Developing nicely

Mum and babies are doing very well, Dollar is proving to be a devoted mum and is still spending most of her time feeding and cleaning her puppies- she doesn't even seem that worried about missing her walks at the moment (though with the weather as it is I'm not really surprised). The other dogs are very keen to say hello to the pups but Dollar is not allowing that yet.
The puppies have just started to open their eyes and they are getting up on their legs now, a bit wobbly still but getting stronger every day. They still look like black puppies but if you look carefully you can see they are slightly lighter in colour around the eyes and near the nose and the underside of their feet are silver.

Poodle puppies

Dollar my stunning silver standard poodle has had her 1st litter. I thought I had it all planned as I had to go into hospital for an operation on 27.06.08 and she was due to whelp on 01.07.08 but of course she had other ideas and sure enough on the morning I was due to go in her temp dropped, she refused her breakfast and started panting. I obviously didn't want to leave her but having waited several years for my surgery could not afford to cancel so my husband Graham was left to supervise. His daughter and her new boyfriend were also staying for the weekend and between them they coped brilliantly and 7 healthy puppies were delivered in just 4 hours- well done to all!

Dollar is proving to be a very natural mum, she has 3 boys and 4 girls. They have some of the best silver breeding behind them so I have high hopes for some very special babies. As with all silvers they are black at birth but should start to show silver when they have their first face feet and tail clip at about 5/6 weeks.

Quieter now?

All Purdies babies have new homes now, the last little girl is just waiting for her new mum and dad to collect her when they return from their holiday. But just as you think things are getting back to normal Sybils babies start to make themselves heard.

She is back down to her own three now as her foster babies have returned home but it feels like we still have five as they cause havoc around the home, they have discovered the pleasure of a warm lap in the evening and are becoming very affectionate kittens -don't tell my husband but I am very tempted to keep one of the girls!

leaving home

Most of Purdies babies are now in their new homes, their new families have all been very pleased with their new additions, on the whole they are clean overnight and well on the way to being fully housetrained. I have had lots of comments about how bomb proof the pups are which is great to know. I am still looking for homes for the last three girls, 2 are very short coated and 1 has a slightly fuller coat. Thay are all bold as brass and crave attention. The following was contained in an email from the new home of one of the puppies:.Anway, he's a little star, so incredibly good and well adjusted, it's almost like he has been here before. He is eating very well - until he's full - then hestops. He is nearly there re his toilet training and piddles as soon as we put him outside, a little way togo re the other but very good with that too. He is fine in his lovely crate that Mart made especially for him, and he knows the word no and comes when he'scalled it's brilliant. He is fine with our cats andthey with him, mostly! All of the above is down to you and his beautiful mumPurdy, I hope she hasn't grieved too much for any ofthem? and I hope you are okay too, I know I could not have said goodbye to him with as much control as you did!

Ears are on the way up!

Puppies are continuing to grow at an alarming rate- eating me out of house and home. Their appearance is also changing- they are far heavier now, real chunky monkeys and their ears have started to prick. They are into everything, my daughter is learning the hard way that anything left in their reach gets chewed.

Dangerous Brian- the Albino kitten.

Sybil has 2 new babies to care for. Her sister had 5 babies by Manuel a few days after Sybil kittened, but although she had no problems with the delivery she is a first time mum and found it all too much so neither she or the babies were settling down so her owner asked if I thought Sybil might take on a couple.

We took Sybil away from her babies an hour before the new arrivals were due so that she was very keen to get back to nurse them, This worked a treat and without so much as a second look she started feeding/cleaning all her babies.

One of the new kittens is always on the go, almost climbing out of the box, always wants the teat someone else has got and is generally causing trouble (no wonder his mum couldn't cope). I have named him Dangerous Brian. We were surprised at his appearance as not only does he have very little fur but he is white- not a colour we expected looking at his pedigree, but the biggest surprize was when his eyes opened- they are pink.

Getting more active

The title says it all. The puppies are now escaping on a regular basis, we came down this morning to find 7 of the 9 were running round our lounge- the other 2 were very cross at being left behind!

They are filling out well and are very cuddly now. The two boys have lovely homes waiting for them.