Eating and Sleeping at One Week Old

Puppies are growing so nicely. They are in my bedroom right now and I love to hear their little squeaks and squiggles!  They are one week old today. I can’t believe it has flown by so fast. Still, there is not much new to report so I thought I’d just fill in on what development has taken place at one week.

Typically they double their weight the first 8 to 11 days. For about the first two weeks their eyes and ears are closed. They sense light, though, and they find Phoebe by scent. Sometimes they look for her and she is sleeping outside the whelping box which brings on a series of woeful pleading cries to which she responds immediately. She is such a good mother.

As for Phoebe, I am letting her free feed from 6:30 am until 6:30 pm. She is eating about four times what she normally eats! I watch her closely for signs of mastitis…swollen or hardened teats.

Really, at this stage puppies are a very easy proposition. Phoebe does everything from feeding to rounding them up to cleaning their little poops and pees. She constantly licks the puppies’ tummies to stimulate their bowels and bladders and, believe it or not, she benefits nutritionally from what she ingests. 

Three Days Old

Puppies are three days old now and gaining every day. Here they are resting and nursing. Phoebe prefers to nurse sitting. Easy to do with just six pups. Note that two we thought were Black Parti have lots of brown hair showing up underneath. These will likely fade to a tawny brown and white…just like their mama did.

From left to right we have:
Puppy 3, Boy, Black Irish pied, birth weight 215 grams-now 251
Puppy 4, Boy, Sable Parti (not black parti as formerly thought), birth weight 177 grams-now 187
Puppy 6, Girl, Sable Parti (not black parti as formerly thought), birth weight 198 grams-now 213
Puppy 5, Boy, Brown Parti, birth weight 213 grams-now 251 (huge gain!)
Puppy 1, Girl, B/W Parti, birth weight 240 grams-now 265 (my biggest but that will likely change)
Puppy 2,  Girl, B/W Parti, birth weight 164 grams-now 179

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Havanese Puppies are Arriving

Phoebe went into labor about 7 pm tonight. She delivered her first puppy at 9:31. I was a little worried….that’s a bit of a stretch. Then I learned why. Little puppy girl #1 weighs 240 grams. That’s one very large puppy! Second puppy came on her heels weighing in at 164 grams. Another girl!
A happy mother to be!
Phoebe’s water broke about 7:30 pm. She’s cleaning it up here.
Cleaning up Puppy #1

Puppy #1 delivered at about 9:31 and weighs 240 grams.

Two girls so far….both black and white and very strong!

Household Chemicals and Your Pets

I created this blog for several reasons. One was to keep track of my puppy families. But another is to offer up information I hope will be helpful, not just to my families, but to all pet owners.

This week I’m doing some research into items commonly used inside and outside our homes with regard to how they can affect our pets. There is, fortunately, a lot of information on the web and I hope to share some of those links with you here.

I’m sure all of us have had the unfortunate experience of losing a pet prematurely, or have close friends who have. Havanese, for example, should live from 12 to 14 years. There are many who live well beyond 15 years. And, sadly there are some Havanese who don’t make it to their 8th birthday. Sometimes accidents take the lives of our dear ones but, as often as not, cancer is the cause. Exposure to chemicals in and around our homes has long been suspected of causing these cancers.

Think about all the products we use on our floors, on our carpets, on our driveways, in our gardens and on our lawns. Then think about your pet who spends the majority of its time in these areas.

The Truth About Cats, Dogs and Lawn Chemicals” is a PDF file put out by pesticidewatch.org and it is a real eye opener! I encourage all my readers to take a good look at this document.

I also hope my readers will feel free to comment on this article and add any information they have discovered about household chemicals or green alternatives.

One final note…I would appreciate your spreading the word about my blog. The more readers we have, the more information we can disperse…a kind of forum for all dog families! 

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Update on Georgie, Now Brutus

Jacqui, don’t know if you remember the day I picked up Brutus (Georgie) you were going through the folder of information with me and Brutus was barking at his reflection in your refridgerator. Well he still likes trying to get at his reflection. I get such a kick out of him trying to get to the dog outside (his reflection in the door glass.)

Hi Jacqui,
I received the registration in the mail, thank you!

I hope this picture comes through (more to follow), I was trying to send ones that would show you how big he has gotten. Brutus/Georie is doing great. At his last vet appointment he weighed in at 7lbs! I’m thinking he’s still the biggest one in the liter. That was on Oct. 1, his next appointment is this Monday, Oct. 22. I’ll be sure to let you know what he weighs after that appointment.

He is the center of attention wherever we go. He just loves everyone so of course everyone loves him, and wants to hold him. It’s difficult at puppy school because everyone is amazed at how fluffy he is and wants to hold him, even when we are supposed to be practicing or listening to the teacher.

We have had some set backs with the potty training but it is to be expected, or so the trainer says. He’s been using the bell since the day we brought him home, then he discovered the upstairs and downstairs and thought the landings were his personal restrooms (lol.) I blocked those off and we’re getting back on track.

He is such a cuddly, loving little guy. Every night at 10 pm he comes and finds me in my room watching TV, he’ll cry and whine until I pick him up onto the bed, and of course I just have to do it (lol.) He snuggles up next to me and we watch TV until 11, then it’s his bed time. It’s outside for the last potty break for the night then he goes straight to his kennel and to sleep with no problems. We keep the kennel door open when we are home, he learned quickly that is the place to go when he wants to catch a quiet nap, or is tuckered out from playing with my 5 year old nephew.

My 14 year old son tells me quite often, “I’m so glad we got Brutus mom.” I loved my Coton, but I can see the differance in the breed, or maybe it’s just the dog. Brutus very seldom barks, he loves everyone, and although he will seek me out more often than the others he still has plenty of love for the rest of the family. My son came down the stairs with a big smile on his face the this morning because Brutus was crying at the bottom of the stairs looking for his play buddy. When my husband comes home Brutus runs to greet him, plays with him for a good hour then he’ll look to see if I’m in the house. Once he finds me he’s good and it’s back to John for a little longer.

I just ordered a new camera, can’t wait till it comes in. Be prepared for lots more pictures!

WE LOVE BRUTUS!!
Thanks for breeding such beautiful, absolutely loving dogs!