LAB TAILS

Puppies' Vet Visit (Six Week Check-Up)

2012-02-13T15:16:00.002-05:00

The pups visited the vet this morning for their six-week-old check-up, routine de-wormings, vaccinations, and micro-chipping. And all survived:

Initially, they weren't thrilled about riding together (all three) in one crate. In the picture above, Master Red is front and center; Master Blue is top right climbing on his brother; Master Green is bottom right underneath Master Blue.

They settled down, though, and relaxed for the car ride. No fussing at all!

Then we got to the vet's office, and of course our people-loving puppies wanted to come out and greet everyone (but Gramma Joan wouldn't let them; she's super protective).

Everyone stood well for weighing, and here's what their weights are (as of this morning): Master Blue is the lightest at 12.4 pounds; then Master Red at 13.3 pounds; and (no surprise here) Master Chunky Monkey Green weighed the most at 13.8 pounds. All three are solid and healthy.

They received their standard six-week-old vaccines (DHPP -- for Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo, and Parainfluenza). They also received their first deworming (oral Strongid), and will receive their second dose of Strongid at eight weeks right before they leave us for their forever homes. All three were microchipped as well and handled the big needle for the chipping without protest (well, Master Red wiggled). The chips were wanded before insertion to make sure they worked, and then again after insertion to make sure they were located where they were supposed to be (between the pups' shoulders high on their backs). Everybody's chips made the wand beep when wanded so we know their chips are in and active. :O)


Master Green was the most timid on the table, but he relaxed in time (above). Dr. Wagner checked the pups over well, and all "feel" great to him; their joints seem sound; their ranges of motion are good; their hearts and lungs sound fine; their occlusions (jaw alignments) and palettes look good; and their eyes and ears are all as they should be. They do all have umbilical hernias as we suspected (Red's is biggest), but our vet isn't too concerned. He does want us to watch them, however, and the new owners will have to as well, but we're hopeful that the hernias will self-correct in coming weeks. If the hernias do not self-correct, the treatment is a simple surgical procedure that can be done at the same time as pups' neutering surgeries. So it's all good.

After the "trauma" of their exams, vaccines, and micro-chipping, the pups were more subdued. They were quiet for the ride home.

All were quite happy to return home to the security of their familiar "den" in our kitchen.

And they were quite hungry!


They ate well as soon as we returned.

And then they settled in for a long winter's day nap.

Sweet silly puppies. Our vet thinks they're gorgeous and doing very well. They look good and have their clearances to go to their forever homes. Now we"ll just love them and work with them over the next two weeks, and then they'll leave us for their new families.

Wow! It's hard to believe they're six weeks old already! So far so good. Let's hope we have an uneventful final two weeks.

'til next time,
Joan

From the Puppies: Milestones in the last Ten Days

2012-02-11T18:18:00.000-05:00

We've transitioned to solid food. We even like dry kibble now!

We've explored confined, closed-in places (like this kitty cube). This week Gramma Joan says she's going to introduce us to a "crate" (whatever that is).

We've played with lotsa toys. Oh, and we play with each other, too. Sometimes we play too rough and make each other yip. But Gramma Joan says that's how we learn.

We're figuring out how to carry things in our mouths. We like to do that. We are Labs, after all!

We got to play outside when in was warm. We even learned to climb up on a canine hammock (under the red and black fleece above). Climbing in hard, but Gramma Joan says she's helping us get ready for steps.

Master Red was the first to figure out that he could climb up on the hammock, but Master Blue was quick to figure it out, too. The red stuffed bone motivated him.

We're beginning to lose the blueness of our eyes.

We've become quite observant, and we let our humans know when we see things.

We've almost learned to trot with things in our mouths (almost is the operative word there...we still trip a lot).

We sometimes watch things before we pounce on them.

Oh, and we got to "meet" Auntie Elsie. She was really nice to us even though we tried to nurse from her. We also got to meet Daddy Tuc (he wasn't too interested, but at least he didn't step on us), Pinot (who wanted to sniff us a lot), and big puppy Chessie. Chessie (she's our half-sister since we have the same mom) likes to play with us. She wants to play all the time!

But Auntie Elsie is the best at teaching us canine manners. She'll get to do that more over our last two weeks here.

Oh boy! We also got the play in the snow! Gramma Joan only let us play in it for about ten minutes because she didn't want us to get too cold (we're still pretty little), but she wanted us to be familiar with snow so we wouldn't be afraid of it when we get bigger.

We're still learning how to navigate steps and door-frames. They're a little tricky, but we're getting it!

We've also found our voices.

We use our barks on purpose now.

And we're learning to sit to get attention. No one will pet us or pick us up unless we're sitting.

We can sit pretty well now, but we sometimes bark to let our humans know we're waiting very patiently (note Master Green in the back).

We think we're quite special, all-in-all. We play for much longer periods of time now, sometimes even a whole half hour! But we still sleep a lot, too. And we dream. Dreams are fun.

We love being with each other, but we're also quite happy to have 1:1 time with our humans. And we love to explore. Sometimes new things are a little scary, but we're brave enough to investigate, and so far everything we've investigated has turned out to be okay. Our humans protect us a lot, though. They don't let us get into trouble.

We're down to nursing just once per day (we like puppy food), and we don't sleep with Momma Kenya all night anymore. We barely see her at all right now (Gramma Joan says it's because we're being weaned).

Oooooo... and today, while it was still sorta warm outside, Papa Don took us out in yard one at a time. It was a grand adventure. We followed him all over the yard, so now we're tuckered out and sleepy again. We'll let Gramma Joan tell you anything else... Zzzzzzzzz......

From Gramma Joan:

Yup, that's puppies: play hard, then sleep even harder!

The pups are doing quite well They're in the very-busy-creating-more-work-for-the-humans phase of development. Between pen cleanings, pup training (very limited and preliminary), puppy socialization, laundry (about 3 loads per day for the pups alone), and life stuff, I've had less time to be on-line.

And, lol, since Chessie chewed up my little camera with which I take videos (yes, you read that correctly; Chessie destroyed our Canon Powershot... silly puppy...yomp, yomp, yomp, but thankfully not ingested), I can't take puppy videos anymore. At least until we get a replacement camera (which I will remember not to leave on the table outdoors when the big canine kids go out to play -- my fault, not Chessie's).

The pups have their six-week-old vet visit on Monday morning during which they'll be examined, dewormed (routine -- no sign of parasites, but it's standard practice), and will receive their first round of vaccines.

I'm taking them in on my own (no help), so I'm not sure how well I'll be able to document the vet visit with pictures, but I'll post their check-up report sometime later on Monday after we return. I'm not expecting any surprises.

We do know that (get this) all three boys have umbilical hernias! In all our litters combined, we've only had one pup with an umbilical hernia before, and it was a larger black male from last year's litter. I'm wondering if it has anything to do with their birth size and the difficulty of their passing through the birth canal (putting more strain on the umbilical cord perhaps).

Our vet assured us last time that these are nothing to worry about and that they usually self-correct in the first few months of life (all three are fluid and can be gently pushed back in). And if they don't self-correct, they're easily fixed when the pups are neutered later on. I'll check with Dr. Wagner on Monday to be sure, but I suspect he'll say the same thing.

How odd, though, that all three have them. All three were more difficult to deliver than any pups from past litters (and were much bigger), so maybe that's it. That's the only reason that makes sense to me. But I'll check on that, too.

So that's it from here. All is well! :O)

'til next time,
Joan

Puppy Portraits (During a Still Moment)

2012-01-31T13:28:00.002-05:00

Here they are, at just over four weeks old, in the closest thing I could get to portraits (hehehe). By the way, they're just waking up in these picture. It's the only time I can catch them while they're still.

Master Blue (left) and Master Green (right)

Master Red

Master Green

Master Blue

Master Red (left), Master Green (back center), Master Blue (right)

I have to admit, I love the last shot. It looks almost like they're posing! :O)

Just thought you'd enjoy these.

'til next time,
Joan

New Adventures for the Four Week Olds

2012-01-30T16:39:00.000-05:00

The plumpty dumpties won't be plumpty dumpties for long. Today they graduated from their whelping box to a spacious indoor puppy pen (goodbye kitchen!). And now they can learn to trot and run.

Regular Reader knows a winter litter is a first for us. All of our previous litters whelped in either early fall or late spring. When we found out, however, that we could expect to welcome our first human grandchild into this world in May this year, we knew we wouldn't be having a spring litter. So it was either go for a litter when we did (resulting in our current gang) or wait another year. You know how that worked out.

The dilemmas with a winter litter are first, how to give the pups room to run and explore safely, and second, how to expose them to typical outdoor sounds while they can hear but while they haven't yet entered fear stages.

Hopefully we've figured out the first: while not a perfect solution, the pups' new indoor pen will give them room to move and explore and romp a bit, at least for now while they are this size. And it's big enough for us to later introduce steps and tunnels and other fun physical challenges for them.

The new and improved indoor pen does hog the whole kitchen though. Ai yi yi yi yi. The things we do for our canine kids, eh?! But it's only for a few weeks, and it's critical for the pups' development. We'll gladly make do.

And since the pups will have more room to exercise, they're of course going to need continual access to drinking water. Today they met the water bowl. :o)

What follows are two brief videos taken today of the little squirts first exploring their water bowl (they all figured it out) and then stretching their wings a bit romping in the new pen.

Oh, and in case you're wondering, no we didn't put in a new floor. We bought a small roll of linoleum to lay beneath the puppy pen to protect our kitchen flooring from puppy piddles and water spills. It's not pretty but it works, and we can roll it back up and store it for the next litter.

Regarding the second dilemma (exposure and acclimation to outdoor sounds): well, the pups are still getting exposure to all kinds of indoor sounds (vaccuum, blender, coffee grinder, table saw, hammering, pots and pans banging, telephones ringing, smoke detectors, TVs, radios, etc...). And I've carried them outside to hear birds and airplanes and wind chimes and big dog barks (and will continue to). People in Pennsylvania, however, don't weed-whack and mow their lawns February.

The only thing I can think of to give them at least some exposure to outdoor noises they'll eventually encounter is to find recordings of lawn mowers and chain saws and weed whackers and such on-line and then play them for the pups. I don't have a clue what else to do. Any thoughts out there anyone?

In the meantime, we'll keep at it. I'll try to get a more detailed developmental update on the blog by the end of the week. Next up? Solid food!

'til next time,
Joan

Four Weeks Old Now!

2012-01-29T22:13:00.001-05:00

Please forgive us, Regular Readers, for our inconsistency in blogging over the last ten days. We've had a few substantial things happen recently with loved ones (including but not limited to a death in the family and a surprising cancer diagnosis) that have kept us occupied.

The little ones are fine and thriving, and they are turning into real puppies now! They're up on their feet, wagging their tales, seeing, hearing, playing with toys, romping, and chewing on each other (and biting each other's ears, which hurts with those sharp puppy teeth). They're getting much more 1:1 time with us, apart from each other, and we're beginning gentle redirection on things like puppy biting and jumping to which they are responding quite well (they are *so* eager to please!).

They're still nursing, but we'll slowly introduce them to solid food toward the end of this week with the goal of transitioning them completely by the time they're six weeks old. They should be weaned by their six-week-old vet visit for check-ups, vaccines, and deworming.

This week, since it's supposed to be 60 degrees F here (quite unusual for early February), we'll probably try to more fully introduce them to the outdoors. Just two days ago, on a sunny 50-degree day, I carried each outside to experience the feel of the sun and breeze and the sounds of planes overhead, wind chimes, and bird calls, but it was chilly for them, so we stayed outside only a minute or two with each pup. All were appropriately timid at first but seemed to relax and enjoy the adventure.

Here are pictures of them now (all taken within the last two days--and don't forget that you can click on the photos to enlarge them):

I won't caption these (just for time's sake so I can get these up on the blog), but will try to provide more details this week sometime. Thanks for you patience!

Enjoy!

'til next time,
Joan

Quick Pic Check-In (Just Over Three Weeks Old)

2012-01-24T16:20:00.000-05:00

We sleep on our backs.

We climb.

We look for toys.

We wrassel.

We use our eyes more.

We have TEETH!

We strut.

We stretch.

We chew on each other.

We paw.

We sleep (we like corners and piles).

We investigate.

We're not quite brave enough to leave the den (aka, the whelping box) on our own yet, but we will be soon.

We love it when our humans sit in the whelping box with us.

But we play with each other, too.

Sometimes our teeth hurt.

We like toys to chew on (they help our gums feel better).

We love our humans (we even pee on their sweatshirts!). :O)

Humans' feet smell really interesting.

Toys smell different than what we're used to.

We investigate together (the herd!).

We grasp things with our tiny teeth now.

We like to spread out somtimes.

But we feel safer together for now.

Oh, and we can hear! Our human made noises to see if we'd respond.

We couldn't quite find her, be we alerted! :)

That's a quick report from the whelping box. :) All is well.

'til next time,
Joan

Wow! We've Turned into Puppies!

2012-01-20T11:14:00.000-05:00

Though I know well that the third week of a pup's life is marked by huge milestones, I'm still amazed every time (like it's brand new) at the changes I see in each litter during this precious window of development. It's like they turn into puppies (as most people think of puppies) overnight.

Here it is, Day 19 or 20 (depending on which pup we're talking about), and just look at what's happened:

Walking has become the preferred method of ambulation (instead of crawling). Granted, it's still a drunken-sailor walk, but they're up on all fours!
Elimination and voiding (poo-ing and pee-ing) is now something they do on their own. Kenya is cleaning less; the humans are cleaning more. :)
The pups get up from where they're sleeping and waddle over to a different part of the whelping box to potty, then waddle back to the puppy pile. They're instinctively pottying in places other than where they sleep.
Their vision is becoming usable. When they "see" things now, they react appropriately with sniffs or puzzlement or growls or barks or pounces.
They recognize each other (oh boy, litter mates!).
They play with each other. Okay, so it doesn't last very long, but they do "play" for short stretches.
They wrassle. :O)
They're feeling secure with their humans, not just with Kenya.
They can pant and lap.
They have (ouch! for Kenya) teeth! Their baby teeth are just poking through their gums, and just like human babies, this is uncomfortable for them. They're beginning to feel the need to chew (look out world!).
They've been introduced to ice cubes (oooo... feels good on sore gums).
They can voluntarily sit, stand, roll over, scratch, paw, wag their tails, chew, investigate objects they "see" (still blurry, but visible), and are just beginning to climb.
This morning, I noticed that Master Green might be responding to sound, so I suspect their ears may be starting to unseal.

What follows are a few videos (can't think now exactly what's in each one) taken last night when all were fully 2.5 weeks old (they'll all be 3 weeks old in two days). In these videos they cannot yet hear, but you'll see they're quite puppy-like otherwise.

One clip is much longer than I usually post (a full five minutes of "play"), but I couldn't resist since the pups were active for the entire time (a new record for them!). The other two are shorter. :o)

So, here they are, the Plumpty Dumpties a 2.5 weeks old:

We're Walking (just barely)!

2012-01-17T11:05:00.000-05:00

Baby Steps!

The Transitional Period: 14--21 Days

2012-01-16T10:35:00.003-05:00

In my last post, I briefly mentioned that the pups had moved from the Neonate Period of development into what's called the Transitional Period: a short developmental stage of only one week that's loaded with change and milestones.

Here's what we can expect to see in the pups by the end of the week:

rapid improvement in their motor skills (standing, beginning steps, sitting, better control of their movement, etc.).
being able to eliminate on their own (Master Blue squatted and poo-ed all by himself yesterday; Master Red did so this morning; haven't caught Master Green doing so yet.. but I suspect he has since we occasionally find a rogue sesame stick -- what their poo looks like -- in the whelping box).
starting to move away from where they sleep to potty (it's instinctive, and this not-pottying-where-they-sleep instinct is the foundation of housebreaking later on).
wider range of movement (will crawl and walk around more while beginning to explore)
the beginning of real, voluntary tail-wagging. :o)
showing more interest in their littermates (pawing at them, chewing on them)
first teeth (these should erupt around Day 20)
first hearing (their ears should unseal around Day 20 or 21, sometimes earlier). We'll know their ears have unsealed with they begin to startle to loud noises.

And here's what we'll be doing during this important development stage:

We'll spend more 1:1 time with the pups, giving them individual interaction with humans and more socialization, but for only a few minutes at a time (they're still quite young).
We'll also start putting them on different surfaces for one minute per day (probably when I need to move them out of the whelping box to clean it).
Later in the week we'll introduce them to a water bowl (they begin to "lap" during this stage as well).
We'll add bright colored objects and toys to the whelping box for their visual and sensory stimulation.
We'll "raise the drawbridge" (we'll put up the side of the whelping box that currently rests open to allow Kenya to come and go). The pups have already shown some interest in what's outside of the box, so once they're more active we'll need to contain them (for their safety).
Kenya will still be allowed to come and go with them as she pleases; she instinctively is already staying out of the whelping box for longer stretches of time. But we will give her more time apart from them.

Just so you can see how they're doing, here are a couple of videos of the pups I took this morning (I think I may have found a way to solve my video upload problem; guess we'll see, eh?):

This first one (less than 10 seconds) shows you Master Blue chewing on his brothers snout (they've become far more aware of each other):

This next one, the longest of the bunch, shows you the typical fuss-before-we-settle restlessness. It starts with all three of them settling in, but still restless. Master Blue starts fussing, then moves over toward Masters Red and Green. Master Red has trouble rolling over. A little while into the video you'll see Master Green push himself backward and sit, and Master Blue chewing on Master Green. Master Red then starts meandering around a bit (and taking a peek outside of the whelping box) while he roams. His noises are typical of the pups' settling-down fussiness (all of the pups do this, btw; I just happened to catch Master Red this time).

This last one captures the rest of Master Red's exploration (you can see some beginning steps here) and his fussing while looking for his brothers (again, all the pups do this; it was just Master Red's turn this time), and you'll also see Master Green later in the clip "bark" in his sleep as Master Red finds them and settles down.

By the end of the week, they'll really look like puppies, complete with the abilities to walk, to see more functionally, to hear, to climb, to lap water, to poo and pee without stimulation, to interact with each other, and to explore their worlds.

Then the work *really* begins!

'til next time,
Joan

The Puppy Report: Two Weeks Old

2012-01-14T12:17:00.004-05:00

Well, the plumpty dumpties turn two weeks old over the next twelve hours. And it continues to amaze me how quickly they develop. Just look how far they've come in just fourteen days:

They've quadrupled their weights!

Master Blue, 15.5 ounces at birth, now weighs 4 lbs 1 oz.
Master Red, 16.5 ounces at birth, now weighs 4 lbs. 11 oz.
Master Green, 17 ounces at birth, now weighs 4 lbs. 6 oz.

Once only able to suckle (a natural reflex in newborns), they can now lick, yawn, and are just starting to gnaw on each other.
At first, they're only aware of their dams. Now they're beginning to discover themselves ("oh.. I have a paw and I can gnaw at it") and their littermates ("oh...he has a paw and I can chew on it").
For the first week to ten days, pups are unable to void or eliminate without their dam stimulating them. Now they're just starting (only just starting) to piddle and poo on their own. For now peeing usually happens as they pull themselves along on their tummies (and the gliding along the towel stimulates them to "go"), but occasionally, they're pooing on their own (not standing yet to do so, but eliminating all the same).
They've also begun to push themselves up onto four legs (quite wobbly, and not really standing yet, but up on all fours before toppling over).
They can move backward and forward (before they could only move in circles).
They can lift and move their heads left and right and up and down at will (before they could only "bob" their heads).
They're consciously sniffing (putting their noses down to investigate).
They can just barely sit. This usually occurs when the pups move backward. They push themselves back with their front legs and end up on their bottoms.
Heehee... they can "bark" (though it isn't a controlled vocalization yet -- more a reflex). I'm hoping to get a little bark on video -- it's too cute.
They can find the puppy pile, and enjoy piling together (part of a growing awareness of littermates)
AND they're eyes have unsealed (happened yesterday on Day 13, right on time!).

All of their eyes are blue (as they always are in newborns). They will turn brown later on as part of their normal development. They do not, however, have functional eyesight yet (that will come in time). I call them little Mr. Magoos (does anyone remember the Mr. Magoo cartoons?),

They've also experienced other adventures as preparation for their life with humans (but only a teeny bit as too much stimulation during the first 10 days to two weeks can be detrimental).

They've had their front nails trimmed twice (poor Kenya would be scratched to death otherwise)
They've had their rear claws trimmed once (just today for the first time as we wanted them to be able to "grip" or get traction with their back claws to aid in strengthening those hind legs).
They've been put on a scale regularly (twice a day for the first three days, once a day for the next week, now every couple of days as long as they look like they're thriving).
They've almost completed Early Neurological Stimulation (something the military developed to increase stamina, focus, and disease resistance in their working canines). We done the following exercises with them daily since the day after their dew-claw removal, and will do so for another 2 days (until they're 16 days old). We do each exercise for only 3-5 seconds:

tickling their toes (all four paws) with a q-tip
holding them head-up perpendicular to the ground
holding them head down
holding them on their backs in the palms of our hands (so they're fully supported)
placing them on a cold damp cloth (usually when we weigh them).

They've been people handled and snuggled daily (apart from ENS exercises).
They've had their color collars changed four times (for growth).

Here are a few photos taken today. Aren't they starting to look like puppies now???

Nursing is still our favorite activity.

But Momma Kenya is taking more breaks from us. We're quite content to sleep without her.

We stretch a lot (and we can still look like little black bears).

We can sit for a couple seconds before we topple over.

Look, we have eyes! Master Red was the first to have his eyes all the way open. But Green and Blue followed closely.

"YHmm... I think I see you over there...maybe...."

As the pups have grown and gotten more agile, Momma Kenya has changed her nursing style. She sits often to nurse them now. Later on, she will move to standing.

"Like my baby blue eyes? *wink wink* Aren't I handsome?!"

In this picture, you can see that their eyes are quite "cloudy" still. Functional eyesight will develop over the next couple of weeks.

Master Blue has blue eyes, too. :)

Puppy pile!

Big yawn!

Three heads...? The chew chain?

Master Blue: "Ooooo... Red has a paw and a tail that I can gnaw on!"

We may have made lots of progress but we're still just little squirts (still helpless and completely dependent on Kenya).

We like to snooze and snuggle together (provides warmth and security). Sometimes we sleep on our backs, sometimes on our tummies, and sometimes on our sides.

Snuggle buddies (we still sleep 90% of the time).

So, there they are! A whopping two weeks old.

And they are officially no longer neonates!

Now they begin what's called the Transitional Period (roughly 14 to 21 days). This period begins when the pups eyes open and ends when they first startle to noise (meaning their ears unseal). Much happens in this brief window of development; it lasts only one week. I'll write more on that another day.

So far, so good. All is well.

'til next time,
Joan

Wordless Wednesday: 11 Days Old (and all over 3 pounds!)

2012-01-11T09:40:00.000-05:00

Nine Days Old: Just Pics

2012-01-09T12:35:00.000-05:00

We're getting bigger!

Big stretch!

Snuggle buddies!

More snuggle buddies.

Big yawn.

Snoozy bear (Green).

Snoozy bear (Blue).

Look at me go!

Big stretches.

Plumpty dumpties.

Snoozy bear happy kids!


Snuggle bear with Momma Kenya.

Puppies: One Week Old Report

2012-01-07T10:04:00.000-05:00

Master Blue, Master Red, and Master Green have reached their one-week-old milestone (they're officially halfway through the neonate stage, the first of many stages of puppy development).

Usually (not always) getting through the first week means the pups should be free of big, bad, ugly congenital issues (like heart problems or organ malformation). Any serious (but not readily visible) birth defect or health issue will usually show up during the first week of life, most often in the first three days, as failure to thrive, lack of weight gain, immobility, sickness, etc... Though defects like these are rare in the hearty Lab breed (with responsible breeders and healthy studs/dams), these things do happen.

This litter is thriving (as have all our litters so far...phew!).

Here's the report:

The pups have more than doubled their weights (something healthy Lab puppies should do by the end of their first week of life):

Master Blue currently weighs 2 pounds, 6.5 ounces.
Master Red is 2 pounds, 9 ounces.
Master Green is 2 pounds 9 ounces.

All are nursing and pottying as they should (yes, we do have to watch these things, just as we do with newborn human babies). Their little poos are just as they should be. :o)
The entire litter is content: no fussing, no excessive crying, no trouble sleeping. It's a very cozy scene in the whelping box.
All of the pups are making appropriate sounds: grunting, sighing, squealing (if Kenya steps on them), making "barks" and "growls" when they dream, etc...
All of the pups are using all four limbs to squiggle and push their ways around the whelping box.
All of the pups can turn in circles to find Kenya (it's they way the find her, by scent).
All enjoy piling (the puppy pile!).
All are able to be handled by their humans without too much stress.
All have and are experiencing the following:

they've had their collars (rickrack) changed twice (due to growth)
they've had their dew claws removed (at 3 days old)
they've had their nails trimmed (today for the first time)
they've spent brief intervals without Momma Kenya (Kenya gets a break now and then!).
they've started Early Neurological Stimulation (a series of brief daily exercises designed to help improve the pups' cardio-vascular systems, their resistance to disease, their tolerance of stress, etc...). We've done ENS with all of our litters so far.

The pups eyes and ears are still sealed tight (no sight or hearing for them yet). That will change in the next two weeks.

The pups are considered "neonates" (newborns) until they are two weeks old. For more info on what puppies do at this age, read this article I posted while Kenya's first litter was developing (seems silly for me to rewrite all that here now).

Here are the three boys at (approximately) one week old:

Master Blue, the firstborn

Master Blue has a small white marking (a straight line) on his chest. This may or may not disappear over time. His daddy, Tuc, had a small white chest marking (allowable by AKC Lab breed standard), but his disappeared.

Master Blue's white mark on his chest is visible while he's snuggled on his back in Gandpoppop Don's arms.

Master Red

Like his brother Master Blue, Master Red has a white mark, too, but his is teeny: it's more like a dot -- the tip of a pencil point in white on his chest.

Master Green, who has no markings on his chest, gets weighed on the baby scale.

One of the Early Neurological Stimulation things we do with the pups is to put them on a cold towel for a few seconds. Rather than stress them too much with ENS and weighing, we combine the two when it's time to do a weight check. This receiving blanket was moistened and put in the freezer for five minutes before I put it on the scale (re-zeroing the scale once placed, of course). That way the pups can be weighed and exposed to cold at the same time.

Master Green

All is well for the one-week-olds. From here on out, the changes in their progress and development will come fast and furious. Look out world, here they come!

'til next time,
Joan

Video: Six Days Old

2012-01-07T04:15:00.001-05:00

Life in the whelping box is still pretty quiet most of the time. The pups eat and sleep and potty and vocalize, and that's about it for now. My next post will note their developmental milestones so far, but for now, just enjoy their wee noises and initial movements.

Just so you know, the twitching you see in the pups as they sleep here is part of their normal neurological growth. You will also see that they can yawn now, and they can shake their scruffs, and they can roll over. They're growing!

Enjoy!

Sweet silly willies! :)

'til next time,
Joan

The Plumpty Dumpty Chunky Monkeys (Five and Six Days Old)

2012-01-06T23:30:00.039-05:00

I've been having trouble again with video uploading (picasa-blogger-youtube sync issues), so instead of waiting until I figure it out again, I figured I may as well post pictures.

You know what they say: "a picture is worth a thousand words." Yet even a million words won't described how well and round and healthy the pups are looking after just five days. So here are a few pictures.

The following were taken at Days 5 & 6 -- our three little guys, the rumbly tumbly neonates:

Heeheehee... they're becoming more like puppy-puppies every day! :)

I'll post a more complete update on Saturday afternoon when they start turning one week old.

'til next time,
Joan

Wordless Wednesday: Three and Four Days Old (We Had our Dew Claws Removed!)

2012-01-04T11:26:00.000-05:00

Why We Stay on 24/7 Puppy Watch

2012-01-04T07:25:00.003-05:00

After one of our dams whelps a litter, we keep someone sitting next to the whelping box (where she's settled in with her pups) 24 hours per day for at least a week (sometimes 10 days or two weeks, depending on the size of the litter and the pups' development).

Why?

Simply put, to make sure none of the pups smothers beneath the weight of the dam.

We learned about this hazard the hard way with Elsie's first litter (nine pups). She was an inexperienced, busy mom who was constantly standing up, lying down, rolling, or shifting her weight. One of the times she tried to lie down, she rested atop one of the pups in such a way that, though the pup's face was visible, her weight on his body prevented him from getting his breath (or squealing). I was just a few feet away on the sofa for a quick nap, having been up 72 hours straight and didn't hear a thing. The pup suffocated.

Never again (if we have anything to do with it).

Admittedly, some larger breeders don't bother with a 24/7 watch; they chalk smothering deaths up to routine loss or survival of the fittest (I'm not criticizing, I'm just saying this is the way it is). Some statistics out there say that with any given Lab litter, we should expect a 20%-30% loss rate (meaning that out of a 10-pup litter we should expect to lose at least two, if not three).

We, however, aren't willing to accept that. If the pups are healthy, there's no reason to let them die by accidental smothering on the dam's part. We do all we can to ensure they don't.

Already, with this litter, I've pulled Master Red (our big bruiser) out from behind Kenya where he could get squished beneath her were she to roll all the way back on her side. Countless times.

And, in this video, you'll see her plunk right down on top of Master Blue or Master Green (cannot recall which as i write this). At least in this case, he had the air to squeal, and I swooped in to rescue.

Just so you know, this isn't the "perfect" example, but it gives you an idea. This clip was taken yesterday morning when they were 2-3 days old:

So that's why I'm up at nights. I do the shift from about 11:00 p.m. when DH goes to bed, overnight and through the next day until about 5:00 p.m. when DH gets home from work. Then I sleep from 5:30 p.m.-ish to 11:00 p.m.-ish while DH does puppy duty. And then I start all over again. We tag team. :o)

We'll do this for the first week. But I have to admit, it's much easier with only three heads to count (instead of seven, eight, or nine which it's always been in the past).

Yes, we're tired, but we wouldn't have it any other way. And everyone is thriving. The Plumpty Dumpties are getting rounder and cuter every day!

'til next time,
Joan

Life in the Whelping Box: Sleep, Snuggles, Sustenance, and Stimulation

2012-01-04T06:34:00.000-05:00

As of Day 3, here's where the pups are on their weights:

Master Blue: 1 pound 7 oz. (+7.5 ounces since birth)
Master Red: 1 pound 8.5 oz (+ 8 ounces since birth)
Master Green: 1 pound 6.5 oz (+ 5.5 ounces since birth)

Remember that Master Green is six hours younger than Red and 11 hours younger than Blue, which makes a difference when they're only a couple days old.

Life for these little guys consists mainly of sleep (90-95% of their day), snuggling (for warmth and security -- remember, they can't hear or see yet) sustenance (nursing), and pottying (something they cannot do on their own, but are entirely dependent on Kenya to stimulate them to do and from which to clean them).

This video will give you a peek into their normal routine. When the clip gets to Master Red nursing (it starts with Masters Green and Blue twitching and stretching and sleeping and vocalizing), you'll notice yellow-ish gunk on Master Red's bottom beneath his tail. This is neonate poo. :O)

Puppies' very first poo is like thick tar in texture (can be nearly solid) and is colored a dark black (it's meconium, just like in human babies immediately after birth). Once the pups start nursing, their poos turn to a golden-yellow, thick-mustard consistency (again, like nursing human babies). That's as it should be.

The pups' nervous sytems, however, are not developed enough yet for them to void (pee) or eliminate (poo) on their own. The dam (in this case, Kenya), needs to "stimulate" them (by licking) to activate the pee/poo response. You'll see Kenya do this to Master Red while he's nursing.

And if you really care to look closely, he produces even more yellow poo during the process (clearly visible in this video).

If something were to happen to the dam (death during delivery or post-whelping issues of some sort) where she couldn't do this for the pups, human caregivers can achieve the same ends by gently caressing their "privates" with a warm, slightly moistened cotton ball or soft cloth (we've had to help with this process with very large litters). Without the ability to void/eliminate on their own, if it's not done for them, they would die.

So, here's a short video of the 2-3-day-old pups doing what they do at this stage, and of Kenya doing what dams do for their pups at this stage, too. Enjoy!

My apologies for the delay in getting these videos posted. Blogger and Picasa have been giving me fits, but I think I have it finally figured out.

Stay tuned for more...

Joan

Puppy Day Two: All Are Well and Thriving (and huge!)

2012-01-02T18:21:00.001-05:00

Here's a photo summary of the pups so far today. Pretty much all they do is suckle and sleep and twitch (neurological development) and poo and pee (when Kenya stimulates them to do so).

They sigh and "sing" and will occasionally "yell" when they find themselves not touching Kenya or their litter-mates.

They are all doing exactly what they should be doing as 2-day-olds. I'll post on this stage of development in a separate post (for those who might want to know).

The pups are also huge! And quite strong for this age.

Momma Kenya, too, is well. : o)

Take a look:

Master Blue likes to use his brothers as a head rest.

The pups instinctively know to "knead" their dam's teats to encourage her milk to let down. They do this from the moment they're born. It looks a bit like a swimming motion.

They are just starting to hold their tails out while they nurse (this is *quite* early). I think these pups, because they were older gestationally than any litter we've had, are going to hit their early milestones sooner than we've ever seen. In previous litters, we didn't see this tail-raising until 4-6 days.

Good stuff. High five!

Kenya likes her puppies close. In this photo, Master Green is stretching.

Master Blue is looking for a head rest again. :)

Big stretch!

Nom, nom, nom...

They will squiggle underneath Kenya for access to other teats. That's fine as long as she doesn't roll too heavily onto them (which is why we do 24/7 puppy watch to make sure the neonates don't smother).

Plumping up!

The headrest.

Oooo... puppy face!

Momma Kenya still needs lovin' from her humans.

And she's a little tired (but looks great!).

She is, however, ever-mindful of her pups (one squeaked as I took this).

She's okay with them not against her, but not for long.

Kenya: "You mean of I have to clean *that*?" (note Master Red's bottom)

Snuggle bugs.

Master Green on Kenya's leg. Master Green seems to prefer Kenya's legs for headrests.

BIG neonates!

Master Red

Contentment.

So it's all good here for now (except Kenya's new-found reluctance to do poo duty, but we can live with that -- the poo looks fine and healthy, so it's not a problem with the pups).

I'll try to get more videos over night (I'm on all-night duty again). Until then, enjoy the stills!

'til next time,
Joan

New Year's Day: The Gang's All Here!

2012-01-01T18:40:00.002-05:00

Break out the champagne: our vet wins! He predicted three puppies, and three puppies it is!

Masters Blue, Red, and Green are all doing well: gaining weight nicely, plumping out roundly (those rear legs will catch up over time), becoming more vocal in their "singing," and kneading and "swimming" like pros. They're thriving.

Momma Kenya looks great, is eating as she should, is appropriately playful when taking breaks from her pups to potty and exercise, and she is a gentle, careful, attentive dam. We couldn't ask for a better nurturer.

A happy, content Kenya; thriving, content pups. For a moment anyway, all seems right in my world.

Ahhhhhh...it does my soul good.

So here they are (of course, I can't just say "at a day old" because they spread themselves out over two days; silly kids!).

Everyone is nursing well, and Kenya seems to be rebounding quickly.

Kenya does, of course, nap, and she is still passing the typical post-whelping discharge. We use white towels (bleachable!) until she done with the afterbirth yuk. Then we'll set them up on their normal fleece bedding.

Kenya sometimes doesn't want to leave her pups to eat, so we feed her in the whelping box when she prefers. For now she's on puppy food and puppy formula to give her a calcium boost. If we see any tummy upset from her, we'll switch her to boiled beef and rice.

The fan.

The fan enlarged.;o) (The "think-tank" perhaps?)

There's nothing like snuggling under Mom's ear (well, except maybe getting num-nums).

All is well.

And just for fun, here's a brief video of the neonate whale song:

We're still playing catch-up here (and we'll be doing our 24/7 puppy watch for a while still), but I'll be posting at least daily for a while.

Enjoy!

Until then,
Joan

The Three Musketeers!

2012-01-01T05:20:00.000-05:00

It's 5 a.m. January 1st, and here are the boys settling in with their mom. (Kenya might actually be done, but I'm still not quite 100% certain):

Master Blue, at this writing, is about 13.5 hours old; Master Red, about 11.5 hours old, and Master Green, only 5 hours old. But all are doing just fine.

That's where we stand for now.

'Until next time,
Joan

Welcome Puppy #3: Master Green

2012-01-01T03:55:00.000-05:00

After six hours of no labor and one trip to the vet's (Kenya and pups in tow), the Kenya Bean finally produced whelp number three: an even more whopping 1 pound 1 ounce (17 ounces) bouncing black baby boy.

Happy New Year, Master Green!

Of course, as has been our 100% norm, the litter is split over two days (we've never had a litter here where every pup from the same litter arrived on the same date). In this case, it's not only a different date, it's also a different week, different month, and different year! Masters Blue and Red share the same DOB: December 31st, 2011; Master Green's DOB is January 1st, 2012.

So, we have three musketeers: all black coats (expected), all boys (not expected), and all pretty big in size (somewhat expected).

Everyone is nursing well, squiggling as they should, "singing" as only neonates can, and peeing and pooing on cue from Kenya (she has to stimulate them to do this).

So far, so good. Here are a few more quick pictures:

I am not certain that Kenya is done (she might be). Her belly still seems a little firm to be empty, so I'm wondering if she has one more in there. And she is still occasionally nesting and acting restless. We're seeing a bit more discharge, but that may just be afterbirth.

Time will tell.

I'll post again in the morning when we can better discern if Kenya is done and her litter is complete (it's nearly 4 a.m. right now).

So, thankfully, we seem to be holding our own.

Stay tuned,

Joan

Welcome Puppy #2 Master Red :o)

2011-12-31T18:59:00.001-05:00

Two hours on the dot from the minute pup #1 arrived (I was almost worried), Kenya started active contractions again. Twenty-five minutes after that she delivered her whopping pup #2.

Weighing in at 1 pound 0.5 ounces (16.5 ounces), the second pup to arrive is a healthy black boy, now officially Master Red.

He's a full ounce heavier than his firstborn brother, and he's been more vocal since his very first breath (a breath, by the way, that he took while the rest of his body was still working its way into this world). His was a little trickier delivery (sac already ruptured; head and one leg protruding; kinda stuck there for a few a contractions), but after a few stressful moments, and a hearty yip from Kenya, he made his way all the way out of his mother's birth canal.

Master Red's airway and lungs seem fine, and he's very vocal (I love the "whale song" of neonates; we'll try to get a video up as soon as we can). He's nursing well (able to suckle), but not as vigorously as Master Blue (I have to remember that Master Blue has two hours of in-this-world experience on his younger brother). All is well, though. It's all within "normal" whelping standards.

That is, except for the pup size. Technically, they say that average Lab pups weigh between 13 oz and 15 oz at birth. Less is a little light; more is a little big.

Because this litter is smaller in number than Kenya's last, I'm not surprised the pups are a little bigger (more room to grow in utero, less competition for nutrients). And they're within an ounce of each other by weight, so they're developmentally where they should be relative to each other.

Kenya has whelped them both successfully (albeit with a little more difficulty than with her first litter). So we're optimistic for the rest of her process.

So far so good.

Here are a few more pics of the boys. Notice the length of Master Red's toenails (he's without a ribbon in the first two pictures, and that's my white-gloved hand holding him up to Kenya's teat). And notice Master Red's milk mustache. Pretty good for his first nursing experience (and a good indicator that Kenya's milk is abundant).

The boys are "singing" as I write this.

And since we know for certain that there is at least one other pup in there we'll be waiting expectantly.

Stay tuned!

Joan

Welcome Puppy #1 Master Blue :o)

2011-12-31T16:42:00.000-05:00

It's a 15.5 oz black baby boy! And now he's officially Master Blue.

Uneventful head-first, sac-in-tact delivery -- but his big blocky head (yay!) seemed a little tougher for Kenya to push out.

Kenya and neonate are doing fine.

Here are some quick pics:

Now we're waiting on the next pup's arrival. :o)

Stay tuned. :)

Joan

2011 or 2012? Puppies Come When They Will

2011-12-31T12:38:00.001-05:00

So we're still waiting.

It's Gestational Day 63 since Kenya's and Tuc's first tie. If Kenya did not conceive any pups as a result of that tie, but rather from a subsequent tie with Tuc (two days later), then it's possible that the pups are at Gestational Day 61. Litters can be a mix of both ties, which is why the count is made from the first tie.

It appears Kenya is moving into later Stage One. She's been pacing for most of the last ten hours. And she's stopped wagging her tail or carrying things in her mouth -- sure indicators that she's uncomfortable.

She's actively trying to hide in corners and is still occasionally nesting.

But we haven't seen any contractions yet, so we're not worrying.

If, on the other hand, she was actively working on pushing the pups out and nothing was happening, then we'd be worried.

We checked in with the vet just a bit ago, and he's not concerned. Kenya is a proven dam (has successfully whelped a litter before without complication). And as long as she's not actively pushing yet, the clock isn't yet ticking. Once she starts contracting, we keep close track of time to better determine if an emergency C-section would be in order.

But we're not "going there" yet. :O)

Here's the sweet Kenya Bean this morning:

She's our sweet girl, and she's clearly uncomfortable. But her vitals are good, and she looks good, and she's clearly *not* in distress.

So we wait.

And now the question is, are we going to have to wait until next year to see these puppies face-to-snout?

Stay tuned,

Joan

Early Stage One

2011-12-30T12:57:00.000-05:00

It appears Kenya has moved into Stage One of canine labor.

She's nesting (instinctively digging at the floors and carpets and at the towels we have on the floors) in an attempt to build a den for her puppies.
She refused breakfast this morning (a sure sign that she's on her way).
She's restless and uncomfortable.
She's panting nearly non-stop.
She's "needier" than usual.

"Don't leave me, Dad!"

Long-time Reader knows that Kenya is not a cuddle bug the way Elsie, Baxter, and Ridge are/were. She usually wants nothing to do with being on the couch or on our laps. Oh, she's very affectionate and people-oriented; but she's normally quite content to just curl up on the floor at or on our feet.

But during labor (both with her first labor 18 mos ago, and with this one, too) Kenya becomes a snuggler. She wants to be on the couch pushed up against her humans, and if we get up, she gets up, too, and follows (lol.. I can't even go into the bathroom without her following!). :)

It's a security thing, I'm sure. She's clearly uncomfortable, and our presence calms her. We can't take her pain away, but we can walk with her through it. And, though we don't like to see her in pain, we feel privileged to be there for her.

Isn't that the way of it with humans, too? It's a privilege to care for those we love.

I'd forgotten how much I enjoy Kenya's snuggles. She's usually far too wiggly ("Look! I have a bone, and I'm special!"), and when she's not wiggly, she's happy to rest on the floor nearby.

But during labor she needs us in ways she doesn't in routine, day-to-day life. And we're happy to oblige.

So, we sit with her and wait. We don't make a fuss, but we do stay close. And that seems to allow her to sleep and rest as she needs to.

I suspect she'll starting whleping later today sometime. Or tonight.

In the meantime, I'll enjoy a few extra snuggles.

Stay tuned!

Joan

P.S. No active contractions yet, no fluids, and no pushing. We're just waiting.

While We Wait: Catching Up on Previous Whelping Notes (Informational Post)

2011-12-29T13:58:00.002-05:00

I figured that since we're waiting on Kenya, I may as well do something productive.

So, in addition to making sure all of our whelping supplies are in place, I've been reading through our previous notes about our whelping experiences just to remind myself again of what to expect and to make sure we're prepared.

Since each labor and delivery (each whelping experience) is unique though, we can only prepare *so* much. Most of the work, of course, falls on the dam. And Labs, in general, are easy whelpers. But *just in case* we try to be prepared.

For those of you who might be interested, here are links to a few of my previous posts from past litters that I'm reading through this afternoon.

Whelping supplies checklist
Whelping notes 2008
Notes on Elsie's pre-labor from last spring (March 2011)
The Whys of our whelping box design (March 2010)
Notes on Kenya's last labor, ready or not (March 2010)
More Notes on Kenya's last labor (March 2010)
Notes on tube feeding (just in case - from 2008)

I've also pulled out all our trusted resources and guides for handy reference, and I'm perusing them now.

But our best preparations, when all is said and done, are probably the experiences our fellow Lab breeders have shared with us and the bit of experience we've gained over the years.

That said, I still have a knot in my stomach and a tightness in my throat. I suppose, in some ways, we can never really be fully prepared. We can only do the best we can.

And so we will.

Still waiting....

'til next time,
Joan

Waiting

2011-12-29T13:05:00.002-05:00

Nope, no labor yet.

It's gestational day #61 (the same day on which Kenya started labor with her last litter). And she's not showing even the remotest sign of Stage One labor (like pre-labor in humans). She's still eating. Her temp bumped up over 100 degrees (F) this morning (after steady decline the last couple of days), she's romping and wiggling and acting quite normal. No extra neediness (a classic sign in her when she grows uncomfortable) and no nesting (digging at the rugs or trying to hide in corners).

So here she is, the Kenya bean in all her "with puppy" glory. :O)

It's funny. As I look at these photos, I see a calm, sweet, lovely, mature, expectant dam, full of Lab faithfulness, dignity and grace. And all of that is true.

But the Kenya of my heart and mind is still our wiggly Kenya Bean; our "look Mom and Dad, I have a bone in my mouth and that makes me special" waggle-butt, our affectionate-but-quite-content-to-sleep-on-our-feet snuggler, our faithful trot-by-our-sides-watching-our-every-move companion.

In some ways, she'll forever be a puppy-squirt to me. Long-time Reader might remember when we brought Kenya home as an eight-week-old from her breeder's in VA to meet Baxter (who lived with us then), Ridge (who passed over the rainbow bridge a few months ago), and Elsie. But for those of you who never knew the Kenya Bean as a pup, here's a brief trip down Memory Lane:

Puppy Kenya snuggling with old man Ridge (who is now over the Rainbow Bridge)

Puppy Kenya snuggling with almost 2 yo Elsie

Fast learner!


Puppy Kenya meeting then-Sarah's-boyfriend-now-our-son-in-law-for-almost-four-years-and-soon-to-be-dad-himself Chris!

My favorite picture of the Kenya Bean as a little squirt


Puppy Kenya not long after we brought her home. :o)

Puppy Kenya sleeping head-to-head with the Boos (Baxter, who lives with DSD and her hubby, and has for nearly four years now).

Ten-week-old Kenya in her pink cast snugging with Elsie (Kenya broke her leg romping with one of the bigger dogs -- and recovered just fine).

"Watcha doing with Ridge, Dad??? Huh? Huh? Huh? Huh?"

Kenya watching the big doggies retrieve.

We love our Kenya Bean. :) And we think she represents the best of what the Lab breed has to offer (across the board). That's why we've chosen to breed her.

We suspect the pups in her belly are going to be lovely, smart, faithful, intelligent, loyal, eager-to-please, affectionate, people-pleasing retrievers, and we can hardly wait to meet them face to snout (oh boy, puppy breath!). :)

I have to admit, however, that the longer Kenya's labor waits to start, the more concerned I'm becoming because of the size of these in-utero pups. Whelping is usually easy for Labs, but can become a risk to the dam with smaller litters whose pups grow too large before whelping. As much as we love these babies already, our primary concern for now is our Kenya Bean.

Let's just hope all goes smoothly and starts soon.

We'll keep you updated!

'til next time,
Joan

We're Back, and Kenya is Expecting!

2011-12-28T15:10:00.003-05:00

First things first: thank you, faithful readers, for hanging in there with us all this time.

The canine crew is just fine. And though we miss Ridge, DH and I have settled into life with one less Lab. In an odd sort of way, Ridge's absence allows us to enjoy the remaining five in ways we couldn't before. So though we still grieve him, we relish the others all the more.

Lots has happened since last I posted:

Twenty-seven-year-old DFS finished another semester of school and will be starting an internship with Habitat for Humanity in January. God-willing, he'll graduate with his 2-year degree in May. And, yes, in case you're wondering, he still lives at home, and I'm still chauffeuring. It's all good.
Twenty-four-year-old DYS finished up at Temple and is graduating with his BS in Computer Sciences (IT-related somehow). He's landed a fabulous job with great benefits not far from where we live, so he'll be moving home for now and commuting to work from here. It's delightful to have him around again.
Twenty-five-year-old DSD and her hubby discovered they're expecting their first child in May. Yay! That means, in just a few months, we're going to be grandparents (of the human kind) for the very first time. What fun!
DH "retired" (was let go, voluntarily, during Pfizer's latest round of cutbacks in October), but has since gotten a new full-time job with good benefits in his field with a pharmaceutical regulatory consulting firm. He started December 1st.
Me? Well... I honestly can't tell you where the last several months have gone. They seemed to pass in an instant, and here we are at year's end once again.

Which brings me to Kenya. Yup, we're finally anticipating the arrival of our first Tuc-Kenya litter. We've been planning and hoping for this litter for over three years now (since flying Tuc home here from his breeder's in AZ), and we can't wait to see what their combined genes produce.

My best guess is an all-black litter (though both are capable of producing chocolate), and hopefully we'll have a balanced mix of males and females.

Kenya's "due" date (as in, Kenya's 63rd day of gestation) is Saturday, December 31st. But she delivered her first litter on Day 61 (which would be tomorrow, the 29th). And Elsie delivered as early as Day 58, which was two days ago). All that to say, she really could go into labor any time.

Kenya's temperature was 99.8 last night ("normal" for adult canines is 101), was 99.5 today. Once her temp dips below 99.0 we'll know we can expect the pups to arrive within 24 hrs. I expect them to arrive tomorrow sometime, but we'll see.

Here's Kenya's x-ray, taken yesterday on her Day 59). Three pups are clearly visible (two toward the bottom of her belly, and one up toward her spine). The best way to find them is to look for the vertebrae (puppy spines) and ribs or to look for the outlines of their round skulls.

As I play with contrasts in the image here, I think I see two more shadows, so I'm expecting four, perhaps five, but she may really only be carrying three. What do you all think as you look at the x-ray? Feel free to comment below. :O)

We'll all find out soon enough.

In the meantime, we'll do our best to make sure Kenya is comfortable and safe. And when those pups arrive, we'll do the same for the wee ones.

Stay tuned! We'll be blogging regularly again now, especially since we have a few forever families waiting for these puppies already! :)

Until next time!

Joan

Getting There

2011-08-17T11:32:00.004-04:00

Those who follow us on Facebook know our old Voyager van, the designated doggy-transportation mobile, cracked a head gasket and died. Though it served us faithfully for fifteen years, we felt it was no longer worth investing in for repair.

Too bad, so sad.

That meant, if we were still going to the lake as planned, we'd have to find some other vehicle big enough to carry crates and gear, not to mention doggies and people.

Bless his heart, DH has eyed pick-ups for decades (literally), but it never seemed the right time (nor life season) for him to get one. It wasn't practical.

*grin* Until now. :o)

After looking and looking and looking, we finally found one we liked, that had all the features/stats we deemed necessary, and (the big "and") that we could afford. We took it for a test drive, and, lo and behold, DH finally got his truck (a 2005 half-ton Chevy Silverado with 105,000 miles on it in fantastic shape and fully warrantied for three years).

The only downside was that it didn't have a cap for the bed. No worries: we could just get one from a cap dealer. We had the truck fitted and ordered one. Problem solved.

Well, sort of. The cap didn't arrive before our scheduled trip to the cottage. Ruh roh. That meant the dogs would have to ride in the back of the truck with no cover.

Oh my.

I was admittedly nervous (visions of crates of canines bouncing around in and finally out of the truck bed danced through my head), but I needn't have worried. If I knew anything after being married to DH for nearly 30 years, it's that this man knows how to pack a vehicle, and can pack it tight.

Three dogs in two crates, two tool duffels, food bins, doggie supplies, an extra collapsed crate, one weed whacker, assorted luggage, fishing gear, a circular saw, and a few groceries later the truck bed was packed solid -- not a wiggle's worth of shift:

We put Pinot and Chessie in one crate up against the back window, put Tuc in another crate butted against the girls' crate, and then kept Elsie and Kenya (the "old" gals) in the cab with us in the back seat

And all rode fabulously without complaint or harm:

Kenya and Elsie particularly enjoyed their quarters:

Sweet, snuggly girls. :o)

While Elsie and Kenya slept, Tuc, Chessie, and Pinot sat, stood, sniffed, watched, and otherwise had great fun entertaining passing truck drivers. They barked only when we stopped at traffic lights or passed pedestrians on sidewalks.

Much to my relief, traveling with an open bed provided grand-but-safe adventures, both up to the cottage and back again a week later (driving only in good weather, of course). All without a hitch.

And, don't you know, a message greeted us upon our return with news that the bed-cap was in and ready to be installed.

Figures.

Looks like traveling in an open bed will have to be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure for the canine crew; the open bed is open no more:

Oh, but the capped-bed adventures have just begun!

'til next time,
Joan

Back from the Lake: The Joy of Design

2011-08-16T12:12:00.001-04:00

It was so good to get away.

As I think about it, though, it wasn't the "getting away" that did my soul good: it was being and doing that for which I'm best suited.

Kinda like the canine crew. Take Chessie, for example.

This was Chessie's first visit to the cottage, and her first exposure to entering the water from a dock. After only a day at the lake (well, more like only after a jump or two), it became obvious to us that Chessie is designed to leap: she's a born dock-jumper.

Take a look:

Yup, that's puppy Chessie! And this is Chessie's first time even seeing a dock, let alone jumping from one. To boot, it's only her second time swimming in deep water. At just a year old, she's still a clutzy adolescent, but you'd never know it when she takes flight.

With Kenya and Ridge for her parents, we knew she'd love the water and have no fear of jumping, but I never imagined she'd take to it so quickly and so strongly (she easily doubles Kenya's jumping distances).

And her joy.... oh my!

All of the dogs thrive at the lake. It's part of their natures. Each blossoms there in ways unique to their characters (more on that in another post).

And the funny thing is, I do, too.

For good or bad, I'm a country girl. Being in the woods, lifting my face to the rain, allowing the sun to warm my face or the breeze to tickle my nose, listening to the wind whisper or the rain thunder on our tin roof, enjoying the water (pond, lake, river, stream, in, by, or on -- doesn't matter) -- it all makes me feel whole and alive. It's how I was raised; it's part of my nature and history; it's who I am every bit as much as my blue eyes, round countenance, and now-graying blonde hair.

I'm finally discovering how I'm wired and realizing I don't need to apologize for being who I'm designed to be.

When Chessie met the dock last week, it seemed she finally found out who she's designed to be, too.

It warmed my heart to see her find her niche, especially so young. After fifty-plus years, I'm only just finding mine.

Oh, but when we find it, we know, as does everyone around us! Chessie sure knew it; it's the joy of our design.

Now the question becomes: how do we allow her to pursue her niche and reach her potential?

Any of our dock-jumping readers out there have any ideas? We'd welcome your input.

In the meantime, we'll just keep doing what we're doing and hoping to taste more joy along the way.

'til next time,
Joan

Oh Boy! It's Cottage Time!!!

2011-08-05T11:21:00.002-04:00

Note from the Canine Kids:

Oh boy! Momma Joan says we get to go to the cottage today! And we get to stay for a few whole days! Ohboyohboyohboyohboyohboyohboy!

That means we get to swim and jump off the dock and we get to swim and play in the lily pads and we get to swim and wade in the mucky mud and we get to swim and make big splashes and we get to swim and race each other to the floating retrieving dummies and we get to swim and paddle around in really deep water and we get to swim and walk on dirt roads (and get even more muddy) and we get to swim and soak our humans and we get to swim and...*breath*...oh, and did we mention we get to swim????

So we're going away for a few days:

(l-r: Kenya, Elsie, Puppy Tuc at a year old, and Pinot)

But we'll be back by the end of next week:

(l tor: Pinot, Tuc, Elsie, Kenya)

Ooooo, we almost forgot: this will be Chessie's first time at the cottage (the youngin'). She loves to swim, too, but she's never tried swimming at The Lake. :) Tuc learned how to swim at the The Lake, as did Elsie, Kenya, and Pinot (click the links under our names to see us when we were learning, like, ages ago). The Lake is our favoritest place in the whole wide world.

Well, except for any other place our humans might be.

Oh, and Momma Joan says she'll take lots of pictures. That's when she puts that big black boxy thingy in front of her face so we can't see her anymore. We don't like that, so we nudge it away to give her kisses. She likes kisses. But when we're swimming we really don't notice it much.

That's all.

TTFN!

Elsie, Kenya, Pinot, Tuc, and the Squirt (aka Chessie).

Change

2011-08-04T15:36:00.001-04:00

I hate change.

No, correct that: I hate some change (not all change is bad).

Long-time Reader knows that, for the last three years, change has seemed to be our only constant here in LabTails Land. We've seen puppies whelped and puppies die; we've reared litters and released them; we've welcomed canine critters into our family and watched them grow, develop, mature, get sick, sustain injuries, recover well, and not recover at all. We've learned, grown, adapted, and then adapted some more.

And just when I think I've gotten a handle on things (whatever the "things" are), it shows up again: change.

People change; relationships change; jobs change; health statuses change; our bodies change; our finances change; technology changes; our vision changes; our priorities change; seasons change; society changes; the world changes.

We change.

It's not that change is bad; it's that it requires us to keep up. And keeping up (for me) lately seems more and more like I'm walking on a set-too-fast-for-me treadmill. I shorten my stride and quicken my pace, but I still end up gasping and wobbling and feeling like I'm about to fall off.

It wears me out and scares me.

And sometimes, just sometimes, it makes me want to give up all together.

But then the Tuc Bubby pulls a "butt-in-ski," or Chessie cocks her head with that how-can-you-resist-me-I'm-only-a-puppy expression, or Elsie leans her heart-warming heft into my side, or Kenya shows me her bone (isn't she special?), or Pinot drops a ball at my feet and gazes at me with expectant adoration.

And then I remember:

The love of our Labs doesn't change.
Their affection for and interest in us never wavers.
They covet our companionship, listen to our laments, appreciate our kindnesses, suffer our shortcomings, and forgive us our faults.
They accept us (and take us) as we are.
They weather our wanderings and welcome our returns.
They greet us happily as if we're all that matters in this world.
They comfort us and confound us and coopt our hearts.
They want us, ...
and they put up with us, too.
They remain forever and for always ours (or more accurately we remain...theirs).

Indeed, they remind me that some things (the greatest and most important things) never change: things like love and hope and faith. And those unchanging things steady me when life leaves me behind (I've been feeling left behind a lot lately).

I guess change doesn't have to be so bad after all then, not when I know I have something unchanging to hang on to. I do, you know. We all do. I just forget.

If only I'd remember.

And that's where Labs come in.

Where's my Tuc Bubby? I could use a butt-in-ski reminder once again.

'til next time,
Joan

Wordless Wednesday: Ridge (3/26/01-7/11/11) With us in body since spring '04; with us in heart forever.

2011-07-13T15:52:00.003-04:00

We Love and Miss You, Ridgers (Barnes' MountainRidge Hunter: March 26, 2001 - July 11, 2011)

2011-07-12T13:30:00.008-04:00

I started LabTails in January 2005 at a time when, after writing for others and for publication, I decided I needed a place where I could write regularly for fun. Just for me.

The entries here were never intended to be literary masterpieces; they were only meant to allow me to process (in written words) lessons I learned from living and sharing life with our Labrador retrievers. Maybe, too, they would give me a giggle along the way.

Much to my surprise, folks in Cyberland (all over the world) started reading our little blog, and some have continued with us through six-and-a-half years. A few have become treasured friends.

Long-term readers know we began our LabTails journey with only three Labs: Baxter, who came to us as a wee pup in 2003; Ridge, who we acquired at 3 years of age in 2004; and (at that time) puppy Elsie who, in September, 2004, arrived a few months after we brought Ridge into our lives. Snickers, the cat, also made an occasional appearance, but the focus here was our life with Labs. Baxter, Ridge, and Elsie were the original three. Theirs were the tales I told in those early entries.

Much has changed since:

Baxter no longer lives with us. He belongs heart and soul to our daughter and her husband, and has since 2008.
Snickers, the cat, lives with them, too. We've been cat-less and Baxter-less for three years now.
Elsie, who was six months old at the birth of LabTails, turned seven years old today. Happy birthday, Elsie!
We added Kenya to the mix in October, 2006 (born 8/5/06).
Elsie whelped her first litter in 2007, from which we added Pinot to our gang.
Baxter moved away to Maine in the summer of 2008 with my newlywed daughter and her hubby; he was officially theirs.
I flew to AZ to pick up our Tuc buddy in July 2008 (born May 15, 2008) not long after Baxter left us. I don't know for sure, but perhaps Tuc filled the void the Boos left behind. But I barely had time to enjoy Tuc's puppyhood.
A month later Elsie whelped her second litter (the infamous P-word litter) from which came lovely puppies but also from which we learned more than we ever cared to learn about the risks of puppy-rearing. Many of you fretted, wept, and rejoiced with us through those times. We're forever indebted to the families who hung in there with us.
I took a break from writing for much of 2009; it was a regroup year for me, but our Lab family (then minus Baxter, but including Ridge, Elsie, Kenya, Pinot, and Tuc) thrived.
2010 brought Kenya's first litter (and Ridge's last) from which Chessie, our first chocolate, entered our lives.
Not long after, we retired Ridge and had him neutered: no more stud days for him.
In March of 2011, just 15 weeks ago, Elsie whelped her third and final litter (Tuc's first).
Then, last Friday, Elsie was spayed. The seven-year-old gal's puppy-bearing years are behind her now.

We (you regulars readers and I) have walked through much together over the years, but in all that time I've never had to say a final goodbye to any one of our gang.

Until now.

That changed yesterday when, after a sudden, rapid decline, dramatic weight loss, and lots of time at the vet's the last two weeks, our suddenly-cancer-riddled Ridge was ready to leave us for good. He went comfortably and quietly, nestled in against DH's lap with DH, DSD, and I stroking and assuring him. Our beloved Dr. Wagner gently and tenderly eased Ridge over the Rainbow Bridge and wept with us as we said goodbye.

I've decided, however, that instead of writing about grief and loss and heartache, I'd rather celebrate a Lab-life well-lived. Ridge's was such a life.

So, my next post will be a series of photos (much like I put up on FB for those who follow us there) capturing the beauty, loyalty, athleticism, devotion, faithfulness, silliness, and ... yes ... the peculiarities of our now-gone-but-never-forgotten-and-always-loved Ridge.

Run well and free, sweet boy. We miss you bunches, but we'll forever carry you in our hearts.

Until next time,
Joan

Time Waits for No One (Canine or Human)

2011-07-08T11:45:00.002-04:00

Okay, so I'm a week late starting up again. Hey, at least I'm here!

Regular Reader knows puppy Libie (the former Miss Lime from Elsie's March litter) is visiting for these two weeks while her family is on vacation. Watching Libie romp and play and get into things has brought back all kinds of memories from Elsie's puppyhood.

What follows are pictures of ELSIE (not Libie who's visiting), born July 12, 2004, taken in the fall of 2004 when Elsie was just a pupster:

Elsie was a snugly pup (shown here at about eight weeks old nestled with DH).

She found a favorite hiding place under the roll-top (it was like a cave). :O)

By nine weeks old, she loved sitting on the hill -- something she still does daily. The now-old gal sits and listens and watches the world go by.

Shown above at nearly 10 weeks old, Elsie loved wrassling with Baxter (who now lives with our daughter and her hubby and has for the past three years).

Ridge, even though he was only three-and-a-half years old at the time (he was born March 26, 2001), held a special affection for Elsie, and he put up with quite a bit of impishness from her. He still does.

Elsie loved snuggling with the Ridgers.

And Ridge seemed to enjoy her company.

Between ten and twelve weeks old, Elsie was all imp. Yes, even the staid Elsie Bear could be a handful.

She liked hanging out with Baxter, who was only a year older than she. They were buds.


By twelve weeks old Elsie started getting some legs beneath her, and that meant she could keep up with Baxter and Ridge for their romps in the yard.

But seven-year-old Elsie is a pup no more. She's whelped and raised three litters, and today (this morning, in fact) she's in surgery being spayed. Her puppy-whelping days are done.

It's difficult for me to imagine where these years have gone. Puppies grow so fast, mature, get old, and then pass on, often within ten or twelve years. During the seven years we've enjoyed Elsie so far, her litters have come and gone, my kids have passed from teenagedom into adulthood, and I...well...I've just gotten older, rounder, and a lot more gray.

Will there be more puppies for us? Probably not. Though we still plan to raise a few litters in years to come, we don't plan to add any more canines to our crew. Our child-rearing and puppy-rearing days are behind us now.

I'm not sure how I feel. Part of me is nostalgic. Part of me is looking forward to the future. Part of me wishes I could freeze time, or perhaps could have frozen time years ago.

But freezing time, that is, keeping our kids and our pups frozen at the ever-so-cute, bright-eyed, energetic, impish, filled-with-hope-and-optimism stages of childhood/puppyhood, would rob them of the very real pleasures and satisfactions of adulthood, It would deny them the joys of thriving and learning and growing and finding their wings and taking flight.

And it would rob us (and the world) of their adulthoods. Just think: if we'd been able to freeze time when Elsie was a pup, we and two dozen other families would never have known the enrichment her pups have brought into our lives. There would never have been a Pinot or Dakota or Copper or Gilliam or Midas or Mandy or Remi or Snoopi or Rudy or Red or Harley or Toby or Brady or any of the rest of the puppies she brought into this world.

There would never have been a Libie for us to enjoy these two weeks.

Perhaps it's good, then, that time waits for no one. It brings lessons, and smiles, and encouragements all its own, if we're willing to see them.

I, for one, am willing.

So I'm learning to delight in moments, one moment at a time, and I'm learning to leave the passing of time to itself. Like it or not, it is what it is. I've decided I can choose to be sadly nostalgic and long for the "good ol' days" or I can choose to embrace today and giggle along the way.

I'd much rather giggle.

Speaking of giggling, what's Libie gotten into now? *sigh..er...no...rather...giggle...*

I'd better find out. And no matter what it is, I'll find a giggle somewhere. It's just another giggle-moment opportunity amid the passing of time.

Until next time,
Joan

Libie (the former Miss Lime) Comes to Visit!

2011-06-30T10:53:00.003-04:00

♪ ♪ We're doing Camp Esherick again... ♪

Yup, we have a canine visitor for the next two weeks while said canine's humans are on vacation. Here she is, twelve-week-old Libie (pronounced Libby), the only pup from Elsie's last litter with the yellow coat, formerly known as Miss Lime:

What a cutey-puhtootie!

Surprisingly, Libie seemed to "remember" us -- or at least saw this place as strangely familiar. She recognized Elsie right away (lol... went straight for Elsie's teats!).

Libie was, of course, a bit timid when she first arrived, and she missed her humans when they left (she trotted around looking for them and whimpering a little). But she gradually settled in. Lots of love and playtime with Grandpa Don, Grandma Joan, Uncle Daniel, and Momma Elsie helped, as did a few other things (not the least of which were food and ice cubes!).

She learned that she has her very own food/water bowl here (any place with food, water, and ice cubes can't be that bad!):

She discovered she can nap next to her bowls here just like she does at home:

That said, Libie did still have a pouty moment or two when she missed her family, especially for her first few hours here:

But playing with Momma Elsie proved to be an invigorating distraction:

It was fascinating to watch Libie go from being a sweet-gentle-people-oriented-low-key puppy to becoming a full-fledged nearly adolescent canine in all-out-romp-mode while playing with Momma Elsie (who, btw, has the patience of a saint!):

Water provided another fun distraction. Libie has a "real" pool at home where she can actually swim. Here, the wading pools will have to do, and (in a pinch) there's always the water buckets:

If she gets really bored, she can always wait on the top of the steps to pounce on unsuspecting Kenya:

Or she can play hard-to-get with Elsie:

All-in-all, it's going very well. And it's great fun to see one of Elsie's pups again. Libie will be with us for just two short weeks (which, I'm sure, will feel like forever to her family), so we'll have plenty of adventures to share.

Many thanks to Libie's family for allowing us the privilege of enjoying their "little girl" while they're away. She'll do just fine!

Next up: what's happening with the regular canine crew. We have lots to tell!

Until then,
Joan

And Then There Were None: Master Green Finds his Forever Family, Too

2011-06-05T09:58:00.003-04:00

Well, we are officially puppy-less now (if you don't count one-year-old Chessie and three-year-old Tuc!). Master Green found his forever family, and we couldn't be more pleased.

He's entering a loving, experienced-with-Labs PA family that includes his new human mom and dad, three teenage girls, and their lovely five-year-old-in-need-of-a-buddy yellow Lab (a new big brother of sorts, which will be wonderful for Master Green). The placement seems perfectly suited for humans and canines alike.

Here's Master Green (new name as yet undecided) with his new humans:

This pup is going to be loved to pieces and trained very well, and (truth be told) I could never have let him go if I wasn't absolutely convinced of the "rightness" (if you will) of the fit for him and his new humans. I'm tickled both for Master Green and his family. It's all good. It's all very good.

So, the pups have found their fabulous forever homes, and we've reclaimed our deck, our kitchen, our time, and (finally) our sleep -- but only as much as six canine critters and "normalcy" will allow. It's not a bad trade. But we'll miss the little guys.

We do, however, get to hold on to the satisfaction of knowing we did all we could to give these pups a solid start in life. To boot, we've experienced the joy of watching them whelped, of seeing them develop, of loving and nurturing them, and of raising them through their first two months of life -- a privilege for sure, and one we treasure and carry with us.

And let's not forget "puppy therapy." Indeed, "there is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face."

I would add "there's also no joy like watching a puppy you've raised lick the faces of his new humans, knowing all too well the the mutual delight they're going to find in each other for years to come." When it's right, it's really right. And it is so for all of this litter's puppies.

That makes the letting go manageable. I could never do it otherwise.

So it's all good. And now we're back to our life with six Labs and even more life lessons for them to teach us.

And so it goes.

Until next time,
Joan

Nine Weeks Old: Curiousity and Caution

2011-06-03T19:21:00.002-04:00

Here's our handsome Master Green, now officially nine weeks old. Yes, that's a dry-puppy-food-crumb goatee you see there; I interrupted his dinner last night to take this shot.

Like all nine-week-olds, Master Green is inquisitive, but he's developing more caution. Puppies move into a fear imprint phase between nine and twelve weeks of age, so it's a tender time for him right now.

We continue to be impressed with these pups' intelligence and trainability (Momma Teece, Tuc has done you proud!). Master Green (and Master Yellow when he was here) figured out very quickly how to ask to be let inside (where it's cooler since we have AC indoors). And both pups took to crate training and housebreaking well (with only mild protests). Master Green consistently sits on command now, waits on command, sits automatically for his food and ice cubes, and is quite eager to learn. He's a joy to work with.

He occasionally has his moments of appearing to be an old soul -- pensively watching the world go by.

Low-key and easy-going, he doesn't seem like a nine-week-old. I admittedly forget sometimes.

He seems to be developing a nice blend of desire to please and people orientation, but also a contentment to be on his own. I'm probably growing way too fond of this little guy. If we felt we could keep him and still do him justice, we would in a heartbeat. It's going to be very difficult to let him go, but we know it's best for him and will give him a greater likelihood of reaching his potential.

Nine weeks old is also still time of discovery. But not every discovery is a fun discovery! What Master Green failed to realize when he stuck his head in the bucket was that this particular bucket is the poo-patrol bucket (where DH collects the poo from the yard when he's on poo-patrol).

It didn't take him long to decide not to go any farther with his bucket exploration.

Oh, but there's a big world beyond the bucket just waiting to be enjoyed (and it's safe because Daddy Don is close by!).

Master Green on patrol.

And spotting Momma Joan with the camera.

There he is; the old soul again.

Perhaps his favorite discovery this week is a bit of cheese wedged inside a bone. Though our dogs don't ever get table food, we do occasionally use cheese as a treat or training incentive. It appears Master Green will be quite cheese motivated.

Sweet, silly, smart, adorable, snuggly little boy: he's going to make a fabulous addition to some forever home someday (hopefully sooner than later, or I'll be hopelessly attached!).

A brief update: we've received a few inquiries about Master Green this week, a couple of which for various reasons would not have been the best match (but that we thankfully did not have to make decisions about -- the interested parties came to that realization themselves).

We do have a potential forever-family coming to look at him tomorrow, and we'll see how things unfold then. In the meantime, I'm treasuring our time with the little guy. No doubt about it (no matter how much I try to deny it): I'm really going to miss him.

Stay tuned!

Until next time,
Joan

And Then There Was One

2011-06-02T21:01:00.000-04:00

Well, here they are yesterday, the indomitable duo (who could be quite impish when together -- shown here nabbing my camera strap while I'm taking the picture). They've been doing just fine without their sibs, seeming to acclimate quite well. Both boys have been crate training successfully, too, going nearly six hours at night now accident-free! :) Such sweet, smart little boys!

We're delighted, however, that Master Yellow has found his forever home now, too (he left us this evening). His new family includes not just his experienced-Lab-owners humans, but a new canine buddy, too (a 2-year-old beagle). The placement seems ideal -- a great match all around, and we're tickled for Master Yellow (as yet unnamed) and his new owners.

No worries about Master Green being lonely, though. He's surrounded by people (here with DFS on the sofa) and the rest of the canine crew (Pinot shown above). And, by temperament, he's quite content to be on his own. He often quite happily lies down by himself (he'll just as happily snuggle, too!).

And being the last to go has its advantages: more room in the pool, for starters.

Until Pinot decides she wants to get in too (look out Master Green!).

The other dogs are quite tolerant of Master Green. Here Pinot puts up with him, even when Master Green thinks he can try nursing!

Having only one pup left also means Momma Elsie can snag a few toys (sometimes more than one at a time!).

And it means loads of 1:1 affection and training time with Momma Joan and Daddy Don.

Oooo... and Master Green is quite happy to relax and enjoy dining at his own pace without having to worry about someone one else coming and sampling his dinner. :)

So it's all good. It's been a little hectic here the last few days, but all is well. And we're absolutely thrilled with the pups placements so far.

Now we just have to wait and see who Master Green's forever family will be. :)

Until next time,
Joan

And Then There Were Two

2011-05-28T15:01:00.001-04:00

We're down to having just Master Green and Master Yellow now; Miss Pink, Miss Lime, Master Red, and Master Blue have gone to live with their forever families, and we couldn't be more delighted for them (wonderful, well-suited placements all!). :)

Their exits began Wednesday afternoon with Miss Lime, who was the first to leave. She is finding her forever home in New Jersey with one of DH's co-workers and her family (including three children ranging from eight to thirteen years old). Her new mom e-mailed us yesterday to let us know all was well and that Miss Lime is now called "Libie" (short for "Libuse" which is of Czech origin). Here's Libie with her forever mom, taken on Wednesday when it was time to leave us:

We suspect Libie will fit right in with her new family and will enjoy a wonderful life there. And DH will be able to get regular updates about her at work! :)

Master Red, now called Toby (I think that's how it's spelled), left us for a wonderful home not too far away. His forever dad called us yesterday to let us know how well Toby has been doing. :) We're tickled with the mutual joy they're finding (and will undoubtedly find) in each other. Here's Toby with his new dad:

Toby is entering a family full of love (and grandkids!) and solid Lab experience, and I suspect he and his new dad will end up being special buds for many years to come. :)

Thursday brought Miss Pink's turn to meet and go with her family, also to New Jersey. It was beastly hot here on Thursday (and very humid), so Miss Pink wasn't quite herself when her family arrived (I felt awful!). But by the time the details were done and they were ready to go Miss Pink was up to her usual "pip"-ness. She's entering a caring, active family with loads of Lab experience, and where she'll be loved to pieces and (we suspect, in time) will become her new dad's special hunting companion.

As of the writing, we don't know Miss Pink's new name, but we know she's being loved and enjoyed and well cared for.

Then last evening, it was Master Blue's turn. Now called "Brady" he has a new best friend in his new 2.5 year old human pack member. Brady and his new little human played and romped and played while they were here (and last week, too, when the family came to look at the pups), and Brady was absolutely fabulous with him (well-behaved, submissive, and seeming to recognize that this little human buddy wasn't quite as big and strong as big humans). It's amazing how Labs just seem to know.

We couldn't ask for a better placement for Brady. His new mom and dad seem like wonderful people, and they're tickled with him and with his interactions with their son. We, in turn, are tickled with the home they'll be providing him.

So that leaves two: Master Green and Master Yellow. No inquiries or leads for them yet, but we know they have special families awaiting them somewhere. In the meantime, they'll hang here with us, and we'll begin potty/crate training, and will continue working on basic manners and obedience 1:1 with them, too. Both are handsome, lovely boys who, like the rest, love ice cubes, especially in this heat!

So that's the latest on the pups. :)

With placements like these -- wonderful, attentive, caring owners who love Labs and who we know will do right by the pups -- it's easy (well... relatively) for me to let go. Oh sure, I shed a tear or two (I do love the little guys), but we raise them to bring joy to others, and that's exactly what's happening. It's what we breed them to do.

We have no doubt the pups will reach their full potentials with the families they've been given.
So, a hearty thanks to the families (and please do remember we're here for you should you have any questions or if things arise or even just to touch base). We're glad you're part of our extended Lab family now, and we truly couldn't be more pleased.

Now, the other two puppies need my attention. And so it goes.

Until next time,
Joan

The Magic Levitating Yoda!

2011-05-26T15:39:00.000-04:00

We had no idea Miss Pink, who leaves us in about two hours, was capable of levitating! What a girl!

Eigth Weeks Old! Our Last Day as a Litter!

2011-05-25T16:14:00.001-04:00

Miss Pink enjoys an early morning romp with the stuffed pheasant.

I'm gonna miss you, Daddy Don. But I know my new family will love me lots.

I'm gonna miss you, too, Daddy Don. But my new family will love me lots, too!

Daddy Don (aka, DH) enjoys his last early morning puppy therapy (6 a.m.).

The fleecy stuffed alligator belongs to Miss Pink. Or at least she thinks so.

Sarah (aka, DSD), enjoys one final puppy lap time.

Aren't I handsome in my new blue collar! I'm a big boy now, and I can do steps!

The girls.

Miss Lime can handle the big steps; Miss Pink isn't quite so sure.

Maybe not.

Well...maybe...

There's one!

Oooooo... that's two!

Threefourphewgladthat'sdone!

Momma Joan hides behind the tree, and then she calls us. We have to find her without being able to see her. That helps us learn to follow sound.

If we keep out bottoms on the ground, Momma Joan will give us a treat!

The view from above.

Master Green on the prowl.

Momma Joan is playing follow the leader! Oh boy!

Master Yellow ascends the big steps.

She's a big girl with her big girl collar on!

Master Yellow, Miss Pink and Master Blue

Master Yellow got the polka dot collar since we couldn't find a yellow collar.

Our last puppy pile, just before Miss Lime's new mommy arrived.

Watcha doin' Momma Joan?

Master Red is our water baby! :) It was a hot one today!

Almost Ready to Go: Seven-and-a-half Weeks Old

2011-05-23T16:06:00.002-04:00

I took most of these photos this afternoon (just not the ones with DH enjoying puppy therapy), and I'd like to get them up so their families can see them, so I won't take the time to caption them. Just know that the pups are thriving, and we're enjoying our last few days with them.

Miss Lime and Master Red leave us Wednesday; Miss Pink leaves us Thursday; and Master Blue leaves us Friday. All are going to ideal, couldn't-ask-for-better placements with which we're delighted.

We're still looking for those special forever homes for Master Yellow and Master Green. But all is well.

Here they are being puppies (the puppy in the pics without a rickrack collar is Master Green)! Just click on each photo to enlarge it. Enjoy!

Outdoor Fun on a Sunny Day - Seven Weeks Old!

2011-05-21T14:34:00.001-04:00

Master Yellow meets the shower hose!

Master Green lost his rick-rack...sweet gentle boy!

Miss Pink gets ready for a nap!

It's wasn't me! Honest!

Miss Pink really wants to nap!

Big brother (quite literally) has other ideas.

Yomp!

Master Green lounges in the shade. :)

"Red, knock it off! I really want to sleep!"

"Okay, Pink! Uncle!" (Miss Pink has a Napoleon complex!)

*Pouts* Pink won't play with me.

Someone, who shall remain nameless, enjoyed nosing around in the dirt.

Miss Pink found another place to nap.

Brothers (Master Blue and Master Red)

Say "cheese," Master Blue.

"CHEESE!"

Such sweet, handsome, impish pups! What changes, and in just seven weeks!

Until next time,
Joan

Speechless Saturday: Miss Lime and the Little Lime Man!

2011-05-21T13:59:00.000-04:00

We've Found Our Voices

2011-05-21T11:20:00.000-04:00

The sun finally came out this morning, so we had to get the kiddie pool out (still pictures to follow later today).

But after playing a bit in the pool, Miss Pink, Master Yellow, and Master Blue decided to demonstrate their vocal skills in a good old fashioned puppy-barking match!

Such ferocious puppies (it's too funny to watch these little guys do this, so I had to catch it on video).

Here they are, in two installments, complete with competing vocals (make sure your sound is on):

Is there anything more entertaining than puppies???

'til next time,
Joan

Learning to Come

2011-05-21T09:27:00.000-04:00

Even though we've had a rainy week, we were able to occasionally (rarely) get the pups out for romps in the yard.

One of the basic commands the pups need to learn is "here" (or "come") -- the command to return to their humans.

Puppies are so people-pleasing oriented that it doesn't take much for them to want to come, but we do try to help them transition to the terms they'll use later on.

We start with a high-pitched "puppies" when they're first starting on puppy food to help them associate being called with reward. :)

That progresses to "puppies, here puppies" then to "here puppies" then to just plain old "here." The new owners can help the pups learn their new names by inserting the name after puppies. For Chessie, for example, we started her the same way, then added "here, puppy Chessie." Once she got that, we dropped the word puppy, and simplified it to "here, Chessie."

Here's a brief video of their start on the "here" command (people use "come" too -- either is fine).

Note that sweet Master Red, unbeknownst to Daddy Don, was in the middle of a potty stop when Don called, but he caught up quickly. And again, please excuse my ridiculous high-pitched puppy voice; they seem to hear and be able to locate it better than my regular voice.

Enjoy!

Rainy Days - Oh My!

2011-05-21T09:12:00.000-04:00

We've had a few solid days of rain this week, and that makes for really rammie puppies. Now that they're bigger (7 weeks old now), they really need space to run, but the rains have been too heavy. During the few moments we had of lighter rain (notice dry deck where pups are and wet deck outside the pen), I was at least able to get them outside.

One of the skills we try to help the pups learn before they leave us is how to navigate steps. Sometime we use a step-aerobic block; other times (like above) we use a sturdy, non-tipping set stool. Master Green has staked his claim on the step stool. Like Snoopy playing vulture from his doghouse, Master Green perches on the stool.

Inside, the poor little pups just want people attention.

Happy Master Yellow still needs his forever home; but what a happy, indomitable boy he is!

He doesn't take his eyes off us when we're in the room with them.

Nor does Master Green (who also needs his forever home -- all the other pups are reserved now).

"Go ahead; make my day!" (Note Miss Lime's expression)

"Well, maybe not; let's just be friends.' (note change in Miss Lime's expression)

And Master Green watches the world go by, while Master Red prances.

This can't be comfortable for Master Green! (Sorry about the glare on this series of pics; I was trying to capture the pups without them knowing I was there, so I took these through the back door window.).

The thinker.

"Watcha doin' Red?"

The pups get bored and restless together indoors (Yellow is sitting; Pink is looking over her shoulder). So we've done all kinds of things this week during our rainy days. We had our first doggie biscuit treats; we've worked 1:1 on some basic obedience (smart little puppies); we've pulled out even more puzzle toys (Labs love a challenge); we've even exposed them to rain! And all have done marvelously!

View of Six and Seven Weeks Old -- Real Puppies Now!

2011-05-19T14:43:00.002-04:00

So grown up! (l to r: Master Yellow, Miss Pink, Master Green, and Master Blue)

The little cutey! Masters Yellow and Green still need to find forever homes (the rest are reserved and have fabulous situations awaiting them!).

Master Green (front), Master Blue (rear). We discovered that Master Blue has a small umbilical hernia that should self-correct in time, but also that it can be easily repaired when he's neutered at six months old if it doesn't resolve itself. We're delighted to report Master Blue has found his forever family (an ideal placement for him, we think). We've also made Master Green available for sale now, too (after holding him back and watching him a bit longer since he seemed a little slower to develop than the rest). Both boys are just fine (and wonderfully sweet and low-key). Our vet isn't concerned about either one, nor are we. They've been medically cleared for adoption, and we're confident the right forever home is out there for Master Green.

Well,..heehee..., the idea in these two weeks is that Momma Elsie will teach her little ones some canine manners. Me thinketh she perhaps-eth need-eth to be a bit more firm!

She is, however, good about not letting the pups nurse any longer (they're weaned). Here she is pushing Master Blue away. :)

Such good puppies (learning to sit to wait for us). :)

Some puppies (who shall remain nameless) can hog the food bowl (time to start individual bowl feedings!).

Some puppies (who shall also remain nameless) like hogging the kibble that gets knocked out of the feeding pan, too.

Oh, but said nameless pups can't hog it all!

We feed food hogs to the big dogs. :0 ) KIDDING! We introduce all the pups to the older dogs and eventually allow them to play together (one big dog at a time) to learn better canine interaction skills.

Oh boy! A new furry wiggly toy! Heehee...

Sniff...sniff-sniff...sniff....

Ooo... someone opened the door!

Forget canine manners! Let's get Mom!! :)