GLORY, GLORY??

I am still waiting on Glory. If she is having a false pregnancy it sure is fooling me. Early this  morning she was doing a little nesting. But it is possible she would nest even if a false pregnancy.  I truly hope it is not but I am so baffled. Her temperature is going down, as it should, but she still has a huge appetite, usually the day they whelp they do not want to eat but so far she has been chowing down. When Rosie had her false pregnancy, two times, she had all the signs but never stopped eating. All I can do is continue to wait and be patient, she is not in any discomfort or distress so it is safe to wait. I could take her for an x-ray but that is expensive and I will know soon enough if there are pups or not. I did think that I felt a pup last night. Glory is testing me for sure. She is sleeping in the whelping pen in the kitchen and everything is all set up. I have the baby monitor running at night and I can hear her every movement. This morning I did hear her digging at her blankets which she has not done so far, so maybe we are still heading in the right direction. Topaz is due the 13th so there will be puppies soon. She is definitely bred. Glory is a big girl so it is easy for her hide her pregnancy. Her waist line did expand but it is amazing how even in a false pregnancy this can happen. I will continue to get Topaz all set up and soon Bonnie who is definitely expecting too.
Being patient is very hard for me but I have no choice and I am learning.
Living with Shelties there is something new everyday. Definitely a learning experience.

PATIENCE PATIENCE PATIENCE!!!!!!!

I am pretty much ready for pups but Glory is not obliging yet. She has all the signs of pregnancy and is still very clingy. Next due date is February 6. I am sleeping Glory in the puppy pen in the kitchen and I have the baby monitor set up so I can hear everything at night. My imagination runs wild when I have to wait so long. Well I have decided that if she is not pregnant it is not the end of the world. I still have Topaz and Bonnie who are definitely expecting, but I am jumping to conclusions. Time to think positive.
On a really positive note Finn has been in his new home for three weeks and is doing so well. A little rough with developing a new potty routine but he has it now. He is also attending obedience class and doing really well. I knew he would as he is such a smart pup and loved to learn. He was a joy to work with. I could have not asked for a better home for Finn. It is perfect and I am thrilled.
My home is looking like a nursery, and I know I am going to be very busy soon. A big responsibility getting new pups off to a good start. But being busy is a good thing and a good thing for me. 
The dogs are pretty mellow this morning and that is really nice, of course when I get up to get my second cup of coffee, the chaos will start again. Topaz is my coffee thief, she loves coffee. I have to be careful to keep my cup away from the edge of the table. She loves to lap out of my cup. She is a paper thief also, any loose piece of paper she can grab she will and she will try to chew it up. She is usually successful as I am not fast enough to catch her before it is gone. I would not have it any other way. My Shelties keep me going and that is exactly what I need. They help to fill the void which is a big part of my life.
I will be sure to post pictures of the pups when they arrive.
Have a wonderful Sheltied day.

COMING SOON!!

WHERE DOES THE TIME GO??

I can't believe that it has been 15 days since I wrote here. I know where it went, I have had a visiting girl here for two weeks, and the boys were off the wall and it was a job keeping them sane. She was here for breeding and now has gone home. Things are a little more peaceful now that she is gone. During this time Finn has been in his new home and adjusting well.
Now I am getting everything ready for puppies. The girls are all expecting. Glory possibly this weekend, Topaz a week after Glory and Bonnie the week after Topaz. So I need to get my whelping pens together, and all the things I will need, heating pads, small towels to help dry the pups, thread for tying off umbilical cords. Plenty of clean bedding for the pens once they are all cleaned after whelping. Once we get to this stage I am really ready for the pups to come. It is nerve wracking and I feel so much better when each pup is delivered and doing well. I pray for strong healthy pups. The girls are all doing well and everything is going well. Just the waiting and I am not a very patient person.
During this wait time I will be cleaning ears, gluing ears on the young dogs and trimming every ones nails. Especially the seniors, their nails seem to grow so fast. 
The dogs have been getting me up at 5:30 lately and that sure is early, by noon time I feel like I have already put in an 8 hour day. I truly  hope that the pups arrive during the day. So much easier than staying up all night. But so often they like to have pups in the quiet of the night. Mother Nature is now in charge. We just wait and see what she has in store for us. 

This is Sammy, the sire of Glorys pups and Bonnies pups

THEY SURE HATE THE RAIN

It rained here yesterday like I have never seen before. Not one of the dogs wanted to go out, especially Brooke who can't stand to get her feet wet and Keeper who does not want any part of him wet. As I took him out he was looking so depressed and down, it was almost funny. He has been with me more than a year now and he just loves being a house dog and that includes not going out if he does not feel like it. I have the new kennel covering out back but even with that it was just too wet, I put everyone out as little as possible. Even when the sun came out later in the afternoon they still did not want to walk through huge puddles that buried their feet.
Can't say that I blame them, I had to put on boots to clean the yard and usually never have to do that unless we have lots of snow.
My peace is gone for another week. We have a girl in here for breeding and I was so ready to be done with that, all my girls are out of heat and the boys were behaving. So another week or so before we get back to peace again. I am keeping our visitor in the kitchen and she is not running with the pack so that helps some.
Good news is that Glory is expecting, she has had two  misses in a row so this is really exciting. The pups should be arriving early February. Glory has been my shadow for some time now and I figured that she probably was expecting, she just felt better being close. Topaz may be pregnant also but no definite signs yet and Bonnie no signs at all, as active and barky as ever.
In the next week or so I need to set up Glory's whelping and puppy pen. I will put her in the kitchen so she will be close all the time. The other two girls will go in the front room, it is a living room, no TV, and I rarely use it so Topaz and Bonnie can share the room if they both are having pups.
Finn is adjusting well in his new home and I am happy with that. It has been  bit of a challenge but he is doing well and it has only been a week. I always worry when I place a dog that is not a young puppy, so many adjustments to make and one big one is not living with other dogs. Thankfully all is going well and that is because he has a wonderful, understanding and patient family. He could not be in a better place.
Found this little poem on Face Book and I love it. Kind of explains about how I feel about my Shelties.

Because I loved them first...
I didn’t sleep
When I did it was in a whelping pen
Because I loved them first
I did all the health testing I could
I did pre and post whelping care
Because I loved them first

I miss life events, family gatherings, work, sleep and wouldn't have it any other way
My dogs come first that’s why all the questions
Because I loved them first

I cried over a still born I did cpr on for 20 min
I worried and cried and prayed over the weak and tiny ones fighting for them
I bottle fed and clean a million linens
Because I loved them first

I was the first to trim their nails
I was first to give them a bath
I gave them confidence and encouragement
Because I loved them first

I will always take them back into my home
Because I loved them first
I worry and have sleepless nights even when they go to your home
Because I loved them first

When you call me with issues
Do not feel as thou I do not care because remember
I LOVED THEM FIRST

Well Rosie is demanding breakfast, so I will get going for now and maybe write more later. When Rosie wants something she does not stop until she gets her way.

 

DOING WELL

Finn is in his new home and starting to adjust. He has a wonderful family that is very patient with him and spending a lot of time with him. He will adjust quickly with all the attention. They are  very knowledgeable Sheltie people. This is when you know that you made the right decision. I could not be  more pleased to know that Finn is in the best place possible.  
Finn is one of the prettiest dogs I have ever had and I had high hopes for him. This home is better than anything I could do for him. 
Things are finally becoming a little more peaceful here as the girls have been bred and are now out of heat and the boys are all getting back to normal. A very wild time for sure. Hopefully one of the girls will take. I am looking forward to puppies again. I love watching them develop and blossom into beautiful little Shelties. Now to watch for signs of pregnancy.
I have decided to keep a journal for Walter. It will help me stay focused on my training and remembering how the last session went. He is a smart boy and loves to learn. I hope we get a lot done before pups come as then my time will be taken up with the pups.  They will need  so much as they grow, handling, socializing, grooming. 
Now that Finn is settled and I do not have to worry about him, I can move on with the others.
The next couple of weeks I will be scrubbing down my kennel room, floors, walls and crates, it needs a good cleaning. It always feels so good to have things sparkling clean and organized. Especially organized!  
The kids are telling me that it is time for breakfast. I am a little behind schedule this morning.
So far Rose, Sam and Walter have all come up and told me it is time to eat.
So I will write more later and get them fed before chaos breaks out. They are not very patient but doing very well with waiting this morning.
All for now!