This is a page to update our prescreen waitlisted puppy friends anxiously awaiting news of their newest family members.
Rip and Eve
Waiting....
Due June 15th, we are ready and waiting. Eve is doing well, aside from being a little more cumbersome and shedding in preparation for puppies she is still eating well and going strong. An early ultrasound showed at least 6 puppies. We can feel them kicking and wiggling and hear little hearts beating with a stethoscope.
They're Here!!
June 18 Eve whelped 6 puppies. We lost a tiny rough girl who was born with a heart beat but blue and not breathing. She responded sluggishly to attempts at revival and although we got her going, we lost her a few hours later. After 5 were born, we knew there was another puppy in there. But Eve insisted on a nap. We gave her a little time then started trying to get her labor started again. We walked Eve, massaged her, gave her supplemental calcium and finally right before leaving for the vet got her contractions started again. Unfortunately it was too late for the last puppy and he was born without a heart beat.
We are left with 4 large sable puppies. A rough male, 2 rough females and a smooth female. Photos will be coming shortly after Eve (and her medical team) get some sleep.
We are left with 4 large sable puppies. A rough male, 2 rough females and a smooth female. Photos will be coming shortly after Eve (and her medical team) get some sleep.
And Then There Were Two...
We know going into this as breeders that hard things happen. That bittersweet emptiness when puppies go to their new homes. The beautiful young dog that brought visions of ribbons dancing in your head is found to have an inheritable genetic flaw and must be neutered. A long planned breeding with days of travel time, immense cost with health screenings, progesterone tests, uterine cultures and AIs that results in no pregnancy.
But loosing puppies is a step beyond all that. It is a private, crippling loss that is hard to talk about. We hear of breeders who loose entire litters and quit. They just pack up the whelping box, the show leads, the grooming tables and leave the world of dogs. It isn't worth it anymore. They can't continue knowing that kind of heartbreak could be lurking around every corner and there is no way to predict it, no way to prepare for it, no way to fight it.
After the sleepless nights, the blood, the tears, after the heating pads, the antibiotics, the hourly glucose drips, the tube feedings, more tears, the frantic research, the speculation and the pointless guilt. We are left with shredded hearts and one little sable smooth girl and one big rough sable boy.
We will limp along for a time. Eyes downcast. Voices hushed. Sad and disheartened, we might cry into a furry neck in the quiet of evening when no one is looking. But our hearts are strong things. The spirit of Gateside is bruised, but not broken. A glimmer of joy....we still have these two puppies. And a small strand of hope, the promise of future generations. Jade is pregnant.
But loosing puppies is a step beyond all that. It is a private, crippling loss that is hard to talk about. We hear of breeders who loose entire litters and quit. They just pack up the whelping box, the show leads, the grooming tables and leave the world of dogs. It isn't worth it anymore. They can't continue knowing that kind of heartbreak could be lurking around every corner and there is no way to predict it, no way to prepare for it, no way to fight it.
After the sleepless nights, the blood, the tears, after the heating pads, the antibiotics, the hourly glucose drips, the tube feedings, more tears, the frantic research, the speculation and the pointless guilt. We are left with shredded hearts and one little sable smooth girl and one big rough sable boy.
We will limp along for a time. Eyes downcast. Voices hushed. Sad and disheartened, we might cry into a furry neck in the quiet of evening when no one is looking. But our hearts are strong things. The spirit of Gateside is bruised, but not broken. A glimmer of joy....we still have these two puppies. And a small strand of hope, the promise of future generations. Jade is pregnant.
1 Week
The boy hit 1lb this afternoon...his sister is working on it at 14oz. First nail trim today!
2 Weeks
Eyes and ears are opening. First deworming this week and daily puppy neurostimulation. The rough boy is getting supplemental feedings twice a day so we are still doing twice daily weight checks. His pushy smooth sister keeps knocking him off the nipple. Of course they both want the same one! A purple dino toy and a teething ring have gone into the whelping box. Puppies can now regulate their own body temperatures so they can start to visit new rooms in the house to try out different flooring and they learn about gentle children.
3 Weeks
These babies still don't have their puppy names! I'm embarrassed to say that the setback of loosing such a large portion of this litter has delayed naming. We have to work on that! Both pups are well over 2 lbs. They are up on their feet and walking like big dogs, although they still tumble on occasion. And they just discovered their voices. Little growls and squeaky barks make us smile. Teeth are cutting and little mouths are on everything. Time to start introducing more toys and a potty section of the pen as the whelping box comes down mid week. Rough boy is still being supplementally fed twice a day and the smooth girls weight gain has slowed. Looks like we will start gruel a little early to take the pressure off Eve. First meal pictures are my favorite!
4 Weeks
They officially have their baby names! Let me formally introduce Rhett and Scarlett. This week is a big one for puppies. They were dewormed twice this week with two different medication to prevent 3 different types of parasites. They went from gruel twice a day while nursing midway through week three to eating several meals of dry kibble by the end of week 4. Mid week they took their first short trip outside. By end of week four the babies have walked on 8 different surfaces- grass, gravel, concrete, carpet, linoleum, paper, loud, crumply tarps and tile. They have met the vacuum cleaner and broom/dustpan. Nice children that they do not know have come to visit them wearing hats and sunglasses. They are going outside after every meal. I have to say that Rhett and Scarlett are some of the cleanest puppies I've ever had. They do NOT want to poop in their play pen and as long as I take them out after eating they are staying clean! They are very good about peeing in the potty space and not in their bedding. What lovely puppies! House breaking these two should be a breeze.
5 Weeks
Weaning is 100% complete. This week we have lots of socialization planned. They will be exposed to a tunnel, tippy board, walk on more things that make funny sounds and lots interactive toys that make noises. They will meet adult collies that are not their mommy. Microchips are done this week and we will practice standing on a grooming table and being brushed. They will hear the Dremel but weekly nail trips are still done with baby nail scissors.
Week 6
Rhett tipped the scales at 8.02 lbs and Scarlett at 6.12 at 6 weeks. First set of vaccines are were given and another deworming. Both babies handled the vaccine well with no side effects. Puppies are doing very well at going out after meals. A favorite outside activity is 'gardening'. Tug of war with the plants. They are always out with supervision to direct them towards non-toxic weeds for their gardening activities. This week we learn about water. Puppies will play in low walled tubs and trays of water. This will help prepare them for first baths.
Week 7
This week we learn about collars, leashes and car rides. We make our first trip and go visit our friendly canine ophthalmologist. We are fully litter box trained, but prefer to potty outside. Our newest toy is a PVC gym with toys dangling from it to bite and pull. Hours of indoor fun on rainy days. Evenings are spent hanging out with our birth family. Last night we got to watch Jeopardy!
Puppies were so good for their eye exams. No accidents or car sickness. Eyes checked out well with mild CEA for both puppies.
We can walk on a leash from the house to the kennel and back like big dogs!
Puppies were so good for their eye exams. No accidents or car sickness. Eyes checked out well with mild CEA for both puppies.
We can walk on a leash from the house to the kennel and back like big dogs!
Week 8
This week we spent lots more time outside. The weather was so nice. We are building muscle and coordination through play. This is a great time to learn more about leashes, toys and we started to meet the big dogs. We got our first heartworm tablet and our first flea/tick prevention. We've been working on coming when we're called, which isn't always fun when it is time to come inside.
Week 9
The food lady can't pick us up in one hand anymore. She has to carry us separately. This week we are starting to work separately. We will go to the hardware store one at a time after we have our second set of vaccines. And we have to sleep alone in our very own crate. It feels grown up, but also kind of scary. Good thing we get lots of pats and cuddles, that makes it better. We learned about the dog door at the kennel. We walked over to the kennel on our leashes and spent a whole day playing outside next to the big dogs. They bark a lot, but they don't scare us. We're getting big too. The dog door is kind of silly and a bit too heavy for us to open, but food lady propped it open for us. We could go in and out over and over. When we came home to the house at dinner time we were so tired! It is hard to be an almost big dog sometimes.
Week 10
Both Rhett and Scarlett are staying here for the time being. They are just too pretty to leave.