I'm hoping very much for something that I do not see. Something I do not see, YET.
We take a few steps forward in this new journey of awaiting our next litter of Brittany puppies. As many times as this journey is taken, it is always fresh and new. Always exciting and full of hopes and dreams, not only for John and I, but for those who are waiting with us.
Even as we approach the actual day of Christmas and look forward to everything that means to us, our family and our friends, there is still a glimmering spark on the new horizon of 2013. And we know there are those of you reading this who are looking in the same direction as John and I.
We're getting "All Things Brittany" ready and preparing for what we hope will actually happen in January, and then again in February. Plans that were made well over a year ago were put into place in the not so distant past. Simply said - we hope to soon confirm that which we cannot currently see!
This blog will be where the journey is shared in as much as I may freely take the time to do so. As in the past, I will share from my heart those things which a dog breeder experiences. From the mundane to that which is exciting and full of joy, I will bring our readers and especially our new puppy families, through these next months.
For those of you waiting for a puppy, now is the time to have the book "Art of Raising A Puppy" by Monks of New Skete. This seriously is required reading but it's also fun to follow along in the first chapters of development of a neo-natal puppy. You will have a better understanding of what (we hope and anticipate) will be going on here. We recently sent out our first breeding update out to those on our waiting list and I'm really very appreciative of the follow ups which came as a result.
The average gestation period for a dog is 63 days. The first sign that we look for here that a planned breeding may have resulted in the desired pregnancy is when the mother to be experiences "morning sickness". Although like in humans it can occur at any time of day. Typically, she vomits out of the clear blue sky without any warning at all. It's easy to miss, because it doesn't usually last or repeats itself. You simply discover that she has vomited.
Pippin vomited exactly 3 weeks to the day since she was bred to Chevy. She seems to spend more time sleeping than usual. Pip is always a very affectionate girl and cuddly. It seems lately she has been more so. Pippin has a very well sprung rib cage. This past week she has appeared to look a little wider and thicker than usual.
I always hesitate to confirm a pregnancy, and prefer really to wait and see. I do know how to palpitate (feel for pups) and know the best dates to do it. But once again, I prefer to let nature take it's course. There's also two separate points where x-rays and/or ultra sound can detect and confirm the presence of pups, or lack of them. We may do that on rare occasions or in the case of emergency.
As an anticipated pregnancy advances, we begin to feed food especially formulated for puppies. This is to meet increased energy needs for the eventual milk production, growth of puppies. Their calorie needs are greater, and more protein is needed for the development of puppies. Some girls will go off their food for awhile while others are chow hounds. When Pippin was pregnant before, she was a chow hound!
Speaking of her previous pregnancy. We are closely following our whelping records of Pippin's litter born in May 2011. I am also writing down these significant notations above on the current pages. It is no surprise that it is nearly word for word.
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In a few more weeks I will also begin to make note here about Piper and True. We're very excited about this pairing. We have brought Jacks daughter together with Treasure's son for very specific reasons, reasons similar to our prior breeding of Treasure to Bullet (Jacks son). The line we have been re-establishing for the past 10 years now has proven to be all we had set out for it to be, and more. So now as breeders we continue to be in that place of breeding back into what is the best of our best. Confident of what's there without any surprises. Realizing that successive breeding is necessary. We have improved upon our own line, which was part of the early goal. And now we have reached a consistency in what we are striving to bring forth with our beautiful Brittany bird dogs. Suffice to say - we have a high degree of anticipation for what True and Piper bring forth together too. Above all, we're certain in both of these litters to see sound temperament, sweet disposition, correct conformation, and well preserved natural abilities and instincts in regards to hunting. And quite honestly, next to the temperament - the hunting part of it is what J&A's Brittanys is all about!Look at that time... I'm doing it again. Staying up late, and blogging into the morning hours. But that's okay. "HE" is the morning person, and I am the night owl. And it works. Most of the time. I will end now for I will be in danger of falling asleep on the keyboard, which I've done before. I just wanted to get started talking about puppies. Because after Christmas, the season of puppies is the very best of all! These pups will have the spring and the summer to get ready for a fun fall in the field. Let's think puppies - and hope for that which is not yet seen.
Christmas is coming.....!!!!!!!! Take care and God bless - John, Ann, and All Things Brittany
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