Greta – Page 11 – The Dackel Princess

Rain & Big Bellies

The day dawned dark and dreary. Rain was forecast and by the time Hubby and I finished our breakfasts, the rain had started to fall. Hubby was out tending his apple trees in the rain, while I took our laundry down to the laundry room in the basement and sorted it all out.

As I was looking around the laundry room I noted that the winter had not been kind to it, and I needed to spend some time cleaning it up and organizing it once again. While I spoke to my sister on my cell phone, I cleaned and put things away and got the room actually looking presentable.

Then while the machines whirred and groaned cleaning and drying my clothes, I came upstairs and worked on vacuuming. One thing is for sure, when you own 4 dogs, and both you and your Hubby garden and work in the yard, there is no end to the dirt that gets tracked into the house! It used to bother me, but now, well if I can vacuum a couple of times a week, then I feel I have done well.

The rain continued as the afternoon wore on and before we knew it the kids arrived here after school. Hubby worked with the twins on their reading and I helped Em get her eye drops in.

One thing that I have to share with you all is something about Greta. Today I was patting her belly and I could feel a nice round little package in there. It is so totally different than it feels when she is not pregnant, so I am hoping that perhaps I have felt the babies before anyone else. Just two more days and we will find out!

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~Thirteen~

These are thirteen of my favorite pictures. The bottom picture is of Greta with her first litter of pups back in 2006. We will know in two weeks if she is expecting her next litter! I’ve got my fingers crossed!

22 Days & Counting….

…..Or is she or isn’t she?

I called the Vet today and made a (hopefully) prenatal appointment. We will go in on April 30th at 2 pm to see if Greta is pregnant. So now we begin the official count down to “Biscuits In The Oven-2008”.

Greta and Bernie got together 4 different days, and I am hoping that during one of those get togethers, they actually got together enough to make puppies!

I am nervous. I really want this litter, I want to see Greta be a Mommy again. The thought of missing out on this opportunity makes me quite sad. So lets all cross our fingers and send good vibes Greta’s way!

My next challenge will be Anneliese. She isn’t ready to breed, as she is still too young, and does not have her rating (which she will get in September), but she is due to go into heat at any moment and then I have to go through another 21 days of changing doggy diapers.

Ah yes, the thrill of doggy ownership!

At least Arnie handled things pretty well with Greta. There was really only two days that he literally followed her everywhere, with me right behind them. A few times I even put him in his crate for a time out because I just couldn’t take it any more. Then as quickly as his hormonal desire for Greta came on, it disappeared! Don’t get me wrong, I thank the good Lord for that.

Good old Uncle Fritz is totally oblivious to all. Since he is a neutered male he could care less about the Soap Opera that has been taking place in this house.

So now we wait. It’ll go by, quickly I hope, and then we will know.

Why oh why don’t they just have an Early Pregnancy Kit for dogs?

Well?

I wish I could give you all a definitive answer as to whether Greta and Bernie accomplished the big one. All I can say is that they did get to know each other in very personal ways, and it’s my hope that June puppies will be forthcoming. I won’t really know for about three weeks. Then I can take her in and the Vet can palpitate her abdomen and feel if there are any babies in there. Oh how I wish there was an Early Pregnancy Test Kit for dogs! You know, I’m just crazy enough to walk around with that little stick trying to get Greta to wee-wee on it!

So, now I sit back and wait. I’ve decided just not to think about it until the end of the month. Still, I will be looking for those small signs that indicate pregnancy. Exhaustion, morning sickness and her desire to be held.

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Meanwhile, I caught Anneliese snuggling up to my man! Do you all think I should be worried about the competition?

I have to admit that Anneliese is a sweet little girl, and I adore her. She has developed into a truly adorable and loving pup. I am looking forward to getting my yard back after the snow melts, so I can start working Anneliese outside on the leash, getting her ready for the German Dog Show in September. She is the last dog I will have to show to get her a rating. Whew!

There’s A Reason

There’s a reason they call a female dog a b!tch. They are!!!

Bernie came to the house again today to beg Greta for just a little sweet loving. He was adorable, gentle and patient with my grumpy girl, who seemed intent on thwarting his every attempt at sealing the deal.

Bernie wooing Greta.

Bernie nearly losing his nose when Greta bites at him!
“Stay away!” she snarls!

They did have a productive time this time and although they did not classically “tie”, they did accomplish the act and so there is no real knowing whether the deed has been done or not.

Of course we will know in about three weeks if she is pregnant or not, and in 62 days for certain.

Am I feeling stressed? Yes, a bit. I wish that Greta would just be the sweet compliant girl that she was a year ago, but I think that perhaps the trauma of puppy-birth has forever changed my girl.

We’re planning to give it another try this weekend and hopefully Bernie will score a full scale home-run.

Then, perhaps, I will relax.

Pass The Wine

Well the saga of the girl who just said no continues. Once again today, Greta played, frolicked and rolled, but did not allow Bernie….. ahem….. in.

I called my Veterinarian, and took Greta in. Basically he told me to relax, have a glass of wine and let nature take it’s course. He said I should remember that Greta is much smarter than me. She will know when things are right. Okay, I can’t argue with that.

So I have been trying not to think of it. Trying not to dwell on when she will “do it” or when the puppies will arrive.

I made a double batch of Italian Wedding Soup. I made some popcorn and ate it. I did laundry and I worked like crazy keeping Arnie away from his Mom. Oh yeah, that has been fun!

Greta has been quiet since Bernie left. She has done a lot of sleeping except for when the black lab arrived in the yard again, and this time he tried to get in the door. Excitement!

Ah well. I’m not worrying about when she will be ready, I’m just going to sit here with my feet up and the three dachshunds draped all over my lap and relax.

Please pass the wine!

April

Our last day in March we decided to do some errands. Despite the fact that it was snowing again (yes, more snow, because after getting 115 inches of the white stuff this year we haven’t had enough!) Hubby wanted to look at some fruit trees, and I needed to do some grocery shopping. Because Greta is still in the throws of her heat, we once again brought Arnie with us. This cute little boy is getting to be a joy to travel with.

We went and looked at the fruit trees and then stopped at a computer shop to look at scanners, and while Hubby spoke to the sales representative, I went next door to Borders Books and stood in front of the coffee counter. Can I tell you how wonderful it smelled? Oh dear!

“Excuse me, how do you make your Mocha Java Coffee?” I asked.

“We use double chocolate fudge sauce.” the girl replied.

“Oh.” I said feeling lost and forlorn. “Could you make me an Espresso with some skim milk?”

“Are you on a diet?” she asked.

“Yes, Weight Watchers.” I replied.

“Listen, let me make you a special Cappuccino.” she said. “Do you use Splenda or anything?”

“Yes.”

“Go an get the packets you need over there and I’ll make you something really special”.

So I went and got the packets of Splenda at the help yourself counter and brought them back. I could hear the machine whirring and frothing and soon she presented me with a cup of sheer delight!

“It’s only got 1/4 cup of skim milk in it, but it looks like more because it’s been frothed, I hope you like it.”

I put the cup to my lips and sipped. Oh my absolute Heaven! It was soooo good! I tipped her well. What a nice person she was, and that was the best Cappuccino I have had in a very long time!!!

Hubby and I did our grocery shopping before coming back home and getting ready for Bernie’s second visit.

The poor boy is working so hard to win over my fickle female, and the exhaustion was showing. Greta was a bit more receptive today and I think we came extremely close to calling it a home run. Personally, I think Greta likes the idea of scoring a home run with Bernie on April Fools Day! I think it appeals to her slightly strange sense of humor.

So Bernie will come here on April Fools Day in the late morning to try to woo her again.

Bernie and Greta

Greta Plays Hard To Get

Yes today was to be the big day for Greta and Bernie to consummate their love and make little baby dackel puppies. However, Greta had other ideas. She was very happy to see Bernie after several months with no contact, which makes me think that this is why she played the sweet coquette with him. She flirted, she batted her big brown eyes at him, she jumped over him, she jumped on him and she teased him unmercifully. In the end, poor Bernie went home feeling unhappy and frustrated.

This means that we get to do this again tomorrow. I told her that she simply has to allow nature to take it’s course, but she laughed at me and reminded me that Arnie and Anneliese are reason enough for her not to give in!

We have a few more days to work on this before I will feel the season pass. I’m sure we can get it all together.

Oddly enough a strange black Labrador showed up in our yard today waiting for Greta to come out and be his girl. The little hussy sat in the doorway and barked at him, and I swear I saw her showing off her cute little panties!

We closed the drapes, and threatened her if she didn’t stop trying to entice that poor boy. In the end he went home too, feeling as let down as dear Bernie.

Lady dogs can be so cruel!

Friends & Doggies

My oldest friend is coming to see me this week. She’ll arrive tomorrow night with her husband and son. The boys will go skiing and Gail and I will sit here, sipping tea and just talk non-stop.

We will also go to my favorite restaurant Canoe! I’m excited about this because now that I have gone out to eat there and I’ve found many things on their menu that I can eat, and stay on my diet, I am anxious to go back.

Now more big news!

Greta is in heat. It started this morning, slowly, and so if all goes well puppies will arrive in early June and be ready for their new homes later in the summer!!! I am so excited about this, even if Greta isn’t.

One thing is for sure though, Greta loves her little pants! I swear that she is strutting her stuff like a runway model! Look out Gisela Bündchen! Greta Garbo is walking the catwalk now!

Anneliese Bunny Thief!

Today a box arrived in the mail. Inside was a little gift for Arnie. You see a little while back, Arnie’s favorite toy was demolished. Yes, Mr. Bunny was torn to pieces and was buried in the trash. Poor Arnie missed him a lot.

So, imagine today’s surprise when I opened the box and Arnie found Mr. Bunny inside!!! He was so happy and immediately grabbed him and ran into the family room.

Now, Greta had her Wild Boar birthday gift, and Arnie had Mr. Bunny, so Anneliese felt a little left out, even though there were a million dog toys around the house.

Anneliese paced back and forth, she watched and waited, and when Arnie let his guard down, she pounced! And got Mr. Bunny!

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As you can see by this little photo montage, the dogs were all having a good time, but at the end of the day Anneliese is curled up with Mr. Bunny and the other two dogs are asleep without their toys. Yes, Anneliese is a force of nature. The smallest of our dogs, but with a true stubborn steak inside of her.

You just have to love a dachshund!