Regalgoldens Golden Retrievers

We can't wait for what new adventures await us! “Exodus” Whenever the gang anticipates that it’s time to go outside, they’re ready to rumble! Like a bull released from its pen at the rodeo, the little puppies spilled out onto the living room floor, just steps away from the door leading to the yard. There’s no time to lose. The weather was great and there was so much to do….so many new adventures, so many games to be played. After the big squeeze through the little opening, they were outside and scattered in many different directions. Some headed straight for the rock garden while others tore across the lawn at top speed. Mom was her playful self and engaged all the pups in various forms of play while keeping them topped up with liquid refreshments. This bunch always leaves the whelping box looking like a well-worn dorm room. The towels are askew, the water bowl has been inverted and there are toys everywhere. At the end of playtime, they all pile atop one another like dom...

Nothing like the great outdoors! “It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane…..” Actually….it was a plane. We don’t get many planes flying overhead, but on this occasion the mini-pack was out for one of their many outdoor romps. As the plane’s engines shattered the quiet of the country, all puppy activity in the yard ceased immediately as if time stood still. Six furry little heads were locked in the “up” position looking skyward. Once the noise subsided, it was business as usual. Business in the yard consisted of a variety of activities and there was lots of it since the weather has been glorious. Throughout the week, as the puppies’ confidence grew, and they became a bit more independent, it now takes little coaxing to get them out of the whelping box and take the three or four bold steps to go outside. Once that challenge was overcome, they embarked on long range expeditions to remote corners of the yard. There was some rock climbing, chewing on sticks or blades of grass and sprints that ...

We love our adventures outside! “Bite Me!” The dynamic in the whelping box is changing. 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’re craving a lot of attention and affection which, of course is not hard to provide. Mostly, the little ones are getting better acquainted with their littermates. Playtime happens at all hours of the day. And it doesn’t matter if a potential playmate is awake or asleep. One such example was Miss Licorice gnawing on Miss Truffle’s tail as she lay there sleeping. As she was unable to achieve the desired result, Miss Licorice moved on to her next victim. Since the little ones are getting more accustomed to eating solid food, they are drinking plenty of water to k...

Our first time outside! “Bulking Up is (Not) Hard to Do” Misty and her brood have been relocated into the living room 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 those peaceful Zen moments, washroom breaks or for monitoring the activities of our resident wild turkeys. Unlike many other moms in this situation, Misty didn’t bat an eye. She knew a good deal when she saw one. To aid in the puppies’ campaign to bulk up, they were introduced to gruel:  a healthy concoction of large flake oatmeal, yoghurt, honey, goat’s milk, vitamins, raw meat and vegetables (all organic) to supplement the feedings they get from their mom. With their inaugural bowl, no one needed a second invitation. Despite being semi-retired, Misty continues to keep the milk bar open 24/7 for top-ups but we’re certain that she relish...

So darn kissable! “The Washroom Break” It was a typical summer day. A warm breeze blew through the trees rustling the leaves sporadically. Off in the distance the chipmunks were communicating with their trademark chatter. Periodically a tiny indecipherable sound penetrated nature’s soundtrack. Softly at first and then again until the voice became more insistent. This required some investigation on our part. It didn’t take long to locate the source. It appeared that somehow Mr. Jelly Bean had escaped the confines of the whelping box. Without the benefit of a map or GPS, the little tyke managed to traverse a circuitous route into the ensuite bathroom. Needless to say, he was safely airlifted back to the whelping box to reunite with his sisters. 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 are beginning to get acquainted with their litte...

Contentment “Triple Your Pleasure” It’s all about food in this place. Misty continues to have this uncanny ability to advise of mealtime precisely on the hour. Of course, her little flock has followed suit with their love of nourishment as they’ve now tripled their birth weights. Since they’re still in their birthday suits, we’ve not had to loosen their belts, but we have had to make adjustments to their collars. At first glance, it may appear that the puppies spend all their time eating and sleeping, but they do spend a good deal of time exercising. As but 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. This allows them to plod around on all fours when they’re in search of their mom for a snack. Mom adds to this challenge by continually messing up the towels in the whelping box, thereby creating rolling hills that the puppies need to paddle ...

Welcome to the world! “Around and Around We Go” As we headed into the home stretch with Misty’s pregnancy, it was evident that our girl was feeling a tad uncomfortable with that mass of puppies rummaging around in her belly. We situated her on our bed and waited while Misty did laps crawling around the top of it on her belly like a navy seal. Finally, the big moment arrived at 10:20 in the evening in the form of Miss Candy Apple. A scant twenty-two minutes later, Mr. Jelly Bean made his debut. Such a quick follow up gave us false hope because each subsequent puppy took between three quarters of an hour to two hours to materialize. The next was Miss Truffle, followed by Miss Gummi Bear, Miss Licorice and finally, Miss Taffy. One would think that it would get a little easier with each puppy, however Miss Taffy decided to come out feet first. Mom was not impressed and that was despite the bowls of ice cream we’d been giving her throughout. It took her a full day and a half to get...

Our smiley Misty! As we head into the final couple of days, Misty is finally slowing down. This morning she was beginning to nest, which is a sign the big event approaching. Misty knows exactly when it’s mealtime and barks at us if we are not feeding her promptly. She is dining four times a day and races to the kitchen at 7 am, noon, 3 pm and 7 pm.  We have set up the whelping box (birthing box) in our bedroom. While most expectant moms attempt to dig a giant hole somewhere in our backyard - usually under one of our spruce trees, we prefer a cleaner, more cozy, sanitary spot. We’re sure Misty will warm up to the idea soon enough! This is Misty’s first litter and if she is like her mom Sierra, she will prefer a dark den-like setting, so we’ve covered the roof of the whelping box with a blanket to make it somewhat like a tent. The above photo from National Geographic gives you an idea of what the puppies look like around this time. The puppies now have fully define...

Misty enjoying an evening walk. As we head into the final 10 days of Misty’s pregnancy, we don’t see her slowing down too much. She opts to stay inside enjoying the air conditioning and enjoys our company more than frolicking outside with the rest of the pack.  Her waistline measures 31 inches (78 cm) now but she still has a voracious appetite. She is quite happy that we have increased her serving sizes over the past couple of weeks! This weekend she will be introduced to the “whelping box” which is where she will have her puppies. It will be in our bedroom and will stay there till the pups are approximately 3 weeks old. Then it will move to a sunny location in our living room. The living room has French doors to a private yard for pups and mom. Misty has just begun to seek out a special area in the yard to deliver her pups. This is normal behaviour as moms dig a den for their newborns. Obviously, we have a much cozier and cleaner idea in mind.   Pre-natal period:...

Love on the rocks! “They Grow Up So Quickly” Seven weeks ago, they 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. Where has the time gone? The gang loved their outdoor time. And who doesn’t enjoy dining al fresco? Everyone was enthusiastic about helping Chanel survey the perimeter of the fence line, on the lookout for trespassers. On one particular outing, Miss Blaze shot out of the house, catapulted herself over the stoop in hot pursuit of a bird she spotted. It’s remarkable how large a part that genetics plays in their development. Even collecting and chewing sticks is in their DNA. This week, the puppies experienced their first car ride to the friendly veterinarian. Unlike most other litters travelling to the same destination, the ride there was extremely quiet. Onc...