The countdown is on!!!

Amore is getting very round by now. When we place a hand on her belly, we can feel the puppies moving inside. It is super cool! Just this past Thursday she began to show some interest in the whelping box we have set up in the puppy corner. She has dug at the blankets in a classic "nesting" behaviour, and preferred to spend the morning while I was away in the whelping area rather than her usual haunt of my bedroom.

She is at 8 weeks as of today. Gestation is normally 9 weeks post-ovulation, but birth could happen as early as 8 weeks and the pups would be viable. Amore is generally pretty much "on time" so I'm not expecting delivery before next Friday, but you never know... We'll start taking her temperature every 12 hours around Wednesay and watch for a drop in temperature to about 97 or 98 fahrenheit (from normal temp of 101-102). Once it drops, delivery will be within 24 hours - and once it goes up again to 99+, delivery is imminent - within the hour. Stay tuned!!!