Hopes and Wishes in a New Year

Zoey and Faith sure enjoy being together. When they were tiny, they were frequently together in the random pictures I took so I find it ironic that they remain together. Faith is sitting up in the picture.



I had the puppies in front (it is fenced) and they literally stop traffic on our street. A mom and her two sweet kids made a U turn to see puppies; I invited them in and got some really great pictures, if I do not say so myself. It is hard not to take great pictures with cute puppies and cute kids together!

A puppy rule that every kid in the neighborhood knows not to violate is "do not pick up the puppy" and so all of these pictures are because the puppy initiated the interaction. This is Whitby with his new friend.



This is cute and quiet Sydney.



Sydney decided that she had just about enough of Hudson and his movie star looks so she decided to try and maim him. Heidi will like Sydney quite a bit!



I am not sure which puppy this is but I love the picture :)



Sutton is not as big as the other boys but he sure is lovely, isn't he?



This is guess who doing guess what...sigh...



Rock Star aka Hudson



Another look at the future star...



Sutton thought this girl was delightful, especially because her hair was such a clever tug toy!



Puppies are not unlike people -- they hurt us, they love us, and we always go back for more.



Geneva is the smallest girl -- she is a petite darling and QUIET. I bet she would not even be noticed on the two acre grounds of a small hotel! And I am certain the California air would agree with her -- doesn't she look like Kaibab's Get Real?!



Or maybe quiet, sweet Geneva could be Kaibab's Gotta Be Kidding??



Look at how sweet this picture is - I love it!

Happy New Year!! I am looking forward to 2009 and will spend some time this morning writing out hopes and wishes for the year. This is really a gentler way of saying that I will be goal setting but a goal sounds so important, as if not achieving it would constitute failure. Hopes and wishes lay out a vision, and just seems kind and optimistic.

I certainly hope and wish our Glitterati will continue to thrive and be happy. I hope and wish that I will make the right choices of homes for them -- such a big responsibility that weighs heavily on me. Right now a woman in California is trying to convince her husband that three berners would be just fine and that a quiet Glitterati would fit right in (hence the references in the pictures). He responded in a most clever way -- never have I seen "HELL NO" and "OVER MY DEAD BODY"presented so poetically! Sometimes the best home is just not available to a puppy, and sometimes a great puppy is not available for a wonderful home. This matchmaking process is a challenging one with so many pieces that have to fall neatly into place.

Puppy assignments will not be made until they are 7.5 weeks old. I will be keeping a girl and could never pick a favorite puppy -- how sad would that be?! Picking a favorite means rejecting others, and I love them all. Therefore, my puppy will be picked on something more objective -- her structure. Whichever girl is the "best" in terms of her structure will stay with me. Of course, this assumes good temperament but I have no concerns with temperament. So the girl that we think is most "correct" will stay with me; I suspect this will not be an easy choice as all of the girls are quite lovely.

Although we may well have several in the litter who can finish championships and are therefore show puppies, not all will be placed in show homes. Many so-called "pet" puppies are just as lovely as "show" puppies, but are just not in a show home. I limit the number of show homes and so this limits how many puppies get designated as show puppies. A show puppy is not spayed or neutered until the championship is done; therefore, I limit placement of show puppies, and I am very careful about the people I trust with them.

What are your hopes and wishes for this new year? Whatever they are, my hope and wish is that you enjoy the journey they take you on. Thanks for your visit and have a wonderful and Happy New Year.

P.S. One advantage of not drinking is that it is 6:30 a.m. on New Year's Day and I am clear headed and off to walk my dogs ;) Hope your day gets off to an equally good start!

A Picture Perfect Afternoon

WOW! Look what I figured out! Kathy and Joan will be so happy to have the pictures explained :) The above is Sutton trying to make off with Bella's leash.

Okay, I have already admitted that Jamaica is a wee bit barky -- here she is standing on the porch and barking for reasons known only to her. Sigh.

This is Pugsly -- I mean Whitby. He has one seriously cute face!

Joan brought Bella to meet the puppies and here she is greeting Faith. Notice Faith's gray coat -- this is normal, although unusual. Her adult coat will be black -- this is a puppy coat thing. Bella is Faith's aunt because she is Halo's littermate.

This is Joan and Sutton.

Geneva is looking up at the camera and Jamaica took a break from talking to chew on a bush.

Elizabethanne brought her poodle, Chase, over to meet puppies -- here is Ireland saying hey! to Chase.

Okay, so she is a little vocal -- but look how cute Jamaica is!

But Sydney is also adorable -- and more quiet!

But Jamaica is so adorable and has so much personality -- decisions, decisions...

Hudson -- well, there is a reason we call him Rock Star.


The puppies had fun tormenting Chase. Their previously perfected rotation attack methods came in very handy as they were able to tag team. Luckily for Chase, he is significantly faster and more agile!

Here is Bella greeting her youngest cousins or whatever relationship they are :)

Toronto -- isn't he too cute?!


As you can see from the pictures, the puppies had a busy day yesterday. They met two dogs and spent time outside. Elizabethanne agrees this is a rather noisy litter but she blames Cadi for this attribute (if it is from Cadi, clearly it is an attribute). I know, of course, that the bark gene comes directly down from Ready, who is Cadi's great-grandfather; bad weather and bad luck can also be blamed on Ready ;)

The puppies did great with the two dogs. They were playful and curious, and are starting to trot and run. Jamaica fancies herself a border collie and tried to nip at Chase's heels but he was too fast for her. Bella was not sure what to think about all her small relatives but was a good sport, which is a good thing-- she will soon have a Glitterati boy sharing her home (and tormenting her, no doubt).

I hope your day is picture perfect! Happy New Year from us and be safe if you are celebrating (or even if you are not!). Thanks for your visit.

Confidence in Baby Steps

As you can see from the photos, the puppies enjoyed (sort of) some time outside yesterday. It was interesting to watch their reactions -- a few were quite unsure about that cold white stuff and the new place. When I let Cadi out to join them, all were instantly fine. It reminded me how confidence starts from the outside -- if a puppy or child does not get chances to be competent and experience new things in a safe, secure way then s/he learns to be fearful. But if we support them and their efforts to step out on their own, then they learn to be confident and sure of themselves.

That said, it is also true that people and puppies arrive with a temperament. The idea that babies and puppies are blank slates that we can mold and shape into what we want is not really true -- they have hard wiring that we must learn to work with. Part of what I love about training dogs is that each one presents unique intellectual and creative challenges to me because they are so different, even though they are related and have been raised together.

Zoey and Faith, from the F Litter, are good examples. Faith is bomb proof and loves everyone and everything. She is sweet and friendly and just a love. Zoey, who was the wild and bold puppy in that litter, sometimes takes just a minute to warm up to new people and places. You can see her brain working as she sizes things up and makes a determination about what to do. I recognize Zoey's temperament because it is familiar -- Asia (her full sister, age 17 mos) was like that. And so I know what to do to help Zoey grow in her confidence, and I also know not to worry about it -- she will be fine. In fact, she will be more than fine -- Asia is my easiest and most devoted dog, and Zoey appears to be following in her pawprints.

Cadi's temperament is like Faith -- bombproof. She was born with confidence and it only grew. You could see her spark from the time she was a tiny puppy. Nothing bothers Cadi -- except elephants. She had an elephant encounter on one of our walks -- the zoo is close and the elephant fence is right by the sidewalk. Cadi and the elephant surprised each other, and ever since that happened she has not liked elephants or even the zoo. Luckily, we rarely encounter elephants!

Cadi does have more energy than is really safe for one berner to possess. Her tail is known as a dangerous weapon and she also likes to fling herself at the feet of everyone and anyone. When someone comes over or comes home, she grabs something to carry and runs around happily carrying whatever it is in her mouth. She loves everyone and is just a very happy dog. And Cadi is brilliant in a very clever way. When she was a puppy she figured out that putting her stuffed kong in a hole would help her get at the filling better -- it was like she was using a tool! She still does this, and really does amaze me at what she can puzzle out.

I am feeling very positive about the temperaments in this litter. The Glitterati are more vocal than the F Litter -- I am not sure what this means yet. They are curious and engaging. This morning I put a box in their pen and watched as they climbed on it (and fell off). Zoey and I went in to sit with them -- they love to play with Zoey. Sutton was barking and play bowing, and all took turns with Zoey and also sitting in my lap. They are better at mouth-eye coordination and can now grab my hair -- ouch.

We are starting to be able to tell some things about structure. As we expected, we have lovely rears and so far the toplines look great. Cadi and Jed both have nice heads and the puppies take after their parents. The eyes are darkening up well -- Cadi had black eyes as a puppy and I think we will have no light eyes in this litter. They are very fluffy -- this is one thing we were looking for by breeding to Jed -- Cadi does not have enough coat so I am pleased to see puppies with tons of it. They are still cobby little puppies, and this is also what we were looking for. No puppy is freaky or spooky, and I am very happy about that. I love how interactive and friendly they are, and of course, I have to say that they are even more adorable than yesterday.

It is time that I have to get serious about puppy placements -- my least favorite part of breeding. I have sent away a couple of people recently who wrote or called and basically said, "got pups?" I probably should be more understanding but I find those inquiries offensive. We put so much into breeding these dogs well and there is so much info out there on the dogs and their families that when people ignore all of that and want a puppy -- any puppy -- it just bugs me. I know we all have to learn sometime and I do direct them to resources so hopefully they will learn the ropes and how to make a better first impression, but I guess I want smarter puppy owners -- ones who do their homework and appreciate what we are trying to accomplish.

I am excited about the homes that will be getting a Glitterati puppy -- I have committed most but not all puppies. I will ask the new families to provide an introduction so that you can all get to know them.

I have dogs to walk so let me get to the pictures. The first one is Whitby attempting the steps -- he is doing pretty well, don't you think? Sydney found a nice place to curl up and chew things, and that is her with the hose and football. Galen had taken a puppy in and I was counting heads and getting six -- not good. I counted three times, double checked that Galen had just one and went off looking for the stray. I found her in a large hole the big dogs have dug over the years -- that little adventurer was Jamaica and she was nonplussed at her predicament.

The two puppies together are Sydney and Jamaica, and there are two pictures of Ireland -- a lovely profile of her standing and then one of her sitting. Hudson is in the photo coming towards the camera and the group shot is a test! Can you name all the puppies in that picture?

I hope you have a wonderful day doing things you are good at doing, and growing in your confidence as a result. Thanks for your visit and also your fun comments.

Brazil!!!

Sam and Liz are one of the Lucky Glitterati Families, and I asked them to share pictures of their holiday in Brazil. Liz sent these pictures (and descriptions) this morning from Brazil (isn't the internet grand?) -- it looks like they are having a bit too much fun! And Kiko, the many emotioned pug, seems to be having fun with grandma -- does grandma do berners?!

The pictures did not upload in order so consider it a mystery to match Liz's description to the correct picture!

1. I couldn't resist attaching one of Kiko, who is sleeping on his bed at his grandma's house
2. There is one of me and Sam drinking coconut water out of young green coconuts in front of the Senhor do Bonfim church (a famous cathedral) in Salvador, Brazil.
3. Me and Sam sitting at a restaurant drinking Chopp (draft beer) right on the beach watching the sunset
4. Sam with me, Sam's dad, Sam's aunt Marinalva, his cousin Alessandra at her condo that overlooks the beach
5. A beautiful presentation of a traditional meal in Salvador: Moqueca -- a stew made with fish, shrimp, octopus, coconut milk, spices, and red palm oil, a little bowl of farofa (cassava flour mixed with egg), a little bowl of rice, and a little bowl of Vatapa (paste made of shrimp, farofa, coconut milk). Salvador, Bahia (Salvador is the city, Bahia is the state) has a population of over 80% people from African descent, because when Portugal colonized Brazil this is where the ships of African slaves were taken. Today, the culture, food, music, art, and dancing are brimming and rich with African influence and history.
6. Another I couldn't resist: Grandma giving treats to her two grandson's, Kiko and my sister's Jack Russell (now called Parsons Russell I believe) named Chico.
7. I don't know if you can see this very well, but it is a photo of a Brazilian martial arts troup. The Brazilian martial art is called Capoeira (pronounced cap-wet-a) and it was created right here in Salvador. It was devised by African slaves who wanted to prepare and train for a revolt and it was made to look like dancing so that the slave masters could not detect that slaves were training in a very deadly form of martial art.
8. A photo of a very bright green iguana hanging out in a tree about three feet from our restaurant table. This restaurant was called Paraiso Tropical and its chef is world renowned and everything he serves comes directly from his orchards and gardens, which you can tour right at the restaurant.
9. Two giant sea turtles at the Tamar Projeto (Turtle Project) -- the Tamar Projeto has locations all around Brazil and its goal is to ensure the continuation of the species. The one we visited was at a very beautiful beach called Praia do Forte.
10. Me and Sam in the Pelourinho -- The Pelourinho is a very famous square in Salvador and all of the colonial-style architecture has been preserved. It used to be a place where African slaves were put into a stockade, but now serves as a center of African-influenced culture, food, and shopping. It's a beautiful place with an eerie history. It also houses the museum of the famous Bahaian novelist, Jorge Amado.
11. Sam lapping up the sun on the beautiful beach of Guarajuba. You can see the blue water behind him (which was very warm!).
12. Sam with his dad, his cousin Felipe, and his step-mom, Fatima at the Praia do Villas (Praia means beach).

Something Different

I normally correct any little errors I see but today's Blog is a PowerPoint and a pain to change now that it is posted so ignore errors please! I hope you enjoy this...

Quick Sunday Morning Note

I put a water bowl in the puppies' pen this morning and it has been fun to see them figure out how to drink. They do not need water now but I thought it would be a good practice for them -- towards their six week birthday we will begin to introduce other foods. We will start with something very easy -- maybe goat's milk yogurt with banana or pumpkin. Soon after we will add a chicken and rice smoothie, and they will also eat a variety of fruits and veggies. I do not introduce puppy kibble until they are over seven weeks and then it is just one meal a day of kibble and the other meals will remain homemade. They will continue to nurse until they leave for their new homes.

They are a playful bunch! And their teeth are SHARP -- I think they sharpen them at night. Galen was remarking that they bite like a gator -- they twist as they bite sometimes and that hurts! This morning I also added an empty milk jug to their toys -- I like them to have different things in their environment.

The puppies will have visitors later so Utah people -- feel free to stop by between 7 and 8:30 p.m. Congratulations to Susan on her new grandchild : ) and Liz -- send pictures of your adventure and I will post to our Blog.

Today's pictures -- that would be Karma in the Christmas tree! The puppies nurse standing up so I took a picture of that and one close-up of Whitby nursing. Zoey is playing with Jamaica and that is cute Toronto with the toy. I love the one of Cadi and one of the girls :)

I hope your Sunday is a peaceful one -- thanks for checking in today.

Five Week Faces

Hassles vs. Problems vs. Babies

One thing that some of the puppies do that I think is very sweet is that they ask/beg/demand to be picked up. Geneva just did this -- all the other puppies are asleep but she walked around the x-pen opening, trying to get out and whining loudly. I picked her up and just carried her as I did a few things. She quietly tasted my fingers, growled when I played with her, licked my face and just was content to be held for a few minutes. I put her back in the pen and now she is asleep with the rest.

This is a very typical request from a puppy. If Cadi is close-by, I will sometimes put the puppy with her to have some special nursing time but often we just hold the puppy or puppies who are asking for something outside the box, so to speak.

Some might wonder why we would reinforce a puppy for crying -- because that is how a baby conveys his/her needs. How else is a puppy to tell us that they want/need something -- send an email?! I want the puppies to find humans reinforcing and enjoyable -- it is a good thing that the puppies ask to be with us. If I ignore them, these early efforts at engagement will extinguish -- that is what happens when we ignore behavior.

Once again we have to talk about development. Puppies are not small dogs -- they are babies. We gently shape behavior, of course, but always with thoughtful consideration of capabilities. I want to shape positive interaction with people, and so when a puppy asks for it, I want to reinforce it.

I worry when people talk about being the "leader" or admire about that abusive dog whisperer person on television. If I have to prove to my dog that I am the leader, well -- I think I have bigger problems than a dog who ignores me. My way of training is more collaborative and respectful -- don't you think the best leaders are the ones who are not always out to prove they are the boss?

And so I have nothing to prove to a baby puppy except that the world is a safe and loving place, and that his/her needs will be met. There is plenty of time for these puppies to learn about grown-up dog things, but for now they have baby needs and wants, and they deserve to have those met.

Many years ago when I was teaching in Eau Claire I had a student talk to me about her nine year old son. It seems she was having a really hard time getting him to take a shower and stay clean, and this was causing no end of conflict. I told her that it was pretty normal for that age boy to be like that, and that he would grow out of it so not to worry too much about it. Less than two weeks later the boy was accidentally hanged while playing with friends; I know that his mother would do anything to have that dirty, smelly boy back -- suddenly showers just did not matter.

We give meaning to tragedy when we learn from it, and so I have tried hard to learn from all the families I have worked with. The biggest take home message for me is to not sweat the small stuff -- so what if the puppy pulls the leash, chews a slipper, or cries to get out of the crate? Those are not real problems.

So my puppies get to be the babies they are, and that tough love crap doesn't happen around here. When one of those even more adorable than yesterday puppies want to be held, you can bet there are loving arms to hold that baby. Soon they will be too big and this precious, fleeting time will have passed -- I intend to make the most of it.

And speaking of babies, look at that sweet little boy who came to visit puppies yesterday!!! That is Cooper who is visiting his Aunt Lesley. Cooper thought the puppies were okay but he LOVED Karma :) And look at the puppies' reaction to Cooper's dad -- that is what happens when puppies are learning that people can be trusted. Lesley is holding Ireland, and you can see that Toronto got to go out and see snow! He did not think it was all that fun actually so we will try again in a few days.

We practiced some group shots. The four together are the girls -- can you tell who they are? Then there is Hudson and Sutton together, Whitby and Toronto together and just Ireland and Sydney. Today we will be working on five week pictures -- can you even believe they are five weeks old?!

I hope that you will think about the difference between a hassle and a problem, and have a great day free of both! Thanks for your visit :)

Cute Times One Million!

Each day I wonder if the puppies can get any cuter -- and then they do! I am not sure how that is even possible as they seem to top the Cuteness Meter each day, but they all find a way. This morning I was sitting with them after they had eaten and they were so playful. Geneva was playing tug with my sleeve and growling -- it was really cute! Jamaica was scampering around playing with toys, and barking. Toronto wanted to be in my lap and Hudson was busy touring the facilities. All but one puppy used the designated potty area this morning -- isn't that great progress?!

In order to accommodate Christmas, the puppies temporarily relocated to the kitchen. Normally they and their three x-pens and two sheets of linoleum cover the living room but we needed that space to watch Its a Wonderful Life and enjoy our Christmas Day festivities so they moved. The puppies definitely noticed the change in scenery and were all walking around whining (they are kind of loud anyway -- must be from Jed ;). But they settled down quickly and seemed to enjoy all the new smells and activities.

The puppies got lots of attention, and met my daughter and her husband for the first time -- Doug was excited at the prospect of getting his picture in the Blog (he is holding Sydney) but Nicole was not; however, I am still trying to find ways to repay her for being the teenager she was and so yes indeed, that is Nicole holding a puppy :) That is Dear Husband Kim holding four puppies, and some of us holding all eight. Cassie and Galen had a fight over Sydney, but Cassie prevailed and got to hold Sydney for the picture. There are close-ups are Sutton (head between paws, Sydney (side shot), Jamaica (two dots), Geneva (one dot with red toy).

It will be nice to have the two litters completed so we can focus on training and showing in 2009. I enjoy raising the litters but my real love is actually doing things with the dogs I have. People have asked about future breeding plans and at this point I do not plan to breed another girl for about two years -- that would be Cadi having her second and last litter. Asia has a unilateral grade 1 elbow on preliminary films and I do not expect that to change, and so as much as I love her, she will not be bred unless a miracle happens and she clears at two years. I have options from the F Litter if those girls turn out as I expect but I do not like to breed girls early and so they will be close to three and maybe older before one of them would be bred. So, Cadi in a couple of years and then an Flitter girl within a year after that. In the meantime, lots of training, showing, new titles and fun :)

I hope you are having fun today and that someone thinks you are off the Cuteness Meter! Have a great day and thanks for visiting -- and for your comments. I am glad you enjoyed the video!

Live from our Kitchen!

We hope you enjoy the puppies as much as we do -- go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nIuqnic690

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!! Stop by later for a special puppy Christmas surprise :) In the meantime, enjoy these sweet pictures from Joan's visit yesterday -- and can you believe Karma? She is Noah v.2.0!

The Penalty of Procrastination

Life inside a Puppy Bubble means that other things in life fall by the wayside -- like cleaning, for example. Well, except Puppy Central, which is always clean! Raising a litter well requires a level of commitment and dedication of time and energy that does not leave much space for other things, and so I have learned to (mostly) be okay with living serenely in the Puppy Bubble while most everything around me is in a bit of chaos.

There are some things I stay up on -- like walking the other dogs. I am obsessive about that and besides, tired dogs are easier to live with. Last night we assembled bags of baked goods and etc. for my husband's crew and colleagues so that got done (and yes, I did the baking!). My laptop gives me the ability to work and so I have been getting quite a bit of writing and other work done. But things are a mess around here and I owe people emails and etc. -- I really need a Personal Assistant and can you believe my husband refuses to do that?! Sometimes (often?) men are so unreasonable!

All this is to say that it is because of the puppies that I must (perish the thought) do last minute shopping this morning!! I should raise the price of the puppies for this huge sacrifice but no amount of money can compensate for the horror of having to shop on Christmas Eve. If only there were not so many people like me cramming the stores :(

Oh well -- at least I have the adorable puppies to make me smile! Hudson is in two pictures today -- one with Cadi and he is biting his foot in another. Whitby is also in a picture with Cadi and in a close-up. There is a close-up of Geneva -- she is a really cute puppy! And Toronto is biting one of his siblings in another picture. It is harder to get pictures now because they want to be in my lap -- not a bad problem to have, I know, and sure beats last minute shopping!

I hope your day is free of procrastinators like me! Thanks for visiting us today and check tomorrow for a special puppy surprise!

The Perils of Motherhood

This morning I was sitting with Cadi and the Glitterati when I noticed drops of bright red blood. This was, as you might imagine, rather alarming. I looked around quickly to see if anyone looked injured but the puppies seemed fine and Cadi was walking around. I noticed more drops and determined they were from Cadi so I took her to the kitchen for an exam.

Now, this all relates to the puppies' latest skill -- they are big enough to nurse when Cadi is standing. This is a new thing for them and the smallest two have just mastered it so none are especially good at it. On one of Cadi's nipples were two puncture marks where clearly a puppy had bitten her, both were bleeding. My best guess is that since Cadi had just nursed some puppies standing up, someone was unstable and grabbed as s/he was started to tip over. It is impossible to suck and bite (try it!), and that is why it does not hurt a mother to nurse a baby with teeth. But puppies and babies do tend to bite at first and quickly get the message that biting is not a good choice.

My other girls would growl and get up when puppies bit them but Cadi -- being of a perfectly generous and kind disposition with not a hint of crossness in her -- has never uttered (uddered?) a peep at her babies who are clearly experimenting with their new chompers. So I was glad to find that the blood was not coming from something very serious but I feel badly for Cadi who is indeed experiencing the perils of motherhood -- all I can say is that at least she does not have to raise teenagers!!

In addition to being big enough to nurse balanced on their back legs, the puppies are now doing some semblance of running -- sort of a fast scamper. They are spinning and I hate to mention this because nobody will want her but Jamaica barks!! It is so cute -- she was barking at another puppy because she wanted to play. That Jamaica is one cute little girl -- and early barking is not a sign that she will forever bark :) Puppies are going to the potty area maybe 30 - 40% of the time now, which is excellent progress. I can confirm that their teeth are now capable of causing pain -- I have not bleed (yet) but those are some serious sharp teeth. And I have to say this again -- they are ADORABLE!!!

You do not need to take my word for this -- the pictures say it all. There is a close-up of Sydney, and one of Toronto playing tug with a toy. Sutton is playing with the colorful toy and there is one of Geneva laying down and looking so much like a big dog. Galen took the picture of Sydney and the bowl -- she had been chewing on Cadi's bowl and fell asleep, still attached to the bowl! There is a picture of a cute puppy pile, and then one that answers Kay and Sue's question about which puppy Kim favors right now -- that is Kim and Hudson (aka Tank); I am sure you will agree that they are both very handsome!

Can you even believe that 2008 is about over?! Puppies are like the new year -- a fresh, clean slate. They represent a chance for their new owners to start over, and make changes based on what they have learned from previous dogs. A new puppy and a new year are filled with hopes and dreams only imagined, and we have the privilege and opportunity to make those things come true. It is an exciting time of new beginnings -- and not too early for all of us to consider our goals for 2009 and if you are a future Glitterati owner, it is a perfect time to thoughtfully consider your goals for your special little puppy. No one arrives at the planned destination without knowing the plan!

Have a terrific day and thank you so much for visit :)

Perfect Puppies and Holiday Thoughts

In addition to celebrating with Jake and Cassie, the puppies had eight other visitors yesterday. They are a social bunch and seem to enjoy climbing in laps and visiting. Geneva planted herself in Kathy's lap and stayed there for almost her whole visit, and Kate enjoys trying to hypnotize the boys to sleep in her lap. I think Joan is falling in love with Sutton, and Cali is reserving judgment on her favorite. Cassie and Galen are both very partial to Sydney, and I think they are all perfect.

Their jaw strength is increasing and when they bite it is getting uncomfortable -- not yet painful but definitely moving in that direction. They are really good at scampering now, and spend more and more time playing. One thing they do that just makes me laugh is that they stick their heads under the couch and fall asleep. I imagine they do not know that their round little bodies are sticking out and instead think they are safely in some dark place. Four or five little bodies will be lined up, with heads under the couch -- isn't there a bird that does that?

We took a picture of Whitby and Toronto together -- don't they look alike? And Cadi was practicing a new way to nurse puppies -- a bit awkward looking but it seemed to work! I thought you might like to see how Lucky Karma is handling life with puppies and yes, I know she seems meant to stay with us. Kate is holding Hudson -- we have decided he most resembles a bull right now. Cali suggested there was no sense in trying to get stacked pictures when their bellies do not have clearance yet -- as I have said before, these are definitely low rider puppies :)

The holiday season is solidly underway and the puppies have a very special treat planned for all of you on Christmas. Since they live in front of the television, they will spend Christmas Eve watching It's A Wonderful Life. No doubt puppies and one or two of the boys will fall asleep but there will still be all the jokes about the funny lines in the movie and the officer shooting at a fleeing person and so on -- it is one of our holiday traditions to watch that movie and also the one about Scrooge. The kids all complain but they endure our efforts at tradition.

But I wanted to recognize that the holiday season is not always a cheerful, happy one. Those who have lost a loved one in the past year or those of us who just wish someone special were still with us can find holidays to be painful reminders of loss. The season can seem hopelessly excessive in a time when so many are losing jobs and have so little, and this can be depressing. There are many reasons that one might feel out of step with all the merriment, and that only increases feelings of isolation.

The puppies remind us that there is joy in simplicity. When I sit with my friends, talking and holding those increasingly plump and fluffy little babies, I am reminded of the gifts that friends and community bring. And the puppies spend no money to send out daily smiles to all of you. Maybe it is not just puppies whose mere presence can be such a gift -- maybe each of us can be a gift in someone's life today and all through the holidays. And let's especially remember those who may be alone, and/or who may be facing a first holiday season without someone dear -- and if that is you, we all send you a special hug and well wishes as you walk with a heavy heart during this time when those who live with sorrow seem forgotten.

Enjoy your day -- and help someone else enjoy theirs. Thanks for your visit :)

Engaging All Around

The puppies are not the only ones who are engaging these days -- we are pleased to announce the engagement of our son, Jake, to Cassie Moore. Cassie is pictured with her new ring and Sydney. Remember that Sydney is so named in honor of the fact that both Cadi and Cassie are half-Australian.

The wedding will be on June 24. The puppies are excited and wanted to make sure and share the news!

A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss

The puppies now have an expanded play area. They sleep in one area and during the day I open things up so they can have almost the whole living room. I added another piece of linoleum to protect the floor but I got a dark color, thinking it looked good, and it is hard to see pee on it. As a result, I have stepped in more than a few puddles!

I will say that the puppies are starting to understand about a potty area. I use a piece of fleece (for the puppies!!) and they are starting to waddle over and use it. Their aim is not always good yet but its a start! In a couple of weeks the puppies will begin going outside to potty so they should be quite easy to house train.

I keep forgetting to tell you that the puppies are getting fluffy! Joan was over yesterday and confirmed that indeed, their white chests are getting fluffy :) I know I say this every day but they are SO adorable!!! They change every day and it is so fun to watch their new accomplishments. Today it is the beginning of house training and the increasing play, especially with toys. They are also more coordinated each day. You can just see their world opening up in front of them, and as that happens they engage more and more.

The puppies will have some fun visitors today -- Cali and her gang will be over, and so will my friend, Lesley. Visiting time today is at 2 so all are welcome -- we love having visitors!

Toronto is demonstrating excellent abilities as he carries his red toy around, and that is Whitby with the colorful toy. Hudson was trying to play with a formerly sleeping puppy, and there are close-ups of Ireland and Jamaica. Lucky Karma is playing with a puppy through the x-pen and I thought you would enjoy seeing the results of puppies being raised by Noah, The Feline Puppy Nanny -- that is sweet Faith just sleeping next to Noah in the kitchen. Joan is in one picture getting a smooch.

What new skills will you develop today? Growth and change only happen when we move forward -- one paw in front of the other, getting up to try again after the latest attempt at a scamper sends us flying. Thanks for your visit and also your comments!

Pictures!

We tried to get the first stacked pictures of the puppies but the girls were asleep by the time we got to them and not cooperative -- we did get a nice stacked picture of Geneva (see above) but all the other girls just slid down on the table :)

So, what do think? Who is your favorite? (Remember to click on a picture to enlarge it)

Snow, Patience, and a Challenge

A big storm hit yesterday and we got about six inches of new snow. If I put the puppies out in the yard, they would disappear! In a couple of weeks they will be ready for some winter outside time but for now they are warmly settled in the living room.

Last night the hurting started -- yes, their play is now capable of causing pain. One puppy was chomping on another and the yelps of pain did not register with the offender. It reminds me how much of puppy behavior is developmental. They will soon have the ability to understand what painful yelps mean but right now they do not -- it is not that the puppy is aggressive or mean but rather that she or he is simply a baby.

So much of what we consider "bad" behavior in a puppy is just normal puppy development. Yes, there is training to do but always with an awareness of what the puppy is truly capable of doing and of being. Chewing on things is a good example -- why is this ever corrected or punished? Think about what human babies do -- everything goes in their mouths. Would it be okay to punish a baby for that? Of course not -- instead we manage the environment so that a baby is not trying to teeth on a sharp knife.

Puppies also explore their world with their mouths and they are also teething for a long time -- of course they chew on things. If the puppy chews up the remote control -- well, whose fault is that? Puppy chew but they do not climb ladders so keep the stuff up and it won't get chewed. None of us are perfect and so stuff gets left out and chewed, but my point is that it seems wrong to correct a puppy for doing what s/he is programmed to do.

At three months old, Zoey likes to chew things. The way I handle this is to have appropriate things to chew -- nylabones, toys, and her big sister, Asia ;) If she is chewing something that should not be chewed, I just take it away and remind myself to keep things up. I do not "correct" her for essentially being a puppy -- how unfair would that be?

Zoey has always had a thing about jumping. She literally can get her nose four feet off the ground -- she is a future agility dog for sure. She also LOVES to eat and so feeding time combines her two great skills -- jumping and eating. Putting down her bowl is a lesson in dexterity -- for me. Zoey leaps and spins and in all ways demonstrates her excellent Air Zoey skills and meanwhile, I am trying to put the bowl down and not spill food all over or have her head hit the bowl.

Now, you may ask why I did not "make" her sit nicely for her food and the answer is that I just started that -- I stand still until her little fluffy butt is on the ground for .00001 seconds and then I say "yes" and feed her. However, I did not start this before because I thought it was an unrealistic expectation for baby Zoey. Instead, I just managed and was patient, knowing that she would soon be developmentally ready for some impulse control.

I think we would all do well not to have unrealistic expectations for our puppies -- and probably each other! Rome was not built in a day, and I have the advantage of dogs of various ages, reminding me that they do grow up and leave so many of those endearing (!) puppy behaviors behind. Abra, the Glitter Litter's great grandma, used to carry and tug on the leash when I walked her -- oh how I wish she were here to do that very thing right now. This precious time goes so quickly, and the "problems" we have now seem so insignificant when we look back with the wisdom of time and experience. So don't sweat the small stuff -- and put your remote control, cell phone, shoes, etc. away!

Our little puppies are now playing with toys in addition to each other and us. They are just adorable puppies -- I cannot say that enough. I love sitting with them and having them crawl in my lap or nibble curiously on me. They have started to play bow, which is so cute. They scamper and have started to twirl (and fall over) and are just active, busy puppies. Today marks four weeks and yes, I will post pictures later.

Today's pictures start off with Cadi and her babies. The puppies love to interact with her and she is so patient with them. I thought the one of her with the tiny feet was such a nice contrast, and look at all eight nursing at once! Cadi eats all day long to keep up with the demands of being a dairy. That is Toronto playing with the toy and also in the photo below. There are close-ups of Geneva, Ireland and Whitby -- that Whitby is one engaging little boy!

I hope your weekend is a good one, and that you will remember that people -- like puppies -- sometimes do things we wish they would not. This presents such a great opportunity to practice forgiveness and patience, and show the wisdom of just letting things go. I challenge all of us to be extra kind today -- it is a stressful time of year and that clerk waiting on you or your partner/spouse could probably use someone to be extra nice -- let it be you :)

Thanks for visiting -- check later for four week pictures.

Jamaica is the Scamper Winner

Jamaica waited for visitors and then performed the very first Glitter Litter scamper! She is one cute little girl :)

Last night the puppies met Cali, Armand, and Kate (their daughter). They also met Janet, although we did not get a picture of that, and Joan stopped by as well. Joan brought much needed newspapers and paper towels so that was very nice :) Cali, Armand and Kate brought lots of admiration for the puppies, which is also very appreciated! Janet stopped by to hitch a ride with Joan, but we were still glad to see her.

One thing that is striking about these puppies is their lack of legs -- they seem to barely clear the ground right now. So maybe it is more the large tummies but whatever it is, they are small tanks -- low and wide! Their eyes are darkening up nicely and they are a busy, curious little bunch. I am starting to put different things in their pen and it will soon be time for toys. I vacuumed yesterday and that did not seem to bother them a bit, and they really seemed to enjoy meeting new people.

Look at Whitby on top of the crate!! And Jamaica was having an argument with the Christmas tree while other puppies were getting cuddled. That is Hudson with Cadi -- doesn't he look like he is laughing?! Sydney is the one playing tug with the blanket -- they are really starting to look and act like dogs :)

I need to scamper off and get some things done but hope your day is filled with fun. Thanks for visiting!

Response to Good Questions

Metronidazole (Flagyl) is an antibiotic that has its place in a veterinary arsenal, but it has been shown to be carcinogenic in mice and rats. Although rare, it can have neurological side effects and a puppy from my A Litter had those scary side effects associated with this drug and spent a couple of days in ICU as a result.

My concern arose because new owners were running to the vet at the first sight of diarrhea and this was the drug they were getting. As I said, it has its place but it is a Big Gun and should be used only as needed.

I have tried to do two things differently with recent litters. First, I try and determine if a potential home is what I call a “vet groupie” – someone who runs to the vet with every small concern. I have my Utah vet’s cell phone number and her husband’s as well – I am not saying that vets are not important. But people who fret about every little thing wind up with puppies and dogs who are over treated – and that makes me crazy because it is bad for the dog.

So I try and assess for high anxiety owners, and rule them right out of contention for a puppy. And I also started being more clear about the need to be mindful of the impact of things like vaccinations and veterinary treatments.

Puppy diarrhea in an otherwise normal puppy? Well, we can put her on a medication that is a carcinogen and has some potentially nasty side effects or we can try some dietary changes – I am obviously a fan of the more moderate approach. I think it is strange to be so concerned about stools, quite frankly, and really do not pay much attention to such things when a puppy is otherwise normal. I think it is amazing that they ever have normal stools given all the junk a puppy eats!

So when our Glitterati started with the diarrhea I watched them carefully and checked weights but did not race off to the vet since their only symptom was diarrhea. When it did not get better I talked to my Utah vet and we added a probiotic. When that did not work I was willing to give them an antibiotic – she wanted to use Flagyl but knows my feelings on that and so we went with amoxicillin (and the probiotic), which seems to be clearing things up very nicely.

My goal is to find balance, rather than throwing medication at my dogs at the first sign of an issue. Again, I love my vet – and especially because she shares a more conservative approach to things. But over treating can be just as bad as under treating, and I think managing our own anxiety (and some pumpkin) is sometimes all the treatment that is needed!

Vaccinations – again, I am aiming for balance. There are some nasty, bad diseases out there that kill puppies and I am sorry but feeding fairy dust or whatever is not going to protect a puppy from parvo. On the other hand, over vaccination is not good and so once again, I am striving to find the middle road.

The maternal antibodies prevent a vaccination from being effective but the problem is that we do not know when those antibodies wear off – it is somewhere between 6 and 14 weeks. Vaccines given before the maternal antibodies wear off are not effective but if we wait too long then we risk having an unprotected puppy. The reason for multiple vaccinations is because we do not know which one will be effective, and we are trying to keep the puppy protected during that time.

I do not think it is smart to vaccinate for things that are not a real threat, and so based on my assessment of risk and the advice of my veterinarian, we vaccinate only for parvo and distemper (and rabies, as required by law). Due to the problems owners have in getting these single dose vaccines, I am going to order the parvo/distemper only combination recommended by Dr. Jean Dodds and send them home with the puppies to anyone whose vet does not stock this or the individual vaccinations. I do not recommend owners give the vaccinations themselves! The puppies need to be checked out and so the vets ought to be giving these injections.

The puppies will get their first vaccination a day or two before they leave us, and then at 3 – 4 week intervals. I delay rabies a long time – that is a tough vaccine for a puppy. After the initial puppy series, I am okay with either not doing the one-year booster (for parvo/distemper) or giving it at about 16 – 17 months; my own puppies do not get it. In fact, I do not vaccinate my adult dogs for anything except for rabies so once the puppy series is done they are not vaccinated. That said, my former Montana vet gave Cadi a parvo vaccination without my consent after her titer came back on the low side -- not cool. I also do not use heartworm medication because I live in a place where the risk is so low, but I do test them annually.

So that is the long answer to the question about the medication and vaccinations. I have learned that we are all happier if I am up front about my expectations and that way people whose own anxiety sends them to the vet on a regular basis can look elsewhere for a puppy. I do not want the puppies in homes where voodoo and hickory bark are the veterinary treatments of choice, but rather I am looking for sensible people who are willing to be more conservative and thoughtful in their approach to veterinary care.

I hope that addresses the questions -- thanks for asking.

Terms of Endearment

I consider the contract used when I place puppies to be a reflection of my love and commitment to them, and so yes, the contract terms are those of endearment. I thought you might find the terms in our pet contract interesting to read through, and so here it is -- let me know if you have any questions or think we should add/subtract something:

1.0 Seven Day Guarantee

This dog is in good health and free from communicable disease to the best of Breeder’s knowledge. If this dog becomes ill within seven days of receipt by Buyer, Breeder will reimburse Buyer for veterinary expenses related to the illness and/or Buyer may return the puppy to Breeder for a full refund. Buyer shall notify Breeder by telephone within 24 hours of diagnosis of the illness.

Buyer is advised to take the dog to a licensed veterinarian for a wellness check within 72 hours of receipt of the dog.

2.0 Hip and Elbow Dysplasia

The Breeder has attempted to make breeding choices that maximize the chances that this dog will obtain hip and elbow certification by OFA at age two. However, recognizing the polygenetic nature of dysplasia the Breeder acknowledges that no guarantees can be made with regards to the hips and elbow of this dog.

If this dog has hip and/or elbow dysplasia such that surgery is required Breeder will provide a full refund of the purchase price once the following conditions are met:

1. The diagnosis must be by radiographic examination and evaluation by a licensed orthopedic veterinarian. Written results and a copy of the films must be provided to Breeder.

2. At her option and expense, Breeder may submit the films to a specialist of her choice for a second opinion. If the two opinions differ, a third specialist located at the nearest veterinary teaching hospital to the dog and agreed upon by both parties will be consulted for the final opinion; the cost of the third specialist will be shared by the parties.

3. Proof that the dog has been neutered is required.

The dog does not have to be returned to Breeder in order to receive a refund of the purchase price.

3.0 OFA

Buyer agrees to have x-rays of the dog’s hips and elbows taken before the dog is 26 months old for the purpose of submission to OFA. Breeder will assume the costs of the x-rays (up to $300) and these costs will be paid directly to the selected veterinarian. Buyer and Breeder will mutually select the veterinarian who will take the films, and the films must be sent directly to Breeder so that the full litter is submitted together.


4.0 CERF

Buyer agrees to have the dog’s eyes examined between 12 and 24 months of age and no less than every two years thereafter; annually is preferred. Buyer further agrees to submit all findings to CERF and Breeder.

5.0 Cardiac Clearance

Buyer agrees to have this dog examined for an OFA cardiac certification by a veterinary cardiologist between 12 and 24 months; results must be submitted to OFA and provided to Breeder.

6.0 Spay/Neuter

This puppy is being sold as a non-breeding dog and therefore will not be used for breeding. Buyer agrees to have this dog neutered between 9 and 12 months of age.

This puppy is being sold on limited registration, which means that no offspring of this dog may be registered with the AKC. Further, the dog will be co-owned until Breeder receives proof of neutering.

If Buyer fails to have this dog neutered by 12 months of age, Buyer will immediately relinquish possession of the dog to Breeder. The buyer shall pay any/all costs incurred by Breeder to recover a dog that has been maintained intact in violation of this section of the Contract.

7.0 Veterinary Care

Breeder will provide a schedule for vaccines for the first 18 months that has been developed with her veterinarian and Buyer agrees to follow this schedule. No changes in the vaccination schedule will be made unless agreed upon in writing (e-mail) by both Buyer and Breeder. A minimal vaccination schedule throughout the life of this dog is highly advised.

Buyer further agrees that this dog will not receive the medication metronidazole (Flagyl) unless all other options have been exhausted.

8.0 Training and Socialization

Buyer agrees to attend a series of puppy socialization classes with a trainer/facilities that uses only/primarily positive training methods. Breeder agrees to help Buyer locate an acceptable organization/trainer in his/her area if such assistance is requested.

Buyer is further encouraged to participate in basic obedience training class (using positive methods) following puppy socialization classes.

9.0 Address Change

Breeder shall be notified within ten days of any changes in Buyer’s address, telephone number and/or email address.

Buyer shall be notified within ten days of any changes in Breeder’s address, telephone number and/or email address.

10.0 Resale of Dog

Buyer agrees that should circumstances arise which necessitate that Buyer relinquish possession and/or ownership of the dog, the dog will be returned immediately to Breeder. Buyer will be paid one-half of the purchase price upon return of the dog to Breeder.

If Buyer is found to be in violation of this section of the Contract, Buyer will forfeit the right to the refund and will facilitate the immediate return of the dog to Breeder, The buyer shall pay any/all costs incurred by Breeder to recover a dog that has been sold/place in violation of this section of the Contract.

11.0 Title Rebates

A $150 rebate will be paid to Buyer upon completion of the dog’s first working title (CD, TD, NDD, NA, NAP, NAJ or NAJP). An additional $200 rebate will be paid to Buyer upon completion of a BMDCA Working Dog award.

12.0 BernerGarde

Breeder will enter this dog into the Bernergarde database. Buyer agrees to keep the dog’s Bernergarde record updated throughout the life of the dog, including entering cause of death. Breeder will provide Buyer with instructions as to how this is done, if needed.

13.0 Cause of Death

Buyer agrees that cause of death of this dog will be firmly established, which may include necropsy and pathology review if requested by Breeder; Breeder agrees to reimburse Buyer up to $150 for the costs of necropsy.

14.0 Information and Pictures

Buyer agrees to respond to requests for information about the dog in a timely manner and to send photos at least twice each year and preferably more often.

15.0 Possession and Risk of Loss

Buyer shall take possession of this dog on insert date. All risk of loss shall be borne by Breeder until Buyer takes possession. All risk of loss shall be borne by Buyer after Buyer takes possession of the dog.

16.0 Registered name

Buyer agrees to register this dog with the kennel name used in the possessive of Breeder (i.e., Kaibab’s). Further, the Buyer agrees that the first letter of the first word following “Kaibab’s” shall be “G”.

17.0 Contract Terms

This constitutes the entire contract between the parties and supersedes and replaces any and all prior negotiations, representations, warranties, understandings, or contracts between the parties. This contract cannot be changed except by written agreement of all parties.

In the event of litigation or binding arbitration to enforce this contract, the prevailing party shall be entitled to costs and reasonable attorney fees. Any legal action filed by either party in an effort to enforce this contract will be filed in the jurisdiction of Breeder’s residence.


18.0 FAX Transmission and Counterparts

Facsimile (fax) transmission of a signed copy of this contract and the retransmission of any signed fax shall be the same as delivery of an original. This contract may be executed in counterparts.

The little subjects of said contract are sleeping now after having a yummy breakfast of milk, and then waddling around the living room for a bit. They get more adorable by the hour! This morning we had a very close encounter with a scamper, but it was aborted at the last minute. The playing is increasing and they continue to love being held and cuddled. Tonight Cali and Kate are coming over to meet the puppies at six -- all are welcome at that time since there are eight puppies so plenty to go around :)

I know the picture of Zoey consuming poor Jamaica is a bit alarming but no harm was done and you can see that the girls were just having fun. There is a picture of someone saying hello to Faith, who is not sure what to think. Toronto is chewing on Cadi's ear, and can you guess who the two puppies on the blue blanket are? Finally, I thought you might like to see how Faith and Zoey are doing so that is them on the dog bed with the red slipper.

I hope someone whispers sweet terms of endearment to you today! Thanks for your visit and your thoughts on the contract.

Ready-Set-Scamper (almost)

The puppies are thoughtfully considering whether it is time to start scampering. You can see it in their faces and how they kind of coil up their chubby little bodies, but then they realize they do not quite have the coordination yet and abandon the idea. However, it won't be long before the scampering begins!

We now have teeth on both top and bottom. The puppies are starting to do a little chewing, which we allow. I am sorry to repeat myself and some of you know this from the F Litter, but we teach bite inhibition rather than stopping the puppies from chewing. In other words, we communicate when the biting is too hard to help them learn how to use their mouths. I just think it is wrong to prevent a baby from exploring the world with his/her mouth, since that is really their main mechanism, and so we allow them to lick and nibble and yes, even bite us. The puppies learn to have a soft mouth in this way, and are not frustrated by constant reprimands to stop doing something they developmentally need to do.

When we sit in the puppy area, the puppies toddle over to us and climb in our laps. They play with each other and us with increasingly frequency. They are not yet hurting each other, but that is coming with all these sharp new teeth. They watch what happens on the other side of their x-pen and they like to visit with Zoey and Faith. They are awake more but still spend most of their days sleeping.

Cadi needs help when she feeds them now. She cannot just lay down because they mob her and so they leave no place for her to lay down. My job is to help clear a landing path, so to speak. This means that I wake up at night to help her get settled -- usually it is twice during the night. They eat a lot more frequently during the day -- about every 1.5 - 2 hours. I am not sure how people who work full-time and do not have a puppy nanny manage to get puppies raised -- it seems like having someone around is pretty important.

My grading is done and so now we can settle into a new normal down here in Utah. It is very strange to live in two places. Montana has all that open space and so it is easier to have so many dogs, but Utah has family (especially the Dear Husband) and friends and familiar places. It is just an odd experience that I am having this year with a foot in two places. I try not to think too much about it as it makes my head hurt and my heart confused so I just plan to spend the next five weeks enjoying being home, raising these puppies, and catching up on my research/writing.

Now that I am done with the trial, the show and the grades I need to turn my attention also to figuring out puppy placements -- not my most favorite thing, as most of you know. However, I cannot keep all these puppies and so I have to figure out the very best possible homes for them. I owe some of you emails and I will catch up on that this week, but don't worry about writing to me even when I do not have lots of time to respond -- when I stop hearing from people I assume they are no longer interested in a puppy. Some homes are already assured, and I need to sort through all the other choices and get this figured out.

I also need to wrap my mind around the idea of keeping yet another puppy. I have five dogs right now and their ages range from 8+ years to 3 months. My main consideration is whether I can give six dogs an interesting life. I am not willing to just have the dogs -- they need to do things -- and I need to realistically consider what I can offer to each dog. I will not be breeding anyone again for two years and so my numbers will stay stable as long as everyone stays healthy (knock on wood). So I am sure I will keep one but it does make me feel a little crazy just thinking about it, and then I wonder -- do I keep a girl, as I always have? Or finally keep a boy (this would make Kim happy)? Or do I just let the Heavens decide by keeping the best puppy regardless of gender? I am tired just thinking about all this -- so I will stop before I have to take a nap at 8 in the morning :)

I love the pictures today! It would appear that we do have another Noah on our hands -- look at the picture of Lucky Karma licking Faith (Galen's puppy)!! The group pictures were on my lap, and we have lots of good close-ups -- care to guess which puppy is which? We even have an early attempt to stack Sydney -- not very successful and she followed it by peeing all over Galen!

I hope your day is so wonderful, and that if you feel the urge to scamper that you will just do it -- no matter who is watching or your degree of coordination! Thanks for your continuing interest and support -- and your visit.

Snow, Luck, Karma, and Other Fun Things

I want to share a conversation that I had with Galen (aka Puppy Nanny) on the way to California. I was checking in with him and here is how the conversation went from my perspective:

Me: How are the puppies?
Galen: Fine but one just barfed!
Me: Oh NO!!!! Who was it?
Galen: He just barfed again -- like a real barf.
Me: Oh no!!! Does he seem okay? (thinking: should I go home? Are they all going to be sick and die?)

Here is how it went from Galen's perspective:

Me: How are the puppies?
Galen: Fine but one just barked!
Me: Oh NO!!!! Who was it?
Galen: He just barked again -- like a real bark.
Me: Oh no!!! Does he seem okay?
Galen: He's fine (thinking: my mother has really lost it!)

The puppies make all kinds of cute noises, which are less cute in the middle of the night. Last night I woke up to puppy protests and came out to the living room to find Cadi nursing four puppies outside the puppy pen and four upset and loud puppies inside the puppy pen. Yes, we had a break!

The puppies are getting top teeth -- the bottom teeth are there but not quite in yet. They are very playful and waddle over to the edge of the pen when they see a person or another dog. They are really, really cute puppies!!!! It is fun to just sit and hold them, and once I get my grading done today that is exactly what I plan to do.

Karma the cat has a new name -- Galen thinks we should call her Lucky. She is doing very well and I hope will soon have a new home (hint, hint). I did not want to take her home until she was checked for those kitty diseases that cannot be cured since I have other cats. And so I had dropped her at my vet (a 24 hour clinic) on my way home from California and she got all tuned up yesterday. She is spayed already, tested negative for bad stuff, and had a rabies vaccination so she is ready for a new family (hint hint again). I brought her home and she walked right in like she owned the place, and thought the dogs were all just fine -- Galen calls her Noah Version 2.0 ( a reference to our old diabetic Feline Puppy Nanny who did the same thing when we found him 12+ years ago).

When I went to get Lucky Karma I took a puppy stool sample as the probiotics have not gotten the puppy diarrhea completely under control. There was an overgrowth of bacteria and so I reluctantly put them on on amoxicillin. The vet said they only need it until the diarrhea stops and it looks better this morning so I suspect they will get the morning dose and that is it -- we will continue with the probiotic for a few days but two doses of amoxicillin look to be all that was needed. The diarrhea certainly has not hurt their weight gain -- they are round little things!

Today's pictures show you life around here. The puppies are very interactive and sweet with Cadi, as you can see. Sydney was enjoying nibbling on Galen's nose, and Lucky Karma was just waltzing around and checking everyone out!

The snow has started falling this morning here in Utah -- quite a contrast from two days ago in sunny southern California! I hope you have a bright day, no matter what the weather. Thanks for your visit!

Pictures!

They walk! They play! They have teeth (yikes)! And aren't they too adorable for words?!

The Invitational -- An Invitation to Reflect

The puppies are sleeping so I wanted to wait to get their pictures but I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the pictures that Elizabethanne took on our Invitational adventure. I got home at about 11:30 last night and was shocked at how much the puppies had grown and changed. They truly look like small dogs!! I will post many pictures later.

The Invitational was a great experience. I arrived in Long Beach late on Friday night and checked into the swanky Westin. My room had an ocean view and the fluffiest bed I have ever slept on -- it was lovely (and spendy!). The show was at the Long Beach Convention Center, a massive place across the street from the Westin. It included conformation (beauty pageant), agility, and obedience. All the obedience and agility entries are also invited based on points earned during the year.

Asia and I watched agility early Saturday morning and found the grooming area that Marti had SO nicely saved for me. We then picked up Elizabethanne at the airport and spent the rest of the day just watching the show and hanging out. We knew many people that were there, and had a lot of fun cheering for our friends. It was good for Asia to have that day because the Convention Center is a zoo and it took her a bit to get used to the atmosphere.

Finally it was time to show her, and I am pleased to report that I had fun, Asia was lovely and I did a nice job handling her so I met my goals :) She was the youngest berner there by far and looked it, but she did not look out of place by any means -- she is a very nice girl and she did a great job.

Dog shows are always strange for me. I drive home from all shows feeling ambivalent. I like competing and I love the dogs, but there is much of it that makes me uneasy. For example, I feel badly that this large group of people is spending so much just to run around and show dogs -- couldn't those resources be better used elsewhere? Is it okay to spend money and time showing dogs when children are hungry and homeless in our country?

Dog shows do not always bring out the best in people. Sometimes egos get way too involved and suddenly whether the dog wins or not becomes a matter of psychic necessity -- this makes for a great deal of unkindness in one space. I wonder what the costs are to one's soul to do dog shows -- all that waste, the elevation of dogs to near god-like status, and the level of cattiness and near desperation -- all these things seem toxic.

And so maybe that is the purpose of things like dog shows. Can one step into such a world and maintain integrity and balance? Can one remember his/her moral obligations to do good in this world in the face of pressures to be superficial and egocentric (or dog-centric)? It is easy to be a good person when one is never tested -- dogs shows test me, and maybe that is okay and even important.

I suspect all of us have hobbies or interests that serve to challenge our moral compass -- anything we do can really take on a life of its own and consume us. I have long thought that the dogs provide a balance for me and allow me to have a break from the professional work I do. They also give me a sense of competence -- I cannot wave a magic wand and bring back a child who has died or repair that parent's broken heart but I can raise puppies well. And finally, dogs test our integrity -- they alone know how we treat them when nobody watches.

So while I recognize the value of my dogs and my dog show hobby, I hope I never stop feeling a bit uneasy on those long drives. I suspect that if a time comes that I do not sit with ambivalence on the way home, I will have lost my way.

I hope your day contains people, places or events that challenge your internal status quo. Thanks for checking in and watch for pictures later today.

Kaibab's Giveaway

The Glitter Litter has added a new member -- Kaibab's Giveaway aka Karma.

I stopped last night in Barstow to get gas and walk Asia. I was just getting ready to leave when I notice a small cat under a car at the gas station. I am a total sucker for cats or dogs in scary places -- this is why we have our gray cat, Girly. I was at a dog show (also in California) and found Girly as a small kitten at a Greyhound station -- what was I supposed to do?! Leave a small kitten to get run over? That would be bad karma, and you just have to figure if Fate/God wanted the kitten run over, I would not be at that exact place at that exact time.

And so that is how I explain the fact that the extra crate in my car now contains one small gray and white cat. What was I to do?! Leave the cat at the gas station?! I think not. She ran up to me as if to ask what had taken me so long to get there! And the attendant at the gas station said she had been hanging around there for sometime. No houses were around and it was such a busy street -- and she was so glad to see me. Truly, what could I do?

Well, what I did was load her up and stop at the next PetSmart to buy a litterbox, food, a little bowl and a cuddly bed for her. Happily situated in her new traveling home, Karma has been model traveler and no trouble at all.

So, who wants a new cat?? Great with dogs, loves to ride in the car, and guaranteed to bring good karma. Hey -- Kaibab's Good Karma -- I get first dibs on that name!!!

Captured!

I am sorry for the late Blog but hope you will think it is worth it. Last night Kathy and Joan were telling me that it can be hard to figure out who is who from the descriptions of the pictures, and so I played around and look at what I managed to do! Yes, indeed – the photos have names! Do not freak about the blue eyes -- remember -- that is normal at this age :)

All is well here at Puppy Central. The babies are growing by the second and yes, we still weigh them to ensure that they are gaining and they are. They were so sweet and cuddly last night with Joan and Kathy – that was nice to see. Maybe Joan and Kathy could share impressions in the comments section?? I am sorry that Cali got our invitation too late to come over but we will see her soon. Let me give a big congratulations to Cali who finishes her pediatric residency this weekend – yippee for Cali!!! The puppies have special kisses to give you!

The sociopath cat is not nearly as smart as he thinks he is – he was caught in a cat trap over night and is now on his way to Utah with a triumphant Nicole! Just in time for Christmas – I know how much Joan likes orange cats!

I am sorry to report that the Blog is taking the weekend off. I am heading to Long Beach to show Asia at the AKC Eukanuba Invitational. As the name suggests, this show is entered by invitation only and our Asia (16 mos) earned this honor so we are going. The top dogs in the country will be there and Asia is a baby (and not a top dog -- yet ;) and so I have no illusions of a win but rather I have set two what I hope are realistic goals. First, I want to do a nice job handling her. I have been taking classes and private lessons, and we practice a lot so I think I am ready. Second, I want to have fun showing off my beautiful puppy. Since I will be with friends – and Asia is lovely -- I think this is also an attainable goal.

Galen will be holding down the fort while I am gone. Cassie and Jake has promised to help, and Joan is stopping by tomorrow to remove sutures from the dewclaw debacle. Kim is busy with his wrestling team so he can't go with me but Elizabethanne is flying out to California tomorrow to hang out with us. I leave soon for the long drive, and will be coming home just as soon as I am done showing on Sunday. So the puppy Blog will resume on Monday but I may post pictures from Long Beach if I take any worth sharing.

Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for checking in with us today.

Sociopath Update, All About Jed

The sociopath cat remains at large but Nicole managed to capture his less evil brother. She had given up and was getting ready to leave when she got him on her last look around. She thinks the Secret Headquarters is in the dryer and so she plans to disassemble it today in hopes of capturing the future subject of the "free cat with puppy" giveaway.

Thank you for your ideas and encouragement in the capture of Joan's future cat and also the trial. The jury begins deliberations this morning so we will be hanging out at the Courthouse -- maybe I can get my papers graded! It has been a hectic and crazed week and so the house is a mess, I have put very little away, but the dogs are walked and the puppies are clean and happy so at least I can say that much this morning!

Jamaica is a little personality right now. She does laps around the puppy area, whines until she gets picked up, and is just a very engaging puppy. Remember that she was the first to open her eyes so she is likely just a little a head of everyone else. They are all really starting to emerge from their dark world and are more and more engaging. They still sleep most of the time because their growth is so incredible, but when awake they are interacting and watching -- so cute!

At the request of a couple of you, I asked Trish to write up something about Jed, the puppies' dad, so you could all get to know him better. Thanks to Trish for doing this and here is what she shares:

"For me, Jed is a gift – a gift from God. I chose his name long before he became part of our family because I thought it would be a nice name. I had imagined a nice big boy with a beautiful head named “Jed”.

In 2002, we sadly lost our 17.5 year old Border Collie, Theo. It became quite clear a few months afterwards that our berner, Eli, was lonely and that we wanted another dog. By then, Eli was 2 and I had enjoyed competing with him in obedience, tracking conformation. And so, I began my search for another dog that would be a wonderful addition to our family. I knew the search could take some time, but I didn’t think it would take 2 years. I remember getting frustrated in my research on more than one occasion, but I kept praying that God would help me find the right pedigree and the right breeder. I really hadn’t intended to buy a puppy from a foreign breeder either, but in looking for pedigree information for Eli, I visited the Rijkenspark website and sent an email to Karla to see if she had any information about the dogs in her pedigree that were also in Eli’s. She responded almost immediately with some information. While visiting her site I fell instantly in love with Barancourt, Jed’s father. He was everything I thought my ideal boy should be – a big beautiful head, body and bone – all male, yet gentleness in his expression. That he was doing so well in the show ring was not a surprise; Barancourt is a gorgeous dog.

My friendship with Karla grew quickly - she was very open and honest with me whenever I asked about her dogs and their temperaments and health. It wasn’t long before I asked her if she would consider placing a puppy with us. She agreed and sent me a detailed, 3-generation pedigree of Barancourt and her girl Genny. I was amazed and excited – I had never seen that kind of pedigree information and to be given this information so freely was a sign that my prayers were being answered. I loved the longevity in the pedigree, the overall hip and elbow results and that these dogs had been temperament tested. I loved the type and was excited at the possibility of a puppy from this combination.

A few months later, Genny was bred to Barancourt and 11 puppies were born. In July, 2004, I flew to Holland. With the help of my friend Wendy, we had narrowed my pick down to two boys from pictures Karla had sent. I would make the final decision when I went to Holland. But I really didn’t make the decision; it was Jed who picked me. During the first day and a half of being at Karla’s, I would go and play with the puppies but held off on making any kind of decision. Every time I went to the puppies, one puppy would be the first to reach me and lean up to greet me. Naturally, I would lean over and pick up the puppy and ask Karla, “Which puppy is this?” I really couldn’t tell them apart at that point, and she would always say, “that is #4 boy.” It became clear after evaluating the puppies and moving them around the yard that Jed wanted me to pick him – he followed me everywhere and when I stopped he stopped and stared at me and waited for my next move. He let me know that he was the one. I finally told Karla, “this is Jed.”

From the moment Jed arrived home things fell into place. Eli was glad to have a new friend in the house and the girls were excited to have a new puppy. I was thrilled because Jed was such an easy puppy – he never messed in the house, he never chewed on shoes or furniture, he slept through the night, he loved everyone he met and he enjoyed going everywhere with us. Puppy class was so much fun – he loved all the people and the other dogs and had to greet everyone. Everyone was just gaa gaa over him, too! What can I say, I fell madly in love.

Over the years, Jed has matured into a great dog. He has such an interesting personality and an easy going temperament. He loves to go through your legs with his nose up in the air ever so slightly, which is enough to lift you on your toes. If you are of the male persuasion, watch out! He loves to bury his head in your lap and snort and cuddle, or drape himself over your legs. He loves to sniff ears and he is a great snorer. Hiking in the woods or on the river in the winter is like Christmas to a kid – he just can’t get enough. Car rides are the ultimate treat and he likes to sit between the two front seats in our van and look out the front window. I secretly think he would like to drive! When I am going too fast he puts his paw up on my arm to let me know to take it easy. He has a cute way of whimpering in excitement when he sees someone he knows and hasn’t seen for a while, or when the drawer that holds all the dog collars and leashes is opened – gosh that can only mean one thing…. a walk!

The best thing about Jed, for me, is his temperament – it is just always so consistently gentle. I always tell people that Jed is a gentleman – a real gentle man. He is incredibly loving and kind. If I am having a bad day or am stressed, one look in his eyes and my troubles melt away. My husband says he is the most loving soul he has ever met. Our daughters call him “Jeddy Bear”. When I am working at home he comes upstairs to nap in the room and keep me company. Of course he is snoring, but even that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy knowing he is near. When I get up to take a break he gets up and waits for me to go down the stairs first. He gets up whenever I enter the room and waits patiently as I serve him his meals. When we are out for a walk in the woods, he stays close by as if to protect me while Eli is off in the woods chasing squirrels. Jed must have been a “Rhett Butler” in another life (only much better looking)."

What a wonderful description!!! Thanks Trish!!!

Pictures -- Sydney upside down on Cassie's lap, Hudson laughing, close-ups of Sutton, ireland, Whitby nursing and I am not sure about the other one :) That is indeed long legged Zoey in saying, "hey" to her cousins!

Have a terrific day and thanks for visiting :)

Sociopath 2, Humans 0

Nicole has not seen hide nor hair of sociopath cat or his more normal brother. She has called several times asking if I am SURE they are in the house and I have told her that yes, they are in the Secret Headquarters, which although secret, is know to be in the laundry room. She has devised all kinds of clever traps but alas, the cats have eluded even her -- the Cat Whisperer. She is not ready to give up yet but is getting close -- as I said, sociopaths provide more adventure than any one really needs. I think Joan needs an orange cat, don't you? Of course, there is small problem of catching him in time to stick a bow on his head for Christmas.

I raced down to Utah because I am a witness in a trial so had to testify yesterday and maybe again today. It is an unsettling experience and time consuming and sad, since it involves a death of someone who did not need to die. So it is hard to feel like I can get myself back in the groove here, and that is why puppy visiting is delayed. The trial should be done today and that will be a relief.

The puppies could be on trial for negligent cuteness! They are interacting with Cadi and each other and us more and more. They march around Puppy Central like they own the place, with very little tipping over. Their eyes are all wide open and they are starting to resemble little dogs more and more.

Today's pictures -- most taken this morning -- are nice reflections of how incredibly adorable they are! Ireland and Jamaica are together in one -- Jamaica is sleeping and Ireland has her head up. Geneva is by Cadi's paw, and there is also a close-up of Jamaica. That is Sutton by Cadi's nose and Whitby is the puppy sitting by Cadi -- they can sit! Sutton and Hudson are sleeping together, one using the other for a pillow, and the puppies are on their backs are too cute but I am not sure who they are :)

I hope your day is free of trials of all kinds -- thanks for visiting us!

Best Laid Plans

There are so many things about getting older that I enjoy, and one of them is that there is a certain amount of wisdom that just comes with age and experience. I know that some people are freaked out about getting older and run off to botox every wrinkle and line, but I am grateful for the opportunity to age -- it is a gift my own mother, who died at age 45, did not get to experience. And so I try to find the blessings in getting older and I think one of those is just getting smarter about what we can control and, more importantly, what we cannot.

This came in quite handy yesterday morning. I got up at 3 -- not by choice but more from anxiousness -- and began the packing and getting ready process. It was finally time to start loading the two cars (we rented an extra one for the drive down) and we started with the cats. My daughter, Nicole, rescued three kittens last summer and somehow I wound up with two of them -- both orange boys. One is sweet and friendly, and Galen calls the other a sociopath and is convinced the cat is plotting our demise. Well, the sociopath cat was no where to be found. We searched and searched, and narrowed it down to the laundry room but he must have a secret headquarters where he monitors our activities and plots his strategy -- and that location is apparently VERY secret.

After a frustrating hour we conceded defeat, and set out supplies for the Kitty Survival Camp. Heidi is checking on things twice a week and so I figured the cat would be fine for the time being, and what was I supposed to do -- tear apart walls to find the secret headquarters? Given the importance of family, I let his brother out of his crate to stay and keep his errant sibling company. We loaded up the four adult dogs, two medium puppies, eight small puppies, and the two cooperative cats and we hit the road.

Unfortunately for us, snow had hit the road first. Did you know the state of Montana apparently has just two snowplows and both were needed elsewhere yesterday?! It was a stressful, slow drive through most of Montana but we made it, and the weather improved through Idaho and most of northern Utah. We arrived home to find about four inches of new snow, and Faith and Zoey thought this was delightful.

We stopped several times for puppies to nurse and everyone did well. A couple of puppies have had some diarrhea for the past 2 - 3 days but otherwise act normally and are gaining weight so I have just been keeping any eye on things. We had a couple of messy mishaps in one of the crates but I was prepared -- and you know how Cadi is -- and so puppies and crate were soon clean again.

We got the puppies settled in their new space and then left to return the rental car and buy two more x-pens -- I have SO many x-pens now! I arrived back to find Cassie, Jake's long-time girlfriend, sitting on the couch watching puppies. She immediately asked who Sydney was -- I picked that name in honor of the fact that both Cadi and Cassie are half-Australian. I picked up Sydney and gave her to Cassie, who apparently had been afraid to pick up a puppy and so had just watched them and waited for me to get back. Cassie is very artistic and the things she notices remind me that there really is such a thing as an artist's eye -- she marveled at Sydney's ears and all her neat little parts -- it is fun to see puppies through the eyes of other people. I gave Jake (one of our kids) a puppy identification lesson but I suspect he won't remember a thing -- he definitely does not have a discerning artist's eye!

My daughter, horrified about the abandoned cats, immediately set out to plan a search and rescue mission. I volunteered to drive up with her next week but she decided to go up today to save the sociopath from himself. The cats were to spend winter break with her and I guess she was really looking forward to having them -- or else she just wants an excuse for a road trip! She lives farther north so it won't be as long of a drive for her -- let's all hope she can actually find the little evildoer.

And so that is the story of our excellent adventure. We are all well and happy to be at our other home in Utah. We will miss all the space we have in Montana and so for a few weeks we will be crowded and wondering why we have so many dogs, but we are thrilled to be together -- even if it is VERY together!

Utah puppy fans -- give us a day or so to get settled and then we will have a puppy meet and greet -- details tomorrow.

The pictures today are from our homecoming evening. I included a picture of the puppies' new home, and you will count just seven because Cassie is holding Sydney. There is a picture of Jake is pretending to study a puppy, and a close-up of Ireland. Sydney and Toronto were playing and this was the first extended play session I have seen so I quickly took some pictures. I love that picture of Cadi with her baby, and isn't that a funny close-up of the sleeping puppy?!

I hope your day is filled with adventure but free of sociopaths, who provide a little too much adventure. Thanks for checking in and for your good thoughts yesterday!

Leave Taking

As you can imagine, it is a busy and anxious morning as we prepare to pack up and head south to Salt Lake City for the winter break. The puppies are ready to go and will be riding in two little crates where Cadi can see them from her crate. We will stop twice during the trip, if all goes according to plan. It takes about eight hours to make this trip but we have a little snow today so it could be longer and then we will change our plans accordingly.

I know you would be disappointed if there were no pictures so here you go! Heidi came over last night and so she is in two pictures. There is a close-up of Toronto and also of Jamaica so you can see her eye is all the way open now. In fact, all of the puppies have eyeballs now! Jamaica is a camera hog because I see she is in another one as well -- that is her on her side. And then there is that really cute on of Cadi and a puppy in a rare moment when she is not licking someone :)

Have a wonderful day and thanks for visiting.

Simple Things Rarely Are

This may seem like strange Blog topic but it is related to breeding Bernese Mountain Dogs, which is definitely related to puppies! Today I want to share some thoughts on the placement of puppies, and especially in homes that do not want to spay/neuter.

There are two reasons that I can see why a person would want an intact dog. First, some people want a show dog. A dog can be spayed/neutered to be shown in performance events (obedience, agility, etc.) but s/he must be intact to be shown in the Beauty Pageant. The second reason that a person would want an intact dog is because s/he would like to breed the dog.

As anyone who has tried knows, getting an intact dog from a reputable breeder is like finding the needle in the haystack. Good breeders are very, very careful with their puppy placements. Why? Because the future of the breed is in our hands and good breeders feel the weight of that responsibility.

Rolling the genetic dice is always a risky thing, and doing so without a great deal of knowledge about what is on those dice is gambling in a really unfortunate way. There is no need to handicap ourselves with ignorance when it is possible to have much useful knowledge before we play this game.

And so I had a lot of information about Cadi and her relatives before she was bred. She had health tests to ensure she is not affected by common genetic diseases. Further, her close relatives had similar tests. In order to make certain she meets the standard for a Bernese Mountain Dog, Cadi was shown to her championship. Temperament is also important – Cadi has working titles showing that she is smart and willing, and she also has received the Canine Good Citizen award from the AKC.

But again, it is not just about Cadi –– she represents many dogs behind and around her. Those dogs tell a piece of her story as well, and so they are important. We have a great deal of information about Cadi’s extended family, and this helps to illuminate what might be on that genetic dice we planned to roll.

Armed with knowledge about Cadi and her family, we looked for a male that would complement Cadi. Again, it is not enough to just have information about her husband, Jed. We needed information about his family and the kids he already has produced. It is very useful to have a Ph.D. and know how to do research when doing something that seems as simple as breeding dogs!

We cannot control or know everything, but we can know all we can – and that seems like an important responsibility. Breeding is easy – just put the dogs together; breeding well takes a lot more than that. Those of us in purebred dogs have an obligation to the breed and to the future owners of our puppies to do this as well as we possibly can.

And part of that responsibility is influencing future generations, and that gets us back to selling intact puppies. I do not sell puppies for other people to breed. This presents a conflict for me because how is someone supposed to get started on the ethical high road if nobody reputable will sell her/him a puppy that can be bred? Someone trusted me – what about the idea of paying forward, or passing along that trust? But these puppies represent such devotion to the breed and so much work – not just by me but by the wonderful people I have worked with for four generations of dogs; I have an obligation to those people as well.

I have met some wonderful people who would like to co-own intact puppies with me. I am hard wired and educated to help people, and it tugs at me to get requests for a good puppy. So how do I balance my innate desire to help with my fierce commitment to protect this small breeding program I have started? And how do I both honor my commitment to those whose integrity has allowed me to have such wonderful dogs, and those who have the integrity to want a quality dog and maybe even one that can be bred someday?

Our Glitter Litter is in demand and this is good – people are recognizing all that has gone into rolling this set of genetic dice. But more than any other litter, it has created dilemmas for me and I am losing sleep over it. There are no easy, neat answers and that is what I wanted to convey this morning – not a solution but a process, and a hard one.

Thankfully, at fifteen days old, the puppies are all safely here with me and will remain that way for six more weeks. My only big decision for today will be selecting what color fleece to use in their whelping box!

Yesterday the Glitterati had four visitors. I am very bummed at myself – I got so busy enjoying Gail and her wonderful husband last night that I forgot to take their pictures with the puppies! They live about two hours from me and stopped in for a visit, and I so enjoyed meeting them. Cindy and her daughter, Rebecca, also visited yesterday and that was really fun also. Cadi is completely happy to have visitors in her whelping box – in fact, she thinks they come to see her!

The puppies all have at least partially opened eyes. They are all walking pretty well, but as Cindy noted, they get milk drunk and so there is a lot of staggering and just falling down and going to sleep. They are interacting with us by mouthing hands and face, and are very cuddly and content to be held and loved. They are also amazingly beautiful and perfect :)

I have included pictures of both Rebecca and Cindy with puppies, and one of Cadi with Cindy and a puppy. Cadi likes to just throw herself into everything, including visitors! There is a nice close-up of Whitby, and one of Jamaica's eye opening progress. I liked that picture of a puppy on Cadi's paw as it shows how they are growing, and then there is a sweet picture of Hudson and Sutton.

We will spend today packing up and getting ready for the Big Adventure tomorrow. We aren't going so far as Liz and Sam, who are heading to South America for the holidays, and we aren't going to be as warm as the pug in Orlando, but we will be happy to have our family together in Utah soon!

I hope your day is free of dilemmas and filled with loving people and fun. Thanks for stopping in today.

Two Week Collage

Oops -- I did not change the age! This is their TWO WEEK collage, not one week.

Transition Weekend!

Good Morning to our Glitter Litter Community! And Happy Two Week Birthday to our babies! The puppies will be celebrating by welcoming their first visitors and getting their individual pictures taken for the two-week collage.

This is our transition weekend. I have made it through my first semester at the University of Montana and we will head to Utah for the long winter break on Monday morning. Although being a professor is not new to me, everything else has been. It might seem like having two litters of puppies while starting a new life and new job is a little crazy but actually it has helped because I know how to do it – it is something familiar and something I believe that I do well. So, yes, it is stressful and hard but at least it is familiar stress and hard work in a life filled with newness.

But we did it – in no small part due to the efforts of the World’s Best Puppy Nanny and Right Hand Son – Galen. He has been another familiar presence in my new life, and he has been just great. He lovingly tends the puppies while I am at work, and he is company and help when I am home. We have played more cards and Scrabble than we have in years, and we have just had time together, and so this has been a tender few months for that reason as well. Galen starts college in January at the University of Montana and so he is resigning his position as Puppy Nanny, which is the reason we had the two litters so close together. He will still live with me but his new job will be to find his place in the world; he will be accompanied, of course, by his sweet puppy from the F Litter, Faith.

And so we will spend the weekend cleaning and getting the house in order and the cars packed. We are so appreciative of Heidi – she is the person at work who runs the office and knows everything and has SO helped with my transition at work. Heidi lives relatively close to us and will be checking on our house while we are in Utah, giving me yet another reason to feel gratitude towards Heidi. The puppies are grateful to Heidi as well because she almost always has one of their pictures up on her computer!

These puppies get more beautiful with every day. Their colors are so vivid and they are such chunky little packages! They are all walking – well, staggering. They tip over easily but it is a short fall and they are undaunted by their setbacks – a good lesson for all of us. They are sweet and cuddly to hold, and very kissable. I am looking forward to spending the next six weeks raising them in Utah and sharing them with all my Utah friends.

I have a lot to get done this morning so let me get to the pictures. There are two of Jamaica focused on her eyes so you can see the progress. Yes, they look blue and this is normal so don’t worry! All of the puppies will have blue-gray eyes for a bit and then they will darken up. There is a close-up of T-Town, as Galen calls Toronto. I loved the nursing line-up last night so took that picture to share with you, and then there is a sweet picture of the two puppies sleeping together.

I will post pictures again later, including the collage, so check back this evening. In the meantime, have a fabulous day and thanks for being part of our community.

Morning Musings from the Mountain

This morning I saw an opportunity for a great picture so stretched out in the whelping box to get at eye level and got up with a very wet sleeve -- I had put my arm in a pee puddle but I did get a nice picture :) One has to make sacrifices for art!

The puppies are growing and moving around and so yes, they pee more and in more spots. Galen found that out first hand yesterday. He was holding Toronto (his favorite, although he will not admit to that) and suddenly Toronto got fussy. Galen remarked on how Toronto was suddenly, "being pissy" and next thing you know Toronto peed on a rather shocked Galen! This rarely happens because puppies naturally move away to pee but Galen did not get Toronto's message that he needed to be put down, and so he paid the wet price of ignoring (and even insulting!) a squirmy puppy.

More puppies have eyes that are starting to crack open. I agree with Liz -- it has to be so shocking to suddenly see, and I think hearing is just as strange for them. The ability to hear seems to follow by about a week, and you know when it has happened because suddenly puppies are startling at big noise. One reason this period is easy is because you do not have to be quiet around sleeping puppies -- that will change soon!

I am getting so many inquiries about puppies lately. Sometimes it is not much more than the, "Got pups? How much?" approach, which is another thing that does not bring out my finer qualities. I expect that potential puppy buyers have done their homework and know that buying a berner puppy from a reputable breeder is not like buying a puppy from a newspaper ad. It involves a relationship that develops over time -- at least for me -- and like most good relationships, we do not discuss money or politics on the first date!

I have some puppy placements decided -- for example, Joan is getting a boy. When Cadi was about six weeks old Joan said she wanted her next berner to be a Cadi puppy, and Cadi nicely produced some boys so that Joan is assured a puppy. But we can't make firm decisions about all puppy homes because some people want a very specific thing -- like a therapy dog or a dog that can finish a championship -- and those kind of things are not obvious right now. It will all fall into place as it should, but it is a big responsibility to make the best match for each puppy.

Luckily, I do not have to really deal with all that right now -- I can just enjoy watching them grow and develop. It is like Christmas (or some similar holiday in your tradition) every day because it is new and different surprises each morning. Watching them grow is like reading a good book -- more is revealed with each page and having the story all come together at the end is so satisfying. It is really a blessing to be able to participate in the creation of life -- and, of course, also a very sacred responsibility.

Right now the sacred responsibilities are sleeping peacefully, with round little bellies full from their third or fourth breakfast. Cadi is eager for her first breakfast and is sleeping at my feet, while Zoey Rose (3 mos) is sleeping on my foot. So let me get to the pictures so I can wrap this up and feed my hungry, patient crew.

I have included one of Jamaica so you can see her eye opening progress. There is a fun upside down puppy who appears to be laughing but is really objecting to getting his 127th bath of the day from Cadi. Hudson is showing off his excellent (!) walking skills, and he is also demonstrating that the best way out is always through -- he was on the wrong side of the dairy and so just plowed right over Cadi to get there! There is a sweet close-up of Geneva and one of Toronto and Hudson mixing it up over who was going to be the most handsome dog on the planet. The two puppies together that are sleeping are Jamaica for sure and I think Ireland. There are also a couple of cute ones of Cadi with puppies, including one with Jamaica -- she is well photographed today!

I hope your day is going so well that you can hardly stand it! Thanks for visiting us and thanks for your comments :)

Utah Puppy Fans - Start Studying!

The pictures are so fun that I have to start with them! It was quite an adventure to try and get group shots and we were only somewhat successful, and that was because Galen was creative in his holding methods. So we have the four boys on blue and the four girls on pink. We then did pictures of just two at a time since that was easier. Jamaica and Ireland are together, and so are Sydney and Geneva. Look closely at the picture of just Jamaica -- her eye is opening! Hudson and Sutton are together, and so are Toronto and Whitby. The boys nicely demonstrated their beginning skills at play for the camera -- aren't they adorable??!!

I used to think that the eyes just suddenly popped open but, in fact, this happens over a period of days. Let’s track Jamaica’s eyes together – one started opening yesterday sometime. I will take a picture each night until her eyes are fully open so you can watch the progress.

In addition to eyes opening, the puppies are sometimes holding themselves in sitting positions and as I have mentioned, they are starting to stand. We call this stage, “The Age of the Drunken Dinosaurs”. Their big heads and small bodies resemble a dinosaur, and they lurch and stagger at first so we have a whelping box of intoxicated T-Rexes!

They are growing like little dinosaurs as well! I thought you might enjoy seeing their progress in that regard as well, so here they are in order of size (weight in ounces last evening):

Toronto: 55.3
Hudson: 52.55
Sydney: 51
Whitby: 50.75
Sutton: 45.6
Ireland: 44.2
Geneva: 41.65
Jamaica: 40.3

A typical weight gain in a day is three or four ounces!

Cadi’s blood work came back just fine!! Good news! The vet did recommend supplementing her with calcium, given that her values in that were in the middle range. I can give her a Tums or I can just add more dairy to her diet.

As some of you know, we do not wean puppies early so keeping Cadi in good shape is important. She is eating many times a day and eats a variety of foods, including two kinds of kibble, homemade food, and cooked chicken. Puppies will not be introduced to solid foods until six weeks, unless their weight gain slows or we have concerns for Cadi. The puppies will continue to nurse until they leave for their new homes, although by then will be eating three solid food meals a day.

There are many reasons we will be so happy to be in Utah for a few weeks, not the least of which is better internet speed. Perched on the side of a mountain as we are in Montana, we have satellite internet and it can be slow as dirt. Uploading blog pictures usually takes at least 20 minutes! Getting us all to Utah will be a challenge but once there we will enjoy all the luxuries, including fast internet, curbside recycling and garbage pick-up (we currently drive garbage a mile and recycling 25 miles!), and of course, a husband!!!!

I certainly hope your day is luxurious -- thanks for spending some of it with us!

Preparations!

Things are very well here at Puppy Central. The puppies seem to have recovered from their Dewclaw Drama as evidenced by no more moaning and normal weight gain. They are trying hard to stand up, which is so cute! They are very interactive (in a new puppy way) when held, and lick and nibble and try to suck. They are also better sleepers -- yippee!

I did not mention yesterday that the vet was very complimentary of both Cadi and her puppies. She noted Cadi's excellent disposition and how pretty she is. Cadi was busy checking out the RV that is the mobile clinic and saying hello while I was trying to make sure her famous wagging tail did not destroy anything! The vet even thought the puppies had such sweet temperament as they were snuggling and easy during the exams, and she noted how healthy they are :)

I found a hidden copy of the New York Times! This is great news as I also forget to bring home the newspapers that Heidi at work had so nicely saved for me! Heidi has a new picture from the Blog on her work computer almost every day and is a #1 puppy fan, although she reports still being very partial to the puppy from the F Litter known as Rosebud, now Zoey Rose. We normally do not allow visitors until three weeks but Heidi will be up to see the puppies this weekend before we leave. We will have a couple of other visitors as well, and will be getting ready for the Trek, so a busy weekend.

I have rented an SUV on a one-way rental so that we can have two vehicles to make the trip to Salt Lake on Monday. We will have four adult dogs, two small puppies, eight very small puppies and four cats -- plus stuff for an extended stay! Don't worry Kim -- Nicole will be keeping one of the orange cats for us, and maybe even both if she is feeling very nice! I think Kim is excited to have me home but is a little concerned about my entourage, which has grown considerably since I left in August!

I took a variety of close-ups for today's pictures and I hope you like them. It looks like the puppies' eyes are starting to have less seal and therefore should open soon -- probably in the next few days. Tonight I want to do group pictures -- the four boys and then the four girls -- so look for those tomorrow.

In the meantime, have a perfectly grand day and thanks for visiting us!

Good News and Good-Bye Dewclaws

Let me begin by saying that we have found a new vet and she is fabulous!!!! I cannot tell you how relieved I am about this. As you may recall, I had decided to switch vets and I have been having trouble finding one.

What I look for in a vet is a person with good skills as a practitioner but with a level of self-confidence that allows for a partnership. I do not do well with veterinarians who have a “my way or the highway” approach, or whose own insecurities or arrogance do not allow for discussion. In fact, such people bring out qualities in me that I prefer not to admit I have!

The problem with being a well-educated “expert” (as people are fooled into thinking I am about some things) is that you know how much you do not know, and therefore how much other so-called experts do not know, and so you are no longer especially impressed by blustering or titles or things like that. Some people need us to be impressed by such things and I just can’t, and so I am happy to say that I have found a vet who impresses me with her skills, honesty and willingness to be partners as we seek what is best for my beloved berners.

That is the great news – the bad news is that we had to meet over nine day old dewclaws. This should not have happened to our sweet Glitterati. It was a much bigger deal because it did not happen last week as it should have, and the puppies spent a miserable night complete with moaning to make sure their collective point was heard (it was!).

The vet has a mobile clinic (and a regular clinic) and so we met her at the end of the gravel road we live on. It was a three-hour ordeal and bless Galen’s pea-picking-heart (as Chaplain Jackson would say) for sitting in our van with Cadi and the survivors. I spent the evening telling the seven de-dewclawed puppies to eat because Cali said that would make them feel better, but they still moaned and were sad and hurt. I feel terrible – like I betrayed their trust that I would keep them safe. Sigh.

A couple of days ago I noticed that Cadi’s gums were a little less pink than they should be, and the new vet picked that up right away. So we did full blood work on Cadi and now I have yet another thing to worry about. Cadi is acting in normal ways and her physical exam was also normal, so we will see what the blood work shows – results will be back tomorrow.

In spite of their traumatic afternoon, the puppies are doing well this morning. Only a couple had normal weight gain overnight, further informing us that dewclaw removal was not easy on them. However, the moaning has all but stopped and they are acting more like their little, round, clean selves. They are working on the standing up skill but it is hard to capture in a picture because their belly clearance is, well, they are definitely low riders!

I finally ran out of the New York Times that Joan brought up. It has been fun to line the whelping box with such an interesting newspaper! And big! One section would about cover the whole box. It is a good thing that I am going to work today so that I can get a supply of the campus newspaper from the recycling bin -- it is not as interesting or big but it does the trick. It is amazing all the small things that are harder when you live in the sticks -- like getting a good supply of newspapers!

I hope you like today's pictures. We have Baby Zoey Rose saying hello to her cousin, Hudson. Zoey was three months yesterday -- what a difference! I took a picture of Dr. Lawson and her wonderful husband/right hand person, the other Dr. Lawson. He is not a vet but rather a chemist so Mrs. Dr Lawson has the best educated technician around, I suspect! Toronto has his head up, and there are two close-ups of Geneva. I took one so you could see the pigment on her nose coming in, and then I took the other so you can see how the milk comes from her nose. Dr. Lawson thinks she has a long soft palate and that is why this happens, but it is much better and she is not aspirating milk so she should be just fine.

Sydney is the profile shot, and Jamaica is on Cadi's paw. Look at the tummy on that puppy across Cadi's leg in the group picture -- now that is impressive! And the puppies are so big that only four fit in a laundry basket -- I thought that was a cute look at puppies. It is a lot of pictures today but I suspect you do not mind!

Hope your day is a good one, and the puppies recommend that you avoid letting anyone cut off your toes! Thanks for visiting us today.

Results!

The three close-ups from yesterday (in order) are Sutton, Jamaica and Toronto. Before you feel badly about your puppy identification skills, let me remind you that it was just our first quiz!

The puppy on her back is Jamaica and she is also the one across Cadi's leg. I had to check toe markings to be sure! The puppy underneath is Sutton and I am not sure about the one on top :)

I took pictures of four that I think are confusing. Toronto and Sydney are together. They are similar in that they are both solid masses of puppy, and they are darker on the muzzle. Toronto has more of a blaze, as you can see in the picture. And as I have mentioned, Sydney has that big white front left foot like Cadi.

Hudson and Sutton are very similar, as you can see in the picture of them. There are two useful differences. Hudson has a bigger tail tip and his muzzle band is symmetrical. Sutton has a slight indentation of rust into the muzzle band on the left side and a very slight tail tip. Cali is correct that relying on nose freckles is deceiving as those change very quickly!

The puppies are making wobbly attempts to stand up, which is very cute and awkward given the size of their bellies. They are mouthing each other a bit in some beginning efforts to play. They are sturdy little puppies, and so we are entering the most easy time of having puppies. They are passed that really scary first week and are not yet moving around so the next three or four weeks are what I consider the most relaxed and easy -- as relaxed and easy as this can be, that is.

The puppies' social calendar includes having rear dewclaws removed today -- finally. I thought all had them but I was wrong -- Hudson escaped without rear dewclaws so lucky him. I dread this appointment but I also know they will be okay and not need long-term therapy as a result of having this done. None-the-less, think good thoughts for the Glitterati today.

The picture of the rude puppy is Sydney -- I think she was reacting to being compared to a boy!

Have a great day and thanks for checking in.