ATB Video: Just A Little Longer (PUPPIES)

 

 

It's ALL IN A NAME We are spending a lot of time together just hanging out in the puppy room.  Maybe I should go back to calling this the "Treasure House" for the time being. It would be appropriate as the very first litter of Brittany pups to be born in the new addition was the one in which Nova was born over 2 years ago with her mother Treasure of course.  A beautiful litter of 8 arrived in the middle of a blizzard here at J&A's Brittanys but we were tucked away nice and warm spending the hours at Treasure's side as the pups arrived. That litter was called "The Nova Litter" because they were born on our oldest granddaughters birthday, whose name just happens to be Nova of course!

 

I'd never really gotten into the whole thing of nicknaming a litter. We would always just say Molly and Jacks pups, or Wish and Smokes pups etc.  Nicknaming a litter kind of just happened and so when you do something once you kind of feel like you're suppose to keep on doing it.  Our way is kind of simple really and quite often it is John who suggests a name and usually (believe it or not!) I like his ideas. We do take a lot of time working together on the official AKC registered and call name of any pup here who will have "of Acton" at the end of their name. Litter names? Not so much. However, we do have the nickname all picked out.

 

Our friends in Connecticut own their own business and it is called "Superior Landscape & Fencing".  They also own 3 Brittanys from our program and each of their names begins with J&A's Superior (unique name).   That put a huge smile on my face the first time I saw that in print. Consequently, in a few more days I hope to introduce you to "THE SUPERIOR LITTER".  And the pups registered names will be "J&A's Superior _____________" co-bred by the Shorts and the Turners.

 

Days 57 - 60   I know Nova's owners miss her terribly and I also know they trust us completely with her well being and that of the pups which will soon be born. Although they won't be here physically, they will be here virtually. The past few days I've been working out a few kinks regarding private live streaming.  It's been kind of fun to get to try some new things with a web cam, laptop, tablet, and of course our good old tried and true desktop PC. Now I can sit and blog (as I am doing now) right in the whelping area.  It's possible to upload photos and videos now in a fraction of the time it took before.  But I digress, this is not to be a technical conversation.

 

Just over my shoulder, laying out on the cot which John and I will take turns sleeping on in the next week, Miss Nova the sweet Brittany herself is resting comfortably. She's active for little periods of time throughout the day. She's very clear in communicating when she wants to go for a run down around the pond, check out the pheasant pen, or see whats up with the rest of the crew. I keep a close eye on her because I know that sense of 'wanderlust' can become very strong in a bitch near whelping.  Although our 4+ acres is entirely fenced in 2/3 of it is wooded and we've had girls try to make a nest in hidden pine boroughs before.

 

Her appetite is so good which pleases me. It is hard when they refuse food at any time during pregnancy but especially disconcerting the last week when both mother and her whelps nutritional needs are great. Nova is very sweet and affectionate. She's not anxious or nervous at all. Just like her mother, just like her grandmother. We're blessed to know that she is from a long line of what breeders call 'easy whelpers.'  Even though this young, first time mother has never experienced what her body is about to engage in - she will most likely react as instinctively and as gracefully as Treasure and Wish have done.

 

She is sleeping most of the time.  She moves about freely, choosing a couch, the cot, a chair or the coolness of the floor.  She has checked out the whelping box itself with casual interest. When we are in the house for too long, she'll stand at the door and look longingly outdoors.  After a quick romp around the yard she will go to the door of 'The Treasure House" and ask to go in.  We put a screen door on it which is so nice. She's content to lay there and watch what is going on around outside. Although sleeping a lot, she is far from inactive that is for sure!

 

Her eyes seem to ask me what is going on?  Why am I feeling this way? I respond by telling her she's such a good good girl, she's such a pretty girl. I very gently touch her tummy for it's clear she does not want much pressure there at all. But she enjoys the lightest of patting.  I would love to keep my palm pressed to her abdomen because the pups are moving so much.  The evidence of life is clear and certain. It is hard to know for sure the size of her litter.  She did not really show until the last week or so.  Sometimes first time mothers don't show until the end of the gestation period. Other times though they look huge early on. And unless x-rays or ultrasound are done it remains a guessing game. Although even then - it is a guessing game. In the past we use to do progesterone testing for breeding, and then get films later on to figure out how many pups there were. Because nothing has ever been conclusive we opt for the less stress for mom the better and let 'mother nature' (LET GOD!) determine the rest.

 

A Mothers Love I saw it with Treasure and her mother Wish, and I see it now with Treasure and her daughter Nova. The familiar bond between dam and pup. Who can know for certain what it is that remains of all that is natural between them within their biological relationship?  We don't know. We can wonder and romanticize, speculate and reason, hope and dream. To paraphrase Helen Keller, some things that are felt in the heart cannot be seen with the eyes. That's not true here. I have seen the dam and her pup relationship survive years beyond the whelping box. I have seen it even with those who were litter mates. (No, not always and breeders can't be ignorant and assume so because sometimes they will act like they want to rip each others face off !) But I saw it with Treasure and Nova this past week. They went from politely playing with each other, respecting each others space to seeking each others company, where they did not want to leave each others side. I think the photos in the slide show here show that pretty clearly. We really can learn so much from dogs, I know as a breeder I am especially blessed to witness some pretty remarkable things. As a multiple dog owner my heart does see things most eyes cannot.

 

Rest well sweet little Nova the Brittany.  In just a few more days your body will begin to approach labor and there are changes in store for you.  But we will be right here with you, nothing to fear. We are the ones responsible to bring you and Jack together in the first place. We will remain responsible and commit to you, your puppies, and the well being of your new family at every turn. You just wait and see the awesome homes and families waiting to love and enjoy your pups. Active people, hunting families and or folks with Brittanys in their life already. We've got this covered beginning to end and at every place in between. This I promise you as we wait together for the first sign of approaching labor.

Take care and God bless. As always we appreciate your interest in All Things Brittany!  John, Ann, and our amazing, beautiful, fun loving canine crew.