Category: Anneliese

Right now it seems every day is super busy, what with the puppies becoming more and more mobile, and the fact that I crazily have 4 dogs anyway, plus a husband. It sort of wipes me out. Especially when one of them gets ill.

Anneliese’s mammary glands just swelled up like crazy over the last few days despite the fact that she had weaned the puppies on her own. They’re fortunately old enough to eat softened puppy food now and do well.

Anyway, Anneliese also felt warm to me and did in fact have a fever. I brought her in to the Vet and she has Mastitis. Poor baby. She is swollen, uncomfortable and has an infection.

They immediately started her on antibiotics, calcium and B vitamin and hopefully she will improve over the next few days. Despite the puppies wishes to nurse, we cannot let them at all, and that means at times I have to separate Anneliese from the babies.

Uncle Arnie helping to watch the babies!

So I find myself running back and forth, up stairs and down, and inside and out as I do triple duty. Wife, Doggy Mommy, and Doggy Granny! Ah yes. The fun never ends!

And I do mean that. At the end of the day when the pups go to sleep and I sit down in my chair, I feel pretty lucky to have these beautiful, healthy, happy puppies!

Hubby and I were asleep in our bed. Cuddled closely with Greta and Arnie and Fritz slumbering on the floor by the door. Suddenly, there was a knock, knock, knock. Hubby and I started to wake, each thinking we must still be dreaming.

Knock, knock, knock!!!

I turned over and looked at Hubby. “Who is knocking at our door?” I asked him.

Knock, knock, knock!!!

He got up and opened our bedroom door and in ran Anneliese! Yes, my little mama dackel knows how to knock on a door! Can you believe it? She needed to go out, so I got up with her and of course all the other dogs came with me, and we all went out to explore Mother Nature in the back yard.

It was just 5:45 AM!

Still, how can I be angry with a dog who has taught herself to knock? Polite, yes?

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I never did get back to sleep as I had puppy duty. I weighed them, fed them their breakfast, cleaned up their box and played with them. Hubby joined me a couple of hours later and apologized for failing to gate in Anneliese before he came to bed last night. I laughed and told him not to worry. I actually got a big kick out of my dackel knocker!

As promised I have pictures of the babies. They are so adorable and I told Hubby that we really needed to post some new pictures so he helped me get a few.

Baron.

Bogey.

Ali (Birgit)

Baerbel (Belle)

We also managed to get in a play session outside before the cold front blew in, bringing with it rain showers and quite a bit of wind.

All the puppies pooped outside which amused the little twin girls from next door and their friend. The twins are 7 and their friend is 6 so poop humor is right up their ally!

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!

Anneliese had a good night, although I’m not sure she slept a lot. She gets pretty worried when the babies aren’t nursing her. So I put them back on a teat, and then all is right with her world.

Her fever is down this morning, she ate a good breakfast and I weighed the puppies.

Miss Black, who was born weighing 8.3 ounces is up to 11.4 ounces even! Mr. Yellow, was born weighing in at  8.8 ounces and he is up to 10.5 ounces. Miss Green, was born weighing 7.9 ounces and she weighed in at 10.0 ounces, and our Big Boy Blue, who was the largest puppy at birth at 9.7 ounces is now up to a whopping, 14.0 ounces!!!

I admit to not getting too much sleep last night. I played the role of night nurse. When a pup started squealing to find a teat, I was right there to help out. Anneliese gets so upset that the baby is crying and until she is feeling completely well, I’m trying to keep her stresses down.

Today I plan another quiet day. I may send Hubby out on a recognisance mission to buy people food and dog food!

Here is our little Miss Black. She is a doll! Quite active, and always feeding away.

The next picture is Mr. Blue. He is an amazing creature. He has gained more than all the other puppies and I swear I saw him actually walk today, he is so strong! And he is VERY cute!

And last but not least the wonderful mother! She’s had sort of a bad day. Hasn’t felt too well and I’ve spent a lot of time sitting with her in the puppy room. The Vets put her on antibiotics, and I sure hope she is feeling better tomorrow!

Everyone is gaining well and getting stronger. All we need now is for Anneliese to feel better and get back on her feet.