Wednesday, April 29, 2020

GETTING ATTACHED

I have two babies that have been here a little over a week since the other pups went to their homes.
These two will be going on Saturday and it is going to be hard. Fancy the little blue is gorgeous and Reba the little sable is
stunning.  Plus they are fun pups. I am especially attached to Fancy and that is not good. I am trying so hard not to but
it is not easy. They both know their names and are such tuned in pups. But I have to say the whole litter learned their
names quickly. A couple have been changed as I did not know what they were going to be. I have to say that keeping
two pups clean and happy is a lot easier than 11 pups. I am ready to get my house back in shape, put the puppy
pens away and concentrate on my adult dogs. They all tolerate the pups except for one and I have to separate her.
And Bonnie who is Fancy's  mom, does not like her any more. At about six weeks Bonnie decided she was done
with her pups. She would growl at them and tell them to get away. So at that time Topaz took over and tried to care for all of
them. Sometimes she would be nursing or trying to nurse all the pups.  She has turned out to be such a good mother.
I will spend the weekend putting  all the puppy stuff away. I got tired through the whole process but when they started looking
like pups I loved it.
I am ready for a year off, to get back into training Bonnie and Walter and having some fun with the others and I know
that they are ready too.
Found a couple of ticks today so be careful, they are out in full force!


Friday, April 24, 2020

THANKFUL FOR MY HOMES

I know it has been a long time since I have written but want to get caught up a little. First of all
I am very thankful that I had two litters of very healthy pups. Secondly I am very thankful for all the
wonderful homes that I have found for the pups. People came from all the New England states during
these very unsure and strange times. Everyone wanted their pups so much to come out and make the
drive during these times. I am truly blessed.
It has been a very busy eight weeks. Making sure everyone was getting their share of mothers milk
and not being pushed away. Topaz got me up every night anywhere from midnight to 4 am. Needless
to say my sleep was very interrupted. As the pups grew I made sure that they had 4 hours of playtime
in the kitchen every day. Not being able to have people in and my granddaughter who always helped
socialize pups I had to be sure that they all had the time and handling to help them become the
pups that I wanted them to be. I think that they all turned out well. A few little problems but now all
are in their homes and doing very well.
I love everyone of them, each has a special personality and will bring much joy to many families.

Hopefully I will do better with keeping the blog up.
Be safe and stay well.


Thursday, March 19, 2020

SCARY WORLD

I have been so busy with the puppies I did not realize how much time has gone by since I have written any thing. The pups are graduating to baby cereal and soon to mushy puppy food. They grow so fast. They are starting to cut teeth and the moms are not too thrilled with that. Topaz is a much better mom this time than when she had her first litter and it seems as the pups get older the more concerned a mother she becomes. Other than needing to to out in the middle of the night every night she has been good.We have that as a new routine and it sure affects your sleep. 
I have decided at this point to not have visitors to see the pups. They are still young and I want everyone safe including my self. I need to stay well in order to care for all these pups and adults that I have here. I stocked up on food so am good for about three weeks. I have plenty of dog food and puppy food. 
Very strange and scary world for sure.  The pups are developing personalities now, little bit by bit. They respond to my voice and are starting to wag their tails. The large girl in Topaz's litter really has a great tail wag, as soon as I talk to her it starts. They will be 4 weeks this weekend so only 4 more weeks they will be ready for their new homes. 
Hopefully things will not be quite so crazy in four more weeks. I will continue to take as many photos as I can, it is not easy to get good shots alone but I am doing the best that I can. 
Hope you are all careful and stay well. All for now!


Tuesday, March 3, 2020

A BUSY TIME

A busy time for sure. Topaz and Bonnie had their pups three days a part. So both litters are now 1 week 4 days and one week one day. Thankfully there were a few days between. Not much time for rest the past couple of weeks, up several times during the night to check on the girls. Topaz went into labor during the night and the first pup was born about 7:30 in the morning. It was an easy whelping which I was very happy with.
Bonnie started her labor on Saturday night and started delivery about noon time.Unfortunately this puppy was stuck, he was a big boy and breech. It took us awhile to work him out and it was rough for Bonnie. Finally he came into this world and was still living, we were not sure if he would make that birth. But he is just fine. Big and beautiful.
So Topaz has 2 boys and 2 girls, all sables, their eyes just opened today. Bonnie gave us 7 beautiful pups, such a surprise as she is such a little girl. She has 2 sable girls, 2 blue girls and 3 sable merle boys. Quite the rainbow. 
I spend a lot of time with Topaz and her babies, she is not thrilled with motherhood. She takes care of her babies but with much persuasion. I do not believe that she will have pups again. She just wants to be with me and be a pet, she is always at my feet. So some thought to her future.  But not until she has raised and litter and after much thinking about what is best for her. 
Bonnie developed diarrhea so I put her on baby rice cereal with boiled chicken  and yogurt and she loves this. Also got some really good pre and pro biotics from the vet to get her cleared up as quickly as possible.She and the pups are doing well and the diarrhea is subsiding thankfully, as there is enough drain on her with 7 nursing pups. 
I still get up at night to check on the girls and the pups. Topaz's babies are getting on their feet already, not even two weeks yet and their eyes are open, so cute to welcome them to the world. Their ears are still closed and will soon open and watching them hear things is really precious. It is amazing the difference in development that three days make. 
I am exhausted from all the lack of sleep, so try to get an hour nap in the afternoon.
That helps some.Once the pups are a little more mobile I won't worry so much.
I know it has been a couple of weeks since I wrote anything so wanted to announce the birth of the pups.
Will post pictures as they grow.
By the way I have lovely homes for all the pups. 


Saturday, February 15, 2020

TOPAZ

Now time to watch and wait for Topaz. The good thing though is that she is very pregnant. I am thankful for that. She has been getting me up between three and three thirty am every day. She needs to go out as she just can't hold things for very long. It is actually good that she lets me know. She is one of my most house trained girls, she does not want to have an accident and will go stand at the door to let me know that she needs out.
The baby monitor is now set up near her whelping box. The watching and waiting is hard as I am ready for her to get started and have an easy whelping. Her temperature continues to drop which is a good sign. I am waiting for the time that she refuses food as that is a sign that whelping will be soon. She is as comfortable as she can be, eating and drinking so all is going well. Walter is the sire and he has sired four litters which have been very pretty but this is the first litter by Walter that we will have here. I think that they will be very pretty. They compliment each other and the pedigrees do also. 
I am sure that people on my list are tired of the wait also. It will be nice for them to know if there will be a puppy for them. I choose homes that will be the best match for the puppies. I want my pups and puppy people to have a good experience and be successful!  My pups are vet checked, receive a health certificate and first shots and are guaranteed.
It is so hard to make the best decisions but I have to do what is best for the pup as it is a lifetime commitment.
I am getting pretty good at learning patience. Glory tried my patience for sure. But not her fault, things just went wrong, I know she was pregnant at the beginning and maybe she did not have enough progesterone to hold the pregnancy. When the girls get to 6 years of age or so hormones change and it is harder for them to get pregnant and to stay pregnant. I don't know if we will try again with Glory or retire her from breeding. I am sure she would love that. She loves being a full time house dog and is very happy. She house trained very quickly and is very good with no accidents at all. She is such a sweet girl and so easy to love.
I will post as soon as the pups arrive. It will be such a relief when they are here and I know they are all doing well.
So on to more waiting!! 

WALTER AND TOPAZ

Thursday, February 6, 2020

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.



Sunday, February 2, 2020

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!!