If I say that there is a collection of new photos at the bottom of the post you won't read what I've written! Even so, tonight I thought I'd simply upload the photographs I took a couple of hours ago. The puppies turn 2 weeks old tomorrow. Eyes are opening and legs are working well so we are leaving the 1st Stage of Puppy Devlopment and entering the 2nd one. The 'neo-natal' stage is coming to an end. Although the pups are still entirely dependent upon Molly Rose, they are very slowly becoming independent. As I observed them tonight I noticed a new interaction with each other. The two orange and white girls were actually kissing each other. And one of of those girls has also responded directly to me when I gently rubbed under her chin. Her little paw went up in exactly the same way her big sister Rosie would do when being pet that way. I also intentionally moved their 'puppy pile' around, added a new crochet blanket and put the small carpet pad in. It was interesting to see how different the reactions were to these as compared to the carpet pad the other day which they clearly did not like. Tonight they definitely preferred Aunt Julies handmade crochet puppy blanket to any surface in their whelping box, Molly being the exception of course! I don't leave anything lose in with them until they are older but if I'm in the room or in the box with them that's different. I believe that their little ear canals are beginning to open now too. They cannot actually 'hear' the sounds yet but they can 'feel' the sound waves. This is when it's really important to have the soft, quiet music playing and to shield the new Brittany pups from direct sunlight. It could appear to the casual obsever that not too much was going on in the whelping box other than sleeping, eating, and eliminating. Most of the time all you see is a pile of pups sleeping or nursing and occassionally moving about. But there is a lot going on. Adding to the noticable progression of development of today was the added stimulus from moving into the new area. Technically I guess you could now say we have a whelping room and a nursery in consideration of Miss Pippins approaching due date. (John had flexibility and mobility in mind when he first designed the puppy room last year, I just didn't know to what extent. But as is usually the case - he had a plan all along, a very good plan and I've learned not to stress about these things, completely trusting in his judgement.)
Speaking of Pippin, she continues to pop! I learned from Dawn that Pips' grandmother was like that too when she was pregnant and I know it was always hard to tell from Chris, Pippin's mother. We began to chart her temperature at Day 53 to be ready for the first due date from her first breeding. May 12 is our first target date.
I have some video footage to edit from this evening too which clearly shows the advanced walking going on in the whelping box. Those first wobbly steps usually result in flipping head over heels as the pups sense of balance stabilizes. Then they become more surefooted which then results in what I call the drunken sailor walk! Too funny! I am looking forward to the breakthrough with the pups when the connection they have made with me is not only certain, but clearly demonstrated through their behavior. And I get to fall in love over and over and over again.
This next stage of development we will see many rapid and significant changes in a very short time in our little puppies here. Not quite a transitional period, but a period where they are maturing mentally. It is as if they are literally coming out of the darkness and into the marvelous light of the world around them. Their bodys are not yet able to regulate temperature so they still need not only the warmth from Molly but from the heat lamp which shines above. There are small fans which I can use to circulate the air above for Molly and we will open the windows if she is uncomfortable. We have had pups born in mid-July before yet still need the warmth of the heatlamp! This too shall pass though because their beautiful coats are going to become efficient as well.
We hope you enjoy these photographs taken on the eve of the pups 2 week birthday. Take care and God Bless! John, Ann and ATB
I need a better phrase than "thank you" to express my family's appreciation, because all of these writings and photographs and videos mean the world to us, as we watch our puppy thrive and grow and interact with her litter mates. It's a unique opportunity not afforded to most new puppy owners. We have you to thank for your care and diligence in recording each milestone and then sharing them with us. Merci-Grazie-Danke-Gracias!
ReplyDeleteI don't know what to say but that means a lot to both John and I. We are simply following our hearts and our sense that this is the way it 'should' be. We enjoy sharing our love of the Brittany. Especially, taking on the responsibility of breeding - we feel it's important to bring 'you' and your family, as new puppy owners, literally into the whelping box, into their lives as early as possible! After the first few weeks we may not be able to keep up as frequently but we'll do our best. It works two ways - because we also appreciate you all!
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