Tag: Whelping day

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Maui’s Sweet Babies Turn One Week Old

It is hard to believe that Maui’s puppies are already one week old. Maui and her babies are doing well and growing quickly. Maui is an amazing mama and takes wonderful care of her puppies. She spent the first few days in the whelping box and only left for potty breaks. After a few days, she started taking longer breaks away and even reprised her role as puppy nanny to Echo’s puppies when they started their outdoor playtime.

It was a long time coming. This will be the litter that I will remember for waiting and exercising my patience, Not only did we spend time, eleven months, waiting for Maui to go into heat but she also kept us waiting for her puppies to arrive. Now that it is over, this lovely litter of puppies was worth the wait!

Whelping Day

It is always a day that is full of anticipation and awe. Even though we had two whelps in less than a week, I never tire of the miracle of birth and the instincts God has given animals.

Maui’s labour started early Friday morning, May 9th. She was very clingy and spent her day by our side both inside and out trying to get comfortable and rest.. While I was tending our other two litters, Maui spent the evening with Tom resting on the couch. He informed me that he was sure she would have a puppy any minute because she was panting so much.

Time is Near

Tail Wrapped

When the time gets close for delivery, I wrap the mama’s tail with a compression wrap. This helps to keep her tail clean during whelping. 

We took Maui to the whelping box just after 11 pm when it was apparent that her time was getting close. She was very restless and nervous going in and out of the whelping box. I sat inside the whelping box with Maui while Tom sat outside the entrance. We tried to keep Maui calm and reassure her. After about 30 minutes of pushing, Maui’s first puppy arrived at midnight. It was a lovely red male weighing 325 grams.

Maui settled into caring for her new arrival and her labour continued more calmly. Over the next 90 minutes, Maui delivered four more puppies. She now had three boys and two girls.

Because I was only able to see five puppies on her last ultrasound, I was guessing that her labour was finished. So I told Tom to go to bed and I would stay up to care for Maui. As can happen in whelps, her labour took an hour’s pause as she relaxed and concentrated on caring for her babies. Then to my surprise, Maui delivered two more male puppies. One arrived at 2:37 and the last puppy arrived at 3:11.

First Time Mama

Maui being a first-time mama, was nervous just before delivering her first puppy. But, after the first puppy arrived, she relaxed and settled into care for him and things continued to go smoothly.

When all was said and done, she had seven puppies in four and a half hours. Well done Maui!

Clean Up Time

Next was cleaning time because as you can imagine, whelping is a messy job. I cleaned everything up and sanitized the whelping box. Now that everything was clean, it was time to take pictures before Mama and the babies settled back in the whelping box to nurse and sleep.

This was an early morning whelp so, as you can imagine, by the next evening we were all tired from lack of sleep.

Maui has had lots of practice in raising puppies because she helped our other girls with their puppies. She is already doing a great job with her babies. We are looking forward to watching Maui raise her puppies and seeing them grow!

Settling into a Routine

Neonatal Period

Newborn puppies are in the Neonatal Period. During this time, they spend their days eating and sleeping. Willow has done an amazing job caring for her new babies. I have been pleased at our daily weigh-in and I’m happy to say that they have all been gaining weight steadily. 

ENS

On Monday, day three we began our ENS exercises. These exercises are done daily from day 3 – day 16. Through ENS, we introduce little stresses to the puppies which has been proven to produce calmer puppies. It also produces greater tolerance to stress, greater disease resistance, a faster adrenal system, a stronger heart rate and stronger heartbeats. 

Socialization

We handle our puppies from birth for daily cuddles in addition to ENS. This is to make them comfortable with the human touch early in their life.

Puppies Returning to Whelping Box

Looking Back at Week One

Sleep, eat, and more sleep. Did you know that newborn puppies sleep more than 22 hours a day?

LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK TWO

  • Much the same as week one – Eat, Sleep, Repeat!
  • Puppies will continue growing rapidly 
  • Puppies still crawl; hind legs will become stronger
  • Contunie ENS
  • Eyes should begin to open towards the end of the week – so exciting !!!

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Willow’s Puppies Turn One Week Old

I am a day late getting Willow’s puppies weekly post out because we were extra busy this weekend celebrating Mother’s Day. The week passes by quickly when raising puppies but, this last week was even more so because we not only had to look after newborn puppies but also had another whelp (Maui’s) on Friday!

Week One

One-week old puppy huddle

Whelping Day

It is a day that is full of anticipation and awe. I never tire of the miracle of birth and the instincts God has given animals. Willow started the day refusing to eat breakfast which is a sign that she is going into labour. As the rest of the day progressed it was apparent this was the day her puppies would arrive. She slept both inside and out and followed me everywhere. Early afternoon Willow became more restless so we decided to take her upstairs and spend time in the whelping room.

Tail Wrapped

When time gets close for delivery, I wrap the mama’s tail with compression wrap. This helps to keep her tail clean during whelping.

Finally, at 3:57 pm, Willow’s first puppy arrived into the world. It was a cream female and she quickly tended to her new baby. Following, over the next two and a half hours she delivered five more puppies at regular intervals. These puppies were also all girls. Wow, six girls in a row; were we going to get any boys? Forty-Five minutes later, Willow delivered her first boy followed by another boy just eleven minutes apart.

Willow then settled in to care for her eight newborns. Then, after a hour whelping pause, she deliveried her last puppy, a beautiful black male.

Next was cleaning time because as you can image, whelping is a messy job. I washed Willow with a warm wet cloth, then cleaned and sanitized the whelping box. Now that everything was clean, it was time to take a few pictures before Mama and babies settled back in the whelping box to nurse and sleep. I was thankful that we had an afternoon whelp because it makes it easier to function when you don’t lose a nights sleep😂

Willow had a smooth whelp, delivering nine puppies in four and a half hours. Well done Willow!

Congratulations Willow and Brinkley on another gorgeous litter of puppies with a variety of colours of cream, apricot and black abstracts and stunning Blue and Chocolate Merles!

They produce amazing puppies because of Willow’s strict puppy rearing skills and Brinkley’s wonderful, calm, laidback disposition.

We are looking forward to seeing these puppies grow!

A gorgeous litter with a variety of colours and patterns

Settling into a Routine

Neonatal Period

Newborn puppies are in the Neonatal Period. During this time, they spend their days eating and sleeping. Willow has done an amazing job caring for her new babies. I have been pleased at our daily weigh-in’s and I’m happy to say that they have all been gaining weight steadily.

ENS

On Wednesday, day three we began our ENS exercises. These exercises are done daily from day 3 – day 16. Through ENS, we introduce little stresses to the puppies which has been proven to produce calmer puppies. It also produces greater tolerance to stress, greater resistance to disease, faster adrenal system, stronger heart rate and stronger heartbeats.

Socialization

Part of raising well-adjusted puppies is socialization. We handle our puppies from birth. When our mama’s are comfortable, we start to let others cuddle the puppies too. Having a large family with 12 grandchildren makes for a built in Puppy Party. Willow was tolerant with people holding her puppies so, they received lots of socialization this weekend. This is because my grandchildren are always excited and willing to help cuddle the puppies🥰.

Looking Back at Week One

`Sleep, eat, and more sleep. Newborn puppies sleep more than 22 hours a day!

Puppies Returning to Whelping Box

After the daily whelping box cleaning and disinfecting, we returned the puppies to their clean whelping box. Turn the sound up to hear their adorable puppy noises❤️ (6 girls returned first followed by 3 boys)

LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK TWO

  • Much the same as week one – Eat, Sleep, Repeat!
  • Puppies will continue growing rapidly 
  • Puppies still crawl; hind legs will become stronger
  • Contunie ENS
  • Eyes should begin to open towards the end of the week – so exciting !!!
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The Long Awaited Whelping Day

Echo’s Due Date: April 9th

Echo’s due date was April 9th. When we started our morning, it was apparent that Echo was in early labor because she didn’t want to eat her breakfast. All she wanted was a quiet place away from the other dogs to rest.

During the past few days when Echo was outside in our yard, she would go under our deck to dig. Digging is something mama dogs do when they are close to whelping. I wasn’t too worried because she would always come out when we called her.

When Echo went out in afternoon on the 9th, she went under the deck again but, this time didn’t want to come out. After much coaxing, I finally convinced her to come out. Echo would now need to be on a leash when we took her outside because I sure didn’t want her puppies born under there LOL!

It was now evening, and Echo spent the time with us on the couch as we watched some TV. As her labor progressed, she became more restless, and was panting more but, no puppies yet. At midnight, Echo and I went back to the Whelping Room, and I tried to get some rest while we waited for the puppies to arrive.

April 10th: Whelping Day

Echo spent the next four hours going in and out of her whelping box, pacing the room and taking multiple trips outside on a leash of course. I know from experience that a puppy can be delivered during potty breaks.

Finally, at 4:05 am, Echo’s first puppy arrived into the world. He was a beautiful black curly boy and she quickly tended to him. Echo is a third time mama and knows the ropes well. Her puppies started to come quickly and by 5:51 am, Echo had delivered a total of six puppies.

She then had a 90-minute whelping pause and settled in to care for her babies. At 7:21 the next puppy arrived followed another one at 8:19, 9:35 and the last one close behind at 9:40 am.

Echo did an amazing job delivering 10 puppies in 5-1/2 hours. A beautiful litter of 10 puppies. Well done Echo!

Next was cleaning time because as you can image, whelping is a messy job. I washed Echo with a warm wet cloth, then cleaned and sanitized the whelping box. Now that everything was clean, it was time to take a few pictures before Mama and babies settled back in the whelping box to nurse and sleep.

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Surprise, An Early Arrival

Ellie surprised us with a early whelp

Due Date Window

A dogs due date is an approximate date. When calculating a dogs due date , we count 63 days after mating. A dog can safely give birth between 58 and 65 days from mating. Ellie Surprised us yesterday by going into labor early on day 59.

Labor Begins

Ellie went into labor early in the morning. By noon we knew the time was close and took her to the whelping box, wrapped her tail and waited with her for the first puppy to arrive

Because whelping is a messy business we wrap Ellie’s tail to keep it clean
Ellie breaks the puppy’s sac
Ellie cleans her baby
We rub puppies with a towel to help dry them
Watch as a newborn puppy crawls to join his littermates to nurse
It is important to get newborn puppies nursing as soon as possible to get the important first milk called colostrum. This protein-rich special milk provides passive immunity to the newborn puppies. Passive immunity can last several weeks and protect them from various infections and diseases.

Adorable newborn faces

Ellie delivered her first puppy at 1:05 pm and the last puppy at 3:12 pm. The total whelping time was just over two hours. Ellie had six puppies in her litter – 4 boys, and 2 girls.

Left to Right: Female, Male, Female, Male, Male, Male

Ellie looks very tired after a job well done. It is a hard job whelping and Ellie will spend the next few days sleeping and caring for her babies.

Ellie & Brinkleys 2023 litter

May 15, 2023

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The Excitement of Whelping Day

The emotions of Whelping Day is always nervous excitement! You plan the breedings and then wait nine weeks for the puppies to arrive.

Breeding Plans

When female dogs live together, their heat cycles sync-up. This was the case with Ellie and Willow. To avoid raising two litters together, the plan was to breed Willow and Brinkley for a Christmas Litter, then six months later, breed Ellie on her next heat cycle for a spring litter. Raise ONE litter of puppies at a time. So, when the girls went into heat, we sent Brinkley away to stay with one of my son’s in Brooklin. After about 10 days, Brinkley changed locations and went to stay at another of my son’s house; this time in Claremont – half a kilometre away from our house.

What happened next?

I am reminded of those words written over 200 years ago by the Scottish poet Robert Burns “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry”.

My plans for one litter went awry – Brinkley made his escape from my son’s house, crossed our main road and came back home to be with his sweet Ellie. The result – Two litters of puppies.

Preparing

With two litters due together we needed two spaces for our whelping boxes. We set Willow’s whelping box in my bedroom and Ellie’s Whelping Box in another bedroom we use as our walk-in closet. I prepared my whelping cart with all our supplies and made sure everything would be ready. My “Whelping Cart” is on wheels making it is easy to move between the two rooms.

Whelping cart ready and waiting

Whelping Day

Whelping Day is always so exciting and this was no exception. We had double the excitement and whelped two litter in under 17 hours.

Ellie’s Whelp

When due dates are getting close, we keep our expectant mamas in our room with the door closed. We have learnt over the year that sometimes mama’s want to go off on their own LOL! Thursday night, Willow slept in her whelping box in our bedroom and Ellie had a little bed beside my bed that she likes to sleep on. Ellie was restless throughout the night and in the morning, it was obvious she was in labour.

Mid-morning, I took Ellie up to her whelping room and Tom took over caring for our two grandchildren and the rest of our dogs. I didn’t have my daughter’s help as I usually do because she was at her teaching practicum placement – I would have to go solo. At 11:42 am, Ellie’s first puppy arrived – a girl weighing 391 grams. When Tom came to see the newborn puppy, he told me that he thought Willow was also in early labour. Oh well, nothing we could do but press on. Over the next few hours while I continued helping Ellie deliver her litter and in-between puppy births, I popped in my bedroom to check on Willow who was staying in her whelping box. Yes, she was in labour, and I think she was missing me – she dragged my jeans into the whelping box with her to lay her head on. Tom kept Willow company while Ellie whelped.

Ellie’s newborns nursing

Ellie’s puppies in the warming box while she delivers another puppy

Below is a video of Ellie giving birth. NOTE: May not be suitable for children to watch or if you are a little squeamish (Like one of my son’s LOL)

Ellie gives birth
Ellie cleans her newborn baby – notice her tail is wrapped with compression tape to help keep it clean

At 2:48 pm, Ellie delivered her last puppy – a girl weighing 441 grams. Ellie is such a calm dog, even when she is whelping. Her whelp went very smoothly and she delivered eight puppies in just over three hours. Ellie did amazing!

Pics of Ellie’s Whelp

Ellie and Brinkley’s Newborn Litter Huddle

Willow’s Whelp

Willow started labour when Ellie started delivering her puppies. I went back and forth in-between the two rooms checking on Willow and Tom kept Willow company when I wasn’t there. (Our grandchildren are now down for their naps) Willow dragged my jeans into her whelping box – I guess my “scent” was a comfort for her.

In-between the births of Ellie’s puppies, I went to check on Willow.

Willow continued to labour throughout the afternoon and evening, staying in her whelping box in our bedroom. Finally, just after midnight at 12:30 am, Willow’s first puppy arrived – a chocolate male weighing in at 393 grams.

I know I say it after every whelp, but it still holds true! I am so in awe at the instinct God has given animals. They just know what to do! The miracle of birth is so amazing, and I am moved each time I experience it.

Willow is protective of her newborn
Willow cleans her baby

After a puppy is born it is important to get them nursing. New puppies receive important antibodies in colostrum – their mother’s milk during the first few days of nursing. Just like humans, mama dogs produce a milky-textured substance called colostrum which contain the mother dogs antibodies that give puppies’ bodies the ability to fight off infections in the first weeks of their lives.

As the puppy nurses, you can observe Willow’s contractions

Willow is very protective of her babies and didn’t want me to handle them right away. Each mother is different, and we interact with the newborn puppies as our mama’s allow. After Willow’s second baby arrived and she was occupied with his care, I was able to look after the first puppy. We first make sure their nose and mouth are cleared of fluid then, dry them with a towel. This process makes them cry which is good to help get them exercising their lungs by taking deep breaths. Next is weigh in and observation.

Whelping can be messy business. Willow is white and gets very dirty throughout the whelping process. I opted to give her face a clean shave, making it easier to cleanup. Below are a couple videos of the birth of one of Willow’s puppies NOTE: May not be suitable for children to watch or if you are a little squeamish

Willow gives birth
Willow cleans her newborn puppy

At 4:15 am, Willow delivered her last puppy – A chocolate merle weighing 378 grams.

Willow feeding all her newborns

Willow’s whelp lasted just under four hours. She had nine puppies in total – five girls and four boys. Willow did an amazing job and deserves a good rest!

Willow and Brinkley’s Newborn Litter Huddle
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The Excitement of Whelping Day – January 31st

The anticipation and excitement of the arrival of puppies mounts as the days pass by during the Whelping Week. Everything is prepared in advance. The whelping box is cleaned and set up in our bedroom and all the tools needed are ready and waiting for the pending arrival of the puppies. Each night of the week before going to bed I wonder, “will this be the night”, only to wake in the morning with the realization we will still have to wait another day.

On Sunday we were certain that Ruska was finally going into labor. She becomes very clingy and follows us everywhere we go. That afternoon she had made a comfy spot on our corner sectional with blankets and pillows. She even brought one of her stuffed animals with her. I decided to keep her calm and let her labor there. When she started to whelp at 5:30 pm, we moved her to her whelping box in my bedroom to bring her babies into the world.

The miracle of a new life is so precious and I am always amazed at the instincts God has given animals; they just know what to do! I am so thankful to be able to help these puppies into the world!

VIDEO – Ruska cleans a newborn puppy after removing it from the sac. The mother dog severs the umbilical cord and begins the cleaning process. This is when the puppy begins taking their first breath. The pups stay with their mom for awhile after birth to keep warm. We then examine them, towel dry them, weigh them, and record their birth weight. Finally we put collars on – a different coloured for each puppy – to keep track of their progress in the coming days and weeks.
After getting cleaned a newborn puppy cuddles with Ruska to keep warm.
Newborn puppy getting towel dried
Puppies are cuddling in the “warming box” while Ruska delivers another puppy.  It is important to keep newborn puppies warm as they cannot regulate their own body temperature and must be warm before they can nurse.

We get newborn puppies nursing as soon as possible to get all the important first milk – colostrum. It helps build immunity, as they are born with none. This protein-rich special milk provides passive immunity in dogs. It can last several weeks and protect them from various infections and diseases.
Our last puppy #10, was born at 10:59 pm
After the last puppy was born, we cleaned the whelping box and put clean bedding in. Ruska looks tired after whelping her ten puppies. She had a long night ahead of her feeding and caring for her precious tiny babies. Well done Ruska!!!