Regalgoldens Golden Retrievers

Fiona's Pregnancy X-ray Puppy Watch Begins .....Dutch and Fiona Litter! Fiona and I visited our vet this morning, and as you can see from the X-ray, she’s expecting a  large  litter! Care to guess how many? She’s now enjoying five to six small meals a day — there’s not much room left in there for big portions! To keep her hydrated and nourished, she’s getting homemade bone broth along with her prenatal vitamins, probiotics, and a variety of fresh raw foods. She’s also taken a real liking to lightly seared liver. At this stage, the puppies are fully developed and could safely arrive at any time. They’ve finished most of their development and are simply growing bigger each day. Puppies are born with their eyes closed, which typically open around ten days after birth. It’s easy to feel them moving now — they’re quite active and growing rapidly. We’ll continue to pamper Fiona and keep her as comfortable as possible as we await the  big day ! We’ve also begun monitoring her te...

  One more week to go! The puppies’  skeletons are fully developed   and can now be seen clearly on   ultrasound or X-ray , which we have scheduled for this coming Saturday. Fiona has  lost the fur on her abdomen , which is normal and helps the puppies nurse more easily. She has also begun  preparing for birth  — nesting behaviours are now evident. This is when soon-to-be mommas seek out quiet spaces, dig, or scratch at bedding. Indoors, this often translates to  scratching her dog bed or entering the whelping box which she hasn't really accepted yet!  We have a  spotlessly clean and quiet area  ready for her delivery. A few days after the pups are born, we’ll set up the  24/7 camera , so families awaiting a  Dutch × Fiona puppy  can watch them grow from birth! Fiona has definitely  slowed down over the past couple of days . With a  HUGE belly , there’s less room for food, so we’ve adjusted to  five sma...

Seriously! This is not my best angle! Around  day 50 , the puppies’  skeletons are now fully ossified  and continue to strengthen each day. By this stage, their major organs have formed, and they’re beginning to look like tiny, perfectly formed puppies. Their bones are becoming more defined, and their size continues to increase quickly. Fiona’s abdomen is now  noticeably enlarged , and her nipples have become more prominent as her body prepares for nursing. She’s enjoying  three meals a day  and seems quite pleased about it — although she appears a little puzzled about her growing belly! We often catch her glancing back at her rear end as if wondering why she’s gaining so much weight. This being her  first litter , her curiosity is understandable. Her abdomen now measures approximately  33 inches (83.82 cm) , and it seems to expand a little more each day.  Next Saturday , Fiona will have an  x-ray  to determine how many puppies she’...

  Fiona and Dutch Puppies! The puppies’ growth is now progressing rapidly! We’ve entered the final third of Fiona’s pregnancy — a phase when the puppies will gain about  three-quarters of their total birth weight.  Their first skeletal structures are already ossified, meaning they can now be seen on x-rays. Amnion: The amnion is the innermost membrane that completely surrounds each embryo. The fetus rests safely within it, cushioned and protected from external influences — much like floating in a gentle waterbed. This fluid environment allows the puppies to move freely, which is vital for healthy muscle and joint development. The amniotic fluid is also swallowed and digested repeatedly by the fetus, helping the digestive system mature. Yolk Sac: Unlike in birds, the canine yolk sac doesn’t contain nutrients, only a clear serous fluid. However, a temporary yolk sac placenta forms, allowing contact with the uterus and contributing to the puppies’ early nourishment. The yolk...

Another Fabulous Week! What a week it’s been! The weather has been beautiful, and the pups have enjoyed every minute of it outdoors. Their confidence is blossoming, and they’re full of fun and personality. Momma Olivia remains completely devoted to her babies. She’s never far from them and even whimpers when separated for any length of time. Her maternal instincts are truly heartwarming. This week’s standout moment? Miss Magenta decided to show off her stealth skills—not once, but twice—by sneaking up and stealing my iPhone straight from my pocket! To make it even more hilarious, my phone is also magenta, so seeing her prance around proudly with a matching accessory in her mouth had us laughing out loud. We’re seeing more and more of the pups’ personalities shine through. They are playful, confident, and curious. After each meal, when the door of their whelping box opens to the backyard, they march out one by one like little soldiers. After about 20 minutes of play, they line up at the...

 Jazz and Olivia’s Puppies – 6 Weeks Old Today!  Time is flying! It’s such a joy to watch these puppies grow and thrive — and their outdoor adventures are becoming more lively by the day. With the weather finally cooling down, the pups are enjoying more frequent time outside, and we've even set up a mini obstacle course to help build their confidence as they explore new sights, sounds, and textures. They’ve quickly caught on to our routine: lunch, then playtime! Like clockwork, they start to cry out in chorus — a little lunchtime symphony — knowing what’s coming next. As soon as we open the French doors to their private yard and unlatch the whelping box, they march right out, ready for action. The only challenge now? Getting them back inside! It’s become a full-on game of “Catch Me If You Can!” The pups are now weighing in at a healthy 10 to 12 pounds and have tremendous appetites. Each one is enjoying about 7 oz per meal, totalling approximately 21 oz of food daily. Their die...

Jazz and Olivia – Week 5 Birthday Update!   Another milestone this week — the puppies had their very first outdoor adventure today! As we gently lifted them out of their cozy whelping box and into the backyard, they stood like tiny statues, sniffing the fresh summer air and gazing up at the trees and sky. Unsure of this big new world at first, they let out a few soft whimpers — but with mama Olivia always nearby to reassure and protect, they soon began to explore. At first, they stayed close to Olivia and the familiar living room door. But after just a few minutes, their confidence grew, and their curiosity took over. By Week 6, we expect them to be boldly scattered throughout the yard — and then the real challenge begins: getting them to come back inside!  The puppies now weigh an average of 9 to 10 lbs, gaining about 2 to 3 lbs each week. Olivia is still nursing a couple of times a day, though we’ve started limiting her access. She’s eating a whopping 8 lbs of food daily (ye...

What a Day! We had a wonderful turnout at today’s  puppy open-house —thank you to all the families who joined us! Both current and future puppy parents were delighted to meet  Jazz and Olivia’s 4-week-old pups . This is such a special time, as the puppies are just beginning to truly engage with people. Judging by all the tail wags and snuggles, they thoroughly enjoyed the attention—and I know the humans did too! Growing Fast The pups are thriving, now weighing an average of  7–8 lbs , up an impressive  3 lbs from last week ! With their healthy appetites, they’re currently eating  three meals a day , totaling about  7 oz daily —each meal followed by a much-loved “dessert”: a  vanilla milkshake  provided by their moms. New Experiences They’ve started playing with toys and interacting more with one another, and this week marked a big milestone: they’ve officially  moved to the living room , which opens up to the backyard. Next weekend, they’ll...

Not much space left at the milk bar! Wow, we’re 3 weeks old today! Time really flies—especially when the pups are healthy and both mom caregivers (including the human mom) have no concerns. This week marked another exciting milestone: we started solid food yesterday! As you can see, it got a little messy, but the pups thoroughly enjoyed their first meal—ground turkey mixed with fermented goat’s milk and WellyTails supplement.* For the next couple of days, they’ll have one solid meal daily. We’ll then increase to two meals, and by the end of next week, they’ll be eating three meals a day. Right now, the puppies eat together from a communal bowl. Around 5 to 6 weeks of age, we’ll transition to individual bowls. This ensures each pup gets their fair share and helps prevent more dominant littermates from pushing others away. At 3 weeks old, the puppies are becoming much more active and curious. They’re starting to walk, run, and play with each other, and they’re showing greater interest in...