Puppy Play

Today is puppy's day 15, and last day of March. Puppys are much more into play and can see somewhat, some better than others right now. Too many long toenails..need help! I have added a small bowl with a tiny bit of water in it so they can investigate what water is and learn to drink.  Interesting to watch. Also put a few toys in which they were interested in too. I have added puppy pee pads which I actually saw one puppy poop on today, that was exciting..( for a puppy Mom!) But they will really only work for pee as they have to be changed when there is a poop on them or several of them will step in it and track it all around.

2 Week News

Hi All!
Two weeks have gone by in a flash. Puppies are really getting around now and some are climbing on the pig rail which goes around the edge of the box. I had to put a wider piece of plywood on the one side that Ingrid goes in and out from as they were finding their way to the unused side of the box. I have been putting a small cardboard box in the pen so that they can explore it and a few puppy toys as well. They are very inquisitive puppies. Their little toenails are needing to be trimmed alot now..they get very sharp and they grow very quickly, not fun for Ingrid. Hard to trim these by myself as they are such squirmers. I have taken to getting in the box myself when they are sleeping and trimming them then. I need better eyes though as their nails are so tiny! Eyes are open for the most part now but I do not think that they can really see much just yet. I wormed them today for the first time and they lapped it up and also made a bit of mess on their faces. Ingrid cleaned them all up after. I also put a puppy pee pad in the pen to encourage them to pee on it...so far mostly they sleep on it!! But I have seen a few peeing there. Details huh....life with little puppies. I am hoping that I will be able to get out tomorrow for a few hours and ride my horse. Ingrid seems to spend less time in the box and they drink much faster now and so she does not have to be in with them as much. They weigh about 2lbs. now give or take, still baby puppies. All for now.
Puppy Mom

A Few Girls

Ingrid With Pups Today

Eleven Days Old!

One Puppy & Ingrid

Rudy's Parent's Pics

Here is a pic of Rudy's Dad

Dutch Am. Ch. FlatCastle's Happy Hour "Max".

And below is a pic of Rudy's Mom

 BOSS GCH. Blazin's Gardez la Foi CD GN RE AX OAJ NAP NJP NF "Faith"

This is UK Sh.Ch. Branchalwood Strathfinnan He is Ingrid's Grandfather on her Dad's side.

And below is Ingrid's Grandmother on her Dad's side Sh.Ch. Branchalwood Benalisky.

Day Five- Looks like abstract art and below the whole gang!

This pic was taken just about the time they started being born 5 days ago. The whole gang in one line that they created themselves!

Almost 4 Days Old

Here are a few pics taken today of pups

 

 

 

Colours

Puppies are now almost 3 days old...in a few hours.

Here are some colourful pics!

YELLOW BOY

Pink Girl & Green Boy

Red Girl & Blue Girl

 

 

 

 

Puppies Arrive!

Sunday March 16th at 4pm Ingrid began seriously showing signs of fast approaching puppies. Wendy came over and helped me to whelp the puppies. Seven puppies in all 4 females and 3 males, all healthy and good weights. Here is a pic of Ingrid and pups. Ingrid did an amazing job!

Here are some pics of the females Red, Pink, White and Blue.

And here are two boys Green and No Mark!

Countdown Time!

Whelping box put together. Sherpa and all linens and towels  washed and folded. Color coded rick rack put out. (Chapman's Ice Cream for Mom after all pups are delivered) Puppy weighing scale, dettol, alcohol, gorgeous blue surgical gloves, crimping shears and dental floss, camera, blow dryer, heat lamp, phone number of assistants, binder and pen for all info on puppies....what am I forgetting... oh...no ink newsprint, puppy pee pads...clock...okay, enough for now.
Ingrid is doing well. She is getting quite used to the twice daily temperature taking and daily backscratching. She is a sweet dog but is sweeter now and comes to me for comfort in her most likely uncomfortable state. I think she will handle whelping well as she is a confident creature, not a wimp.
As for me, I am the hyper one, acting like I have a very discerning long lost relative coming to visit. In my manic state I have been trying to scrub these ancient pine floors on my hands and knees. (Didn't get very far.) Dusting, cleaning off kitchen counter, bathroom floor etc.....mania is presently over and I have given up for the day. Trying to ford off a cold with Cold FX, thank goodness for this "works for me" stuff. That's it for tonight, unless something else happens!!!!

YAY RUDY!

Rudy just won Best of Breed in the Gun Dog Class at the New England Sporting Group Association Dog Show in Massachusetts! Good boy Rudy!

 

Wow! Just realised That I Forgot To Post Pics of the Sire "Rudy"!

Here are some pics of the handsome "Rudy," sire of this litter of puppies (scroll way down for puppy pedigree)

Getting Ready For the Big Event

It is always a question as to what to use for a whelping box. Been checking out other breeders pics to compare and almost decided to create a new design but at the last moment I took a good look at my last design in 2006 and thought it still was a good idea. My box has a 4' x8' base and when screwed together it has two sections, one for puppy whelping and one for later puppy pooping. Thought about painting it but decided against it re puppy chewing. The surface is cleaned quite well before, during and after use. (I am now using Vircon a great safe disinfectant used by vet clinics etc. also safe for laundering bedding.) The box  is about 2 feet high so it does not work for the full 8 weeks but it is a good exchange place when cleaning the other pen which is basically one or two tall exercise pens that are put in the adjoining room. Still need to get some new cushion floor though am half tempted to re use what I have as it is in very good condition having been used only 3 times.
So, what was my dining room becomes for a time an elegant puppy palace!

I will post more photos when it all comes together.

The Big Orange Bumper

Ingrid has been walking around carrying her big orange bumper waiting to do some retrieving. She is a retrieving fool; would go all day if you needed her to. She is a true retriever in that, yes she drives out to get the item but...her main focus is to bring it back to as soon as possible. I love this, it is called "biddability" and is something that is strived for in any retriever. There are lots of dogs who drive out on the pick up but do not return immediately or sometimes not at all or they tease and play with the bumper or the bird.

The inportance of maintaining the "retrieving genes" is of utmost importance when considering a breeding regardless of whether owners do further field training or not. My puppies all get to do fun retrieves too, be it with a puppy bumper or a bird wing. And, if the weather cooperates they even have a chance to play in the kiddie pool and get used to being in water.

Ingrid's Pics below

I have attached some pics of Ingrid after unsuccessfully trying to post a video of her at a show..darn...how to do that, not sure...anyway most of these pics are not new ie some from when she was an older puppy but the Christmas pic with her on the left and 10 year old  Belle on the right was from this year. I need to get out and get some recent shots of her asap!

Ingrid