Regalgoldens Golden Retrievers

  It's all about playing this week! “School is in Session” Pepper and her crew have moved out of the bedroom and relocated into the living room which is like a V.I.P. room for moms. She has a sofa to stretch out on for her ultimate relaxation while being able to keep a watchful eye and ear on her brood. What’s more, she has a private yard for a little walkabout which her puppies will eventually use as their playground.  The puppies now have numerous plush toys at their disposal and in order to accommodate their rapid growth and increased mobility, we’ve added an extension to the whelping box. This has doubled its size giving the gang lots more room to play in, so they are now able to pick up speed to scramble from end to end.  The little ones are developing their strength, co-ordination and cognitive skills as well as learning how to engage in an activity with a littermate, even if it’s just bumping heads. They typically congregate in groups ranging in size from two to four taking

  Ain't No Mountain High enough..... “The Hoover” The pups reside in what’s called a whelping box: a 4 ft. square enclosure which we’ve lined with mats and towels, not to mention that nasty rolled-up towel that now serves as a headrest or leaning post for the little ones. There is an opening at one end of the whelping box that allows mom to get in and out at will to deal with her mini-pack or venture out on her well-deserved breaks. There are 4” high removable slats at the opening which serve to contain the pups. We start with one when they’re born and insert additional ones as they grow so that now we’re up to three so the pups can’t get out on their own. That said, the other day we discovered Miss Mars on the bedroom floor some distance from the whelping box. Apparently, she was latched onto Pepper’s milk receptacle with a super-vacuum, so she was whisked away and deposited onto the carpet where we had to rescue her. To accommodate the puppies’ rapid growth, we’ve had to raise th

Sleeping beauties! “I’ve Fallen and I Can’t Get Up” At first glance, it may appear that the puppies spend all their time sleeping, but they also do their share of exercising. As they lay there asleep, they are constantly twitching. These involuntary actions, referred to as “activated sleep,” help strengthen their leg muscles and begin to build muscle mass. We’ve also added a rolled-up towel which serves two purposes. It acts as a barrier to place the pups behind when mom is entering or exiting the whelping box. It also creates an obstacle course that the puppies must climb over to help them get their muscles into shape. All was well until one day; we heard a persistent cry for help emanating from the whelping box. Upon further investigation, we discovered Mr. Supernova stuck on his belly atop the roll with all his legs flailing in mid-air. We’re sure his legs will be long enough in another couple of days. It’s always exciting for us when the puppies’ eyes open at around the 10-day mark

  “Number Nine” Puppies are typically born in the middle of the night, but every now and again we catch a bit of a break. In fact, Pepper surprised us with a quick “deposit” of Miss Twilight (Purple) at 4:15 pm before we even had a chance to set up for the big event. In as much as we follow the science by taking temperatures, monitoring behaviour and stages of labour, we had to do a quick scramble. Her brother, Mr. Galaxy (grey) followed at 5:22 and so it went every thirty minutes of so for Miss Mars (Red), Mr. Martian (Green), Miss Milky Way (Beige), Miss Sunglow (Orange), Miss Comet (Yellow) and Mr. Supernova (Blue) at 8:15 pm. Pepper was dropping them out like a vending machine* so we were optimistic. And then we waited and waited and waited. It wasn’t until we carried out a procedure to “shuffle the deck” (dislodge a stuck puppy) that we were graced with the presence of “Number Nine” - Mr. Starry Night (Black) at 10:08 pm. Fortunately his sister Miss Moondust (Brown) capped off the

Miss Pepper with one week to go 😉 We are heading into the home stretch with our precious Pepper as she continues to get bigger with each passing day. She is slowing down and prefers the cool tile floor to lay on. Despite the loss of her girlish figure, she can still jump onto the sofa to demand cuddles and belly rubs. She measures 36 inches or 91 cm, so she has quite a bit of extra weight to carry around! With just a few more days left to go, the whelping area has been prepared for the big event. She has her meals three times daily and seemingly has an internal alarm clock because within a minute of our usual feeding times she barks to alert us “it’s time”. We will begin to monitor her temperature twice daily as any significant drop would signal the onset of labour.  At this point the fetuses are fully developed and can be born safely. The puppies have basically finished their development and are just growing bigger at this point. Puppies are born without the ability to see and their

  Pepper – Day 49 (pre-parturition)   Pepper enjoying the first snowfall of the year. Sporting her baby bump! Our precious Pepper is expecting her babies in 2 weeks. She is soaking up all the attention and getting lots of princess snuggle time. Pepper loves her cuddles - especially when we relax with her at the end of the day all the while stretching and moaning as we rub her belly. She ravenously eats all her meals which consist of an unprocessed raw diet with veggies and fruits. We add in folic acid, fish oil and probiotics – everything a pregnant mom needs. Next week we will increase her food and spread it over three meals daily.   Pepper is now sporting a baby bump and measures 32 inches (81.3 cm). She is still quite active with no signs of slowing down as she continues to explore the fence line in search of potential intruders.   Pre-natal period: It is an interesting fact that a dog's tactile perception develops before birth, therefore unborn puppies can detect touch when the

“The Uninvited Houseguest”   Apart from the odd bad-weather day, we’ve had lots of outdoor time with these pups. And when we’re not quick enough to extend our invitation to go outside, we certainly hear about it. Each and every puppy loves their cuddle time but relishes their playtime as well. The piece of culvert we salvaged and have placed on a bit of a decline in the backyard has made a fabulous tunnel and slide. They go up and they go down and race around the other end to do it all over again. Couple that with the usual rock climbing and stick munching and much fun was had by all. Except for that one day when the playing was halted abruptly. The alarm was sounded that there was an “enormous” (garter) snake sunning itself on the grass apparently oblivious to the activity all around. We escorted everyone to the side and coaxed the snake, whom we apparently share the yard with, to its den to an opening underneath the concrete patio. Play resumed as usual.   It’s interesting to witness

We have the time of our life outside! “Sound the Alarm!” Mornings around here are pretty routine, but they are extremely busy looking after the pack, the moms and litters of puppies. This one was a bit over the top. We heard all sorts of commotion as we approached the living room where the puppies and their moms reside only to find the living room and kitchen filled with puppies. It seems that Paige had stepped down on the row of slats that block the entrance to her whelping box allowing everyone inside to escape. Not only were her pups bunking there but also Chanel’s brood. Everyone seemed delighted at their newfound freedom and quite content just wandering around. Fortunately, all were very well behaved. Of course, the same was not the case inside the whelping box. Since the pups are well on their way to being fully weaned, they always have a fresh bowl of water at their disposal. To this end, we use a spill-proof bowl. Every now and again, a litter of puppies decides to test that th

Just chilling “Belly Rubs” How time flies. A mere seven weeks ago, Chanel’s pups were all chipmunk-size nuggets – all squirmy with little pink feet and noses. They evolved from helpless little bundles to real going concerns that are desperate for backyard time and curious to know what each and every little sight and sound represents. It’s interesting to witness the pups’ growing independence as they venture into the far corners of the yard either on their own or in small groups. When they’re not in full play mode, they love to cuddle and they all tend to roll over and expose their undersides for belly rubs. They’ve also been very instrumental in teaching Paige’s pups the ropes who are a week-and-a-half their juniors. This week included a car ride and visit to our friendly veterinarian. The gang was extremely quiet on the way there and very well behaved in the clinic where they received their checkups and first set of vaccinations. Their examinations were all stellar and so was their be

What adventures we've had outside! “Friends” No…not like the TV show. This week we enjoyed watching “Friends – Golden Style”. The weather was perfect for outdoor activities so all week long, Paige’s pups played alongside Chanel’s pups in the yard. The week-and-a-half age difference and size did not matter. If anything, the younger ones took their cue from Chanel’s pups which helped to bolster their confidence. They all took turns settling into our laps for a quick cuddle or bounding around the yard with their pals to explore its wonders of which there are many. Rock climbing is always popular as is staring at the hose reel in bewilderment. The little ones often dart across the lawn at top speed spontaneously but lacking the necessary balance and coordination to go the distance, the sprint also culminates in a tumble and a quick wrestling match if another puppy is nearby. In their more relaxed moments, the abundance of fresh twigs that required reworking was also a crowd pleaser. Th

  We loving being outside with our momma! “Potty Training”   From day one, these little guys were quite confident and completely comfortable with their outdoor surroundings. They immediately go off to explore the grass, the rockery or munch on fallen twigs. Others used the vastness of the yard to engage in sporting activities with their siblings.  A popular activity is the game of tag in which each puppy exhibits a burst of energy in succession.  Another popular sport involves racing around hither and thither with no apparent motive or destination in mind. The little ones spontaneously dart across the lawn at top speed but lacking the necessary balance and coordination to go the distance, the sprint also culminates in a tumble. It’s a good thing puppies at this age are seemingly made of rubber.  The rock-climbing initiative proves to be very popular.  In their more relaxed moments, the  abundance of fresh twigs that required reworking was also a big hit.    We sure raised the bar on pl

We want to bust out of here!   “The Nail Salon is Open!” To help the puppies continue to bulk up, they had their first raw feeding of hormone and antibiotic-free meat with organic vegetables, pro-biotics, vitamin supplements including vitamin C, bovine colostrum and Puppy Gold for eye and immune system development, goat’s milk and plain yoghurt. Paige keeps the milk bar open 24/7 for top-ups but w e’re certain she relishes the break she gets from each puppy’s twenty-eight razor sharp teeth!    In  order to accommodate the puppies’ rapid growth and increased mobility, we’ve removed the pig rails from the whelping box which gives the gang some more room to play in. They’re  spending a great deal of time playing and interacting with their siblings, so we’ll be expanding their living quarters very soon by adding an extension. In  the meantime,  they have gym memberships thanks to an elaborate play station and numerous plush toys at their disposal. While all of that is certainly fun, one of

Enjoying a beautiful summers day....and a snack! “The Rebel Yell”   The dynamic in the whelping box is evolving.  This is the beginning of the most influential socialization period for the puppies. They’re learning to communicate with each other and with us by wagging their tails. With the increased control over their facial muscles, they are making expressions and are beginning to reveal their personalities and communicate their opinions. They spend longer periods of time awake and they use it to engage in some manner of play with their siblings whether head butting or wrestling, awake or asleep. They’re also craving a lot of attention and affection and fortunately that’s something that’s not hard to provide. Frequently there’s a “rebel yell” emanating from the whelping box which is our cue to reach in and pick someone up for a cuddle.   The gang is growing steadily and is now getting three meals a day, which are supplemented by Chanel’s still frequent offerings of dessert. Their muzz

Such a cuddly bunch.  “The Hunt for Big Red” Since the puppies are quite well established, Paige, who’s been a stellar mom, has been taking some breaks outside of the whelping box for a bit of much deserved “me time”. She spends much of this time with her fellow-mom and roommate Chanel. Their favourite pastime is that they’ll sit by the glass living room door which has a walk-out to the yard and watch for their nemesis, “Big Red”. While the name sounds foreboding, Big Red is actually a tiny red squirrel who seems to delight in taunting the duo and scurries up a tall cedar tree to safety. You be careful, Big Red – these moms are fast! Now that their vision is established beyond simply being able to detect light, dark and movement, the puppies are becoming increasingly curious about their surroundings and each other. They’re staggering around and beginning to get acquainted with their littermates. They can often be seen standing in a group gently colliding or rubbing their noses and head

“The English Lesson” This was a week of adjustment as Chanel and her mini pack moved out of the bedroom and into the living room to join fellow mom Paige. Chanel now has both a sofa and a love seat to stretch out on, not to mention some carpeting and some sections of cool wood flooring for lounging. There’s also a walkout to the backyard for private bathroom breaks or birdwatching, albeit Chanel is pretty keen on squirrels. The gang had their first raw feeding of hormone and antibiotic-free meat with organic vegetables, pro-biotics, vitamin supplements including vitamin C, bovine colostrum and Puppy Gold for eye and immune system development, goat’s milk and plain yoghurt to supplement the feedings they get from their mom. Everyone loved it. Messrs. Cardinal and Oriole went back for seconds and thirds.  Once their food supply was depleted, the puppies stood around licking each other’s faces to clean up every last morsel. Chanel continues to do her due diligence in keeping the puppies t

Paige is such an attentive momma. “Just a Quick Look Around” Paige and her new family were relocated to the living room from our bedroom this week which is a pretty regal deal for mom. She’s got both a sofa and a love seat to stretch out on, not to mention some carpeting and some sections of cool wood flooring for lounging. There’s also a walkout to the backyard for private bathroom breaks or birdwatching. Paige didn’t need any convincing that this was a good deal. The pups reside in what’s called a whelping box: a 4 ft. square enclosure which we’ve lined with mats and towels, in order to accommodate the puppies’ rapid growth, we’ve had to raise the pig rails up a notch. These are rails around the inside of the whelping box, that are there to help prevent mom from accidentally squishing one of her kids. At some point during the following week, the rails can safely be removed altogether and an extension to the box will be added which will give the gang lots more room to play in. There a

Our eyes are open, we're alert and playing! “Squish-proofing” The pups reside in what’s called a whelping box: a 4 ft. square enclosure which we’ve lined with mats and towels. in order to accommodate the puppies’ rapid growth, we’ve had to raise the pig rails up a notch. These are rails around the inside of the whelping box, that are there to help prevent mom from accidentally squishing one of her kids. At some point during the next couple of weeks, the rails can safely be removed altogether and an extension to the box will be added which will give the gang lots more room to play in. To enhance their experience, we’ve put stuffed animals in the whelping box as an obstacle course of sorts as well as fluffy playmates to cuddle with.  Now that their vision is established beyond simply being able to detect light, dark and movement, the puppies are becoming increasingly curious about their surroundings and each other. They’re staggering around and beginning to get acquainted with their

     “The Payback”   We were lucky last week when Chanel delivered her puppies during the middle of the day. As fate would have it, along with Paige’s pup came the payback. Pups are usually born in the wee hours, so this is how it was to be. Around one in the morning, Paige began to get restless and soon after, her water broke. Mr. Bluebell (dark blue) made his debut at 2:15 a.m., feet first of course. His sister, Miss Carnation (pink) demonstrated the correct way to exit a womb at 2:52. After Miss Pansy was born at 3:58, we thought we might be on a one puppy per hour programme. Not so. It wasn’t until 5:50 that Mr. Hydrangea decided he was going to plop out onto the gravel run during Paige’s supposed pee break. What is it with boys? Since the pack usually wakes up around 7:00, sleep was going to be out of the question.   It never ceases to amaze us how the little ones know exactly what to do from the first minute onward and how they instinctively suckle and how moms know they need to

We do love our beauty sleep. “The Wrong Turn” Chanel has always been an exuberant mom and she demonstrated this fact the other day. On her way back into the house from a washroom break, she marched right past her own whelping box and straight into Paige’s, settled in and began to nurse Paige’s two-day old pups in true Golden spirit. Fortunately, Paige didn’t seem to mind. It’s exciting for us when the puppies’ eyes open at around the 10-day mark. Many of the puppies’ critical organs including their brain are not fully formed and they will spend several weeks developing rapidly. Since the gestation period in dogs is short (63 days), the tradeoff is that puppies are quite helpless at birth. Biologists refer to species that produce immature dependent offspring as altricial, which means “to nurse, to rear or to nourish”. It refers to the need for the young of these species to be fed and taken care of for a long period of time. Puppies are born with their eyelids tightly shut because the ey

“A Lucky Break” It’s a rare treat when puppies are born during the waking hours of the day. The norm is that it usually happens under the moonlight in the wee hours, so Chanel did us a huge favour. We knew it was going to be a small litter and we were apprehensive about the poor girl having to squeeze out overgrown pups. The first to appear was Mr. Cardinal at 1:05 pm with no issues whatsoever. The next was his wingman, Mr. Parakeet at 1:50 (who was scooped up in mid-air during Chanel’s bathroom break in the run) followed by Mr. Oriole at 2:10 and their baby sister Miss Finch at 3:05. They were all born in record time, because it’s not uncommon for an hour or more to elapse between the birth of each puppy. The added bonus is that they were all pretty average in size, so it was not a particularly difficult labour for Chanel. With only four pups, there are no line-ups at the milk bar for each puppy’s share of their mom’s milk which contains antibodies so vital for the first several weeks

Chanel - 49 Days (pre-parturition) Chanel does not appear to be slowing down, still running with the pack and getting into trouble with the rest of them. She did have a little extra winter weight, but it seems her pups have “grown” into her and she is looking good. She enjoys monitoring the perimeter of the yard for possible intruders and occasionally sounds the alarm for wild turkeys. She has a ferocious appetite, so we have broken her meals into three daily to hopefully satisfy her. She continues to eat a very well-balanced diet of antibiotic-free proteins which are rotated daily. She’s very fond of lamb and duck lately but is also having chicken, turkey, beef and pork. Each meal has a mixture of fruits and veggies to balance her diet. Chanel’s waistline now measures 33 inches or 83.8 cm.  Fetus at approximately day 39 By day 30, digestive and respiratory glands, muscles, bones, circulatory, genital and urinary systems, the skin and hair, the nervous system and all the puppy's se