Z Dog Blog

After Pasia had the puppies, the Detroit KC show was my goal for her big debut. Saturday, I couldn’t show Pasia since I was judging puppy sweeps. Actually, Saturday I didn’t do much of anything, that was a nice break from the normal hectic dog show pace I usually keep. Sunday, Pasia was entered and went Best of Opposite Sex at our RRCUS supported shows. There was good bitch competition from her cousin Rayne and others so it was time to focus. Pasia was in good form, nicely muscled and ready to show. What a nice reward to go Best of Opposite at DKC. The prize was a rosette and a fabulous new dog bed we so needed. The prestige of winning at DKC was awesome, she followed in daddy Captain’s steps as he was Best of Breed there several years ago. Mama is back in business!

It would seem as if spring is already here in Michigan today. The air has a hint of warmth, the sun is shining, snow is melting and the yard is turning into its yearly winter-spring mud pit. Duty calls and while I’ve done a pretty good job of keeping up with scooping poop this winter, it looks as if today the yard will get a through scooping. Good thing we just finished a 40lb bag of dog food, but how bad can it be…not any worse than a bad case of “poop wrist”.

After a blogging hiatus (which seems to happen from time to time), some exciting news… Bess will be staying here with us! Yay! For whatever reason, the decision was tough. I couldn’t decide 100% if we were going to keep her or let her go. After some debating, it seems that the decision to keep her worked out wonderfully. Bess is the most “crazy” puppy ever- even surpassing mama Pasia! Bess is a diva, very talkative and doesn’t take “no” for an answer. What she wants, she gets. Stealing shoes, the kitchen towel or anything else she can find is what she does for fun so when it came time to think of a registered name, Zareba’s Baddest Bess just seemed to fit.

While we are talking about names, I feel terribly for agreeing to name the girls “Porky and Bess” as puppies because it looks like it stuck! Yes, Porky in her new home is still Porky and well…Bess was growing on me so that stuck too. Doesn’t Baddest Bess just seem appropriate?

Enjoy the photos.

Bess in a blanket. Look at that pretty face!

Porky and Daisy on Valentine's Day. That's love.

Porky and Daisy...just plain cute.

Need a comfy place to sit? She is watching TV.

The puppies have just turned 7 weeks old and on Wednesday, Meg (Pasia’s breeder) came over to see the puppies and did their temperament test using the Volhard method.

Porky was first up and she flew through with flying colors, not phased by being put in any position or by any touch or hearing loud sounds. Overall, we decided that Porky was the more independent of the girls, one that would need more 1:1 time for bonding and need EXTRA motivation (food!) in training to get her to do what you want. Most important…this puppy probably won’t care if you’re calling her and she’s off leash somewhere. Keep Porky on a leash

Bess was last and like Porky, she was unphased by anything. Being put in different positions, exposed to different sights/sounds and situations was no matter for her. She was also a trooper. Bess was the more outgoing of the girls and loved to chase the plastic bag (used for visual stimulation). Perhaps she has a future in lure-coursing just like her grandparents.

I must say, it was pretty neat to watch the puppies and see their reactions to a stranger doing different things to them. For the sound stimulation, Meg concluded the puppies were “bomb proof” when she dropped a metal cow-bell on the wood floor and both puppies individually ran up to it curiously checking it out. Bess actually pulled it by the string and played with it. Overall, it’s comforting to see how well adjusted the puppies are and knowing that all the different things, people and noises the puppies have been exposed to is worth the trouble of doing random things with them. Just the way I raised the girls. The “bomb proof” girls will be awesome in the real world!

First post of 2010 and more of the same on the puppy front. 6.5 weeks old and the puppies are the size that Captain was when he came home at 8 weeks! On their 6 week birthday, Porky weighed in at 12lbs, 12 oz and Bess was no slacker at 12lbs even. Captain was about the weight of Bess when he was 8 weeks so that gives you an idea of how fast they are growing. Once the puppies start growing into dogs, their size will even out and they definitely won’t be gigantic dogs. With no competition in the oven and at eating time, they’ve had all the opportunity that a puppy can have to get BIG. The Girlz are so much fun, a TON of work and totally fearless having been exposed to everything: noises, lots of people and even meeting their Flat Coated Retriever “cousin”. Poor Tressel didn’t know what hit him when the puppies took his tail as a toy and starting pulling on it and chewing it! He was a great sport.
Soon they will be going to their new homes and it will be heartbreaking   and I still haven’t decided on Bess!!!

Not to be forgotten, check out THE POWER PUFF GIRLZ blog created by Deb (aka: Buzz’s mom and puppies Grandma!): http://orangewood.me/Orangewood/The_Power_Puffs/Entries/2010/1/9_Maya_%26_Porky.html

Can you believe the change in size in these babies since I’ve last posted 3 weeks ago?

Pasia with Bess and Porky taking a mid-afternoon snooze

Porky meets her "cousin" Tressel

Cutest face ever: Porky's mug shot!

Bess in her most well behaved (and cutest) position: SLEEPING

Bess and Tressel

Porky taking on a big dog bone

Puppies can never have too many toys!

Porky and Bess

So admittedly, I have not been the best about keeping you informed about the puppies lately… I would apologize but “Puppy TV” has just been too much fun to peel myself away. The puppies are 3.5 weeks old now and they are starting to do “big dog” things, recognizing me, playing with each other, eating mushy puppy formula and even playing with the big dogs. Yes, little Porky and Bess are yapping at Lato when he tries to play with them and Lato has been SO good with them. I think he thinks he is the puppy daddy…

Bess shows off her big mouth, 3 weeks

Porky scratching her self. Note her white back paw, so cute! 3 weeks

Porky wants Bess to wake up, 3 weeks

Bess top, Porky bottom. 3 weeks

Bess and Porky, 3 weeks

Bess chews on Porkys foot, 3 weeks

Lato practicing for the show ring. Stacked at 5mos.

Finally I have a moment…

Tuesday, 11-24-09 Pasia had 2 puppy girls by way of c-section. It was the most nerve wracking surgical experience I’ve ever had. First, thing on Tuesday, I saw Pasia had not delivered the puppies and was showing no signs of labor 30 hours after a temp. drop (and Tues was Day 64!). I called the repro specialist whom we were working with and he said “get her in right away for a c-section”….easy enough so I called the vet that I had been working with throughout the pregnancy to let them know what was going on. On the phone they told me, “No, we won’t do it. She’s not ready to have puppies. You are putting your bitch at risk.” This was AFTER I told them I had spoken to the repro vet. They didn’t care! Ok, so I got off the phone, quite upset and called the repro vet, he said that yes, the puppies must come out.

Luckily, the regular vet I use was SOOO accomodating and got us right in. Within 1/2 hour, Pasia was in surgery and puppies were coming out. It was such a relief to go to my regular vet who actually cared. The surgery went perfectly and Pasia was out in no time. We got to watch the entire thing from start to finish and the staff and vets were so wonderful- no wonder I go there regularly. After the surgery, Pasia was in recovery and the vets let me go back there, wake her up and put the puppies on to nurse for the first time. It was such a good feeling to be taking care of her and the puppies after everything she had been through.

Porky, the ridgless girl was out first at 24 oz and Bess nearly jumped out of the sac (according to the vet) at 20 oz.  They are eating machines and are doing great! Pasia is pretty well recovered and is a great dam!

Buzz x Pasia girls born 11-24-09

Yesterday, 2 beautiful and healthy puppy girls were delivered via c-section. One girl is ridged, one is ridgeless. The ridged girl is 20 oz at birth and the ridgeless is 24 oz.

Oh the story of how these two girls came into the world is something – something I hope no one goes through regularly. Well I will have to get back to it. zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Pasia at 8.5 weeks pregnant, this photo was taken on Saturday. She is due Monday, 11/23. Friday we went for a final x-ray and there are 2 babies confirmed. Both puppies are in the left horn and their heads are small enough for an easy (hopefully!) and natural birth.

Whelping box and supplies are ready and Lato is tired… Now to make sure there is enough caffeine for 48 hrs!