Month: July 2019

Well, we made a few assumptions going into this. The first is that Breeze would just do what she has always done and whelp at 60 to 63 days.

Guess what? The full gestation can be 68 days! Ahhh…so Sunday was day 62 and we sit today at day 65. Nothing like feeling very premature about everything.

We are all waiting patiently! Thank you so much for your thoughts and encouragement!

“We have arrived” …in Zimbabwe they say “Tashika“… but no pups today…no panting, ‘nada…

So we are relaxing into the waiting mode and getting caught up on all of those things, like this blog post, that have received a lower priority over the last couple of weeks.

We set up Breeze’s den and have been hanging out in it off and on. This is my current office and is where she has been whelping each time. I’ve been inviting her inside the house at every opportunity since she has a favorite spot under the front deck where its super cool. She also loves to sun herself on the deck or lawn. We definitely do not want her accidentally slipping under the deck in a passionate moment.

Everyone says she doesn’t look pregnant. And I agree, until I see her in a particular position and she spreads her middle. She has a long body and hides the puppies up inside. Another litter was similar until the very last moment.

If you are looking at this picture on the computer you’ll notice the small colored wire around the base of the den. I found this great flexible hamster caging to use, instead of cardboard! The pups when first born for a week or so, can slip through the larger wire and find themselves in my office. Ahhh…the benefits of research!

In the den with her favorite whelping toy-pup, and also the litter gift from Canada in 2017 ( behind the toy-pup), which the puppies absolutely love.

She has a favorite place at the bottom of the stairs.

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Hoping to post as soon as we have any news! Guess it depends on whether we pull a whelping all-nighter.

Here we are…right on the front edge of our seats. Doing all the nesting possible. The puppy yard got set up this week. (Although the pups don’t go outside until end of week 3, I don’t want hammering going on, once the little ones have arrived.) Its a great area just out the back door.

We put it together with this and that…but its wonderfully functional. I think the only thing missing is the carpet…that plywood ramp is slick when they are still tiny, and it turns into a slip and slide even on a dry day.

I can’t believe how much I’ve learned. The first 2 litters I loaded all the puppies in a wagon and would shuttle them outside multiple times a day. It meant going down a ramp and around the side building to get into the yard. Now we open the back door…;*)) Voila! Much easier on the body!

Right now, we are working on any tasks that would be good to complete over the next 2 months, since once we are in puppy-land, that takes over everything. Having pups sets the tone for every waking moment, through September…so we’ve been in a let’s get ‘er done mode!

Here are some pics from the 2018 litter. You guys have graciously shared photos of your beautiful puppies that have grown into wonderful family members…thank you so much! It warms the cockles of our hearts to see their happy faces!

BREEZE AND BEN 2018

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More BREEZE AND BEN 2018

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Gadget came over for a visit. Although they both know “sit” and “down”, they were very excited to be in each other’s company, so this was super fun to see them together and get them to listen. Gadget is a pint-size of Breeze.

We had gotten to know Amy and Christian better than most puppy buyers. They live 5 miles away, and came to visit the puppies regularly during the 8 weeks. Amy also had helped me on more than one occasion, in puppy sitting but also doing some of the routine jobs, like worming and bathing. She house sat for me when I went to Zimbabwe early in 2018 as well, so she and Breeze are old buddies.

Amy was a vet tech in a past life and so has spent countless hours with dogs. She fantasized about having a puppy and how it would get along inside with their pet bunny, and I could only cross my fingers, since the basics alone are often plenty for me. Here is a video she took of Gadget at 1 week in their home….yes, 1 week. Gadget was the little one of the bunch from the 2018 litter.

And yes, all is good in the puppy-bunny frontier…not sure how they do it but its working!

Before 6 months old, Gadget got an AKC Novice Trick Dog title … Amy says, “Breeze makes whip-smart puppies!”

The possibilities are only limited by our imaginations!

And time, of course. ;*))