ellz

I will HAPPILY allow you and Mouse to win!!!

I've never had ANY breed this big either. Just measured her, she's 79cm around the middle! ;) (That's only 20cm less than me and I'm fat!!!!!!! :0)

Yep, I think it's probably my sanity that I'm worrying about the most! I keep looking on the bright side. If she DOES have a large litter (she's only got 8.5 boobs), then the Yank litter is only a month older and Vanni has plenty of milk so I can always see if she'll take a puppy or two occasionally for milk bar duties. Otherwise, I am probably lucky I got the tube feeding practice with little Purple Yank. AND my Yank puppies will grow up with very thick skins! Editing to add: At the ultrasound on Day 26, they said 5 - 6 maybe more and on her record, he put MULTIPLE +++.

AND she's a maiden and is the first maiden I've ever had who hasn't tried to hide things shyly away! She's booked in for an xray tomorrow. Depending upon the count, she'll be booked in for a c-section. A bitch from the same lines had 11 a couple of weeks ago!

Seriously though, I AM worried. Koda is not exactly a no-legged, small Stafford bitch so when her belly is almost dragging on the ground below......it makes me feel kinda faint!

Bite.Your.Bum.Tongue

Hmmm...well here is Koda at 49 days. Lousy photo but the best I could do by myself outside just now.....she still doesn't stay still even with a pumpkin in her belly!

I hear you! The litter that I wanted and planned on didn't eventuate, the oops litter will be 4 weeks old when the planned Stafford litter arrives and with the work that has the potential to bring, I'll certainly know I'm alive. If everything had gone to plan, the "proper" Cocker litter would be going on 8 weeks when the Staffords arrived so it wouldn't have been anywhere near as much work. Oh well, just think of the puppy breath and snuggles I'll be getting over Christmas.....and you too Norskgra!!

Actually for most Spaniel breeds, the grooming routine is "slicker, pin, comb". Use the slicker on a small area at a time, no more than 5 strokes in any one spot. Follow it with the pin brush to remove any twizzles left behind and then comb through each area after you have finished. The Coat King or Furminator can be used to help any long hair that is sticking up on the top of head and tops of ears, neck, shoulders and sides, back and down the front and sides of the back legs to lay flat but don't gouge it in because used incorrectly it will cut in. If you wish, the bristle brush can then be used on the back coat to help remove any dust, dirt or loose skin and massage the skin to help the natural oils to the surface for shine. If there are any knots in the feathering, use the end teeth of the comb and your fingers to pull them gently apart and then use the slicker and pin brush (followed by the comb again) in the above order to remove completely. And NEVER allow your dog to get wet if it has knots in its feathering because they will tighten and become almost impossible to remove.

Oh dear. I really do feel your pain.

You know that it isn't really a good habit for you to get into ..... the scattering of dry food. Can encourage picky eating if the dog realises that if he refuses a meal that it doesn't matter because there will be SOMETHING available for him anyway. Far better to remove the meal completely and not offer it until next meal and then he'll be good and hungry and far less likely to knock back the next meal. And another reason for not scattering food or leaving dry food down all the time is that you run the risk of encouraging rodents.

Told you it was a cute tummy!

Anybody feel like blowing raspberries on a squishy Purple tummy?

I just got clucky so had to go and squish my American Cocker babies. And then it hit me that I have a whole pile of Stafford babies yet to come...

:D It has long been my argument that nobody has the RIGHT to tell another person what they should sell their puppies for. I see various breed clubs telling prospective purchasers that XX should cost only XX from a registered breeder and if charged any more they are being misled. What gives them the right to do this? Anything is only worth what somebody will pay for it. And if somebody is able to get more $$$ for something than another somebody, then obviously their marketing skills are better, or they have a more desirable product, or they just got lucky that day. I'm a big believer in what you get is what you pay for, but even I couldn't put a fair price on what I think my puppies (in either breed) are worth when I look at the time and energy and LOVE that goes into rearing them. And I have to confess that it BURNS me when I see lesser quality examples that haven't had half as much care put into them being sold for double or even treble what I manage to get. I'm not in it for the money at all, but why should a BYBer who has probably less than half of my knowledge of the breed or even animal husbandry manage to profit and on a continual basis when I'm scratching to find SUITABLE homes for my puppies maybe once per year (if that) and not just selling to the first person who comes along with cash in their hands?

Thank you all! :D They're two weeks old today and Purple weighs in at 361gr. AND I had to change their little collars today because they were getting too small. What a difference a week can make!

In my opinion furminators are harsher than a mars coat king. I use my Mars on the show dogs and the furminator on the pets and horses.

I'd be heading to the vet. Coughing can be nothing, or it may be something sinister. I had a Stafford bitch who only used to cough in the mornings at certain times of the year (spring/winter) and it turned out she had a form of hayfever.

I'll go against the flow. I live on a 25 acre property. For at least half of the year, I have terrible issues with grass seeds and revolting sticky weeds. My show dogs don't get to have free range time except in one of the paddocks that is kept short and largely weed free. The others (American Cockers) are shaved down and can do as they please. Depending upon the dog, I may or may not clip off the saddle coat. If I have intentions of growing the dog back in, I leave it natural. The others at some times of the year have a modified puppy trim where I leave the fullness on their legs and sides, but I clip up underneat their bellies, inside their armpits and back legs and shave their back coats short and only leave minimal feathering on ears. With a bit of work, even these could be grown back in successfully and I haven't noticed any difference in texture. Thickness maybe, but not texture or coat type. I have also grown a fully shaved down adult back into show coat, shown him successfully to his title and an All Breeds Best In Show. And he was shaved TO THE SKIN prior to entering quarantine as a 7 year old.

Thanks jerojath. I think the worst is behind us now! She's a real sweetie. I am in awe of something that small which could fight THAT hard to hang on.

Well everybody, you've heard lots about her! Here she is, Purple Puppy, complete with black, shiny little peepers!

Well done SwaY, you've got your "heir and a spare"!

Your just stressing now Koda is so big cause she has LOTS of bubbas in her Leanne I know....I'm getting a bit toey. It's just so scary when every day I'm greeted by this amazing gutz that grows before my very eyes! I hope you're right about her having nothing wrong but lots of bubbas, but then on the other hand....oh BOY do I hope she doesn't have TOO many!! Mind you, I think it's a darned good thing that I have cleared my books for the next few months and intended to spend summer at home anyway. No dog/horse/cat/child sitter in their right minds would babysit my crew at the moment so that I could go swanning off and enjoying myself.

yaaaaaaaaayyyyy a turning point maybe? what are you going to call this girl ellz? Well, barring anything major going wrong now, I think she's here to stay. She hasn't had a tube feed for a couple of days now and is really strong and her eyes are almost completely open as well. No signs of any retardation or other problems at this stage. Just a little black puppy learning how to be exceedingly CUTE! As for names, well, I've got my litter theme and know what call names they're going to have in accordance with those, but I really really want to keep one of them in particular so I don't want to put a final "handle" on the girls until I know in my heart (and head) which is which. At this stage, if Purple doesn't turn out too small...I REALLY like her a lot for various reasons. But of course, it is also quite on the cards that both may stay! Maybe an omen too but after Cup Day and a win on Crime Scene, I had a couple of dollars in my online Sportsbet account. Yesterday at Flemington in the race after the Emirates, there was a horse named Purple so I backed it and it WON!!