Quote: Christina Stockinger

Somehow I missed your story, Niomi. So sorry you have to go through all this. It must be stressing for you and Ironhide too........

Christina, I'm sure Niomi will respond to your post soon, but I don't think she will mind if I go ahead and clarify that this litter is something she is very much looking forward to! Yes, there is always some stress and worry associated with having a pregnant female, but Niomi is an experienced breeder and planned this litter with great care and consideration, and I know she is joyfully anticipating the arrival of the pups.

She's doing an online journal of sorts here, and just keeping us up to date on the progress of the pregnancy.

 Quote: Christina Stockinger

Somehow I missed your story, Niomi. So sorry you have to go through all this. It must be stressing for you and Ironhide too. I think Cheri might be right about age and previos experience of her. I'm sure you'll soon cheer up and be happy with the new litter and Ironhide without doubt too. All so difficult and full of worries, but then it will be a great joy.

 Quote: Cheri Grissom

 Quote: Christina Stockinger

Somehow I missed your story, Niomi. So sorry you have to go through all this. It must be stressing for you and Ironhide too........

Christina, I'm sure Niomi will respond to your post soon, but I don't think she will mind if I go ahead and clarify that this litter is something she is very much looking forward to! Yes, there is always some stress and worry associated with having a pregnant female, but Niomi is an experienced breeder and planned this litter with great care and consideration, and I know she is joyfully anticipating the arrival of the pups.

She's doing an online journal of sorts here, and just keeping us up to date on the progress of the pregnancy.

Thank you Cheri!

Christina this litter was very much planned and I am beyond excited for this litter - there are no words in fact. Which is why there is so much anxiety about the litter.

I know what the worst that can happen is, and I have to think about it every time I decide to have a litter. My dogs mean so much to me, this girl in particular, is my heart dog. When it is her time to go, I will be devastated (though I hope to have her for MANY more years to come). But such is the life of a breeder - I went over this breeding for months with my breeder/mentor before committing to actually doing it. I chose the stud 2 years ago.

I will breathe a small sigh of relief after each pregnancy and whelping "hurdle" we clear, and finally let a big sigh go once puppies are safely in their new homes - though honestly, every puppy I have ever produced still is in the back of my mind each day. I know their families, I know every dog/puppy by sight and by name. Each one brings a new family and friends into my life; each one is very special.

This is also why my breeding program is so small

But yes, I am hoping to share this pregnancy with those members here who would like to follow. And I guess I will also share some insights into what *I* am also going through, as the breeder.

I think this whole story is a good example of what a good and ethical breeder goes through. The anxiety of the pregnancy, the whelping, growing of the pups, and yes, even the placement of the pups in their new homes - there is stress all the way through, and the good breeders agonize over each choice or decision made to make sure they are doing what is best for the dog and pups.

Thanks to all for your answers. I never doubted that Niomi is very much looking forward for that litter. I only thought there must be a lot of concerns because Ironhide didn't eat enough. Good to know you're an experienced breeder, Niomi. I envy you for all this. With 76 I can't start such adventures, as I have no experience at all about it.

If I were younger and had learned all this responsability. I'd adore!!! My great problem would be to give puppies away, when the time has come. Lots of tears! Is it not difficult to find owners you can really trust? As you say, your puppies are all still in your mind. each day. Can you still have contact with them and their new owners?

We fed once a very lean cat when we were in England. We adopted her without knowing it was neighbour's cat, we thought it was na abandoned one. They didn't look in the least after her, gave her only dog food. A bit later we realized she was pregnant. The neighbours found it unnecessary to go to a Vet. She had varios times given birth to litters, but hadn't look after them and every time they all died. Neighbours said, she was simply not interested, simply a bad mother. We went to the Vet and he said that she was in a very bad condition. He gave us the advices we needed.

She then gave birth to 6 healthy kittens, I was with her on a couch and she gave birth to them very unexpectedly on my belly! The seventh she couldn't bring out. The Vet gave her a med which should help her to continue the labour. She did, but the kitten was already dead. But the other ones were top fit, Always doing all nonsense you can imagine and when I sat down to make my English homework, all six immediately climbed on my lap. My jeans were already completly shred.

And I can tell you, that mother cat was the greatest mother you can wish! With her first litters she simply had not the force and the reserves to nourish them and so on.

Sorry. I know, this is no dog story. but the problems someone can have with a litter are very similar. What really imports is a responsible breeder, not just let it happen and then let everything go as it goes. Well we're not breeders, but at least I think we are responsible enough to search help and to give good medical treat and good food in the right amount.

Such experiences make me really live with you, Niomi, and it makes me happy, that you'll do everything for Ironhead and her litter. Looking very much forward to hearing the best news.

 Quote: Christina Stockinger

Thanks to all for your answers. I never doubted that Niomi is very much looking forward for that litter. I only thought there must be a lot of concerns because Ironhide didn't eat enough. Good to know you're an experienced breeder, Niomi. I envy you for all this. With 76 I can't start such adventures, as I have no experience at all about it.

If I were younger and had learned all this responsability. I'd adore!!! My great problem would be to give puppies away, when the time has come. Lots of tears! Is it not difficult to find owners you can really trust? As you say, your puppies are all still in your mind. each day. Can you still have contact with them and their new owners?

Thanks Christina

For myself, there are 3 "major" anxiety causing times in my breeding - 1) Confirming pregnancy, 2) Whelping the litter, and 3) Choosing homes - the rest I can deal with any day of the week LOL!

Choosing homes for my puppies has become somewhat of an art. I have to do background checks, creep facebook pages, ask for references etc. I also have to ensure my contract is solid enough to allow me to get a dog back, or enforce fees for non-compliance, in court if I ever had to. I have a bit of a reputation for being "insane" about my dogs, and that is reputation I intend to uphold lol. I do not require my dogs to be neutered at all, however my contract states they can after 18 months if they prefer to. Because of this alone I have to ensure that the homes I choose are going to do right by my dogs.

I am facebook friends with every family I have ever placed a puppy with, so I get regular updates that way. I have some very close friends, who only became friends because they purchased a puppy from me, so I see those dogs regularly. I also board most of the local puppies when their families go away, so I can get to even have them in my home again for short stints. Placing the puppies is definitely one of the hardest things to do! But seeing them thrive with their new homes, seeing the joy they bring to their families, or seeing them excel in their working venue - the "Thank you" messages from their owners - that makes it ALL worth it!

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement Looking forward to sharing more as we progress!

Here she is on our walk yesterday - she won't even play with the boys anymore. Just trots around carrying her stick lol

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I like your insanity!

Niomi, thanks for the great description. What love and work you put in mother and puppies! ! Especially with keeping contact and a certain supervision once the puppies are placed in other homes. I wish all breeders would do it like you.

Lots give their puppies away without having any emotions about this and without caring about them any more. Our Pits were given to us with 6 weeks. We wanted to wait two more weeks, but the breeder didn't want to keep them longer, simply wanted to get rid of them and get his money. She wasn't interested knowing whom we are, where and how the puppies would live, never asked about them nor came to visit them afterwards, although we live quite near to her.

You're doing an admirable job! Looking forward to hearing more about the wellbeing of your dogs and your "insanity"!

We had more warm weather over the weekend, out of the norm for the Yukon anyways lol.

Ironhide had a very relaxing afternoon yesterday chewing her Bison bone in the yard. However, she did not want to risk losing her bone when she went to take a dip in the pool, so she took the bone in with her! LOL! We generally have a "no bones in the pool" rule, because bloody, meat chunk water is just gross, but I wasn't about to argue with her.

She then laid on the cool floor in our bedroom, she rarely sleeps on a bed now, she just gets too warm. She is looking really good, and I am happy with her physical condition thus far. Today she will start getting a 3rd meal fed at lunch, she is constantly starving now, so I really have to watch her.





Over the weekend we finally got the whelping box built, just have to put the puppy rails up. I also sterilized all of my "emergency tools" - scissors, clamps etc. And got my essential oil diffuser cleaned and ready to go. I will start diffusing essential oils when we move into the puppy room to sleep next week and will continue until the puppies have gone home - Lavender, Balance Blend, Serenity Blend and On Guard Blend. Not all together of course lol, but on a rotation as needed.

Today is day 50(ish) - We went for our usual morning walk, but I noticed she tired very easily. We only went for about 25 minutes with all three Shepherds, then I brought her back to the truck and took the boys out for a bit of a longer walk. She didn't even care that she was left behind, so I know she's definitely feeling the extra weight and extra energy drain a bit more now.

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Love those pictures! Ironhide looks very healthy and content.

That's interesting about the essential oils. They are to promote calmness and relaxation, I assume? I'm not familiar with those blends you mention, but I do love lavender and use it in my own home.

Yesterday, I got to visit a breeder friend of mine who has two litters on the ground right now, twelve pups all together, so I got a nice puppy fix.

Yes, some of them are to help promote relaxation and balance the hormones. Ironhide tends to be extremely anxious for the first few days following the birth, even with calcium, and I found the oils to REALLY help her. She hates to be separated from her litter, but going to the bathroom is a necessity of life. Too bad I can't explain that to her. Also, when I'm changing bedding in her whelping box, I put her outside. I put the puppies in a bin and if she is in the room, she tries to get in the bin too lol! I also use them when people start to come see the puppies, it takes the edge off her.

I use the On Guard blend because it promotes a strong immune system.

I used them with almost all of my litters with amazing results!