Will It Float--Illustrated Version

The cardinal rule of Will It Float is focus, keep your eye on the ball--Do Not Blink.

You blinked, didn't you?

N Litter

Last night, Hunter had 3 boys and 2 girls via c-section. They are very large puppies (18 ounces for the biggest and 15.5 for the smallest), and the first in line got stuck and so surgery was necessary. Some of the puppies didn't make it, unfortunately, but I'm very pleased with this very handsome 5 pack. All are black and tan/red, but more info and details will have to wait a bit longer.

I've been up all night because Hunter's momma instincts haven't kicked in (first time moms having c-sections seem to miss some crucial instinctive "switch" that happens when first cleaning off the placentas), so she's not sure about these puppy things. She's letting them nurse as long as I scritch her head, but she doesn't feel like she needs to take care of them yet. So, I'm making sure they get food every hour or so, stay warm at all times (heating pad), and helping them eliminate (which is stimulated by mom's licking [or a warm washcloth] for their first week). Hopefully the instincts will click in as she wakes up more from the anesthesia.

I think Hunter's still a bit stoned, based on her ears in this picture....

Shortly after writing this up, I turned around and saw Hunter with a grin on her face and nuzzling her pups. I think the instincts have clicked in....

A Visit to the Manor of Mixed Blessings--and introducing Xita!

On Saturday, I took Macha (Musket's lesser-known sister) over to visit the Manor of Mixed Blessings, complete with Macha's big sister Zille (formerly known as Kari), doberfriends, and some excellent human company for myself. There are more pictures at the Manor blog, so click through to read more. Macha learned to play bitey face and how to empty a baby pool of water. She tasted cherry tomatoes (odd, she thought) and blueberries, which she liked, although she made faces at the tartness. She also got to play with a very small cat with a very big personality, and she walked UNDER a Doberman. It was an excellent adventure for Macha--and not too bad for me either. :)

At some point in the afternoon, I introduced Andrea to my new dog. My mom said, "ohhh, you didn't!" But yes, yes I did--I got a new girl, straight from Germany. She was too special to pass up. And so, V-Xita v Ludwigseck, KK1a, Sch1, has come to the United States. She flew in on Friday and has been adapting well, although she's not sure yet that I'm good for much more than butt scritches and nommy foods. Xita, and her bloodlines, is a bit of a change for me, a step forward, I think, introducing some excellent new lines to my current bloodlines. I hope to improve overall conformation in my dogs and introduce Xita's steadiness of temperament. She's 100% DDR lines, known for big heads and bones, medium size with strong builds, good overall conformation, and high intelligence and practical working ability. She's a beautiful girl and an incredible mover without being extreme. Even her Koer report comments on her good movement, "sehr gut Gangwerk."

Andrea was kind and patient enough to let me stack Xita in her front yard while she took an exorbitant amount of pictures (at my request! just a couple more, OK??). Xita was very good for the first 10 minutes then decided that this really sucked.

So far, she's fitting in well--she's met the cats and the terriers and Coal with no incidents and she's sniffed Nike through the gate. I'm limiting her interaction with my other dogs for now--I want her to settle in and be comfortable here. She's very alert and watchful of everything new, but very confident and calm. Just assessing and observing so far. I like her lots!

(more pictures here)

And that's good, because she's pregnant! She was bred in Germany to V Laruh v Grafental, KK1a, SchH3. This is a 100% DDR breeding, linebred on some very good DDR dogs. I've already got a lot of interest in this litter, so I'll start taking deposits in a few more weeks, as soon as I am *positive* she's pregnant.

Her litter will be born in early July, which means I'll have a plethora of puppies this summer. That's a first for me--I very rarely have more than one litter a year, much less more than one at a time!

Since Hunter will be in the office with her puppies, I think Xita's pups will be born in my bedroom. I do love the white-noise murmur of nursing newborn pups. But, I guess I'll adapt as needed. As long as both girls are comfortable and feel secure, I think the actual location matters little to them. But that is the first goal--security and comfort for the mommas and their babies.

Pre-Puppy Prep and Swim Break

A note of administrivia first--if you have emailed me and not gotten a reply, please re-send. I recently realized that an SMTP setting was blocking my reply emails, and while I haven't fixed the problem, I do have a workaround so I promise I'll reply!

Hunter is very pregnant and lying on the couch dreaming right now--she's due in about 4 days. She's quite big, so I'm thinking 6-7 big puppies. She's handled the pregnancy well--only a few bouts of nausea, very active, and seems quite happy with the new whelping box I put together for her, although she does have this look of UGH I ATE TOO MUCH in this picture....

I'm debating an xray to count the puppies, but I think I'm going to pass on it this time. They can be valuable tools if you aren't sure whether mom has birthed all the babies, but the counts can be inaccurate, especially if mom is full of little baby skeletons and is storing any up under her ribs.

So, in the next few days, I'll encourage Hunter to spend more time relaxing in or near the whelping box (not difficult since that's in my office and she spends a lot of time there already). I'll probably start taking her temperature twice a day. Normal temperature for a pregnant bitch is lower than normal canine body temps. Normal is around 102 degrees, but I expect that I will find Hunter's temperature around 99.5 to 100.5 for the next few days. If I see it drop below 99, though, or two degrees below her current "normal"--then I will know she's likely to begin having her puppies within 12 hours.

The signs of very early labor are heavy breathing and some restlessness, which is really not that unusual in the summer heat.... But if you know a bitch well, you can see the difference.... there's a look they get, like they're focusing inward; she may get somewhat obsessive about finding just the right spot. If I take her outside then, I will have to watch her carefully, she may duck under the boxwood bushes and begin to den in the cool dirt, out of sight and somewhat out of the weather.

I took a break in mid-writing and took dogs for a romp, which turned into a splash. Some peektures!

Coal wants to know if he can get wet already....

OK, SWIM!

Grandma Nike's still got IT.... 

(it being the ball)

Being pregnant can make it hard to be graceful....

Hunter goes snorkling for the ball.

Success!

Hmmm. I bet I can carry 2....

Entertainment!Puppy (Musket) is growing up handsome

Lynx jumps... or falls

and walks on water

Hot damn!

I love this picture of Nike jumping side by side with her grandson Lynx

Whew. Having fun is a lot of hard work says Musket.

Announcing the "N" Litter!

Today, an ultrasound showed that Hunter is definitely pregnant--the vet count 6 or 7 beating hearts in their little sacs. Hunter was an absolute doll for the ultrasound, and I scratched her chin and chest while she patiently waited upside down in the V shaped foam rest on the vet's exam table. It reminded me so much of her mother Nike's attitude during the ultrasound--just soaking up the attention and being very patient. This will be her first litter (just turned 4 years old), so I hope she's as good a mom as Nike too!

   So, who's the daddy, you ask?

V Orus d'Ulmental, KK1a, SchH3

Well it was a really tough call, but I decided to try something different this breeding, and I did something I've never done before--I bred to a show-line male, V Orus d'Ulmental, KK1a, SchH3. He's breed survey class 1, a stamped, SchH3, and AD--that means that he was "recommended for breeding" by a German koermeister, passed his hip evaluations (and elbows, too), performed a 12 mile endurance test (the AD, which is a prerequisite for the Koerung), and has a schutzhund 3 title. He's a son of 2x German Sieger VA1 Vegas du Haut Mansard, a Sieger who is well-known for his working ability and sound temperament, and is linebred 5-2 on VA Max della Loggia dei Mercanti, a VA dog known for his ability to pass on strong working drives as well as his good looks.


 
When I met Orus, I was impressed by his confidence and clear-headed attitude. He showed strong ball drive as he played with his handler, Megan, and was aloof and neutral to my presence.

Too bad I cut off Orus's leg in this next shot--it would have been a nice image of him free gaiting with his beloved ball:

More pictures of Orus here

Blackthorn's Hunter, JHD


Hunter is OFA Good Hips and clear elbows and has an AHBA Junior Herding Dog title. I plan to do more herding with her and probably at least a BH title, but she had the poor timing to be born while I was in the midst of my schutzhund hiatus. She's a very calm dog in the house, good with children and sweet with strangers. She's got a lot of prey drive and loves to track. She's out of my Nike and the 2x USA Universal Sieger V Alex v Eisenhaus, KK1, SchH3, who is a Troll vh Milinda son.


Conformationally, she's very moderate and very balanced, although she could use a bit higher withers and just a bit more rear angulation (for my taste anyway--I prefer moderate rear angulation, but a GSD should have good "rear drive" and somewhat more angulation than most other breeds). She's an incredible agile dog, and always knows where every foot is as she goes over difficult footing.

More pics of Hunter here

So, I'm hoping with this litter to produce some beautiful puppies with confident personalities, plenty of prey drive, the ability to work at SAR or Schutzhund or herding or agility all day and then come home and relax on the couch all evening. I'm hoping for dogs who will love to work with their person, but who will be happy just to keep you company on quiet days.

The puppies should be black and red, with a lot of black pigment, but more extensive red/tan points than Hunter has. (Genetically, Hunter is bicolor/bicolor, and Orus is black&tan/black&tan, so all puppies will be black&tan with the bicolor recessive, which typically gives rich pigmentation and a large saddle area, like Nike, who is b&t/bicolor genetically.) I may get some long coats, which should make gorgeous companions. (As of this year, longcoats have been accepted for breeding by the SV in Germany.) I expect the pups to have very correct conformation--not as flashy or showy as their dad, but flashier than their very correct, very moderate mom. They'll probably be medium-sized adults--between 65 and 85 pounds for females/males.

Due date is June 12!

One of THOSE days...

It's 9:30 am, and already it's one of those days.

I don't know what time I fell asleep last night, but I turned my light off at 2 am, only to hear the repeated barking of my dogs out in the kennel. So, I get up, put on some shorts and shoes and go shut Lynx, Jubilee, and Kiva inside the indoor/outdoor kennels. I come back inside and .... don't fall asleep. I know I was awake at 4 am, but sometime after that I slept.

6:30 am, I am woken by Jasper knocking books off the shelf next to my bed. Yelled at cat.
6:35 am, ibid
6:38 am, ibid
6:47 am, ibid

7:30am, am hot, 2 cats sleeping at my back. did not yell. stuck leg out side of blankets
7:36am, hot, sun in my eyes. roll over
7:46am, phone call. friend sick, canceling morning plans; i'd called her and canceled them last night. i don't mention this.
7:48am, jasper, knocking books off shelf, yelled at cat
8:06am, macha in tv room crate, barks once. i get up, let dogs out (Hunter, Coal, Nike, Macha, Ruffian, Flint); Jasper tries to escape
8:08am, let terriers inside to protect me from cats while I try to go back to sleep
8:11am, dogs in yard bark
8:12am, hear sound of truck pulling into yard
8:14am, mowers start up
8:16am, bring dogs back in house so mowers can mow fenced front yard
8:18am, buhhh
8:30am, sit at computer, write check to mowers
8:40am, go outside, see mower do a double take at something he mowed over, give him check, he says he just hit a cable, wanna see?
8:45am, buhhhh
9:01am, brush teeth, turn on tv
9:02am, no tv
9:03am, buhh
9:05am, put on shoes, go look at cut cable. satellite cable severed
9:25am, call DishNetwork, growl at Coal to get out of my face, voice activated system cheerfully decides I want to talk to billing
9:26-9:34am, finally convince cheerful male AI that I really do want technical support. AI cheerfully tries to get me to reboot my satellite box, say REPRESENTATIVE to talk to someone. AI doubts me. REPRESENTATIVE, I growl again. AI repeats, I think you said REPRESENTATIVE, would you like to talk to a REPRESENTATIVE. I visualize punching him. I growl.
9:35am, talk to human, MIRACLES HAPPEN--repair guy can come out Friday. Today, Friday--between 8 and 12 am. This is good. $95. Would I like to sign up for $6 a month and only pay $15 for today's visit? I try maths: 8 years so far, 1 visit so far. 6 x 12 = 36; 3 years = $96 + $15. No, no service plan.

At 2:30, I have a vet appointment to ultrasound Hunter to check whether she's pregnant. I don't think I'm getting back to sleep this morning.

ETA: 9:55am, DishNetwork dispatcher says no go on the 8-12 am, but can do this afternoon. When I'll be at the vet's....
10am, vet appt reschedule for 11!

Will It Float?

(Originally posted on my LiveJournal in May 2007.) 

Nike has a mission. A calling. A game? It is called, "Will it float?"

She is determined to test the properties of numerous substances throughout their lifetimes. Because she is, well, a dog, for the most part she has concentrated her studies to the properties of dog toys. For the purposes of her studies, she has classified bones--bovine and cervidae--as toys. In her exhaustive studies, she has found a remarkable amount of substances that do NOT float.

Using materials at hand, she obtains a sample substance and goes to the largest nearby body of water, in this case... the pool. Standing crouched at the edge, she places the substance down. She then watches it intently, carefully studying the item and, as best I can determine, meditating on the most likely results of her testing. She then, most carefully, nudges the item into the water. WILL IT FLOAT?

Energized by this exciting experimentation, she runs along the edge of the pool, looking diligently for signs of any possible floating tendencies. For items with neutral buoyancy, the answer is not so easily determined. For example, the Mutt Puck^TM, although advertised as floating, is more neutrally buoyant. It tends to ride just submerged, rising and falling at the whim of the "current"--such as it is.

Other items, to her great dismay, merely sink. Quickly. Without hope of recovery.

Nike is a genius. Somehow, much against my will, I have been drafted into her science experiments. This week alone, I have served as her laboratory assistant, recovering from the bottom of the testing medium the following: 1 Mutt Puck, 2 bones, 2 nylabone frisbees, 1 rubber/latex frisbee, the bottom half of an Extreme Kong, a Kong treat ball (Stuff-a-Ball), a  Cool Kong floating toy on a rope (doesn't float so well, sadly, once the foam core has been removed--yet another example of how thorough a scientist Nike is, and what a genius to discover the falsehood of this advertising claim), a Kong Dental, and 2 lacrosse balls.

Nike is mad. You know how one definition of madness is repeating the same action again and again, hoping for a different result? Yes. That is Nike. She is compelled to make absolutely sure that her previous test results were accurate. I can say with great earnestness, although perhaps not stringent scientific honesty, that that Extreme Kong does not float--and it will not ever float. But Nike refuses to believe.

I have taken to hiding things from her. I'm just hoping she doesn't start going for the pool furniture.

That's my dog--the mad genius scientist, Nike.

(Update: I have now also had to remove several items of pool furniture from the pool. Nike claims she had nothing to do with this turn of events.)