Rise and Shine!
A morning wake up call, a light clean up and then breakfast!
After you turn it on, be sure to click on the CC button beneath the video to read the captions!
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One Week Old and Twice as Big!
The beginning of socialization! My daughter in law getting her first wiff of puppy breath and giving Sienna some loving!
Our puppies turned 1 (week) today! They are doing great…even the little one! Everyone has at least doubled their weight which is a good sign.
The first three weeks are always the clinchers. I
don’t want to let Sienna outside because we have tons of deer in our neighborhood. They are beautiful but also disease carriers. While the pups do benefit from Mom’s antibodies in the colostrum and in her milk, I am nervous.
Here are some recent photos!
Grandson Ben loves to hold puppies! This is the same young man featured on the “cover” of this website….10 years ago! He is holding our littlest one, Luxio.
They try to sleep in clumps!
You can’t see them all, but the other 5 are nestled under the whelping pen’s pig rail. A pig rail prevents mom from accidentally crushing one of her babies.
Sienna getting some quality on my bed with Luxio. My way of making sure this pup gets all the milk he needs. Special times.
Sienna, me and Luxio. (I am terrible at selfies!)
Why Do Puppies Twitch When They Sleep?
If you watch a young puppy sleeping you will notice it twitching, jerking and sometimes making little sounds.
This is perfectly normal and actually a healthy activity. Because puppies spend so much of their days and nights sleeping, the twitches help their little muscles develop and strengthen. Likewise for the sounds which strengthen their vocal chords.
The older the puppy gets, and the more time it spends moving around its space, the less twitching you will notice.
I find it so endearing!
**Be sure to click on the CC tab at the bottom of the video to read the captions.
Day 2–Everyone is Gaining!
With seven puppies, I expect them to be small. There is, after all, only so much room in mom’s belly! I weigh my newborns twice a day to catch any weight loss that may have to be addressed with supplemental feedings. I was particularly concerned about the little boy who weighed in at just 90 grams (3 ounces) at birth. I was ready to start to feed him, but really wanted him to take full advantage of mom’s colostrom during those critical first days. (A dam’s milk does not usually come in until the 3rd day or so). Colostrom is loaded with nutrients and antibodies for puppies. Nature’s way of getting them off to a good start.
Suffice it to say I was nervous.
It is quite common for puppies (and human babies, as I understand it) to lose a bit of weight their first couple days of life. Imagine my surprise and glee when all the puppies actually gained weight their first 24 hours of life! Even the little guy.
Kudos to Sienna!
Sienna’s puppies, day 2. The little guy is on the left just below the dark brown and white pup that is about twice the size!
We Have Puppies!
It has been over five months since I’ve had tiny paws padding around my house so I am excited!
Sienna whelped 7 beautiful (but tiny) babies last night. She was four days early which is rare in dogs. But I am certain because I had her progesterone tested twice and the breeding was by artificial insemination. My boy Tiger is the sire.
Sienna taking a nap with me on the lounge chair
This breeding combines multiple lines and pedigrees that I love and respect. My first champion, Lily, is the great grandmother! And my boy Tiger, who lives nearby, is the sire. Suffice it to say I can’t wait to see how these kids develop.
Sienna enjoying some quality time on my lap in the lounge chair the day before pups arrived!