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