MAY 16 DAY 5

This is taken from 

Handbook of Applied Dog Behavior and Training:

"The Neonatal period is associated with reflexive activities aimed at optimizing nurturance and contact with the mother."  It is outlined in the following chart

THE NEONATAL PERIOD 0-12 DAYS

S E N S O R Y		Olfactory, Vestibular, Tactile, Pain, Thermal, Taste development--------- Most time spent sleeping---------------		------------> ------------------------>
M O T O R		Flexor dominance  Primitive reflexes Forelimb placing----		------------------------------->     Forelimb supporting---		Hind-Limb Placement-----------> ---------------->
S O C I A L		Distress  Vocaliza		Reflexive comfort tion-------->		seeking--------------->
L E A R N I N G		Responsive to early “gentling” effects				Weak and variable appetitive and avoidance learning first appears--------->
	B I R T H		4 D A Y S		8 D A Y S		12 D A Y S

We have certainly seen evidence of 90% of the time sleeping.. just look at my photos.. ha ha ha!!

Here's another chart outlining developmental stages from Day 1 to Day 28:

MAY 15 DAY4

TinTin and puppies... Nickel is puppy on upper right

Today's task is to trim puppy toe nails.  I'll do this while the puppies nurse so they associate nail trimming with something positive.  This doesn't always mean that they'll enjoy having their nails trimmed.  While they nurse I also massage their feet and toes, tail and ears.



Visitors

Wendy and Joe came to visit today.  Nickel let Wendy into the box and fell asleep in her lap while the puppies nursed.  They're wearing the blue jumpsuits, booties and wash hands with surgical soap.  This is a precaution reducing the chances of introducing any harmful microbes, viruses, etc to the puppies.   The hairy mass behind Wendy is the ever present TinTin.

Trust

Wendy and Orange

Orange

Leopard Spots

white

Testing out those hind legs

MAY 14 DAY 3

AKA... no tail docking/dewclaw day!

Normally day three is the day tails are docked and dewclaws removed.  I have been considering leaving my puppies 'natural' with each litter.  In Ico's litter I left the dewclaws on the puppy that I planned to keep.  After having experienced what it's like to have a poodle with dewclaws I came to the realization that they are not flimsy superfluous growths on their legs that will easily tear off.  A poodle's dewclaw is Webbed like the rest of their toes and it is a true toe.  I'm excited to see how these puppies progress with their tails and dewclaws intact.  

Normally I would have taken the puppies to the vet today and Nickel would have had to stay in the car (wondering why her babies were being taken away) so she couldn't hear her pups cry during the procedure.  It is very quick and the puppies go right back to nursing after the procedure... but is is minor surgery.  I'm happy to not have to deal with the stress involved during this hour and the worry of infection the following days.  I'm also looking forward to seeing the puppies running and playing with their beautiful 'number 9' tails... just like their Daddy :0)

Here's a wave of the flag for Full Flying Tails

Nickel's New Doo

My Friend Cat came to visit me... ok... the puppies, last night.  She told me that I HAD to cut Nickel down.  She said that she looked frumpy, too much hair and she was way too hot.  You see,  Puppies can't regulate their own body temperature for the first week of life.  There is a heated 'whelping dish' built into the whelping box that stays at a constant temperature of 90 degrees. On top of this it's necessary to heat the room.  I try to find a balance between keeping the puppies warm and not overheating  mom.  The ambient temperature is around 80 degrees.  On top of this, while a Mom is nursing she is burning calories like crazy.  Calories burned = increased temperature.  So!  can you see why Nickel might be a little too warm?

proud mama in front of the whelping box

Now lets get acquainted with our new family members!!

Yellow Boy and Green Boy

White Girl and Black Boy 

Orange Boy

Green Girl and Pink Boy

Green

Pink Boy and Purple Girl

Blue Girl

Blue

Purple Girl

Leopard Spot Girl

Leopard Spot Girl and Pink Boy

Green

Orange

Belly Up

May 13 Day *2*

This is a test....  The Blog server is having some issues and I haven't been able to post for the last day.... it removed my last entry from DAY 1.   Hopefully we'll get that back. I'm going to try to catch up!

In the mean time you'll just have to wait!!!

Grand ma TinTin waiting outside the box

 Nickel says to admire her....

Yellow puppy

May 12 WHAT DAY IS IT?

Day 63..... DAY 1 !

It's the first day of the rest of their lives

Their first Poop

 It's Mamma's job to clean up after the puppies.   For the next month Mom will make sure the nest/whelping  box is kept spic and span. 

 First Dinner party

While normally you don't see a monkey eating with poodles,  this special guest has been a friend of the family for years.

 First Nipple

Sometimes it takes a new puppy a number of tries before it figures out how to nurse.  These puppies come from a long line of healthy eaters... it didn't take them long to learn where the Milk Bar was.

 First Introduction

First puppy Born and Nickel wasn't quite sure who... or What... the puppy was.  Having the puppy nurse quickly introduces the two.

First Nap

Puppies love to drape over mom's legs.  It's very very good for puppies to have lumps and bumps to lay on.  It actually helps them develop normally.

 First Bath

Mom will be constantly cleaning the puppies, not only does it keep them clean, it strengthens the bond between them.

First Car Ride

The morning of their first day, Mom and puppies went to the vet.  Puppies are kept warm in a heated box.  Mom was xrayed to make sure we didn't miss a puppy and the vet checked the puppies lungs & heart and maked sure they didn't have cleft palates.

First Family...... Growing strong so they can move in with their Second and Last Family.

For the next 10 weeks the puppies will have a huge world to explore.  They will go on many field trips to parks to meet people, people's houses to meet cats, and lakes to swim and explore.  They will be introduced to stairs, different surfaces, all different sounds, a vary of foods (mostly raw meaty types), children and other dogs..... but the real education will begin when they go to their new homes.  What's wonderful is that they will become a part of the huge extended family of Alchmy puppy owners and alllll of their friends.

May 11 Day 62

Unfortunately because the Blog server had problems my entry for the rest of the night was lost.  Instead of trying to recreate it I want to spend my time catching up with what's happening Now.  So!  To make a long story short :)

Puppies started arriving at 11am and the last was delivered at 9pm.  Nickel did a fabulous job of delivering the puppies about every 45 minutes with a few long naps in between.  We now have 9 beautiful, healthy and robust puppies!  5 girls and 4 boys.  It looks like there are several Silvers and the rest are Blues.  Nickel is a blue and her mom is a silver... so basically you can see that the puppies will probably grow up to be the same gorgeous silver color.  I was incredibly happy and relieved that all the puppies survived.  Since Nickel is 5 years old and this is her first litter I was a little worried ... especially knowing it was a large litter.   She is a robust girlie and did an amazing job.

Into a new world

Blue- first born

FIRST PUPPY BORN 11:00am    GIRL 14 0z  


2nd  Girl 
3rd Boy
4th Girl
5th Girl


so far...  all looking healthy and robust... averaging about 45 minutes each...............more to come!

Nickel feeling a contraction.... the puppies nursing helps to induce labor

Looking pretty good and fresh after the first few puppies