Regalgoldens Golden Retrievers

Ice cream bar is always open! “Velcro” Faith is in line to earn a trophy for “best mom”. At this point in time, most moms have long since abandoned the notion of nursing their pups due to each one’s 28 razor sharp teeth. Not this gal. She selflessly obliges them and is always at their beck and call. Once in their presence, they seem stuck to her like Velcro. They were impervious to the cold and the wet snow which dotted their furry coats. It was as though Faith’s brood was training for the winter Olympics and you couldn’t find a happier group of youngsters. An epic outdoor festival from start to finish, the gang played chase, practised ski jumps, tobogganing or luge, went hiking and exploring or worked on the igloo that their mom was desperate to have. Ever the good sport, Faith spent the better part of her time providing the group with libation. The little ones were tireless as they raced around and even gave us a workout as we attempted to collect them to put everyone back...

Miss Powder Puff wants to go outside in the snow! “Cabin Fever” Cabin fever. We’ve all felt it at one point in time or another. It even happens to six-week-old pups and now they’re old enough and smart enough to do something about it. One day while Mr. Orange Blossom was having a snooze in front of the entrance to the whelping box, Mr. Bulrush used his brother as a step stool to launch himself over the opening into the vast expanse of the living room so he could enjoy some private time with his mom. On another occasion, Faith inadvertently compressed all the slats which normally block the entrance so that the entire group escaped for an unscheduled walkabout. Despite the mountains of snow that have accumulated on our property this past week, we were able to clear off an area on the patio to allow the pups to experience their first taste of both the great outdoors and winter. Some litters initially find the experience a bit overwhelming, but this bunch was unfazed. They wasted...

It's all about playing this week! “Things that go bump in the Night” The sun had long since bid farewell. The moon was full but unable to penetrate the cloud cover leaving it quite dark in the house. Wind noisily pushed its way through the trees and tiny pellets of icy snow careened off the windows. Off in the distance a coyote was announcing his presence. In the far corner of the house, we could hear a commotion. Did we remember to lock the living room door where the puppies were sleeping? Had the door blown open? There it was again….a thump and then another one or two in quick succession. We quickly made our way down the hall to investigate but as we approached, the situation became quite clear. The puppies were wrestling and when one of them landed on top of the turtle with the pressure activated music box in its shell, a chorus of “London Bridge is Falling Down” began to play. We were all safe and sound after all. The dynamic in the whelping box is evolving. This is ...

We're growing bigger by the minute! “Roll Call” We did a count and then a recount, but there were no puppies missing. We were convinced that since Mr. Bulrush tipped the scales at 6 ½ lbs. he must have swallowed one of his siblings. Fortunately that was not the case; like the rest of the gang, he just has a good appetite. To aid in the puppies’ campaign to bulk up, they were introduced to gruel or mush:  a healthy concoction of oatmeal, honey, goat’s milk and vitamins to supplement the feedings they get from their mom. With their inaugural bowl, no one needed a second invitation. Miss Sweet Pea was the first one in, both literally and figuratively followed by Mr. Periwinkle, after which the concept of etiquette went out the window as everyone looked like they’d been in a food fight. Mealtime became a source of entertainment as the puppies were lacking in table manners or bedside manners since Mr. Orange Blossom among other took turns falling asleep in the bowl. To their c...

Bow-wow! “Hang Gliding” He was one of the last puppies nursing before Faith decided to go on her break and he sure was hungry. Mr. Buttercup must have had greater suction than a Dyson vacuum cleaner because when Faith got up to exit the whelping box, he was still attached. As a result, he was subsequently deposited on the living room carpet. As bewildered as he appeared, we’re sure there was a part of him that said, “wow, what a ride!” 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. As they are beginning to get acquainted with their littermates, they can often be seen standing in a group gently colliding or rubbing their noses and heads against one another whether awake or asleep. 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 diff...

Just Chillin' “The Portable Oven” Since newborn puppies require a good deal of warmth and aren’t able to regulate their own body temperature until the third week, Mother Nature has made some clever provisions for that. Momma Faith’s mammary glands are very warm; in fact almost hot to the touch. She therefore provides her brood a nice warm brew that not only nourishes and makes them sleepy but also offers a nice warm shelter for them to curl up in. Apparently Faith hasn’t read the memo as she still insists on excavating a tunnel in the snow when she’s outside on her bathroom breaks. Meanwhile back in the whelping box, Mr. Buttercup has developed a fondness for burrowing under towels while Mr. Periwinkle loves to sleep on his belly with his legs splayed out behind him like a frog. The rest don’t seem to be so particular. This was also the gang’s first spa week. This consisted of some warm facecloth wipe downs to get any spots that mom might have missed and pedicures ...

Faiths litter only hours old. “The Four-legged Ostrich” It’s always in the wee hours. And despite the fact that Faith obliged us by hitting her target delivery date, sleep was going to be out of the question. Mr. Bulrush made his appearance at 1:10 a.m. albeit with his girth, he gave us all a run for the money. As a result, Faith decided to take a nice long break to enjoy a bit of ice cream. Mr. Orange Blossom arrived next, followed in quick succession by his little sister, Miss Sweet Pea and brother, Mr. Periwinkle. Then of course it was time for another break in the action so we guzzled coffee while Faith enjoyed another helping or two of ice cream. Eventually Mr. Buttercup made his debut and then Miss Powder Puff welcomed the sunrise. Poor Faith was a bit awestruck by this momentous turn of events and it took her quite some time to accept the fact of her motherhood and begin to stimulate her puppies by licking them. It all worked out in the end. Apart from nourishme...