A Brittany Nightcap

Happiness is a Warm Puppy! (1 week old new Brittany pups from Molly & Scooby)

Today was a beautiful day in the neighborhood.. Molly Rose enjoyed herself today and actually ran across the front yard.  I wish I could explain to her that she shouldn't push herself but how do I do that?  Molly may be a sweetheart, but she's also a very strong willed girl. This has worked to her advantage this past week in regards to the healing process. With each passing day Molly sparkles more than the day before. Her coat is glowing again, her eyes are bright, she is eating and drinking much more than she had been, and she's happy. Molly is a Brittany dog that smiles, some of them do you know?  She also does an Elvis impression, but only for John.  He can get her all animated to the point where she will look at him sideways and life one side of her upper lift, to reveal her teeth.  It is so funny!

I could sit and watch the pups forever.  I see them do the most amazing things; behavior that can make me laugh one moment and cry the next.  I try to capture as much as possible of these moments in time on video or in photos. They are so responsive to me when I hold them.  Could it be possible they recognize my touch from before they were born?

John spent the day working on the fences in places that need repairing.  This needs to be done every spring because the weight of the snow bends the fencing down in places.  We have approximately 5 acres here for the dogs to enjoy, and are surrounded by hundreds of acres of fields and woodland.  Anyway, he is exhausted tonight and there is still more to do tomorrow.  He does always make time for the entire crew whether it's loading them up in the truck with some birds or if he's taking a walk around the pond etc.  I was watching John this afternoon as he went into each kennel run.  Part of the fence was still open to the road so a late day run was out of the question.  But he went and spent time with each dog, and I was especially moved as I watched him pat his chest to signal that it was okay for them to jump up.  He must have been carrying on a conversation with them because tails were wagging.

It was a day to remember for Brook, our next to the oldest grandaughter!  It was Maines opening day for spring turkey hunting for Junior Hunters only.  Brook shot a very big turkey and came over to show us. We're all pretty proud of her.

Pippin is lying on the floor next to me, fully stretched out.  She is a Brittany that complains and lets others now how annoyed she is by actually groaning and moaning.  It is a low, gutteral sound and if you don't know this about her, it's easily mistaken for growling.  Lately she has been groaning and moaning with greater frequency.  She's also pretty restless, something John and I both have noticed.  I don't think she is very big if she is pregnant, and I am not expecting a lot of pups. But I could be very very wrong!

What is going on with Pippin is just as important to me as what is happening with Molly and her pups.  But it is Molly and her 6 new Brittany pups who are my primary focus and care in these hours. There will be time enough to expound with great joy the way we are also feeling about Pippin's potential pups. 

Speaking of Pippin and Molly, it's time for Pip to get one more run around the yard in before I tuck Miss Molly in for the night.  This may be the earliest bedtime we've all had for about a week, and that's a very good thing. I'm tired.

Take care and God bless you and yours. John and I and ATB with you all a very happy "May Day"!

New Brittany Pups First Week / Our Boys

FIRST WEEK
Just a brief update before heading to bed where I really hope a good night's sleep is in store for me. ATB is tucked in and sleeping and that includes the alpha dog who I hear snoring in the background. 

A week ago tonight we were closely monitoring Molly's temperature as it dropped and remained below 99 degrees.  At 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning her first puppy arrived and by 1:30 p.m. she had delivered her 6th pup.  The average weight for the pups born was 9.12 oz.  And then came Sunday (Sunday's Comin' took on new meaning for sure).  It's been quite a week but I'm happy to share once again that truly, all is well.
Molly's temperature has remained normal and stable after several days of her temperature rising as high as 104.  I will acknowledge that it is by the Grace of God that we have reached the end of the first week with such positive reports. I also know many of you have faithfully prayed for all us and those prayers were answered.

I am certain the pups birthweight will double at about 10 days old.  This is always an important benchmark in regards to neonatal pups here but this time even more so.  Molly nursed her 6 puppies for @ the first 24 hours which meant they received the all important colostrum.  The supplemental feedings by us lasted into the next 48 - 36 hours. It's been very encouraging to see their small, consistent weight gains and now the weight range is @15.7 oz to 10.2 oz at the end of the first week.

If you are following in either "Another Piece of the Puppy Puzzy" and/or "The Art of Raising a Puppy" you'll recognize this is still the neonatal developmental stage, which is a stage that actually began as a prenatal period. It's been and will continue to be a time for things to remain calm, quiet, and uneventful for both pups and mom. The pups are already receiving gentle stimulation tactics in the way we hold and touch them with obvious results. This is a time when I just love to sit and watch the interaction between Molly and her pups with my open notebook in front of me. An added bonus is that this time Molly is able to anticipate my movement and behavior without feeling overprotective of her pups. In the past I have respected her own behavior which indicated she prefered John's company to mine the first week.  I've seen very little of that this week which results in both of being able to calm and reassure each other, something which ultimately also effects the well being of the pups. Tonight we enjoyed a nap together on the cot in the puppy cave. She carefully climbed up and then stretched out alongside of me. We lay there listening to music and watching her pups with the only available light coming from the heat lamp suspended over the whelping box.

The puppies don't know it yet but I have fallen in love with each one of them.  I'm going to look forward to the day when that love is notably reciprocated, when the love affair officially begins and our mutual affection towards each other is confirmed.   Usually this is when the pups recognize my presence, stare and woof at me, back up then run full speed ahead.  I did get my first 'hit' of puppy breath tonight... I know all too well how rapidly the precious moments of these early days turn into weeks, into month and into the first day of the rest of their lives for these pups.

OUR BOYS Here is hoping for a quiet, uneventful weekend here at ATB.  John continues to faithfully work with the rest of the crew (including our houseguest Bullet) and is pleased with all of them.  Today he took all of the boys ("Scooby, Jack, True, and Bullet) with him up to the bird dog club grounds.  John also picked up our two oldest grandaughters along the way and they helped grampa out, and learned a little bit more about handling dogs and training them.  It's so rewarding to see the boys all work together, they are well balanced and respectful not only of John but of each other.  It's not always that way with intact males. The blend is interesting to me - two proven stud dogs with two younger juvenille males.  The times they would like to scuffle with each other, or simply have the last word are few but when they do occur we have zero tolerance for any foolishness like that.  Over the years all of these boys have had ample opportunities to get out in the field and run with other males including Vizslas, Pointers, Setters, and others.  Whether in a training situation, field trial, hunt test, or bird hunting they understand about manners. I think it's because John treats them all equally (well um... there is the golden boy issue), and it's also a matter of love and respect (both given and received!) This blurry eyed ATB blogger needs to call it a day, or rather a morning. Take care and God bless you and yours always, John, Ann, and our much loved Brittany Crew.

PS Speaking of moaning and vocalizing, Pippin is doing a lot of that lately as her abdomen is expanding. Either too much dog food or puppies.

Puppy Update / Do this! / Don't do This!

UPDATEJust a quick note this morning to say Molly is healing and recooperating well from her emergency c-section and spay. Our leisurely stroll around the yard yesterday afternoon included a walk around the pond where Molly explored to heart's delight. We have been able to adjust the dosage for her pain medication (Tramadol) so that she remains comfortable but not sedated as she was the first 24 hours, something I hated. She will continue to receive her antibiotic (amoxicillan) twice a day until gone. We're still offering her pedialyte and would like to see one more empty bottle. Nothing wrong with the girls appetite as long as it's freshly cooked chicken, liver, or steak! She continues to really love her nursing mother's pudding so I need to cook up another batch of that. Molly is also getting natural, plain yogurt to help counter negative effects of the antibiotic in regards to good/bad bacteria. The pups are getting a taste of this on my fingertips too. As for her regular dog food, she will chow down on that once enjoying the other food specialties. Molly's food intake will double and then triple in the weeks ahead. Although clouds are rolling in and the wind picking up the weather has been so nice here. The windows have been opened wide to allow fresh air in to circulate and it's been great not to have to keep the woodstove going. We even had the heat lamp off very briefly yesterday although the pups need a constant heat source at this point in their development. I weighed each puppy again and they continue to gain nicely. I will be looking for their weight to double around Day 10 if not earlier. The intermittent supplementary feeding was beneficial to both pups and mom when necessary from Sunday to Monday. I'm thankful it did not need to continue further. There can be many circumstances when supplementary feedings are continued such as the situation of an orphaned litter, puppy to weak to nurse, mastitis, etc. When another Brittany breeder learned about our news here this weekend she quickly offered the use of her lactating mom who had just whelped a litter of pups last weekend. I'm grateful we did not have to take her up on that offer, but the fact that the option was out there really gave us peace of mind. It's always good for breeders to know who else may have a litter of pups in case of emergency that is for sure.

In watching the video from yesterday it's easy to see how strong, agile, determined Molly and Scooby's pups are. The carpeting on the bottom of the whelping box helps to strengthen tiny little muscles resulting in early walking attempts. I think these pups are going to skip the crawling stage! They're very quiet and not vocal at all. We do know that our pups are born with certain characteristics and traits. We also know pups will never reach their full potential unless cultivated by the proper environment and training during the early weeks of their life. It's our goal to see that all our pups will mature with confidence and without fear. People tell us we're achieving that goal, something we are proud of.

SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING TECHNIQUE FOR PUPPY - Do this!
John and I do believe there are critical periods in our puppys life and that they begin at birth. We were very careful concerning the way in which we handled the supplemental feedings right down to the way the pups were held. (Our vet fully explained and demonstrated for us the amount of liquid Esbilac to use, how to dilute it, how big a nipple to make in the little bottle, and how much each pup should consume. They did not advocate using a stomach tube but we were ready with that in case.) In order to keep the experience as stress free as possible John noted early that it would be important for pups to be fed in the same position as if they were nursing. He took a towel and rolled it up, then put another one underneath. The pup then was positioned with rear legs on the bottom towel, leaning their belly on the rolled up towel, and resting the teeny tiny animal bottle on the top allowed for the pup to experience a natural position as possible. They were so content that a few of them even used their front legs/feet to 'knead' and reach out as if they were on their mother nursing. This is what we did when Molly was in surgery, recovering, and then home heavily sedated. We didn't put them on Molly until the first course of pain relieving drugs had worn off. Although we were assured any crossover from mom to pups would be minimal it just wasn't worth it to take the chance. It's important enough in a normal situation to be aware of the behavior of the neonatals to identify any possible distress. To me this would have been very difficult to tell if the pups were effected by moms drugs.

STIMULATING PUPPY TO ELIMINATE / CLEANING THEM - Do this!
It was Johns job to feed, it was my job to stimulate elimination. So we formed a team and coordinated our efforts, which really was quite enjoyable while Molly was sound asleep. A pups natural ability to pee/poop on their own is not developed until they are older. When you see a mother licking, kissing, cleaning her babies it is not all about love and affection although I'm sure that Molly's wonderful mothering skills is based on her powerful nurturing instincts. Not all mother dogs have them when they have pups, especially if it's their first litter. Usually they will come around in a few days but it's important to be ready to assist. We used 2 washcloths per pup; 1 to hold the pup in the palm of our hand, the other washcloth to collect whatever was being eliminated. It's better to stimulate urination first and that is done by gently pressing (not rubbing) against the pups body part, location based on if it's a boy or girl part! This will stimulate urination so be ready to catch that pee on the washcloth held underneath by two open fingers. Then take a cotton ball and gently dry it off. Using a different corner of the same washcloth, apply the most gentlest pulsing pressure to either side of their little puppy rectum. This will stimulate the appearance of a puppy sized stool which may take a little longer and is definitely messier and smellier.  Follow this up by wiping the rectum with a soft cotton ball, using warm, soapy water if needed.  (It helped to have a freshly bleached and laundered stack of clean white washcloths nearby.  When elimination was complete the cloths were taken care of the same way you'd take care of a dirty cloth diaper.)  It is IMPERATIVE and CRITICAL that a neonatal puppy be stimulated to eliminate when mom can't or wont and it is just as important to keep the area underneath their little tails absolutely clean and feces free.  Even in a normal situation - if mom is not keeping this area clean, be sure that no feces is ever allowed to dry around this area.  We have seen this a time or two. We simply clean the area by filling a small bowl with warm water to which gentle baby shampoo has been added.  We very carefully lower the bottom of the teeny baby puppy carefully into the warm (NOT HOT) soapy water and hold them there and follow this with a gentle washing with a washcloth, being sure to absolutely DRY the area when done.

The pups are responding to our gentle stroking which is the very beginning of their interactions with humans. Although they are not neurologically developed at this point in time, this tactile stimulation of handling them is so important. So in many ways our need to assist Molly in the first 48 hours following pups birth has been of great benefit to them. Their ears will start to open about day 10 and they will hear soft music playing when that occurs. No other barking or running about by other family dogs, no street traffic, no clanging, just soft gentle sounds. There will be time enough for further intense stimulation as they grow and develop but not during the first 2 weeks. Their environment will remain as calm and controlled as possible. When their eyes open, usually about 2 weeks they will then begin to receive additional sensory input.  If you've been an ATB fan for awhile, you've read it all before. But you know I believe each litter of new Brittany pups is unique. While we can learn from litter to litter, from mom to mom, from pup to pup (as we should) it's more important to stay tuned to the individual needs of those puppies immediately in front of you. 

Having said that, I've intentionally not shared much about Pippin, or even Treasure.  This year is unusual for us in that we will have had puppies rather close together. We have done this before but not often.  We have had two litters of pups born within days of each other.  I don't like to do it often and wouldn't do it at all if not for John and I both being home together.  I could never be someone who went off to work leaving a brand new litter of Brittany puppies unattended.  I'm glad we are well set up and the timing has been interesting all things considered.  Each pup or mom will always get 110% of what we deem to be so important in our breeding program here. And life as most people consider it does go on hold. For me, it's perfectly normal to expect that the world would stand still when pups are concerned.  Another thing I don't want to do is take away from Molly and her pups by focusing on how wonderfully Treasure's pups are doing now as they approach 4 months - but they are doing great and even getting some birdwork done. Likewise though I don't want to take away from Pippin's possible and most likely pregnancy either and there are many positive things going on there.  It's just not the time though - not yet. Pippin will have her moment in time but for today, and for right now - this is truly all about our beautiful Molly Rose and Skittle, Veronica, Blossom, May, Flower, and Meg - the Mega-litter. 

John is doing a great job keeping the rest of our amazing Brittany crew occupied, happy,and content.  A full day in the field was greatly enjoyed by True, Piper, Jack, and Bullet.  In their absence I ran Rosie, Scooby, Treasure and Pippin although Pippin is not going to be running with them much longer.  They have all been swimming as the pond is up to it's full height of 35' feet!  I forgot how beautiful it is this time of year.  I hope the level stays high.  I so enjoyed swimming in it last year. The natural spring feeds fresh clean water into it, it's always so fresh and clear once you get away from the side of it where it's muddy.  It was so fun to see the expression of the dogs when I went in with them - it was like pure joy and disbelief!  Bullet loves the water, Julie said he's watched Sassy that is why.

GUN DOG TRAINING TIP - Don't do this - PLEASE!
Speaking of other dogs watching each other and learning. A word of caution as it's field training season.  Unless you have a dog that is a finished dog you don't want to be running youngsters with other untrained dogs.  Yes, they do learn from them. But only when there has been concentrated specific training techniques taught to BOTH dogs. Running dogs together and thinking that is a good way to train them for the field is counterproductive.  We do post pictures of our crew together, but we have breed them, we have trained them, we have hunted with them and we know their level of training and how much actual authentic field experience and hunting they have been exposed to. Train dogs together of the same age. Train dogs together of the same ability. Train dogs together of the same maturity. But never simply run dogs together thinking they are going to train each other.  Oh they sure will learn to hunt together, just not for you!   When dogs are cut loose in a field together, regardless of whether there are 'planted' birds, scented dummies, or wild upland game present if they have not been properly exposed to birds and lots of them, you're may very well ruin your dog's chances of ever connecting all those genetic dots within their DNA. Line upon line, precept upon precept, the foundation is laid.  Beginning with the early scent awakening to when your dog is steady to wing and shot, naturally retrieves and backs or honors, YOU or another 'human' are the trainer of your dog.  Unless you have a completely finished mature adult with many succesful bird hunts (trials or hunt tests) please don't try to use one dog to train another dog to be a gundog. If you do happen to be someone who appreciates the beauty of productive hunting with several Brittanys at the same time check out the book "Bird Dog" written by Ben O. Williams.  Ironically, I bought that book for John's birthday when we were awaiting announcement of the birth of Miss Molly Rose. That my friends, seems a perfect way to draw this to a close!

Take care and God Bless you always with all our love, John, Ann and our motley crew of Brittanys!

VIDEO: Molly & Scooby's 5 Day Old Pups - Fields of Gold

(Turn off Playlist music before viewing!)

And they shall be called..... THE MEGA LITTER!

Molly & Scooby's Pups / 72 Hours later

On Monday morning Molly Rose started to become much more responsive to John and I and consequently to her beautiful, new Brittany puppies which made for some very happy hearts here. We were able to eventually discontinue the supplementary feeding as the day went on.  The biggest and brightest spot on the horizon yesterday was when Molly stood up without any assistance or coaxing and walked through the house to come and wake me up to say she had to go out.  I'd fallen asleep but Molly gently woke me up by nudging my hand with her nose.  We walked through the house together and I opened the door to the porch.  She went ahead of me - still quite wobbly - but slowly and carefully made her way down the porch steps.  I was so happy!!! She walked around the yard taking her time and then eventually headed back to me.  We went back in the house together and checked on the pups who were sound asleep in their puppy basket under the heat lamp. As the afternoon wore on, John and I continued to persuade Molly to eat more food and drink more water.  It wasn't too long before she let us know she wanted to have her pups back at her side and out of the basket for good.  Under our close supervision Molly lovingly nursed and cleaned her babies with the utmost attention.  When they fell asleep at her side, she closed her eyes to rest too. When one of her pups stirred or crawled away she was immediately aware of this and responded by nudging them closer or by moving her own body to them.  We observed the little personalities already emerging, perhaps due in part to the intervention we had been called to in absence of Molly during and following her surgeries. This morning we moved the little family back to the warmth, safety, security, and comfort of what is so affectionately referred to as 'the puppy cave.'  Molly has been offered and eaten ground beef, yogurt, boiled chicken, steak, and of course her regular food.  There had been an absence of appetite and thirst but that's all changed now.  We have been able to influence Molly to drink nearly 2 bottles of Pedialyte. She's on antibiotics and a low dose pain med.  Molly is doing wonderful and so are her babies.  Each puppy has either maintained their birth weight or gained as much as 1.5 ounces.  Given the circumstances of the past 72 hours this is very encouraging.  The animal emergency hospital has checked in to be sure things are going well and answered our list of questions, as did our regular vet, Dr. William Lowe at Broadview Animal Hospital.  when John brought the little ones over yesterday. 

The outpouring of warmth, love, friendship, prayers, words of encouragement from not only those who know us well, but from those of 'you' who are total strangers from across the country has been very humbling.  I am reminded of a similar response of compassion directed towards ATB in the post about spaying our Rosie last summer, Rosie who by the way was from Molly's very first litter.  My reason for sharing so very much about "All Things Brittany" the way I do here is always because of 'the love of the dog both given and received.'  This is who we are and it's what we do and I just want those of you who follow this to know - my heart is so touched through your personal responses.  Breeders know - or at least they should know - nothing is certain when it comes to what we do.  A breeder friend of ours recently responded to us on FB: "Having been through similar heartbreaking experiences, I can tell you that the joys from breeding outweigh the sorrows." And he is right!

Looking Ahead. I am hopeful that the weather will also continue to improve so that the rest of the crew here can get back into the fields, run through the woods, and dip into the 'brrr' chilly water of the pond.  Plans were for Bullet (who we are enjoying as our houseguest again!) to go to the hunt tests this weekend in Falmouth, MA along with True and Jack. Bullet is in training for his Junior Hunter title where he has one leg.  True and Jack are in training for a hopeful Senior Hunter title.  Unfortunately there were not enough dogs entered and the hunt tests were cancelled.  (Thank you Stephanie for letting us know.)  We're still not certain of Pippins pregnancy at all so she will go for x-rays soon. 

Speaking of Pippin makes me think of our friend Dawn who owns Pips father, Jac (no K).  Dawn is looking forward with great anticipation for the arrival of a beautiful new litter of Brittany pups from Morgen and Jac within the next week! And last but certainly not least - Dawn forwarded a copy of Miss Bailey's official AKC certificate of her Junior Hunter title.  Dawn and her husband Paul can be reached through their website for Hill's Brittanys in Connecticutt. They'd be happy to give you more information regarding their upcoming breeding program. (Our own program here has an active waiting list current through fall of 2012 regarding 2 future planned breedings.)

But for now... life here is truly all about Molly and her beautiful pups. And as one of the friends wrote, healthy pups means healthy breeders and at the moment I think that means sleeping when Molly is sleeping! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz  Take care and God bless....and thank you so much for not only your interest, but for really caring.  John, Ann and ATB

PS Please join us in remembering Monica, Bill, and Kate - new owners of "North" puppy (now Wilson) and part of the ATB 'family'.  They are facing a sad and somewhat uncertain family situation.  

When Things Go Wrong...

"The next moment is as much beyond our grasp, and as much in God's care, as that a hundred years away. Care for the next minute is as foolish as care for a day in the next thousand years. In neither can we do anything, in both God is doing everything."  CS Lewis 

"I believe though I do not comprehend, and I hold by faith what I cannot grasp with the mind."

Saint Bernard

Easter 2011 will be an Easter to always remember for John and I.  And not for the reason one might think.  We will remember spending this Easter at the Maine Veterinary Emergency Center in Scarborough, Maine with Molly and her 6 puppies.  I will jump to the end of the story and say that Molly and her 6 new Brittany pups are all doing fine 24 hours later.  But we experienced a chain of events which did result in Molly having a Ceasarean operation followed by an ovio-hysterectomy.

Experienced dog breeders know to be prepared for literally anything in regards to medical emergencies.  There are text book pregnancies and whelping and then there are those that could not be anticipated.  Even when momma dog is well experienced herself there may come within a fraction of a second the instinctive knowledge that something is very very wrong. And when that awareness rises, there is on time to spare and no chances worth taking.  You simply respond with a sense of urgency knowing full well all that is at risk, most especially the valuable life of momma dog. Every breeder must ask themselves each and every time a decision is made to breed a valuable animal - is the outcome of a litter of pups worth the risk of the mother dying.  A sombering thought and one which I faced this weekend.  Molly whelped her 6 beautiful pups on what was Day 63 of her second breeding with Scooby. Her temperature dropped to below 99 degrees and remained there and stage 1 labor began.  Within 24 hours she whelped her first beautiful pup, who by the way is the only male!  It took her just about 6 hours to whelp all 6 pups.  There was nothing unusual going on although we were not satisfied she was finished. I began to consider the possibility of secondary uterine inertia, when the contractions are no longer strong enough to expel the pup from the birth canal. But it was unlikely because Molly showed no signs of exhaustion herself and the intermittent pushes/contractions were indeed, very strong and forceful. I was also concerned though that we could be dealing with a type of dystocia (difficult delivery.) Dystocia may be due to any number of reasons including uterine inertia, a large fetus, and/or malpostion of the pup. Like most veterinary emergencies, diagnosis is based on the accurate observation of the dog's owner as reported to the veterinaran so we made several phone calls for reassurance, suggestions, etc. 

We did have Oxytocin on hand but as you may know we are not supportive of it's random use.  We recognize the legitimate uses for it but only with a vets supervision.  It is a naturally produced hormone which plays a key role in labor contractions, milk let down, etc. It is also and only available as a veterinary drug via prescription.  Oxytocin (also called a "pit shot") should never be used if the fetus is in an abnormal position or is too large to pass through the birth canal.  It should only be used if the cervix is dilated. It should never be used if an animal has uncorrected low blood sugar or untreated low blood calcium.  If used inappropriately oxytocin can cause uterine rupture or pain from excessive uterine cramping. It's pretty easy to understand the importance of a vets involvement.  We knew the cervix was dilated because Molly had given birth to her 6 pups quite normally. What we did not know was why she was contracting without results.  I'll be honest.  We really considered giving her the shot but with all these unknowns - why in the world would anyone take the risk???  I know there are other breeders who would not hesitate to give the Pit shot for any number of reasons. I have never been one of them.

As late afternoon turned into early evening Molly settled down quite comfortably with her pups and eventually fell into a deep sleep. John remained with her all night long and the only thing she did was come over and bump him to say "hey I need to go pee - NOW!" and they went outside.  No laboring, contractions, nothing else.  She was not acting unusual in any way, everything was pretty normal, or so we thought.

Early on Easter morning we were all sitting together and suddenly Molly Rose began to contract all over again! This was no involuntary expulsion of retained placenta etc.  This was full blown labor. John and I simply looked at each other and knew we must take her for an x-ray so we readied Molly and then placed her 6 thriving pups into the puppy basket with hot water bottles wrapped in insulated towels, a puppy blanket across the top.  Calling ahead, we let the emergency center know we were coming in with a serious situation, asked for reassurance as to what we were facing and soon we were on the road to the emergency center. Something was terribly wrong.  I brought along everything just in case she did have a puppy on the way which was very possible the way she was acting. We were rushed into a prepared waiting room where Molly was then taken for x-rays.  They showed there was a puppy in the birth canal, it looked like maybe there were two, caught up together in a way that made it easy to understand why the difficulty (dystocia).  The secondary uterine inertia was still a concern for me even while Molly was still strongly, actively contracting. God love her. 

My instincts proved to be accurate as those x-rays revealed an injection of oxytocin would have been the very worst thing for Miss Molly Rose!!   I was fairly certain we were dealing with a pup that was not only stuck, but that was no longer living. Too much time had passed.  I brought up the subject of Molly's calcium level because I was very curious to know if it was low or normal. Calcium plays a real important role in the whelping process among other things. At this point in time we knew we were most likely facing a C-section although the vets always left the decisions up to us. We had tried feathering as well as lubricating the canal and manually manipulating the puppy which could be felt.   (By the way, the very best way to learn the honest opinion of your vet in regards to taking a particular step is to ask them point blank "if this were your dog, what would you do?")    All the necessary blood tests etc. were taken. My specific conerns her calcium level was also addressed which proved to be a very good thing. Molly's calcium level was too low to proceed further in any direction until levels came up. Molly, who had been in the exam room with John and I, her pups and the vets and technicians up to this point, walked happily down the hall with one of her new friends to be hooked up to an IV for her calcium administration. Molly had nursed and cared for her pups herself until she left. All 6 of her babies were safe and warm in her absence, an absence which extended into the early evening hours. 

The staff gave us our own exam room to remain in, made coffee for us, brought us bottled water and even chocolate Easter candy!  In the meantime our whole family had gathered at our home for dinner. The meal was fully prepped and just needed to be cooked but basically they were all on their own.  It was not the way we wanted to spend Easter but it was not all about us.  We could have left, come home, then returned at the end of the day.  Um... errr... I don't think so... Not an option.  Frequent calls in between home and the emergency center kept everyone on board and also grampa offered guidance on the traditional egg hunt.  Staff came in to assist us with stimulating the pups to eliminate and cleaning them, as well as help with supplemental feedings for the pups who needed to be fed every 3 hours. Molly's surgeon sent assistants to update us frequently and eventually returned to say she was recovering well. Thank you God.

We learned there had been one oversized puppy which had started down the birth canal. The puppy was malpositioned in such a way to support the possibility of 2 pups. This big, beautiful liver and white girl had clearly not been alive for quite awhile. John and I were not surprised at the outcome and of course were primarily concerned with Molly.  But the reality was still very, very sad and difficult for us to hear. We asked for the puppy to be brought to us so we could see her, and also requested she be prepared for us to bring home.  John really blessed my heart when he explained our reasons for wanting to do this.  "This is not just a puppy and these dogs are not just dogs... they are our family and we will take care of her the way you take care of your family."  And this means - laid to rest where some of her grandfather's remains are scattered and right next to Timber's tree stump where I often sit with the other dogs.  Yesterday, she ran to greet her grandfather at the bridge and together, they both are running like the wind.

We have now been home for 24 hours.  It's been a challenging, exhausting, and emotional experience with little time to really sit and think about it all.  In these situations you simply - ACT.  Molly is slowly but surely recovering from the surgery and the effects of the drugs used and reacting to the pain she is experiencing.  There is incision care to consider, the well being of the pups in the absence of Molly's complete awareness or ability to fully respond to them, making sure Molly eats something and drinks enough fluids, making sure we get her up to walk around and outside to stretch and eliminate, temperatures and meds, and 3 hour feeding schedules.  Tonight she's in the middle of the kitchen floor laying comfortably upon her quilt with her pups either laying nearby or in their puppy basket under the heat lamp (suspended by our ceiling fan - John is so innovative.) 

In these situations a breeder knows sleep is a non-issue that it is just one of many sacrifices made. I pulled the cushions off the couches last night and spent the night right next to her on the kitchen floor. John and I are her support system and equally sharing the responsibilities. He additionally has the rest of the crew under control including his JackDog aka the Golden Boy who has settled in nicely in the dog house.  Speaking of the crew... I will leave you with this.

Usually when the dogs hear the gate open as a car pulls into the yard there is an abundance of joyful greetings which goes on and on for a few minutes.  Not so when we returned early in the evening last night. John gently and lovingly carried his Molly girl up the walkway and into the house and I followed behind with our precious cargo of 6 pups. Each one of the dogs walked slowly to the end of their run and simply stood there watching us.  I am not kidding and we both noticed this. I began to weep... just to see and experience this.  They KNEW... they knew something very serious was going on.  John also shared with me later on today that when he took Molly out for a walk around the yard that the other dogs just stood and watched her.

All is well tonight.  The pups went to our regular vet for an exam and for tail docking and dewclaw removal.  Molly loved them up when John brought them home. Things are looking brighter here and we hope by sharing our experience it will help others understand there is a lot more to this than meets the eye.  On many levels.  Sometimes, things go wrong but this could have been so much worse, and we are extremely thankful it is not.  Take care and God Bless, John, Ann, Molly, puppies and ATB

Scooby & Molly's Pups Are Here!

Molly delivered 6 beautiful and healthy Brittany puppies today beginning at 9:30 a.m. and finishing (we think!) at 2:30 p.m.  OMG - are they perfectly marked, nice small sizes and thriving. Of course it's early and I hesitate to be overly enthusiastic but I'm truly over the top with these pups.  There are 3 liver and white pups, and 3 orange and white pups.  All of the pups are girls except for 1 little orange and white boy. As Scooby passes out cigars we rejoice in the arrival of this new litter of Brittany pups.  We're tired but it's a good thing.   Sometimes I don't even make the announcement until 72 hours have passed but this time I have already contacted each family waiting and those who are on the waiting lists.  I think there are going to be smiling faces in most instances! Thank you for all the prayers and notes which you've offered to us. Vet appointment has been made for Monday and we will be monitoring the new family closely.  It is time for a nap!
Take care and God bless, and of course - Happy Easter!!! (He is Risen - He is Risen INDEED!)
John, Ann, and All Things Brittany

It's Friday, But Sunday Is Coming

LUKE 23:46

Jesus called out with a loud voice,
 "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.

 

The following is the ending from the well known Good Friday sermon by Dr. Tony Campolo.  To listen to the entire message (about 45 minutes) click Here is a link to the entire streamed version: http://www.tonycampolo.org/mp3/itsfriday.htm .  There is a brief update about Molly at the end of my post.

It’s Friday.

Jesus is arrested in the garden where He was praying. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday.

The disciples are hiding and Peter’s denying that he knows the Lord. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday.

Jesus is standing before the high priest of Israel, silent as a lamb before the slaughter. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday.

Jesus is beaten, mocked, and spit upon. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday.

Those Roman soldiers are flogging our Lord with a leather scourge that has bits of bones and glass and metal, tearing at his flesh. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday.

The Son of man stands firm as they press the crown of thorns down into his brow. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday.

See Him walking to Calvary, the blood dripping from His body. See the cross crashing down on His back as He stumbles beneath the load.

It’s Friday;

but Sunday’s a coming.

It’s Friday.

See those Roman soldiers driving the nails into the feet and hands of my Lord. Hear my Jesus cry, “Father, forgive them.”

It’s Friday;

but Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday.

Jesus is hanging on the cross, bloody and dying. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday.

The sky grows dark, the earth begins to tremble, and He who knew no sin became sin for us. Holy God who will not abide with sin pours out His wrath on that perfect sacrificial lamb who cries out, “My God, My God. Why hast thou forsaken me?” What a horrible cry. But Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday.

And at the moment of Jesus’ death, the veil of the Temple that separates sinful man from Holy God was torn from the top to the bottom because Sunday’s coming.

It’s Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, heaven is weeping and hell is partying. But that’s because it’s Friday, and they don’t know it, but Sunday’s a coming.

And on that horrible day 2000 years ago, Jesus the Christ, the Lord of glory, the only begotten Son of God, the only perfect man died on the cross of Calvary. Satan thought that he had won the victory. Surely he had destroyed the Son of God. Finally he had disproved the prophecy God had uttered in the Garden and the one who was to crush his head had been destroyed. But THAT.... was Friday....

NOW IT's SUNDAY!!!

And just about dawn on that first day of the week, there was a great earthquake. But that wasn’t the only thing that was shaking because

NOW IT'S SUNDAY!!!!.

And the angel of the Lord is coming down out of heaven and rolling the stone away from the door of the tomb.

Yes,IT'S SUNDAY!!!!.

and the angel of the Lord is sitting on that stone and the guards posted at the tomb to keep the body from disappearing were shaking in their boots because

IT'S SUNDAY!!! 

 and the lamb that was silent before the slaughter is now the resurrected lion from the tribe of Judah, for He is not here, the angel says. He is risen indeed.

IT'S SUNDAY!!!!.

and the crucified and resurrected Christ has defeated death, hell, sin and the grave.

IT'S SUNDAY!!!!.

And now everything has changed. It’s the age of grace, God’s grace poured out on all who would look to that crucified lamb of Calvary. Grace freely given to all who would believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary was buried and rose again.

All because it’s Sunday.

IT's FRIDAY....but (altogether now)

SUNDAY IS COMING!!!

******************************************************************************

NOTE: Molly's temperature is still fluctuating. She is doing well.  We've passed Day 63 from the first time she was bred to Scooby and are now counting anew. Maybe the Easter Bunny will bring puppies!  Take care and God bless.  We hope you not only have a wonderful Easter but may also take the time to reflect what the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ means to you personally. How ironic that Good Friday and Earth Day fall on the same date this year...John, Ann, and All Things Brittany

Molly Day 63 / 99.4 & up again

DAY 61

100.4

100

DAY 62

100

99.6*

99.6

100.6

DAY 63

100

99.8

6:00 AM 99.6

11:00 AM  99.4
3:00 PM 100.4

Miss Molly Day 62: Whelping Notes

UPDATE: Since posting this earlier in the day Molly has had her first temperature drop below 100.  It is 99.6 at 7:30 p.m.  Since there have been no fluctuations at all we are watching her closely. It could rise again of course. - Ann
UPDATE: Didn't want to leave you hanging, especially those who are on a vacation and checking in! It was an initial fluctuation because temp went back up a full degree. Would have loved for it to have remained below 100 but this is how it goes as we hurry up and wait.  Molly is doing great despite her obvious discomfort.  - Ann

Day 62 from first breeding with Scooby.  Molly was content to spend the night in her whelping box with some gentle persuasion.  As much as I enjoy Molly sleeping with me it's not in her best interest to keep jumping off or stuggling to climb up to be next to me. It's hard for her to find or remain in a comfortable position, afterall the cot is twin and not queen or king sized!  The whole idea of the whelping box anyway is to provide ample space for her to stretch, roll, scratch, dig or whatever. She knows I am nearby and I know she is safe. I walked her outdoors a few times during the night to stretch her legs and eliminate.  The pressure on her bladder increases in relation to her size.  Even if she doesn't always have to 'pee' she may feel the need to.  Also as the pups continue to progress along in their journey through the uterine horns until the actual delivery Molly will begin to feel as if she has to push for a bowel moment.  The frequent walking/exercising coincides with her need for smaller and more frequent meals.  She's also enjoying having her belly rubbed, ears scratched, and simply being loved on.

Because Mollys temperature is not fluctuating (staying at 100.2) it will make the drop in her temperature more certain.  Up and down is typical for a week before but as labor approaches it is more likely the temp will linger at 100 degrees.  When it drops below 100, I begin to take temps much more frequently. When it drops below 99 or lower and stays there, pups will usually arrive within 24 - 48 hours.  This is the hurry up and wait period, and it's a time I use to review whelping notes from the past, gather my canine reproduction books, and maybe catch up on some reading.  (I am in the 5th book of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander Series, - the Fiery Cross.  Thanks Julie!) 

Speaking of books, for those following along in the Monks of New Skete "Art of Raising a Puppy" you'll find yourself right at home in Chapter One "Monks as Midwife".  Because Molly Rose knows she is about ready to deliver a liter of pups she absolutely wants John or I, or both of us to be near.  The puppy room is a wonderful controlled environment just perfect for Molly's natural and maternal instincts to kick in.  She can dig away to her hearts content.  During the day she has rull reign of the entire puppy room, as labor approaches we will encourage her to actually whelp her pups in the whelping box.  However, as the 3 stages of labor progress she may have her puppies anywhere she likes in the puppy room. We are all set.  And the puppy basket awaits (Thanks again Steve and Steph).

Just for reference, the following is recognized as text book stages of labor.  Each situation is unique but this information may be helpful to some and it is always important to have a vet on standby when/if there are any deviations from the following and take no chances. When a breeder is worried that something may be wrong, it is better to call your vet than second guess yourself.  Usually the vet will reassure you but also will know when to bring your laboring girl in.  Most breeders have taken at least one trip to an emergency clinic on a holiday afternoon or in the middle of the night. 
Stage 1
The first stage of labor typically begins 24 hours after the dog's rectal temperature drops from around 101 degrees F to 98 or 99 degrees F. The mother dog will appear anxious and restless and may look for a place to hide, retreating behind furniture or into a closet. She will commonly begin "nesting"--pulling towels and fabric into a pile on the floor, shredding paper, etc. where she can give birth. She may refuse food, start panting and pacing, and may vomit. Although there are no visible contractions at this point, the cervix is beginning to soften and dilate.Stage 1 normally lasts 6 to 12 hours, and the cervix will be completely dilated at the end of it.

Stage 2
The second stage starts when the first puppy enters the birth canal and the mother begins active contractions to give birth. Heavy, strong abdominal spasms are visible by this time, and the dog will either lie down or rest on one side of her haunches to expose her vulva. She may vocalize as the contractions become stronger and the puppy's amniotic sac emerges from her vulva. Usually, one large contraction will push the puppy completely out and the mother will begin licking the sac away from its face within seconds. The mother may rest after the birth of the first puppy. 

Stage 3
The delivery of the placenta (the organ that provides nutrition to the puppy while in the uterus) indicates the onset of stage three labor. This normally occurs 5 to 10 minutes after the birth of the puppy. If several puppies are delivered in rapid succession, several placentas may be delivered at one time. The mother dog usually eats the placenta, which then releases the hormone oxytocin into her system and allows her colostrum to flow. There should be one placenta per puppy.

Whelping
The mother dog will repeat stages two and three until all of the puppies are born. She may rest between each birth or have several puppies at one time and then rest. Typically, each puppy will begin nursing directly after it is born, and the mother will clean and lick her newborns even as she is contracting for the next birth.

We'll be taking Mollys temperature again later this evening.  If John's prediction is right there should be a drop.  Molly and Scooby had several succesful ties so it's always possible we're off.  But one thing is true, pups are always born 63 days after ovulation regardless of how we humans are counting! We may not always know the exact day of ovulation even when we know breeding occurred.  Well, for sure tomorrow is Brook's birthday and it would be nice to have pups then!  Take care and God bless, John, Ann, Molly and ATB

Molly Day 61 Whelping Notes

Molly's temperature remaining at or just above 100.  She is becoming increasingly more restless but when she lays down and falls asleep she goes into an extremely deep sleep where not much of anything bothers her.  Molly is perfectly content to remain in her whelping area in the puppy room. She's licking herself much more frequently and the shape of her rear is beginning to change ever so slightly, into what I call a cone shape - something I see when a momma dog is getting closer to delivery. Her pups are extremely active and lively today - they want out!  Her appetite is still good and she's eating small portions several times a day enjoying extra protein via boiled chicken, steak, and of course liver.  Her favorite is the nursing mother's pudding. She is a bed hog when it comes to being in the puppy room.    John's hooked up the satellite t.v.  A lot of soft whining going on when she's resting.  Molly is loving her long and leisurely walks around the yard which are so important right now for her well being (and mine too!).  She's asking to go outside more frequently and her clear discharge continues to be more consistent. John says Thursday.  Take care and God Bless, John and Ann and ATB

PS Please remember our friend Kim and her husband Jim as their very special friend, a Cocker Spaniel named "Duke" passed away today.  I know how very much they are hurting tonight and your prayers are appreciated.

Molly Day 60

Molly and I hung out together in the puppy room until late last night.  Molly was a little more restless than she has been.  She tried to fit into the puppy basket, then jumped into the whelping box and began digging and shredding paper.  After trying to get comfortable behind one of the easy chairs (again) she came and snuggled in close to me on the cot. I feel asleep listening to the Sunday night music line up on Joy radio after reviewing and editing some club stuff.  John hadn't realized I was planning to do an overnighter and came in to be sure all was well.  I decided to go back into the house with Molly as our other 'friends' had gone to bed in their crates and all was quiet.  Today (Monday) is going to be a full day of physical rest for me; sometimes that is just needed and I know for sure in the days to come that will no longer be a luxury. It's chilly and cold here, where is this warm weather we are supposed to have?  Molly continues to wander around the house, seeking those places that she is most comfortable in, then moving to another area.  I just had a subtle reminder that it would be a good idea to pick up the laundry on the bathroom floor before she claims that as her next 'nest.'  The movement of the pups is strong and certain.  I can feel little heads and other body parts.  They seem to be responding to my touch upon their mother's abdomen. 

In the collage above is a photo of most of our whelping supplies which I referred to on yesterday blog of Day 59. I know there are other breeders who seek this specific information so maybe it will be helpful to someone who is putting their own whelping supplies together for the first time.

(Pippin is definitely wider.  Is it because she is eating a food higher in calories and that is packing weight on? John says she is pregnant.  I'm remaining optimistic.  Whatever will be will be and I believe all things happen for reason, that timing is everything.  As in all our plans here at ATB, there are very specific ones in place regarding Pippin and Chevy's anticipated pups.  At 4 weeks along in a canine pregnancy things are typically quite uneventful.  We have seen those early indications of a possible pregnancy for Pippin. And we have to consider this is after all, Pippin - who is always unpredictable in so many ways!  I'm leaning towards confirming a pregnancy in a week or so.)

As we approach Molly's possible due date, we are also approaching our second oldest granddaughter's birthday and Easter is just on the horizon. This litter will be called the "Brook May" litter.  This is a very special time for all of us for several reasons and I look forward to sharing it here. As always take care and thank you so much for your ongoing interest. God bless you and yours as we enter a very holy week for Christians around the world.  I hope that you will take time to reflect on the life, death, and resurrection of Christ and what it means to your personally.  John, Ann, and All Things Brittany



Molly Day 59 / Hard to be humble

Molly Day 59. She walks happily towards me while her spirit inside tells her she would rather be romping enthusiastically to greet me from my brief departure. But she can't.  She is in the final days of her pregnancy and the weight of her precious cargo means her movements are slow and deliberate.  Experience comes to remind her of what lies ahead. Her eyes are all knowing and ever understanding. Yes my sweet girl, this is a journey we have taken together in the past. It is a path which we chose for you to follow before and we chose to take one more time.  But you don't have to worry because as in times past we are completely yours for whatever you need from us in the days and hours ahead.  I see you look at me with those beautiful, intelligent eyes so full of expression.  This is a serious time for all of us Miss Molly Rose.  In a few days your body will respond to the certain and natural progression of giving birth.  In all of God's creation there is nothing more beautiful than the re-creation of life as demonstrated through the miracle of conception, pregnancy, and birth.  And I find it especially so as Molly's due date approaches.  Just a dog, huh.  Just another litter of pups, huh.  Dogs give birth every day, huh.  Leave 'em alone, she'll be fine, huh.  You'll find her in the morning with a new litter of pups, huh.  No way.  No how.  Not me.

Molly will be walked on a flexi lead outside when she goes to eliminate.  Her natural tendency at this stage is to tune me out and tune into the biological messages she now perceives.  She has been pregnant in the winter and walked through deep snow just to find a protective clearing underneath a pine tree with boughs weighted down.  In the wilderness that would be a perfectly wonderful place for a wild animal to make a nest for her soon to be born young ones.  For a domestic animal it is a terrible decision as far as humans are concerned.  Molly also seeks out small, dark, concealed and tight places.  This morning John had to pick the bed up because she had squeezed herself so far up underneath she could not get out.  Out in the puppy room she lays down on the floor in the space behind  the easy chair or she tries to squeeze in back of the swinging door.  I attempt to coax her to enjoy spreading out in the oversize wicker basket with the soft comforter.  I have shown her that the whelping box is all ready for her to rip and shred to her hearts content.  She needs to be assured there is a special place reserved just for her, away from any other dog regardless of well they get along, away from the household sounds of telephone, television, barking, and more. Puppies cometh but it is Molly who is the most important, valuable aspect of all of this right now as we especially share this journey with those of you waiting for your new puppy, your friends and family, and our very own extended ATB family.

It goes without saying that final preparations regarding Molly's comfort are well underway. The wood stove is being cleaned and dry wood stacked inside the garage. Heatlamp bulbs have been checked.  Dog laundry and towels in the basket. All whelping supplies have been sterilized and put in baggies.  I think we have all the necessities. Blunt scissors for cutting the cord if mom needs help, Betadine to disinfect the remaining cord, aspirator to remove excess fluid in the lungs, heavy quilt thread for tying off the cord if need be, forceps and hemostats, small scales, alcohol for sterilizing, KY jelly if needed to help loosen puppy, camera to take at birth pictures making it easier to identify pups later, thermometers, cotton balls, Karo syrup and Nutri-cal, hand towels, calcium supplements, hot water bottles, and more. Pedialyte on hand.  I do still need surgical gloves.  Hand disinfectant and the paper towel dispenser are nearby. The 'just in case of emergency' stuff is already too, stuff we hope to not need. Things like suture kits, feeding tubes and syringes, Esbilac, and small animal feeding bottles. Some of these items are ALWAYS used. Rarely do we ever NEED to use them ALL but ALWAYS we want to be prepared just in case. The cot will go in and I imagine tonight will be our first full night in the puppy room.  Molly's base temp looks normal but I do hate using the digital ear thermometer.  Her nipples are enlarged and milk can be expressed. Of course once pups arrive there will be a letdown of the all important colostrum beneficial and critical for her pups during the first 24 - 48 hours. 

Planning for a litter or litters of pups requires the willingness to put the needs of momma dog and her pups above everything else that matters. I am of the opinion that it is just as important for a breeder to take time off from work outside of the home as it is for new puppy owners to arrange their work schedules around the needs of an 8 week old puppy. It's not always possible and all of us do things differently. But I've heard and seen enough nightmare stories that indicate the necessity of the commitment to your valuable and well loved animal. I am adamant about protecting the rights of breeders in regards to make their own decisions regarding their breeding program and I don't feel it's right to criticize the methods or philosophies of others. But it's like when you have a young child and they want to know why they can't do what little Susie's mother let's little Susie do. The wise mother replies simply, "Susie may. You may not." I am personally accountable for everything that concerns Molly, and the pups she is about to deliver sired by Scooby. Others may do things a certain way. I may not.


Hard to be humble. Yesterday's Pointing Dog Training Day hosted by several clubs was a great success.  I'm so proud of John for his role in following through to help bring this first event of it's kind about.  He didn't do it all alone of course but I saw what went on behind the scenes here to help make it happen.   Vizslas, French and American Brittanys, English Pointers, German Shorthair Pointers, Setters of all ages and from all around Northern New England participated.  There is more about it on the Central Maine Brittany Club website under their Photo Gallery, including a real nice slideshow presentation. It was an event with youth, novices, and those with training issues they needed help with for their dogs, of all ages.  Our friend Bob Paucek is back from South Carolina and shared his @60 years of experience generously as did all the others who pitched in to help the attendees.  John especially acknowledges Bob P., Gary Anderson, Tom Zuk, Brian Drelick, Steve Belletti, Dale Southard, Julie Harris, Bruce Burnell, and Phillip Thayer.  I was there for part of the day and walked away personally proud to see the involvement of many dogs from our program.  I have additional photos to share of:

• 2 and 1/2 year old full brothers and litter mates Bullet and Remi (Jack/Chrissy)
• 18 month old full brothers and litter mates True and Boog(Treasure/Gibson)
• Almost 5 year old Sassy (Molly/Smoke) AKC "My Sassy Girl Sassinator"
• 12 week old full sisters and litter mates Moxie (Jan) and Brittany (Ruby) also Treasure and Gibson with their new owners
• Almost 6 year old Jack (Wish/Butchman) AKA "Golden Boy"
• AND!!!! 3 out of the 4, now 15 week old pups from Jack and Jasmines litter bred by Tom and Kim Zuk with all of their new owners! (They will do a repeat breeding of this in the fall.)

(Sometimes it hard to be humble and this is one of them - The above means there were 11 Brittanys from our program who really really really REALLY did great!  ALL the pups there were properly introduced to birds and the evidence was that some of them moved way beyond the puppy point stage to "whoa" while they steadily pointed those live quail... OMG... !! I can't forget either that 12 year old Birch Spring Monty was there - he is the brother to our Wish's mother - it was AWESOME to see him in action and to totally understand the important, consistent and undeniable role that Birch Spring Brittanys play in our program.  ALL of the dogs and owners did great but I cannot overlook how well our own extended family did and I'm so thankful and grateful for the many opportunities afforded to them. I can't take the time to do anything with all the other photos right now as Molly demands my attention and rightfully so, but I'll post the goose bump photos soon.)

John is checking out the brand new Southern New England NAVHDA chapter.  Brittany will definitely go through the training and be tested. It is possible that Moxie may as well.  It was fun to spend time with Phil Thayer and his son Ben yesterday. I get the feeling he is pretty pleased with what is coming down from Wish and we're all excited about bringing some of that original stuff back real soon.  In the meantime it is ALL THINGS MOLLY ROSE at ATB.  Thanks for your interest in ATB. Take care and God bless you and yours as always, John, Ann and our wonderful Brittany crew

Molly Day 56

Queen Molly surveying her kingdom

Molly, Treasure, and Pippin were very helpful just a little while ago as I puttered around outside in the perennial garden. It's a good thing I had the foresight to plant a perennial garden because there is no spare time in my life to tend to things of nature as I once did !  Right now it's quite a mess out there but it did feel good to simply play a little bit in the dirt.  A couple of months ago I bought some Morning Glory seeds at Tractor Supply thinking those annuals will look very pretty as their vines grow and they climb around the fence between our house and our neighbor.  Only problem seems to be trying to figure out where those seed packets are. I think I still have to wait a little longer though as I heard a forecast mentioning the word FREEZING.  But one of these evenings I'll soak the seeds in warm water overnight, wrapped up in paper toweling, then look in the morning for hopes of sprouting! I will have to work fast if I do plan on doing ANY planting or gardening because in the blink of an eye and without complaints - my world will turn inside out then rightside up as we welcome Molly and Scooby's pups into our lives!  And then, just as suddenly as we went from pups born in a blizzard - to the first day of spring, so shall summer be upon us. This I know to be true.  And what little work I do this next week outside, I will see the evidence of it just like "THAT"! (snapped finger.) 

The Tulips and Daffodils are up about 5".  I can see the Peonies and various Lilies.  The Hosta is growing well. Various others such as Canterbury Bells, Foxglove, and Sweet William are there too.  There are little tiny yellow buds bursting forth on the Forsythia.  The Iris are poking up through too.  Our soil needs some real improvement but thank God for hardy perenials. Julie and Jim gave me garlic chives and garlic bulbs to plant along with our regular chives.  Our former neighbors here planted Lilac trees just outside of the property line.  And these are most of my favorit perennials.  Favorite because the majority of them originated with either my mom, Johns mom, or his grandmother.  They have been transferred and transplanted over the years. Some still remain in their original locations although it's doubtful my mum's Iris's could survive the darn stupid porch the new owners put up over her garden... grrr. And I never did see the Narcissus pop back up next to her white picked fence. Speaking of that, Narcissus is the one perennial I have yet to put in... that's going on my list right now.  Anyway, it is really cool because the Peonies originated with his mother's grandmother's garden. And we have them now. 

Molly Rose lying there while I worked on the garden briefly reminded me of our first summer here when she was but just a little puppy.  A little puppy intent on helping me garden!  She saw me dig in the dirt and so she dug in the dirt. When I scolded her she would run for cover underneath the front porch pictured above. Then, from her perceived security underneath the protection of the porch, she would woof! woof! woof! at me the whole time wagging her little tail.  This morning she still enjoyed the comfort of the porch as she lay out of the direct sunlight and she still wagged her tail. We both know that these moments are precious and value them together as they come.  The other girls were running around exploring, getting all kinds of muddy and some of the crew that had not yet been out yet were mildly protesting.  But Molly and I enjoyed a few quiet moments simply 'being'. 

Our puppy room is well prepared for life to begin anew. I was so thrilled to discover John had installed the wall to wall carpet that was recently removed from our den and office. Cut to fit the entire area designed for the pups and the whelping box, it adds additional warmth and enhances the cozy feel. The business of 5 - 8 week old pups is a stark comparison to the first few weeks of a pups life. Recently I enjoyed a quick look back at the  ARCHIVES  from January / February this year.  Although it's unlikely there will be a blizzard to keep me tucked away with pups, nevertheless that's where you'll find me.  Me and Miss Molly McGee!

John's loving this weather for working with the dogs. Looking at the rest of the hunt test season to decide who goes where and when. I'm psyched that Nash and Star are going to be tested again, Nash only needs 1 more qualifying score - he is out of Molly and Jack, and Star is out of Wish and Rylee. Bullet will return as will Miss Piper - when she is out of heat.  Thanks Piper.  I'm also pleased to hear he has some plans for 'everyone' else. Above all, he loves giving the dogs their time in the field, being with them, and watching his efforts pay off. The training is not for competitive purposes but he's enjoying what is accomplished when he chooses to give that a try.  Speaking of which, the first training for the new Maine NAVHDA chapter is this weekend, so along with the pointing dog training day it's going to be a busy time.

Today the Pippinator's well sprung rib cage looks even more so. 

Take care and God bless you and yours, always know how much we appreciate your interest! John, Ann and our fun-loving amazing Brittany crew!





Day 54 / Whelping Preparation / Why PURPOSE Driven?

ALL THINGS.... MOLLY plus a little Pippin

Evidence of Life - Day 54
This morning Molly and I rested together for quite awhile before getting up to begin the day.  She slept between John and I last night and was fully stretched out, with her belly exposed.  As I gently rubbed Moll's belly her puppies responded to my touch.  For awhile now there has been  no doubt she is pregnant. But I am always blessed to feel the activity of healthy, unborn puppies underneath my hand. Molly comprehends fully what is occuring and is reacting accordingly.   The collage above of Molly must also include little Pippin who continues to desire to remain close.

When Molly was pregnant with Sassy, Julie crocheted a beautiful afgahn for John and I that matched the puppy blanket she had made for the new puppy she and Jim were anxiously awaiting.  Usually that afgahn is on the back of a couch and often shared with ATB, especially Rosie and Molly. I always love to wrap up in the warmth of it while negotiating for space on the couch. Our new flooring in the den and office is beautiful, and I love it. But for a pregnant momma dog, the missing warmth and softness of wall to wall carpeting plus loss of heat from the woodstove must be noticable. Molly does like to be nearby. 

The wicker dog bed is out in the puppy room so I tossed the afgahn down on the floor directly under my computer table.  Pippin noticed this right away and claimed the newly created space as her own. Typical Pippinator style. I called both Pippin and Molly to me.  Pippin surrendered the space. Molly rightfully took her place with confidence.  I then went back to putting information together for the pointing dog training day coming up, a fun day geared to learning about basic hunting dog training etc. Shortly after this I reached down to pat Miss Molly and by golly there was Pip - cuddled up right next to her. She really has bonded to Molly right now but I'm not sure at all if Pippin is pregnant, if so I think it's just one pup, she's very little!

Whelping Preparation
Starting with the "Whelping Supply" list, I am making sure we have everything on hand.  We keep a well stocked supply of all manner of items relative to dog care, first aid, veterinary items etc. but I pay particular attention when we have pups due.  We really only needed to replenish our cotton balls, alchohol, Pedialyte, and a couple of other things which John picked up today.  All the linen involved is being laundered and disinfected.  I think the only thing I really need is a box of surgical gloves.  We put fresh batteries in the digital ear thermometer which, by the way, I HATE using to take a dogs temperature.  When I compare the digital ear thermometer to the glass veterinary thermometer it is always off by a few degrees. I don't feel it's accurate and no vet I know has ever suggested it over the glass type.  I did order several glass thermometers through Revival Vet Supply at a really good price.  They are difficult to find locally unless you go somewhere like a feed and grain farm store but they may cost more.  The reason I use it though is because Miss Persnickety Molly really does not cooperate with a thermometer in the other end.  She doesn't like having the digital ear one either but it is one or the other so we choose, for your highness, the less invasive of the two. 

John came back from the grocery store with things from our list.  There are now enough ingredients for me to make a large quantity of our "Nursing Mother's Pudding."  A few readers have written to ask for the recipe and I'm sorry I have not yet provided it.  Basically it is a recipe for vanilla pudding made from scratch with extra egg yolks and corn syrup added to replace the sugar.  Yogurt is a staple here for all of our dogs and is added to their diet daily.  Cottage cheese is sometimes added to a nursing mother's diet.  In the past we have routinely supplemented the calcium in our mother's diet however recent studies indicate that is best done shortly before, during, and after whelping.  Otherwise the calcium reserves in the mother are overwhelmed and basically will shut down when they are most needed.. Mom's in whelp need to be able to have forceful contractions and too much calcium in their system is conterproductive. 

Additionally, oxytocin (a naturally produced hormone) works together with the calcium in their body towards a better delivery.  Some breeders will routinely inject their girls with oxytocin (give a pit shot) during labor to speed things along. My experience and understanding indicate this is dangerous to do without a vet on standby. In the event of dystocia (prolonged and dangerous labor) a pups presentation could be complicating the delivery such as blocking the way for other pups yet to come down etc. To indiscriminately administer a pit shot just for the sake of speeding things up could cause the death of some pups and even mom.  Ultimately though, it is beneficial for experienced breeders to obtain a prescription for oxytocin and have on hand.  We've never used this but have relied  instead on the very natural act of the just born pup nursing on it's mother which most of the time is adequate to bring about another contraction.

Empty quart size mason jars are lined up on the counter.  This week I will cook off some natural whole grain wild rice and also boil off some chicken and liver. The boiled meats will be separated from the broth it was cooked in.  The rice will then be added to the broth.  All of this will then be packed into the jars and kept in the refridgerator. Sounds lovely doesn't it!?  This will be fed to Molly as needed and rotated with the nursing mother's pudding. 

In respect to the obvious discomfort Molly Rose is experiencing due to her ever expanding abdomen she will be fed @ 5 small meals a day. To feed her less frequently would be to offer her a larger quantity of food than she can handle comfortably.  It's also easier to regulate her appetite highs and lows if applicable. John and I do not feel any of this is inconvenient.  To considerately care for a mother dog who is approaching her delivery date is to be responsible and accountable to her.  We love Molly. We bred her. She is pregnant because we made that decision for her.  She is more than deserving of the very best of the best we have to give her including all of our love.  In the days ahead all of this will become more relevant and important as we all move, emotionally and physically, into the actual preparation of the arrival of Molly and Scooby's puppies.

Why PURPOSE Driven?
Looking back in the archives I found the October 2010 post which once again refers to the J & A's Brittanys purpose driving breeding program. I was reminded of the reason why we do refer to it as “purpose driven”.

We became aware of the term through the ministry of Reverend Rick Warren .  He is recognized especially for his best selling book entitled “The Purpose Driven Life.” Being familiar with Pastor Ricks teachings I gave the book to our son as a gift several years ago. The book did have a very powerful impact on our son's life who is preparing for full time ministry and may pastor his own church later this year.

I began to use "purpose driven’ frequently when communicating with state legislators and other groups regarding laws of interest to responsible dog owners and breeders. I have often used it in written and public testimony in an attempt to better legally define the purposes of multiple dog owners. Unfortunately, despite the attempts made by many to persuade the legislature to implement this term, we failed in our efforts. A new law was passed in 2009 which defines multiple dog owners by the number of animals owned, how many of them are intact and how many pups are sold. License fees were increased and in some instances, doubled. When John or I refer to our breeding program as ‘purpose driven’ we know the story behind the story.  Literally. To see other breeders use the term is encouraging!  Raising engineering and philosophical standards for all breeders is a good thing.  In the case of indiscriminate emulation I'll just remember that imitation is a form of flattery. What matters is that breeders work together instead of against each other. I fully believe that to every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.  It's a GOD THING, which is aways, a very, very good thing!

As always take care and God bless you. Thank you so much for your interest...
John, Ann, and All Things Brittany

Molly / Announcing ATB's Newest AKC Junior Hunter !!

It's all I've talked about all weekend so it probably comes as no surprise but John and I are very proud to announce our newest AKC Junior Hunter!  Yes indeed, True finished up with style at the Central New England Brittany Club with John handling him. And now, finally, it's time for a little playing in the ring again with True who has physically matured into quite a handsome boy.

I'm also so happy, proud, pleased and thrilled all at the same time because today Bullet got what he deserved - his first set of qualifying scores towards his own JH title. Julie was overjoyed at seeing her boy after being away for a week and the feeling was mutual.  I am especially proud of my wonderful husband who has now handled 2 of our Brittanys to finish their AKC JH title. And it looks like he has his sights on a couple of more including Bullet and then on to the Senior Hunter level.  I am also very happy for Sam and Pam because Sam finished pretty Paris today too.  She has titles now in all the right places and I know they have been anxiously waiting for this day!!! 

Note: For more complete information on AKC's Hunting Tests for Pointing Breeds CLICK HERE.

I've been asked for information regarding additional tests coming up in the near future in the New England area and will be putting that information shortly. Another way to find it is by going to the AKC website and doing an EVENT SEARCH and using the drop down menu indicate the type of search. Click on the states you want to search through etc. All the information will be there regarding the club and how to contact them.  Make sure it is a Pointing breed hunt test (Brittanys) and not a test for retrievers or another kind of  hunting dog. 

Good Golly Miss Molly - you are HUGE!
Molly Rose - 12 days to go.  She is huge and uncomfortable but very happy.  This is when I have to really keep an eye on her when she goes outdoors.  Molly likes to find places to 'nest' outdoors and with her being a little on the independent side this could cause problems, especially when she thinks it's fun to get tucked in under the tree branches. Julie presented us with the first crocheted puppy blanket for Molly and Scoobys litter today as well as two gifts for the puppy room.  Love you to pieces Julie, and hope you're feeling much much better. I got to sneak a peak at my Sassy girl today when Bullet was picked up and she had a good flyball weekend.  Molly and Pippin had to stay away from the dogs when they came back from the hunt tests and from flyball; they also could not visit with Julie and her friends.  It's too close to whelping and our 'quarantine' is in effect for the time being.

Enjoyed my phone conversation with Dawn today. She emailed me photos of Morgen to see what I thought.  And after looking at the photos I don't think - I KNOW that Morgen is very very pregnant!  She is due in between Molly and Pippin.  Also very happy for Dawn as she handled Jake (Morgens son) to Winners Dog today for another point towards his championship.  I'm almost as excited about her breeding program as I am about ours! 

Key word tonight: Tired... tired... tired     I am feeling the effects of the extra workload in John's absence that's for sure.  A few years ago I could do it all without issue - that has all changed.   And speaking of tired, the sounds coming from the other room in front of the television indicate I'm not alone in that! I'm supposed to be sending out information about the program for Saturday's Pointing Breed Training Day - well I did get the information sent out to one of the clubs, I think I will have to wait until tomorow to do the rest.

I can never, ever fully express how much it means to me to know so many of you follow this ATB blog on a daily basis.  John and I really appreciate it. I also love seeing the networking that occurs between quite a few of you.  I have the ability to open this up for others to also author blog posts. If it's something you'd like to do, keeping with the overall 'voice' of the blog - just let me know.  Otherwise you are going to have to be stuck with me!  Take care and God Bless you and yours always - John, Ann, and ATB