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.