ATB: Piper Day 60 / Dogs At Play / Breeder Reflections

At Play Before the Storm
I watched our crew from inside the house this morning while John played with them and they ran. They are all such characters, vying for attention and love, happy with the affection poured out upon them regardless of what they are doing in the moment. Taking nothing for granted yet loving life just simply for 'being' there. They do things out of sight, when they think no one is looking. Jack and Molly for instance were hanging out and playing together behind a big snowbank. John couldn't see them, and I wonder if they knew. Then Hemi loves Molly and she plays with him, course he can get any dog to play. Rosie is still the class clown and John recognizes that... she's such a good girl. Wish found a toy to try to bury but of course the ground is frozen. John scooped Scooby up into his arms which caught Scooby a little off guard and he yelped a little - nothing serious but the sound was enough for all the others came running to see if he was okay. Putting Scooby down, all the boys escorted him up the hill as they ran off together, making sure he was okay.

True & Piper - Breeder Reflections
True and Piper have literally grown up together, side by side. They have been close in all manners of the word pertaining to a canine relationship. Sleeping together, hunting together, playing together, training together. The plan had always been that, once health tested and evaluated at 2 years of age, we would breed them. In reality it's our second line breeding. (Our first being Treasure and Bullet, aunt to nephew. Treasure's mother is Bullet's grandmother. Their beautiful litter of pups will turn 1 year old in April and have surpassed our expectations in conformation, temperament, intelligence, hunting ability and more. What a great litter of pups which, by the way, also has resulted in the blessing of new friendships !) 

Breeding True to Piper was purposeful, well planned in advance, deliberate and between cousins who share the same grandmother. Treasure's son to Jack's daughter. This type would never have been a breeding attempted in the very beginning of our breeding program regardless of whether or not the potential existed.  But only after years of knowing full well what strengths and weaknesses existed. This is carefully and cautiously accomplished with successive breedings, always with a purpose. A purpose with goals that can never be emphasized enough, the evidence of which comes our way through the constant feedback by those who own and have owned our Brittany dogs through the year.  We've so thankful for the chance to work with other breeders who have supported us in one way or another, to get to the point where our line is true, consistent, and well proven. Being confident of what is behind the very animals which we bred ourselves, we are confident of the direction which leads us to continue to improve.

In 2007 another Brittany breeder suggested we might benefit from the database program they use called "The Breeders Standard".  They were right! I enjoy using this to not only generate pedigrees but track health status, temperament, traits, the events a dog participates in, placements,  awards, judges, events, puppy development, and many various types of records specific to our own dogs.  We have information about our ATB crew, and have also added pedigrees of Brittanys with lines we believe have potential to strengthen our program of beautiful, well bred bird dogs for hunting families. Having said this it's really not a secret that each and every litter of puppies ever born here is unique, special, planned, loved and usually each one has a family awaiting it's arrival!

PIPER: Day 60 Update
Our girl is eating much better now that we've found a combination of food that she likes. It took a few days to work it out but she now is eating 4 - 5 very small meals a day. Shortly after eating or drinking a lot of water she gets very restless, whines, and digs. At first I worried it could be early labor but it's not. After observing her closely figured out it's because of the pressure on her bladder, abdomen, etc. due to the increased size of her growing puppies. Other than that she is very comfortable and content. Each night this week she has slept in the puppy room where she can stretch out in her whelping box. She has a big fluffy comforter and a couple of soft blankets that she can rearrange to her hearts delight to make her comfortable. With the addition of my camp cot she can also get up there and stretch out, unless I'm already laying down on it! We keep the wood stove going constantly and it is so cozy and warm - sometimes we have to open a window for some natural air conditioning believe it or not! Until we begin to use the heat lamp when pups are born it is much cooler though towards the back where her box is so she is comfortable. Even then we will run a mini-fan to keep the air circulating above her. The first few days of life the ambient temperature must be kept higher than normal. Puppies have no shivering mechanism for a few weeks so they need extra warmth. Usually though momma dog more than compensates for that with her body heat and keeps her babies close. It's not a fancy set up, but it's warm, cozy, dry, and clean - just perfect to hibernate away in and wait for puppies to arrive. We keep a pot of hot water boiling steaming away and enjoy a cup of tea or hot cocoa while there. With the forecast of LOTS of snow coming indeed - Piper may be like her aunt Treasure and have her first litter of pups in the middle of a blizzard! We're ready regardless. Last night (Tuesday) Pipers temperature was 100.1 while each other reading was 100.3 - the average dog temp range is 101 - 103. Pregnancy lowers the body temperature. In about 45 minutes I will go take her temperature again. I am curious to see if it stayed at the 100.1 - may not seem that significant but it is what I watch the closest. If I saw it at 100... I would then take it again no later than 8 a.m. tomorrow morning instead of waiting until tomorrow night. If it was still 100 in the morning, or lower I would know that stage 1 labor was about to approach. Three ties with True means three ways to count out 63 days. Piper could go into labor at any time now. Actual due dates are Feb 9, Feb 11, Feb 13. But anything can happen at this point. I think the only thing we need to get for supplies is Pedialyte. Everything else is ready. The Pedialyte adds electrolytes back into her body as during delivery she loses a lot of fluids. It's important to keep her hydrated. Piper is John's girl... he loves all the dogs, but she's always been his because it's Jacks daughter. He has been amazing with her, and is giving her his undivided attention. Piper is doing well and truly loving all the extra attention which she so deserves. It is funny. True knows where she is. He was out playing and I caught a glimpse of him just stopping, staring, and looking in that direction where she is. They have been inseparable since they were pups. I have to wonder, what does he sense? He's a good boy too, he is after all my handsome "True puppy"!

Take care and God bless you always, John, Ann, and ATB

PS The litters nickname will be "The Valentine Litter"