Pregnancy confirmed!!

Galena had her ultrasound yesterday afternoon. We are happy to announce that YES!! We are expecting more puppies!!

The vet counted (most likely) seven little active healthy pups - give or take one.

Galena is due the week of July 25. So far we have a reservation for one of her puppies, so there are still lots available - but that is likely to change quickly enough. 

Here is the list of puppy guesses on her Guess How Many Puppies contest. We have a number of likely finalists - remains to be seen when the first pup arrives to determine the final winner. 

Name	# of puppies	date/time
Martin	4	28 July 14:30
Janet B	5	26 July, 19:20
Adrienne TC	5	27 July, 16:30
Melissa B	5	27 July, 17:00
Suzie Baril	5	27 July 18:15
Jennifer O	5	28 July 15:00
Barbara B	5	28 July, 23:00
Emma P	6	25 July, 17:00
Susan CB	6	26 July, 13:42
Sarah P	6	26 July, 16:30
Suzanne	6	28 July, 16:45
Tristan	7	27 July, 21:00
Amélie L TC	7	27 July, 17:30
Patrice P	7	27 July, 19:07
Karen P	7	28 July, 14:00
Joséphine L TC	7	28 July, 15:00
Monica	7	28 July, 16:00
Catherine C	8	24 July, 15:00
Katie GM	8	25 July, 16:00
Laurent L TC	8	28 July, 19:30

One (and a half) week old!!

The puppies are growing well. Some of their eyes are starting to crack open - right on time at the 10-day mark yesterday! By next weekend all the eyes and ears should all be pretty much open, though vision (and hearing) stays fuzzy for a while as the brain learns to interpret what the eyes take in. 

My original estimate of these puppies' size - based stricly on parent weights - was that they could be from 20-40 lbs, as Harmony is 20 but Hugo is closer to 40. However, I am revising that estimate downward now, based on the pups' birth weights and growth patterns to date. I'd say some may be below 20 lbs, and likely 30lbs at the high end. They weren't the smallest pups we've ever had - fiarly average - but are gaining weight at a slower rate than Phoenix's did!!

So far two of these pups are reserved, with continuing interest coming in. I'm sure they'll all be taken by the beginning of August!!

Here are some pictures: 

We have a winner!

If you recall, nobody (except me) guessed the right number of puppies for Harmony, so I converted it into a “Guess when the first one will arrive” contest.

The winner of this version is…

Katie GM, mama to Whiskey (from Topaz’s 2015 litter), who is an uncle to these pups!

Katie, you will soon find a $10 Timmy’s card winging your way through Canada Post. Raise an ice cap to these puppies

Ready to go home!

Okay, I missed the Tuesday announcement. What can I say – it’s been busy.

Here it is… (drum roll, please):

Our puppies are excited to join their families:

• Kinoko Ivy – Lai family in Ottawa
• Tazman Peanut – Cook family in Montreal
• Ash – Urback family in Toronto
• Cooper Indigo – Ramesh family in Markham
• Poppy Jasmine – Daigeler family in Ottawa
• Lavender – Okhrimtchouk family in Ottawa

The pups will join their new families over the weekend (just one or two more sleeps!) – four on Saturday and two on Sunday. Then we’ll move Harmony’s babies into the puppy corner and start all over again!

Happy puppy dreams!

Harmony's babies have arrived!

Harmony came to stay with us after the Doodle Romp last Sunday, in preparation for the birth of her first babies.

We monitored her temperature over the next few days, as a drop in temperature for a 12-hour period signals that delivery will take place within the next 24 hours. The drop was noted on Wednesday evening. Also, when delivery is imminent the mamas start to engage in “nesting” behaviour – digging at the blankets in the whelping box, trying to make a nice place for their pups. (And they might start to pee a lot…) This started happening Wednesday night – she was pawing at the blankets in the whelping box and generally acting rather restless. Then she didn’t eat her food on Thursday morning – a good sign she’s into labour.

We arranged to “tag-team” it for most of the day. I was home until 9am, then my son came home after his physio appointment (skipping school!) to stay with her until noon; then my daughter came home over lunch and her first afternoon period, heading back to school for last period at 2:00. I intended to come home right after my meeting ended at 2:30, hoping to be home by 3:00 but the meeting ended up going until a bit after 3 so my son got home again before I did. That meant she was alone for a bit over an hour. Grandpa was supposed to keep an eye on her during that time, but he fell asleep on the sofa. Of course Harmonychose that time to start delivering. By the time my son got home from school, two of the pups had already arrived, and he was just in time to catch the third. I got home just in time for #4.

We have

• Puppy #1: 2:06pm (appx), solid black male with a tiny white spot on his throat, 335g
• Puppy #2: 2:33pm (appx), gold parti female, 299g
• Puppy #3: 3:18pm, black parti tricolour male, 254g
• Puppy #4: 3:45pm, chocolate parti tricolour male, 287g
• Puppy #5: 4:11pm, red parti female, 235g
• Puppy #6: 4:32pm, solid black male, 295g
• Puppy #7: 5:08pm, black parti female, 285g

Harmony and Hugo, you make some amazing puppies!

These pups are all a good size – but not quite as huge as Phoenix’s (with the slight exception of the first one).

Babies and mama are all doing just fine.

And so the newest adventure begins!

Puppy allocation

So, the big day is upon us!! The puppies went through their assessment on Thursday and we received the write-ups yesterday. I spent the evening poring over the assessments and the families’ application forms to make the best matches possible. Over the course of today and tomorrow, the families will come and spend time with the two puppies we are recommending for each family. They will have to pick the one they think will suit them best. Not easy!!

By Tuesday I should be able to announce which pup is going to which family. There will be a last few days of waiting to get through, and then you will be able to take your puppy home!!!

Happy puppy dreams!

Last Call - Guess When Pups will Arrive (Harmony)

This is a reminder to get your guesses in to me for when Harmony’s first puppy will arrive.

The deadline for guesses is Monday 13 June at noon.

Send in your name and the date/time you think the first puppy will arrive (likely between 14-20 June, some time in the afternoon or evening).

Happy puppy dreams!