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Happy Sierra – 48 days (pre-parturition) Hudson and Sierra Litter 2014

Sierra will make a great mom as she loves all puppies! With just two weeks to go, Sierra continues to relish her food. She is now eating three smaller meals daily consisting of fresh pureed fruits, vegetables, oatmeal, chicken and supplements so she and her pups receive the best nutrition possible. This holiday season, she will be lurking around the dinner table but she needn’t worry - she‘ll receive her own delightful turkey feast! Sierra has slowed down a bit and as previously mentioned, prefers quieter surroundings. She is usually found lying by the fireplace on her own cozy doggy bed or on our bed. She doesn’t stay outside for very long or venture very far from us. Like the rest of us, Sierra is not big on ice storms, but nothing seems to faze her and she didn’t object to the absence of hydro for four days. Throughout the whole “ordeal”, she emphatically wiggled her rear and cooed with delight at every turn. It was difficult to tell Sierra was even pregnant as she didn’t real...

Stunning Sierra – 36 days (pre-parturition)

Sierra enjoying some R&R time at the cottage before the big event. As you can see, Sierra is a very happy girl. She is constantly wagging her tail and howling with joy. Pregnancy is certainly agreeing with her! Sierra hasn’t skipped a beat when it comes to her enjoyment of food, nor has she suffered from morning sickness; quite the opposite really. She is eating two larger, nutritious meals daily however, in a couple of weeks’ time she will enjoy three smaller meals. Sierra is sticking close to us these days. She prefers to remain inside on these cold winter days rather than play outside with the other dogs. She can usually be found curled up by the fireplace or nestled on our bed. She is a girl that enjoys comfort! At the moment, she is enjoying a marrow bone by the fireplace and tonight she will curl up beside us for her regimen of belly rubs. Pre-natal period: It’s an interesting fact that a dog's tactile perception develo...

Jazz & Bailey’s Litter – Week Eight

Mr. Apple loving the outdoors but not the heat! Victoria’s Secret It happened early one morning. The sun was beating down and the birds were singing their various melodies, busily scouring the dewy grass for worms and other delectables. As we opened the door to release Bailey and her mini pack into the yard, Bailey spotted it first and tore off at top speed to investigate. Sensing imminent danger, Mr. Potato stopped in his tracks and turned to warn the others, many of which were already headed back inside in response to our beckoning. In the meantime, Bailey was nose to nose with her adversary… a baby chipmunk. Once the puppies were “safely” tucked away, Bailey was also persuaded to return, allowing the little chipmunk to reunite with its own family. With the weather being as hot as it was this past week, it’s no surprise that the puppies spent much of their time soaking their little feet in the over-sized water bowl - no doubt dreaming about swimming at the cottage one day. An...

Jazz and Bailey’s Litter – Week Seven

Baily and pups playing - can you spot the impostor? The Impostor Little puppies aren’t good at math at seven weeks of age, but try taking three treats out in front of an adult Golden and they’ll know full well that you’ve only given them one or two. On several occasions, the membership of this litter has gone from eight to nine. The group didn’t seem to notice at first or maybe they just didn’t mind, but there was an imposter in their midst. A friend who breeds American Eskimos had a litter on the same day as Bailey that resulted in a singleton (an only child). Vickie, the three pound minion has been over for play dates with our puppies to aid in her socialization and just to have some fun. She was welcomed into the pack by all in true Golden fashion including Bailey the super-mom, who even allowed little Vickie to nurse.   Mr. Mint Whether rain or shine, the gang has been enjoying their outdoor time. Their favourite activities include ...

Jazz and Bailey’s Litter – Week Six

  Mr. Plum very proud of his landscaping skills! The Police Escort Perhaps they thought the garden would look better without it. The puppies worked tirelessly like a little gang of lumberjacks and before long, the large green plant growing alongside a honey locust tree lay shredded in a heap. All of the perpetrators had wisps of green foliage in their fur and protruding out of the corners of their mouths like over exuberant vegans at an all-you-can-eat salad bar. Intent on exploring another shrub nearby, Miss Lemon stretched up as high as she could onto her tiptoes thereby losing her balance and doing a backward summersault on the mulch-covered ground. She shrieked and was momentarily disoriented, but wasted no time in getting back to the job at hand. With their tremendous appetite for exploration, the little ones know no boundaries. Bailey is a mother-extraordinaire. Unlike most moms, Bailey spends her time on outings playing with her pu...

Jazz and Bailey’s Litter – Week Five

Enjoying the great outdoors! “The Mission” With the agility and precision of a Navy SEAL, she dragged herself up the grassy embankment, using only her front limbs to propel herself forward, staying low to the ground and fighting off fatigue, she was within range of the target. Her mission was clear and timing was crucial. At the last moment, Miss Apricot lunged forward, flinging herself on top of Mr. Mint and so the two tumbled playfully on the lawn. Now that the puppies are old enough and the weather has been cooperating, the group has been enjoying their time in the sun. It didn’t start out that way though. On the first day when a few of the puppies were deposited on the lawn, some just stood and whimpered, taking in the magnificence of the world outside as it stood menacingly before them. Very quickly, that feeling passed and as their confidence grew, the puppies did what puppies do: be curious. Some ambled around, rolled in the grass, studied trees, chewed twigs ...

Jazz and Bailey’s Litter – Week Four

We love to play together! “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” Imagine a warm summer evening as the sun goes down accompanied by an almost deafening sound of crickets chirping in a meadow. Now transition that thought to another context with eight hungry puppies huddled around their food bowl smacking their lips in unison as they devour their dinner. The way this group approaches every mealtime, one would be left with the impression that they’ve not eaten in days. The truth of the matter is that they get three generous meals of mush a day, interspersed with deliveries by their mom, Bailey with her milk wagon. In addition, the little ones are supplementing their meals and keeping themselves well hydrated with a constant supply of fresh water. Small wonder that some puppies with their big, round bellies are already breaking the 7 lb. barrier. This is the beginning of a key socialization period for the puppies. When they’re not sleeping ...