Some friends gave us a
present which is now standing beside the whelping box.
Libby chooses to eat and
drink in the whelping box.
The Milk Bar is open 24 /
7!
27th June 2008
All is well in the
whelping box. Libby is a very loving, calm and efficient mum.
The puppies pigment has started to
change on their noses and pads, and their umbilical cords have dried and fallen
off.
Summer
cannot contain her excitement following the arrival of the puppies
and has a 'front row seat' in the puppy room! Libby and Summer
are very good friends and Libby is quite happy for Summer to sit and
watch the puppies from the other side of the pen. Summer had a
single puppy last year, but also fostered puppies and even though
she is the 'ladette' of the family, she is extremely maternal and
was a superb mum too. The 'smile' on her face speaks volumes!
The
puppies vary in shade, with Miss Purple being the darkest.
The
puppies are very strong and move around the whelping box to find a
comfortable place to sleep after their visit to the milk bar.
They
continue to gain weight at a steady rate:
Miss Pink: 1 lb 7 oz
Miss Purple: 1 lb 8 oz
Miss Yellow: 1 lb
4 oz
Mr Green: 1 lb 9 oz
28th June 2008
The puppies have now been marked as it
is easier to see who is doing what from a distance without disturbing them
unnecessarily.
We are very fortunate to have advice
and support of friends with many years of experience, which all being well will
help to ensure that any potential problems are dealt with quickly. As this
is a small litter we have been advised to ensure the puppies do not become
"flat" and so the puppies now sleep on their sides. They do not seem to mind
their new positions.
Needless
to say Libby is ensuring the puppies are well cared for, and the
puppies are more than happy to be washed! Libby's devotion to
her puppies is amazing to watch and we spend many happy hours
watching her with the puppies!
Libby is
having a high quality and varied diet to ensure she keeps as much
condition as possible while feeding the puppies. Any
adjustments to her waistline, through diet and exercise, will be
managed after the puppies have stopped visiting the milk bar! She
continues to be her happy, waggy self.
Due to
the high level of care Libby was given when she had her last litter
while living with David and Yvette I was able to show Libby just six
months after the birth of her puppies. At our first open show
together she was placed first in a class of six. The following
week her daughter, Gatchells Priceless by Summeramba JW made her
debut and won two classes at Eastern Counties Golden Retriever Open
Show, while Libby gained a respectable fourth. Although my
personal preference is for obedience as opposed to showing I hope to
get Libby back into condition in the same timescale again.
Libby's
mental well-being is also important to us and she is allowed to
socialise with our other dogs as usual - in between feeds she spends
time with them in the garden or relaxing on the cool tiles in the
house.
The milk
bar is currently meeting the puppies requirements.
Miss Pink: 1 lb
9 oz
Miss Purple: 1 lb 11 oz
Miss Yellow: 1 lb
6 oz
Mr Green: 1 lb 13 oz
29th June 2008
Libby enjoys relaxing beside the
whelping box while the puppies sleep.
The puppies are used to being handled
- here they are waiting patiently while the vet bed is changed. They are
very biddable puppies.
This is Mr Green!
Miss Pink: 1 lb
13 oz
Miss Purple: 1 lb 14 oz
Miss Yellow: 1 lb
8 oz
Mr Green: 2 lb 2 oz
Below is a video clip of
the puppies visiting the milk bar, and then settling down for an
afternoon nap, with Libby close-by. We plan to add one clip a
week for the next six weeks.
30th June 2008
Click the button once
to play the video clip of Libby and her puppies at 6 days old.
The puppies are now six
days old - how time flies. They have had their nails trimmed
to prevent them scratching Libby.
Miss Pink and Miss Yellow
had started to sleep on their tummies again so we have improvised
and made them little hammocks - they seem to like them!
Miss Purple and Mrs Green
have continued to sleep on their sides.
