Meet the puppies! 7/18/24

The puppies arrived on Saturday, 7/13.

We have three girls and one boy.

Christina is a devoted mother, and has barely left the puppies even to potty. In fact, she isn't even eating and drinking unless I put a bowl in the pool with her AND she can reach it from where she's nursing.

It has been interesting noting the differences in parenting styles, if you will, between Butter and Christina. Butter also wouldn't leave the pups for a few days, but by now she would have been spending some time sleeping under the dining room table with us while the puppies slept in an adorable little pile.

Also Christina is overall less worried about people coming around. Butter would sometimes growl at the kids and would try to place her head in your way if you wanted to pet them. Christina just relaxes into even the kids coming around. In fact, the first time she left them to try to share my meatloaf was WHILE one of the children was in her whelping box.

I'll post individual puppy nicknames in the next few days.

Puppies have been getting lots of snuggles, which is exactly what they need at this stage.

Hot Dog! 7/13/24

Christina went into labor a day early. Or so I thought. She was panting, and digging, and groaning from time to time. And then it would stop for a while.

I thought she was stressed out from the other dogs, so I holed up with her in an empty room and waited.

One day passed. No puppies. Two days passed. Nothing. This was an emergency. Two days of labor without puppies?

I took her to the emergency vet an hour away.

They saw her immediately, because this is an emergency.

They did an ultrasound and vaginal exam.

The puppies were doing well. Heart rates were great. Cervix was firm.

Labor had not yet begun. She was panting because she was hot.

I sequestered myself in a room for two days because my dog was hot.

This is not my first litter.

I prefer to think that she was having Braxton Hicks. That makes me feel less foolish.

"I don't doubt that she's uncomfortable," the vet said. "She's very pregnant."

They said she could have puppies in 1-5 days. It's been three. Still no puppies. 🤦‍♀️

Here are the signs I should have been looking for:

Pacing/restlessness

Digging

Whining

Panting

Christina, ready for a new home in September

This is Christina.

We are fostering her through her pregnancy and weaning period.

She has been a pleasure to get to know, so far.

We'll share more about her as we learn it, but so far here are some of her details:

She is a 6-year-old F1B mini goldendoodle.

She is very curious, and wants to see everything that is going on.

Christina geocaching with us after hopping the fence when we tried to leave without her.

She adores children, especially little girls.

She can easily jump a short fence, and can easily climb at least a 4-foot chain-link fence!

She is crate trained, but will prefer to sleep in your bed, especially if you are a small child.

If you think you might like to be a good home for her in September after her puppies have gone home, please fill out an application.