Day 3 !

Today I really attempted to get nice portraits, such as the ones I took for previous litters.  However, these guys are like Bobble-head fish, if such a Bobble head existed. Squirmy and slippery and wanted NO part of picture taking.  Surprising since their mom (aka The Princess) always looks pretty for her paparazzi. 

Gem likes artsy.  She liked the lighting and the props in this shot.  (I am certainly no Tracy Carter or Grace Smith, who can take i-phone photos that belong in an art gallery!) 

Hens are also vain, apparently.

I don't think any of these kids will be candidates for Toddlers in Tiaras....  Too unwilling to sit through makeup.

Presenting the "Gummie Bears" (Tip: read Friday's post)

Puppy #1 (female, black and white): Gem's little "Mini-Me"  

 

Puppy #2 (male, black and white, possibly tri - do I see some brown hairs on his bum?): This is definitely Taff's "Mini Me"; unfortunately the nick-name "Ffat" is kind of fitting:

(yes he is trying to nurse from the stuffie)

 

Puppy #3: No nickname as of yet, although she can definitely give Ffat a run for his money...She is in a milk coma in this picture.

 

Puppy #4 (female, tri-color) I am calling her Meg... For now.  Not sure if she will be MY Meg yet, but oooh, a tri female with that perfectly marked face!

 

Today we also began the exercises for Early Neurological Stimulation. 

Google it to learn more about ENS.

 

This is what Gem thought of the whole process.

 

And now, for some random cuteness.

 

Meg and Ffat

 

"I'm catching up!" #1 and #3

A better photo of #2 (Ffat):

 Tiny toes

 



Gummie's little Bears

Weird title.  "Gum" or "Gummie" is one of Gem's nicknames (In French, the "G" is "hard" in this use, and the "e" sounds a bit like the sound of "u"....So she's been called "Gum" a few times here in Quebec.  Gum or "Jem" (soft "J", sounds like "J'aime", which is nicer because it means "I love" :) 

But Gum was what stuck.  Yeah, pun intended.

So, as these babies were growing in Gem's belly, I had them pictured in my head like this:

 J'aime les Gummie Bears!

 

And now, for Gummie's little Bears....See how much they've changed in only 1 day!



 Gem says, "it's HOT in here!"

We have to keep the Gummie Bears warm!

 





 Numbered.  Everyone has gained weight, even tiny #1.  She has not quite made it to 8 oz by 8 pm tonight, but she sure is trying!  She is feisty - always finding the back teats.

 

 The gals.

 The boy.  I think he looks like daddy Taff. Which is why, alas, the name "Ffat" has stuck (carrying on the theme of backwards names....Gem - Meg...And of course the ones that started it all: Pat - Tap).  Sorry dude.  I'm sure that will not be your name when you grow up.

 "Almost made it, but I soz tired...Zzzzzzzzz" (#3)

 

And, a parting video.  Gummie Bears crawling, Gummie Bears rolling around and....

Well, not much else!

 

 

 

 

We haz puppeezz!

3 Girls and 1 Boy born in the space of just a little over 1 hour this morning.  Stage 2 Labor began at 9:20 am Thursday, Aug 7.  Puppy #1 born at 10:56 am, and Puppy #4 born at 12:09 pm.

First two.  Tiny female and the male, who looks like daddy.

In the warm box while Gem births #3 - a big, flashy female.

 

 

 A snack of "Fortified Milk" popsicles (recipe* taken from Dr. Billinghurst's Grow Your Pups with Bones), which is given in between pups and as her sole source of fluid for the first day.  *Basically:  Goat's Milk, Goat's Milk Yogurt, Honey, Canola Oil (organic) and whole, raw egg.

 

All done, whelping box cleaned, fresh blanket down and installed Thermawhelp system.

 

 

Gem looks a little dazed.

 

 

Milk Bar

 

 

Why, hello, Meg!

 

9:20 am, Thursday August 7th Labor has begun!

And...we're off!  Stay tuned for updates!

I wish there was going to be a puppy for everyone on my list...

Screening potential homes for Gem's puppies began over 1 year ago.  The people who are on the final list are just about the best group of people ever!  Sadly, Gem does not look very big for day 58 (from the first breeding), which is what I expected for her first litter from an A.I. breeding (my guess is 3 pups, maybe 4), so a sad email was sent to many of these terrific people explaining that there may not be a puppy for them this time. 

I expected demands for explanations, frustration, even some anger.... After all, they had spent a lot of time answering my pestering questions and sharing all aspects of their "dog lifestyle" so that I could feel comfortable placing a pup with them.

What did I get instead? 

100% kind understanding, support and well-wishes.  From everyone!  What a wonderful bunch of people.  Yes, it is up to nature at this point, but you'd be surprised how many inquiries are received with a long list of requests and demands - some don't understand that puppies are not like fulfilling orders for a new gadget or toy!

The people on my puppy list - these folks are the cream of the crop.  Whoever is lucky enough to place a pup with any of them will not be sorry.   

I am still hopeful of course, that Gem surprises us with a large litter.  Only a few days until we find out!  I hope there is a little "Meg" for me!


Gem didn't want to show off her belly.



Luncheon for the Princess

Gem has lost her girlish figure.  We are day 40 from the first breeding.  She definitely has puppies, but we have no idea how many yet.

One? Two? Nine?  (I hope not nine, lol) 

I have been increasing her food a little bit each day since about day 28.  This is the first week I've started adding a midday meal.  Gem thinks this should be a year-round thing, of course. 



Today's Luncheon for the Princess:  duck gizzard, beef heart and some extra fat, pork kidney

Feeding Gem her raw diet now is not much different than before pregnancy.  Basically, I just ensure she gets a lot of variety, something to replace some of the liver during the early stage of pregnancy (liver is very high in Vitamin A, something that should not be "overdosed" during early gestation) and enough fat.  She has not slowed down in her activity yet.  Although I don't work or train her during pregnancy as there is always a chance of her getting bumped by a sheep, taking a tumble or falling off agility equipment, and that is a risk not worth taking!  But she is still trail running and hiking with the other dogs (about 50-60 km per week, with about half that at a gentle pace), and shows no discomfort at all.  Gem's pups are already trail blazers!

We're Back! Hopefully....

It's been four years since our last litter.  We made the decision to spay Fen (she was spayed several years ago) and neuter Mirk (last year), each for unrelated reasons, so it's all up to Gem now. 

Alas, Gem has not been cooperative!  We had planned to breed her to Aled Owen's International and World Trial Champion "Roy", while he was here in North America.  But he was long gone back to Wales by the time she came into season (13 months since her last).  During the many long months waiting for her cycle, we researched potential mates that would compliment her working style (not doubling up on faults and hopefully adding missing elements :) ).  In addition, we wanted a fully health tested male with good structure and a rock solid temperament...That wasn't a zillion miles away.  Tough order to fill!

Our decision to use MIke Polites' Irish import, "Taff" is summed up nicely on the website:(http://www.creeksidebordercollies.com/2014GemXTaff.html)

Mike Polites' Imp. Taff, USBCHA Open Trial Winner, 2014 Bluegrass Classic Finalist (Photo by Carolyn West)

Creekside Gem, USBCHA Open Trial Winner (Photo by France Poulin)

When Gem came into season (while on my Bluegrass vacation), I left her with Mike in order to not miss her prime breeding days.  We kept in touch daily, and by day 14, when it still was not working, both Mike and I began to worry I would not have my "Meg" puppy! 

So, off to Mid-Atlantic Veterinary Specialists and Dr. Goodman....

In a nutshell...Gem is a Princess and Taff a true Gentleman, neither one being too pushy one way or the other!  Vet confirmed Gem was prime in her cycle, so we didn't waste any more time trying to convince them they were allowed to "do it".  AI was the way to go.  We did 2 live AI breedings over 3 days.

I am hopeful there will be puppies, and enough for all on the puppy list, but only time will tell.  For many, AI is done when fertility is compromised and the results are varied.  Since Gem and Taff are both healthy, and we believe the timing was good, prognosis is relatively positive for puppies, but of course not guaranteed.  Now we wait and see.

Fingers crossed for this:

Can you spot baby Gem?