Yes, we have pups!!! We split the difference between due date and predicted date with an official Birthday of July 5th. Pups and mom are doing well. Sadly though, it bares mentioning Ritz and I were unable to bring some pups forward. We lost the final four at birth, or maybe more accurately, just prior to birth. All males... 2 fairly large and 2 notably small, but fully developed. Not sure why. Perhaps just too large of a litter for one dog, specifically Ritz, to handle. Her litter, my largest to date, totaled 14! It's always tough- disappointing and disheartening to lose pups at birth but with such a large litter, unfortunately, not uncommon. I feel a need, in such a case, to acknowledge them and their existence. Brief as it was.
Going forward, I'm thankful for our litter of ten. Four males and six females. Ritz did an awesome job during whelp and is a perfect mom. Attentive and always aware of her pups and surroundings.
This morning I was able to get all under layers of our whelp station removed and laundered and finally place mom and pups on an entire fresh set of bedding. Ritz was pretty antsy with the brief separation required to get it done but settled quickly once returned to her babes. The first separation, even if brief, is always anxiety producing for the moms. Up to this point she was only willing to go out for quick potty breaks and only if I came along.
Once resettled and again calm, I took the opportunity to place colored collars on each pup which will help me keep track of each individual and monitor growth and progress going forward. The collars too will help each of you get to know the pups and, to a degree, get acquainted with their personalities as we progress through the coming weeks. This evening I'll obtain their weights and open up the weights tab which will be updated roughly weekly.
A few of you I've spoken with... but hit a roadblock. Going down the list I quickly found I was unable to get ahold of one on our list. Considering the holiday, I'm assuming they may be enjoying a vacation or something of that sort. As result, I'm not entirely sure were we sit regarding availability of pups. I do know all males are spoken for. We may or may not have availability of a female.
Going forward, I'm thankful for our litter of ten. Four males and six females. Ritz did an awesome job during whelp and is a perfect mom. Attentive and always aware of her pups and surroundings.
This morning I was able to get all under layers of our whelp station removed and laundered and finally place mom and pups on an entire fresh set of bedding. Ritz was pretty antsy with the brief separation required to get it done but settled quickly once returned to her babes. The first separation, even if brief, is always anxiety producing for the moms. Up to this point she was only willing to go out for quick potty breaks and only if I came along.
Once resettled and again calm, I took the opportunity to place colored collars on each pup which will help me keep track of each individual and monitor growth and progress going forward. The collars too will help each of you get to know the pups and, to a degree, get acquainted with their personalities as we progress through the coming weeks. This evening I'll obtain their weights and open up the weights tab which will be updated roughly weekly.
A few of you I've spoken with... but hit a roadblock. Going down the list I quickly found I was unable to get ahold of one on our list. Considering the holiday, I'm assuming they may be enjoying a vacation or something of that sort. As result, I'm not entirely sure were we sit regarding availability of pups. I do know all males are spoken for. We may or may not have availability of a female.
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