Just this week as I was looking over our website to see which pages needed updating, I noticed that I had never made a post after Frieda’s puppies arrived.  Whoops!!!  I guess I was so busy taking care of 17 puppies, that I forgot to do it!

Wait, I am getting ahead of myself… On September 22nd, Rachel was the first to go in the puppy room and she came back out, shouting, “Mommy, Frieda is scratching and digging in the whelping box!”  I was still feeling groggy from lack of sleep due to keeping an eye on Annora’s litter which had arrived only a week and a half earlier.  David was much more alert and dashed down to the puppy room.  He hurried back out again, calling, “Erica, there’s already one puppy!”

We sometimes get asked this question, “Can’t the dogs give birth all on their own?”  Yes, they can and do.  But we like to be present, not only because our dogs appreciate us being there for support, but also because if we are monitoring the whelping, then problems can be caught quickly and dealt with promtly.  Sometimes a puppy gets stuck and the dam needs assistance to deliver it.  Sometimes a puppy is delivered, but needs extra attention and care to help it start breathing. Sometimes we need to rush mother and pups to a vet clinic.

With dedication and care, we can help these little guys have the best start in their lives and we’re very grateful that our puppy mortality rate is much lower than average.  This does come at a price of several sleepless nights per litter, but it’s worth it!