Sonya x Chief Diary
October 14, 2011: First AI at 7.6 ng progesterone. This was a little on the early side, but the weekend messed up things!
Oct 17, 2011: 2nd AI, at ~+3.5 days after ovulation. Should have caught all the remaining eggs w/ this one!
Nov. 11, 2011: Sonya is 4 wks pregnant today. She has gained a little girth already (despite no change in food intake) so that's a good sign.
Nov. 21, 2011: Sonya is 5.5 wks pregnant and has gained 3.5-4" in girth as of tonight! This is a great sign considering she's not had any additional food increase up to this point. Now I will add 15% more per day per week to keep up w/ puppy needs.
Nov. 26, 2011: I took Sonya and Mata out for a leisurely 3 mile walk (which also turned into a swim for them) today. Think Sonya looks pregnant? I'm guessing she's carrying at least 8.... she's already been groaning here and there!
Intl CH WindyCanyon Patent Nfringement CDX RA JH
OFA Hips Good, Elbows Normal, Cardiac Normal, CERF current/annually. PRA carrier, EIC carrier, CNM Clear. Sonya is ~60#, 21" tall.
UKC CH Deep Run Commander In Chief JH WC
OFA Hips Excellent, Elbows Normal, CERF normal/current, PRA normal, EIC normal, Cardiac Echo/Normal. Chief is ~75#.
At 6 wks along...
And on Dec 2, at 7 wks!
Dec. 2, 2011: Sonya now measures in at 30 (chest)-32 (last short rib)-29.5 (waist). She's still active if there is anything worth running for outside but otherwise grunts and groans a lot on the couch!
Dec. 6, 2011: (7.5 wks along) Sonya's measurements are now 30 (chest)-34 (last short rib)-31.5 (waist). She's up by 7.5-8.5" girth which is nearly identical to her measurements last year. She whelped 9 in that litter. I am attempting to have all of my work wrapped up this week, just in case she decides to whelp early again as she did last year!
Dec. 12, 2011: (59 days) Sonya's temperature dropped by 3am. Puppies should start arriving by tonight. And yes, this is 4 days early again, same as her first litter!
Dec. 13, 2011: It was an all nighter! First puppy finally arrived at 1:30am Tues. Sonya whelped 9 total (6 girls, 3 boys) but one girl was dead on arrival, just too small and too early, I think. We were done by 5:30am. Now it's a matter of giving Sonya some peace and quiet, which is no small feat when you have the crew I have. They all want to see the babies, and Mata has already tried to take over once.
Dec. 15, 2011: Puppies continue to do well. All have gained from 2-3 ounces already. Mata tried again to take over the newest babies and gained ground. All I can say is they will be some of the cleanest, most well fed pups around!
Dec. 18, 2011: Puppies had their dew claws removed on Friday at Day 3. All went well, and they had a lot of cuddles by the "grandmas" at the clinic-- the 2 vets who were responsible for their insemination/creation! Today, their weights range from 1.21 - 1.55# at 5 days old. They should be doubled in weight within the next 2 days so that is right on track w/ normal for me. I've started the "Super Puppy" (Early Neurological Stimulation) program now. This will help stimulate the puppies' immune system and help them deal w/ stress, according to the experts.
Dec. 23, 2011: The puppies are sure growing and enjoying having "2 moms"! Otherwise it gets a little crowded at the milk bar. I'm starting to see a little crack form at the eyes... won't be long til they are open. Puppies averaged 2# yesterday at day 9.
Dec. 27, 2011: Two weeks old today!!!! The puppies' eyes are all open now, and are they ever becoming mobile! They had their first taste of dewormer today (yummy stuff, apparently). Weights ranged from 2.6 - 3.4#. Mata is still helping w/ the nursing at least 2x/day, even though her own puppies are now pretty much "cut off" (I'd not call it weaned, because they still steal a sip whenever they get the opportunity-- even latched onto Sonya today!).
Dec. 31, 2011: Happy New Year's Eve!!!! And no, they've not been dipping into the "sauce" yet-- that's just how puppies this age walk and snort, lol!!!! Video of puppies today
Puppy noses and new blue eyes...
Sleeping in formation???
Jan. 3, 2012: Pups are 3 wks old today. Weights are running great, easily averaging 4# per puppy now. I've started introducing a runny gruel to them to help out mom now that sister Mata is finally deciding she'd like to dry up. I can feel the ridges of teeth more easily now, so it won't be long!!! Pups are also starting to gravitate to the newspaper in the corner for potty time. Everything is on schedule!
Jan. 6, 2012: 3.5 wks old. Pups are now enjoying 4 small supplemental meals per day and are ranging in weights from 4 to 5# per puppy. They are getting quite good w/ the potty tray too, thankfully!
Jan. 9, 2012: Pups are almost 4 wks old and definitely getting more active. And did I mention, cute, too??? Here's a video clip I took today Weights range from 4.5 - 5.5# now. I had to put on their bigger puppy collars today.
Jan. 13, 2012: Big day for the puppies! They are technically 4.5 wks old (tho really only should be 4 wks old since they were born early) and will move out to the bigger pen later since a few of them are having serious thoughts of climbing out thru the doorway if I forget and leave it open. Weights are great, at 5.3 - 6.7#, and getting more active by the day. Sonya now only nurses ~4-5x a day usually after meals, and prefers to do so on the basement floor on a blanket or standing up, piggy style. They have teeth!
Jan. 14, 2012: Another big day! Puppies got moved out to their pen today once it warmed up a bit more (I have to heat the garage!). They are enjoying the extra space, even though it is still pretty small right now. I'll extend the pen in a couple days once they are 100% again w/ the real "potty pool".
It's not your eyes, life can be a blur these days!
We're getting sleepy.....
Yahoo! Our very own suite w/ a bedroom, bathroom and family room!
And a dinner bell?? Or a potty bell? Hmmm...
Jan. 17, 2012: 5 weeks old today! Despite being born a half week early, all are plenty active and big. Today's weights ranged from 6# to 8#, with most weighing in at 7.5# (had to graduate to the big scale that isn't quite as precise). All were vaccinated all w/ Neopar today, a parvo only vaccine, designed to kickstart their immunity against the deadly virus that is all too common in my area. And yesterday, I had to remove the walk over gate and fully enclose the ex pen since Miss Pink managed to scale it and take a "walk about". She hunted Mama Sonya down who rewarded the effort with a freebie meal... ;)
Jan. 21, 2012: I added in their tunnel the other day and expanded the pen a bit. I'm hoping it'll warm up a bit soon so I can get them all outside but I'm afraid the snow is as deep as they are tall!
Jan. 25, 2012: 6 wks old and finally warm enough to start melting some of the snow off and get the puppies outside to enjoy some sunshine!!! Click here to see their video
We also managed to get in a car ride the other day too, and all 8 did great! I'll continue to get them out for short drives as possible to prepare for their vet visits (starting next week).
Jan. 29, 2012: The pups and I took a short drive down to the Pomona Gun Club today while they were doing their normal Sunday am shoot. Got in a little noise desensitization and a lot of good socialization. In the afternoon, they took turns playing "show dog" on the table in front of the mirror, so I could start to take notes on conformation. The string cheese used as bait to get them to stand nicely was a hit... no surprise! They look very nice for being this young. I won't do a final evaluation for ~10 days, but this was good practice. We also get outside for a romp nearly every afternoon now and they've been enjoying that a lot.
Feb. 2, 2012: It's been a busy work week for me (yes, I DO still have to work, even this though tends to be a slower time of year for me!), so I apologize for not taking many photos-- but when I have, they've pretty much been a blur. The puppies just move TOO FAST anymore to take them by myself! Hopefully on Sunday, a friend and I will be able to get some good ones. On Tues (7 wks), all got their first combo vaccines, so they now have 2 good parvo vaccines under their belts, which makes me feel a lot better. We have also gotten in some nice outside fun at least 2x/day the past few days. Today the Yakima Firing Center which is only 2 miles as the crow flies, had some heavy artillery / bombing exercises going on, so that was an earful for the pups (after the initial "what the heck was THAT??" reaction, they were great). Tomorrow will also be a big day-- they get to take another ride for their vet well checks. I've already warned my vet not to wear laced shoes...
Feb. 3, 2012: Just in from getting puppy well checks done on the little chocolate drops. Everyone got the veterinary stamp of approval and lots of good socialization (had another vet and tech in the room playing w/ the ones not being examined/chipped-- so I really got my $$$ worth today!). It was sure fun to hear the comments/evaluations on personalities from people who had not been around them. We were all on the same page! One hurdle cleared, folks!
Also got a few photo ops this afternoon for those asking for face photos!
Ahhhh, so quiet when they are sleeping.....
Enjoying their new tunnel
Mr Blue (Boon-- pet/hunter)
Mr Green (Cooper-- Reading therapy pup)
Mr. Red (Bus-- pet/ hunter)
Miss Pink (Bailey-- Parkinson's therapy)
Miss Purple (Baya)
with cousin Envy
Miss Yellow (pet/hunter)
Miss White
Family fun & mayhem!!!
Feb. 8, 2012: The litter took their first long drive to the Tri-Cities for eye checks (CERFs) yesterday, and all went well. Miss Lime who I'm co-owning (now named Scout) left with her new "dad" today and it's already thrown me off my game. I had let them outside a bit ago and was "missing" one puppy until I realized I only had 7 left here!
Feb. 12, 2012: The last pups are leaving! Boo hoo for us, but what great homes they all have. I look forward to hearing about all of their antics and accomplishments in the coming years from my new friends and family!
Miss Lime (@ 8 wks) -- now Windycanyon's Scout
Miss Lime (Scout-- hunting/therapy pup)
