The Brody x Phoebe puppies are here!

The Brody x Phoebe puppies started arriving yesterday at 1:30pm. At the time I was thinking "wonderful, a day time delivery..that never happens. Maybe I'll actually get some sleep tonight". Silly me, that's never the way it goes.

The first to arrive was a male and I thought he was dead when he came out. I worked and worked and worked.....rubbing him down, getting everything moving and gently breathing into his mouth. He finally rewarded me with a little gasp...and I have to tell you I could hear angels singing. I just kept working....another gasp....work work work..another gasp. He finally moved a little bit. So much fluid came out of his nose as I worked. I held him forward so it could drain while I continued to will him to live. It took awhile before he made any noise and the gasping continued but got much closer together and finally stopped altogether as he began to breath normally. A huge relief.

This is where he spent the next little while, warming up right where I could see and feel him. I'm very happy to report that he is none the worse for wear, nursing very well and gaining weight.

 The next puppy took a very long time to arrive....four hours to be exact. Phoebe hadn't been contracting hard, just a few random ones getting the puppy into position so I wasn't overly worried but when she finally did start contracting regularly...it continued for about 45 min with no puppy. Finally the sac containing the puppy showed just a bit and burst...but no puppy. She continued to work but nothing to show for it. I called my vet, gave her a shot of oxytocin, 25 minutes and still nothing so I packed her and puppy number one in the van to head to the vet and a probable c section. I barely made it out of the driveway and I heard a little squawk. I immediately pulled over and checked on Phoebe and sure enough there was a little puppy head coming out. We worked together right there on the side of the road and the first girl was born. I barely had time to get back to the house when puppy three (also a girl) was born. After that there was no more drama and they came about every 1 and a half to 2 hours. It was a very long night and I finally laid down for an hours snooze at 6am. Today I am beat but Mom and babies are doing well and just look at them.....all worth it. :)

Keeping warm with the heat lamp...

Being a breeder is tough work and mentally, physically and financially draining but I love it. Genetics fascinate me and I love the connection through pedigrees to the old dogs and breeders that have come before. On top of that I just love dogs, I love working with them and living with them....the sacrifice is worth it when you truly love what you do. 

The final puppy count for yesterday is seven, five girls and two boys and of course all red as expected.