Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from October, 2025

Dutch and Fiona’s Puppies – One Week Old Today!

Happy One Week Birthday!   Fiona’s journey into motherhood has been nothing short of remarkable. After a long and exhausting  14-hour labour , she safely delivered  12 beautiful puppies . As the final hours stretched on, both Fiona and I were completely spent. Sadly, the last few pups became our little angels due to the extended delivery time. Despite every effort — providing oxygen and stimulation — we were unable to revive them. As heartbreaking as that was, we are deeply grateful to have  nine strong, healthy puppies  now thriving under Fiona’s care. This first week has brought its share of challenges. Fiona developed  metritis , a uterine infection likely caused by the strain of her prolonged labour. She has been on antibiotics and is recovering well, but the infection initially impacted her milk production. To ensure the pups received the nutrition they needed, we began  bottle feeding every 2–3 hours around the clock . Thankfully, the puppies ada...

Fiona & Dutch’s Autumn Litter 2025!

Dutch and Fiona's puppies arrived! Introducing Fiona & Dutch’s Autumn Litter 2025 We are thrilled to share that Dutch and Fiona has welcomed her first litter on Wednesday October 22nd!  She was expecting 12 puppies, and although we sadly lost three little angels after a long 14-hour labour, we are overjoyed to have  nine healthy, robust pups — three girls and six boys . Fiona has been an exceptional first-time mom, instinctively knowing what to do and bonding with her puppies immediately.  Meet our Autumn Litter, in birth order: 🍂  Miss Kale  – Purple collar 🍂  Miss Spice  – Orange collar 🍂  Mr. Acorn  – Brown collar 🍂  Mr. Apple Pie  – Red collar 🍂  Mr. Gourd  – Green collar 🍂  Mr. Twilight  – Black collar 🍂  Mr. Frost  – Light Blue collar 🍂  Mr. Sunrise  – Yellow collar 🍂  Miss Mushroom  – White collar We can’t wait to share more updates as these little ones grow! Stay...

Fiona – Day 59 (Pre-Parturition)

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...

Fiona – Day 56 (Week 8 – Pre-Parturition Update)

  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...

Fiona – Day 50 (Week 7 – Pre-Parturition Update)

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 – Day 44 (Week 6 – Pre-Parturition)

  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...