Portraits of Barbet Puppies -- Nessa x Murdoch

Here they are, at one week and two days, the 8 beautiful puppies of Nessa and Murdoch

Nessa's Blue Girl

Nessa's Red Boy

Nessa's Yellow Girl

Nessa's White Girl

Nessa's Light Blue Boy

Nessa's Green Girl

Nessa's Orange Boy

Nessa's Purple Girl

Portraits of the Puppies -- Claire x Thunus Georgii

Finally we had some sun and good lighting to take individual pictures of the puppies. These are the Claire - Georgii pups, born April 8, 2015.

Claire's Blue Girl

Claire's Red Boy

Claire's Yellow Boy

Claire's White Girl

Claire's Light Blue Boy

Claire's Green Girl

Claire's Orange Girl

Barbet Puppies

Claire's puppies did very well in their first 24 hours, a critical milestone for a newborn. She is enjoying her own puppies immensely, after longingly watching Nessa's through the doorway.

Nessa Green Girl

This is Nessa's green collared girl. What a sweet face! All of Nessa's pups have more than doubled their birthweight, which is exactly where they should be at one week. Each litter is set up in a different area of my house so that the moms have privacy to bond with and care for their little pups.

Claire's Puppies Are Here!

Claire's beautiful little George puppies were born early this morning. Just like Nessa, she started exactly at 5:00 AM. All of Claire's pups are black, and there are 4 girls - 3 boys.  They are extremely strong puppies, and the yellow collared boy was sitting up and nursing when he was an hour old.

5:00 AM    #1    Girl   305g    black    blue collar
5:08 AM    #2    Boy   263g    black    red collar
5:25 AM    #3    Boy    227g    black    yellow collar
5:33 AM    #4    Girl    225g    black    white collar
5:45 AM    #5    Boy    323g    black    light blue collar
6:18 AM    #6    Girl    242g    black    green collar
6:50 AM    #7    Girl    225g    black    orange collar

I always use the same colors so that I know which order they were born, i.e. blue = 1st, red = 2nd

One hour old and sitting up to nurse

Light Blue Boy

Green Girl

Barbet Puppy Love

Isabel loves spending time with the pups every day

Every day, the puppies are gaining 30-40 grams, and are getting stronger. Already they are trying to stand on their wobbly little legs to get around the box. Nessa continues to be an attentive mother, although she did decide that my bed would make a more comfortable home for her babies when she started carrying them to my room after arranging the pillows and blankets. Unfortunately for her, the puppy she was carrying was very loud, and she was quickly thwarted! Silly girl.

The puppies are handled multiple times a day, and I am doing a version of Early Neurological Stimulation that provides mild stresses in order to strengthen the puppy. It's really enjoyable to see the changes in the pups each day.

Snoozy boy

Getting bigger!

Four Day Old Barbet Puppies

Friday Puppy Update

This picture has two fun things: the white collar puppy who passed out headfirst and the other under Nessa's chest where just the back legs are sticking out. All puppies gained weight nicely and are doing great so far!

 Sleeping Comfortably!

This little girl is wiped out on Nessa's front leg!

Very proud mamma Ness

American Barbet Puppies!

Our Dutch import, Nessa, gave birth to 8 beautiful puppies this morning, sired by Canada's #1 Barbet, Murdoch. A first time mom, Nessa easily delivered her babies in under two hours. All of the puppies came out head first, fully encased in their sacs, for a smooth passage into the world.

5:00 AM    #1    Girl   228g    brown    blue collar

5:36 AM    #2    Boy   263g    black    red collar

5:51 AM    #3    Girl    200g    black    yellow collar

5:58 AM    #4    Girl    202g    black    white collar

6:10 AM    #5    Boy    233g    black    light blue collar

6:36 AM    #6    Girl    197g    black    green collar

6:50 AM    #7    Boy    250g    black    orange collar

6:57 AM    #8    Girl    256g    brown    purple collar

Birth size doesn't really indicate adult size, but it's interesting to watch as they grow. Sometimes the biggest pups in the litter stay the biggest, and other times the smaller pups end up being the exact right size as adults. I'll get individual shots of the pups posted over the next few days.

Barbet UKC Group 1!

Congratulations to Leslie Woodward and Ch. Hickory Tavern Secret Liaison (Micah) for winning a Group 1 yesterday at the One Paw Forward UKC show in Jackson, MI. Leslie keeps Micah in tip-top condition and he looks beautiful, with a very showy attitude!

Barbet Puppies on the Way

Here are our two expectant mothers, taken this morning after breakfast. Claire (right) is a very maternal girl, and has been acting pregnant and extra snuggly since immediately after the breeding. She is really showing and seems to be carrying a lot of puppies. Nessa (left) has just recently widened and changed in appearance, although her silly, bouncy personality is unchanged. As we approach the end of the month and Nessa's due date, excitement builds for these two Barbet litters!

Sunshine Barbet Girls

Marlee, Solene, Claire & Nessa

Yesterday we had our first truly warm spring day, and we gathered the girls for a quick photo before Marlee goes off to Canada to spend some time with Allison Foley attending CKC dog shows. Since we will be so busy with Claire and Nessa's pups, it is the perfect time for Marlee to spread her wings. We will really miss her goofy antics around our house!

Nessa and Claire continue to blossom, although Nessa has yet to have any realization that things are any different. Claire is already getting quiet large, and she spends extra time sleeping and resting. Soon it will be time to set up the whelping boxes!

Double the Barbet Fun

This spring, we're going to be doing something we've never done before--having two litters simultaneously! Claire was to have her final litter last fall, but with the passing of my father, I just wasn't up to it.

In 2015, we planned to breed Nessa, who is almost 3, to Gr Ch Ex Flacon d'Paris of Neigenuveaux CGC for her first litter; and to wrap up Claire's career as a mom with an exciting breeding with Stacy Able's Ch Quaciendas Thunus Georgii. As girls often do, Claire, Ness, and Solene all came into season within 10 days of each other. Timing and other events dictate that both girls were bred in February, and we are now pleased to announce that both girls are safely in whelp and due in the next few weeks. Nessa is due first, around March 31, and Claire is due one week later (April 6).

I drove Nessa to Ontario, where she spent several days with Flo Erwin for multiple breedings with Murdoch. My sister Jan took Claire to Virginia and met with Georgii's family for one quick breeding while she was dropping off her Spinone with her handler. I'm happy that Jan and Nancy, dog breeding novices, were able to successfully supervise the lovely couple.

So, we'll be home for puppy fun in April and May, and ready to hit the shows later this summer!

Nessa - UKC BIS Ch Nuphar's Gift-Wrapped

Claire - CKC Ch UKC BIS Ch Neigenuveaux's Ermagarde

Nessa is Pregnant!

Yesterday Nessa visited Dr Gardner for her 28 day ultrasound and we were happy to see several little puppy sacs! We are now almost half way through her pregnancy and she shows no outward signs of it. She is still her silly, goofy self with a fun energy and outlook.

Solene's First AKC TItle Winner Clea

Congratulations to Neil Fournier and Clea (Hickory Tavern Secret Kiss CGC) for earning her Canine Good Citizen award from the AKC. Neil has worked very hard training Clea, and she is the first of the Solene and Bosch babies to title with the American Kennel Club.

Upcoming Barbet Breeding

The dogs have synchronized their schedules this year, and we'll be having both litters within a short time this spring. We're excited to announce the second of our planned Barbet litters for 2015. Claire has been an amazing mom for her own litters, and tried to take over parenting of Solene's litter last year. She is such a great girl. Claire is a smart, funny, fearless, and sweet dog who exemplifies all the best qualities of the Barbet. We are anticipating lovely puppies from the well-bred Dutch boy George. 

Human Meds for Pets

Nessa is in Season!

Nessa

Nessa

We've been not so patiently waiting for Nessa to come into season, and finally she has! Tomorrow she will have her Brucellosis and first Progesterone test done, so that we can begin to schedule our trip to Toronto to breed her with the beautiful Murdoch.

Murdoch

Spay, Neuter, and Joint Disease

Solene's litter is now 9 months old and several puppy families have contacted me about spay/neuter. Although I advise waiting until at least one year, more and more evidence is demonstrating that routine spay and neuter is really a disservice to the health of our dogs. Here's another article to consider.

Meg and Marlee at 8 Months

Meg

Marlee