Happy/sad time as pups leave to their new homes ready for new adventures!
What an amazing week this has been! LOTS happening every day!
First, we had a fantastic visit with Sherry from California as she came out to see ALL the puppies and ended up going home with “Black Boy/Trek”. THANK YOU Sherry for all your help with the puppies entertaining/socializing them every day and helping me give everyone baths. Puppies had strict orders to STAY CLEAN for their new families which, for the most part, they did! It was great to talk “all things dog” with someone I very much respect in the dog world. You kept saying how it was a vacation for you, Sherry, but it was really a vacation for me! I can’t wait to watch Trek, grow up… I/we are so excited about his future!
“Trek”“Westie”“Gracie”Running and Playing… “Zoey”“Charley”“Gracie”… King (Queen?) of the Hill!“Trek”… STUNNING boy!! Love him to pieces!!
On Friday, we celebrated Rooster’s (CH Gaitway-Jema’s Kiss And Tell, BISS, CGC) 6th birthday. He is such a special boy; he means the world to me! His accomplishments IN the ring pale by comparison to the assistance he so readily gives as a Mobility Assistant Service Dog… He just KNOWS when I need his help!
Happy Birthday, Rooster!
On Friday, Orange Girl (now known as “Westie”) went to her new home. While this starts the beginning of the puppies going to their new homes, I can’t help but feel a tad sad until I see the smiles from the new families. This may be an end to “the puppies” for me but it is just the beginning of their new wonderful lives with their new families! I’ve no doubt they will hit the ground running ready to take on this new adventure! CONGRATULATIONS to all on your new family companions!!
Saturday was the big “going home” day and now… I’m exhausted! We have one more puppy that is leaving tomorrow and then… I will just have my puppy left. It will feel SO STRANGE just feeding ONE PUPPY after “Zoey” leaves!
Black Boy is now known as “Trek”
Orange Girl is now known as “Westie”
Green Boy is now known as “Finn”
Blue Boy is now known as “Ziggy”
Purple Boy is now known as “Eddy”
Pink Girl is now known as “Gracie”
Lime Green Girl is now known as “Charley”
Yellow Girl is now known as “Zoey”
Red Girl is now known as “Vee”
For anyone who has not seen the vid of the puppies playing on the pool cover, they had a BLAST! Talk about getting their “sea legs”! Bouncing around, it was like a Bouncy House for puppies! All of the pups quickly thought this was great fun; another surface mastered by all!
Sunday, August 5, 2018… The blog entry that never ends (LOL!)
I fell asleep at 8:30 p.m. and was up by 4:30 a.m. this morning… Where is the COFFEE! Going through a few more of the photos taken last week and wanted to share:
Puppies play hard with each other but now need to learn you aren’t another puppy for them to climb all over! Gently “correcting” this behavior now will ease your puppy’s transition into your home!It is easy to forget the pupies are like babies… they “explore” everything with their mouths! And I “taught” them how to “dig”! If you have an area you can “give” to the pups to dig, they would be so happy! Think of it like a sandbox for a child. It will help them NOT dig where they shouldn’t if they have their own “spot” to “play”. Our little “water feature” on our back patio where EVERYONE uses as a recirculating drinking bowl! At least none of the pups thought to actually climb into the fountain (I half expected some might try to do that, LOL!) We LOVE all of our puppies! Thank you, Andrew, for all of your help loving on the puppies!
Thank you to everyone who has followed the puppy journey here on my blog/web site! I hope to continue to add more photos as the pups grow up and to share their stories of their lives with their new families. It has been a wonderful summer experience for us… a lot of fun, a lot of work, and a lot of memories!! Congrats again to the new owners of my precious babies!
It was a busy day yesterday for both the puppies and us going to the vet. Puppies took the whole experience in stride; they did great on the car ride and they did great at the vet office and for their individual exams.
Car packed with puppies!First crate and car experience… CHECK!Can you just hear them all… “Are we there yet?”!
Of course EVERYONE thought they were simply adorable! I had a few people ask me if any were for sale? And I had EVERYONE want to touch and pet them (and that would be a NO! The last thing I want is for a puppy to get ill from any type of cross-contamination!) So to answer to all of the “can I say ‘hi’ to the puppies?”… You most certainly can but not with your hands! (I’m so “mean”, LOL!)
It was an incredibly well-run appointment with each puppy being weighed, temp taken, examined, and then vaccinations given (DA2P/Parvo plus oral Bordatella). All hearts were normal; normal heart sounds and all boys had testicles palpitated (a good thing!)
Puppies relaxing in a heap of course! These are the calmest puppies ever…even with the commotion going on around them! Crates on our crate dolly all tied and wrapped and ready to roll!
Of course, we are watching closely for any adverse reactions. Everyone ate well last night and again this morning. Poops look good. No one is lethargic afterwards either… Whew! I’ll keep an eye on them over the next few days to hopefully continue this trend/behavior!
This CAN’T be comfortable but… When it is time for a nap, you just have to close your eyes!
The drive home was again taken in stride by these confident pups and once parked, they were “let loose”! All come when called (they answer to “puppy” so folks… that may help you as you transition them to learning their real names!)
Ah… Freedom at last!
Another milestone achieved in the puppies lives! Good job babies!!
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve counted to “nine”! 1, 2, 3, 4 and then over there, 5, 6. There is 7 & 8. Where is 9?! Where is NINE! Oh, there is 9… Whew! Checking puppies happens a LOT here! I check them when mom is in with them and I check them when mom is NOT with them! I check to see if they are too hot or too cold. I just check them ALL THE TIME! And I count to nine!
Today was “paperwork” day. I tried to make something I had “work” but that darn “editable” PDF really wasn’t so “editable”! So, I re-typed my intro out and found/corrected several typos. Oops! In reality, it needed retyping anyways. There are always “new things” to add; I would be remiss if I didn’t go over new things too. My “puppy contracts” are up-to-date and ready to be filled in by the new owners. That is another thing I wanted to “get ready”. And the info AKC mandates I have on every new home in every litter, well, my “boxes” are getting filled in which will help not only for the contracts but also for the AKC paperwork I will fill out later.
Meanwhile, folks are locking in their registered and call names. Such fun, great names so far! To the folks who haven’t decided, keep thinking! Yes, you do have time yet; I don’t absolutely NEED your names now but… If your are sure and ready, definitely let me know. We have:
Jema’s Journey of Vim, Vigor, and Valor; call name “Vee”
Jema’s Journey to the Finish; call name “Finn”
Jema’s Lost Paddle Journey; call name “Eddy”
I also chatted with Journey’s owner, Shannon, today. It has been a while since we’ve “touched base”; so nice to catch up! Shannon has been such a wonderful breeder to work with; we ALL are very lucky in that regard! We can never forget “dad” who is why we are where we are today!
I “think” we are ready for the upcoming “puppy party”? I KNOW my dogs are going to LOVE all the extra attention! And the puppies… they play hard and then they sleep but then they wake up again so it will be a fun time giving them lots of extra attention too! Crossing fingers we have nice weather to take them outside! Not too hot and not too cold!!
As everyone knows, pups have started on solid food. I wean pups on Royal Canin Starter Mousse. I swear, this is THE BEST product in the world! Okay, it is a bit “stinky” but that is why the pups probably enjoy it so much? Easy to digest; easy to eat; just the right consistency! The last thing I want is for one of my babies to choke on a home-made “gruel” that might be too thick! This stuff is the best!
Deja helps “clean up” any remainder of the food not eaten by pups and does try to clean pups a bit too! I admit, I help her out wiping faces and cleaning paws. Learning to eat is a messy business! And I’ve started “brushing” puppies. I am sure this must be a strange sensation to them but… It helps get the food out of their fluffy coats and it IS something they will need for the rest of their lives!
Speaking of Deja, now is the time we are REALLY watching her closely (well, really, when have we not watched her closely?!) She now has less demand for milk so should produce less but it is better to have a gradual drying-off period. This is the main time mastitis rears its head with her body thinking it should continue producing as much milk as she has up to now. What I really want to happen is those back nipples (the really “good ones”) to get emptied to prevent any chance of mastitis from coming back! I might say put one of the hefty boys on those back nipples but in reality, the girls are keeping up with the boys in weight. My “lighter” girls are not so light any longer!
Which brings me to 3-Week Weights:
Blue (M): 3 lbs 0.6 oz
Black (M): 2 lbs 14.2 oz
Purple (M): 2 lbs 12.6 oz
Green (M): 2 lb 12.2 oz
Hot Pink (F): 3 lb 2.8 oz
Lime Green (F): 3 lb 0.6 oz
Red (F): 2 lb 13.2 oz
Orange (F): 2 lbs 7.6 oz
Sometimes there is a “runt” in a litter. Not in this litter though! Every puppy has had a good nursing reflex and has been a strong “fighter” to get the best nipple. And once on, s/he doesn’t allow another puppy to knock them off! At one point, I thought Lime Girl was a little behind so I “helped”. To see her go after the solid food now, she is a moose! I will probably “help” orange girl over the next few days; I’m sure she’ll pick up a few extra ounces to catch up to her mates soon enough! Seeing the pups grow, it is definitely time to help Deja out and start the pups on solid food!
Deja isn’t afraid of fireworks but she isn’t going to miss a chance to be on the bed and cuddled either!
I hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July celebration with family, friends, and neighbors today. Happy Birthday, America!! I really hope we don’t have anyone who thinks it is “all right” to set off fireworks tonight!! Our ground is dry; the grasses brown! Plus, it just isn’t good if you have animals. So like most years, Mark and I will be home with our critters ensuring everyone stays safe and out of harms way!
Have a SAFE 4th of July celebration everyone!
Sweet, sweet puppy… They LOVE to be held, cuddled, and petted
Definitely “kissable”! Love this puppy’s personality!
UPDATE (and a day late but…): Puppies have now been introduced to (and are doing very well) on the kibble they are being weaned on… Royal Canin Starter Food. The kibble is soaked until “mushy” then mixed in with the Royal Canin Mousse. And because we haven’t given them water yet (but will today), a nice drizzle of goat’s milk around the bowl. ALL puppies are chewing the softened food and drinking/licking the milk.
Then, Deja comes in to clean up any “leftovers” and helps clean puppies’ faces. Pups are now nursing while she is standing and on the move! Again, we want to make sure Deja doesn’t “explode” but pups are getting the majority of their nutrition from solid food.
And puppies… They readily seek people out for cuddling. They are all barking more and becoming more inquisitive about their surroundings which is now filled with interactive toys. They eat, they play, and they sleep! What a life, eh?!
Time to introduce solid food to puppies. Puppies were more than ready to try the delicous puppy-start mousse I wean the on initially. And then Deja… She helped clean the plate (and the puppies) afterwards. And while Deja is “cleaning up”, pups washed down their first meal at the “milk bar” (as Deja kept moving to clean up)! Quite the experience for the pups and mom (because puppy mousse is fantastic!)
Quite the frenzy learning how to “chew” instead of just “sucking”. But this frenzy… pups are ready for solid food!
And then so random photos!!
Puppies enjoy being handled and loved on by everyone!Catching a quick milk wash IF they can hang on as mom keeps moving!Time for a nap!I really don’t understand the fascination for the “potty box”? I am sure once pups start using, kitty won’t find it so inviting, LOL!
Naming your new puppy is a BIG endeavor! There is the “registered name” and then the “call” name; what you call your puppy every day. Having a “theme” for a registered name helps folks see that these puppies, later dogs, are related. That they are part of a bigger picture. ALL the puppies whether they be the next big show dog or are the family’s companion are listed in a data base where there names show the world not only their pedigree but also that they are “family”. I am personally very proud of all of my puppies in this database whatever their future holds for them and their people!
For me, naming a puppy gets harder and harder. We’ve played the “name game” on numerous long car rides with my then young kids. The joke in our family is that my husband ALWAYS comes up with the name, “Cassiopia”! And he is always shut down when he suggests this name, LOL! For years, my son’s favorite name was “Astro”. I’m not sure if it was because of his interest in astronomy or the Jetson’s? When asked now if he thinks that is a good name for a puppy, he says no. But we laugh at how these were the names that always came up playing the “name game”!
For this litter, the theme is “Journey” as a credit to the sire of the litter; it’s his call name. I did have an idea of going into this theme but as usual, that idea evolved into something totally different. I don’t usually “announce” my name until after all the puppies have gone to their new homes and I know which puppy I am keeping but… I will here! My new puppy girl will be: Jema’s Journey Of Vim, Vigor, and Valor; her call name will be “Vee”. (Now I haven’t registered any puppies in a while, I need to double check with AKC to make sure I’m within my letter limits? But this is the name I would like to use.)
In Other News:
Pups have moved OUT of the whelping box and into their bigger space. We soon realized that the space may be a little TOO BIG right now! So, we divided that space to keep pups relatively contained mainly so they wake up when Deja is with them to feed them. It has been very hot here lately which is great knowing the pups are warm enough but the box was maybe a bit TOO WARM for Deja.
So… the following photos show the bigger space (and toys) pups will have soon probably when they are eating on their own. Several puppies have started to “lick” us which means we can start introducing solid food soon.
On to photos…
With eyes and ears now open, pups realize there is a much bigger world outside their box! They ALL have “escaped” at one time or another!Black Boy: Does this surprise anyone?! Puppy is “singing”! One of their favorite places to snoozeOh Deja! That is a puppy toy and a puppy potty box! Attentive Mommy!I just LOVE the elephant pillowAnd so does this puppy! BIG YAWN!I wonder what Deja is thinking? Probably that the pups are TOO spread out now? Curious KittyAll pups vying for the best spotDeja is a GREAT mom but she is very aware of all that is going on around her (and the puppies!) There’s ALWAYS that one puppy!Dividing the area in half. This makes it much easier for pups to find mom and for Deja to keep track of them too!
With their eyes open now, pups begin to explore their environment
Pups seem to grow overnight! They are beginning to notice each other and want to play together. All are walking better even if they still tend to tumble now and again. Deja continues to be a good mommy keeping close tabs on the pups although is now spending some time away from them, but never too very far away.
Looking forward to meeting everyone soon at the “puppy party”! No worries if you can’t make it, we will set another date so that everyone has the chance to play with the puppies!
Definitely a “milk coma” here! Those are some full bellies!
Green Boy: Our First Escapee! (Panel has now been added to keep pups from falling out of the box and getting lost!)Aww… LOVE this shot (and this is how I found them!) So Sweet!
I love how the pups are noticing each other and beginning to “play” with each other. This is the beginning of great socialization between littermates that everyone will need to continue when puppy goes home.
Puppy is thinking… When you leave this box, Mom, I’m coming with you!
Such a special time to marvel at the miracle of life!
Puppy Weights (actually 8 days old). I have to say, pups have enjoyed “helping” Deja recover from her mastitis! She is much improved on her antibiotic and pups are not having any side effects with the probiotic Deja is taking. The area I was concerned about is still hard but it is shrinking. It is significantly smaller that what it was!
Blue (M): 1 lb 8.6 oz
Black (M): 1 lb 10.2 oz
Purple (M): 1 lb 8.6 oz
Green (M): 1 lb 7.4 oz
Hot Pink (F): 1 lb 9.2 oz
Lime Green (F): 1 lb 6.6 oz
Red (F): 1 lb 9.0 oz
Yellow (F): 1 lb 6.6 oz
Orange (F): 1 lb 5.2 oz
Peek-A-Boo!Weighting Puppies: You can’t help but marvel at these little miracles!
LONG NIGHT for both Deja and I as she progressed through labor in preparation for puppies. Knowing this was a large litter, we had opted to do a C-Section today, 6/11; one day from her due date (6/12/18).
When Deja’s temp dropped significantly (97.1) last night at 8:30 p.m., we knew she was having puppies today anyways, with or without a C-Section! And when Deja started having early contractions at around 4-4:30 a.m., we knew puppies were coming!
Phone calls made and Deja’s CS was moved up to 7:00 a.m. (was scheduled at 11 a.m.). Unfortunately, I got stuck behind a train that then stopped; CS postponed until 7:30 because the main star was late (LOL!) when we finally arrived at my vet clinic.
Newborn puppies in the incubator waiting to meet “mom”
Hectic time and too many to thank but… Deja and her NINE PUPPIES are all doing well. While I am disappointed she didn’t have 10 puppies as originally thought were saw on her x-ray, I AM GLAD we did the CS (because at home, I would be still waiting and worrying about a supposed 10th puppy!)
Deja is home, recovering nicely from her CS, and is bonding with pups. All are good sized (which may account for the miscount?) and doing well.
Deja settling in with her new babies. All are healthy and doing well!
More to come but I am going to go take a nap! My puppy sitter is keeping a close eye on Deja and the pups. I feel truly blessed with such a gorgeous litter of pups thanks to Mr. Journey and his wonderful owner, Shannon!
Jema Golden Retrievers 