The puppies are 8 weeks now and are off to their new lives. What a roller coaster of emotion it has been. There was a huge amount of anticipation placed on this litter, not least because it was Dougie’s frozen sperm and my first experience of AI.

Vet check went smoothly, such a healthy bunch. John volunteered to do his duty again ” mad man” and sit in the back with the pups. He must love it, this being his 4th time. The puppies also got to meet Lionel and Jas (see video)

I know there are 9 families with fingers crossed that they are able to pick up their puppies. The weather holds all the cards now!

This will be my last puppy diary, here are a few photos to tide you all over until pick up.

Just a few short video clips. Will try to get blog done tomorrow (Monday 21st)

I am thrilled to report Kite is back to her gorgeous self. Patrick also is fully recovered plus he is very happy to have his horsey friends back from their winter holidays. I can safely say this last week has been much less stressful. Thank goodness .

The babies are 5 weeks old now and have had their first foray out into the great outdoors. It was cold but dry first time and my did they love it. Katie was here to witness how bold and inquisitive they were, no shrinking violets here !  

Granny Cassie, sister Molly and mum all came over to play. Molly especially loves them, Cassie less so, after all she has seen a few Crumpsbrook babies grow up now.

The pups explored everything within their range, chewed a few things, trod on their first nettle, poor babies. Did it put them off “not a bit of it “. 

They are being taken out after every meal and are already learning this is a good time to poo so we are getting fewer poos indoors.

Keeping track of 9 confident explorers keeps Chris and I busy , but its so much fun watching them experience new adventures.

It actually rained on them yesterday but again no impression, they are true Munsters and love the outdoors.

Kite is keen to feed them first thing in the morning but after that she just likes to check they are ok, then is off. I can’t blame her, those needle teeth are so sharp .

Events frequently come in 3’s its said. Well my word this week has been eventful.

Firstly Saturday morning, Patrick our elderly donkey , refused his mug of tea and banana, Chris then said he had only picked at his breakfast.

Suspicions were aroused, there were no obvious fresh poos and he did not look his usual happy self.

One vet visit later he was diagnosed with colic, given a muscle relaxant and an anti inflammatory. Within an hour he was grazing, pooing and looking very much happier, phew !

The next day we found our cockerel Max dead on the drive, heaven only knows what was the matter with him. He was old (well over 10) and had a great life training generations of puppies to respect our hens and was a friendly soul and a gentleman with his ladies. We will have to go shopping!

Monday morning Kite looked really sorry for herself , the dreaded mastitis had struck. Off we went to the vet and antibiotics and pain relief were given. 

Tuesday she still had a temperature and her de-meaner was not good. Off we went again. The antibiotic was changed and we had to stop her feeding her pups, not that she wanted too, she was so sore.

Temperature levelled off a little and I hoped we had turned the corner. No such luck . Thursday we were told the infection needed to come to a head and burst before she would feel better. OMG, what had I done,  I felt awful.

Friday morning she had a boil the size of a 50p on her breast. Pete our vet who has seen this horrid problem several times reassured us and said he was not concerned about her general condition and de-meaner. The best we could do was go home and wait. 

No sooner we were back, Kite lay on the sofa and it burst. I will spare you the graphic details but it was horrid.

As I write (Friday 4th pm) I am feeling so much more optimistic, Kite wanted to feed her babies so we are allowing them with her 3 at a time. The other glands are full of milk and we don’t want a repeat scenario in another gland . 

 I am hoping now that the hole will drain well and healing will take place.

Honestly when you breed a few litters you always hope that things go well, we have had a few traumas, but the end result has been positive. When you see your gorgeous girl in pain it makes you question what you are doing . Then you see her with her babies again looking so much happier and it ALMOST makes it seem worthwhile.

Now to the positives. We almost missed the pups 4 week birthday with the chaos going on. My how they have changed, their teeth are through and don’t we know it !  They are eating so well and thriving and seem not to have been affected by Kites absence.

We have moved them into their day sunroom, we did this earlier because of Kite needing to spend time with us and everytime they smelt her they cried, which was most unsettling for her . 

We have a pot bellied stove in there, which is kept chugging away keeping them warm .Nights are spent in the maternity wing as usual .

We have taken a couple of photos some prior to the Mastitis episode and vidoes of their  first foray into the conservatory. 

Latest update …

Kite is sooo much better this morning, she is eating well again and now we have stopped the anti-inflammatory she is allowed to feed her babies which she was so excited to do this morning. Needless to say Chris and I are so relieved. Fingers crossed for continued improvement . 

What a day it has been, pups have been wormed for the first time, had nails trimmed again, weighed, all blooming, and most momentous of all (well for them anyway!) their first meal.

They all relished the experience. Most of it, I think, went in their tummies. Kite came in afterwards and did a great job of cleaning their faces, tummies, paws, in fact every bit of them.

We have puppy proofed the “maternity wing “, plastic down now and bless their cotton socks they are coming out onto the paper to wee. Their sense of adventure is starting to kick in and every day sees them more stable on their paws.

Now a confession, to mine and Chris’s huge embarrassment,  while handling the pups for their worming, Chris questioned if he had the correct pup, Sprout, because he was a girl !!! We checked and double checked and yes Sprout is indeed female. The new tally is 6 boys 3 girls. 

Once we were 100% I offered one family who had been waiting all year for a pup first refusal of changing back to a girl, which they decided to do. Katie and Matt now have one less boy to choose from so their decision should be a fraction easier when the time comes.

Enjoy the new instalment of photos and video footage.

A very sheepish Jo signing off .

Happy New Year .

I have just returned from Kites walk on the common, she goes on a long line for 2 reasons, one I want to control how many calories she burns running around, plus there are so many pheasants she would be off
hunting through the gorse and heather and she could get scratched teats. Kite loves this “me” time.

Talk of the devil, she has just finished feeding her brood after her walk and wash, and come up to the office to say hello to me while I am typing this.

We had a 2 week weigh in for the pups, they are all over 1 1/2 kilos now. A larger weigh tub will be required next time around that’s for sure. Nails have been clipped for a second time. All eyes are open now and as you will see on the video clip, the little munchkins are getting quite mobile.

I think we are organised for Christmas, the last Sainsburys trip has been done, so the fridge, pantry and wine rack are full to bursting.

I would like to send “tidings of great joy” to everyone.

2019 will see the start of a new era for everyone having a new Crumpsbrook family member.

Kite’s pups are now all over a kilo in weight, claws have been trimmed for the first time. We are checking everyday for the first signs of eyes opening, so exciting. They are such a strong, even litter.

Kite is doing well, her appetite is voracious, she has 6 meals a day. She gets up and comes into the kitchen when she hears one of us in there and seems to be appreciating frequent meals.

Chris and I are so proud of her and are thankful for a copy book time of it so far. 

We will keep you posted on progress.

Enjoy the photos.

Kites puppies are thriving, they are growing terrifically. There isn’t too much for Chris and I to do at the moment other than feed Kite, her appetite is huge, and keep everything clean. She looks so well but clumps of hair are beginning to fall out. Most of this is caused by the puppies tirelessly kneading her tummy, they seem to have insatiable appetites.

Sunday Chris took the puppies Granny, Cassie, and sister, Molly, to Wyre Forest. When they realised they were going they barked and poor Kite heard. She really wanted to go. I  decided to take her out on a long line on to the common to compensate, just for 10 minutes. She loved it. I washed her tummy and paws with Hibiscrub on our return and she went straight back to her babies to feed them, content to do so. 

A few more photos for everyone to enjoy .

I had a premonition that the pups would come Thursday and I was right.

The tumble dryer arrived Wednesday and the bedroom furniture is postponed until next week. I did get a phone call Wednesday from Oswestry hospital to go for my premed for my hip op because they had had a cancellation the following day, but I declined !! 

Wednesday lunchtime Kites temperature dropped but otherwise she was fine, still eating, no shivers or groaning. Chris and I monitored her all night and Thursday morning at 6.00 am the first puppy popped into the world. By 7.30 am 4 boys had arrived. Kate arrived around 9.00 am. Kite seemed pleased to see her then got on with the task at hand and produced our first girl at 9.35. 10.00 saw boy number 5 make an entrance. Kite then had an hours rest and at 11.10 another boy, number 6. There was obviously more to come, 7 down and only 1 girl.

At 1.00 pm boy number 7 then after a 2 3/4 hour gap the final pup was girl number 2.

I have never had such a relaxed bitch, Kite even drank her evaporated milk while having contractions. A favourite of mine to give during whelping, it gives lots of calories for energy, plus all important fluid. The pups weights ranged from 500 gm to 610 gm no wonder their poor mum was uncomfortable.

As for the munchkins, their nicknames had to have a Christmas theme.

The girls are Tinsel and Angel, the boys Snowball, Star, Sprout, Spruce, Cracker, Joseph and Cranberry. All names suggested by their markings.

Joseph is the most tenuous, he has a tiny letter M on his leg and we couldn’t call him Mary so Joseph it is!

The Girls

The Boys

We will post regular updates on my website puppy diaries and blog.

The maternity wing is in place ,Milton and Hibiscrub at the ready .We are all set to go .Poor Kite is so uncomfortable now ,I really do feel guilty for putting her in this predicament .She has developed a taste for Felix cat food with warm evaporated milk ! She has lots of small meals because her tummy is squashed with puppies . Bless her, she can have what her heart desires . 

We are taking her temperature daily ,to wait for the tell tale one degree drop which suggests whelping is likely in the next 24 hours .

Chris and I are having a new bed, wardrobe and chest of drawers which apparently is being delivered Thursday .The bedroom has been decorated in anticipation. Plus, the tumble dryer broke last week and a new one is being delivered Thursday, much needed for drying towels etc .

What are the odds of Kite going into labour on Thursday ! 

Will keep you all posted on any arrivals .