The pups are approaching their first milestone – We monitor the puppies weight everyday so we can see if any of the pups are lagging behind a little bit or not getting enough chances at the milk bar.  It is usual for a puppy to “double their birthweight in 7 days”

I am anticipating for one puppy to have doubled their birthweight tomorrow at SIX days.  This of course is great news from my point of view as it is proof that the puppies are thriving! 

and where is the other yellow???….. nobody puts baby in the corner!

Here is a video clip of the puppies at the milk bar – listen to the squeaking!

Click here

A little video clip of the puppies “waving puppy” at the beginning.

Click here

Some of today’s photos :-  they get into all sorts of different positions.  One of their favourite things to do is climb up Maggie (affectionately known as Mount Maggie!) spot the puppy who made it to the top of Mount Maggie! They also like to cuddle up with each other to make little puppy piles!

The puppies are putting on a a steady amount of weight every day.  They are all doing so well.

Here are some pictures of them individually:-

Introducing the puppies of 2016

Mr Blue (first born) 

Miss Yellow (second born)

Miss Pink (third born)

Miss Lilac (fourth born)

Mr Purple (fifth born)

Mr Red (sixth born)

Maggie and pups are in fine form, with the puppies putting on weight daily.  They have become surprisingly very active.  I don’t think I have seen such a speedy set of puppies at this age.

We have been enjoying having lots of puppy cuddles (having six puppies in your lap is simply the best ever – HEAVEN!!)

Im still experiencing a problem with uploading photos to the album.  So here are a few from yesterday.

The pups are little tinkers…. I happened to capture these two pictures of poor Maggie underneath a swarm of puppies (on her head!).  It is utterly staggering the patience that a mothers love gives.

Im so proud of Maggie’s dedication to her pups. She is very maternal and protective towards her fur babies.  Utterly devoted to them, she worries about them when she is in the kitchen having her food, anxious to get back to them as soon as possible.

I am sleeping by the whelping box and have reached that stage already, of poking puppies.  It is one of those habits most breeders will admit to.  (Some mums to children will admit to this also).  When the puppies are asleep it can sometimes be hard to instantly check they are ok, so poking them (gently) is the easiest way to ensure all is well.

I haven’t quite got to the sleep deprived state of thinking the puppies are in my bed yet… this happens every litter I have had – so it is just a question of time before I wake up and panic that the puppies are not actually in the bed, but wondering where they are.

signing off…..listening to little puppy noises of contentment whilst they have their milk.

Hi peeps – just a quick update…Mum and babes are doing well.

Puppies are thriving well and paddling about their little box gaining strength in their limbs.

Maggie has high nutritional needs so a chart is being followed of what to give her.  She is on four meals a day, plus scrambled eggs, cheese, natural yoghurt and various supplements.  Her fluid intake needs are very high, so this needs constant monitoring.

Maggie is a very attentive new mum.  The dynamics of our group of dogs is quite incredible to watch.  Molly (Granny) is not allowed anywhere near the puppies (at this point).  I can only summise this is due to the fact Molly might take over and Maggie is aware that Molly might well start telling her how to look after her own puppies (a bit like the mother inlaw problem some of us face when a certain amount of interfering occurs…hee wee).  The boys have instinctively kept out of the way.  During the labour Charlie and Stanley were upstairs (of their own free choice).

Melvin would love to see the puppies but so far hasn’t been brave enough to take a look, and Archie has used his common sense and only looked in the pen when he knew he could get away with it.

Our lodger doggy, Bunty has taken no interest in the pups whatsoever, so Maggie allows her to sleep on my bed next to the pen!

Cuteness overload – my favourite is of Maggie cuddling her babies (in-between her front legs!).

I will be creating an album for the photos – just experiencing a couple of technical difficulties!

A couple of little video clips…

newborns

arrival of last puppy

on a final note…. this photo made me laugh.  I walked into the kitchen to find this….

no further comment required!

We have had quite a day!

Maggie started early labour signs last night which stayed relatively low key, until this morning.  The panting really got going, along with some episodes of being sick (which is common in labour).  Although there was a lot of panting there was a lack of proper contractions, I examined Maggie twice throughout the morning and with no evidence of a puppy being stuck I made the decision to consult the vet for advice.  This resulted in us going in at midday.  By the time i arrived at the vets Maggie had a greenish discharge which is a danger signal in a whelping.  She was given an injection of oxytocin and calcium, with the plan being to return Maggie at 2.30 for a c-section if nothing happened in the meantime.

This is entirely the time I question myself as a breeder, why oh why did I put my beautiful girl at risk, so even with the experience I have (six litters of my own and managing somebody else whelp so a total of 7 whelps) I still have a wobble.  Breeding is definitely not for the fainthearted.

I drove home, via jennycliffe car park – which is my car park of choice to do a bumpy circuits to help jiggle things along.  By 12.45 we had the arrival of the first puppy – a black boy born in the back of the car! (how many pups have been born at Jennycliffe now I wonder?!!)  I felt so relieved he was alive as I had totally convinced myself that we would be experiencing something we haven’t had to deal with before at Marchstone.  I burst into tears with great relief.

I got home just before 1pm, within five minutes we had the next puppy!  a dark yellow girl.

The third puppy was born at 1.20pm a black bitch.

Then at 1.58pm Maggie had another yellow girl – a dark yellow.  I feel she is likely to remain a dark yellow – but could darken and *might* be a fox red.  At this stage I do believe she is a beautiful dark yellow.  The darkest we have had at Marchstone.

Then came the boys! at 2.17pm a yellow boy (the biggest in the litter), then another yellow boy at 3pm.

The final tally: 6 healthy puppies

1 Black Dog  14.9oz

2 Yellow Dog’s  1lb 2oz & 13.9 oz

1 Black Bitch 12.6oz

2 Yellow Bitches 11.5oz & 12.6oz

Here are a few photos :-

This is our first whelping that has required veterinary assistance and I know just how lucky we have been.  We have six healthy puppies and a healthy mum too.  All my fears dissolved as soon as the first born arrived! (Black boy!).

The puppies are feeding well so nothing obvious to worry about.

They pups are captivating time wasters and are gorgeous! Im signing off to have a little nap so I can keep an eye on Maggie and her puppies during the night.

(I have taken a couple of little videos – will upload tomorrow).

Maggie started first stage labour last night.

The maternity suite is all ready for the imminent arrivals of our much awaited puppies.

I will keep the website updated as and when I can for news of puppies.

This is Maggie last night…

Maggie is getting so big now and her tummy feels so hot.  So we are doing what we can to keep her comfortable.

Today we put up the whelping box, Maggie seems to be quite pleased about this and has been sitting in there quite happily.  I have put down a cool mat for her to lay on.  However….. I have just had heart failure as I could hear what appeared to be nesting going on in the whelping box.  Turns out Archie likes the whelping box too!  phew!

I have had to buy a new steriliser, making my purchase at a well known baby shop…they asked if I wanted to go on their email list.  I said I would only be interested if they sold puppy toys!!!  The look on the shop assistants face was comical!

The development of the unborn puppies at 8 weeks will mean they have reached approximately 15cm long and will have hair and little pads on his or her paws!

I have had a listen to the puppies heartbeats and they are very strong!  The pups are wiggling around like crazy.  It must feel so strange for Maggie to have all that squirming in her tummy!

Everything is ready for the new arrivals – getting very excited now!  Its the final countdown!!!!!

I have had a busy few days – putting together my whelping kit for Maggie.  Getting everything sterilised and placing last minute orders for supplies we might need.  Labour notes at the ready.  The whelping box is going to be put up tomorrow.

All the puppy toys have been washed, with two new toys to add to the collection.

Maggie is now on puppy food (doing a slow changeover to get her used to it).  The reason for putting her on puppy food now is to give her feed of higher nutritional value as the demands of pregnancy are increasing.

Here is Maggie – looking swell!

and saving the best bit of news till last…..

Click here video This is a video of little puppies moving in Maggies tummy.

Maggie will be 7 weeks pregnant on the 17th July.  We have increased her meal rations to cope with the growing demands of pregnancy.  As yet she hasn’t slowed down at all, but her tummy feels so warm in this heat!

Maggie prior to her scan!  (last ultrasound I will be doing this pregnancy – I hope).  Sitting in the ultrasound bag.  I think she prefers this method of scanning!

I am learning as I go with the machine – it is extremely hard to do an ultrasound without formal training.  In the top half on the right hand side is a puppy.

The puppies can be felt moving around in Maggie’s tummy – which is the most magical feeling.  This is the start of all the wonderful things in watching the pregnancy develop prior to the puppies arrival.

If we had a magic camera to see inside Maggie’s tummy we would be able to see the colour of the coat and hair also developing.  The embryo will be approximately 10cm long.

Preparations have been taking place for our impending arrivals – washing of vets bed and towels, ordering all my vital emergency equipment.  (my just in case supplies!).