J&A's Brittanys "Autumn's Treasures" - 2 Weeks Old

Each day brings something new to discover about the pups, even at 2 weeks old!  Several puppies of Autumn's Treasure's have started to open their eyes and I suspect by mid-week they will all be open. They always remind me of little panda bears at this stage. It won't be long before their vision becomes clearer and they will start to be aware of their surroundings for the very first time. Their reactions are so funny as they look around. Sometimes they are quite baffled at what they see. 

As the first two weeks of the puppy's life concludes, so will the neonatal stage. They entered the world blind, deaf, and neurologically undeveloped. There is very little difference between their brain activity from the time they sleep or when awake. I have followed the early development exercises which actually help their nervous system mature quicker and also to enhance certain learning skills. 

With eyes opening the Transitional Period begins. This is from 14 - 21 days of age and these pups are on schedule! Right now, coordination is NOT their strong point but that will come with time. That's fine with me though, they are comic relief in a time when it is needed most. All of the puppies are up on all four of their wobbly legs and trying to figure out how to make it all work together. They bump into each other, roll up and over their littermates bodies, and when their energy runs out, they collapse wherever they happen to be. There is increased brain activity right now in contrast to the quiet near reverent first weeks of life in neonatal puppies and their bodies are responding!

Of course one of the best things about having puppies is when you can sit on the floor with them and be in the middle of a puppy pile! They are very close to climbing up and over and I expect at anytime to see a puppy out on the floor. When that happens it's our cue to extend the height of the sides to contain them just a wee bit longer. As the puppies have started to move about more in the whelping box they also are beginning to eliminate on their own. I put a puppy pee pad down today just for curiosity sake in the box. I was pleased to see evidence of a few puppies peeing on it already. 

In about 5 days or so their ears will begin to open. As we approach this period we are mindful of loud noises around the puppies. The first time that I notice their reaction to sound is an exciting one for me! I begin to gently clap my hands to see if they will turn their heads in the direction the sound is coming from.

I have loved the neonatal stage. Spending hours observing the puppy's every move with just the glow of the overhead heat lamp is one of my favorite things to do. Listening to their breathing, weighing them, making sure Holly is settled in her duties. Our care for them will continue increase and Holly will eventually 'hand off' her duties and the real work begins. Even so, it's a labor of love and I knew what I was getting into. I am hopelessly devoted and look forward to each and every stage of the next 6 weeks.

As always thank you for your interest! Take care and God bless you and yours. John, Ann, Holly and pups, and the entire ATB crew. 

J&A's Brittanys: The "Autumn's Treasures" Puppies

OLY - "Son-of-A-Gunn JH"

and

HOLLY BETH - "J&A's Carry the Dream of Acton JH, NA 110 Prize 1

AUTUMN'S TREASURES

 

J&As Brittanys - Holly Beth Week 8

Today I began to chart Holly's temperature.  This is something that I will do daily as we enter her final week of pregnancy. Later this week I'll be taking it at least twice a day. A dog's normal temperature ranges from 100.5 to 102.5 and I will be looking for 'the drop'. The temperature may fluctuate at first, although not always. When it does drop to 100 (or lower) and remains there that usually means labor and delivery will take place in about 24 hours and STAGE ONE begins.  During this time Holly will exhibit any number of signs such as digging, nesting, hiding and an increased desire to go outside and relieve herself.  Remember - last year I let her out to go pee, she squatted and had a puppy right there on the front lawn!   

She and I are spending a few hours each day in the puppy cave, otherwise known as 'The Treasure House'. A special sort of space named after Holly's mother Treasure who was the first to have puppies there. The whelping box is just about ready.  We will put new linoleum and carpet in. I have all of the whelping supplies ready. UPS has been busy dropping off the necessary items that needed to be replaced.  Two new tubes of Calsorb were delivered this week and next I am anticipating the Adaptil Collar. Holly's grocery shopping was done this week and we are stocked up on cottage cheese, yogurt, liver, pedialyte, puppy pads etc.  I cooked off several chicken breasts, took the meat off the bone, shredded and froze it. Next I will making my "Nursing Mother's Pudding". 

My roll away cot has been set up as either John and/or I will remain constantly at her side during labor and for a week or so following the pup's birth.  I believe that the first 8 weeks of a puppy's life is so important and have no problem with my own life going on hold. Holly is a 'daddy's girl' and that is obvious to anyone who knows her.  Just tonight we were sitting out by the firepit with the whole crew and she was invited up into his lap for snuggles. A little later however it was clear she wanted to be by herself so she, Pippin, and I spent some time away from the others relaxing.  Holly Beth received lots of gentle belly rubs and the movement of her puppies can be felt. Not much longer sweet Holly Beth, not much longer. 

That's my update for now!  We are in countdown mode. Stay tuned and as always take care, God bless and we thank you for your interest in All Things Brittany - John, Ann, and crew

Loving Tribute to My Rosebud

They say your dog will give you your happiest days, and one of your worst.  And it's true....

I remember her birth well. Early in the morning of April 2, 2005, Molly gave birth to her first litter of 5 beautiful Brittany puppies. Rosie was the first one born, and she arrived in much the same way her entire life was lived - unpredictable, fast, and non-traditional. Molly, who had labored intensely, suddenly jumped out of the whelping box and with one huge push expelled a puppy! Rosie was suspended in mid-air, hanging several inches out of her mother by her umbilical cord and still encased in placenta! A second push plopped Rosie out onto the floor. I acted quickly and gently cradled Rosie (still attached) so that her hanging weight would not cause undue stress on either mom or pup, reached for the blunt scissors and gently severed the cord at the proper distance. Coaxing Molly back to her whelping box I held Rosie's face to Molly's mouth and nose in hopes of maternal instinct kicking in. Sure enough it did and Molly gently bit away and licked at the remaining placenta that held Rosie captive. I let out a gasp of relief. From that day on until Molly’s passing 2 summers ago, Rosie and her mother were inseparable. (To the best of my knowledge, Rosie was the soul surviving puppy. Her siblings were Boomer, Crystal, Roscoe, and Benny Jack.)

Our little "Rosie" stood out to us from the start and quickly demonstrated for all the world to see that she was highly intelligent, independent, inquisitive, energetic and extremely loving and affectionate. (The entire litter exhibited these characteristics which was no surprise. Rosies sire "Tunk" was Frank Prides field dog, out of his prized Buschman line. Her mother "Molly" also carried the lines of "Rimarda's Trademark", "County Lawyer" and Renegades Double Stuff.) In the litter, Rosie was intent on making sure our eyes fell on her first and remained fixed on her - which was very easy to do given her charm and personality!

Miss Rosie did march to a different drummer as young as 4 weeks old. Remembering advice from Frank Pride about observing very young pups I knew she had the right stuff. While the rest of the pups were busy with each other or with their mother, Miss Rosie was all about exploring every nook and cranny that she could possible reach. In the beginning we were going to call her J&A's April Rose (being born in April). But when her personality began to emerge we saw what reminded us of the Ever Ready Energizer Bunny because she kept going and going and going! Her name became J&A's Ever Ready Rose. And she has always been EVER READY.

Fate was not kind to Rose though and she ended up being a Brittany with special needs. We loved her from the start and never regretted our choice to keep her. Although Rose was spayed and never bred she was a wonderful surrogate 'big sister' to many of our pups through the years. Rose was definitely high maintenance, needy, and tended to get anxious. Even so, her passion for life probably exuded that of all of our other Brittanys combined. I have always felt so connected to Rosie, in a way I cannot describe. And so do most people who meet her despite her very special needs.

Although our beautiful Rose was happiest when hunting she sensed when humans were hurting and simply needed the comfort of her company. And oh how Rosie loved to make me laugh. I love each and every Brittany in my life, they all have brought something so special and wonderful to us. They all stand out in their own right. Especially Rosie. My big, beautiful, fun loving Rosie whose purpose in life was simply to make me smile. Something she was quite good at. Even right up until this past week.

Rose hunted hard and she hunted fast, always giving 100% from the beginning of the day right to end. She returned totally exhausted and spent, but was always riding high on the thrill of it all. And she was always smiling. No matter what Rose was up to, her heart beat out of her chest with joy. Rose was a part of everything we did when younger. As every owner of multiple dogs knows, one of the greatest gifts we can offer to those we love and share our life with is that one on one time reserved especially for them. Rosie appreciated those moments more than any other of our crew. Rose was patient to a point, willing to yield right away to daily needs and necessities but she was never willing to be taken for granted.

I write this on the eve of knowing what is inevitable in the morning. I write it now because I feel the flood of tears backing up and I fear I shall not be able to restrain them once they start. All the cliche’s of older, senior dogs ring true in my ears tonight as does all the well intentioned advice and guidance about how to ‘know’ when ‘it’s time’. John and I have made the most humane and loving decision we can make for our Rosebud. IAnd the hardest. We have second guessed the timing. Should we wait? Should we have done this sooner? We almost did last summer but she totally rebounded and gave us one more year of simply being Rose.

Rosie the receptionist. Rosie the ball player. Rosie the scout. Rosie the surrogate sister. Rosie with the bad breath. Rosie who loved to be dirty. Rosie who jumped up onto the highest surface within her realm. Rosie who kissed passionately. Rosie who sounded like Kujo. Rosie who didn’t understand why her best dog friend Treasure didn’t want her near her puppies. Rosie laying down in the back window of my car making people smile as they drove by as a puppy. Rosie loving to swim. Rosie at Julies. Rosie in bed on my pillow. Rosie on the back of the couch. Rosie in the lawn chair. Rosie in the van. Rosie, Rosie, Rosie…

I love you and always will. I’ll never forget you and believe with all my heart there will come a day. I believe in Jesus and a God who cares for animals and all that concerns me.  I believe in eternal life and I believe and am confident there will be a reunion. I find comfort knowing about the Rainbow Bridge. Thank you for what you brought into my life.  Run free now.  Thank you Lord for this girl, please take good care of her... 

May I go now?
May I say goodbye to pain filled days
and endless lonely nights?
I’ve lived my life and done my best,
an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond
and set my spirit free?

Do you think the time was right?
I didn’t want to go at first,
I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now
to a warm and loving light.

I want to go
I really do.
It’s difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can
to live just one more day.

To give you time to care for me
and share your love and fears.
I know you’re sad and afraid,
because I see your tears.


I’ll not be far,
I promise that, and hope you’ll always know
that my spirit will be close to you
wherever you may go.


Thank you so for loving me.
that’s why it’s hard to say goodbye
and end this life with you.

You know I love you too,
So hold me now just one more time
and let me hear you say,
because you care so much for me,
you’ll let me go today.

Susan A. Jackson

6.15.19 Rosie was humanely and lovingly released into a painfree, peaceful existance at 8 a.m. surrounded in the quietness of her home by our vet, John, and me. She knew and was ready as I held her head, we looked deeply into each other's eyes. Rosie kissed my face profusely right up to her last breath.  Run free my sweet girl. You will be missed. 

J&A's Britanys: Patriot Photos & Names

Toph's family wanted to give her puppies patriotic names in honor of the 4th of July.  They came up with  a list of about 18 names all related in some way to patriotism because we knew the puppies were due around Independence Day. Last night our daughter, son in law, and three children all had a chance to finally visit Toph and her new family.  And I had a chance to finally get 10 individual pictures of them with their new names.  It is going to be fun to follow Toph and True's Puppy Patriots Journey as well as that of Miss Holly Beth and Bullet's Timeless Treasures. Patriots will be 1 week old tomorrow and Timeless Treasures 3 weeks!  As always, thanks for your interest in our Brittanys. Hope you enjoy these photos.  Take care and God bless from John, Ann, and ATB.

J&A's Reckless Love

All Things Toph

The Patriotic litter has gotten off to a great start. I think we've finally caught up on the sleep we missed those days up to and immediately following their arrival. Oh what a night! Now, in just a few days John and I have been able to help Toph adapt to her new role and at 5 days old she's doing a great job.  Pups and momma have been seen by our vets and are doing well.

They are gaining nicely and are very beautiful and sweet babies. Toph has a great appetite and is totally focused on the pups. In the beginning as is often the case she would not leave the whelping box even to eat though so we would sit on the floor and bring her food dish and then her water.  It was hard to even get her to get up and leave to go outside to relieve herself.  I bought her a small dog bed and she has figured out it's okay to sit down on this just outside the box.  It gets her out from under the heat lamp thus becoming much more comfortable. We've been giving regular updates to Maryann about how pups and Tophs are doing and they hope to be able to spend some time with them soon.  Our girls are so spoiled when they have pups when it comes to special food. So far their favorite has been pure natural vanilla whole fat ice cream!  They've also enjoyed cottage cheese, yogurt, steak, chicken, liver and of course nursing mother's pudding.  I plan to make my 3rd batch of that today.  Right now the puppies are demanding the most out of their dams so it's so very important to feed them as much high calorie, rich in calcium foods.  The third week is when the demands are the greatest which is just about the time we begin to introduce pups to solid food and the weaning process will begin.  Toph and Trues pups are just beautiful, smart, agile and active.  By the third day a couple of them had figured out how to maneuver themselves up onto her back.  I love to watch as Toph falls asleep with one of her babies curled up close. Shades of her grandmother Pippin (who becomes a great-grandmother with these puppies!)


All Things Holly
The Timeless Treasure pups are 19 days old.  And just like that their eyes are open, their weight has more than doubled, they can hear, and they are up on all fours. Two days ago I started to softly say 'puppy, puppy, puppy', make a little smoochie sound, and gently clap my hands as I approached the whelping box.  I didn't get much of a reaction the first time. That changed today as I walked in singing to them the chorus to a song I absolutely love called 'Reckless Love' .

"Oh the overwhelming, never ending, reckless love of God.

How it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leave the 99."

Suddenly several little heads bopped up and looked curiously around and I continued to sing this to them. They are truly awake!

Later on in the day I took them all out of their whelping box and set them out onto their mother's dog bed. This is a continuation of their early learning experiences as they are placed upon a variety of surfaces and touches in the coming weeks. Their little noses were buried in the fake fur covering as they detected their mother's scent.  A couple of them moved off the bed and onto the linoleum covered floor, the first slippery surface they have encountered so far. Their individual reactions were priceless.  Some wanted to turn around and get back on Holly's dog bed.  A couple others buried their head in the corner as if to say "make the world go away!". And there were a couple who just climbed off and walked unsteadily in the direction of the open door.  That is until they ran out of gas.  Pups of this age have brief, short energy spurts and when the energy runs out they just plop wherever they happen to be.

We've been blessed to have a "puppy
nanny" this week.  One of our granddaughters has been here to sit with the pups while we catch up on sleep or errands. Ivy's help is two-fold.  It helps the puppies get use to a different voice and being handled by other people while being part of our own going socialization. Late this afternoon Holly's puppies were introduced to fresh air as we continue to prepare each one for the first day of the rest of their lives.

Later on the pups were also visited by two more grandchildren and I look forward to more of these visits on a regular basis to see both litters of pups in the coming weeks.  I just can't believe how quickly time is going by.  The near reverent atmosphere of awaiting the birth has turned into a little more activity as the pups go from neo-natal to toddler stage.

ALL THINGS PUPPIES
This has turned out to be such a wonderful time of year for puppies.  I was very pleased to receive a compliment from one of our vets who makes house calls about the set up that we have and the health and well being of the pups. I hate poopy puppies and I hate having odor surrounding them.  This means it is a full time job to sanitize, disinfect, deodorize etc.  It is nice when our efforts are recognized!  I always say we are 'nothin' fancy here'.  But we do our best especially when it comes to the pups we're responsible to bring into the world.  In a week or so we're going to use roomy outside pens in the grass for the pups to enjoy on summer days.  I was looking for Lil Tykes outdoor toys and someone gave us for free one of their little forts with stairs and a slide. Can you imagine all these puppies scrambling and playing with that?  I also really hope to make one of those PVC activity centers. The thing is, the clock is ticking and the pups are developing.  I probably can never do all the things I hope to do but I will do as much as I can.  Already Hollys pup show the benefits of following the S.M.A.R.T. puppy program and I am doing the same with Toph's pups. I'm spending this summer exactly the way I want to spend it despite how very much work it involves!

The rest of the crew are doing very well.  John brings several to the field throughout the week and runs dogs with our friends.  They all enjoy a quick trip down to the farm pond for a quick dip and laps around the edges.  It's very low right now but it's just right for them.  The pups will get to check this out when they are older.

Something cute... our oldest grandson was asking if I was going to keep a puppy. I told him I wasn't sure and my main reason is because of Treasure having canine cognitive dysfunction. I don't want to take time away from her.  My grandson told me that I really should because most of our dogs are now in double digits. And he said when he gets his driver license he can come up and help out.  I'll think about this logic, Callum, I will think about it.

Thanks for your interest as always!  Take care and God bless, John, Ann, and ATB

J&A's "The Patriotic Litter" Is Here!

12 Hours

24 hours

We are pleased to announce the arrival of Toph and True's10 beautiful new puppies born in the wee hours of July 8.  "The Patriotic Litter" and their mother "Toph" are doing well.  Maryann and our granddaughter were here for the long haul after I sent a text saying Toph's temperature had officially dropped.  All the puppies were born from midnight to 6 a.m., very similar to Holly's time table!  Speaking of Holly, she and her pups are quite amazing and I'll share a better update soon; John and I are still trying to catch up on sleep. Right now it is all about Miss Toph and her puppies. I do want to give a shout out to our granddaughter Ivy who came to puppy-sit Holly's pups so John and I could bring Toph and pups to the vets for neo-natal exam and procedures. I hope you enjoy these photos from the first 72 hours and when I get a chance I'll share more because afterall I only have about a gazillion photos of puppy photos which I have taken recently! I'd like to thank those of you in our puppy prayer watch group for your faithfulness in praying us through.  It means a lot.  

72 Hours.

There are 10 puppies: 1 liver and 

white girl 1 orange and white girl, 4 liver and white boys,

and 4 orange and white boys 

It's nice to know there are those who enjoy following our blog. It's been awhile since we've had pups to write about! Whenever I get a chance I'll share more and pick up my "From the Whelping Box"theme again. (We are playing Pandora, Kevin Kearn Radio and Relaxation Radio when I'm not listening to K-Love!) As always take care and God bless. John, Ann & ATB

J&A's Full Speed Ahead

Just a brief update as many of you have privately messaged us to ask if all is well.  Indeed it is VERY well, thank you!

Toph's due date, according to our vet's prediction based on size of pup from ultrasound, was July 4th.  However, I have a tried but true method of determining due dates and my estimate was July 6 - 9.  Suffice to happily say pups of True and Toph are, as they say, "on the ground"!   John and I are basically working split shifts, we are like two ships that pass in the night with each one of us taking turns as needed to observe pups and their momma. I'd asked the owners and breeders of both Toph's mother and grandmother if Toph had "easy whelpers" behind her.  I was very happy to learn that they are and were. Toph's Stage 1 labor was so long after her temperature dropped.  We walked the emotional balancing board for many hours.  We are firm believers that you give the momma every possible chance for a natural delivery and understand that a lot of time and patience is involved. I didn't think Stage One Labor was ever going to end.  I watched the clock as I was aware of when our vets office closed. The very LAST thing I wanted to do was have to make a trip to an E-clinic. My experiences with middle of the night emergencies at an E-clinic are less than desirable as we've been met with a clear bias against breeders. Just sayin'.

Maryann was really hoping that the pups would be born on Hunter's birthday.  He was from our very first litter born in 1990. That would have had great significance especially to her as a first time dog breeder.  Toph's first puppy arrived just minutes after midnight and her last one as dawn was breaking. Oh what a beautiful morning!

Specifics and photos will be forthcoming once we have passed the 72 hour mark.  At this point all pups have gained weight and Toph is a wonderful mom.

Holly also is doing great.  Her pups are 2 weeks old already! Their eyes have just opened and they're up on all fours, walking around like drunken little sailors (no offense to sailors).  I like to see weight doubled by 10 days and from that point I want to see an average weight gain of 1 pound per week. I weighed the pups yesterday and was happy to see the weight average for the "Timeless Treasures" litter is 2 lbs. These puppies are absolutely delightful!

I have so many pictures it's not funny.   But I have very little time to edit and share at the moment.  I've been sitting here writing and dozed off several times. John and I are exhausted but you won't find us complaining. This is a lifestyle choice for us and while yes indeed, it's going to continue to get crazy busy over the next 8 weeks we also know how briefly the time flies.

The season of sadness has now turned into a jubilant season of "full speed ahead"!  For 8 brief weeks John and I will pour out our love, our time, resources and energy into the lives of these Brittany puppies. It has already meant several sleepless nights (said she who just fell asleep at the keyboard). John and I are well aware of how fleeting these moments in time are and before we know it these pups will know the first day of the rest of their life with their new families.  Speaking of these wonderful people who will soon open their hearts and homes to a new puppy, I have already shared the news with all of them and I know they are very very happy!

Stay tuned for some spectacular photos soon.  There simply is not enough hours in this day to share any of them at this time!

I am so thankful tonight that we have a God who cares about 'all things' that matter to us.  The slogan of "All Things Brittany" comes from the words found in the hymn of All Things Bright and Beautiful:

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful:

The Lord God made them all.

To that my dear ones I would add "AMEN" when I consider "ALL THINGS BRITTANY."

Take care and God bless.  J&A

J&A's Brittanys All Eyes on Toph

In the quietness of these early moments we watch, we wait and above all we pray with peaceful and joyous expectations. Father God please keep your hand of comfort upon your beautiful, lesser creature that we love and care about as the hour draws near we ask in Jesus Name.