Puppy development

Galena is now entering the second “trimester” of her gestation. Except in her case it’s weeks 4‑6, not months 4‑6. At this stage the signs of pregnancy are minimal. She may be starting to get picky with her eating (she was VERY picky with her first pregnancy!) but other than that you’d never know she was expecting.

The pups are still very very tiny – little more than oval-shaped cell clusters, albeit with a developed nervous system, that have implanted into the uterine wall – with as of yet no real puppy characteristics. That will happen quickly over the next three weeks, and by the time she enters her final “trimester” the foetuses will actually look like very tiny puppies with most of their characteristics quite well formed. The third “trimester” is devoted to completing the final development, calcification of the skeleton, and a whole lot of general growth.

In two more weeks we’ll take her for an ultrasound to count how many puppies she’s carrying. Stay tuned!

Summer Doodle Romps

The last couple of weeks have given us some lovely summer weather, after a very mixed-up month of June that couldn’t decide if it wanted to be hot, cool, or rainy. We’d been “promised” (long-range forecase) a hot sunny day for our June Doodle Romp, but it ended up being cool and rainy. Figures. I’m not keen on super-hot, sultry weather but I sure do enjoy a bit of heat as long as it cools off enough at night for comfortable sleeping.

Since so many people have varying summer schedules, I’ve just picked some dates for summer romps that suit our family and I hope enough people will be around town to come and enjoy a bit of canine fun and games.  

There will be no romp in July. My kids are off visiting their grandparents, and while their presence is not essential I know they like to meet all the dogs, so we’ll wait until they’re back from Edmonton.

The August Romp will take place on Sunday 11 August at 4-6pm.

The September Romp will be Saturday 7 September, also 4-6pm.

If the weather is nice, bring a picnic supper and some lawn chairs.

I’m pleased to report that our agility equipment arrived two weeks ago. We have 2 bar jumps, a tire jump, a weave pole set, pause box, tunnel and chute. We tested it out once before we left for camping, and I had it set up over the weekend again for some play time. Amore, who has had some agility training, took to it right away. Phoenix has not had training so she wasn’t as sure what to do with this stuff, but with a bit of work she was starting to get the hang of it too.

Anyhow, during our Romps we will set the equipment up in the field where we usually hang around and chat while the dogs run and play. We’ll start the Romp there with a chance for everyone who wants to to put their dogs through the paces and see how they take to this sport. Those with pups under a year in age will be able to do everything, as we can set the bar jumps and even the tire jump to any height and will put them almost ground-level for the little pups.

If you are interested in joining us, just send an e-mail to roma@dragonramdoodles.com and I will provide specific directions to our Romp site.

Happy summer doodling!

Puppies on the way

Our girl Galena finally came into heat right near the end of June. I had expected it to happen by the middle of the month and that breeding would all be taken care of by the time we left on our week-long camping trip, but as it worked out, she came into heat just prior to our departure, ovulated in the middle of our trip, and was bred the night we got back. Of course she wasn’t with us – she lives with her Guardian family Martin and Carole – who faithfully took her for her progesterone test and then for the breeding appointment. Big thanks and hat’s off to them, and to Linda of Canadian Doodle Puppies whose stud, Spirit, we used a second time and who organized the actual mating.

                               

Galena ovulated on Monday 1 July so her official due date is Monday 2 September. Seeing as she whelped her first litter 3 days before her official due date, I’m expecting puppies around Friday 30 August. We have an ultrasound booked for Tuesday 6 August to get a confirmation of pregnancy and a preliminary puppy count. She had 6 in her first litter, which they say is often smaller than subsequent litters, so I’m hoping for 7 or maybe even 8 this time. But I’ll be happy with 5 or 6 as well.

We hope you are all having a great summer with your families! Be safe and remember to keep the activity level low on those hot, muggy days, and provide plenty of water for you dogs.