GOLDSMITH BLOG

1 week old! Designer Litter

August 31, 2015
That was a fast week!  I was home with the pups for their first week.  Can see their growth quite easily...the weight gains have been decent.  I weigh the puppies daily and a lot can be learned by handling them when I change the blanket in their whelping box.  It has been a hot week - the puppies have been sleeping spread out instead of a heap....Its a temperature controlled room and I normally have a heat lamp on the first 2-3 weeks...the heat lamp has only been on sporadically the last two days....its supposed to be a hot week so the challenge may be to keep the room from becoming too warm.
Its too early to tell which pups will be outstanding, but I do know already that some have really nice heads.  It is obvious that the puppies are responding to movement/sound already - when mom pokes her head in to check things out, they start to stir and get excited.  Eyes should be open in a few days!  The pigment on their noses and pads on their feet have turned black for the most part.  There are a few puppies that are vocal....I hear some soft moaning from time to time and believe its from over eating - they love their mom's milk!  This week I expect the pups to have longer periods of awake time and become more mobile in their whelping box.
 

Everything ends with 7-8-9

August 26, 2015
When you are responsible for the well being of a litter, you take roll call every time you're with them - which is many times a day and night.  Your heart stops temporarily when 1 is unaccounted for.  Normally you'll find it in a corner, or under a blanket and all is good.    And as often as you check, something can still happen.  Yesterday I walked into their room at noon and Jayda got up to greet me - I did a quick count and saw that a puppy was motionless with mouth wide open (sorry for th...
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The Designer Litter has arrived!!! Jayda x Tango Aug 22/15

August 23, 2015
It has been a whirlwind of activity in the last 3 weeks...from finding out Jayda (Philomena) was pregnant - to receiving her 1 week later after a long trip from Serbia.  Ultrasound showed 4 puppies with a date of birth Aug 29.  Jayda was growing but not nearly the size (width around her girth) that my other girls had with big litters.  I thought the ultrasound was probably close to accurate - maybe 6 puppies.  Because of her estimated due date I carried through with a work trip to Vancouver A...
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The Countdown begins...

August 15, 2015
We're within two weeks for estimated due date for the Designer Litter.  Philomena arrived pregnant about 10 days ago  - she has made the transition with ease and grace.  She is a very happy content golden.  Her belly has grown 3 inches since she arrived....a good appeltite to say the least.  4-6 pups are expected...fingers crossed that they will be strong and healthy and Philomena will whelp them with no trouble.  As for the name Philomena, it just isn't rolling off my tongue like I hoped...P...
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Correction to last blog

August 1, 2015
Philomena is  Golden Romance Femme Fatale
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Puppy News!

July 27, 2015
It's been a while since I've blogged and even longer since we've had the pitter patter of puppies around.  Well, that's about to change, barring no mishaps during the next pregnancy.  We are happy to announce that our girl Philomena (Golden Romance Memory for Sleepy Song) is confirmed pregnant!  We've been waiting for her to cycle and by our accounts, she was over a month late....she did things on her own terms - had a silent heat which means no bleeding and chose her own mate, which I approv...
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Happy New Years from the Canadian Litter!

January 5, 2015
It's a new year...full of promise, adventure and of course the Canadian litter going to their new families in a few weeks.

We are in a very good place with litter.  Everything is going well- every meal time is met with hunger and gusto. I gauge a lot of things by their poop.  When I notice there is something other than  firmly formed poop, I start worrying. So the scoop on poop is that everyone's systems are working the way they should.

Puppies are very playful...only Mr Orange bullies now and ...
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Merry Christmas from The Canadian Litter

December 29, 2014
Christmas has come and gone...it was celebrated and enjoyed and is now in the rear view mirror.  Life is back to normal, other than I am on holidays this week.  Time to catch up on blogs and taking and posting pictures of the Canadian kids.

Scroll back a few days - specifically to Dec 24.  I had made a 4 week appointment for Ms Purple....I just wasn't happy with her growth, or lack of it.  The vet confirmed my fears - that she was afflicted with some kidney related problems...blood tests were ...
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It's getting messy over here!

December 22, 2014
1st puppy mush was served up Saturday....and it was a messy one.  Don't recall a litter ever getting so dirty while eating.  The first feeding was a few days earlier than usual....the slower weight gains told me that it was time.  I'm not sure if Dion's milk supply is diminishing a bit...or the fact she is feeding while standing up and the smallest two cannot reach her when standing on their back legs.  They get their own time on mom - I am also giving them milk replacement formula which is b...
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3 weeks old

December 19, 2014
Sorry for the late post - this week got away on me. A few Christmas functions behind me, with a few to go.

Overnight, the puppies went from sleeping in piles for the majority of the day to walking around trying to bite(gum) someone's tail or ear.  Mr Blue is becoming my favorite - I am dubbing him "the clown" of the bunch.  I love how he stares at his front foot  - gives this mouth opened look of glee, then pounces on it with his mouth,trying to bite it or lift it and shake it. It's a new worl...
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Canadian Litter - We are growing!

December 14, 2014
The puppies' senses have heightened during this past week.  With eyes open they are noticing more things, including me....Mr. Orange likes to find me and snuggle once he sees/senses I'm close by.  When I hold them close to my face I love how they look back in total wonder. Of course they try to sneak in a few licks on my chin and nose.

I've mentioned in several posts in the past year that I always learn or experience something new with each litter.  With this one, the plugged teat on Dion has ...
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Canadian Litter - 2 Weeks Old

December 11, 2014
Well, it's been two weeks since the birth of the Canadian Litter and I'm happy to say that things are going very well.  Puppies are gaining weight nicely and all are on mom's milk only - no supplementing.  I make sure the 4 smallest ones get their own time with mom.  The big 4 are gluttons!

Their eyes are open and it's a new world....they are reacting more and more to noises and movement - of course they always know when mom is close by.

This next week the puppies will start walking on all four...
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Canadian Litter 2nd Week

December 8, 2014
11 days have gone by quickly....the puppies are gaining nicely.  All but two (Ms Purple & Ms Green) have doubled their weights.  They are now all over 300 grams..Ms Green was the last to reach this milestone...I am still supplementing when necessary - she still seems to get tossed around when they're all trying to get a spot at the milk bar.

Their eyes are part way open - will be wide eyed in a few days.  They are moving around a bit more in the whelping box, especially when they're trying to ...
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Canadian Litter 1 week old!

December 4, 2014
1 week already!  Wow, that went quickly.  I am happy with how the Canadian Litter is thriving.  The big 4 (Ms Orange, Ms Pink, Mr. Orange and Mr Blue) have been gaining at a fast rate from day 1.  Ms Yellow and Mr White had a slow start but are now gaining at a good rate...i supplemented for a few days and they are now good without my help.  Ms Purple and Ms Green are still needing me to supplement every 3-4 hours.  I am syringe feeding them about 60ccs daily and also giving them extra time o...
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The Canadian Litter has arrived! Nov 27, 2014

November 30, 2014
Well, they're here!  Due date was Dec 1/2 but once again we are humbled that we can't control situations like these.  Dion lives with a caregiver in my home town and I got this message Wednesday noon that Dion was not acting normal...she hadn't slept all night - very restless and was panting heavy.  I picked her up at 7 that evening and it appeared that she was in first stage labor.    I was concerned because puppies cannot be born too many days early...hoped she was going to last till the we...
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We're getting closer....

November 18, 2014
Ms Dion is getting big with puppies!  Visited her on the weekend and her girth is measuring 40+ inches or 102.87 cms!
She is looking very good....definitely has that certain pregnant breathing...she must be feeling uncomfortable.  We've increased her food intake to keep up with the developing puppies' demands.  Dion has always had a good appetite so she will have welcomed the extra rations.  I have her on Performatrin Grain Free turkey, duck and salmon.  My intentions are to feed the puppies t...
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Looking Ahead to the "Canadian Litter"

November 9, 2014
While we've enjoyed a nice break in between litters, I am starting to get excited about the upcoming birth of the Canadian Litter.  With Dion living in my home town, I can stop by weekly to check on her pregnancy.  I measure her girth weekly and she is growing nicely.  Girth measure 38 inches or 96.52 cms.  This is an interesting measurement as  her previous pregnancy of 11 puppies had her girth at about 38.5" at full term.  Dion and Romeo come from the same kennel in Ontario - hence the choi...
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Love Litter - in the home stretch

October 17, 2014
At 7 weeks old, we're in the home stretch with the Love Litter.  7 weeks goes by quickly and it's an amazing 7 weeks when you look back at pictures from August 29 and compare them to now.  Very proud of these puppies...big and beautiful and healthy...cannot ask for more.  

I don't think this group of puppies has had an off day or off meal...every feeding is met with such gusto and they eat as though it's the last meal of the day.  They are nursing only 2x's a day - will go down to 1x daily thi...
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Love Litter 6 weeks old!

October 12, 2014
Great week for the Love Litter...vet appointment on Thursday went well...not perfect but still good.  They are all healthy and weighed in heavier than any other puppies I've raised to this point.  Ms Pink has a Grade 1 heart murmer...hardly there...vet predicts it will be gone before the next vaccinations are done.  Mr Green's testicles have not descended...lots of time for that to happen...does not affect his life at all.  My vet was very pleased with the puppies...her first remark when she ...
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Love Litter Jazz x Duke DOB Aug 29 2014

October 9, 2014
It's been a good week so far - weather has co-operated so I've been able to take the puppies int he back yard to play.  How they love to explore and race around!  Can't get over how fearless they are - very willing to explore any part of the yard...curiosity gets the best of them.  Jazz is starting to play fight with them - quite cute to watch - she's very gentle but playful.  

Big today tomorrow - their 6 week checkup at my vet in Winkler.  After the appointment I take them to a fellow breede...
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