Pregnancy diary 2011
04 Aug - The saddest of days. At 5am I found one of the dog puppies had died. It's something every breeder dreads and despite my best efforts to revive him it was too late. The remaining 6 puppies seem to be doing well and there's no reason to think that there'll be any problems with any of them. I'm hoping to put some photos of Poppy and the puppies onto this site tomorrow.
03 Aug - Poppy was panting a lot on and off from late yesterday afternoon so it seemed as though the puppies weren't going to be long before they were here. We both had a rather sleepless night. The new whelping box arrived yesterday and was ready and waiting for 'business'. At 8.35am the first puppy was born, a bitch weighing just under 1lb in weight (0.44kg). The last puppy was born at 3.42pm giving a total of 7 puppies (4 bitches and 3 dogs) all of a similar weight. A very tired Poppy settled down to feed her new babies.
26 July - I've just been able to see the puppies moving. Poppy has a football match going on in there by the looks of her!
25 July - This evening I felt the puppies move. I've thought I've felt some movement in the last couple of days but wasn't certain, but this evening there was a most definite wriggle.
23 July - The puppies are due 2 weeks today. I've been gradually changing Poppy over to the puppy food I'll eventually wean the litter on to (Skinners field & trial puppy). I'll now start to increase the amount I give her and give it in 3-4 meals a day rather than just 2. I'm hoping that this might reduce the amount of wind she creates, the belching is bad enough but as for what comes out of the other end . . . . . . . . . . well all I can say is don't anyone strike a match!
16 July - 3 weeks left to go. Poppy's slowed down and is sleeping a lot (when the others let her). Her waistline is expanding and she has nipples so big you could hang your hat on them!
03 Aug - Poppy was panting a lot on and off from late yesterday afternoon so it seemed as though the puppies weren't going to be long before they were here. We both had a rather sleepless night. The new whelping box arrived yesterday and was ready and waiting for 'business'. At 8.35am the first puppy was born, a bitch weighing just under 1lb in weight (0.44kg). The last puppy was born at 3.42pm giving a total of 7 puppies (4 bitches and 3 dogs) all of a similar weight. A very tired Poppy settled down to feed her new babies.
26 July - I've just been able to see the puppies moving. Poppy has a football match going on in there by the looks of her!
25 July - This evening I felt the puppies move. I've thought I've felt some movement in the last couple of days but wasn't certain, but this evening there was a most definite wriggle.
23 July - The puppies are due 2 weeks today. I've been gradually changing Poppy over to the puppy food I'll eventually wean the litter on to (Skinners field & trial puppy). I'll now start to increase the amount I give her and give it in 3-4 meals a day rather than just 2. I'm hoping that this might reduce the amount of wind she creates, the belching is bad enough but as for what comes out of the other end . . . . . . . . . . well all I can say is don't anyone strike a match!
16 July - 3 weeks left to go. Poppy's slowed down and is sleeping a lot (when the others let her). Her waistline is expanding and she has nipples so big you could hang your hat on them!