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Showing posts from 2025

Jazz and Olivia – Week 5 Birthday Update!

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...

Jazz and Olivia's Pups - 3 Weeks Old

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...

Jazz & Olivia Puppies – 2 Weeks Old Today!

Our sweet pups are officially two weeks old and doing incredibly well! Everyone is tipping the scales at over 3 lbs and gaining beautifully. Big changes this week: Their eyes opened mid-week, which is always such a magical milestone. We’re still weighing them twice a day, but that will soon shift to once daily, and eventually to weekly checks once they start solid food. By mid to late next week, we’ll begin introducing the puppies to solid food for the first time. Their first meals will include a nutritious blend of ground turkey with bone, organ meats, goat’s milk, and pre- and probiotics. It’s always a comical and heartwarming moment—they tend to walk right into the food bowl, get completely covered, and more often than not, fall asleep mid-meal right in the dish! Their first few feedings usually end with a much-needed bath.  Mani-Pedis All Around!  Olivia’s puppies have been getting their nails trimmed every 5 days, starting within the first 24 hours after birth. Regular na...

One-Week Birthday for Olivia & Jazz’s Puppies!

Olivia's puppies at almost 1 week old. Today marks one week since Olivia and Jazz’s beautiful puppies made their arrival—and what a week it’s been! These little ones are already turning into chunkers, with the boys tipping the scales at over 2 lbs and the girls not far behind. During these early days, our pups spend all their time in the whelping box located right in our bedroom. That way, I can respond quickly if one of them wanders away from Olivia overnight—something our families watching the 24/7 camera may have seen me do! Since puppies can’t hear or see for up to 12 days after birth, it's important to gently guide them back to mom to nurse when needed. Olivia has been an incredibly attentive mother, only stepping away for short bathroom breaks during the first week. As we move into week two, she’s starting to take slightly longer breaks. Just yesterday, she ventured out into our large backyard for a quick bit of exercise—scanning the area like a pro for any “predators” (c...

Well, the big day arrived a day early!

9 Robust puppies. Five boys and 4 girls! It looks like Olivia's pups were excited to start their adventures! I was at a canine eye clinic yesterday morning, as this appointment had been booked months ago. Our breeding dogs have their eyes checked annually by an ophthalmologist to ensure they do not have any inheritable eye diseases. Anyway, Olivia began her contractions just 10 minutes before I arrived home. We had about 20 minutes to make any last-minute preparations, and then the first little boy was born — Mr. Peat Moss (brown collar), a very robust fellow! He was followed by: Miss Radish (magenta collar) Mr. Basil (green collar) Miss Blueberry (blue collar) Mr. Carrot (orange collar) Miss Chile Pepper (red collar) Mr. Squash (yellow collar) Miss Eggplant (purple collar) and finally, Mr. Rhubarb (pink collar). Our Garden Litter, Jazz & Olivia 2025 Litter! Olivia and her pups about half way through birthing. All pups were roughly the same weight. Birthing began just after 1:0...

Olivia - Day 60 Pre-Parturition

Olivia's puppy x-ray We’re excited to share that our sweet, Olivia, is expecting 9 puppies this coming weekend! We just had her X-ray done, and it confirmed a healthy and full litter of nine. Olivia is doing beautifully—calm, content, and showing all the signs of a seasoned mama preparing for her big day. As we get everything ready for her whelping, we’re filled with anticipation and gratitude for the safe arrival of these little ones. Stay tuned for puppy updates soon!  Olivia with 4 days to go until pups arrive❤️❤️

Olivia - Day 56 Pre-Parturition

Olivia Day 56 Pre -Parturition As we head into Olivia's final week of pregnancy, we can see that she is now slowing down! She’s still interested in the chipmunks, birds, and squirrels—just like the other dogs—but she’s less inclined to even attempt chasing them. She is currently eating four smaller meals a day, as she’s growing quite large. Her original waistline was 27 inches (68.6 cm), and this morning she measured 35.5 inches (90.2 cm). We’ve now set up her birthing box—called a whelping box—in our bedroom. We’re all ready for the big day... or should I say night? Dogs often give birth overnight. This preference is rooted in their survival instincts, prompting them to seek out quiet, secluded places—conditions more likely to be found under the cover of darkness. In the wild, they would dig a burrow or find a sheltered spot, typically in a dark or hidden area, to create a safe, den-like space for their puppies. Once the puppies are born, we set up a 24/7 camera so the expectant f...

Olivia – Day 49 (Pre-Parturition)

Olivia looking a pretty as ever. Olivia – Day 49 (Pre-Parturition) Olivia has been visibly showing for a couple of weeks now, and her baby bump continues to grow—currently measuring 32 inches (81.3 cm). She still eats three meals a day and never lets me forget when it’s time! It’s become routine for her to march straight to the refrigerator, sit down, and give me a look—first at me, then at the fridge, then back at me. She’s always right on time when I check the clock! Lately, she’s been seeking extra belly rubs and plenty of cuddles, just like many expectant moms at this stage. Despite her growing bump, Olivia remains her energetic self—playing with the pack and chasing chipmunks in the yard. She hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down just yet! It’s fascinating to note that unborn puppies are capable of sensing touch when their mother is petted during pregnancy, as a dog’s sense of touch begins developing before birth. Studies show that puppies born to mothers who were regularly pette...

Olivia - Day 42 Pre-Parturition

Olivia sporting her baby bump.  Olivia - Day 42 Pre-Parturition Olivia has always had a voracious appetite, consuming her meals at a rapid pace. She is acutely aware of her feeding schedule, anticipating mealtimes to the minute. Over the past couple of weeks, Olivia has been enjoying three daily meals, a departure from our typical practice, but one necessitated by her evident hunger. Her diet continues to consist of a healthy regimen of fresh foods, including a variety of proteins, puréed vegetables, farm-fresh eggs, folic acid, and pre- and probiotics. As Olivia's abdomen expands, measuring 76 cm (30 inches), her capacity for food will diminish, prompting us to increase the frequency of her meals while reducing the portion size of each. National Geographic embryo at 25 days of gestation. The provided image from National Geographic depicts an embryo at 25 days of gestation, approximately the stage captured during Olivia's recent ultrasound on day 27. From day 35 onward, the dev...