23Jan
The highs
Alaska and Hendrix's daughters are 1 week old and are thriving. ENS and ESI happen daily until day 16 and they are being handled by myself and other family members. I take them away one at a time (for a few minutes) so they start to get used to humans and away from the safety net their siblings bring. It is the start of preventing separation anxiety as they are developing confidence by responding to new stressors at an early age. I will be adding soft toys into the whelping box very soon so they have to move around/on or over the items enabling them to develop muscle and strengthen their joints.
I am that excited for the next 7 weeks, I have created a list of places to visit when they can can go out in the stroller. From a variety of shops, cafes, woodlands and many more. I have made sure the places are varied with different sights, scents, busy areas and quieter areas. The girls will have many wonderful experiences to get a great start in socialisation in the outside world. My stroller is ok but I think I have found a better one online- after our last litter, I realised I need one with a great suspension and wheels to make it suitable for a variety of terrains.
We currently have 2 girls in season, 1 is very close to her fertile stage and I am wondering how I have been so lucky to have 3 amazing male dogs. They are settled, sleep together and are quiet. They make me very proud as having more than 1 stud can be problematic. Reacting to the females pheromones can make them competitive and fight but not my boys. My girls are doing well together which is brilliant as I am aware some females cannot be with other females when in season. I have crates and they are crate trained if I think I need to separate them but so far so good. I am proactive keep a close eye on all of them during the girls seasons as I know things could escalate quickly.
The Lows
This is hard to write as it makes my heart hurt and tears form in my eyes... Pepsi did not pass his hip scoring. They are fine for a pet home but not good enough for a breeding programme. I hate that I have to see what was a hobby of dog breeding is now a business. This means Pepsi has to be rehomed. Due to finances and being at the maximum number of dogs on my licence, I have to do it. I do not want to as I wanted him to be here forever. I have spent days upset and wondering whether I should stop breeding. I have put a lot of money and effort in to breeding from the courses, the licence, and everything dog and puppy related. I do not think I can quit but with how I feel, I am struggling. Ideally I needed a third stud to keep the lines going and Pepsi was perfect in temperament, conformation and his other health tests. I just can't replace him.
I am glad I have the puppies here as they are helping. Seeing them thrive, watching them grow and planning our socialisation activities makes it exciting. Knowing that I am going to give them the very best start to enable them to live their best life is a wonderful feeling.
Even though it hurts, I am trying to tell myself that this is why we health test. The goal should be to make the next generation better and I can't risk hip dysplasia occurring. If I can find him the perfect home where he will receive one to one attention, continue to be socialised (he truly takes everything in his stride), and I can be updated to see how happy he is then maybe I will feel better about the situation.
~ Claire 🐾
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