Notice the colored collars...this is how we keep track of each pup
Well I actually think I have a few minutes where I can be on the computer ....it has been a very busy time with the puppies. I am enjoying every moment. As I was my first litter it has been a great learning curb!.
I have been lucky to have my friend, Shannon, here with me as she is an experienced breeder.
We waited patiently...well I wasn't so patient!...for the process to start. She was officially due on Nov 22, but that day came and went without much evidence of anything happening....she did do some nesting and pacing but not much else. Nov 23 arrives...and during the early morning she has increased her pacing, panting etc...she is showing all the signs of first stages of labor....Ya Hoo!! Anytime now...or so I thought...wrong! The day passes and all continues but no pups...so at midnight we decide we better get some sleep...hard when she is on the bed panting, off the bed pacing and then on the bed panting again...a long night. Around 2 am I can tell that something has changed, so I get up to have a check on her...well there is a large amount of green discharge...this is necessarily good...especially as the contractions are not at all strong enough yet and the pups are still too high ...we wait and watch hoping she will progress quickly and start having her pups. Well after an hour it was time to head off to the vets...as this is an hour away it is better to be there than at home at this stage. No change on the drive. The vet checks her out and it is not going to be possible for her to deliver naturally without greatly risking the pups and possibly her...so a C-section it is. As you know from the post below all went well and she has five beautiful pups...
So now comes the hard work...keeping the pups warm, fed and safe. We have a heating pad, and a warming disc ( you warm in the microwave),and a heating lamp ...all to make sure that they are warm. At this age they are unable to control their temperatures. Quila is being an excellent mom and all the pups are feeding really well...so I weigh them each day to see how they are doing...and so far great...getting to be little fatties!! I also monitor for safety...they are in a great welping pen ,( shannon brought it down), and it has a safety rail so that if Quila get them to close to a side she won't lay on them , they will just go under the rail and be safe. I also monitor them very closely. The hardest thing is having to go back to work but I have got one of my LPN students staying in the house this week while I am at work. As I also have a video cam set up I can monitor them as well. It has been great as the other people who are enjoying the video cam are also monitoring them and letting me know if they are seeing a problem...so lots of eyes on the pups.
The other thing I started on day three is the Early Neurological Stimulation...I was going to type this out myself, but my friend, Michelle, sent her posting that she did a while ago...so here it is
Her blog is thealbertacanaancrew.blogspot.ca
She has some great resources on her blog as she has been doing it alot longer than me...she raises Canaan dogs.
Early Neurological Stimulation
We use the Bio Sensor/Super Dog Program which is early neurological stimulation exercises done from days three to sixteen of the puppies life.
The U.S. Military in their canine program developed a method that still serves as a guide to what works. In an effort to improve the performance of dogs used for military purposes, a program called "Bio Sensor" was developed. Later, it became known to the public as the "Super Dog" Program. Based on years of research, the military learned that early neurological stimulation exercises could have important and lasting effects. Their studies confirmed that there are specific time periods early in life when neurological stimulation has optimum results. The first period involves a window of time that begins at the third day of life and lasts until the sixteenth day. It is believed that because this interval of time is a period of rapid neurological growth and development, and therefore is of great importance to the individual.
The "Bio Sensor" program was also concerned with early neurological stimulation in order to give the dog a superior advantage. Its development utilized six exercises, which were designed to stimulate the neurological system. Each workout involved handling puppies once each day. The workouts required handling them one at a time while performing a series of five exercises. Listed in nor order of preference the handler starts with one put and stimulates it using each of the five exercises. The handler completes the series from beginning to end before starting with the next pup. The handling of each pup once per day involves the following exercises:
1. Tactile Stimulation - holding the pup in one hand, the handler gently stimulates (tickles) the pup between the toes on any one foot using a Q-tip. It is not necessary to see that the pup is feeling the tickle. Time of stimulation 3 - 5 seconds.
2. Head Held Erect - using both hands, the pup is held perpendicular to the ground, (straight up), so that its head is directly above its tail. This is an upwards position. Time of stimulation 3 - 5 seconds.
3. Head Pointed Down - holding the pup firmly with both hands the head is reversed and is pointed downward so that it is pointing towards the ground. Time of stimulation 3 - 5 seconds.
4. Supine Position - hold the pup so that its back is resting in the palm of both hands with its muzzle facing the ceiling. The pup while on its back is allowed to sleep struggle. Time of stimulation 3-5 seconds.
5. Thermal Stimulation - use a damp towel that has been cooled in a refrigerator for at least five minutes. Place the pup on the towel, feet down. Do not restrain it from moving. Time of stimulation 3-5 seconds.
Ash with one of her puppy crew
These five exercises will produce neurological stimulations, none of which naturally occur during this early period of life. Experience shows that sometimes pups will resist these exercises, others will appear unconcerned. In either case a caution is offered to those who plan to use them. Do not repeat them more than once per day and do not extend the time beyond that recommended for each exercise. Over stimulation of the neurological system can have adverse and detrimental results. These exercises impact the neurological system by kicking it into action earlier than would be normally expected. The result being an increased capacity that later will help to make the difference in its performance. Those who play with their pups and routinely handle them should continue to do so because the neurological exercises are not substitutions for routine handling, play socialization or bonding.
Five benefits have been observed in canines that were exposed to the Bio Sensor stimulation exercises. The benefits noted were:
Puppy "Creed" & "Rook"
In tests of learning, stimulated pups were found to be more active and were more exploratory than their non- stimulated littermates over which they were dominant in competitive situations.
Secondary effects were also noted regarding test performance. In simple problem solving tests using detours in a maze, the non-stimulated pups became extremely aroused, wined a great deal, and made many errors. Their stimulated littermates were less disturbed or upset by test conditions and when comparisons were made, the stimulated littermates were more calm in the test environment, made fewer errors and gave only an occasional distress when stressed.
I will post pics of the pups doing these exercise later on...need someone to take the pics first....
