2 WEEKS TOMORROW!

The REAL fun begins!   We can see the little glint where their eyes are opening.  They all weigh over 2 lbs and are up on their feet.  When their eyes are all the way open they will start to play with each other and soon recognize us when we come to the box.  (I mean when we get IN the box)  They will get to know the other dogs in the house.   This week we will also put a potty corner in their box and it won't be long before they are using it.  Not perfectly but with awesome effort!  They will also begin to hear the noises of our home... and it's not a quiet home!

Even though they are handled everyday already, the handling now will bring more significance to their socialization.  We will trim their toenails;  we will worm them for the first time.

Through this 3rd week we watch for teeth to begin to emerge and we will offer soaked puppy food as we near the beginning of week 4.    And continued daily weighing.  There are a couple who are a little smaller still (as at birth) and though they are gaining at approximately the same rate as the larger puppies..we want to make sure they are getting their share at the milk bar so 3 or so times a day they have her all to themselves.   FYI   When I say smaller, I am talking about a couple of ounces is all.

Jamaica is eating 3-4 cups (at each of her 3 meals) of her mother's formula from Royal Canin.  Compare that to 2 cups 2X a day normally.  4cups  to 12 cups!!  Wow!  She is putting it all into the milk production and doing a super job!

Here are a couple pictures from today.

Jamaica is such a good mom.  She spends a little less time in the box but is constantly on the alert and when there is  squeak she is ready to hop back in to see what needs to be done!   We've been taking lots of pictures.  The puppies are getting cuter all the time.  They have almost reached the baby black bear stage.  Can you imagine how much time I spend in the box with them? And how much MORE time I want to be in there.  Housework, yard work...yikes...those are on the very back burner.... So here, for your cuteness of the day, are the recent photo ops!

Our puppies at just 5 days old all look pretty much the same (thats why we mark them so we can tell them apart).   But personalities begin to emerge early on...the complainer, the complacent, the explorers, and low and behold the first to the milk bar.  They are all cute as a bug...here are some pictures we took last night.  Over time you'll see how they change.

And here is our Bulldog, Hammer; self-appointed doula, nanny, and guardian of his first love, Jamaica!  She is less than interested in his advances toward her but does not mind his presence near the kids.  He is such a good and funny boy; always VERY interested in what is going on around here and likes to be involved in all of it.   

We love him tons!  

 And finally....at 5 days... no they aren't ready to be show dogs yet!  LOL

  GOOD GIRL,  JAMAICA  

Good Morning from our box to your home!  The pups are moving around a lot now and the "pig rails" went up yesterday.  That way when they are against the side of the whelping box Jamaica won't be able to squish them when she lays down.  We still watch to make sure she is careful getting in and out of the box and laying down with no puppies directly under her!   She is very careful.  We keep a heat lamp  directed in one front corner so the box can stay warm but not too warm.  We notice that when mom is out for snacks, potty break, or lounging away from the kids some of the puppies will move to the warm corner.  Jamaica has plenty of milk for all these babies!  They are gaining  and soon will double their birth weights (which was from a bit over 13 oz to almost 16 oz).

And here is "Pig" aka "Lark" 

Wyntercreek A Bit O Malarkey At Blu Top

                                                        Pig got a Birthday PHEASANT !

She was pretty pleased with herself over her first retrieve!   She turned 1 on March 17th and is the puppy we kept from Jamaica's first litter.  

Here is Jenn and Pig celebrating at her very first dog show, happy about her first win ribbon

 "Best Baby Puppy" 

You can see she is chock full of exuberance and joy!  

Day two!  Puppies continue to be a puppy pile;  eating and sleeping. Jamaica continues to be the best mom.  I continue to keep close tabs on the puppy box.  Changing bedding, weighing, snuggling, and even after 40+ years am in awe of the sweetness of it all.  (FYI - the red marks on the puppies are fingernail polish..I mark them in different spots so I can tell them apart.  Some breeders use colored collars but I like this method better)



And I thought you'd like to meet the puppies' great-grandsire, Uno.
AmCh Wyntercreek Party Of One CGC.  Uno will be 13 this year in September and he is still going strong!  He was the sole survivor of his own litter and is the gentlest, most willing to please guy.  He doesn't much like water except for wading (though he can swim), he will retrieve something (sometimes) so long as it doesn't have feathers, and as far as I can remember he has never been in trouble...however....if any of the other dogs are in trouble HE is convinced it's all his fault.  We love him dearly and he has earned his spot in our hearts and in our living room.  That couch, BTW, is dog size....LOL.


That's all for today.. next time,  more puppy pictures and an introduction to one of the other dogs here.

JAMAICA AND JOE WELCOME PUPPIES! 6/13/2020

It's been awhile since I kept this up to date, but in the light of our current shelter in place situation we have decided to keep you up to date on the puppies this way.  Hopefully soon we can invite you for a visit in person.

JUNE 13TH.....Jamaica had 9 puppies.   They are all black (we knew they would be).  We have 4 boys and 5 girls and we couldn't be more tickled!  They are nestled into the whelping box in the middle of our living, dining, kitchen area.  For the first couple of weeks I forgo my bedroom and sleep on the couch right next to the box.   Jamaica is a wonderful mom (She comes from a long line of good moms!) ....she is relaxed and attentive.  

This is Joe's first bunch of puppies!  He is our rising star and we look forward to watching these little wonders grow!  

Stay tuned...check back every day (or so) and watch the puppies grow!


Thanks to Dr. Jean Dieden, for this photo and who brought these wee ones into the world. 


This is Jamaica when she was about 6 months old
      CanCh Wyntercreek Jamaican Me Love Ya
           Specialty Winning and AKC pointed


And here is Joe.  Recent photo 2 1/2 years old and still maturing.

    CanCh Wyntercreek Blu Top I like My Coffee Black

Specialty Winnrers Dog and Best of Winners and AKC pointed