8th Feb 2013 - The lovely Lukilab Kitsune Innari & Amari Amado are expecting a new family about the 15th Feb. Kitsune Innari had her first litter a year ago to Alexlab Kernow Lad, this will be her last litter before retiring back to her family to supervise her daughter Lukilab Holley Lady and of course the humans, cats and horses she keeps track of.
10th Feb - What else should a mum to be do after breakfast but sleep ? The cool tiles on a warm tummy are just what this mum to be was looking for and the gentle snores tell me that although she looks like she is hanging on to the floor she is comfortable.
11th Feb - Restless night up several times to go for a wee, settled about 2am.
12th Feb- Not interested in breakfast but wanting to "dig" up the blankets in her whelping box and outside for frequent wee's and to extend her sudden interest in horticulture. By midday she had turned over all the earth under the geraniums and created a lovely cavity amongst the foliage. Lots of panting and puffing. 1pm boke the first of her waters and at 2pm had her first pup....a long day followed punctuated by fairly regular new births untill about 8pm when mum and her 6 pups went off to sleep.... despite best efforts her next natural delievery was at 11pm and finally at 3am the last pup was born by caesarian section.
The new family are all healthy.
The new family are all healthy.
13th Feb - home at five am this morning after c/section. Mum and pups doing well.. plenty of feeding and sleeping for them today,, not so much for the human family.
14 Feb - Good night last night, only up 3 times to take mum out for a toilet stop or to check on pups. Mum devoted to her new family but happy to come out to eat...even if it is mushy cooked food untill her tummy returns to normal. Most of the day spent sleeping and caring for her pups.
15th Feb- Mum got out of box several times today for brief periods ? due to weather, but stayed close to clean and keep an eye on her youngsters.
16th Feb - Mum joined the other Lukilab Labs this morning for breakfast outdoors, she is ravenous at present and getting 5 + meals a day. Straight back to her babies after breakfast and happily feeding , cleaning and sleeping with her pups.
6.30pm Sadly one little black boy passed away in his sleep late this afternoon, RIP at rainbow bridge little one.
6.30pm Sadly one little black boy passed away in his sleep late this afternoon, RIP at rainbow bridge little one.
17th Feb- Quiet night, mum and pups having a lie in this morning.....bedding will be changed when extended breakfast is over.
Pups are growing noticably and are well settled between feeds. Mum started on her normal diet today but in quadruple helpings.
Pups are growing noticably and are well settled between feeds. Mum started on her normal diet today but in quadruple helpings.
18th Feb- Mum sleeping next to whelping box more often than not, despite the evaporative cooling she is aware of the heat and the need to keep the pups at a comfortable temperature. Mum up at 5.30am looking for food, she has had first and second breakfast now! Pups still gaining in weight and size and content to snooze between frequent feeds. Sorry the camera flash has bleached out the colours slightly.
21st Feb- Pups continue to grow rapidly, mums milkbar is never closed she is in and out frequently. Spending more time with the family but always within earshot of the pups and straight up to investigate the smallest noise. The last two days have just been a continuation of eat and sleep theme, the washing is increasing as mum is a cleanliness nut and wont leave the bedding alone if it has even a small spot on it.... so the bedding is changed 3 times a day at present.
22nd Feb- sorry about the poor quality of the pic, Mum was determined to feed them every-time I went near the box with a camera! As you can see they are still growing rapidly as expected for the coming months.
23rd Feb- better picture today... house is warm as our evaporative cooler is not working ! With the use of curtains, opening and shutting windows dependant on direction of sun and ceiling fan the pups and mum have been fine, in fact coped better than the human family overnight anyway. Mums stitches clean and dry and not bothering her.
25th Feb- Quiet weekend spent putting cool towels under pups and for them feeding and sleeping. Sunday afternoon pups a little noiser and their eyes were almost open. This morning their eyes are open (a couple not yet completely) and they are now walking more upright rather than commando crawling about.
26th Feb- Pups are growing rapidly still. They are moving about more and a few practice growls and yelps happening.... mum spending most of her time with the human family between feeds now, still feeding every 2-3 hours. Mum has had half her stitches out today and scar is looking good. Other half out tommorrow.
27th Feb - A noisy night last nite, ? too hot for pups or they just had finally slept enough:) Anyway after an early morning feed from mum, a bedding change and a play on the floor outside the whelping box they slept most of the day...hope that doesnt mean another noisy night.
28th Feb- Mum started feeding sitting up now occasionally, pups moving about more but still eating and sleeping most of the time.
5th March- Pups on two meals of solids a day now.. they are very keen when they see the chicken mince. Mum is in the box regularly overnight and early mornings , not so keen the rest of the day despite wet towels and ceiling fans keeping all cool- she prefers to visit often for cleaning pups and checking them only.
Pups will have their nails clipped this morning as they are getting sharp and mum is moulting big time leaving her undercarriage more vunerable to small needle sharp claws. Teeth are also thru .
Pups will have their nails clipped this morning as they are getting sharp and mum is moulting big time leaving her undercarriage more vunerable to small needle sharp claws. Teeth are also thru .
6th March- Pups still having two meals of meat a day, as you can see from the blurs in the picture they are moving about alot now. Not long before they go into the nursery with more room to play and explore.
7th March - Decided today to put pups in the small pups nursery as they are trying to move about more and the whelping box isnt big enough. They are growing so fast :) Not sure at first they liked it but once mum had been in and out a few times and they were sure the milkbar was going to be available in the new surroundings they settled quickly. Mum happy to check out their new surroundings and give them a lesson in drinking out of the water bowl. Mum still moulting alot as usual at this stage for the mothers... sadly her lovely thick soft coat is looking slightly shabby now.
9th March- Mum and pups keep moving blankets so pups can sleep on cool tiles....sensible even with the evaporative cooling the weather is taxing.
Pups moving around more now in the larger space, mum still feeding them every two to four hours despite two meals of meat a day, pups having just under a quarter of a cup of mince each per meal at present.
Pups moving around more now in the larger space, mum still feeding them every two to four hours despite two meals of meat a day, pups having just under a quarter of a cup of mince each per meal at present.
11th March- Nothing better after breakfast and having a clean change of bedding than a splash or 7 ! in the water bowl before a quick snooze....mum looking on to ensure all are ok of course. Pups had their first dose of intestinal wormer today as did all our big dogs, held off a few days longer due to heat but now the evaporative cooling is working all is fine.
13th March- Pups all coped well with intestinal wormer, first time in outside nursery today....at least untill it gets too hot ? Mum and pups have explored the new accomadation and seem happy with it.
15th March- Busy few days as new families visit for the first time, mum very relaxed about the visitors, but all are tired come evening as you can see from last nites bedtime photo pups while still little have grown alot since birth.
Pups now on 3 meals a day of raw meat either chicken or beef/heart mix.
Pups now on 3 meals a day of raw meat either chicken or beef/heart mix.
17th March- Pups out about this morning exploring the yard attatched to the nursery, they started braving the outside yesterday but rain put a stop to that...this morning as soon as the door was opened under the watchfull eyes of Mum and Aunty Myia out they rushed.
Two of the pups have names now and are being called by them...look forward to other families deciding what name to christen their new pup with.
Two of the pups have names now and are being called by them...look forward to other families deciding what name to christen their new pup with.
19th March- Pups have had both meals so far today off a tray and managed well...a couple of slower ones need the others held out the way at the meals end whilst they finish off..
They have had their first box to explore ., Mum keen to show them , but has been reminded to leave for pups!
They have had their first box to explore ., Mum keen to show them , but has been reminded to leave for pups!
20th March- Mum shows her pups how to finish off a meal tray ! Pups still feeding from mum every four hours or so.
22nd March- "Aunty" Myia pops in occasionally to visit pups.. mostly when families come to visit as she hopes for some of the pats and cuddles...
24th March - Pups getting up earlier now and rush to greet anyone who comes out early to play or feed them.
25th March - Pups now tackle their meals Lab style - fresh meat, cooked rice & veg and a few puppy biscuits are dealt with quickly and tray licked clean . Intestinal wormer given today for the second time, vet due on Wed to microchip and immunize litter.
29th March- A busy week, families have been visiting. Vet came and immunized and microchiped all pups who coped very well. Wed the pups managed a very humid hot day.... I took the chance to defrost the chest freezer and put all the ice from it in their indoor area, much to delight of the pups. We have now got names for those pups with families, there are still two pups available one black and one yellow both female. I am hoping one family will be interested in breeders terms with one of the girls.
Mum is now feeding for short periods about 5 times a day and as you can see makes a speedy exit once she has decided feed time is over.
1st April - After a busy Easter with lots of visitors and cuddles what better way to spend a rainy day than sleeping?
All families have commented on how quickly the pups are all growing and their personalities, the whole family have one or two things in common such as a love of a good snuggle and their relaxed natures.
All families have commented on how quickly the pups are all growing and their personalities, the whole family have one or two things in common such as a love of a good snuggle and their relaxed natures.
4th April- Another couple of busy days with new families visiting, mum has returned to her family as pups had finished feeding from her and on the odd occasion she stood still with them only one or two even made a half hearted effort to claim the milkbar . Her undercarriage was nearly back to normal and having spoken to her family this morning she has settled back in and is busy investigating the garden with her grown up daughter from her last family. Pups slept through the night last night and seem totally unconcerned, our dogs have popped in and out for a play several times this morning.
8th April - What better to do after lunch than have a siesta and grow some more ! Pups wormed and nearly ready to go to new families.
10th April - And then there were three.... First pups left this morning with very excited new families, we wish them well. Remaining pups about to have lunch with a little less competition than usual.
12th April - Pups are keeping themselves occupied with play and sleep and still growing fast. Now eating nearly a cupfull of meat and a couple of teaspoons of rice/veg mixt. & some puppy dry food at each meal. Supper is a must or everyone is up at 5am ! When not playing they are spending time with our Myia who is in and out of their pen for regular checks. Sorry about photo quality they move quickly to investigate any noises or visitors.
13th April - Our last pups from this litter left this morning for further adventures with their new families. To those who have let me know how their pup has settled in from those that went on Wed , many thanks. Always reassuring to know all is well. To those who start today on the journey and to all in this litter good luck for your futures I look forward to hearing how you develop and play.