Regalgoldens Golden Retrievers

Such a handsome bunch. “Boot Camp” Training exercises began very early in the morning as the sun worked its slow trajectory across the sky. The morning dew saturated the grass and the air was beginning to get thick with humidity. With breakfast out of the way, the crew was ready. They scrambled out of their dorm into their warm up jog following their team leader, Mango who was intent on not letting them catch up. The group worked through various manoeuvres which included “hand to hand” combat with sticks, rock climbing and agility training, however it would seem that the crowd favourite was digging a giant foxhole. They usually worked in pairs and before long, they had a hole that was large enough to accommodate two puppies. Rain or shine, this group was intent to repeat their ritual as often as possible each and every day and they appeared unfazed when the weather was less than ideal. On the days that it rained, they wore the mud on their faces like camouflage. When they were c...

Do you want to share my stick? “The Conspiracy” It happened in the wee hours of the morning. The moon was but a sliver and light was scarce, but their adrenaline was in abundance. All the time spent planning would be put to the test. As the moment drew near, their fears remained unspoken. One by one they slipped over the wall which had been inadvertently compromised by their custodian’s last visit. Off in the distance, they spotted their objective: their mother Mango fast asleep. They quietly tiptoed over to her in the hopes of a “midnight snack”, but alas Mango was not in the mood to oblige at this hour which left the trio wailing. They might not have achieved what they set out to accomplish with their short-lived freedom, but calm was quickly restored once they were reunited with their brothers in the whelping box. This week was all about treasures and discovery. Since the weather was occasionally a bit unsettled during the week, Mother Nature contributed numerous twigs and bits ...

Enjoying the great outdoors! “A Bull in a China Shop” He was in a very deep sleep – likely a milk-induced coma. He lay there, gently twitching and feeling oh so comfortable. In his dream, he heard the thunder of hooves all around him. A split second later, Mr. Twister, now rudely awakened, was experiencing the dream. Like a bull in a china shop, Mr. Sandstorm repeatedly stepped on Mr. Twister’s head as he raced around the whelping box with Messrs. Lightning Bolt and Purple Rain in hot pursuit. Whether it was carelessness or they were sending a message, the group wasn’t content until everyone joined in on the fun. We’re not sure if was cabin fever that inspired his actions, but later in the week Mr. Snowstorm catapulted himself over the wall to explore the living room. Once he came to the realization that he was alone, he began to whimper until he was quickly airlifted back to the safety of the whelping box. Since we finally caught a break with the weather, we did not waste the oppo...

Doggy den for sale or rent. “The Cavern” They suspected nothing. She had spent several days earning their trust so she could finally move around the compound without scrutiny. She had to work quickly, but there were no tools at her disposal other than her own limbs and sheer determination. Bit by bit, the ground gave way. She worked tirelessly for what seemed like an eternity. Smiling, she stood back and assessed the fruits of her labour. Just a little bit more she thought. Just another day or two and it would be complete. Unfortunately for Mango, the cavern she created to house her babies was eventually discovered and her plan to move them was thwarted. Meanwhile in the living room, the extension was added to the whelping box and the puppies now have an elaborate playstation at their disposal (no batteries required). They are developing their strength, co-ordination and cognitive skills as well as learning to engage in activities with their littermates. They scramble around at to...

Let the games begin! “Do you want a piece of me?” There was electricity in the air as this was touted to be the match of the century. They had been honing their skills for the past several days and they were ready. Two on two – mano a mano. This was ultimate tag team wrestling, puppy style. Without warning, Mr. Twister lunged forward with his massive 6 lb. frame to take on Mr. Sandstorm. Meanwhile Mr. Lightning Bolt chomped down on Mr. Snowstorm’s leg. Before long pandemonium ensued and the whole concept of tag teaming was lost as the four were engaged in a four way brawl. Off in the far corner of the “ring”, Mr. Purple Rain was lying atop a stuffed animal sound asleep, snoring gently. This is the beginning of a key period for the puppies as they are developing rudimentary social skills. They are testing each other’s limits and learning the difference between hard and soft biting. They take turns sleeping at the top and bottom of the sibling pile. Since their hunting and chasing in...

Mr. Twister not amused by me waking him up for a pedicure! “The Eviction Notice” It was inevitable. If not for their loud banter then it was certainly the all-night “drinking” parties that led to this action. Since this lot of puppies was very robust at eight days of age, we broke with tradition and moved the whelping box out of our bedroom earlier than usual, down the hall to the living room. Fortunately, the little ones didn’t even notice and Mango herself appeared unfazed as she was enamoured enough with this new private dormitory that she has even abandoned her search for alternative real estate. The living room boasts a doggie bed and a couple of sofas for her to have some well-deserved power naps on and an area for private dining. Within their first two weeks, these plump little princes crushed not only the 2 lb. barrier, but the 3 lb. barrier and are caressing the 4 lb. mark. We have a suspicion that someone’s been sneaking them donuts. Such is their desire for libation that...

Mr. Snowstorm “The GPS Malfunction” It was nighttime and while the moon lit up the path in front of him, he was unable to see. He had been wandering around aimlessly for an indeterminate amount of time and was very hungry. How much further? When would he reach that warm haven he remembered where food was in great abundance? He was tired and growing frustrated so he began to cry, a whimper at first and before long, he began to wail. Just then, he felt his body miraculously being lifted up for all of a moment and suddenly he realized he had reached his destination. Such was Mr. Lightning Bolt’s big adventure one night in the confines of the 48” x 48” whelping box that the puppies call home, until we “air-lifted” him to the comfort and safety of his mom, just a few inches away. Puppies are born without sight or hearing and their eyes don’t open until sometime during the second week, so for now their senses of smell and touch are what guide them to their target. They use their tiny for...

Happy-Go-Lucky Mango Our extremely fit Mango is blossoming throughout her pregnancy as her tummy which normally measures usually 70 cm (27.5 “) has expanded to 87 cm (34.25”). As she heads into her final few days of pregnancy, Mango continues to enjoy retrieving her ball, but there is a definite waddle in her walk. She spends her days lounging in a nice shady nook in the yard and cuddling with us in the evenings as she sure doesn’t want to miss out on her belly rubs. Remarkably Mango still can jump on the bed, but we’re wondering just how long that will last. It’s easy to feel the puppies moving in Mango’s tummy now and we witness a little kick now and again. Since she doesn’t have much room left for food in her expanded waistline, Mango is getting five or six smaller meals throughout the day. As of yesterday she’s become a bit picky so we offer her various enhancements to her regular food. Her current favourite is liver and eggs with freeze dried Crump’s liver bits sprinkled on to...

Mango hasn't slowed down much! This is about the time that Mango will embark on her quest for nesting. She will seek out that perfect spot in the yard where she intends her puppies to be born. But not to worry, she’ll actually have them in a nice warm and sterile environment known as the whelping box. Over the next week we will introduce Mango to the whelping box and make all the final preparations for the arrival of her puppies. This will require a certain amount of persuasion because no matter how cozy we think this venue might be for her, Mango believes our bed is much more comfortable! In the evenings, Mango insists on constant belly rubs and we can feel the puppies moving around when she lies on her back. This mother-to-be is now receiving four smaller meals, as there is less room for food given the size of the puppies. Mango is becoming a little picky with her meals so we offer her a “gourmet” selection of nutritious foods that will meet all...

National Geographic  - Embryo at 25 days Mango - Day 36 pre-parturition We had some terrific news this past week: an ultrasound confirmed our sweet, beautiful girl Mango is expecting! This is an exciting time for all of us as it seems like an eternity since we have had puppies in our household! Diet is so important at this stage as the puppies will begin to grow rapidly now. Over the next few weeks as her abdomen expands, Mango will obviously begin to slow down. Above is an amazing photo by National Geographic of an embryo at 25 days of age. This is approximately the time Mango had her ultrasound (day 27). From day 35 on, the embryos are known as fetuses. At this point, the embryonic sacs are a little over 4 cm.  Although several sacs were detected during the ultrasound, it is still difficult to determine exactly how many babies Mango will have. Fetuses are approximately 1.3 cm. which may seem small but they will triple in size in just one week. Between days 29 and 35, the...