DAY SIX

Today we had a visit from Carl and Kim. Gambit was happy to show off her babies. Garrett also got a chance to go in the pen and sniff his kids. Bizzi still isn't permitted to get in the pen but Gambit is much more relaxed with her around. I'm sure once the puppies are up and can see and hear, Bizzi will be allowed to play with them.

I was happy to see that Gambit was outside with Bizzi and Garrett and decided that she would take a few minutes and play with Bizzi. Bizzi was very happy about that also. Before the puppies came the two girls were best buddies and Bizzi can't understand why Gambit has other priorities now.

DAY FIVE

I SEE SPOTS! Today the spots are starting to show and I think we have some colorful babies like Mom. Although Gambit's spotting is not correct according to the breed standard, most people who see her think she is beautiful and I agree. Her coat just glistens and her black is so vivid and shiny. I can't wait to see their markings and eye color. The fun thing about raising a Dalmatian litter is that every week there is a new thing happening to get excited about. First is how many boys and girls, next is... are they black or liver spotted? Then comes spotting patterns. After the spots start happening the next thing is the eyes begin to open. At about the same time as the eyes open the hearing responses start happening. It all goes so fast and soon they are gone and I will have made new human friends who will become part of my Dalmatian family. How exciting!

DAY FOUR

Today was a very big day for the puppies. They had their first visitor who was Grandma LaDonna. Gambit was thrilled to see LaDonna and to present her with her first ever grand puppies! Of course Garrett and Bizzi were thrilled to see her too. While she was here we decided on names for the puppies! A few days ago LaDonna suggested that, since chickens are my second passion, I should give the puppies a chicken theme for their names. I thought that was a cool idea. My hubby thought it was dumb but who listens to husbands regarding something as important as naming a litter of puppies. So their names are 1) green boy is Sebright 2) red liver girl is Ameraucana 3) white girl is Dominique 4) eye patch girl is Maran 5) blue boy is Wyandotte 6) ear patch girl is Minorca 7) orange boy is Welsummer.

LaDonna also asked if I was going to do the Bio Sensor method of puppy stimulation. I started that today and if you are interested in reading about it go to this website: http://www.dpca.org/BreedEd/battagliahiachievers.htm Below you will find pictures of Welsummer having the stimulation exercises.

PUPPY STIMULATION

Tactile stimulation
Head held erect
Head pointed down
Supine position
Thermal stimulation

DAY THREE

Here is Gambit showing Garrett his babies for the first time.


As many of you know I feed my dogs a raw diet. This way of feeding take a lot more time than feeding kibble. We usually have to make dog food about once every 4 to 5 weeks. We have a freezer just for dog food and today was dog food making day. It took up a good part of the day.

The puppies are doing quite well and Gambit has taken over her new duties very nicely. She is eating a lot more and I have increased her meals to 3 times a day. I have to say I am enjoying this litter immensely.

DAY TWO

Today the puppies went to the vet to have their dewclaws removed. It went very smoothly. I left Gambit at home and took the puppies in a heated carrier (thanks LaDonna) and they were waiting for me at the vets office. They took the puppies right in and in five minutes they were all done and fast asleep. Gambit was happy to have them back home and this evening all is well.

Big sister Bizzi sneaks a peek at her new brothers and sisters. Gambit won't let her get close but will permit Bizzi to look at them from afar.

Sleep and eat that is all they do at this point.

DAY ONE

AFTER A NIGHT'S SLEEP...

Gambit has proven that she is a wonderful Mommy! She keeps them very clean and well fed. The delivery was quite an ordeal to say the least. She had the first one at 6:50AM which was a 16 oz black boy. The second one came at 8:40AM which was a 16 oz liver girl. The third one was a problem child. She was stuck and I was very scared because all that was visable was one tiny foot. I put my finger in to see if I could help in some way. When I realized that I couldn't I called the Vet who said to come in right away. On the way to the car Gambit squatted to pee and literally peed the puppy out. I scooped up the puppy and placenta and ran back in the house with Gambit hot on my trail. We managed to get things back under control. That was at 10:40AM and it was a 14 oz black girl. Puppy number 4 came at 12:03PM and she was a 16 oz black girl with a tiny eye patch. Number 5 was at 1:08PM and he was a 15 oz black boy. Then we waited and Gambit decided she was done. I thought there might be another one in her but wasn't sure. After a very long rest she has some mild contractions at which time I gave her the shot. At 8:10PM she had a 15 oz black ear patch girl. Then imediately after at 8:20PM she had the last one which was a 16 oz black boy. I have, in all my years of breeding, never seen a litter of puppies that were so big at birth. Usually the largest one is 14 oz. Occasionally there will be a puppy that weighes a pound at birth but not 4 out of seven. They are very healthy and strong! I don't know if that is why Gambit had so much trouble getting them out or not but she didn't have strong contractions like she should have had. I, on the other hand, have a very sore stomach because everytime she pushed I found myself pushing right along with her. Am I weird or what?
I hope you enjoy the adventures of this litter. Now what shall we name them????

What a long day it has been for Gambit and me. After 5 puppies she was exhausted and needed a break. She had a big sleep, a potty break and some water and a light meal and then decided she was finished. After about a 6 hour break she started to have some very light contractions but was not pushing at all. I decided that an oxytocin shot was in order. After the shot she had puppy 6 and 7 in 10 minutes. I am not sure if she is finished yet or not but I will give her another shot in about a hour to see if there are any more pups. I will be very happy when this birthing is finished. I think it took her so long because the puppies were very big but any way we are both exhausted.

Now we have 7......

Number 7 - black boy

Puppy # 6 - ear patch girl

And then there were 5......

blue collar boy

patch girl

Puppies are coming!

So far we have 1 black boy, 1 liver girl and 1 black girl. Gambit is a great Mom but a very slow whelper.

September 23, 2008

Here is a picture of Gambit at 59 days. Today is 61 days and she is in first stage labor. She is very uncomfortable. I have a feeling I am in for a long night.

Dad Garrett and Mom Gambit