Dackel Princess

A “Fabulous” Visit!!!

On Saturday the Dackel Babies were visited by their Auntie Fabulous from Massachusetts. She brought with her another Auntie, Auntie Anna Lena and we all were in Dackel Puppy Heaven!

Auntie Fabulous brought with her, her two dogs Fabulous Dog, and Lani.

I have long been a fan of Fabulous Dog, as he is truly a handsome guy!

And when I gave him the chance, Mr. Fabulous showered me with kisses!!!

Hubby took the chance to spend time with the two ladies and show them all sorts of places to go and see on our states map.

We had lunch together. I’d made an eggplant Parmesan and salad and Fabulous brought a sugar free apple pie! That was totally delicious!

Now Anneliese wasn’t sure she was at all happy that Fabulous Dog was in our yard. She barked and barked and drove us all insane!

Finally we decided to allow Fabulous Dog and Lani to rest in the car and my hearing was restored.

They stayed until mid afternoon and then headed off to do some hiking. I hope we can get together again for some more visiting. I think once the puppies are gone all the dogs could probably get alone just fine. Greta, Fritz, and Arnie were all friendly with Lani and Fabulous Dog, but Anneliese is still very protective of her babies.

It’s so great when you meet a blogging friend and find that they are even more of a pal than you thought they would be!

It’s Just Going Too Fast

I woke up on Friday and after walking the dogs and grabbing my first cup of coffee, I settled in to weigh the puppies. They’d all done well, gaining nicely, and after I’d weighed each one and given them their morning kisses, I set about changing their little box. After all, 4 puppies in there all night had really made a huge mess.

So I changed all their soft pads and placed two blankets in the corners. The pups have started to cuddle up on their soft blankets at night or when they sleep, which is very cute!

In any case, I’d just finished the cleaning and sat back to watch them and all of a sudden Baron BARKED for the very first time! They’ve all growled, thus proving they are, indeed Greta’s grandchildren, but until Friday, none of them had barked. It was so cute, I wanted to melt right then and there!

Baron, as he cuddled up to his Mommy having lunch!

Anneliese with all her babies. Birgit (Ali), Baron, Baerbel and Bogie!

As I watched Anneliese today I realized that she is getting ready to begin the weaning process. Oh not completely, or quickly, but she now spends more time out here with us, and she is less attentive to the babes.

Of course, if anyone goes in there, she is right there. She does not like Greta in there, and she is very protective, but the first stages of her growing away from them has started. As nice as it is to have time to cuddle my Anneliese, it also makes me sad that the puppies are growing so fast.

It seems like just yesterday that Anneliese was Greta’s baby and now, here she is the mother of her own little brood.

Sometimes I think that life is going by way too fast!

Playing

I went in this afternoon to watch the puppies play. You can talk to them now and get them to react, and Arnie comes along too and often just seeing him makes them rush to the side of the whelping box! They are starting to walk, they growl, they all have a few little teeth and have started to play with each other. Soon I will break out the tiny puppy toys so that they have something to play with besides chewing on each other.

Here is a short video that I took on Friday afternoon. It’s pretty cute, or should I say, the puppies sure are!

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I seem to spend my day either playing with the pups, doing laundry or taking Anneliese, Arnie and Greta out for walks. I have been pretty remiss answering my comments and email, so please forgive this new Granny!

Meanwhile this new Granny has a busy weekend coming up. Friends visiting, a craft fair to attend with my cousin and possibly Arnie, and dinner out with friends.

All In A Dogs Life

I’m starting to believe that I simply cannot keep up with the incredible wee-ing pups! It seems that no sooner do I change the little plastic whelping box than the pups wee on the pads. This is sort of a transitional time. They are still too small to be running around the box and selecting a dry spot, and yet their little bladders have matured enough that they now go without the help of their Mommy.

They roll around, they crawl quite well and they growl. Yes, if you try to move them away from their Mommy for any reason, they make the cutest growling noise.

After my sister and Mom left, I started in with the usual puppy laundry as well as the additional stuff one does after guests have been with you. However. I admit to being a little tired and so I also lay down on the sofa with Arnie to watch my Soap Opera (All My Children) and just lay low for a while.

Arnie is doing great. He is all recovered now from his bad tummy and is his usual happy go lucky self. He adores Anneliese’s puppies and they love him. They will see him enter the room and actually crawl over to the edge of the box to see him.

The puppies and Arnie.

I can see that Arnie will be their playmate when they are a little older.

The great thing is that Anneliese loves having Arnie in there with her. Perhaps it is because they were litter mates and they have always loved each other. Even as babies they would curl up and sleep together.

Arnie and Anneliese as babies.

At night when we are without puppies, they still do sleep together in our bed. I have to say. I don’t have a lot of room when all the dackels take up my space! Just look what they do when I nap on the sofa!

So the day went on. Leftovers for dinner, and a DVD for entertainment tonight. The puppies are asleep, the dogs are fed and the day is done!

A Day In The Life

I climbed into the puppy box today to sit with my grand-puppies, and found there was barely room for me! They are getting so big! They also are moving around a lot now that they can see and hear. For instance, Baron loves Uncle Arnie, and when he sees him standing next to the whelping box, he works his way over to the edge of the pool and looks up lovingly at Arnie! It is the cutest thing!

Anyway, as I sat there, holding Baron I suddenly felt something warm and wet on my hands, leg and stomach. Yes, Baron pee-ed on me!

Oh boy! Well, it’s a good thing I love them so much.

Birgit.

I just laughed and once I got done cuddling, I got up and went in to change my clothes and wash up!

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I’d arranged for my sister to meet my Magical Margarita! She is the woman who dips my hair in the fountain of youth and fills me with youth and vitality!!

Margarita took Melodie and laid her hands on her head and voila!

I love it so much that I stood there and cried with happiness!

Mom then took us girls out for a lovely lunch at my favorite restaurant, Canoe. We had such a nice meal, enjoyed every moment, and then after went to The Old General Store for a little shopping!

Melodie and my Mom leave tomorrow for their home 4 hours south of here. I will really miss having them around!

All In A Dackel Day

My Mom and sister, Melodie are here and we are having a good time. In the last 24 hours we have eaten three meals, gone shopping, and spent countless hours with the puppies.

They are growing and changing and becoming even more fun to be around. Their puppy-hood is going by so quickly that I know it will be gone before I know it! Sometimes I go in and sit and try to savor the moment.

So here is a short montage of today’s savored moments.

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Arrivals

My mother and sister arrived in time for lunch on Sunday. Then we spent time watching and playing with puppies, as well as catching up on a couple of DVD’s.

My sister took a few pictures of me with the puppies. Here they are. By the way, the new picture on the sidebar was taken by Mel as well.

Me with all my babies!

Me with Baron!

Birgit.

Okay, now you think of the caption for this picture. What is Anneliese saying?

Time, Keeps Flowing Like A River…

I started off early today snapping pictures. It was sunny and warm in the morning and the bees were working the trees. I grabbed my camera and got these two shots. I’m actually fairly proud of them.

Then I came in and spent a little time watching and playing with the puppies. They just get cuter and cuter!

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Three little piggies all in a row! lol! That’s Birgit, Baron and Bel.

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Little Birgit. (She will be called Ali)

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Then Birgit and Baron fell asleep.

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Bogie flipped over and fell asleep. He is quite a clown!

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And then I look at a picture like this and I see how huge the puppies look next to her. Look at this picture taken the day after they were born three weeks ago.

Isn’t that amazing?

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Arnie is doing great and is back to acting like his old self. I’m still giving him his medications, and he is on the rice and chicken diet! Oh yum!

My sister, Mel and my Mom should be here in time for lunch! I can hardly wait.

Life…

Arnie went back today for the last of his medications and hydration. He is like a different dog tonight and I am so pleased with his recovery! I have made him a special pot of chicken and rice food for the next few days and he really likes it.

As I write he is sitting here next to me chewing on his favorite bone, acting like his old self. I think the worst is over and he is on the mend!

The puppies can hear! For those who do not know, puppies are born with their ears fused shut. They are deaf. About the time that their eyes open their ears also open. Today when I went into the puppy room to say good morning, feed Anneliese and weigh the babies, I called out good morning and the puppies all stirred! It was awesome. Later in the day when they were all asleep I went in and clapped my hands and they all responded.

Also on the growth chart was the fact that when Anneliese jumped into the puppy box today the puppies all SAW her and with their eyes followed her to the other side of the box where she lay down and nursed them all.

So many changes in their short lives!

My sister Melodie, and my mother will arrive here on Sunday for three days. I have so many things planned and puppy time is definitely on the program! My sister takes such great pictures that I hope she can get a few of me with my grand-puppies!

My yard is full of beautiful fruit blossoms right now.

Apples, pears and plums. The Cherries are past and the peaches will be next week. But it is lovely and I have been enjoying the flowers.

My vegetables are also doing well. My seedlings (cucumber, summer squash, zucchini, and butternut squash), all sprouted and I’ve purchased tomato, eggplant, brussel-sprouts and pepper plants. The green house is just full! I just love the anticipation of July and August vegetables!

Ah yes. Life. Today was a good day. Have a great weekend everyone!

Busy Day

Thursday was a busy, busy day. It started at 3 AM when Arnie woke me. He was sick to his stomach and releasing bodily fluids from both ends. He was tired and listless, and I was worried. He did not want me to let him alone, and just wanted to be held. So from 3 until 6:30, I was only able to get an occasional snore. At 6:30 I gave up.

At 8:30 I called our Veterinarian, and I brought him right in. He was dehydrated and so they fixed him up with an IV and some medication. He spent the day at the Vet’s office getting fixed up. Seems my boy picked up gastroenteritis.

Once I was sure that his being sick wouldn’t affect the puppies I relaxed a little, but all I wanted was for him to get well and come home.

I worked cleaning up and playing with the pups, but also took a little time just to be quiet. Feeling as tired as I did, I thought I needed to do this.

I took a few pictures of the litter today. I love the ones of the entire litter because you can see how huge the puppies have gotten in two and a half weeks. All of them are over two pounds now!

Just look at those big bodies! One note here. I ran out of black rick rack for Birgit’s collar, so she is now pretty in pink!

Arnie came home just before dinner. He still has his IV in, and they sent him home with one of those silly Elizabethan collars. Which he hated, so we took it off and he has left the IV completely alone.

He goes back in tomorrow for the rest of his medications and more fluids, and should be able to take his medication by mouth by the weekend.

So, it was a busy day. I’m tired, but grateful that my boy will be just fine. By tomorrow night he’ll be dining on boiled chicken and white rice. I wonder if he will want a little white wine with that?