Well, I just read that there was a technical problem yesterday with the server of the blog, so we could not be reached last night!!
I totally panicked as I taught I would have to start all over again, since I am still having problems with my laptop ,but can't take it to my son for a total clean-up and re-format right now, so I am hoping it will last till the pups go home.
All is going well here.
Pups gained almost all 100 gram a day since the food, so I guess they like it.
And they like to drink the water also and walk through it. They are doing good, with poop training, the peeing is not that easy yet. They can't get to the place quick enough yet.
Teeth are through, luckily for Eli , not sharp yet!!
They are outgrowing their collar, so we got new bigger ones.
Personalities are changing also and they are barking and pulling tails and putting heads into their mouth form the other one.
Well they had their first feeding !!! WOW, talk about wolves. They attacked the bowl and loved it. They got their heads all wet from just crawling all over and into everyone and everything. And now sleep!!!
It started with a family from Friesland, a 3 1/2 hour drive and they were here at 11 am, bringing beautiful flowers and a toy for the puppies. Thanks Maaike and Ronas.
Small world, the people that came after them ,bred the golden they own, who is 11 now and his name is Faust or at least their male was used as stud dog.
Anyway, it seems that they liked all the females, so now we will let them grow and explore and see towards week 7 which one will be theirs.
In the afternoon the other family came with two grown daughters, who had great fun cuddling with the puppies.
Eli watched in from the outside in front of the window and then she would come in and do a round of smelling and getting petted by all and then she would want to go and see the puppies again.
Today the first people came to visit their puppy. They don't know which one yet, as they are too young to really see their character yet, but they liked them all and also the big ones!!!
Eli had no problem letting them in the box and carrying them around and cuddling with them and the puppies seem to really enjoy it also!!
Well all is moved to the living and not sure Eli likes it.
She was a little restless, but seem to settle down now. All three other dogs came flying in from outside and she kind of gave them the"LOOK" and that was it. Nature takes care of itself.
Puppy food was delivered and puppypacks, so puppylookers will get to take that home this weekend.
Sorry America, I hope they even let us take the puppypack into the country!!!
The new pictures will speak for itself. Still have to add the wood shavings box, but they have to be moving around better for that.
All the puppies are de-wormed this morning and did not like it, but it is necessary and needs to be done again at 4, 6 and 8 weeks and then once a month until 6 months, unless your vet has a different schedule.
It was done with dogmint pasta and it goes by weight and you just kind of put it in the back of their month!!!
All the eyes are open and I could really see it good by holding them in the sun, which was shining in their room.
No more heat lamp and so later this week they will be moved into the living area, where they will have more "running" space, which they will need soon, when they start playing with each other.
They really moved around very quickly this morning. Like they learned to walk overnight. Very exciting to see!!!
This weekend the first people will come visit their puppy, so very exciting!!
De-worming is going to happen tomorrow morning. I don't want to do it in the afternoon, just in case they don't react good to it. (never happened) but still, I want to be there and today was outdoor day, so tomorrow right with weigh in.
One male went wandering around the box and smelled Eli's kennel next to the whelping box and off he went, using his nose!!!
The little nails are so sharp so will try if I can cut them, just the little sharp edge off the nail and am cutting off the extra hair at the end of the tails. I always do that and keep doing that ,so they get nice thick tails.
Outside the stimulation program it will be good for them to be handled by some one else besides Eli.
Turned off the heating lamp during the day. It was just too warm. They are spread all over the whelping box and then they can't find Eli.
(Hey , that will teach them to use their nose very good)
Very nice and warm day expected. I sure hope that in a few weeks it will be nice ,so the pups can spend some time outside!!
Some new pictures of pups, day 3, but they are not changing that much right now, so I won't post new pictures for a few days unless something does change.
Almost all the puppies gained weight, just two lost a few grams, but nothing major and those were the big ones also, so no problems there.
Eli does not want to leave the puppies, she really doesn't want to take the time to eat, which she has too, but this will last till about the 6th day and then she will relax and take time out.
She sat up for hours during the night to let the puppies drink (that is what she likes ) and also while giving birth she stood instead of lying down.
Is it the elephant or the giraffe who does that!!!!
All is going perfect. The pups are very happy and Eli is glad they are out!!!
The vet came by on his motorcycle, the weather was springlike, so that was great and declared all the pups good and no visible health problems and looking great and Eli is recovering from a heavy load and is being a very good mother.
And another male 582 grams. So now 4 males and 3 females.All is going well, she is cleaning them and herself and they are all drinking and are very content little puppers.
Now we wait and see if she has any more surprises, but she is pretty thin now and they are pretty heavy!!!!
Well we finally got going here!!!
Up to now 2 males and 2 females.
1 male 442 gram
1 female 477
1 female 482
1 male 552
All is going well and we are still expecting !
Eli is still working hard with pre-labor and getting the birth canal open.
Just talked to my vet and he explained and that can be quite painful., but all is normal!!!
She started panting at 3.30 pm and didn't stop till about 45 min ago and then decided she needed a rest and fell asleep, which is good , getting some strength back for the rest.
So still have to be patient and it can still take 24 hours, so all is well.
The first litter had a pre labor of 36 hours , so normal for Eli.
Well, early Monday morning and we all had a good night sleep, including the puppies in Eli her belly!!!
I think she is waiting for today, in memory of my dad ,whose birthdate it is today and who died way to young.
More patience......
Well, I guess we all are being tested for our Patience, because like the last 4 nights now, last night ,same scenario!!!!
Panting and those dreamy far away eyes and looking at me "Like what did you do to me" and restless, but then around 9 , we walked the yard and off she put herself to sleep and I went also.
Now a beautiful sunny cold morning so perfect for having puppies in the sunlight of the room where the whelping box is waiting, but we cannot force nature ,so we wait for the signs.....
Thank you Dr. Eugene for coming by yesterday and just putting my mind at ease and your advice as always.
The vet came by on his motorcycle for a check on Eli and said that she was "BIG", but all was well and he examined her and found all in order, but she had a few hours or a day or so to go.
I got instructions on the when and the how's again, as a refresher course and so now we wait some more.
A lot of rest for the big event for her and some short walks as she needs to be fit for the delivery!!
Another good night sleep last night!!!!
It started off being very restless with panting and standing and that lasted for an hour or so, so I got her in the whelping box and myself on a bed besides her and then she just went to sleep.
Had phone, and cell phone and camera all in position , but we just slept!!!
Woke up this morning, went through the same routine as the last 3 days, not wanting to eat and then an hour later,,she did and is resting now.
The vet will stop by this afternoon to check up on her to see all is well.
I must say again from the 3 computers in this house, 2 of them are now again crashed and will not start up ,so working through the iPad and don't think I can upload pictures, but will save them all and put them on asap when the stupid piece of electronics is working again ( talk about bad timing )
So be patient. For questions, please email me at whispering.oaks @ telenet.be
Eli is panting and then resting and then walking and standing, just restless !! Situation Normal.
We did go for our walk this morning, but it was hard for her to get in the car and she did not like me helping her and pushing on her stomach, so no more car rides. Just walks in the yard or the neighborhood.
I started taking her temperature 2 days ago and it was pretty low, then last night it was up, but then this morning it was quite low, not a whole degree, but still , things are happening!!
She did not want her food this morning either, all the things she has done with the other litters also, so she is just in pre-birth situation.
On our walk this morning, (very cold by the way) I took some pictures ( last big size ones) and worked the other dogs and Eli still really wanted to get a dummy and also do a search, so we let her at her own pace and she did well!!