Happy Birthday John! / Treasure: Is She or Isn't She?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN!
Today is John's 50 'something' birthday and we celebrated it together and although very busy, it was still relatively quiet. Tomorrow the family will be over for cake and ice-cream. I baked his favorite cake today which is chocolate with peanut butter frosting. His mother always made it for him and so have I. I believe that his brother also traditionally has that and our son considers it his favorite too. After a winter with very few snowstorms we have now had several storms in a row. A snow or ice storm always adds up to extra work for John as he spends a lot of time plowing, shoveling, and snow blowing. He takes care of our yard and also makes sure our neighbors are all set too. I love how he plows paths around the yard and then blows trails as part of his clean up. There is a purpose in that it makes it easier to get around to the garage, the kennel, and to the bird pens. But I think he really does it so the crew can have an amazing area to run freely around. And they do! I "took" John to dinner at Teds Fried Clams and we enjoyed our respective meals there. When we came back home all of the dogs enjoyed themselves running and playing. We have one girl still in season here so the running times are segragated for the time being. I'd like to thank everyone for the many birthday greetings expressed electronically for John or who called, those things mean a lot. He took the time today to call his niece in Kentucky as he was worried about his family there. All was well but guess the family spent the day in the basement of their house as tornado warnings surrounded them. The day has come to an equally quiet end and John sits relaxing in his chair surrounded by several of the Brittanys. Including Miss Treasure.

January 2011

TREASURE HOUSE / DOG ROOM / GROOMING AREA
I have been making several trips back and forth to the dog room (the Treasure House).  The grooming area will be rearranged to make room for a private whelping area.  Checking my supplies and making lists. John and I have decided that pups would be due mid-April if she is indeed pregnant. And you KNOW I'm going to hold out with a formal declaration for quite awhile longer. But I do look at her closely all the time now. I am looking for the most subtle changes in her behavior, body, appetite and even sleeping patterns. Am I noticing anything different? Well, you know how that goes - I WANT to see things so I need to be careful not to conjur up imaginative happenings. We have friends who are confident with calling a pregnancy very early on. Others who will not spill the beans until the pups have arrived. Actually, that's a little bit of what I like to do. We will be working closely and privately with those who are awaiting a pup from this litter. They were notified the moment Treasure had first blood and also when she and Bullet first tied. Speaking of which, I was so happy that Julie could be here for a couple of the times when Bullet was with Treasure. It may sound funny to those not accustomed to the world of dog breeding, but we maintain a photographic file of each actual mating of our dogs. We were told to do this years ago by the Prides who certainly have the experience to support the reasoning. We also require this when working with stud dog owners ourself. This way everyone has the actual proof that the breeding between the exact two animals did occur. It also helps us in regards to our policies where we ask for deposits as soon as a breeding does occurs, we have the evidence when it has. You may already know the story but there was once an embarassing moment in regard to these "X-rated" photos. Sometimes I like to have a slide show playing on my computer when we have family get togethers throughout the year. There is a right and a wrong way to set this slide show up of course. The right way is to point to the specific file with the family photos. The wrong way is to set it up so it points to random photos.

PERSONALITY CHANGES? Treasure is a very affectionate Brittany, she is also tuned into 'me' more than some of the others and vice versa. With Treasure I have learned it is to her advantage for me to then become more in tune to her needs very, very early on in an anticipated pregnancy. Typically her non-pregnant temperament would be considered as the funloving, sanguine and the peaceful phlegmatic. Her pregnant temperament on the other hand becomes more melancholy and even choleric. She becomes much more serious about everything, she does not push the envelope in regards to getting her own way.

I realize these are traits that are intended to define human behavior and I am not an advocate of anthropomorphism. Even so years ago I read a wonderful book called "Personality Plus" which helped me tremendously concerning the different interactions we all have with the people around us. These traits I loosely attribute to Treasure here are gleaned from the insight of that book which include these definitions for humans:

• Choleric: This is the commander-type. Cholerics are dominant, strong, decisive, stubborn and even arrogant.
• Melancholy: This is the mental-type. Their typical behaviour involves thinking, assessing, making lists, evaluating the positives and negatives, and general analysis of facts.
• Sanguine: This is the social-type. They enjoy fun, socialising, chatting, telling stories - and are fond of promising the world, because that's the friendly thing to do.
• Phlegmatic: This is the flat-type. They are easy going, laid back, nonchalant, unexcitable and relaxed. Desiring a peaceful environment above all else.

 So... I must really know Treasure very very well to even begin to define her temperament in these terms. I also am forced to admit that there is a need for me to yield oh so slightly to the urge to avoid anthropomorphism altogether!

PIPPIN YIELDS TO TREASURE?
What is interesting lately in all of this mix is the interaction between Pippin and Treasure. Pippin is a pushy little bitch (remember it's okay to use this word - she's a female dog). Without making it obvious (unless you know her) she'll push everything aside, out of the way to get as close as she possibly can physically get to me (or to John). This usually results with the other dogs just letting her have her way, why bother. Pippin loves belly rubs and to get a belly rub a dog must stretch out completely on their back and take up the whole length of whatever space is available to them. It also means getting as close as she can to the human she's deemed to be her belly rubber. Not so lately when it come to Treasure though. Pippin seems to 'prefer' Treasure over her own dog self. Sounds crazy, I know that. But while Treasure is in the background, wanting very much to be near me or near John, she won't really push her way in. I've noticed Pippin watching Treasure and then suddenly jumping out of the way, to the floor or to the other side of the bed (thanks Pip). When she does, Treasure graciously moves in to where Pippin was. Isn't that something?

DOG VOMIT COMETH - I HOPE!
I am on the lookout for dog vomit. Not just any dog vomit. Not from just any dog. It must be yellow and frothy, maybe even a little bile like but definitely with a yellow tinge. I want to see this from Treasure and I want to be certain when I see this it is her. Have I totally grossed you out now?! Pregnant female dogs get morning sickness just like pregnant women do. Sometimes it is just once. Other times it may last a few days. It may be accompanied by lack of appetite or even a little lethargy. But it is one of the tell tale signs for me that we most likely will have a pregnancy to announce soon. It usually happens @ the 3rd - 4th week. John and I both get very excited about this event! (Some would say 'get a life'. Well we do have a life, it's a wonderful one actually!) I remember coming back from a Maine Animal Welfare Advisory Council Meeting once, pulling into the driveway and John was on the front steps waiting. Waiting to tell me the good news - that there had been dog vomit. The yellow and frothy, a little bile like with a yellow tinge vomit.

MORE PHYSICAL SIGNS
Now the other physical thing which is somewhat reliable is watching the ribcage. At about 35 Days I expect to see, sometimes overnight, a significant expansion of the ribcage because that's the area where all those little puppies are tucked up under. Momma dogs ribcage will show this. And then, depending upon how many pups she is carrying, her abdomen begins to look lower. The teats of some dams change early, and for others not until later. It is impossible to confirm a pregnancy by the presence or absence of milk. This is because in the case of false pregnancy - the mammary glands will fill with milk. One thing I will do though is make sure momma dogs teats are well cared for and kept clean. I wash them frequently with warm soapy water, dry them gently with a rough wash cloth, and then apply bag balm. BEFORE pups are born. I also trim the hair around the nipples the closer we get to the due date. Most of her tummy hair will shed in it's entirety and this will usually begin at about 42 Days. So that's another important clue for me - when I am rubbing her belly and hair begins to fall out in my fingers. I do not give my expecting mothers frequent baths, I don't think it's safe to do that.

A TOUGH QUESTION
John and I realize that we are very fortunate to be able to devote so much time to our Brittanys.  It hasn't always been like that.  In the early years we only had the 3 and then eventually just Hunter. When he was born it was in the summer and I was home.  But it was many years until we were in a situation to be a multiple dog family like we are now. Before John retired a few years ago we were very limited to the amount of time we could devote to dogs. It's much different now with both of us at home.  We have time for our dogs along with time for family and friends, and for our other interests. This is our lifestyle choice. And we understand and have experienced the reality of how much time must be afforded to prepare for a litter of pups.  It is not a piece of cake. Each pregnancy is diferent even in the same animal   A good friend and I met for breakfast at a local restaurant one summer morning in past years. She is 'in Brittanys' as I am. She is not a breeder but she's been very successful with her dogs in the sport of Agility and has finished one of her dogs as a show champion. She's someone I highly respect and enjoy the times we can spend together - which are rare! Anyhow, we were talking about legislative stuff and all the restrictions being placed on breeders and dog owners. My friend shared something with me which will resonate within me for the rest of my life. Someone she knows had told her that anytime a dog breeder makes a decision to breed one of their valuable bitches, with the best of the best, all health clearances in place, even if it's the breeding you've waited your whole life to do - you must ask the question "are the resultant puppies from this planned breeding worth risking the mother's life for?" So, ever since I heard that - I look at my girls here, and consider and consider and reconsider and consider again - how can I answer that question truthfully? How do I answer that question honestly? How can I look into the eyes of one like Treasure and even FATHOM or comprehend such a question? I have to be able to know why we have bred her, what we hope to accomplish or achieve by doing so, and know where our breeding program is headed as a result of it. This is especially relative with the breeding of Bullet & Treasure, our very first breeding back into our own line. I know the answers to most of those questions I just wrote about. But - NOTHING... nothing is worth losing Treasure. And I'm not willing to put her at any risk for any reason at any time during her anticipated pregnancy. (I know breeders who have lost their momma dogs during or shortly after birth. I have heard of orphaned litters. And last year we came close to losing Molly shortly after she'd delivered 6 healthy puppies. It's a sombering thought.)

I AM NOT WILLING
So, this night as John's official birthday comes to an end, we still look forward to an extended celebration tomorrow. And I have had to make some hard decisions the past few weeks about friends coming to visit here with or without dogs. I will have to make some more in the near future. Am I overprotective? Maybe a little. Am I justified? Absolutely. When visitors come Treasure gets so happy and excited and she jumps, and she sings and she's just beside herself with joy. When she's not in whelp that is not a problem.  When she is in whelp (or possibly in whelp) it is a problem.

 I know there's breeders and there's kennels where the dog is bred, the pregnancy happens, the pups arrive and they are there for the breeder to discover in the morning on the day they were due. Happens all the time they say. Take a look at the animals in the wilderness for example. Leave them alone. They'll be allright. Maybe. But am I willing to take the risk? No. And no. We were responsible to put Bullet with Treasure on the day we knew she was most likely to stand for him, to be bred. Resultant pups will be born because we made the decision we wanted them. Bullet and Treasure had no choice. This is a big step away from the warm and fuzzy part which I will share in the weeks to come. But for now, these serious things I had to share. Because this is my serious reality. We love our dogs for all the right reasons. They love us. We will always do the very best by them and for them. And they will do the same for us. I look at my girl who is lying over there behind me on the couch. All the others are bedded down and John has taken a couple to bed with him (Happy birthday John as I sit and write!!!) But there is Treasure. She simply 'is'. A beautiful treasure. Good night and God bless you - and as always thank you for your interest in All Things Brittany - John, Ann, Treasure and the crew