It seems like it was overnight that Maxi’s pups are walking. So cute to see them navigate around their whelping box on four wobbly legs. I wanted to get you a video of this but both families were busy nursing. Still, this was also a wonderful moment and I’ve captured it for you on YouTube. Enjoy!
The wonderful thing about my breeding program is all the helpers I have. With sixteen to keep track of, it is almost a necessity. Plus the pups get used to all kinds of voices, smells and sensations. Wonderful for socializing. Alex and Michael came over yesterday to help me name our Independence Day pups. Here are some photos.
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| Alex bottle feeding Blaze |
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| Michael napping with Sparky |
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| Phoebe’s pups…6 girls on the left; 2 boys on the right |
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| This is our modified English Shepherd whelping box. It is large enough for mother and daughter to share. I just added a few bumpers in the middle. It will be good for about two more weeks. Things change quickly in this world of puppies! |
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| Sparky |
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| Blaze |
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| Jefferson |
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| Georgie |
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| Franklin |
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| Hancock |
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| Boomer |
| Burst |
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| Lynn Nieto with her boy Pan |
Lynn Nieto, owner of Los Perritos Havanese, brought us some sad news yesterday. Her Havanese boy Pan, CH Los Perritos Wee Pantaloons, passed over the rainbow bridge. Pan is grandfather to both Maxi and our one-year-old, Marli. He is a champion in every sense of the word and has more pups carrying his gene pool than any other Havanese in the country. Lynn, with her huge knowledge bank and equally huge sense of humor, has been a mentor to me.
I will never forget attending my first Havanese National Specialty in Chicago when I sat in a breeding seminar next to a small crate of puppies. They were sired by Pan and caused almost as much commotion as Dr. Huchinson, celebrated reproduction veterinarian, who gave the seminar!
Pan, may you rest in peace.
My days are filled with changing towels, changing newsprint (I use the clean newsprint that U-Haul sells as packing paper), feeding and bathing the grown-ups. I LOVE IT!
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| Daughter Jenny nursing one of our preemies |
All the puppies are growing by leaps and bounds. I am still bottle feeding Maxi’s two little ones and Phoebe’s two smallest ones though they are not nearly the size of Maxi’s preemies. It just gives them an edge since they often lose out to the bigger pups at the teats.
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| Don’t you wonder what is going through his little mind? |
Two of Maxi’s pups eyes have opened partially. They are the largest pup with the full white blaze and the littlest pup with the forked blaze. The rest should be open in the next day or so. Generally their ears open about the same time so the sensory input for these little guys is huge this week.
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| Maxi has pretty much got the hang of this part now. |
Today was manicure day for Maxi’s pups. They are two weeks old now (can you believe it?) and by gently handling their paws and getting them used to the clip-clip-clip…this process will be much less traumatic for them as adults. I use a human baby nail scissors at this stage. Their nails are tiny and they are also very sharp so I know Maxi will be very grateful!
Just think. Next week I get to trim 64 paws! I better keep the whole morning open.
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| Phoebe’s pups at five days old…so much stronger than Maxi’s thanks to their later arrival. |
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| How sweet are these babies? |
