Torin's puppy watch chart and notes.

Temperature should be around 100 to 102.5F. When temperature drops to around 98 - 99.4, puppies should be born within 24 hours

Wednesday, Dec 21,2005 07:01
Progesterone levels are 8.3. Anything above 2 is good and outside the danger zone. Liver values are a little high, but everything else is good.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005 22:01:18
Temperature continuing to drop. Vet is concerned about liver values. Torin is not hungry, and wouldn't eat all day. Vet commented that with her liver values up, she wouldn't be hungry. She needs to be seen at 11 am tomorrow morning.
Thursday, December 22, 2005 08:07:24.
Torin had a good but restless night. She will see the vet at 11am. Still holding in there. What a trooper. Did not eat breakfast.
Thursday, December 22, 2005 10:03:41
Jeff is taking Torin to the vet. Christmas festivities in progress, and I hold the tickets to some scheduled family activity. Everyone was dissappointed that it was called off because of the dog's visit to the vet. Jeff asked if I was actually needed. I said, she's going in for lab work. I am pretty sure that's all. He said he can take her, and we can resume scheduled plans. Jeff doesn't do computers. So the visit will be on schedule, but reporting will wait several hours until my return.
Thursday, December 22, 2005 11:42:38
Torins Liver enzymes are still a little high, but down out of the danger zone. The other figure (this is my husband reporting, so he doesn't have which figures are which, I will call for those tomorrow) But the other figure , which ever that is, is now in the normal range. She is developing milk. He has a gut feeling puppies will be here Sunday. Everything is progressing normally. Relax
Thursday, December 22, 2005 23:01:50
Torin finally ate breakfast. Everything status quo. Went away and left her doing family Christmas festivities. Decided to have Christmas dinner today, since it's unlikely I will be with the rest of the family on Christmas. My Christmas, as is everyday until whelp, Belongs to Torin, So I enjoyed the night.
Friday, December 23, 2005 09:01:30
Temp is the highest this morning that it's been. Finally in the comfort range! Torin still didn't eat breakfast this morning, So I picked it up and will try her again later. Still looking for my windows disk that I need to load the puppycam software. I'm sure I put it in a safe place! My vet said Do NOT take her temp more than twice a day. He wants to reduce all her stress in as many ways as possible. Two times is sufficient. So you will see fewer updates unless something real happens.
Friday, December 23, 2005 09:41:47
Called vet and asked for interpretation of Yesterday's lab work. Initially alkaline phos was 144. Normal 5-131. Yesterday was 99. So this is good. Apparently there was a liver irritation, which may have ranged from stress, to pups causing vacular depression on the liver, vomiting and re-ingesting bile, etc. (Or there may really be something wrong with the liver)
ALT- Generally goes hand in hand with alkaline phos , except with about a 3 day delay before you see value changes. This certainly reflects Liver Cell irritation.
Normal 5-131. Previous value 293. Yesterday's value = 301.
Vet recommends recheck in case there is a problem developing, one month after whelp.
Friday, December 23, 2005 19:22:10
Another good day. Torin finally finished her breakfast about 2pm. I keep offering her supper, as yet untouched.
Friday, December 23, 2005 22:07:13
Finally, Torin finished Dinner
Saturday, December 24, 2005 10:06:47
Torin's temp dropped this morning. She was outside for about an hour, and she acts normal. Perhaps I didn't take it long enough after she came in. I waited a half hour. Yesterday I posted a typo on temperature. Her temp as posted was 103.3. It was not. It was 100.3. I got emails and phone calls of concern. I didn't know anyone was actually watching this! I just went and borrowed my brothers windows disk, so now setting up puppycam begins in earnest. IF i can't set it up on this computer, I'm sure it will set up on the laptop. But long running laptops get hot, and I won't be leaving the laptop running constantly. Besides, then I won't be able to get on line with this one! So I hope installation goes ok. Trying now. Merry Christmas!
Saturday, December 24, 2005 17:42:35
Torin vomited bile at noon. Called my vet asking him to advise. He said watch her and keep her calm. No visitors. He thinks the babies are causing vascular pressure making her feel ill.
Sunday, December 25, 2005 08:20:40
Torin looks as if she's entering the safe zone! I feared we would never get there. She's losing belly hair like the moths ate her. I thought it got all shaved off when she had the surgical insemination! The litter box says differently. I wrecked the Desktop installing puppycam software, and can't get on the internet with it. For some reason this computer doesn't FTP out. Doesn't look like there willbe a puppycam, but I can record the births on cdrom. I'm discouraged, with the computers. I hate this laptop! But finally feeling good about the fact that this litter appears to be entering the safe zone. Now to find someone who knows how to ftp, to upload this file for me! Puppies are still in their lung development stage. If they get through to tonight, everything should be ok.
Sunday, December 25, 2005 23:16:42
We made it! Officially in the safe zone. Torin is feeling better than she has been, She's very clingy and wants lots of attention. Her belly is sticky and damp from milk oozing
Monday, December 26, 2005 01:33:02
Torin decided to not come to bed with us tonight, and instead of sleeping in our room, opted to stay in the whelping box. At midnight, she started making a nest. I called Dee, and reported the events, since my email is now broken. Dee said to stay close because tonight is the night. I'm ready!
Monday, December 26, 2005 06:13:32
Torin had a restless night, with lots of turning, and periods of heavy breathing. Her water hasn't broken yet. I just took her out to potty, and she was in a hurry to do her business, and rush back to her whelping box. The beagle happened to be at the door when she came barging through, and she skittled the poor little beagle across the house, keeping her far far away from the birthing area.
Monday, December 26, 2005 12:48:56
Torin is very involved in the household activities and is showing no further interest in birthing activities for the day. Think I'd better nap now, because It may be another long night
Monday, December 26, 2005 18:59:12
Torin seems no closer than she was a day or so ago. She's had a pretty normal day, running around sucking up to people, making us feel sorry for her. Tomorrow is first day of muzzleloader season. I do puppywatch all night, and in the morning while Jeff hunts, and Jeff will come home at noon and do puppy watch while I hunt.
Monday, December 26, 2005 20:47:40
Torin has become soft and flabby in the vulva area. She's still wandering around sucking up to Jeff, she keeps following him around like a puppy
Tuesday, December 27, 2005 09:13:16
She ate this morning well. She spent the night pacing. Jeff let her out this morning because I was asleep in the chair. I've been taking her out on a leash, terrified she might drop a puppy in a snowdrift. Jeff opened up the door, and let her go out unsupervised. This did not last long, as we heard a horrid screeching that woke me up. Torin had caught a rabbit in the wood pile. A bit ruffled, and hair missing, it was released and sent on it's way
Tuesday, December 27, 2005 17:26:31
I went hunting on my vet's property, and he asked me why I wasn't on puppy watch. I told him it was Jeff's turn, so I could hunt for 2 hours. He asked what her temp was, and he said, It doesn't mean anything. With any other bitch, it would be significant, But Torin has been so consistantly low, it means nothing. I've been harrassing her so much with a thermometer, when she sees it coming, she runs! Poor girl, and we know nothing more than we did, for all this work! He did say, since we know the EXACT time that she was bred/ovulated, we shouldn't wait it out. If she doesn't have puppies by tomorrow afternoon, he wants me to call him and schedule a c-section for the following morning. He says letting them go longer, could put them at risk. I need to ask Dee about this!
Tuesday, December 27, 2005 20:27:39
Serious nest making in progress. I went to the other room, and Torin got upset at being left, came in, got me, and showed me the way to the whelping box.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005 05:36:20
Torin has been in early labor since 1 am. Her water hasn't broken yet, but she's had a long night of periodic straining, restlessness, needing to go out, heavy panting. I'm not bothering her with temp taking this morning, because labor is definitely in progress.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005 08:01:39
After a very stressful night, Torin is now sleeping. I was waiting for daylight to take her out (didn't want her dumping a puppy in a snowdrift and me not seeing it in the pitch black ). But i hate to wake her up now.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005 13:05:14
Torin's water broke
Wednesday, December 28, 2005 13:48:36
dripping blood like a stuck hog now. heavy panting, restlessness
Wednesday, December 28, 2005 14:31:50
first female puppy, stillborn . Never took a breath but was pink, I worked on it and did CPR, cleaned mouth, nose, and rubbed and warmed, etc. No deal, 15 minutes, the second female puppy was stillborn. It was yellow, and skin was sloughing off it's muzzle in decay. Both puppies had detached placentas. I called the vet, and he said if there were two successive dead puppies, there was a problem with the pregnancy, and he needed to see her NOW. He looked at the puppies, and feared that the rest of the puppies were detaching placentas, and decided to do a c-section. When they opened her op, they removed 4 more puppies, two boys and two girls, All but one had detached, or were detaching placentas. They had to remove the big healthy girl, to get to the male in trouble, (big is relative, none of these are what I would call BIG puppies, In fact, they were all small or/and smaller.) The largest puppy was a 14 oz girl, already named Della. They worked on the stillborn female for an hour and twenty five minutes until they "called" it. She made one gasp, and never breathed on her own. Trooper, a very small and effeminant male puppy, is still in trouble, as he's very weak and has a poor suck reflex. They are keeping him tonight for tube feeding every three hours. He reminds me of Danny, the runt of his litter, with a teeny tiny pointy head, I remember looking at him, and thinking, well, that pup won't amount to anything. He spent the rest of his life proving me wrong. from the worst start in that litter. he grew to be the biggest, smartest and best. When the vet said, you don't want to pick this one, I'm remembering blowing the first breath of life into that lifeless pup who proved everyone wrong. The last puppy is a male. He's strong, and hungry. Not considered in danger. Count 4 girls, two boys, One healthy male with a huge head, and (Della) female with a huge head, strong and healthy. And then there is Trooper, who I was cautioned not to get attached to. One word of encouragement. Trooper may not want to suck, but he's strong enough to have a set of lungs on him. Torin was suckling the pups. I should be elated that there are Two- Three puppies, but we had six, and lost half. With the prospect of possibly losing another, I'm very sad, and tired. And very grateful to Torin, who came out of anesthetic, and immediately started caring for her pups. Signing off until tomorrow morning.
Thursday, December 29, 2005 09:03:50
Torin, Della and the big male are doing fine. Torin doesn't want to accept Trooper. Yes Trooper is still hanging in there, but needs to be tube fed. Trooper is content with meals delivered instead of going to the cafeteria. I was deeply dissappointed in the puppies we lost, But when I realize how close we came to losing them all, I become very grateful to my vet, and thankful for the ones we have left.

	Wed, Dec 28	Thu, Dec 29	Fri , Dec 30	Sat. Dec 31	Sun, Jan 1	Mon, Jan 2	Tue. Jan 3	Wed. Jan 4	Thu Jan 5
Della	12.05	12.15	12.4	16.5	16.5	16.6	16.9	25	2 lbs
DJ	10.55	10.8	11.4	16.4	16.3	16.4	16.6	24	1lb 14 oz
Trooper	7.75	7.95	7.75

Thursday, December 29, 2005 17:28:15
Took lessons on tube feeding puppies, since we are being charged $150 a day for vet services to do that. Brought home Torin and puppies. I'm pleased with The first two. Trooper is definitely gaining strength, and bellies right up to the bar, but won't attach. If you out him on a nipple, he spits it out and shoves away. He especially doesn't like big nipples. Looks like even though he's gaining, and getting stronger, the suck reflex is very weak. Torin is a very doting mom, and has accepted Trooper. Vets couldn't get Torin to eat. Bringing her home and showing her venison worked a treat. Next feeding and update for trooper at 7pm
Thursday, December 29, 2005 19:32:14
There isn't much to report. I was supposed to give Trooper 8 ounces, but he only took five. His little belly feels full to me. Now to get him to eliminate.
Thursday, December 29, 2005 21:21:41
Marlene Oliver called, and gave some encouraging words, and offered advice. She suggested Karo syrup on a fingertip or nipple to try to encourage a suck reflex. I can't say he sucked, but he sure smacked his lips, and wanted more!. 24 hours old,, developing cavity habits already. Worth continueing trying. Della is in training for the puppy crawl olympics. She can find mom across the whelping box like a woman on a mission! Man can she crawl fast, and her guidance system is right on!
Friday, December 30, 2005 00:25:50
I went to bed, hopefully for three hours, aspiring to catch 3 winks before the 2am feeding. Something woke me up, and i heard a puppy screaming. When I checked, Torin was laying on top of Trooper, smack dab in the middle of the box. Trooper was stiff, and blue. I gave him cpr (mouth to mouth) and chest massage, and he came around. He's breathing on his own, but it's heaving and labored. He can pick up his head and squeal.
Friday, December 30, 2005 00:41:58
Vet suggested a drop of Karo syrup under his tongue to stimulate him. His breathing has restored to normal. He's kicking and smacking his lips.
Friday, December 30, 2005 03:03:21
2 am feeding I tried a bottle. He didn't have enough suck, and milk just stayed in his mouth. So went back to feeding tube. He protested, and Torin got out of her box, gently took him back. He's dehydrated, and his stomach is full. I've been stimulating him from the rear, and he will urinate, but not poop. I didn't dare give him full volume feeding for his size. will do smaller feedings more often. Things aren't looking good for Trooper. Will call vet first thing in morning and ask about sub-q injections to rehydrate
Friday, December 30, 2005 05:55:42
Got up to feed Trooper, and his stomach is distended and hard. I can't possibly put anything more in until something comes out. I called Dee, and I called Doc. I tried giving him a mineral oil enema. So far no luck. Trooper is fighting. He's screamed the past two hours. The whole litter and mamma go to the vet at 8am.
Birth weights on the dead girl puppies

first born	5.65
2nd still born	8.4
c-section	6.10

Friday, December 30, 2005 09:36:23
Was at the vet clinic at open. After telling my vet that Trooper had CPR http://shell2.lomag.net/~moosedog/dogs/cpr.html three times in the night, as he was stiff and blue (I was on it immediately so he did not have oxygen deprivation). He asked why are we doing this? And then he looked at the little guy, Head up wriggling and fighting like crazy. Then he KNEW why. The mineral oil loosened things up that I had given him earlier, and they did get some stool from him. He urinated, and Doc put him on a high calorie booster (but has no nutrition) to rehydrate him and try to loosen him up. About 3pm, they will put him back on a regular formula. I will know more at 3:pm. Della and Dj are doing well, I was told to take them home, and to get some sleep. He examined Torin, and her surgical site is healing nicely. She's an impressive mother. Things are looking up for Trooper, after a very rocky night. Todays weights were taken on the vets scales, as were yesterday's, but 16 hours difference. I'm off to get 40 winks.
Saturday, December 31, 2005 08:28:17
It's Reka's birthday! I just didn't feel like making an entry last night. Trooper died about noon yesterday.He actually died three times in the night but CPR brought him around. My vet felt that he had been brain damaged before c-section, he was laying in there, already detached when they got Torin open. As were all the puppies except Della. Because they had to get the other puppies out to reach Trooper, They feared the worst. Doc cut open all the pups yesterday evening, and found fully formed puppies that SHOULD have lived, had their placentas not detached before birth. Cause of death, asphyxiation. Some due to muconium inhalation.
Torin takes a lot of potty breaks, three through the night. It's so quick, it's like a pirhouette on the porch, and she's right back in her box. Torin has no issues with eating any more. She gobbles up everythin in front of her like a vacuum. I've never seen her gobble like this before. I hope I'm giving her enough. Her surgical site looks good, and she acts as if nothing ever happened.
Pups have taken on a noticeable heft. Weight check confirms the visual observations.
Super puppy program starts today. A couple days late, but with all the stress on these puppies I just didn't feel right about adding additional stress in an already too stressful atmosphere. Their jump in weights reflect that they are now ready for SUPERPUPPY!
I copied Superpuppy to my website, because the source, Breedingbetterdogs.com no longer has it available. If you are not familiar with superpuppy, here is my personal copy on it. http://shell2.lomag.net/~moosedog/superpuppy
Saturday, December 31, 2005 12:43:19
Added another useful link of information sent by Marlene Oliver on bitch feeding Added another useful link of information sent by Marlene Oliver on bitch feeding http://www.ezsg.com/~diddy@ezsg.com/torin/feeding.html
Sunday, January 01, 2006 12:31:48
Puppies didn't show gain, yet they are fat sassy and strong. Perhaps because I took them off the nipple to weigh them yesterday, as opposed to weighing them today while they were sleeping (empty) explains the lack of weight gain. Growth is definitely evident. Paws and legs are massively bigger, wider , etc. Della wags her tail when she nurses. She will also hold her tail straight in the air. Both puppies paw pads are now developing melanin. Moth's look like they have been at work on Torin, so She allowed me to groom her, as long as it was in the box with the babies.
Monday, January 02, 2006 12:26:53
Color patterns developing on pups as they begin lightening. Torin spent last night prowling the house investigating. As if she's looking for Trooper. Poor girl. She was sure there were three there somewhere!
Tuesday, January 03, 2006 07:43:35
Yesterday I had internet connection issues, and wasn't able to upload yesterday's entry. When I find the disk, I will do so.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006 08:17:04
When the pups got healthy enough that they didnt need to see the vet everyday, I switched to my scales, instead of relying on the vet office's. In my bleary sleepless feugue, I misread my scales in transition, and just by habit, kept the tradition *duh* Confused because the weights weren't corresponding to the growth before my eyes, I rechecked and saw how stupid I was being. Weights today correspond to visible growth. Puppy breath! I thought it came immediately, but i guess not. It's developing now!
Thursday, January 05, 2006 13:25:44
Puppies got their toenails trimmed for the first time. it went uneventfully. The necropsy on Trooper came back. I was asked if I had supplemented Torin with anything other than straight dog food. I said yes, Brewers yeast, Vit Ester C , and folic acid. I was told to stop supplementation, that they may be interferring with proper nutritional balance and necessary vitamin absorption. The vets aren't sure if supplementation was a factor in the loss of these puppies, but it was suggested that all supplementation STOP immediately. A puzzling question, with no answers and vets simply asking questions based on suspicions that i am not privy too. If my supplementing torin caused the loss of these puppies, I'm heartsick. I got no answers, was only asked questions as the vets collect Data. Trooper had dark intestines, and poor neurological development, as well as Torin's liver values make oversupplementation suspect. Puppy Breath is officially here! YAY!
4 weeks
Wed, 01/25 5 pounds

	Fri, 01/06	Mon, 01/09	Mon, 01/16	3 weeks today Wed,01/18
Della	1lb.14oz	2lbs.12 oz	4 pounds	4 pounds 4 oz	5 pounds 8 oz
DJ	1lb.12oz	2 pounds 8 oz	3 pounds 10 oz	3 pounds 12 oz

Friday, January 06, 2006 07:58:38
weights taken while puppies were sleeping. Apparently they hadn't eaten recently. Still contemplating the perfect name for DJ
Friday, January 06, 2006 15:30:41
These have got to be the fattest pups I've ever seen in my life. They are like legless ticks. Della, laying on her back, with her blubber hanging over measures 4 1/2 inches ACROSS!. I just measured Torin laying down, spread out, she's 9 inches across. Do these little legs ever grow? Will they be able to support these sausage bodies when it's time? Torin is a good mommy, and great milker. She drinks 4 quarts of water a day.
Monday, January 09, 2006 07:53:11
Torin is still an excellent mom, but is allowing me to play with her puppies under supervision longer. These lardballs (2 1/2 pounds at 12 days old) are so huge, that I've been doing leg motion exercises with both of them, trying to insure they maintain some sort of muscular tone. I've been doing more with Torin, trying to get her out of the box and doing something so these puppies arent nursing all the time. She sure likes chasing rabbits! I wish we could take her hunting, But Torin gets so much involved in chase that she forgets to come back. She must be hunted within the confines of fenced pasture. There are some tame bunnies turned loose on the farm, and even though it's off breeding season, for some reason there is a new half grown baby rabbit out there. Torin keeps trying to root it out of the woodpile. This safely teaches the new young one about predators and provides good sport for Torin.I've been looping a sock under the puppies chests, and helping hold them up on their legs while they move, slightly suspended. DJ was able to take 4 steps on his own before collapsing. Della is just too large and not ready. Della did crawl out of the whelping box last night and we found her in the middle of the living room floor. Torin rules the living room, and the beagle and Reka tip toe respectfully through. For some reason, I cant get my camera to connect to the computer.
some collected thoughts on puppy raising, socialization and selection

pickingpuppy.txt

Socializing-calendar.html

socializingpuppies.doc

puppymills.txt

Wednesday, January 11, 2006 14:35:05
Puppies go off to the vet for their first "Wellness" check since birth. They are two weeks old almost to the hour (about 2 hours, actually) and their canines are starting to Emerge, and their eyes show a glimmer in the cracks of starting to open. I love watching their contented faces as they yawn and grimmace. They are self absorbed and so innocent. The world is perfect to them now. Everything is catered, easily dispensed, and freely given. All this shall soon end, and thus ends their innocence. Torin has gained my utmost respect through all this, being a wonderful doting mother. Jeff and I would look at her for these many months. She appeared to have no working skills, and seemed entirely useless. Her devotion as a mother is unparalled, and I now look at her with respect and with different eyes. Worming and microchip today for them
Friday, January 13, 2006 06:06:46
The pups wellness check went well yesterday. The pups checked out with no apparent heart anomalies or hernias. The vet commented that both puppies exhibited much bone. We discussed Torin's weight. Torin is a hefty 41 pounds. I was cautioned not to cut her back until we wean pups. The pups were microchipped and wormed. Torin has been throwing blood clots egg size and bright red for the past four days. Today is her final day of antibiotics. Examination showed nothing abnormal and was told to watch her as she comes off antibiotics.Which means I get to chase her around with a thermometer again! Della weighed 3 1/4 pound, and DJ weighed in at 2 3/4 pound. Puppies are starting to develop personalities. Della is loud and demanding. DJ is quiet, content and accepting. The vet mentioned that she had a set of lungs on her. And i said, yeah, she's the noisy one who always struggles It was that comment that made me realize we did have a character emerging. Jeff and I took them to bed last night, and held them for awhile. It was Della's protests that finally initiated the return to the box. She never shuts up!
Friday, January 13, 2006 18:49:18
Della -the loud mouth pushy broad, took her first steps (That I've witnessed) by herself today. She moved 4 steps with belly off the ground before she fell chinfirst into the box. She and DJ got their first intro to baths today. Both seemed to like them, and both floated like rafts as I held their chins out of the water. I think this is the first time I've done anything with Della in awhile that she didn't complain about. Miracles never cease! DJ is very much like his dad, taking everything in stride, accepting it as it's offered. Complaining about nothing. He's a real snuggler, while Della remains a struggler. When it's puppy holding time, Jeff always takes DJ, leaving me to work with Della. I would love to have some DJ time, but since getting Jeff to bond with the new dog in the household takes priority, I'm glad he's got affection for the one that's staying.
Saturday, January 14, 2006 09:17:05
Dj started walking last night. This morning, armed with eyes, open, and legs to go with, they are exploring new horizons. When they see something, they head right to it. They are now mobile! I picked up Della this morning, and DJ looked right at me, and came to the edge of the box and started barking and growling. Della, for once, didn't have anything to say about it.
Monday, January 16, 2006 11:36:12
Puppies have been introduced to something new daily. Today, it was the vacuum. I vacuumed both with the duster attachment, and neither seemed affected, and acted as if I was just noisily petting them. Della seems to be settling in. I've been insisting to her to accept restraint and she's finally adjusting. She's learning she can't do whatever she wants, or demand whatever she pleases. Torin is also spending more time out of the box. Della has lost her "You can't hold me!" attitude, and is losing a lot of her screaming tendencies. I've been keeping torin by me when Della screams, and only allowing her to return to Della when Della goes silent. I greatly feared that Della was going to be a chronic demanding dog with a lot of noise. This trait seems to be diminishing but it wasn't a trait that I wanted to become firmly entrenched. She worried me for awhile.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006 05:01:07
Della just has the waggiest tail. Today we started experimenting with problem solving skills. Test, pull a toy on a string across the box. Objective is to get the puppies to focus and maintain attention. Della followed the object half way across the box and laid down. She looked at it and wagged her tail. Dj followed for three steps, and laid down and barked at it. Did not achieve what I had hoped, but they "ARE" young yet! Introduced them to a plastic (naugahyde) surface as a part of the many surfaces exposure part of their socialization. Della has always been a "back sleeper" as is DJ. She's beginning to sleep some on her side, but her back is still the preferred position.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006 06:40:27
As a part of the superchill part of the superpuppy program, the puppies got introduced to snow this morning . Also this should qualify as a different surface, although they weren't on it long enough to maneuver and establish footing. Their reaction was to eat it! a few seconds, and they were back in to a warm tongue from mommy. Both puppies are beginning to investigate mom's food dish. Mom met that idea with growls. They are starting to wrestle [of sorts] and mouth and bark and growl at each other. Preliminaries of play. I put them on a teeter board, and held them steady while I rocked them back and forth. No reaction from either. I introduced them to frozen yogurt yesterday to ease the teething pain. they licked it, but mommy stole it. I froze yogurt in small bone shapes. Pups are not dexterous enough to manage them.
Pull toy test resulted in Dj following it across the box. Dj is the better walker of the two. I think because he weighs less. Della took two steps and collapsed. Both puppies are licking mom's empty food bowl.
Both puppies are non-reactive to their daily vacuuming. Hopefully this will make transition to hair dryers as future show dogs less traumatic.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006 09:02:19
Since they were so interested in mom's dish, I cooked up some venison, mixed it with pablum and vitamins, and put it in to see what they would do with it. Both puppies dove in and starting lapping it up immediately. When finished, Dj stood up and took his first squat pee all by himself. My rest days are over. Puppy potty breaking now in progress.

Saturday, January 21, 2006 08:10:26
I would feel a whole lot better about DJ if he showed the talent with his nose that Della does. She pops out of a dead sleep. She doesn't even open her eyes, and you can hear her sniffer working, and she sniffs out food! DJ is not pushy. In fact, i took him to a nursing home yesterday. I took Dj, because I knew he would cuddle endlessly. Della would only put up with cuddling 10-15 minutes, and then make a real pain of herself. Della is the more normal puppy. I have seen nothing of DJ to suspect brain damage. But Della was the only puppy that didn't have detached placentas. Whether DJ is just retiring and assessing like his dad, or perhaps brain damaged from oxygen deprivation at birth, it's too early to say. Danny was a velcro puppy as well. DJ was at the nursing home for an hour, before I wisked him home to mom. They all were surprised that he was as cuddly as he was. They have never seen a puppy that cuddled like DJ. He just is content to cuddle forever. Della acts like a more normal puppy. But although Della was the first one up on all fours walking, She stayed at the 1-2 steps and fall over phase for 5 days. Where Dj got up, a day later, but he walks all over. His coordination and athleticism is better at this stage. She really has her Daddy's nose. She knows how to use it, knows what it's for, and uses it to guide her. DJ seems to be visually oriented. One of the two qualities that I really look for in pups is intelligence and a good nose. Although it's still too early to make an intelligence comparison, it's pretty obvious who is blessed with that coveted nose!
DJ is not a forceful or willful pup, He's very retiring. Even to eat. Because he's quicker on his feet (he doesn't fall down), he's the first to the food dish. But after the first two bites, Della has moved in, and he sits back and watches her eat. Della is VERY food motivated! So far, I haven't seen too much that makes DJ tick. milk, sleep, cuddling. He's one contented puppy. Contented puppies have no drive. Developing drive was one of the first tasks that I had to problem solve with Danny. Della was gifted with Torin's drive. Danny ended up probably the dog with the most focused drive of any i have ever seen. He would start a task, and work for days and days without being reminded, and although not quick, he had an internal drive deep within to complete the task he started. He never forgot his goal, and his drive for perfection always carried through. His drive was a deep internal intellectual fire of problem solving. Experts list the four drives of dogs as being Play drive, Prey Drive, fight drive, and pack drive.
an example of drives tests can be found here

http://www.volhard.com/training/cpp.htm

caninepersonalitytest.doc

temperament_testing_puppies.htm

I had tested Danny for all these drives, and yet he always tested very low drive for all of these, pack drive being his strongest loyalties.. But he had this intense internal cerebral fire of assessment, and working something out to completion and perfection. I think that's what made him so unique. And he definitely did have a deep internal driving fire that worried him into ulcers. I feel this drive is so rare that they don't even bother to test it in dogs. Or perhaps do not recognize it exists. Since DJ is starting out like Danny, I'm not in the least concerned about his apparent lack of drive. Not yet, anyway. Life would be sooo much easier, if DJ were blessed with drive like Della. But if he has that cerebral fire, I will work with the other and be thrilled. I put a treat ball dispenser in their box yesterday. Although they are too young for hard kibble, Both puppies investigated the ball, and pushed it around. Since DJ gets around better than Della, he played with it the most, rolling it around and batting it with both his feet and nose.
I'm feeding Torin via the ball. One, so the puppies learn from her, and two, so that she eats slower, and lengthens her feeding periods. Torin gets bored, and likes to pace a lot. The ball keeps her occupied longer.
Sunday, January 22, 2006 05:59:46
Visitors to see the puppies yesterday. Della "woke up" and got around better than ever, and my concerns about her mobility vanished. after they left last night, she became more mobile than ever, and they puppies played with each other more interactively than I've seen. It was very entertaining. Della even played with the ball in the puppy box. She and Dj were both rolling it around this morning. There has been a big change in the puppies in the past 24 hours. The puppies have finally developed muzzle facial features instead of their brachiocephalus pushed in puppy noses. DJ remains to be the puppy always alert and watching, while Della catches her beauty sleep. Both puppies have qualities that I like over the other, and one clear favorite hasn't emerged. I do covet the way Della uses her nose. I would trade all the show qualities in the world for that talent. More puppy visitors today. The neighbors are coming over.
Monday, January 23, 2006 07:37:43
The neighbors didn't come over to socialize the puppies yesterday. The puppies are starting to run, and attempting to climb out of the box. In another day or so will need newer quarters. The blue is starting to fade from their eyes, and they are getting to be darling. Jeff asked me why I spend so much time with Della, And I told him I would have the rest of DJ's life with him, and my time with the girl was so limited. Puppies still hit the dirt when they are put outside, so housebreaking them is not going so well. They crouch in the grass until they start shivering, and I pick them up and bring them in. Housebreaking is not being accomplished. Perhaps in another week. Now they are more steady on their feet, their confidence in grass should improve. The problem is, I can't keep them outside long enough for them to get to the investigational phase because they get cold. When you approach the box, and speak to the puppies, they now run to the front, barking and wagging tails. Both tails are now standing straight up, and just starting to curl at the tips.
Monday, January 23, 2006 09:47:32
I just watched Dj perform a playbow with Della. Torin has never played with the puppies before, so since DJ has never seen a playbow before, I'm assuming a playbow is an instinctive social behavior.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006 08:22:35
Dj did his first outside potty. Della still goes belly flat in the grass when introduced to it, and lays there screaming pathetically. Dj has decided to explore, do his business and as a result he got to come in. He has much more confidence in different surfaces, but he's been much more steady on his feet for days than Della. Della is more assertive about getting out of the box and attempting to escape. But once out, she doesn't like the surface change, and once again, goes belly flat.
Both puppies have learned to gallop and run on secure footing. They are bouncing and playing, and this morning are the cutest that they have been. They discovered animation. At nearly 4 weeks old (tomorrow), My puppies have begun their socialization. They woke up Sunday morning, and became animated, bouncing baby puppies. Saturday would have been premature, but puppies develop fast! At the time I planned the party, the puppies weren't yet developed enough to be effective, and i was worried that the party was going to be a bust. But Sunday the puppies "woke up" By yesterday morning, I knew it was going to be a success!
In trying to socialize them early to small children, because i intend to take them into the classroom environment, I invited 12 kids over last night with their parents for a puppy party. None of these children own dogs.
I offered refreshments, and prizes, as we had games organized with the puppies. The party lasted about an hour. The children learned proper puppy handling, and dog safety, and the puppies got socialization exposure. Reka, of course, thought the whole thing was put on for her benefit.
The children earned party favors for achieving results with their puppies. There was abundant happy noises and clanging and banging, and yelling and screaming, and encouraging words, and none of it traumatized the puppies. the puppies seemed to think it was great fun, and securely enjoyed the whole game. The children AND parents had a lot of fun and want to do it again. One parent, who left their three year old at home, said she would bring the three year old next time! So they are obviously expecting to do this again! The only downside was, My small house does not have enough seating. And most everyone had to sit on the floor. So the adults ended up playing puppy games with the children. A good time was had by all. And my puppies developed a lot of confidence over the course of the evening, as evidenced by their behavior this morning. Yesterday, my puppies world was limited to their whelping box. This morning the whole house seems to be their playground as they are exploring their world.
just a sec.. I have to go pick of a gigantic elkie dust bunny obscuring Della's eyes.... She picked it up under the couch (I thought i swept there!)
You do NOT need children of your own to properly child socialize a puppy!
The neighbor girls will be back over this evening. We are playing the "puppy come" game, where we all sit on the floor and assign a caller, and that caller responds to the puppy when it comes to the right caller, and when it makes an incorrect choice, that person sits passively. The purpose is to ingrain the recall, socialise, and teach the puppies dynamic decision making.
Thursday, January 26, 2006 01:47:42
The night before, the neighbors were supposed to come back over and bring egg cartons for eggs and play with the puppies some more. Weather was uggy, and everyone stayed home. I was really glad because I was in bed by 6:30.Puppies have another vet appointment today. Yesterday they were 4 weeks old (as the weights reflect in their chart) The puppies weren't very active yesterday, and spent most of the day sleeping. I put a wire mesh in their box for the different surface exposure, and walked away as they were sleeping. When I came back to check on them, they were both laying on their backs sleeping on the wire mesh! That couldn't have been comfortable. And they did not have to do that. The mesh only covered a small area of the box. Dj did his business outside 4 times yesterday. Della hates it out there, and curls up and doesn't move. So forward progress with her isn't going anywhere. Even DJ is having many more accidents inside the box than success outside. Now we are at the 4 week old benchmark, it's time to start a new page.
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