Scandinavia Labradoodles
Australian Labradoodles in Europe
Week 1
May 22nd, 2008
A very pregnant Maddy makes up her mind to go ahead and have the pups in the whelping box. She does not want me to leave her, even for a minute! She has been restless and panting all night and is clearly now in the first stage of labor.
The first puppy was born at 14.35. Scandinavia Maple started to suck before she was completly out!
Maddy couldn't reach the puppy because her belly was too big, so I assisted, clamped and cut the umbilical cord and gave Maple to Maddy so that Maddy could lick her and keep Maple warm .One down ten to go....
All the pups are weighed and get an identifing collar, so we are able to keep track of their progress from the moment of birth.
In just about 8 hours, all 11 puppies are out. The puppies all appear to be healthy and they all have now had their first drink of colostrum.
During the first week the puppies sleep 90% of the time. The remaining 10% of the time they are eating. The puppies typically double their weight by the end of the first week.
Maddy doesn't want to leave the pups, so she is served dinner in bed.
Puppies, puppies everywhere!
Pigment starts to come in when they are less than a day old.
When the puppies are three days old we start them on the Biosensor programme. We also weigh the puppies daily to make sure that all are gaining. We always put the pups that gain the least weight on the best teats, (yes, we even do it in the middle of the night). By keeping the weights even, it gives all the puppies a chance to get food without larger, stronger puppies monopolising the food source.
One week old!
Biosensor consists of five simple exercises. Head-up, supine, upside-down, tickle-the-toes and cold-cloth. Sometimes the puppies protest, but most of the time they take the whole process without complaint.
