LESS TREATS

 I have used the dogs kibble food as treats for a long time and now they expect them for everything. I need to get them to not look for the treats so much. Even Skye who is 11 weeks is into the treats. Amazing how fast she has become a member of the pack.  When they come up early morning to have coffee with me, they immediately look for the treats. They have become too focused on the treats and not on settling down and just spending time with me. All my dogs are very food oriented and sometimes that is good but at other times it takes over and that is not good. I am going to cut them back to no treats in the morning. For now I use one small handful that I scatter and they love looking for it. For this week each morning I will cut back even more and eventually they will not look for them and just be content to be in the kitchen with me. I have done this to them and really need to retrain them to not expect a treat every morning. They get worked up and it takes awhile for them to settle down. So my goal for the end of month is to have dogs that join me for my morning coffee, who come up quietly and find their spot and lie down. I know Skye will not be able to do that yet. She has too much energy and curiosity about every thing. But she has not been getting the treats for very long and it may be easier for her to forget about them. It is amazing how fast a puppy learns.So I trained my dogs for a bad habit so I need to be very thoughtful on how I train. Retraining is not so easy. It can be done. I can't give in to their eyes or their pleading for treats. It is so hard to ignore the look on their faces, and Shelties really do know how to make you feel bad.

Everyone take care and be safe. Covid is not gone yet and we have to be respectful of everyone. 

All for now!!

SKYE

 Skye is the little girl who struggled to live, she had such a will, it was unbelievable. I tube fed her round the clock every two to three hours to keep her going. By her second week she was starting to nurse and I would separate the others while she nursed. One night she started to fade and I did what I could for her, glucose to keep her from dehydrating, feeding right before bed time. When I went to bed that night I was so sad as I thought for sure she would be gone. She was still with us in the morning. I had some puppy nutrocal which was vitamins and minerals for fading pups. I started with that, and went back to the tube. I had tried a bottle with her and she just did not like it at all. She started to improve, so I made sure that along with the feeding she nursed every two hours. This is what kept her going. She started to really grow and when she nursed she hung on for dear life. Her little brother that I had been feeding had really picked up fast, nursed along with her. By the time she was three weeks I knew she was going to make it. I still had her nurse without the others as that is what really brought her along. I started baby cereal early as the substance would be good for all the pups. Skye had her own little dish and was eating very well. I finally could relax. Now at 10 weeks, she is still very small but as feisty as they come and she makes me smile all the time. Bonnie was done with the pups at three weeks which is not usual. I had to hold her for them to feed and I did that until they were over four weeks and then I stopped. She had been so overwhelmed with so many pups and just did not enjoy being a mother. But now she and Skye actually play a little and I believe Bonnie realizes that Skye is hers.At eight weeks they went for their vet check. Skye had developed a cough and you could hear her breathing. I did not like the sounds of that, she could not get her shot as she had pneumonia and had to be treated. Fourteen days of antibiotics and she is fine. She has learned her name, knows go potty on the papers, too cold for her to go out yet and she knows "are you hungry"? All the pups learned that so quick. I would get them out to play in the morning while I fixed their breakfast and I would ask them if they were hungry, it was so cute, they would all sit around me and watch the food get ready.

Skye went for a check up on Monday and she is all clear of any illness. She had her shot and is so full of energy. Looking back I would not want to go through that again, ever. It was so stressful and Bonnie was so overwhelmed. Shelties don't have litters of 11. I was fortunate to raise 9 of the 11 pups.

Skye was worth every bit of the stress and I know all the other pups are making their owners happy and keep them smiling too.

Take care and be safe!

                                  Cookie please!

TIME FOR REST

 All my pups are settling into their new homes and some already understand house training. I am very thankful for the two families who each took a pup with a head tilt, the pups are doing very well and thriving. Thank you to everyone!

The little girl Skye is with me, she is such a character, full of herself. She makes me laugh all the time. The dogs have been so good with letting me sleep until five thirty. It really helps. 

I have really been on the fence about breeding again and Topaz is in heat, I did breed her and I believe this will be my last litter. It was hard to get motivated for this but I have so many who have been waiting for a pup. The one plus is that pups will be born in better weather. Topaz never has more than 4 or 5 pups so should be much easier than Bonnie's litter. I will be well rested by then and hopefully up to the job. 

I am ready to get my agility equipment out and do some fun things with the dogs. Hopefully the second half of this winter goes as quickly as the first half went.

Skye is learning sit and come, she is very quick and loves to do what you ask. Just too cold to take her out so will wait for a little warmer weather to get her out to potty. She is very good with the paper and goes right to it, with lots of praise. I love having the one puppy and hope you all are enjoying your pups. 

I have heard that the regular spring dog shows in Maine have been cancelled due to the covid so I guess it will be another year before we have some local shows. Maybe some virtual training and that works out pretty well.The AKC has set up some virtual shows so that you can get a title that way. If you go to the AKC website you will find many things you can do with your dog. 

Bling is finally getting used to the pup, she just does not like pups at all and I have to watch closely. All the other dogs are good with Skye. Even the other seniors, and Rosie who is nine years old will play with the pup. She has always loved puppies. Bonnie actually played with her puppy. She has not interacted with her pups since three weeks. I was happy to see her play with Skye and be nice.

Another place to find some training help is Susan Garrett's "Say Yes Dog Training blog" Lots of good ideas and for puppies too.

I am on my second cup of coffee and everyone is lying in their favorite spot, it is very peaceful this morning.

I do have to watch Topaz when I get up from the computer, she loves to get my mug, and slurp down my coffee. I forget sometimes and leave my mug on the edge of the desk. She takes every opportunity to have a sip of coffee. 

Everyone be well and be safe!

SKYE

He won't talk to me!

HAPPY PUPS VERY HAPPY MOM

 I have to say that I am very blessed with the families that have come for my puppies. I know the pups will be well loved and safe. It makes all the heart ache and stress over this litter worth it. 

I still have a little tri boy who has a head tilt, did some testing and all comes back negative. Since Bonnie actually carried 11 pups there is no telling how these pups were packed in there. She raised nine of the eleven and that was still too much for her. Tons of supplementing  pups and helping her out. Bonnie will be spayed soon and I may consider a home for her if she can be where she has a job to do. A hard decision to make.

I do want a loving home for the tri boy, when he looks at you his head tilts. He has a lovely temperament and is a pretty boy. He eats and plays with the other pups, totally normal except for the head tilt. I am thinking when he is a little older acupuncture may help him. He is not for sale but I do want someone who can devote time to him. Just as you would with any other pup.

I do have the last pup to sell, he is a blue merle pup and a lovely clear blue, full white color and just enough color on his face. He was sold but the person purchasing him has to have surgery so the sale fell through. 

At the least this litter has been an experience, after 40 years of breeding Shelties, something new pops up. This is why I am having second thoughts on breeding again. I know there are people waiting on Topaz and now that she is in heat I may go ahead this one time. Maybe in two months time I will be ready for one litter of pups. 

Again I am so thankful for all the wonderful families that came for my pups. 

Everyone be safe and be well!

Blue boy in the back.

PUPPIES DOING NICELY

 Finally the two little ones that I have been had feeding are eating on their own and keeping up with the others. It has been a long road, the litter was just too big and Bonnie just too overwhelmed. Plus she did not enjoy being a mother. Pups are being chosen and will be going home to their new owners in another 10 days. I know I will miss them especially when they all sit around me in the morning and I am asking them if they are hungry. I think this is their favorite meal of the day, after the night they are really ready to eat. 

I had a pup present a head tilt at three weeks, it has cleard up some but not totally. I will have him checked out well when the pups go for their shots. He is the sweetest and most tuned into me as any of the pups. When I come in the room he immediately knows that I am there. He does everything that the other pups do, he plays, runs and chases the others, picks up toys., just a love. He is slowly out growing the tilt but I don't know if he will totally. I hope in time as he improves I will find someone who will fall in love with him and give him a home for his lifetime.It is entirely possible that as he matures he will outgrow the tilt and be normal. I don't think I have ever had such a sweet puppy. I call him Oliver, and he is learning his name. He will keep Skye company for awhile, she is the little girl that I had to tube feed to keep going. She is doing well, eating on her own and growing. She will be staying here permanently. Too many nights that she started to fade and I had to work hard to bring her back. 

This has been quite the litter, I am ready to take a break from breeding. I hope to breed Topaz in the spring but believe that will be my last litter. I am ready to enjoy my dogs and just spend time with them.

I have been breeding for many years, almost 40 and I always bred to improve the breed and would keep the best pup to go on with. One of my main goals was to produce happy and healthy pups. 

Now that I am getting close to the time for the pups to go to their new homes, I plan to start training Bonnie again. She remembers so much and she loves to work.

Hope that everyone is staying safe and is well.

Skye playing tug with another pup!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

 It has been a long road but all the pups are eating on their own and have graduated to puppy food. They are developing personalities and are in the OH SO CUTE STAGE. They have yet to run in the kitchen but this week that is the goal. They will be five weeks on Sunday and they are all ready to run. The littlest one will run and play and then just fall asleep. It is the cutest thing. She is only1 and1/2 pounds and I never thought she would make it. She is too small to be adopted, she needs a lot more time with me and probably will be here forever. Sometimes these little ones grow but the kidneys do not keep up so we have to watch for that. 

Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and New Year.  Hopefully in the new year I will be able to write more.

One of the hand fed babies, catching up!

GOING BETTER

 I have now graduated from every three hours of feeding to every four hours. The little ones are doing well. They have learned to nurse as long as the bigger pups are out of the way. So I take half of the pups, the biggest ones and put them in my little box with the heating pad. Then the two little ones and the two medium ones can nurse all they want without being pushed away. They must do pretty well during the night as they often have full tummy's in the morning. Bonnie is not confined with her babies, she is able to come and go as she wants. This works well for her because if she is confined she will spin and that creates havoc for her and the pups. When she can get in and out she is perfect. Not sure what I will do in another week when the pups are able to get out, even  accidentally.That will take some thought. I have always had mom dogs who would sleep right in the pen with the pups. I am so thankful that I did not lose power last night. I use heat lamps to keep the pups warm as they cannot adjust their body temperature for the first two weeks. I was hoping that I would not have to go out into the wind and pouring rain to hookup the generator and get it going. The power did stay on which is amazing with a storm like the one we had. We almost lose power here no mater what the weather is.

I say to Bonnie, lets go check the babies, and she will run to the other room and take a look and if they are all sleeping she will come back into the kitchen. If they are restless or crying she will go get in and check them out with her nose. She knows when they need attention. She is a good little mother.The little ones are finally growing, sometimes when I go in to feed I will get them mixed up with the medium pups. 

Tonight I will spend time brushing Sammy, their shedding times are so mixed up. But he is blowing his coat as if it was summer. So strange.

I plan on one last litter in February and then I am done breeding. I do like producing healthy, quality pups for people but I am ready for a long break.I want to spend time with my adults, do some training and have some fun with them. Litters like this one are a lot of work. Although litters of 9,10 and 11 are very unusual for Shelties. Next year I plan to expand my dog yard so they can really run and I will set up all my agility equipment. I will totally enjoy my dogs.

In another two weeks the pups will be fun; they will be learning to play and run and can be so funny. Time to socialize starts. 

Well it is almost four which means the dogs inner clocks will be going off soon and they will be wanting dinner. They don't have much patience. I will try for some good pictures soon.

Please take care and be safe. 

BONNIE AS A BABY