Green sibling?

Not sure who the green pup is, but he sure is cute!

Eat Your Food, Don't Play With It!

The pups are really starting to mature.   I was gone for 3 days for work.  I left behind little babies and came home to small dogs!  They've started to rough house and play and are getting quite vocal.  They're also learning to get more of the food IN them than ON them (although if you look closely at the photos, you'll see that JeanPaul is sporting a food enhanced Mohawk hair-do!)

The Wearin' of the Green

Today we did a St. Paddy's Day photo shoot with the French 3 (somewhat an oxymoron, don't you think?). The photos turned out WONDERFUL!  Huge thanks to Kathy Clark for the lovely setup and photographic work.  You make them look extra special.

Pups also had their first outside visitors today.  The Glazier family came to see them.  I'd like to say the pups were excited, but they slept through most of the visit.  Cupcake (from the Strutter x Amber litter) however was THRILLED to visit with Zach Glazier.  Nothing better than a small boy, she says.

So, without further ado, here's the French 3, doing their Irish impression.

Babette

Babette

Babette

Jean Paul

Jean Paul

Pierre

Pierre

Pierre

Our New Digs

Today the puppies got a "cat cave" added to their pen.  It's a bit of a climb up into it but as you can see, Babette is already taking advantage of it.   Big plans for tomorrow include a St Paddy's day photo shoot with"Aunt Kathy"

The Triplet's Visit to the French Rivera Has Ended

After 3 weeks on the “French Rivera” at Chateau Picard, the triplets have made their way to Casa del Spot.  They’ve started eating puppy gruel and will have a more detailed photo session tomorrow.  Look for daily updates on the blog.  We’re VERY happy to have them here!

Life goes on..... trying to be normal

The French triplets continue to grow and thrive and since we’re now at the 10 day point, I’m starting to relax just a little about their long term survival prognosis.  Katy continues to be a good foster mother and the 3 don’t seem to acknowledge that they’re a week smaller (and a smaller breed) than their Berger Picard “cousins.”  I hope to get up there on Sunday again to see them.  Work has been especially hectic for me so I have not seen them since Sunday other than an iPhone “face time” call with Dee last night. I’m normally a very hands on breeder so this is breaking my heart.  Pekoe, on the other hand, as recuperated well and doesn’t even seem to know she had pups – no milk, no mothering, no looking for them.

Several of you have contacted me wanting to know if you’ll be getting one of these pups.  Unfortunately at this point in time, I cannot say what pup will be going where.  I can’t even do that with full healthy litters until the eyes open and the BAER hearing test is complete.  As I’ve said before, I have no problem returning your deposit check if you do not wish to wait to find out or do not wish to wait for the next litter.  At this time, I only know of two other recent  litters in FL; one of 3 and one of 5.  The litter of 5 is all spoken for and I believe the litter of 3 is as well.

At this moment, my plans are to breed Eva (full sister to the sire of the French 3) to Ian in late March/early April. Eva is also UU LUA so the entire litter will be Uu – heterozygous low uric acid (just like the current litter).  This would have pups born in early June and going to new homes in early August.  I realize that this is longer than you’d hoped to wait but Mother Nature was not kind to me or Pekoe this go-round.

I Get By With A Little Help From My "Sister"

Babbette finds Orange to be a great pillow.

Life is Good

The French Triplets continue to grow and thrive.  Today "Aunt Betty" came and did dew claws.  These were some of the easiest puppies ever to do this.  Very little noise and virtually no bleeding. 

Home Again

I was able to pick Pekoe up this afternoon and bring her home.   She's doing extremely well considering all she's been through the last three days.  She's quite tired and a bit chilly (hence the blanket) but very glad to be home.    HUGE thanks to Drs Ho, Larson, Yakubik and Shreve and the rest of the staff at Blue Pearl Animal Care,  esp Trish and Breeze.

I think I Am

Looks like Pekoe will not have any milk for this litter so they'll stay with Aunt Katy.  The three don't seem to mind and will likely grow up thinking that they were Berger Picards!!  

Look for the white tail between Katy's front legs as Babette burrows for breakfast.

Happy Hour at the Milk Bar

It's always Happy Hour at Katy's Milk Bar.   Pierre,  Jean Paul and Babette belly up to the bar with their French cousins.

Hanging In There

The latest word from Blue Pearl is that Pekoe will be spending another night there.  She did get a blood transfusion this afternoon and apparently has perked up a great deal.  They've been able to stabilize her hematocrit and blood gluose levels and as long as her stats are good, I'll be able to get her back mid day tomorrow.  Unfortunately, she's not brought in any milk, so the French triplets - Jean Paul, Pierre and Babette will be staying a the House of Picard for at least 3 weeks.  It will be fun to watch them grow up side by side with their hairier "siblings."

Not How We'd Planned

**I posted this yesterday but it seems to have disappeared?**

Sadly, yesterday we eneded up at Blue Pearl Emergency clinic yesterday for an emergency C section and spay.  We ended up with four survivors - two boys and two girls.  Pekoe had to stay overnight to get some of her vitals stablized.  And so we came to rely on the kindness of friends.  Fortunately, my friend Dee's Berger Picard bitch Katy had a liiter a week ago and was very accepting of my three wee ones.  She took them in like they were her own.

Despite the best efforts of Katy and myself, we lost the littlest girl early this AM.  My heart is breaking.... The other three are thriving.   We've decided to give them French names for now..., so we have Pierre, Jean Paul and Babette.  God speed Madeline...we barely knew you and you're gone too soon .

The news from Blue Pearl is that Pekoe's levels are stabilized and so after one more round of tests at 11, they'll decide if she needs a blood transfusion and if she can come home. 

In The Wee Hours

Waiting in the wee hours of the morning.   Thought we were getting puppies tonight, but alas she had us fooled.  Maybe in the morning?

Ready Set Go!

Getting ready for the "big event."  The whelping box is ready to go!

T Minus 2 and Counting

Blog updates will start so bookmark this site.   Dr. Brimacomb’s office called today to check up on Pekoe and reminded me to count from the day of OVULATION, not insemination so Pekoe’s due date is actually MONDAY, not Wednesday as projected.  She’s been digging a den out under the kennel shed, but I hate to tell her…. She is NOT having her pups out there!  LOL.

Whelping box/Puppy room will be set up tomorrow so we’re ready for anything.  Pekoe will have a bath tomorrow and then I'll post a photo of her with her big puppy belly! Lying on the couch with her tonight, I could feel the puppies kicking and moving around.  

I wasn't sure about whether I'd take her for an x-ray to try to get a head count but since it's Friday night and she's due Monday, I'm not sure there's time or reason to do so.   Stay tuned......