September 09, 2007

Kila and Kopa had a playdate!

8 Weeks Old!

Kopa and Kila have left the building. Cheryl Brown and Carie Taylor came to visit us on Tuesday and spent a few days enjoying Chicago with me. We were able to meet several of the Chinook boys that live in our area and eat at Geja's, my favorite fondue restaurant, in Chicago one evening.

Kopa ended up being lighter than most of our boys at 8 weeks, weighing in at 12# and 9 oz. Kila is just over 15#, which is average for Jade's girls. The puppies did amazingly well at the airport, even with a flight delay of several hours. They even did well on the plane, despite no working a/c for their 4.5 hour flight. It was a really long day for everybody!

I was very happy to hear that the pups were accepted with ease by their new packs. It sounds like they are having fun playing with their new humans and brothers and sisters. So, this should be the last update on the blog for a while. Enjoy these new photos.

Seven Weeks Old!

Yes, I'm tardy again with my update! Sorry to those of you who have been following the pups.

Kopa and Kila saw the vet today for their first shots, second worming and final check up before leaving for their new homes. Both puppies got clean bills of health and all of the staff at the vet thought they were the most adorable babies. The pups were PERFECT in the car and at the vet, not even a potty accident even though they were running around for nearly 45 minutes.

I'm working on better pictures, but it's just been so hot, muggy and miserable, not to mention thunderstorms with tornado warnings almost daily for the past week...we just haven't been able to get any good outdoor photos. Cheryl Brown and Carie Taylor - the new owners of the puppies - are coming into town tomorrow and I'm sure they'll be happy to help me take photos.

So, sadly, this is the last update until the pups leave for their new homes later this week. Kila is now 14.5 pounds and Kopa is 12 pounds. They are growing like weeds and both are wonderful pups. I will miss them...yet won't miss the mess. They are potty machines!!!

Six Weeks Old!

The babies are six weeks old now. They love the outdoors and will just sit at the door and paw the screen until I take them out. They enjoy running around the house, chasing Jade, trying to nurse her...but they don't get much of that anymore. They are a bundle of fun!

The pups had their CERF today and both are normal. Yay! We're looking forward to their vet visit next week and they'll head for their new homes by next weekend!

Five Weeks Old!

The pups turned five weeks old on Saturday and boy is time flying by! This litter of two has been so easy and the pups seem so advanced in size and personality compared to our usual litters. Kopa weighed in at 7 pounds and Kila at 8 pounds, 9 ounces at five weeks old. Kila is the most outgoing, energetic young pup we've ever had. Kopa is much more laid back (which is nice) and gentle. He is confident, but definitely slower than Kila at trying new things. He finally mastered walking on the laminate flooring today...yet Kila runs full speed ahead across the laminate flooring.

These guys love to play with each other but they have an ever greater fondness for humans. They had the opportunity to play with 15 kids this week and met a bunch of new grown ups too. Our other Chinook Nikki LOVES to play with the pups - she's a riot to watch because she's still so puppy-like herself.

Four Weeks Old!

Time is flying by - the pups are four weeks old today! Kopa is 5 1/2 pounds already and Kila is 7 pounds! I just started giving them two gruel meals a day, but they are still figuring out how to eat and aren't getting too much solid food yet. By next week, Jade will finally have a well deserved nursing break because I anticipate they'll really like the food by then. Kopa is still the quiet and sweet one and Kila - she's going to be a handful! I'm working on some new pics!

3 Weeks Old!

Kopa and Kila just turned 3 weeks old on Saturday! Kila is still the bigger of the two puppies, weighing in at 5 pounds, 8 oz. Kopa, the little fella (who isn't so little anymore) weighs in at 4 pounds, 5oz . Kila is the stronger and more vocal of the two. She's always on the go, always curious, and just over the last couple of days has learned how to step up onto the pig rail in an attempt to get out. Kopa is more laid back and he seems to enjoy sleeping and cuddling the most.

The puppies have started to get their teeth and will be introduced to gruel later this week. They are still enjoying nursing on Jade and are still growing like weeds. It's so much easier having a litter of two! Jade has taken this litter with so much ease - having more time to enjoy herself spending time with the rest of the pack and family.

The puppies are still in the whelping box but will be moved to the kitchen "pen" in about a week or so. They like to play and wrestle with each other and they go crazy when they see me come near the pen. They are such a joy!

The two week mark!

Kila and Kopa turned two weeks old today. Their eyes have opened and they now walk and play - they are cute as a button!

Day 12

Finally someone to hold the pups while I take some pictures! These pictures of the pups with my nephew Colby will give you a better idea of just how cute these babies are! Kopa - the boy - is now 2# 2oz and Kila - the girl - is now 3# 4oz. Eyes are opening!!!

Day 7

The puppies' first week has breezed right by! The little guy, who's waiting on a name, is now over a pound and his sister, Kila (Key-luh) is pushing two pounds. She is a porker! The pups are doing fantastic and so is their mom!

Kila's name is officially Channahon's Kilakota Song and she is destined to join Carie Taylor and the Moonsong Chinooks pack in Washington state.

The little guy (who isn't so little anymore) is destined to join Tom and Cheryl Brown and the Aspencreek Chinooks pack in Washington state.

Day 3 & Day 4 Pics

More Shots of the First Day

First 24 Hours

Well, the puppies did great their first day and night. They have both gained a little bit of weight (.5oz to 1.5oz) and are nursing and resting consistently. Jade is being a wonderful mommy, very attentive to her babies. She's eating, drinking and resting and seldom leaves the puppy box. The pups have already met around ten people and Jade has been great with all the visitors - even the few teenage boys that were sleeping over - that got to witness the first birth.

Now that we have a small litter for the first time, I'm planning to come up with temporary names for the pups. Since they look different and are different genders, we're doing away with the hassle of puppy collars this time.

Puppy # 3

Sad news about Puppy # 3. After a very long and tiring labor, we needed to visit the vet for a couple of shots of Oxytocin. This wasn't as effective as we had hoped it would be and the third puppy didn't make it. This last puppy was a very small tawny female with black masking. My vet tried everything to get her back, but nothing worked. We are sad here at Channahon about the loss of the little girl, but grateful to have the two healthy pups we do have. They are nursing very well and should do fine.

Welcome Puppy #2

Puppy # 2

Female (Black and Tan coloring)

Born at 8:00am

14oz

Welcome Puppy # 1

Puppy # 1

Male (tawny)

Born at 4:35am

9oz

Early Labor?

Jade lost her mucous plug yesterday morning and since this morning, she's been going through intermittent periods of rest, panting, pacing, whining, licking and nesting. It does appear that she's in the early stages of labor, but when she's asleep at my feet like she is right now, I second guess myself. We're hoping for the puppies to arrive sometime tonight or tomorrow. Check back, I will post all the details and some photos here as the pups arrive.

Jade's June 07, 2007 x-ray shows a litter of three puppies. One of the puppies is significantly smaller than the other two, but still appears to be viable/alive. We're looking forward to the birth of the puppies by next weekend.

The Story of Jade's 2007 Litter

On April 14, 2007, we attempted our third artifical breeding with CH Mountain Laurel Jade and GRCH PR Aspencreek's Jackson Tyee. Palpation and ultrasound on May 10th confirmed that, finally, we are successful!

We know there are at least two puppies and there could possibly be more, though it does not appear that Jade will have a big litter this time. Our x-ray is scheduled for June 7th, 2007, at which time we hope to get a fairly accurate head count.

The puppies are due on June 14th, 2007. Please visit us often in the days leading up to and following Jade's due date as I intend to update this blog with news and photos as each puppy arrives. We will also post photos and updates regularly through the first eight weeks here.