Princess Sparkle...
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No pictures yet, but here's an update...
Puppies are FAT. Fat puppies. No eye slits yet. I checked yesterday This morning and this evening. No damned eyes slit at all. None. Zero, zip, nada. Nothin'. GROW DAMN IT! Poop is bigger. Pee is more. More poop and pee on me, but no eyeballs yet. I clipped 96 toenails today. That was nerve racking. I only got two yelps, but no "I'm dying" screams. No blood either. Tails are fantastic! No tail rot at all. I adjust collars everyday too.
When I pick my lil' critters up I hold them in front of my face and gently blow into their lil' Basenji noses... very gently. They always calm down right away. Then I cradle them next to my heart so they can feel my heartbeat. They're so sweet. They always calm down. I did this again when I clipped nails if they got upset. Worked to settle them down every time.
Tri Baby's red is coming in BIG TIME. Pips and red are everywhere. He's gonna be a really stunning Basenji, I think. Zowie's lightning bolt is sticking good so far. Tank is a BIG baby. And Dotto's dot is still there. Spike and PW are healthy buggers. I think they could be the surpriser's, but I'm no expert.
... I have to not get attached, but I am. My babies.
Even though they're blind and deaf... they're like ATV's at this time. They can't see, but they know they can walk. They're walkin'. Once the peepers open.... game on. Noses are fully functional.
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replied to JENGOSMonkey on last edited by
@jengosmonkey It is inevitable that you become attached, but try and maintain contact with new owners so you get emailed photos and updates. I am still getting Christmas cards from people who bought a puppy in 1985 - she is now fostering any dog that needs a home for a while. Others along the way are also in touch. Although back then contact was by letter post and hard copy photos !
I held neonates to the pulse in my neck - same difference. You are doing all the right things. Eyes will soon slit and then open entirely, but all hell will break loose as you so rightly surmise ! They will be all over the place, exploring and chewing.
Has Sparkle let Logan take over some of the parental duties yet ? He should be a good teacher.
Enjoy them while you can !
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(Best read using your best pirate voice...)
Aye, me matey's ! Thar be eyes!
Eyes as faaar as an eye can see!Won't be long now till they be armed!
Armed to the teeth... with daggers.
The weapon of choice by these scourges.Take heed and beware...
Find a cave, dig a hole, or steal a strong chest and wrap it in chain.
Time be short. Hide yer stuff!Fore these pups be comin' ye be ready or not.
Aye! Thar be eyes! Eyes as faaar as an eye can see! -
@Zande I'm so excited! Three of them have opened their eyes. I expect the other three will open later today or tomorrow. I'm keeping the light somewhat dim in that room to give them time to adjust. I'll get some pictures, but I won't be using a flash, so I'm not too sure how well they'll come out.
Weights are really good! I have one that is a 2 pounder now! Three others are really close. The little female is still a bit behind the others, but she gains weight every day, so we're not too concerned.
Two of them have outgrown their newborn collars. I have bigger collars on hand and have gone to those. The other pups will follow soon. I have everyone's markings memorized. You could take all the collars off, mix 'em up and I could still tell you with 100% certainty who is who.
Walking is getting much more energetic now too.
We've allowed Logan to see, smell and get close to a puppy one at a time, but we haven't allowed him close to or inside the whelping box yet. Sparkle is beginning to relax more, but she's still somewhat adamant with him... "My puppies!"
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replied to JENGOSMonkey on last edited by
@jengosmonkey - Very cool!... and once their eyes are open Sparkle will let Logan talk to them... totally normal... And how funny that you post that you Know who is who... many have asked that question... when you raise a litter you know who is who... LOL...
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Just weighed them all, adjusted collars and slimed tails... 5 of 6 are above 2 pounds! Little one is a just few ounces shy, but she had a pretty good weight gain day. Checked eyes gain. Still need three pups to open up. Hopefully tomorrow. It's interesting watching them. They all seem to have about the same mobility, but the ones whose eyes opened today have better targeting e.g., they see Sparkle sooner and make a b-line straight to her instead of wondering around and bouncing off of pig rails first. Newborn collars have about another one, two days at most of adjustment left, then time to switch to the bigger ones. Have everything ready for solid food introduction this weekend.
I love seeing their little eyes open so I can say hello. It's obvious though that they're still pretty light sensitive. Not sure if I'm just a blur or just a big ugly monkey, but at least they can associate the big ol’paw that picks 'em up, kisses 'em, weighs 'em and stuff like that. I keep showing them to Logan, but he seems scared to get too close to them. Not sure if he's afraid of Sparkle, or he just doesn't want to be the meat head that breaks one. Who knows?
Hopefully it won't be long now till everyone has eyes open, gains some confidence and I can start setting them loose on me on the floor. I slept on a cot next to the whelping box for almost the first two weeks, but have moved to the couch in the same room. Kinda looking forward to sleeping in a real bed again soon.
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Ok... you've waited long enough. Here's a few...
I call this Neck Nap...
This one is Eyes...
This is "I'm Good"
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This is Spike and PW...
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replied to JENGOSMonkey on last edited by
@jengosmonkey said in Princess Sparkle...:
Kinda looking forward to sleeping in a real bed again soon.
Probably a bit late to mention this, but.... Walmart sells inflatable mattresses in the camping area. The last time I checked twins were under $10 (plus the battery operated inflation pump, which I recommend). I'm sure other places sell them also -- just thinking it might be more comfortable than a sofa.
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replied to JENGOSMonkey on last edited by
@jengosmonkey Sparkle will get fed up with these little balls of energy and allow Logan full access once the eyes are fully open. But you don't tell us what his reaction is to the one pup at a time ? How does he feel about the new-comers ?
And no real need to sleep close to them on a sofa - I was only that conscientious the first night and then it was back to my own bed for me !
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@zande Yeah, well, ya know... first time nervous puppy dad. Gotta make certain everything is perfect and nothing bad happens, so closer is better. But I agree... I think we're passed a good part of the danger. Just so worried something might go wrong along the way, and I wouldn't be near enough to unscrew a screwed-up situation. I will say this! Pig rails are awesome! Hard for momma to squish a puppy when it's protected by a pig rail.
Logan is cautious. He gets close and sniffs their noses. Part of the issue is protective momma. When she sees me remove a puppy from the whelping box, she follows. As I'm showing it to Logan she will stick her snout between his and the pups to back him away. She's not nasty to him, but definitely assertive. He usually backs away. I think next week will be better once everyone's eyes are open as you say. The ones whose eyes are open are already much more playful than the ones whose eyes are still closed. That should change soon.
My plan is to more a coffee table out of the family room and set down a large blanket, then put all the pups on the blanket so we can all play together. I'm hoping Sparkle relaxes and Logan perks up.
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Shame you don't have a granny Basenji. Our older ladies lactated and helped Mom at mealtimes. I have lovely pics of Grandma Tuppy feeding one pup while daughter Ziggy fed the other two. Ziggy only had 3 to nurse, Sparkle has a lot bigger family.
Chezz developed milk for Troubles pups too.
It is a Basenji habit in a pack. -
@zande - Funny you should talk about bitches sharing.... my Maggii let Mickii "mother" the babies, but she didn't get milk and C-Me let Franie play Mom with her babies, but she didn't get milk either. GOOD THING since I was still showing both of them... LOL
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@tanza My grandmothers have always had milk to help Mom with the babies. Its hilarious to see two bitches feeding in the same whelping box !
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@zande said in Princess Sparkle...:
My grandmothers have always had milk to help Mom with the babies
grateful that human females don't share this trait ;)
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I saw a thread today where someone was upset about getting to many email updates. I respect that. I'm kinda at the other end of the spectrum in that I don't get enough. I love seeing the new guys like @jamesmw. What an awesome long legged big footed lil' dude he is. More Please!
So... a Sparkle puppy update. EVERYBODIES EYES ARE OPEN! YAY!!! So, what does that mean? It means play time! Puppies are playing with one another. Climbing one another with purpose, gnawing one another... and me! I'm not certain, but I think I may have felt a tooth.
This is the other weird thing... Momma walks in, and she won't lie down. She stands to clean everyone first. She doesn't abide a dirty bed. While she's doing this the strong one's move beneath her and crane their necks to find a tap (nipple). I'm sorry. Makes me laugh every time.
Several pups have learned to sit, scratch ears and other dog things at less than 3 weeks old. It's silly, but they're so small still that it cracks me up. PUPPIES!
They're getting really mobile. WOW! Tank (Blugee) is vocal too. He growls already. I like him.
Puppy breath... yes. I can smell it now. Wish I could bottle it and send to everyone.
Everyone has moved from newborn collars to bigger puppy collars. I'm saving the little ones for the the new monkeys if they want them along with birthing day pictures.
The family room smells like a kennel! And we keep it really clean! Dogs still smell like dogs. I have to say though... I love it so much. I really do.
I still can't believe that I have a pack of Basenjis. I have the Grand Champion Mom, a Champion Dad and six puppies at my house since breeding and birth. What a privilege. Ya, it's been work and will continue to be more. I get that. Still... I get why people do this.
