Eva's Pups 8 weeks old

We took advantage of the glorious day on Sunday and snapped some photos of Eva's pups at 8 weeks of age.  The two fostered puppies returned on Monday on a wet dreary day, so there are no photos of the reunion.  The two (they are the two on the right) were swarmed by the four littermates when they were put in the pen, but afterwards it was as if they had been here all their lives. 

The blue boy that was fostered. 

Mushy face, beautiful dark eye...he is stunning.

He didn't cooperate for body shots as the puppies in the pen were distracting him with their barking.

Tri boy...he is a character, so full of himself.

A real fuzzy little guy too.

He was very good on the table (he was the noisiest one in the pen so I think he just wanted to come and show off)

Coloured leg on the show side...sigh

The very darling bottle raised baby.  We fought hard for this one.  I was lucky to have help from friends and family (and our Vet) to keep this girl going.  Our reward is a beautiful, very affectionate little girl...with glorious blue colouring.

Smaller blue boy

Nicely put together

Yipee!

The two companion puppies are very beautiful.  We are very pleased with this litter, even if we didn't get more girls.  

Eva's Fostered Pups

When Eva's puppies were born we were struggling to keep the two girls alive and the tri boy was also weak.  We were lucky there was a Sheltie in the area that had delivered a litter the same day and when I called my friend Diane needing help, she came over and picked up the tri boy and a blue boy and delivered them to Liz and her unsuspecting foster mom "Savanna".

Savanna was out when they were put in the the box with the other two puppies.  When Savanna came in to see her puppies Diane and Liz said she did a double take as suddenly there were twice as many!

Liz supplemented the tri boy for several days and then he started nursing strongly.  He is now larger than the blue boy and almost the same size as his foster sister (sadly one of Savanna's puppies didn't make it).

It is tiring posing for pictures...

...very tiring!

...so sleepy

Liz's little bi blue girl.  She is a sweetie.

The three pups.  The Eva pups will remain until after they are weaned and then at the end of the month they'll meet up with the four siblings.  It will be an interesting reunion.

Eva's pups Sept 3/11

Eva's pups are doing well.  The four that are here are growing steadily, and have their eyes open and now can hear as well.

The little girl hasn't had an easy start.  A week ago Friday she spent the day at the Vet in critical condition due to an infection and dehydration.  She came home with medicine to give sub-q as well as ringers solution if required.  For several days we weren't sure if she'd make it or not.  Then by Tuesday she started to turn the corner and she hasn't looked back.

She is still being bottle fed, but I think she is double dipping! She doesn't look like a 'bottle baby' in that her coat has good tone and she is really quite plump.  Regardless, she will get her four bottles a day until we start to wean them next week.

Great-grandmother LuAnne supervising the photo shoot...

The group...there is a big blue boy, the girl has the large patch on the right side as you look at her and then the other blue boy.  The bi-blue is out of focus in front.

Bi-blue boy and the girl in front and the smaller blue boy in the middle.  I took the big boy out of the bed as he was crawling all over them looking to leave...

Eva making sure her puppies are all right.  The girl in focus in the middle...she has a smaller eye patch on her off side.  Big blue boy at the back.

Smaller blue boy looking for his mom

Eva's puppies 1 week

The four Eva puppies we are raising here.  The tri male and a blue male are at a fellow breeders home being fostered by another female, "Savanna" who whelped the same day as Eva.  With seven newborns, I was struggling with the two smaller girls and I was worried I'd lose them.  Savanna after the initial double take when she came back to the box and wondered how her brood had doubled in size has taken them in and mothering them as her own.

The blue boys are all doing well and gaining weight.  Our friend says the other two boys are fat and content as well.

Bi-blue boy on the bottom...   

The little girl on the other hand isn't nursing well and so I've been supplementing her with a bottle and tube feeding her as well.  The tri girl unfortunately didn't make it.  It is sometimes difficult being a breeder.

They are lovely puppies...looking forward to seeing the other two fellows...they will be back in a few weeks.

How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?

BISS Am/Can Ch Laureate Gabrielle ROMC "Gabi" (July 17 1995- Aug 2 2011)

Sadly we say farewell to the last daughter of our foundation bitch "Holly". 

 Gabi lived a good long life, but it is never easy to lose your friends. It is a bit surreal and will take some time to get used to the fact she will not be there pointing to where I am.

Val and her pups did my heart a lot of good this afternoon.  Hard to feel sorry for yourself when there is such exuberance and joy around.