Festive Fun

Yes, we have had plenty of it. Trying to (unsuccessfully) reconstitute several National Garden Scheme vouchers after they had been Tykkyed for example. Or discovering that decorations had to be glued to the ceiling before they were safe....
Most of the rest of the time seems to have been spent attempting photos of fast moving fur balls. Some of the examples are below.

Before Christmas we had a festive (wet) walk at Hampton Court. Tuula, Tali, Tykky and Finn met at the end and we started the walk in reverse. All went well until we saw the others after only 10 mins (too much chat) so we carried on for a while, error number two - as shortly after Tykky fell in at a steep bank (just as her mother did at the same age in nearly the same spot) and was ably rescued by Sally. All four raced around like mad together and seemed delighted to be reunited. It was a lovely catch-up with friends and well worth the early start for Suzanne and I.

Then it was off to Bournemouth to see how Milo and Mia were getting on - they had a blast on the beach, except Mia drank rather more sea water than agreed with her. It was so lovely to see the pups again and hopefully at some point we will manage a whole litter reunion somewhere suitable.

In between I have been vexed by getting some quality shots for the FL Yearbooks. So far this about the best shot and may be included if there are no improvements:

 Ilo and Tykky were indulged on Christmas day and got to sample goose....not sure if it bears any taste resemblance to their ancestral equivalent of Willow Grouse, but they enjoyed it just the same.
My Christmas book on all breeds' herding has arrived and I have finally found a local trainer who will work with me on sheep, so Tykky will be 'turned on' to sheep next week. Watch this space for some hilarious capers on the marsh....

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!

Almost a month...

...has passed since the furbabes started their new lives. It has absolutely flown by and now I feel like a proud granny at a school play as photos and stories of their antics are coming in thick and fast.

I have had some time to reflect upon the experience, ably assisted by some of the liquid presents and fortified by the cacao I was unexpectedly given when prospective owners collected their pups - thank you all so much, it was an essential component of post-partum recuperation :-).


 The remnants of the experience remain around me: Ilo is starting to resemble a Chinese Crested; my home has even more fur than usual and is being discovered in hitherto off-limits-for-fur places; I have stubbed my toes too many times to count on the stairgate; and the garden has taken a hammering for certain.

Yet when owners call and say their pup is thriving, is happy and well-adjusted and is, despite the sleepless nights, giving them more joy than they thought possible, it is hard not to feel a twinge or two of pride (and relief in equal measure - yes breeders are worry-worts).

I  was warned to expect dozens of calls and queries in the first few weeks. Well, I have had a couple for general advice and some lovely chats about progress. Perhaps you are all saving them up? The two pups in SW London started home training at 7.5 weeks when they left here. I had a lovely conversation with the trainer  Helen, who provides elementary operant conditioning (non-aversive, reward-based) for pups to help them settle and give them the best start possible. Humility prevents me from reproducing her comments about the pups here but to have such positive feedback early on from someone so experienced and independent of the process was lovely to receive and helps me plan for future litters. I only wish this training was available in all areas.

Other pups have been to the more traditional puppy parties and started classes, progressing well already and Tykky has been to Borstal. Actually, she is a lively young lady, so I have been researching search and rescue training for her and formal sheep herding (cradle classes).

Last weekend 4 of the litter joined in a shortened version of the Goring walk...it was great fun and not easy to navigate with small ones on a beach that would normally have been deserted in October, but thanks to the weather was heaving - more than one sunbather got 'lappied' in the course of the day:

Then it was back to Finn's home close by for more ruff and tumble without the wet sand:

Then it was off to Tuula's home for more of the same:

I have put a selection of some of the lovely photos I have been sent on the Muohta page and you will soon see I have started a page for Tykky the Terror - if she will ever be still for a photo.
This week we are all focused on keeping our paws crossed for Tali to recover quickly from her op on her front paw.

The final 2 weeks at home...

 ...positively flew by. Visits were made to an official photographer where mayhem and chaos ensued for about 2.5 hours - even a pros fast shutter speed is no match for a determined lappy! Groups trips were made to the allotment field for exercise and Ilo was presented with a pig's ear for catching all the rabbits over the Spring/Summer. The weather was either lovely or appalling and the pups were getting used to being rushed in at the last moment as another huge downpour arrived. Karen arrived for the weekend of week 6 and took some sweet photos and Liz popped round to capture the activity around the paddling pool:

More socialisation visits were made to the local farmers' market where chickens and geese were encountered and the busy general market where the pups got to sample seafood :-) and met dozens of people. A shopping trip was undertaken down the High Street but it took me almost an hour to buy one item as all the shop staff wanted to say hello!

At the end of week 6 it was time for a vet check before the pups started going to their homes. My vet pronounced them 'perfect' but doubtless he might retract that if a law suite emerges(!) They screamed the surgery down, so how on earth he could listen adequately for a heart murmur, I have no idea.

Then one by one they flew the nest...pictures of them leaving with their new families and names are on the Muohta page.

Ilo and I are planning as much rest as Tykky will allow in her first few weeks at home. Its been exhausting and joyful and occasionally fretful these past few months, but its all worthwhile when new owners ring saying how well their pups have settled and how adaptable and quick to learn they are.  The next installment will include updates on each one and how they are doing.

Happy Birthday Ilo and the beach!

This week has been incredibly frenetic with a stream of puppy visitors - must be the end of the school holidays methinks as numerous parents have guided their children to the house. Its all been great for the pups and my thanks to the Hopkins' boys who have really helped out with socialising the brood.

Thursday saw an eventful trip for KC/BVA eye screening and the pups all passed with flying colours :-) - it was a long day in the crate for them and a lot of travelling and most were sick, but subsequent car trips have been both quiet and dry ;-)

Carol (Heikki's owner) and Lou came for the weekend and brought the puppy buggy. This meant we could start external socialisation in earnest and they have all been around Rye, crossed the level crossing several times and visited the allotment. Lou you are buggy-pusher extraordinaire :-) - oh, and kitchen maid too, while Carol busied herself with nails and furry coats - thank you both so much for all your help.

Sunday was Carol and Ilo's birthday and we took the opportunity to use the buggy to visit the lovely clean washed sand at receding tide with the pups and Ilo and we even managed a video of them all in action:

The pups met their first Rastafarians on the beach and were kept most amused by the dreadlocks. They have also been to play around various gardens without dogs and learnt how to dig (sorry guys!) and run up and roll down mounds of earth and get used to uneven surfaces:

Their food experimentation has continued with the introduction of ox heart, chicken and liver to the diet plus more produce straight from the allotment, and as you will see from the shots on the Muohta page, coats are coming along nicely. Carol and I did our best with standing and sitting shots but the little sweeties are less cooperative subjects now....even the official photographer had trouble yesterday...they are not still for an instant! Six week updates on Muohta page :-)

More visitors and ...

Its halfway through week five and the strain is beginning to tell, mainly as the weather has been horrid and the pups are inside for most of the day...which has made their visitors even more special - and helpful. Today's visitors had to help me with worming. Guess who complained the most? (answers on a postcard LOL) Suffice to say, I am now covered in Panacur paste...

Dreaming

Jacob and Ollie helping with worming

Rellie and Josh in a cleanish pen(!)

When Liz, Rell and Josh came yesterday, there was just time to take some profile and headshots before they had to head off, all is revealed on the Muohta litter page...

Real (little) dogs now

It is practically impossible for me to keep up with the daily changes in this litter - they are developing very rapidly and two are tipping the 3kg mark at 5 weeks already.

Ilo is seriously stalling at more than a comforting midnight nightcap for them all as the teeth are fully erupted and sharp as needles. Chewing has started in earnest and as all tummies seem to have coped well with the weaning, I have upped the ante this week and added raw carrots, cabbage leaves and runner beans from the allotment for them to chew on. These have caused much fun and Ilo is jumping in and out of the pen seeking the remainder - partly as I'm cutting back on her lactating diet steadily and her brain is still saying 'more please'.

Socialising has continued apace with trips to meet Liz and Chris' cat Mango and more fun and games with Emma and Andy's sons, Nicholas and Josh:

Just about sitting still for long enough

 Andrie, Annemarie and Tania (sans Magic and Norppa, sadly) arrived midweek and Ilo and I joined them for a picnic on the beach - Ilo's and my first decent walk for weeks  - and boy, did we both appreciate it.  Andrie took some fab shots as always and the following put mine to shame:

At the trough

Quite nice that cottage cheese and kibble

I'm handsome, eh?

Zoomies

 

Six years since Annemarie's last puppy fix

 

Wrestling

Rugby

Pensive

Helping tidy up

Daddy's white collar

Manure smells grrrrreat!

Plotting something

More zoomies

 
Thank you so much Andrie!


I have discovered to my cost, the more stimulation they receive, the more they demand. Brulee, Blaze and Tips demand alot of everything, alot of the time! My near neighbours have been exceptionally tolerant. Stripe, Sox and V are quieter (at the moment) but every bit as curious and playful. I am immensely proud of how they are all flourishing and am amazed at how rapidly they are gaining weight. Due to so many visitors this week and a lovely judging appointment yesterday, the formal shots will be updated in a couple of days. If Liz and Rell don't get here as planned the chimney sweep will be helping me round them up.  Check the Muohta page from Tuesday!  Here is just one more pic of Thomas and Sophie with the babes while their father was sorting out the chimney....

The great escape....

There has been criticism of this blog on my FB profile. Not enough pics apparently, according to Liz. Well, this should help a little. Now, we know FL are bright, forward pups, but this is what I came down to this morning:

So this is the way out

This is a premium DogHealth bolt together puppy pen for vigorous litters. The bolts are held together with nuts and tightened with a key. I had noticed them chewing away at the fixings but thought nothing of it. Luckily the large pile of papers prevented more exiting with ease. Brulee was found in the middle of the sitting room floor with a fir cone (safer than the computer leads I suppose).  Now all the bolts have been turned around, and will be checked daily....moments later all was calm  and much later on in the morning when more visitors arrived, they were still crashed out after all the excitement:

I'm an angel really, this halo has just slipped a tad

Lots and lots of visitors!

Its really hard to imagine that we are more than halfway through the first stage of this litter's life. In four more weeks they will have all four paws firmly situated in their new homes. With that in mind - the pups met some of their potential new owners this weekend: the remainder will be visiting them during the course of this week. I can say they enjoyed the attention and fuss as they have cranked up the volume and activity today! Although tired from answering questions/offering advice, I thoroughly enjoyed the visits - and hope you did too :-)
I am on semi-permanent bluebottle alert, which involves regular application of disinfectant, shutting doors repeatedly and pacing up and down for much of the day with a tennis racquet shaped electric fly swat. Roll on OCD, all the ingredients are there already.
Ilo is slowly weaning the pups quite naturally and I am stepping in to substitute with meals that are guzzled in seconds. Their teeth are getting sharper by the moment and jaw pressure is increasing, won't be long before we try some raw carrots and runner beans. Some real play fights going on now, the girls get their own back by biting the boys' equipment while they sleep and they have started to dance backwards - love it!
I have been poor with photos this week but once again, one of my visitors brought a super machine so head to Muohta page for shots and weights....thank you David Greenfield :-)

Bye-bye whelping box, hello world!

What a wonderful week...the pups have continued on their rapid developmental journey and I have finally made it to a half-century...there is no nicer way to mark such a milestone than with puppy watching!

Weaning introduction has continued this week with salmon mousse, raw lamb and beef mince and scrambled egg...all eaten with gusto, if not finesse. There is a good deal of stomping around and dancing backwards through the food, plus Tipps and Blaze have found out they can bark!

The litter have had plenty of visitors this week and handling has begun, and all have enjoyed their first experience of the real wide world.

Mock wrestling and exploring everything in sight is all part of the experience as this short video shows:

They are all moving so fast now that photography is proving harder by the minute,  but luckily Susanne visited for the day on Saturday and helped with the official week 3 photies...the results and the weights are as ever, on the Muohta page.

Eyes, teeth, sitting up and worming

Its all happening this week at a rate of knots. The first to open her eyes at 9 days was the little cream girl (AKA Brûlée) and the first to sit up and demand seconds was the first born male (AKA Tips). It has been a battle between Tips and the fourth born girl (AKA Blaze) as to who would try to pile on the weight fastest.  The third born girl (AKA Sox) and the second boy (AKA Stripe) seem to love having their nails clipped - everyone else put up a fair old battle so I had to resort to mummification in a handy towel,  just as is frequently required when giving a cat a pill. The nails are tiny and my goodness its hard not to get it wrong and clip the quick. 

All tolerated the Panacur worming treatment well.  The first born girl (AKA V) is the most adept by far at eating the salmon mousse and soaked puppy kibble  - something we tried today for the first time as the pups are hungry in between feed sessions, especially in the mornings. What a mess, and most wound up eating more from each other than the plate...Ilo continues to be a fab Mum, and has, after a slow start, realised the joy of salmon mousse-impregnated puppy fur.

They are beginning to mouth and play bite with tiny emerging puppy teeth this week, although they are not too serious about it yet and still appear slightly inebriated.

The markings are really coming out now and I have put some 2 week headshots (huge thanks to Rob and Karen Goldthorpe) with weights and names at last(!) on the Muohta page  - enjoy.

Invasion of the eyebrows and some lovebites

What a lovely week. The babes are growing every day like the weeds on the allotment.  I am covered in lovebites from puppy snuggles. This really is a wonderful way to waste time. I am watching the dramatic changes in pigment and markings...all have lovely tan cheeks and tails and legs now, and cream girlie has black lips and her nose is slowly turning grey! Ilo is loving being a mum, and welcomes visitors warmly who stand in the dining room, a safe distance from the pups. She chased her first rabbit today on the allotment, her first outing since the they were born. Catch up with the visuals and the massive developing thumbprint eyebrows by checking out the week one photos on the Muohta page.

Doting mother

They have finally landed!

Suffice to say this may not be the most erudite entry, for we are tired and yes, a little emotional (Banrock Station). Ilo has had her pups! It was the longest drawn out affair which kept us all on tenterhooks right until the end. She has been digging and steady panting for over a week, so I have been watching her like a hawk and sleeping with her the past 5 nights.  This morning after a restless night and periods of what I can only call 'glassiness' and 'faraway stares' she settled down on the Cambodian silk cushion to receive Tellington Touch massage (to help with body awareness and reassurance) from Karen and I. Lapping this up, we were getting contractions but no action so a brisk trot was prescribed for madam and sure enough on return to the whelping box two girl pups promptly arrived. Even though I was prepared for cream and white pups it was still a shock to see a light bag!

The two first born girlies

Then we had a good two and a half hour wait before the remaining four pups came in more sensible half hour slots, with just enough time to check, prep and move onto the next.  Ilo did all the work with minimal intervention from us and with a great deal of dignity. She also sat firmly throughout each delivery which made presentation checking almost impossible and enabled her to devour too many placentas. Ah well, so much for that recommendation. Doubtless I will know all about it tomorrow ;-).

Capturing he indignity of arrival

Throughout, my whelping assistant Karen was fab, calm and really helpful - and takes superb pics! Not only that but Liz Mowatt was on standby on the phone all day with helpful tips supplemented by Carol Stuckey and Suzanne Crowhurst and her friend Barbara. The vets wanted regular updates and got them, and all was progressing well as the next two finally made an appearance - the two twin boys with rich tan markings. swiftly followed by the final two girls.

Remarkably serene, but tired with her brood

Ilo settled in with her babes and dozed off with pups feeding greedily. Checking that she was empty was less successful - as I mistook the enlarged uterus for more whelps (Sam the scan was right on the money this time) so decided a trip to vets would ensure no late night surprises. One x-ray later and a shot of oxytocin we were on our way.

A lovely calm experience, and Ilo is proving to be a most proficient Mum, more pics courtesy of Karen on the Muohta page.

The waiting game

AKA a watched lappy never boils or when the going gets tough, the tough get down to the allotment....day 60 another fine day dawns with much puffing and panting. Ilo's shape has changed once again as the whelps began their reorganisation (rolling over and queueing up basically) in preparation for birth.

Some light exercise was needed for Ilo and something a bit more for Karen and I to take our minds off WAITING, so we hit the allotment where Ilo ate as much as possible and watched the bunnies eating with impunity and we hoed and watered. Then Karen got busy with the Nikon:

Getting up not so easy now!

Just a small snooze...

Then it was back to the house for more nesting: the remainder of the conservatory floor was taken up and paving slabs were angled-ground and pea gravel was laid, and yes, just a little bit more waiting...

Who needs an expensive whelping box anyway?

Today (Days 54/5) started as most do with some frantic home preparation. Some clarification required? Well, suffice to say, apart from some tweaking i.e. positioning of the various items accumulated for the impending delivery, I am pretty much done and have been for days. Expensive whelping box erected, lined and pig-railed.  Lactol, colostrum and Dopram on standby. Mountains of newspapers, laundered towels and surgical instruments await.  Etcetera.

Ilo has investigated the box, briefly. Good, I thought, there's a chance she may be comfortable using it to whelp. There again, it appears she may be keeping her options open:

Clearly not satisfied that the Leylandii provided sufficient for her needs she moved on to the Elderflower.

A few minor adjustments only

That'll do Mum!

Hot dog - letter from America

(DAY 51/2) This warm weekend, we have big tides so there is masses of beach to saunter on. At 0700 its deserted and still cool enough for Ilo to manage a two-hour stroll. The tide was out so far we crossed the Rother estuary - at high tide the river accepts container ships - and Ilo thoroughly enjoyed getting her paws wet up to the elbows.

This week she is barely bothering to run after bunnies, but when she does it is comical...the huge belly swaying from side to side, unbalancing her completely so she soon stops.  Even in the cool house lying directly on tiles she has been breathing very heavily and is obviously uncomfortable with her massive undercoat. On Friday a fabulous cool-mat arrived from California (and a small neckerchief for me to aid in keeping my cool during the whelping). After a 45min soak in the bath and a couple of hours in the fridge it was ready to go. Its the first time I've seen her really comfortable for weeks. Great job Carmen Petersen, thank you so much!