Ultrasound results

We arrived at the vet for Amore’s 5:30 ultrasound appointment last night, keen and eager to see the results!

Amore is already beginning to fill out in the belly somewhat. It’s not highly evident unless you take a close look, but over the next 3½ weeks she will round out considerably. At this point the foetuses are about 5cm long. That’s not a bad size, but by the time they’re born around April 21^st they will have grown to some 12-15cm. They do a lot of growing in the last 3 weeks!!

For the ultrasound, Amore lay on her back on a V-shaped foam support. The vet shaved her belly, both to get a good contact with the ultrasound and to have the hair short around the nipples to avoid problems once the pups are born and start suckling.

Then the machine was turned on and… the search began!

A dog’s uterus has two “horns” or sides to it, and each horn will hold about the same number of puppies. In the first horn we saw one… two… three puppies… on to the second horn and another one… two…

And the magic number is: FIVE !!

So the potential winners of our contest are: Martin L, Wendy S, Monica S, Haragwan K, Shannon D, Francesca N, and Teya K.

Though of course there’s always the chance that the ultrasound missed one, or double-counted one, so maybe they’re not the real potential winners…

The vet pegged the “due date” at somewhere between 19 and 25 April.

We’ve got the x-ray booked for Thursday 19 April and delivery on… your guess might be as good as mine! (Let’s just hope we don’t end up delivering puppies at the vet’s office again!)

Name	# of puppies	Date	Time
Melese K	2	19 April (Thursday)	10:30
Sandi K	3	20 April (Friday)	17:00
Yolande T & Zirci	3	21 April (Saturday)	12:00
Carole M	4	17 April (Tuesday)	22:00
Linda A	4	19 April (Thursday)	16:00
Lisa E	4	20 April (Friday)	04:00
Tristan Q	4	21 April (Saturday)	03:00
Owen D	4	21 April (Saturday)	10:00
Scott K	4	21 April (Saturday)	12:00
Tes K	4	21 April (Saturday)	16:00
Beth D	4	21 April (Saturday)	17:00
Mary Q	4	22 April (Sunday)	16:00
Heather J	4	22 April (Sunday)	18:30
Martin L	5	16 April (Monday)	20:33
Wendy S	5	20 April (Friday)	05:45
Monica S	5	20 April (Friday)	16:00
Haragwan K	5	21 April (Saturday)	01:00
Shannon D	5	21 April (Saturday)	05:00
Francesca N	5	21 April (Saturday)	19:00
Teya K	5	23 April (Monday)	15:30
Mathom Q	6	22 April (Sunday)	19:00
Roma Q	7	20 April (Friday)	03:00

Upcoming Doodle Romps

With the lovely weather last week I had romps on the mind! Now it’s gotten cooler again – more like March in Canada, instead of in Mexico – but we’re still seeing some sunshine and the snow is pretty much all gone (unless there’s some hanging around in huge piles or under trees in deep shade…) which makes it easier to get out and about.

I’ve scheduled two romps in the next two weeks, to take advantage of the Easter holidays.

#1:  Saturday, 31 March, 3:00 pm, at Conroy Pit.

Instead of meeting right beside the busy parking lot area, we’ll meet a bit further down the main trail, at the point where the first side path branches off to the left. It's still busy there but less so than right at the parking lot so might be easier to keep dogs hanging around while waiting for everyone to show up.

#2: Easter Monday, 9 April, 11:00 am, at Bruce Pit (unless those whom that location suits can’t make it, in which case we’ll switch back to Conroy).

I know not everybody get Easter Monday off, but I think we have enough civil servants and teachers to make it a viable Romp day. We'll make the meeting location off the parking lot, which I understand is bigger than at Conroy. This will be a new experience for me as I’ve never been to Bruce Pit before (though my kids have with our nanny).

Please rsvp by sending me an e-mail so I know whom to wait for!

In your response for Romp #2, please indicate whether you would be able to make it if we went to Conroy Pit instead. If nobody for whom Bruce Pit is convenient can make it out that day (and people for whom Conroy is better could make it), then I'll change the venue to Conroy.

Here’s hoping for fine weather and lots of furry friends!

Guesses so far in our contest

You still have six days (including today) to submit your guess to this round of our "Guess How Many Puppies" contest! The contest closes at 11:59 pm on Tuesday, 27 March - the evening that Amore has her ultrasound, which will give us an estimated puppy count.

Here is the list of guesses received to date. So far, people are being quite conservative as to how many puppies - not without reason, given Amore's track record.

Name	# of puppies	Date	Time
Carole M	4	17 April (Tuesday)	22:00
Scott K	4	21 April (Saturday)	12:00
Mary Q	4	22 April (Sunday)	16:00
Heather J	4	22 April (Sunday)	18:30
Tristan Q	4
Martin L	5	16 April (Monday)	20:33
Monica S	5	20 April (Friday)	16:00
Sandi K	5	20 April (Friday)	19:00
Mathom Q	5	22 April (Sunday)	19:00
Roma Q	7	20 April (Friday)	03:00

For information on how to calculate whelp dates and background on Amore's previous litters, see our post from earlier in March.

A new home for Aspen, too!

I am very pleased to report that our boy Aspen has finally found a forever home of his own. On Easter weekend, Aspen will be going to a lovely country property in Haliburton, about 3 hours from Ottawa, to be family companion to Derek and his wife. Between now and then he will have a dental procedure to "amputate" his lower canines so they don't poke holes in his upper palate, which is the current situation owing to his overbite. He will be neutered at the same time. (Ouch!)

Aspen is a very friendly, exuberant boy who absolutely loves people and is eager to please. I will miss him. (My kids say they won't, as they think he is a bit of a wimp, but I really like his personality.)

That just leaves Leo, Galaxy and Scarlett in need of a home. I'm hopeful they'll all find forever families before the next pups arrive!

Cardinal has a home!

Our lovely girl Cardinal has been reserved by a family with three children. She will be going to her new home on March 30, so we still have two weeks to enjoy her company (and get her fully trained up!). Cardinal is a big girl and very placid and gentle. She is learning to sit, stay, leave it, watch me, and a few other simple commands. We are starting to take the pups out on leash more frequently now that the weather is nicer, and she is getting used to having that restraint. We also often take them to a nearby field where they can run freely and enjoy just being wild, crazy pups.

We'll post pictures on her going home day. Stay tuned!

Nightingale has a home!!

On Wednesday we welcomed Marie-Claude and Pierre and their three children who wanted to visit our puppies. They were particularly interested in Nightingal.

On Thursday they called and said they would take her. Hurray for Nighty!!

They came on Saturday and took her home. She is now living with a lovely family in Navan, where she has a large yard to play in and three children to love! 

We were both sad and happy to see her go - sad to say good-bye, but happy to see her going to such a wonderful home!

Goodbye, Nighty! We hope to see you again at one of our Doodle Romps!