Vixen’s puppies are so adorable and 3 weeks old already. They are a stark contrast to Madison’s new puppies and how teeny they are! They are now walking proficiently, and eating 2 mini meals a day (soon to be 3) and starting to growl and play. It is so fun to watch them becoming tiny dogs.
Please excuse the photos this week – I interrupted naptime and nursing time for photos and so they were very sleepy 😛 LOL – I will do better next week!
In the wee hours of this morning, Madison started birthing her litter. She went into labor on Sunday evening, and so I figured that we would see puppies sometime that night or Monday morning.
Things were taking longer than I normally expected them to. The first baby was big for a beagle, but not the biggest baby Madison has ever had. However, she showed signs of distress as she had meconium in her sac. This concerned me greatly as I knew that if she breathed any in or ingested any, her little organs could fail. I was encouraged to see she was vigorous and that was a good sign. She was 10.3 oz
Baby number 2 took another 2 hours to arrive – Madison pushed for over an hour on and off. I took her for a walk, and I started to get nervous and wonder if I should take her in for a C-section. Things were really not progressing the way I thought they should. At this time, my mom was with me – we prayed and Maddy started pushing hard. I sat with her, massaging her back and opening up her pelvis – I couldn’t help but wonder if this baby was big. Well, it was. It was big and unfortunately had passed away in the uterus at least 24 hours ago and her placenta was deteriorated. It explained the long labor (lack of hormones for labor) and the hard time Maddy was having.
Now Maddy started having babies quickly. within 10 minutes she had a 3rd girl – this time alive – 9.3oz. Again with meconium in her sack, but vigorous and pink.
Twenty minutes later, another little girl made her entrance into the world. 9.5oz. Again – the meconium – we were prepared and got the sack off her right away.
Fourteen minutes later, a little boy appeared – 10.5oz. Another healthy puppy – much to be rejoicing about!
Then Madison took a break for about 40 mins and then her final baby girl arrived safely into the world. 10.0oz. One again – meconium in her sack, but lively and bright.
The scary thing about having meconium in their sacks is that if they breathed it in, or ingested it, their little organs can just start shutting down and they can die.
So, I have given them Fresh Plasma, and will be putting them on clavamox (as per the vets instructions) to help as much as I can and pray that they survive.
They say “breeding is not for the faint of heart” – and that is the truth. People who do it well, pour their heart and soul into each litter. We bleed when they do, we rejoice when they do, we stay up night after night with the pups and momma. But it’s so worth it 🙂
I was travelling last week and so wasn’t able to post “one week” photos – my cavalier breeding partner looked after them. I couldn’t believe how much they grew in a week!
I have also given them little temporary names. My friend Sarah Yates gave me the inspiration of “Christmas in July” since Vixen was born on Christmas Eve, and I have been waiting for this litter for 2 years, it feels like Christmas 🙂 I loved it. SO – introducing them to you. <3
Penny and Flame’s puppies came to visit me in the studio for some final pictures before they go to their new homes. A couple of them have already left, so really it’s just the puppies who are left. <3
They are just the sweetest bunch – we are so thrilled how they have turned out – pretty, healthy and with great temperaments.
I am so very proud of Truman – Kazuri’s Struck By The Truth with LockeStar, CGC at the Cook Inlet Kennel club show! He won Winners Dog/Best Of Winners from the 9 to 12mo class for a 4pt major, then Best Of Breed over 3 specials bumping up to 5pts! Thank you Judge Timothy Catterson for seeing such potential in our young boy!
We are over the moon!!
Truman is by GCH Orchard Hill True Enough – Blake owned by Mia Lawson from Zelosia Cavaliers and LockeStar Love Struck, CGC – Arrow.
Special thank you to Truman’s co-owners Alisha Lockleer and Susan Lockleer for seeing the potential in him when he was just a pup, and for taking Truman to Alaska this weekend and showing him so well.
A huge thanks again to Zoelea Jones Vey for her amazing hospitality towards them and our dogs, for the second year in a row, making it not only about dog shows, but about visiting friends and just having a grand time! I wish I wasn’t on puppy watch and could have been there – maybe next year!
We are thrilled to announce that Paris got a clear MRI Scan this weekend.
It was wonderful news for our breeding program and all of her puppies.
SM/CM are polygenic – this means that the genes can be hidden through multiple generations and pop up unexpectedly. However, we can use this tool as information moving forward in our breeding program and hopefully make the best decisions for healthy pups in the future.
While Alisha and Susan were away getting Paris MRI scanned, we were on puppy duty for Flame and Penny and their puppies. Of course, I had to take them outside for some quick photos. They are 6.5 weeks old and so sweet.
I think a couple of them are still available and so if you are interested in one, please contact Alisha through: https://anyeazi.wixsite.com/lockestarcavaliers
I am so proud that after a reserve win to a major, Miss Allie won her 2nd Major win under Hound specialist Mrs Azalea Alvarez at the Coeur d’Alene dog show this weekend. She was piloted by Emma Adams, a wonderful Jr Handler who will be showing her at some of the hound specialties over the Summer as she tries to qualify for Westminster this year. I am so proud of you both!
I decided to do a final photo shoot with Paris’ puppies also. One has already gone to her forever home (Blen girl #2) and so I wanted to quickly get the rest in the studio before we missed out for the rest.
It sure has been fun to watch these guys grow up. James and Paris did well.