trimming toes

Nails were all trimmed today, I always forget what a awkward job it is, trying to hold pups still and safe while manouvering a pair of scissors around teeny nails. Pups as expected all were different, Gucci was not impressed, Dior argued a little and Coco pretty much slept!

They are thriving and now I am just watching for those little eyes to open!

Puppy Development Week Two (Days 8-14)

DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES

Eyes should open around days 8-10
Ears should open around days 13-17
Temperatures should be around 97-99F

Puppy Development Week One (Days 1-7)

I know I always forget when you can expect the pups to do certain things... so for the sake of my puppy people and anyone else intrested thought I would post these updates when relevant :)

(Not my development table by the way)!


DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUPPIES

90% of time spent sleeping
10% eating
Susceptible to heat/cold
Instinctive reflexes: crawl, seek warmth, nurse
They can right themselves if placed upside down
Needs stimulation for urination/defecation
Rapid development of central nervous system
Need constant care from bitch
Pups may lose 10% of weight after birth, but should start gaining again
Weight should double by end of week (Gem: this one is a bit odd as I had always heard by day eight weight should double- that one day can make all the difference)!

Hoax Winner!

So even from her whelping box Hoaxey still managed a win.

At the Club award night she won the Kismet trophy for progress and achievement in the Core group. I am so proud of my little lady. She has had an amazing year, skipping from G4?- G7, winning more at G7, qualifying for Olympia semis and winning morning warm up. Qualifying for UKA CSJ final and qualifying for and winning Tug E Nuff. Now, on top of all that she has had a stunning litter of girls. What an angel, love her so much x

Sweet little Smoketrails

They have tickly spots! This litter sure have lots of stroking and attention with just the three pups. They all have tickly spots so I will let their new owners find out where they are :-) We have already had a few visitors: Jules, Neill and Martyn have all popped in. Ok so Neill was here a bit longer and was the only one to actually hold the pups, think she has fallen in love already.

I am trying to get new owners to hold off choosing yet until they are a little older. Odd with the first litter the boys all seemed very alike at this stage (all sweet, boys)! This lot... very different. I am pretty sure already who will suit which pup and I hope the owners will take my guidance. However, I know that usually your heart and hands will pick the pup for you :-)

So three very different pups... looks and personalities.

This seems to be a gorgeous, lovely litter so far and I think I could sell these puppies three times over with all the enquiries and referals I have had! It's a lovely feeling and I just know these girls will have perfect homes.

The Making of a SUPERDOG!

Puppies are growing really well, and all are putting on weight as expected. They are so sweet and I forget what timewasters they are. They already all respond to stroking, luxuriated against our touch and snuggling into our hands. Miss Hoax is being a fantastic mum but did leave them today for a play in the garden, we did some waits and a little gentle tug... well I was gentle she is mad, ha ha! She looks really fantastic and I think she wants to get back to working already!

Started Bio-Sensor program with the pups today. Coco was ok about all of them (slight resistance to all) and actually relaxed during the Q-Tip one. As expected Gucci argued them all, major screams about the supine position though yet not that bothered about the cold towel. Dior again had slight resitance to them but nothing specific to note.

I won't block up my blog with reactions to the program every day but will pop anything of intrest on here :)

For anyone intrested you can google the program but below is a quick description:

1. Tactile stimulation -
holding the pup in one hand, the handler gently stimulates (tickles) the pup between the toes on any one foot using a Q-tip. It is not necessary to see that the pup is feeling the tickle. Stimulation 3-5 sec

2. Head held erect -
using both hands, the pup is held perpendicular to the ground, (straight up), so that its head is directly above its tail. This is an upwards position. Stimulation 3 - 5 seconds

3. Head pointed down -

holding the pup firmly with both hands the head is reversed and is pointed downward so that it is pointing towards the ground. Stimulation 3 - 5 seconds

4. Supine position -
hold the pup so that its back is resting in the palm of both hands with its muzzle facing the ceiling. The pup while on its back is allowed to sleep struggle. Stimulation 3-5 seconds.

5. Thermal stimulation -
Use a damp towel that has been cooled in a refrigerator for at least five minutes. Place the pup on the towel, feet down. Do not restrain it from moving. Stimulation 3-5 seconds.

These five exercises will produce neurological stimulations, none of which naturally occur during this early period of life. Experience shows that sometimes pups will resist these exercises, others will appear unconcerned. In either case a caution is offered to those who plan to use them. Do not repeat them more than once per day and do not extend the time beyond that recommended for each exercise. Over stimulation of the neurological system can have adverse and detrimental results.


These exercises impact the neurological system by kicking it into action earlier than would be normally expected. The result being an increased capacity that later will help to make the difference in its performance. Those who play with their pups and routinely handle them should continue to do so because the neurological exercises are not substitutions for routine handling, play socialization or bonding.

Naughty, naughty babies!

Ok this must be the most demanding litter of puppies! He he, these girls are so very noisy and pushy- they do NOT want Hoaxey to have any time so squeal for her if she dare leave them for a second, they are always feeding and wriggling. Think they are fantastic though.

Already there are a few personalities showing... one very pushy- demanding one, one sweeter cuddly one and one little lady. I know these often change as the weeks go on, we will wait and see!

Vet Visit

Coco (Chanel)

The vet came and did his checks today- all clear as suspected- yay! Hoax hated him but we got her and the pups checked over- he is really happy with how they are all doing. Poor little Dior had her rear dew claws removed but was very brave- bless.

Hoaxey is so protective over this litter and getting her to leave them- even for food or the toilet is a mission- I expected her to be more relaxed with her second litter but she is the opposite- these little girls are her angles, and loves them to bits.


Gucci



 



Dior



To new beginnings

What a day!

Hoax surprised me by going into labour four days early (Hmmm thermometer obv not been reading well)! I had just got back from my morning horse ride and collecting Ethan from Nursery. I tried to pop Ethan down for a nap and went to cuddle Hoax onthe sofa, Miss Merlie was panting and groaning- my god she was in labour and I knew pups were imminent!
Gathering myself (and all the gadgets etc) together I sat with her by the whelping box and Ethan (deciding he didnt want to nap) left on the sofa with sweeties and a movie. Calling Nic I hoped he would get home in time that I could focus on Hoax... Twas not to be and juggling changing out of riding clothes, sorting mad child and mad dogs, Hoax' first puppy arrived just over an hour after we had got home at 2.40pm, Nic got back to take over Ethan and I relaxed. First pup, dark little B&W bitch- pretty pretty! 3.10pm next pup arrives, flashy Reef- like B&W bitch- what was going on! All dogs last time... all bitches now! 3.30pm next pup is here- MERLE! little classically marked blue merle bitch- lovely. Then a loooong break, Hoax contractions werent as strong as before, in both litters she had never had more than about 35 mins gap between pups... an hour later and pup four appears... I had a feeling then something wasnt right, he wasnt pushing for anything after shed helped him out... He wasnt looking for her or trying to seek milk. I kept rubbing him trying to get him to react and realised his breathing sounded laboured. I started noticing things... firstly his mouth, not right, I realised he had a terrible cleft palate, then his tail wasnt developed properly... and he just didnt look right. I knew there was no hope for my little boy. I called the vets and took him straight over. The vet confirmed what I suspected and that the cleft was so bad there was no chance, along with the other issues we knew there was no choice.

I brought my little man home and he is buried at here, he will always be with us, where he was born and where he will alwys rest x

The normal celebratory texts and calls went on hold until I felt I could rejoice in what we have rather than what we lost.

It ws later when I started to weigh and photograph pups that the little frisson returned- what a wonderful, relaxed mum Hoax is, three STUNNING healthy girls. My Hoax is well, the babies are well- be happy with what 'is' rather than what was.

Today I have to respect life and death and celebrate and love what is here, right now x

In Memory of Helen Davey- Smiths 'Poppy'

Will miss you Pop x

Time

All Is Well

Death is nothing at all,

I have only slipped into the next room

I am I and you are you

Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.

Call me by my old familiar name,

Speak to me in the easy way which you always used

Put no difference in your tone,

Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.

Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.

Let my name be ever the household world that it always was,

Let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of shadow on it.

Life means all that it ever meant.

It it the same as it ever was, there is unbroken continuity.

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?

I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near,

Just around the corner.

All is well.

Henry Scott Holland

New Training Venue= much happiness!

Thatcham DTC have a new venue and it is fabulous! More of a drive for me but totally worth it. Great flooring for the dogs to work on, brilliant lighting, new sidewalls, hard standing for the cars. I cant speak more highly of it. The effect it has on the general atmosphere is huge, the dogs find the footing much easier than before and can see everything perfectly. I feel happy to start raising the jump height for Detour here as he can see everything he needs to.

We had our first training session on it Monday evening, I worked Detour in the 7pm class. The level of dogs is higher in general as most of the dogs have been working for a few years. I am so proud of how Detour coped, his handling in general is pretty good and he coped with most things we did, really well. His weaves are lovely and there were no entries he struggled with although he did pop out when I ran off and left him in the weaves so this is something we will have to work on. In general he was so fabulous- I love that dog!

I also ran Boo and he was great over the surface, really fluid and fast, he is such a lovely dog to work, ethusisatic, happy. He really is the most special dog and the one who I just 'get'. He means an awful lot to me.

Anyway, all is well in the household, the dogs are healthy and happy, Hoax pregnancy seems to be progressing fantastically and I cant wait for the babies to arrive. We are beginnning to get swamped in piles of vetbed, newspaper, boxes of stuff etc etc. Cleaning time and setup next week and we will be ready!

Moyglare Farm

WAO tryouts

I decided not to tryout with Boo this year, not only is he getting older but he had just had two months rest when the original qualifiers were meant to be so I knew I wouldnt get him fit in time. I went along to help and to try to get some inspiration with my own dogs and training as my motivation has been seriously lacking lately.

We rocked up at 7am on the Saturday and couldnt find our way in, we eventually did and settled into a good job. I really enjoyed the day and the other helpers and RMs were fab. However at 1.30pm when we still hadnt heard anything about lunch we started to enquire about lunchbreaks and food! We eventually found out that A/ we had to eke out our own breaktimes, we werent offered them (doesnt bother me as I am pretty proactive about that stuff but some of the others werent). B/ They hadnt provided any food for ring party! Not even a bag of crisps or packet of biscuits. I know they are trying to keep the costs down but really a big pot of soup and some bread rolls wouldnt of killed it, or at least a heads up that they werent providing anything and we could have stopped at the co op on the way in instead of spending more money on food at the cafe! Anyway, it felt a little unappreciated that we had all gone out of our way to help, I do wonder how many people will keep offering help at things like this. I think so far it has cost people quite a lot of time, effort and money to help. A lot of unhappy helpers that day even though we did get a thanks and apology.

Anyway onto the agility: Some fab courses, great dogs and nifty handling- Im proud of the British dogs we had there but definately missing a few well known names which is a shame. I didnt leave feeling anymore motivated but did have a good time.

Sat evening we went to the pub 'The Little Harp' for dinner and drinks- fab value for money, awesome food and great company- we ended the evening back at the hotel, drinking, having pillow fights and nattering until 2am- ouch! The next day we had to head back as I had family commitments- yawn a tiring but long weekend.

Back home all the dogs had a nice muddy afternoon walk and Hoaxey had lots of cuddles. I feel very protective over her now and love her big puppy belly :)

Not long left! x

Me nd Neill in our room at WAO weekend