening. Poor Larena was beside herself when she woke me tonight as Kenya had managed to lay down on top of Mint and she was so worried about her, but she doesn't look any worse for wear to me this morning.
Monday, December 2, 2019
Better than TV
It is amazing to watch these puppies change from day to day and I swear it is better entertainment than any TV show. It's almost like you can put words into their mouths with the movement and grunting they do.
Blue boy grumbles when anyone touches him after he has fallen asleep as if to say "I am asleep leave me alone" Orange boy is always the last one to settle down and acts like the toddler that is so tired they cannot stand themselves and trying to convince themselves they are not tired. Little Pink Girl is the feisty one and will instigate play. Larena and I are just having so much fun watching them interact with each other. Orange boy has some teeth starting to poke through so I am sure it isn't going to be long before mom is going to be wanting more help feeding them. Usually I don't start them on gruel until a little over three weeks and I had planned on next weekend starting them, we will see how Vegas fares and if I need to start earlier.
Kenya's babies are really starting to change by leaps and bounds too, they definitely know when she is in the whelping box with them and the frenzy starts, their eyes should start opening in the next few days. Little Lady Bug has figured out how to get to the back teat and hang on for dear life, she isn't going to let the bigger puppies knock her off. She is still the smallest weighing 1 pound 5 ounces last night and Grey boy and Yellow Girl are the largest hitting the two point mark last night.
Mint girl is getting stronger and can pretty much right herself with a lot of screaming and belly aching each time she turtles herself. Interestingly enough if she finds herself off the heating pad and by herself she belly aches about it and one of the other puppies makes their way to her to keep her company. I find that pretty amazing since they cannot hear or see yet, so for this to be happening surely is brotherly love.
My dad and Chaz came by last night.. Chaz is my developmentally disabled brother and he adores the puppies. He likes to get into the whelping boxes and puppies just seem to know he is a good person and climb all over him. Last night I think I counted 5 of Vegas' puppies in his lap at a given time and he cannot wait for Kenya's puppies eyes to open so he can get in that whelping box with them. I asked him last night what was he going to do when they were all together and climbing all over him? His answer was Love It.
Blue boy grumbles when anyone touches him after he has fallen asleep as if to say "I am asleep leave me alone" Orange boy is always the last one to settle down and acts like the toddler that is so tired they cannot stand themselves and trying to convince themselves they are not tired. Little Pink Girl is the feisty one and will instigate play. Larena and I are just having so much fun watching them interact with each other. Orange boy has some teeth starting to poke through so I am sure it isn't going to be long before mom is going to be wanting more help feeding them. Usually I don't start them on gruel until a little over three weeks and I had planned on next weekend starting them, we will see how Vegas fares and if I need to start earlier.
Kenya's babies are really starting to change by leaps and bounds too, they definitely know when she is in the whelping box with them and the frenzy starts, their eyes should start opening in the next few days. Little Lady Bug has figured out how to get to the back teat and hang on for dear life, she isn't going to let the bigger puppies knock her off. She is still the smallest weighing 1 pound 5 ounces last night and Grey boy and Yellow Girl are the largest hitting the two point mark last night.
Mint girl is getting stronger and can pretty much right herself with a lot of screaming and belly aching each time she turtles herself. Interestingly enough if she finds herself off the heating pad and by herself she belly aches about it and one of the other puppies makes their way to her to keep her company. I find that pretty amazing since they cannot hear or see yet, so for this to be happening surely is brotherly love.
My dad and Chaz came by last night.. Chaz is my developmentally disabled brother and he adores the puppies. He likes to get into the whelping boxes and puppies just seem to know he is a good person and climb all over him. Last night I think I counted 5 of Vegas' puppies in his lap at a given time and he cannot wait for Kenya's puppies eyes to open so he can get in that whelping box with them. I asked him last night what was he going to do when they were all together and climbing all over him? His answer was Love It.
Sunday, December 1, 2019
A Visit From Cindy
Cindy and her son Brandon came up from Tacoma yesterday to spend the day with us. Brandon loves Dallas and although he was very excited to spend time with the puppies he was really excited to spend time with Dallas and I think the feeling was mutual. Dallas got to go for a much needed walk, he has been trying to play with Larena's cat Tigger and it hasn't been very productive for him. So to go for a walk off leash and run and get some energy unleashed was a very good thing for him. Then he got brushed and lots of cuddle time on the couch, to say he was a happy dog yesterday is an understatement.
Cindy could not believe how big everyone has gotten. She is so happy and excited about these litters and she spent the majority of the day bouncing from one whelping box taking pictures to the other. I took some time to go into town and pick up supplies for formula and some dog food and anything else that was planned for the day - well that just went out the window. Larena spent the day with a girlfriend that was in town and she needed a day away as well, so all is good, except I didn't get my afternoon nap and my six hours of sleep just isn't cutting the mustard this morning.
Cindy and I trimmed toenails, do you know that 18 puppies x 4 feet x 4 toenails per foot = 288 toenails! That's a lot of clipping. I have been trying to do them periodically through the week, as someone is clawing me, I do them, but this was the first time I think we made a conscience effort to just go through all the puppies and get them all done.
Vegas' litter also got their first new toys yesterday. We put four toys in the box and although they don't quite know what they are, I found them mouthing them or sleeping on them throughout the day. We have a lot more, but since they are little pooping machines right now we figured we would only put out a few at a time so that we can rotate them through the washing machine. They are getting so fun, they are starting to realize that they can make out shapes and mouth each other, I saw orange boy actually bounce this morning, fun times are coming.
Kenya's litter is continuing to get bigger and stronger and KK still doesn't really want to spend any time outside of the whelping box. She is such a great mom and she is so dang proud of her babies. I think she was super excited to see Cindy and could not wait for her to spend time with her in the box.
Cindy adores both girls and at times they have spent time at her house, when I have been off on a trip. Kenya was a singleton puppy and her and I have a special bond. She loves me unconditionally and I did most of her showing as a puppy. Cindy is the only other person Kenya will go off with, if I am anywhere within her sights and she is perfectly fine as long as she knows where I am. If I am not there, it's not an issue, but there have been times when we had two Champions and Kenya all needed to be in the ring at the same time and we have had to pass off a champion to another handler so that either Cindy or I could stay on Kenya because God knows she won't go off with anyone else. Cindy is also the person that gave her the nickname KK.
She also has a very special Bond with Vegas. Although I picked Vegas out as my pick puppy from her litter, it was Cindy who said she was going to be a very special Show Dog and she felt she could be a Best In Show winner. We still haven't done that, but they have accomplished so much more than I ever thought was possible. Cindy wanted to take her to Westminster this last year and we did, with Vegas earning Select Bitch out of 56 dogs. She was the youngest in the group and we had come the farthest to compete. A this year's National Specialty Cindy and Vegas were the People's Choice Award for the Top 20 Competition and they Won Best Opposite Sex which was a huge honor and I could not be more proud of what they have accomplished in such a short time. After puppies, Vegas will be in Doggie Boot camp to get herself back in Fighting Shape for the show ring and Cindy has high hopes that even though we will most likely miss four months of the new year due to being out of condition and losing coat, she is hopeful that we can get her into the Top 20 for a third straight year.
Today's picture was hard to decide - Cindy only took 197 pictures with my camera yesterday, so you may have a few days in a row of one of her pictures.
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