Martha's puppies 2013
To see what happened on the lead up to Martha's puppies being born click HERE
19 April 2013
Taken this morning and only 36hrs old - Martha's boys and girls, 4 of each.
Martha had a rough time of it at the birth but is absolutely amazing with her new puppies. I'm so proud of her.
Martha had a rough time of it at the birth but is absolutely amazing with her new puppies. I'm so proud of her.
A basketful of puppies, tucked up safely while I put fresh bedding in the whelping box. It won't be long before they're too big to go in there together.
One totally relaxed boy.
Two of the girls.
The biggest girl with 3 of the boys.
The rails along the edge of the whelping box are there to help prevent the mum squashing the pups. The puppies from every one of my litters seem to like laying under the rails (while they're still small enough to fit). This is the smallest of the girls.
20 April 2013
Two girls, two boys.
The puppies have been weighed again today and have all put on weight.
The puppies have been weighed again today and have all put on weight.
One of all the puppies, you can tell they're nice and warm, the way they're spread out around the whelping box.
21 April 2013
WATCH the first video of the puppies
23 April 2013
The puppies are in the warm boxes while I clean out the whelping box. You can get an idea of how much they've grown in the last few days, by comparing these two photos with the one further up the page. In that one they're all in one box but now there just wouldn't be enough room.
Feeding and snoozing, mum and puppies.
Puppy snuggles.
25 April 2013
Group photo.
Biggest girl, biggest boy.
26 April 2013
At the milk bar.
The puppies have had their nails trimmed for the second time today. They might be small but they're incredibly strong (the puppies, that is) and it's quite a struggle to hold them still while I do the trimming. I use an electric nail grinder as it's far quicker than scissors or nail clippers and leaves the nails smooth so they can't damage Martha's flesh.
27 April 2013
The smallest girl, using her brother for a pillow.
More puppy snuggles.
Grandsons Owen and Luca couldn't resist getting in with the puppies while Martha was out of it.
29 April 2013
Group photo
29 April 2013
Puppy snuggles
More puppy snuggles.
A couple of the pups at the milk bar.
This morning when I picked up the girl with the red spotty collar there was a pair of little eyes looking back at me. These milestones are wonderful and one of the nicest parts of raising a litter. For the next few days any photos will be taken while they're asleep so that the flash doesn't damage their eyes.
Martha had her stitches out today so should be feeling more comfortable.
Some of the puppies are starting to get up on their feet and walk rather than doing the 'commando crawl' they've done since birth. Here are a couple of videos taken earlier today VIDEO 1 & VIDEO 2 [the noise in the background of the second video is one of the older dogs rolling around in one of the dogs beds in the kitchen]
Martha had her stitches out today so should be feeling more comfortable.
Some of the puppies are starting to get up on their feet and walk rather than doing the 'commando crawl' they've done since birth. Here are a couple of videos taken earlier today VIDEO 1 & VIDEO 2 [the noise in the background of the second video is one of the older dogs rolling around in one of the dogs beds in the kitchen]
01 May 2013
Another VIDEO of the puppies taken this afternoon. They've all got their eyes open now, so I've been shutting out some of the sunshine (yes, I know, what a shame now we've finally got some sun) so it's not too bright for them. If you watched it and wondered whether the girl in the purple collar was actually alive, as she was so still, here she is in a second video, moving briefly while snoozing.
02 May 2013
One of the girls peeping back at me as I took the photo.
Group photo.
The puppies have been weighed and wormed today. It was quite uneventful, Martha kept her distance so I didn't have any puddles on my knees.
The puppies have been weighed and wormed today. It was quite uneventful, Martha kept her distance so I didn't have any puddles on my knees.
04 May 2013
The boys in the box while I clean out the whelping box. They won't be able to fit in here together for many more days.
The girls, not quite as neatly arranged as the boys [grin]
05 May 2013
This morning we had our first escapee from the whelping box. Martha was outside the box when one of the boys decided to join her. He leaned over the 'doorway' of the box and plopped onto the floor at the side of Martha before I'd chance to get the camera to video him. I've now increased the height of the opening so we don't have any repeats for a few more days. Here's a video of the puppies this afternoon, they were very busy and very noisy.
06 May 2013
One of the boys snuggling up with his mum.
Group photo.
Another group photo.
Two of the girls snoozing together. Wouldn't you love to blow raspberries on that tummy.
Two little sleepy-heads.
07 May 2013
Their first proper food. A day early but they were more than ready for it, judging by the way they dived in.
08 May 2013
A short video showing the puppies tucking into their food today.
Bedtime for everyone.
09 May 2013
A jumble of puppies having an afternoon siesta
10 May 2013
Grandson Luca saying hallo to the puppies this morning.
Looking for a quick exit.
The girl in the corner has fallen asleep in that position, something quite a few of them do.
11 May 2013
One of the girls snoozing.
Another boy who likes that corner.
13 May 2013
One of the girls looking for an escape route.
Meal time.
There's nothing like a snooze when you've got a full tummy.
15 May 2013
Play time.
Afternoon siesta.
Watch the puppies' playtime here
16 May 2013
This afternoon was quite sunny and warm so the puppies had their first experience of playing outside for a short time. Here are a couple of videos of them:- VIDEO 1 and VIDEO 2 and a couple of photos.
Playtime
"Hey guys, look who it is, it's GRANNY!"
This was the first time Martha had allowed Poppy into the whelping box, but as you can see, Granny is keen to share the care of the puppies.
18 May 2013
And Granny's in with the pups again.
19 May 2013
Dining out.
20 May 2013
The puppies had quite a busy weekend, with their new families coming to meet them for the first time. I had to wake them up quite a few times and the new owners could have been fooled into thinking they were always so quiet, but this VIDEO taken later last night shows otherwise. They've been moved through to the dining room now, so they've more space to spread out.
21 May 2013
Grannies give such good cuddles and puppies make such good pillows.
23 May 2013
When the puppies are awake so much of my time is taken up with cleaning up puddles and poo that I hardly have time to take photos, but this is one of 2 of them, taken this evening.
WATCH Annie and 2 of the puppies playing outside together. Another VIDEO of Annie and the puppies, this time inside.
Bedtime - peace at last.
25 May 2013
A nice sunny day and a chance for the puppies to spend some time outside. Here are a couple of videos of them playing - and making lots of noise! VIDEO 1 and VIDEO 2 In the 2nd one you can see the other dogs taking advantage of the sunshine.
Back inside and snoozing in the dog bed - it's a hard life being a puppy.
27 May 2013
A few more photos of the puppies outside today.
Brother and sister snuggling together at the end of the day.
"I'm a puppy, I don't care how I look".
29 May 2013
The first family to choose a dog puppy have been to visit today and by next Monday evening I'll know which home each of the dog puppies will be going to. The families having the bitch puppies will have to wait a little longer, until I've chosen the one who will be staying with me.
Some breeders ask new owners to wait until the day they collect their puppy to make their choice, but in the past I've had puppies travelling the length and breadth of the country, so it would be a logistical nightmare for me to use that method. Not only that, I think it's important that the new families have as long as they need to make their choice (haven't had to put anyone up for the night yet <grin>)
Some breeders ask new owners to wait until the day they collect their puppy to make their choice, but in the past I've had puppies travelling the length and breadth of the country, so it would be a logistical nightmare for me to use that method. Not only that, I think it's important that the new families have as long as they need to make their choice (haven't had to put anyone up for the night yet <grin>)
31 May 2013
After a few cold and wet the days, the puppies are outside again. The towel was supposed to keep the sun off them but these two had other ideas, as you can see in the first VIDEO. In the 2nd VIDEO the puppies are rolling each other around in the water bowl while Martha clears up any food left in their bowls.
At 10.30 pm it's time the puppies were quietening down for the night, but they seem to have other ideas. Ned and Annie went in to play with them for a while and you can watch them in this VIDEO Poor Ned, the puppies have teeth like needles but he's so patient with them. In this second VIDEO Isis joins in and you can see some of the puppies starting to settle down.
At 10.30 pm it's time the puppies were quietening down for the night, but they seem to have other ideas. Ned and Annie went in to play with them for a while and you can watch them in this VIDEO Poor Ned, the puppies have teeth like needles but he's so patient with them. In this second VIDEO Isis joins in and you can see some of the puppies starting to settle down.
02 June 2013
Another of the dog puppies has been chosen by his new family today, making it a busy morning for 3 of the boys. The puppies have spent most of the day outside again and here's the latest VIDEO of them playing.
05 June 2013
The biggest boy looking for an escape route.
Such a cute girl, but don't be fooled, she's chief ankle-biter.
Some of the girls having a snooze.
One of the less ladylike girls.
06 June 2013
I try to get my puppies out in the car for a few short journeys before they leave for their new homes, so late this afternoon we visited a couple of my friends. The puppies were totally unconcerned by the traffic passing by while we were parked and got quite a bit of attention from people walking past. Only one poo the whole journey, which was an added bonus, previous litters have usually managed far more before I even start the car engine.
07 June 2013
10 pm and settled down for the night, quite an early one for them.
09 June 2013
Look at this cheeky girl (little Miss Purple Collar AKA Cola) sticking her tongue out at the camera.
Time to just chill.
Here's a VIDEO of the puppies, the little guy with the stripy collar hogging the camera at the end is Jeffrey.
Here's a VIDEO of the puppies, the little guy with the stripy collar hogging the camera at the end is Jeffrey.
12 June 2013
Loki posing for the camera.
Cheeky Cola behind Shen and Willis, sticking her tongue out at the camera.
Willis and Cola are playing bitey-face in this VIDEO. In this next VIDEO you can see the puppies gathering round Martha then dashing across to me when I call them.
13 June 2013
Sometimes trying to get a group photo of all of the pups together is like shoveling fog and today was one of those days. I wanted a last group photo before the puppies start leaving for their new homes tomorrow, but this was the best I could get.
Over the next few days the puppies will start to go out into the big wide world and start their lives with their new families. You can follow their progress HERE