its that time. I know everyone wants to visit if they are close. Don't fear even if you can't, I promise more videos and pictures before picks. I'm thinking this Saturday June 25th late morning or anytime Friday during day. If you want to visit and can't make those days , message me and we will discuss options. Remember the pups are still really small. So prefer we wait to handle till closer to 6 weeks after 1st shots. The weekend of July 7th we will start picks. I will notify each one individually about day and time as we get close. And if you can't visit, again we will do it over video or FaceTime or email.

my little fur babies are becoming more mobile. Moving around the box well. All though the front teeth will pop through first the back ones are swollen the most. You can feel the gums very puffy. It won't be long now till they can start on soft mush. This fills the stomach longer and they don't cry as much because they are hungry. I put the litter pan in yesterday for awhile. Right away 3 of them pee'd in it. It was a success. I just have to watch they don't eat the pellets. It's not harmful. But will expand in stomach. So I will keep at the process. This is new to us. It has been recommended by a couple breeders because it works so well. So we will see.
On another note I wanted to talk about vets. Everyone knows I've made multiple trips to the vet for consultation and services. I believe in vets and their experience and help. Even when I do puppy shots I take the pups to the vet, I do not vaccinate myself. Vets play a big part in your pups health. Just like kids. It's important to trust your vet and have a good relationship. Now on to my rant. Not all vets like or believe in crossbreeds. They can let their personal opinions interfere with the what's best for a pup. If you have a health issue and your vet wants to order hundreds or thousands of dollars of tests, get a second opinion. Just like you would a child. I've read quite a few articles in the last week of vets charging patients hundreds of dollars for unnecessary tests and the diagnosis was a simple urinary track infection or a juvenile vaginitis. I'm just asking that you question a vet before they talk you into emptying your wallet. You want to do what's best for your fur baby and in the moment it's easy to be talked into doing everything a vet wants. Just take a moment and ask if it's not life threatening can I get a second opinion. Ok rant over. Have a great fur-thers Day.
Oh and lilac ate very well last night and this morning. I've been syringing her. She is eating about 15mls at a time. I do have to be careful because she drips it on her self then she gets cold because she is wet. Then the other pups want to lick the milk on her making her more wet. So I'm working on an idea to bib her to help.

godd afternoon everyone. I did a quick weigh in mid week. So we are just under 3-1/2 weeks old. The weights are great. Almost all have pasted 2 pounds. Blue black orange boys close. And red close. Lilac has passed a pound. She has been 1 2.0 and 1 1.8 the last two days. But today she seems more alert. Wagging her tail and moving about the box. So I'm pleased with her progress. I have moved the whelping box from the living room into the office. Lots more sunlight. And the girls are happy as this is were they spend most of their time. They like watching out the big window. It's nice having the pups beside me all day instead of multi trips to the living room to check on them. It won't be long and they will be getting out of the box and into the play area. I'm going to introduce a litter tray today for potty training. Something other breeders have raved about using. I'm always open to try new things that help the pups. All though all good breeders use mentors the addition of social media and Facebook groups has allowed us to share ideas on a larger scale. So I've been trying out some new things with this litter that I did not do in the past.

everyone else is doing so well. They love when I scratch their heads or rub backs. When I change the whelping pad they like to suck on my fingers or my hand. Their eyes have opened and they can make out shapes and hear my voice. When I get close to box they start barking at me. They can all be sleeping and if Bella approaches box they smell her and start running around crying. I do need to clip toenails again. This will be third time already. They are so sharp. Everyone seems happy and they are starting to play a little. They will bat at each other's head or suck on others ears.

ill do 2 posts today. This one for those that have been following little lilacs journey. She was doing fantastic until Tuesday afternoon. She became lethargic. I couldn't get her to stay on the teat to nurse and she wouldn't grasps the nipple on the bottle. Most of Tuesday night was the same, me dripping formula down her throat. Wednesday morning she did latch on a couple times and nurse. But last night was back to being very lethargic. I rushed her to the vet this morning. She examined her. She was a little dehydrated. So we did a procedure to add liquids under the skin. Her temp was normal. There is not much more she could do. Our fear is that she is a premie and something may be under developed. She listened to lungs and heart and that all sounded good. So I'm back to trying to get her to eat or dripping the formula down her throat. The only thing we can do is wait. I want to prepare everyone in the event that she doesn't make it. I'm doing all I can to help her. It's the unknown that's scary. We just don't know if she will be ok. The vet said things like the liver can be under developed and not show signs till now. Or it could be nerlogic. I will keep everyone posted. I'm sorry. I'm truly doing all I can.

wow how everyone is growing. I have actually been able to slip to store twice over the weekend and leave my son on sitter duty. They are going longer and longer between feeding. About 3 hours. I'm still sleeping beside box but hope to actually get in bed maybe by end of week. If you actually look at weights we have three that are small. Black and blue boys are not much ahead of lilac. So I have been either syringing food to them too or guarding them on momma. The big ones are like monsters when they are hungry. They stampede everyone over. But by helping Bella I can balance out who eats first and last. And supplement them. I'm pleased with everyone's weight gains. Eyes are slowly opening. I took some individual pictures today. I'm not a photographer. And pups never cooperate. They sleep or chew the blanket or close there eyes or suck on my hand. So sorry if I missed someone's fav one. Another week and pics will be a little easier.

i can really start to tell them apart. Pink takes after momma. She is washing everybody. Everyone gets clean ears and feet. Orange is laid back. He never fusses never pushes for food. White is pretty chill too. She just likes to sleep. Red girl has big feet. She may be trim now but look out. She fusses and wants to eat a lot. She has to grow into those feet. Green is laid back and sleep a lot.

as a breeder I have to decide what's the best possible food, toys, treats, vaccines ect. From time to time I make changes based on new information. One of the decisions I'm trying to make now is whether or not to add NuVet to my program. Its a vitamin that you give or powder for pups. A lot of breeders swear by this and actually extend there heath guarantee longer to owners that continue on it. But there are those that believe dog food has plenty of vitamins and its pointless to add excessive things you don't need. I did not get a chance to discuss with the vet. I'm leaning towards trying this. Bella sheds or blows her coat while she is nursing. My feelings are she is lacking something in her diet to keep it nice and glossy. That's how all this came about. I was discussing with another breeder having the same issues. I will let everyone know if I do incorporate this into our program. And if I do I will send home enough for first couple months to gain the benefits.

some of you at know that I have elected to switch to a vet that is more educated with breeding and reproduction. I have wanted to switch for awhile now but they were not accepting new clients. Finally I was able to get in right before we bred Bella. They have been seeing Bella through her entire pregnancy. I was delighted with our appt yesterday. They took the time to address my concerns with the lilac. They agreed that she is doing good but slightly dehydrated. They gave me two great ideas to get her to feed more on the bottle.and it worked! She ate last night and again this morning. Sometimes just changing a little thing can make a big difference. Next my concern with Bella and her soft food. They gave me a pro biotic to add to food to firm up her bowels and again a couple tricks to try and they worked too. Last I noticed an odor in her discharge and they said her white blood cell count is elevated. So an antibiotic to help settle down her female parts back to a normal balance. She may have a slight infection. Over all a great appt. They were pleased with her weight and overall body condition. And last I have the de wormer to do today to all the pups. This will take hours of calculating, filling syringe, and getting them each to drink the Dewormer. I have attached the weight sheet I entered all the data this morning for easier reading. I will try to post a couple videos over the weekend. I like to be very transparent with my breeding and practices. That's why I do these posts. Although I know they are detailed I feel its best you know why I do what I do and how everyone is doing. I give my girls and their pups the best care I possible can.

yes eyes are opening. I can start to see the corners opening and eyes are peeking out. I will try to get a couple good pictures today. Not easy to catch them looking at you. On to other news. Lilac had no weight gain for two days. I did weigh only her this morning and she did gain an ounce. I got her to take s little out of bottle last night. I will discuss with vet what to do. I don't think she likes my bottle. Others will take it and actually drink. She just puts it in her mouth and it seems nothing comes out. But I have a huge hole in nipple so that's not the issue.