Merry Christmas!

The Disney litter are all in their new homes.  Vicki and Bob, our co-breeders, are driving south to visit family for the holidays.  I've submitted all the paperwork, cleaned toys and equipment, and organized all the puppy gear in preparation for a short winter's nap and so my dogs can get some training when the snow arrives.

I've finally uploaded the photos and videos from the last few weeks, including the Puppy Walk, Going Home photos, day-to-day activities and a very special trip some of the pups took.

Before they went home, we took two pups to Newtown, CT to offer some puppy love to the families, friends and first responders involved with the Sandy Hook tragedy.  Miss Green and Miss Lavender accompanied Una and did an amazing job loving all the people they met during our visit.  Whether it was healing or simply a moment of joy in the midst of such sadness, it was striking to see how these puppies changed the atmosphere in the town.  We were honored to hold their leashes.

After that, we scrambled to get the pups ready to go home.  Gathering and organizing the many gifts the new owners received, along with the more serious stuff like the hefty 3" binder I send home with each pup, took us a few days and nights.  We did the final days of training--crate training, sit and down, some leash breaking, Sherpa training for the pups that were flying, toe nails, baths and of course, woods walks.  Whew, it was a busy week.

But we made it through and congratulate the new owners of the Disney litter!  What fabulous pups they turned out to be.  Three went to present Gaylan's owners and three pups brought new friends into the family. 

• Miss Raspberry is now Gaylan's Bird and the Hound, "Brier." She is heading to Chicago (Barrington), IL where she will live and hunt with the Koertners and Shafer from the Wine litter.

• Miss Pink is now Gaylan's Moon-Spinners, "Hayley." Lucky Hayley is staying with her mom, Ivy and Vicki and Bob. They are on their way back to Southern CA after vacationing in GA/FL to recover from the litter.

• Miss Lavender is now Gaylan's Just Around the River Bend, "Willow." Willow headed to MA with the Conners where she will do pet-assisted therapy and possibly some other activities.

• Miss Yellow is now Gaylan's Gonna Be a Wild Ride, "Thrill."  She moved to CT with Chris and Mike Marinelli, Tux from the Fire litter, and their other dogs. Thrill will be doing field and agility with Chris.

• Miss Green is now Gaylan's Gotta Kick It Up!, "Kix." Kix will be living in PA with Dianne Posteraro.  They will be doing obedience and tracking.

• Finally, Mr Blue will be known as "Scout," Gaylan's Rescuers Down Under. Scout is off to Northern California with the Delmenicos to become a Search and Rescue dog in CARDA and possibly do agility and hunt tests.

Where did your favorite go?

Welcome, *High* Litter!

Dreamer's first litter, Gaylan's "High" litter, arrived last night smoothly and sweetly. Dreamer was due yesterday, January 28 and she was a good girl, delivering right on time. Her water broke around 5:25 PM and soon after 7, the pups started arriving. We ended up with seven girls and four boys, all delivered naturally by 11 PM. They are an active bunch so it took a little while to get the temperature warm enough for them and not too warm for Dreamer but as you can see by the video, they are now content and quiet. We LOVE quiet puppies because it means that they are physically comfortable. Off to tackle the laundry before it becomes a landslide, as well as clean Dreamer up after her exciting evening.

We are very proud to introduce, in order of appearance:
Mr Blue, born at 7:13 PM, weighing in at 12 1/4 oz
Miss Purple, born at 7:27 PM, weighing in at 14 1/4 oz
Miss Red, born at 7:56 PM, weighing in at 12 3/4 oz
Miss Rust, born at 8:15 PM, weighing in at 12 oz
Mr Brown, born at 8:46 PM, weighing in at 14 oz
Miss Yellow, born at 8:56 PM, weighing in at 11 1/4 oz
Miss Rainbow, born at 9:40 PM, weighing in at 11 3/4 oz
Miss Black, born at 9:59 PM, weighing in at 13 oz
Miss Pink, born at 10:16 PM, weighing in at 12 1/4 oz
Mr Green, born at 10:38 PM, weighing in at 11 1/4 oz
Mr Royal Blue, born at 11:01, weighing in at 12 1/2 oz

Getting Ready

I usually blog once pups are born but I've decided to start the blog early for this litter. Risk is due toward the end of next weekend so preparations are under way. I'm monitoring her temperature four times a day. As she gets closer to whelping (giving birth), her temperature will drop well below normal and stay there for at least 12 hours. A dog's normal temperature is between 100 and 102 F but as the progesterone level drops to trigger whelping, the bitch's temp drops below 99 and stays there for at least two measurements. Yesterday, Risk's temperature was normal but this morning it was 99.6 F. I expect to see fluctuations over the next five days or so as the pups prepare to be born.

Risk also didn't finish her breakfast yesterday, another sign that things are progressing. I've been feeding her quite a bit each meal but now the pups are squishing her stomach so she can't eat as much. We start three meals a day today so she doesn't have to get as much down.

I used the doppler yesterday to check for heartbeats. Risk was so patient as I squeezed ultrasound gel all over her belly. I found 10 heartbeats but am never very confident that I haven't counted one pup twice. Regardless, I got 11 colors of yarn ready today just in case :-).

I'll be setting up the whelping box this afternoon and getting all the gear ready. Showtime is coming!