Blog Archives

We are One!!! Day That Is!

9/29/2016

Hello puppy people! Just a quick update to let everyone know your pups are doing fabulous! They're eating, squeaking, squirming and building muscles! They look pretty scrawny right now but their weights are right on track with those of previous litters. The 1st weights don't necessarily mean too much but weighing them at regular intervals helps me catch any that might be falling behind. Less of an issue with a smaller litter than it is with a larger one.

Majestic is doing great and seems to enjoy being a mom again. Still a bit on the uneasy side not wanting to leave her pups any longer than it takes to go outside and do her business but she's generally settled. No longer my bed dog, she's a whelping box dog!

Today was Remedy's 2nd birthday so she and I took a break and had some one on one mom time. Still loves her toys at two so we played some frisbee. A little behind schedule but I've decided to try and teach her to catch it on the fly. She's doing a fairly good job of it but is far from a pro llke some of the others.

Well, that's about it for now. Weights are posted and can be accessed either by the button located in the header of this page or via the dropdown under the "current litter" tab.

Tomorrow starts my work week. Always a little nerve wracking leaving young pups but unfortunately it's something I still have to do. One of my Facebook friends posted a shot of a couple margaritas and a bowl of chips today with a title of "One more Thursday closer to retirement". I guess that holds true for me too. As they say, all good things come to those who wait.

4 Comments

An Even Eight!

9/28/2016

18 Comments

Looks like Barbara wins the guessing game and unfortunately I had to make a few disappointing phone calls.
My apologies went to Jeremy, Angi, Sandra in Tallahassee and Robin. I know what it's like to wait for a pup and come up empty. I've been there. While there are never any guarantees, I try and keep my reservations down to around eight and beyond that I'm pretty up front with the possibility of there being too few pups but that reservations are accepted for those willing to take a gamble. Even so, I dread the phone calls.

Breeding is not without it's pitfalls by any means.

Regarding Jess, her pups and our day, I return to the topic of the guessing game. Barbara was spot on with the date and in the end predicted the number of pups correctly however her guess of sex turned out to be exact opposite of reality. And I say "in the end" picked the correct number because that's what we have. Unfortunately, and in keeping with transparency as well a acknowledging a life, I'm sad to report we lost what should have been our ninth pup during the whelping process. Losses -another dreaded and disheartening aspect that goes hand in hand with breeding it seems. Apparently and unfortunately the protective sack of Majestic's first pup broke before he was safely delivered.
Our morning started off so well. But after two and a half hours of contractions without results I began to worry. It was more of a gut feeling really because two to three hours, especially for the first pup, isn't unusual. But my gut told me my girl needed some help and over the years I've learned to listen to my instincts as they rarely fail me. So... off to the Vet we went. There Majestic received a shot of oxytocin enabling her, within a fairly short amount of time, to pass her first pup and largest boy. Such a shame -very disheartening and so much potential wasted. I do wonder sometimes how much loss is too much and find myself thinking about other breeders. Specifically those who no longer breed. Is it the losses that get to them? I'm sure there are a multitude of reasons why people stop breeding but I would imaging losses and ill placed pups top the list. But then there are those who survive and thrive. The 99% who without fail pull you back to full engagement. Today I feel fortunate to have eight healthy puppies, 5 males and 3 females, and eight families prepared to show them the world while providing loving and caring homes for them. Today that's enough.

As for Jess, she's settled right in to the job of mothering. She's a fabulous and gentle mom. She's content and her pups seem to be as well. Tomorrow I'll get weights on each and continue with weekly weights thereafter as I always do. To the naked eye though, they all appear to be roughly the same size. They're all strong and beautiful. But I'd expect nothing less. They are Doberman!

18 Comments

Progress!

9/28/2016

7 Comments

Well, it looks like we're in for a daytime delivery! How considerate of my girl! We've both had a fairly peaceful nights sleep and her first contraction came at 6:45. Wish us luck and an uneventful whelping period!

7 Comments

Waitin' on Jess!

9/27/2016

4 Comments

Nothing new to report but a peaceful nights sleep. But we're ready! At least I am...

The set up:
New and improved whelping box -check! It seems each litter I devise something that's designed to work a little better than that of the past. The new model; a breeze to clean, a little taller and like the last, heavy enough to hold down the bedding, the best improvement to date! Unfortunately I ran out of trim boards so I can't call it 100% complete. But it's close. Those will be added when I have a chance to hit Home Depot, one of my most frequented stores.
We also have the whelping kit full of supplies and emergency numbers that I hope I'll never need.
Timing is good, I'm hoping, with four days off... now down to three and counting -check!
A Crock Pot and fillings for a throw together quick and easy meal or meals -check.
Snacks for me and some for Jess -check.
Camera and batteries -check.
Now all we need are some pups and an easy uneventful delivery.

Majestic skipped breakfast this morning which is typical of whelping day so we'll see what the day brings. Still no nesting behavior but as you may have read in a comment in the last post, she doesn't waste a great deal of time nesting. Once she starts, it's time to be ready.

Hope everyone is having a fabulous start to the day. All is well here.

4 Comments

So, Who wants to take a guess???

9/26/2016

12 Comments

Definitely getting down to the wire here. Jess is doing fabulous... basically just her and I playing the waiting game. She's pretty plump and already has a good supply of milk prepared for youngins'. Your guess is as good as mine as to how many pups she's hiding but we will know soon. My guess within the next 24-48 hours.

12 Comments

Another Week Closer!

9/21/2016

8 Comments

Hello puppy people. With less than a week to go before pups arrive there's lots of activity to be both seen and felt within Jess's belly. Despite all the kicking and squirming within, she's doing great -happy, healthy, and maintaining her appetite. And I've been busy as usual. Always busy it seems. I keep meaning to make a general blog post regarding all the goings ons around here since my last litter but it seems there's never enough time in the day. By days end I'm content to simply chill for five minutes before it's time to turn in for the night. I'm going in to this litter in good shape though... all the hard work is beginning to pay off. But... we're getting down to the wire. Plans for the day include putting a fresh coat of paint on the bedroom floor in prep for the whelping box that will be set in place tomorrow. Once again, as it probably always will, my bedroom is dual purpose doubling not only as a bedroom for me but a whelping and growing station for the pups too. As they say, if it's not broke don't fix it. I enjoy raising the pups there, up close and personal, where I can keep a close eye on them.

That's about it for now... Just a quick check in and update. Hope everyone is well. We're doing good here!

8 Comments

Preparing For Incoming

9/14/2016

2 Comments

Greetings!
As I find myself preparing for puppies I also find it's a time I reflect on past pups, their owners and how things are today. I make a conscience effort to maintain contact with owners and to stay abreast with what's happening in the lives of all my pups. For the most part my puppy people have been great about sending updates and photos and for the most part all past pups are well and living life to it's fullest. One has excelled and titled in Rally but in general they are simply valued and cherished family companions.
A few have come back. While the best case scenario for all involved is that the homes the pups join when they leave me is forever I know sometimes life gets in the way. For that reason, one of the few requirements I hold is that if a home turns out to be less than forever, the pup or dog is returned to me. There is absolutely no reason for any of the pups I'm responsible for to end up in a shelter or an abusive situation. Ever! Consideration would of course be given in the event a pup needs to be re-homed within the family as I'm one of the believers of "family is forever". Outside of that, the pups come back to me. I pass no judgement and simply care for the wellbeing of the dog. To date the pups that have returned have each been successfully re-homed and they are thriving! All but one... Skye who will be, and maybe always should have been, with me forever.

With that said, there are multiple ways I keep in contact with people and the degree of contact varies considerably depending on many factors. Some communicate via text, phone and email. Others have joined one or all of my Facebook pages. Facebook, I've found is a great way to keep in touch and my Facebook accounts include my own personal account, a public page "Got My Back Dobermans" and a private group page I developed called "Let's take The Dogs". "Let's Take The Dogs" was developed as a way for myself and others with common interest to get out and socialize and at the same time provide a fun way to socialize our pups to a wide variety of situations. We've had a few outings and some great times but unfortunately weather, distance and schedules have been a drawback. Even so, the page remains up and I encourage each of you to join. The larger the membership the better it will function. I've got pups spread throughout the state and the page is set up in such a way that anyone of it's members can organize or suggest an event or get-together. A get together can be anything you want -large or small, a park or beach escape or a casual lunch at your local dog friendly eatery. Please join, have fun and remember... include your pups and take the dogs. It's the best way I know of to assure you have an awesome, well rounded family companion. Make "going" the norm!

Out and About!

These Feet Were Made For Walkin'

2 Comments

An Even Eight!

We are One!!! Day That Is!

An Even Eight!

Progress!

Waitin' on Jess!

So, Who wants to take a guess???

Another Week Closer!

Preparing For Incoming

Author

Archives

Categories