The Road Litter is One Day Old

The Road Litter pups are 1 day old!  Everyone is doing really well.  Pups are thriving and seem very content.  Bon is tired but is being a really attentive, careful mother.  She’s a little sore and her incision is itchy but we have pain meds to use as necessary.  And now that she has room in her tummy, she’s eating again!  So nice to have my chow hound back.

I forgot to mention that after they were born, my vet checked all the pups and everyone checked out just perfectly. Healthy pups with good strong heart beats.

Some of you have asked why we needed the C section.  Two pups tried to make their exit at the same time so they t-boned and were jammed right at the start of the birth canal and that blocked up everything.  Nothing to do with her and no reason we can’t breed her again if we want – though I wouldn’t mention that around Bruce anytime soon! 

Right now, someone is with the pups 24/7.  She's being really great and very careful but she's tired.  And new at this.  So there's always the risk that she might roll on one and not know what to do in response to the puppies cries.  In two weeks, when they are bigger, more mobile, can see and can get out of her way easily, we won't have to be with them 24/7. Though I suspect we won’t want to be away from them too much.  They are magical!  I could watch them all day!

The pups and Bon are doing so well that Pat is heading back to Mi and we are on our own.  We’re trying to get into a routine and I suspect as we all get more settled it will come a bit easier.  Bruce watched the pups, ran some errands and I was able to do some tidying and organizing and now have time to sit and update the Blog.  My OCD side is happier now J

They are little pigs!  They eat, and eat and eat some more.  Nap and then eat again.  What a life!

We're getting some sleep.  I go to bed in our bedroom around 8-9 and Bruce is with them until midnight or 1:00.  He's a night owl so that works well.  Then I come in and sleep beside them for the rest of the night.  We switch off during the day.  We're tired but we're also pretty jacked up on adrenaline and excitement!  I didn't want to sleep last night even after being up for 36 hours - just didn't want to leave them :-)

We start the ENS and ESI exercises on Wednesday but they are getting some socialization already with some visitors and don’t forget they’ve already had their first car ride!

I'm going to try and do individual photos every week so you have a record from week to week.  Then random cute shots will be up every day - even if it's just one photo.  I know what it's like to wait for a puppy!

Oh, and the little white spot on top of their heads is a Manny stamp.  It will go away as they get older but he stamps a number of his spots with that little white stamp.

Speaking of Manny, we have some exciting news from the GRCA to share with you!  They have announced the year-end trophy results.  This year both the Bill Lester AND the Lorelei Rockbottom trophies are being awarded, something that rarely happens. Manny is the recipient or co-recipient of both!!!  Very exciting!

Ch/AFC Lorelei’s Golden Rockbottom UD Trophy – “To the GRCA member owning the Golden Retriever who has completed his AKC bench championship and has, during the year, placed or been awarded a JAM in an AKC Open, Amateur OR Limited All-Age, Qualifying or Derby stake in an AKC licensed or Member Field Trial”

A TIE!

CH Beau Geste Being Ramiroz CDX MH CCA WCX ** VCX  DDHF Owner: Susan Lynch

                And

 CH Unicoi’s Sail Away Angel CDX TD MH ** Owner:  Kristin Ozmun-Sipus

        

Bill Lester Memorial Trophy – “To encourage all GRCA members competing with one dog in both          field and conformation events and to recognize their achievements in both areas.  Awarded to the GRCA member accumulating the highest points in AKC licensed or member breed shows and AKC licensed field trials during the calendar year, according to the established point schedule”

CH Beau Geste Being Ramiroz CDX MH ** WCX VCX DDHF

I’m working on the schedule but it looks like their temperament test will be November 12/13.  With 12 (!) we’ll do 6 each day.  Structural and bird assessments may happen after the temp test or on the 14th. 

And last but not least, before I go stare at pups again, thank you, thank you to my invaluable support team – Pat Swallows for flying down the road (J) to get here from MI (no speeding tickets!), acting as a vet assistance (once my vet found out she was a nurse he all but got her gowned up to assist with the surgery!)  and helping us to get rolling; Gayle Watkins of Gaylan’s Goldens and Avidog International LLC for her invaluable insights, advice and guidance (and for waking to answer a 2:45 am text and skypeing  with us in the middle of the night !), to Deb Brunner-Walker for helping to rub pups, driving us all to the vets, keeping me calm and for staying awake for 36 hours to help get us through this; and last but not least to my remarkable vet, Dr. Kevin Bacon, who is the reason I’m staring at 13 beautiful golden retrievers in the whelping box right now.  The Roadsters already have some amazing Aunties and Uncles!