Puppy Breath and Puppy Teeth

24 days old with tiny, sharp teeth! They feel like the tips of nails. I come home and greet them in the manner I usually do, with a hellooooo and get real close to them. One reaches up to me, I pick it up, start doggy kissing its face, and feel those sharp claws on my neck and cheek. I put it down and pet another one, so this one gets my finger in its mouth. I freeze feeling four little teeth, two on top and two on the bottom. The teeth look so cute and match everything baby about them.

I thought everybody hates puppy breath, but I know my friend Tracy loves it and I think I'm use to it now. It's just when I pick up a puppy, I think I'm suppose to smell something like roses but I don't. I can't really describe puppy breath to save their reputation; although I warn you it is not a pretty smell.

They are in a bigger play pen in the garage which I think might be to big for them right now. First they walk all around inspecting it and find what it's all about. It will only take a couple more weeks for them to really take advantage of the space but for now they still do a lot of cuddling in one spot. The small dog bed in the picture is a favorite hangout.

Puppies are really developing socially and physically this week. They see farther, hear better, and play rough with each other. I hear different ways they bark and growl. They start the chewing behavior because teeth are growing in. Thankfully, Cora is still feeding them but this weekend we may start weaning them away from her milk.  Some chew on the toys but most pick at each other. There are still two I call sleepyheads because I see them sleep more than anything. Are they developing slower than the others or just lazy? Puppies should be lazy! It takes a lot of energy to grow, learn, and play.

I wish to be a sleepy puppy!

  

Puppy Pack Leader

They are almost three weeks old! In researching the development of puppies, I remember that life changes for them significantly. They start to walk really well and eat real food, sort of, it is dry food smashed up with a little bit of water to soften it up. That is this weekend but let me tell you what's happening now.

All of them are more mobile and way louder than ever. Cora comes in the pen to just check on them and clean up a bit so when she leaves it sounds like bloody murder! Two puppies get really loud but all of them together is a howling choir of screams. They yell for Cora to hear them hoping she comes back. Although, their eyesight and hearing develops, they still mostly just eat and sleep. They do have a puppy howl which is really cute! Also, I only wake up one time through the night to puppies screaming which is way better than before.

Oh! I finally clip their nails because I know it hurts Cora. She feeds them a little longer which is the reason why I do it. I know if Cora talks that's what she would tell me.

A couple of them chew the soft toys Cora and I put in the pen. They look so cute doing it! Another new thing is snapping at each other's ears. There is still lots of cuddling to stay warm and comfort each other. It really is amazing how animals help themselves to survive even when they are newborns.

One puppy already has behaviors like it is the pack leader. It walks around puppy growling and checking on the other puppies. It looks like they communicate to each other. I wish I could speak puppy!

Who's Who?

Where do I start explaining how busy this is?

First, I'll tell you that today they are two weeks old. They make us so busy that we need every minute of the day to keep these puppies happy and healthy. They scream so loud, last night the loudest, that we loose sleep having to wake up to check on them. Not to mention, that Cora needs to go out in the middle of the night for a potty break too. They do sleep a lot. So they are less work for now.

I have to count twice on two different days to make sure I get the number of boys and girls right. Today I count for the second time and find that it is actually even. There are three boys and three girls. I guess I could be happy saying that it came out fair; although I want more boys than girls because I think they are easier to train and obey. That's coming from my limited experience. Ultimately, all is fair, being already an even sum and now exactly the same amount of males and females.

Who is who? It is hard enough when they are born to keep track but now it seems to be getting easier. Two boys have pink noses with both of their eyes open. The third boy has a black nose and his eyes are still closed. Two girls have pink noses. Only one of them has her eyes open and the other has them closed. The third girl has a black nose and only one eye open. It's weird how not all of them have their eyes open and a single puppy has only one eye open. Hopefully, they develop their eyesight no matter how long it takes. Oh, and all of their eyes are blue. Kittens and puppies are born that way and then the colors change as they grow or stay blue.

I'm sorry for the late blog but the days and nights are not long enough, it seems always. I only took one picture and one video today. The picture is of the puppy who is first to open its eyes and it is the biggest one. She is a girl. Ladies first, seems true even in the dog world. The video is of them walking around and making noise. They are faster and stronger. Enjoy! Stay posted for more!

8 days old

Puppies are eight days old and twice as big! They are so precious!
The puppies are developing day by day. They are now eating only 10% of the time and sleeping 90% for the rest of it, which is normal. Their eyes and ears are not open yet, but should be soon.

Cora is able to leave them more often. She goes outside and plays with Benny and her toys. She is running around, digging, and finding any way to get under the deck and have some quiet time. Benny and May are adjusting to the new members safely and surely.

I think it is worth to say that everyone is on board and doing their part to help this doggy family grow successfully. Everyone is helping keep their home warm, clean, and all animals are getting human quality time as much as possible.

Thanks for reading and continue to stay posted! I will post again when their eyes open!

Is it 6 or is it 7?

They made it! The vet said 7 possibly 8 but Cora seems done at 6. Even numbers are fair and 6 is enough for a volleyball team! Or should I say sled team?! 

Early in the morning she is busy asking for potty trips. I remember four sequences of waking up, opening the side door of the garage, waiting for her safe return, and trying to go back to sleep. I know it's a labor sign like all the events of yesterday. 

As I'm walking to my car from breakfast shopping at Safeway, John calls me. He tells me that her water broke. I safely rush home and agree with him that she is getting ready. It happens quicker than I think and Puppy One comes. I am so nervous because John just left to go grocery shopping because we think there is time. 

By the way, I am so thankful I took the time yesterday to research online what happens during whelping. I feel ready and try to stay calm thinking about what to do if the head or feet come first. Puppy One is head first, big sigh of relief. Only two puppies come feet first. Everyone in the house comes in at some point to see the wonderful work of mother nature. Even Benny watches a few times.

We wait sometimes an hour or fifteen minutes between puppies. Every single one comes out white. All six do great coming into the world! They are hungry, hungry, hungry!

Surprisingly, playing midwife is easy. I think Cora made it easy for me. I only help wiggle one in a breach. As far as cleaning them and helping them get to their food, it is teamwork. Cora works the best. She is so natural at all of it. The fact that 98% of whelps require no help clears my mind the whole time of any complications. I imagine seeing the fact online in the process. She finishes in the early evening.

They are white, so soft, like a feather, small, cute, and squirmy. Even the puppy noises are cute! I will remember I said that when the noises interrupt our sleep. Now the plan is to keep them near Cora to stay warm, feed Mama, water Mama, help her and the play pen stay clean, and watch them as much as possible. Sometimes they wander to the wrong end of her and we have to steer them towards the middle. They are deaf and blind. Look it up for a timeline of their growth or stay posted! 

Waiting for Puppies to Be Born

I wish somebody told me what it is like to wait for puppies.

If I recollect emotions of breeders I know they would not be as stressed as I feel right now. They seem more patient and relaxed during these times. It's probably because this is my first time and it is not theirs. 

Anyway, I have never felt so attached and ironically "leashed" to Cora as I do now. I canceled hanging out with friends at least three times because of thinking she is going to give birth this or that night. It's not like me to make appointments and cancel them. Well, I like to think I don't waste people's time. I try, at least. 

Her behavior just changed today. Today is her two month mark, so that's about 60 days. She looks like she can't get any bigger. She is acting mean! Well, I would be mean too if I gained so much weight and had 7 little squirming, moving babies inside me. 

First, let me tell you, she is picky about what to eat and now when to eat. She is even picky about how much to eat! I feel like a waitress. Cora tips me well with company, kisses, and soon coming puppies. Second, she is possessive! She wants every toy in this house all in her playpen. Benny came under the bed to steal back a toy and she would have killed him if I didn't step in. Third, she can't wait to go to the bathroom. I understand that but I'm tired of cleaning up the garage. Also, she is being picky about where to sleep. We have a playpen set up for her with all these blankets and all the toys available from their toy basket and she chooses to sleep under the bed. Please don't have the puppies under the bed Cora!!

Lastly, I am playing referee between them and who gets to be in what part of the house. It's exhausting constantly watching their behavior after the intense possession incident. Do I have any help? He is working his last shift tonight before his week off. 

I did talk to a friend during this whole waiting period, through texts and actually on the phone today. Carli is great at understanding and being flexible, and most importantly listening to my frustrations of this whole waiting game. 

I know this whole experience is a process and I'm going to feel impatient and stressful with the work of puppies, but it'll be worth it. I hear Lydia telling me now, "Patience, Grasshopper." Then we would say, "Time to get busy!"

That's my second blog of the husky puppy adventure. Time to research contracts and outline ideas for my puppy packet! 

Oh yeah, and hopefully, the puppies come tonight...

Puppy X-rays

Look at that X-ray! What do you see? Puppies, puppies, puppies! 

The vet actually took two x-ray pictures and we counted seven little heads. He said possibly eight. 

First of all, let me tell you about my huskies. If only, I can show you this book. I made it on Shutterfly about our pets. John, my boyfriend of two years, wanted us to get a cat and dog. I only wanted a dog, but after little persuasion we got both. Also decidedly, purebred huskies instead of Great Danes or Labradors from my original plan. I love all of our pets since the day I picked them up and brought them home!

So we have May (kitty), Benny (first husky male), and Cora (second husky female). We planned Cora for Benny so they wouldn't be alone their whole lives. Huskies can live up to 15 years, but I believe and dream that I will always be around them. Benny is 19 months old and Cora is 14 months old. They are both a beautiful white. Cora is smaller with amber eyes and a pink outline while Benny has blue eyes with black outline. 

Ultimately, Cora and Benny were tied in November, before Cora even turned one year old. We saw them "dance" a couple times before I actually noted their last tie on November 4. We were debating bringing her to the vet, because we already knew that she was pregnant. I did research online for symptoms and she was showing them. Plus, everyone knows any doctor visit costs money! Our concluding concern is to make an appointment because it is her first litter. We want to know how many to expect in case of whelping complications. He said she was healthy and in her prime and the puppies are small. Hopefully, God willing the birth of them all will be complication free. 

Understanding this concept of breeding huskies is causing me to feel excitement, pride, but slight anxiety, and a lack of experience. I know there are some behavior problems with our dogs which is not ideal nor my plan. I am also dealing with the setbacks of my goals for these animals. Thankfully, they are at the least healthy and have room to roam. I am reading and doing research so I'm feeling more prepared. We also just changed the whelping box into a playpen. We're learning as we go too. We're accommodating our house hosts and other animals.  

Now you have a quick glance and summarizing caption of the puppy x-rays. Do your research! Plan ahead! Keep it clean and safe!