Day 8 & 9 - Puppies after One Week

All is still going really well!

It's funny watching Summer's (Mummy Tibetan Terrier) reaction to her puppies. She likes to feed them, then go for a walk...but a single tiny squeak...and she's back! 

I was quite concerned about her last week, as she was panting and digging so much. I did a fair bit of research online, and it sounded like there were a lot of people like me, worrying about continual panting. But a few of the articles and forum entries explained that as long as the bitch had been checked out (which she was), then it would be quite common and some dogs even panted for about 10-12 days.

Luckily and with great relief, Summer started to recover and gradually stopped panting on day 7/8, so by day 8/9, she was more relaxed.

Summer can be a fussy eater but she has been loving the puppy food. Now, however, I have to add 'liver cake' sprinkled in, with a little hot water. For breakfast she has scrambled egg with her puppy food. Once we start to ween the puppies next week sometime, we will start reducing puppy food and adding her adult food, so that by the time the puppies are fully weened (about 6-8 weeks), she'll be just on adult food (Wainwright's Light Adult Complete Dog Food).

A mass of hair, or a bundle of pups?!

The pups are looking a bit like guinea pigs right now - but Our Girl (black) has a cuddle with Sable

We don't often see them sleeping together, but with the warm weather, we opened a back door (2 rooms away). It was shut again, quite quickly...

Sable loves to cutch up to Mummy Summer

You can just about make out the four pups!

The puppies are changing too. They're starting to get a little control of their heads, only to lift them for a few seconds, but are turning them!  Their whiskers above their mouths, have also started to grow a little. Rather than tight closed eyes, you can see that their eyelids are developed over their eyes and you can now imagine them looking around.

Weight wise, 'Claude' and Our Girl, remain the heaviest, but Sable and white/sable are getting heavier in great leaps. We think the puppies have just taken on different genes!

The puppies can roll over, and they can travel at quite some speed across the whelping box shuffling on their tummies.

They do look like guinea pigs...really! But I know they'll start to look more dog like in the next few weeks...he he

This week we hope that the puppies will open their eyes and at the beginning of next week, their ears too, which are just tight little buds right now.

Oh, and there is movement in their tails! Only a little but we've all noticed it at different times...

We are trying to come up with a name for Our Girl. We (the family) were so sure on Summer as a name, that we're sure we'll come across another that we all agree on too...  But it's taking a long time.

Puppies - Day 2

Even though they're only 24 hours old, they are already changing - developing.

They've learnt the skill of 'latching on', and are picking up speed when shuffling around the whelping box, on their bellies like wriggly worms!

The one we've nick-named "Claude" because he looks like his dad (white and black), is the fastest. Fastest to move and fastest to latch on.

Little squeaks errupt from the box, just one or two. You know that Summer has gone for a wander or they've wiggled too far  from mum.

Nicole has been a great help today, playing 'nannie'.

Summer is leaving them now and again, but for the first few times when we took her out for a 'wee wee', we had to put her on her lead and drag her out the box. Once outside, we had to remind her why she was outside - 'Summer wee wee' which she would do ("Good Summer wee wee"), and then race back to her babies.

I rang the vets just to let them know that Summer had had four healthy puppies. I don't feel she needs any assistance, so we may not return for a while.  I did ask when she (Summer) should poo by as she hadn't, and I was advised to put more water in her food and anytime in the next 24hours would be fine.  Within 2 hours (about 26 hours after the first birth), she did a biiiggg poo ("good Summer toilets")

Proud Mum, Summer with her 4 TT pups

Left is "Claude", then the girl, white/sable is 4th born boy,
and sable on right is the first born

Cosy!

Mum and pups on day 2

We started pupping tapes on them, but as only 4 puppies and
they are all different, it's very easy to tell who is who!

WEEK SIX

Well we've had a very busy week, but watching Summer change has been enchanting!

Our gorgeous Tibetan Terrier bitch is most definately pregnant, with a round tummy that is making scratching a little bit of a challenge for her...

Whelping Box

We spent ages trying to find non toxic paint to use on our whelping box, and having found some, then spent most of the week painting it. The box is pretty big, about 4 foot square and incredibly sturdy. It is currently taking over our lounge but we are going to dismantle our dining room table and make a puppy area there. The lounge/dining room is open plan so won't be perfectly quiet, but hopefully we can make Summer feel cosy and comfortable.

Vet Bed

The Vet Bed arrived this week. This is special cosy bedding that fluids can pass through. Well this roll is massive, as tall as me at 5 foot 5! We

Keeping cool

It has been a lovely warm week, and like pregnant women, Summer has been having difficulty getting comfortable and cool.  We have a corridor shaped hall way with no windows, and this has proved perfect for dog cooling! I've also bought thining scissors (looks like a comb) so I'm going to try and thin down Summer's coat which is now very thick, having been groomed during the first week of her season (about eight weeks ago).

A walk in the park....

Summer and I, with Judy and Tibetan Terrier, Harris, met some more of our dog walking friends on Friday (7 Jun 2013).

Never think that dog walking isn't sociable. You really do meet some lovely people, and I have - including Judy, and our friend Debbie.

Now Debbie also has a Tibetan Terrier, called Freddie who is about 18 month to 2 years old, and also a Bichon Frise, called Charlie.  Before there was a Freddie, Summer, our TT, loved Charlie. She still does, but since Freddie came along, Charlie doesn't quite like her as much!  Summer gets very excited when she meets Charlie, but he now growls and snaps at her and won't join in the play. Poor Charlie.

Freddie is a full blooded male (not neutered) and when he, Summer and Harris are together, they look like a big bundle of black. Freddie has a sleek, mainly black coat and has only ever been trimmed. He looks very dapper!

Until Friday, it had never crossed my mind that a fully in tact male would find a pregnant female so attractive (in dog terms of course), but a walk around Box Hill with the four dogs, resulted in Freddie having to be placed on his lead now and again. Freddie was so 'in love' with Summer that he would have spent the whole walk with his nose about 2 inches from her bottom. 

Summer would tell him off, gently; a little yap and a snarl, but within seconds he'd be back in his favoured position...trotting after her, a few inches from her back end!

Charlie was also more tollerant of Summer and had lots of sniffs too.  Harris tried to intervene early on in the walk by putting himself between the boy dogs and our Sums, but he then removed himself and was content with trotting into the undergrowth looking for squirrels or rabbits.

I'll up load some pictures tomorrow of our walk.

Three Weeks Pregnant (we hope)...

As of tomorrow (Monday 13 May), Summer will hopefully be three weeks pregnant.

Summer (taken 11 May 2013)

We are desperately looking for signs that she is definitely pregnant, but it's really difficult to tell!

She is very cuddly and cutchie, and is sitting on my lap quite a lot as well as giving us the 'sad eyes' more often...but is it that we're looking too hard for signs, or is she actually pregnant?

As of Tuesday last week, we started to take our Tibetan Terrier for walks where there were other dogs, and whilst the first walk is always unnerving, watching how male dogs respond to her, all seemed fine, so we're sure her season is over.

Summer seems to get a little tireder, although I do wonder if this is because she hasn't had quite such long walks due to her being in season. Or could this be another sign?

On Friday last week, Judy and I took Summer and Harris to Headley Heath, National Trust land close to Box Hill in the Surrey Hills (North Downs).  It is a dog walkers paradise, although we have to look out for the horses (but usually only a couple)!  The two TTs had a brilliant time, romping and chasing, and Harris played more rough and tumble (although he is very gentle) with Summer, which he hadn't done for the last month.  We saw about six other Tibetan Terriers, including a five month old puppy who definitely was top dog in his family (he was dragging his elderly owners and sat in the front seat of the car whilst one of the owners sat in the back - DO NOT recommend this..)!


Rosemary Leaf

From tomorrow, we will start our hopefully pregnant, Summer, on Rosemary Leaf tablets - just one a day.  Rose, Claude's owner, recommended it and gives it to her pregnant bitches (Pulis and Tibetan Terriers). Rosemary leaf helps the muscles during and after birth. It's the only pills / supplements I will give Summer, with the exception of some homoeopathic pills Rose gave me for during whelping.  The Rosemary leaf should be started from the third week of gestation (mating), until a week after whelping.  People seem to either think it's a wonderful product or totally useless - you decide!


Today (Sunday)

Locally every year is the Cowpie Country Show, run by the Surrey Young Farmers. My daughter and I took Summer and we wandered around the fields watching display shows and browsing through the stands. Whilst we've been many times over the last 20 years, I couldn't remember there being quite so many dogs there!

Usually this wouldn't be a problem, but having read THE BOOK OF THE BITCH by J M Evans & Kay White, which is a MUST read for ALL bitch owners, it mentions that during weeks 3 and 4 after mating, that these are "the most vital ones <weeks> for the prospective litter".  The book goes on say that the organs and limbs of the puppies are growing very quickly and are susceptible to various things including being stuck in a hot car, infection, poisons, medication etc.  It also suggests that from 3 and a half weeks to 5 weeks after mating, you should keep the dog away from shows and training groups where your bitch can pick up infections.

We're still half a week from this period, but I wish I'd thought more about our lovely day out!!

Summer and I love going to Agility Classes with Ann Cook in Reigate. We started Puppy Classes as soon as Summer had had her first jabs and worked through to Kennel Club Gold Level. Sadly, we attempted three times to pass the gold, but she just couldn't do it, so I say "she is trained to gold standard"!!  The first two times we took the test, she was brilliant until we got to "Relaxed isolation".  The little monkey just wanted to be where everybody else was, and started yapping followed by howling, whilst I was answering the test questions, talking louder and louder in the hope that the examiner wouldn't hear her!! No such luck... ha ha...  By the third attempt, we had perfected "relaxed isolation" and did this first. She was perfect! But passing was just not to be, and she decided she was not going to stop (Stop the Dog) when called...

I decided three attempts was quite enough for us both, and we joined the Agility Classes, which are very sociable and great fun for us both!

DAY THREE / Day 14 - Time to make puppies again...

Wednesday 24 April 2013

Wednesday was Day 14 of Summer's season and DAY THREE (possibly) of her pregnancy. 

All good breeding books mention that you should mate dogs twice, 48 hours apart so that the sperm has had time to get back to its strongest. Whilst Summer's first mating on Monday looked successful, of course it is too early to tell.  The earliest time we could be sure she is pregnant, is by ultrasound at around 24 days of which the cost at a town/city vet is about £85. If you know a sheep or other livestock farmer, some will agree to scan your dog for a minimal fee of around £20, I am told.

Having taken Summer our Tibetan Terrier bitch for a 20 minute local road walk, it was time to tavel to Northamptonshire again.  So off Judy, Summer and I went!

We arrived at the Tyngeli Kennels, where we were made so welcome on Monday. Summer knew exactly where to go and why we wandered round one side of the house, Rose (one of the owners) collected her gorgeous stud, Claude, from the other side. 

Summer and Claude touched noses under the gate, which was then opened. They were very excited to see each other! Within possibly 5-10 seconds (a run togehter of about 5 metres), Claude was climbing on Summer. He looked as if he was on her a little lop sided, so we thought they were just getting ready, BUT a moment later he moved away and we realised they were tied already! How quick is that?! And yes, it really did happen that quickly...

Tie

After a tie of 20 minutes again, they relaxed panting. During the tie, I gently held Summer's head with an arm around her tummy as she does wriggle every now and again (this is expected of the bitches owner). Also sitting on the floor with my legs out has been most comfortable for me, and Summer can rest her head and relax a bit easier whilst we wait for the tie to break (I do suggest wearing a watch).

Once the tie was over, Claude was put in the large kennels and Summer came with us to have a cup of coffee and cake. The dogs called to each other, but whereas Summer was a not quite herself on Monday, she wanted to play with Claude's mum today.

On both mating days, Summer has not been interested in her food during the day, but once back home, she has eaten and drunken with gusto! She's not always been her best on car journeys, so some of her "offness" I've put down to that.

Looking back on the day, it was once again very relaxed, made so by the experience and attitude of Rose and Mike at the Tyngeli Kennels. Thank you.

Having left the kennels, I took a little trip down memory lane, and drove through the village of Moulton about 15 miles away, where I'd been to school aged 14 to 16.

Day 12 - Mating Summer so DAY ONE?

Monday 22 April 2013

I wasn't totally convinced that today would be the right day, but, by gove, it was!

As with Friday, our Tibetan Terrier, Summer's bleeding was still a pink watery substance this morning but having discussed a possibly good day to take her to visit her prospective bow, Claude's owners and I had decided that today should be the one! 

Claude's experience as a stud would tell us if Summer was ready to mate or not. If it wasn't the right time, as the drive from Surrey to Northamptonshire is around two hours, Claude's owners were happy to have Summer to stay, possibly until the right time (which would not be long). As Summer is a much loved family pet who has never spent a night away from us in all of her (nearly) four years, we weren't sure how either us or Summer would feel...

...But we didn't need to find out...

My friend, Judy (owner of TT Harris' who is Claude's brothers), accompanied us to Northants as support and company. We left late in the morning, stopping once so we could all stretch our legs... (I'd read that you should let the bitch have a wee before arriving at the studs house).


THE MEETING

On arrival at Claude's house, as instructed, we let Summer off her lead in the lovely enclosed garden.  She had a good sniff around, a few more wees/marking, and then Claude was let in.

I can only say, it was an instant attraction, and any worries that my "little baby" would suffer, instantly disappeared! Puppy bows all round (bottom in the air, front legs parallel with the ground and wagging tail), jumping and playing - phew!  Within minutes Claude climbed onto Summer's back and started humping her. This stopped and started as they moved around the garden. He was arousing her, something I hadn't read about.

Claude's owner watched very closely and as it was a windy, cold day, we took the dogs inside where it was warm, when it became obvious that the actual mating was imminent (they had been playing around for maybe 15-20 minutes).

Inside, Claude climbed on Summer, started humping and Claude's owner confirmed that this was it! After a few minutes or so, Claude stopped humping and they were tied.  Summer did not look to be concerned, worried or stressed, at any point of the proceedings. Together with Claude's owner, we held Summer's head and comforted her as she tried to move away. Claude was moved around so they were bottom to bottom (a bit like Doctor Doolittle's Push Me Pull Me).  Summer tried a few times to move away so we had to hold her gently but tightly, so she wouldn't damage Claude's boy bits!! But she wasn't stressed.

After a twenty minute tie, which I'm told is a good length of time, Claude moved away and was put in an area of the garden way from Summer. They would not meet again that day.  Summer was kept inside for about another 15-20 minutes and then let out for a wee.

It was time for tea and coffee, and a nice long chat. And for me to ask lots of questions...


QUESTIONS & THOUGHTS

COLOUR    I was once told that Tibetan Terriers do not breed true (a colour outside of the breeding family can just appear) but this is not true. You could find a colour coming through from the parents etc but generally the pups should take on the parent's colouring.

Touch wood, Summer and Claude's pups will be black and white (like Summer) or white and black (like Claude). There may be a bit of tri-colour.

The colour breed standard for Tibetan Terriers are "white, golden, cream, grey or smoke, black, parti-colour and tricolours, in fact any colour except chocolate or liver permissible".

REGULARITY OF SEASONS    We had expected Summer to come into season 10 months after the previous season, which was 10 months before that, and 10 months before that. Her first season was at 11 months and 3 weeks old.  The last season did not happen in November 2012 as expected and when I expressed concern to our vet, he said that we must have missed it and that all dogs have seasons between 5 and 8 months. I wasn't convinced. I have since learnt that it isn't unusual for a Tibetan Terriers season to be around every 12 months. Phew again!

GIVING BIRTH / WHELPING   From simple research, I know that the bitches temperature drops and when it does (around 60 days) birth is due within the next 24 hours. I learnt that the bitch also gets very clingy nearer the birth and won't want to leave the owner.  She will also start to get very restless.

It also isn't unusual with Tibetan Terriers for the bitch to go into labour early, maybe even up to five days!

BIRTH ISSUES     I did wonder about things to look out for when the puppies are born  particularly with Tibetan Terrier pups. Umbilical hernias aren't unusual and for non show dogs don't always need to be touched - a show dog won't be penalised. Also we need to check for back feet claw nails and these must removed around day three.

                                               ---xxx---xxx---

I'm sure there must be other bits I learnt today, but I'll maybe add them as I remember!

Next step for Summer and Claude now, is to wait for 48 hours and see if they will mate again. 48 hours is necessary so the dogs sperm is at its strongest/most effective.

Sooooo DAY THREE will be Wednesday 24th April, and Summer and I will return to Northants. Tomorrow (DAY TWO) we are going for a walk with Harris (Claude's brother, and Summer's boyfriend!). I wonder what Harris will think of her and if he will sense if she is pregnant?

If Summer is pregnant, that means puppies should arrive around 21st June, give or take a few days!

Day 6

So Day 6. The 6th day of Summer's season.

For the past six days Summer has been very lethargic. She sleeps in a big cage at night (which I highly recommend) and when we open the door in the morning, she usually trots out, stretches and climbs on a sofa to go back to sleep, but is then excited to go for a morning walk. Now she is happy to stay in her cage and lumbers out, climbs on a sofa and falls into, what looks like, a deep sleep. Until the house front door is opened, she would be happy not to move!


A VISIT TO THE VETS

Yesterday, on Day 5, I took her to the vets. She was due for her booster vaccine, but I wanted to make sure it was still a good thing to do, bearing in mind we hope she is pregnant next week...

The vet weighed her and checked her over, giving her a clean bill of health. The vet's thoughts on vaccinating, is that there are many nasty things that the dog can catch without it, so safer to be vaccinated. I'd done a little web research and couldn't find any issues to of dogs being vaccinated and it effecting the puppies, so Summer had her annual booster jab.

I'd forewarned the surgery that I wanted to talk about the puppies, and I'd prepared some questions. They gave me a double appointment at the end of surgery which was nice.  Having done so much research, maybe too much, I was coming up with contradictory information, like when will the puppies come? Do you base the days on "from conception" or "from ovulation"?  Vets answer, 60 days from conception.


WORMING

When should I worm Summer and the puppies? Again, everyone seemed to have a different opinion.  As we use 'Advocate for Dogs' (Advocate is a 'spot on' product, which is very effective in the treatment and prevention of fleas and other parasites on and in your dog. As well as killing fleas and their larvae it is effective against Roundworm, Whipworm, Hookworm, Lungworm, Heartworm, Ear mites, Lice, Sarcoptic and Demodectic mange. In summary, it is effective against ALL the common external and internal parasitic problems your dog can acquire, with the exception of ticks and tapeworms.) we don't have to worm Summer, we're advised by the vets, but in this instance, and as worms can be a serious problems to new born puppies, I was given one single Droncit tablet (less than £2) to give her in a few days time. It lasts for 6 months. For the puppies, a Milbemax worming tablet should be given at 6-7 weeks old.


WHEN TO MATE

When the blood becomes a clearer liquid (maybe slightly pink) and the bitch likes to be rubbed near her tale (!!), that is the time she should be ready to mate. This is also the time when she has ovulated. Ovulation = time to breed. This tends to happen around day 10-14 but it isn't unusual to be longer or shorter. You then have around 3 days to mate the bitch and stud.

At the moment, having never watched Summer this closely, I feel very pressurised to make sure I notice the right changes on the right days and don't miss this 'window'!

I discussed with the vet about tests (take the pressure off of me!) but this would involve drawing blood and sending it off to a laboratory. The vet said he'd happily do this if I wanted to, but thought it was more appropriate for bitches that were having problems conceiving. I didn't ask how expensive this would be, but decided I'd go with my gut instinct.


KNOWING SHE'S PREGNANT

It was suggested that Summer has an ultra scan at 24-25 days after conception to check she is pregnant. Once you know you have a pregnant bitch then you can start going mad and buying the huge list of implements and objects needed to get through the birth and to house and look after the puppies. I've already got a list of where to order everything and believe me, the list is extensive...  Don't leave research to the last minute!  The cost of the scan, by the way, will be around £85.00.


DIET FOR SUMMER

The vet suggested giving Summer a puppy diet for the 2 weeks prior to giving birth and 2-3 weeks after as this has a lot more nutrients in it.  I asked about the first puppy food at 2-3 weeks old as I'd heard of some giving scrambled eggs. The vet said he would buy puppy kibble and soak it in warm water for about 30 minutes, and that the pups would love it. The amount of water could then be lessened as they got older, until they were on the nutritious kibble with no water.  Sounds like a good idea to me!


EXERCISE

Summer and I attend Agility Classes run by KC registered Ann Cook in Reigate.  We both enjoy it, and definitely good exercise for both me and Summer!  I had read that we shouldn't continue classes but I thought that with the jumps laid on the floor and avoiding apparatus like the see-saw, we could continue. The vet agreed and said to just wait 4 weeks after conception and to take it easily.


LABOUR

A last tip was to watch Summer's temperature close to the 60 days after conception, as it drops significantly and almost certainly means that within the next 24 hours, puppies will be born!

Why did we get a dog? Why a Tibetan Terrier?

We had a cat. Gary. He was nearly 18 years old when he died of old age in January 2009. He had accompanied two of us into adulthood, been there to see our children grow into teenagers, and was much loved as a family member.

The decision to actually become dog owners took another eight months. Two of the family had wanted a dog for a long time. One was indifferent. I wasn't totally convinced, knowing that all the caring would be down to me, and I still missed Gary cat. 

In my early teens we had had a German Shepherd, who could, in a breath, pull me over so my face met dirt!  I didn't want this to happen again! I didn't know which breed of dog I did like, but this breed would not be for me (although our German Shepherd had a gorgeous and lovely temperament).

In late July 2009, on a trip to New York, our family of four were drawn to a pet shop.  Fascinated by the funny jackets, over the top dog bling and the fluffy animals in the window, we investigated.  The puppies on display were the most gorgeous fluffy Golden Wheatens - so cute!

We were all decided. A cute dog was for us, and this is what we wanted. But heads in gear, we headed home to Surrey, UK, and properly looked into what these dogs would be like. Whilst gorgeous, we eventually decided for a number of reasons a Wheaten wasn't for us, but that we all were now, in agreement about getting a dog!

In mid August on a trip into London, we were stood at London Bridge station where we watched a family reunite. With them was this most gorgeous black and white dog, with mid length hair, and of medium size. He was so excited to see them and bouncy, and they were just as happy to see their dog. It was then we knew. This was the dog we'd like.

"What breed is your dog?" we asked.

"A Tibetan Terrier" was the answer.