Category: Greta

Greta went to the Veterinarian on Thursday. I could hardly wait to go because I wanted to see how she was doing and what Dr. Julie thought of her growing belly. I somehow felt that perhaps those three little puppies weren’t growing well enough and that they might need extra food or something when they came into this world.

You see, I just don’t think that Greta looks all that big. I mean, yes, she has definitely grown in girth, but she doesn’t look like a pot bellied pig or anything.

However, Dr. Julie was thrilled with Greta. My little girl had gained over 2 ½ pounds, and when Dr. Julie suggested we do an x-ray, I agreed. After all, I wanted to make sure those three puppies didn’t need a road map or anything, to find their way out.

They took Greta off to x-ray her and after a few minutes Dr. Julie came running up the stairs. “Do you know how many there are?” she asked. I shook my head. “Five for certain and I think I see a sixth head!!!” She wanted to do one more x-ray and since Greta was being very cooperative she did it. Then the Vet brought the x-rays up and I got to see the babies.

One, two, three, four, five heads, five wavy strings of pearls (spines), and the hint of another head and spine under Greta’s own. It was so sweet, so beautiful, that I cried!

I brought Greta home with all of the new information I had gleaned. Sometime after the 4th of December I should really watch out for the signs of labor. The first one being a dip in her temperature. (Normal temperature for a dog is 101+ and it will dip to 98-99)

Tomorrow I go to get the last of the supplies I need, a few groceries and then come back home. I think between Hubby and me, we can make sure she isn’t alone for long.

So there is our news! Five, count ’em, FIVE puppies are on the way (possibly six)!!!

Wooooo-Hooooo!!!

**Update Below**
***Another Update Below***

Looking back on the final days of my pregnancies I remember feeling uncomfortable, grouchy and exhausted. After watching Greta the last 24 hours I can safely say, she feels the same way. So I have coined a new phrase for pregnancy.

The Dog Days Of Pregnancy

It certainly describes how I felt and what I am watching now. She tosses, she moves around, she sleeps for a bit, moves around again and then attempts to sleep some more. Yes, just watching her makes me want to cuddle and comfort my girl.

Of course a dogs pregnancy is compressed into such a short time, 58-62 days. Those little puppies grow so fast that by the time she actually knows she has those “biscuits in the oven” they are kicking and swimming around in there and then popping out.

Still each day when I look at my girl flipped over on her back, I can’t help but feel a little nostalgia for the days when I could feel my babies swimming around inside of me.

Meanwhile, it won’t be long now until Greta becomes a full time Mommy.

**We do plan to keep a puppy if Greta has a little girl as sweet as she is. (big smile!) Now we need to think of A names for the puppies. As this is Greta’s first litter, all the puppies must be given A names since the German Dachshund Club requires this. So think away!**

***
nycgadgetgirl asked “The club mandates that all the names of pups from a mom’s first litter start with A? Doesn’t that mean there are an inordinate number of Dachshunds with A names running around in Germany? Do they have any name requirements for subsequent litters?”

My answer: “Yes. They follow the Alphabet, so Greta’s next litters will be B, C, D etc. The way they tell each dog apart is by Kennel name. Greta’s babies will be “Dackel Princess” Andy or “Dackel Princess” Anja.
At first it made no sense to me either, but when I realized that only registered Kennels could breed and register dogs, it made a lot of sense. Very orderly. (Alles imordnung)

My little girl isn’t so little anymore. Despite her growing belly, I look at her every day and I think maybe she isn’t really pregnant. Maybe this is one of those phantom pregnancies.

You remember me, I’m the one who always convinces myself that it’s really nothing?

Today, Bernie’s owner came up to do some paper work with me. She hadn’t seen Greta since the breeding back in October. She was amazed at how much Greta had expanded! She was really thrilled. We talked about our perspective grand puppies, and laughed and joked a lot.

She brought her little 7 month old female wire, named Vila, who just went into heat. Vila is adorable. She is a black and red wire, with much the same type of personality as my Greta. She also fell in love with Mr. Fritz and wanted nothing more than to run around the back yard with him. Sadly, as she is in heat, she is on a very short leash!

After Barbie left, I looked at Greta and snapped a few pictures of her. Looking at them, I have to agree, Greta has really gotten big!

Maybe it’s not all in my mind, after all.

While we recover from eating all that turkey, stuffing and apple pie, we thought that today’s entry could come to you via Beth over at “Diary of a Playgroup Dropout”. She is featuring Greta this week on Fabulous Friday! Go on over and say “Hi” to Beth and check out the adorable Miss Greta in her pre-pregnancy days!

There are times I feel that my dogs conspire to keep me home. Sometimes it’s Fritz, who can get into trouble faster than the speed of light. In the past when I was planning to go away he has, gotten an eye infection, sliced his neck open and refused to eat.

Today I had a 9 AM appointment to get my hair done. Nothing big, just a little color and a light trim. I would have been gone for about an hour, or an hour and a half, at the most.

Greta started in during breakfast.

First she barked to go out. So I took her. No sooner had we gotten in, then she started back for the door with that awful hang-dog look that usually precedes vomiting. I rushed to the door, grabbed my coat and rushed her outside. She paced back and forth. She went to the stream and got a drink of cool water, she sat down and got up again. She stood looking helplessly at me. Finally I got her back in the house and went to eat my breakfast. Greta climbed into my lap. She was shaking violently and then she tried to climb my body.

Now I was freaking out. What was wrong? I was worried that she had the equivalent to Preeclampsia (yes there is such a thing). I grabbed the phone and put a call in to my Vet. I left all the information and waited for a return call.

While I waited I had Greta in my lap. Quietly, I spoke to her as I stroked her fur. I could feel her relaxing under my fingers.

The Vet finally called back and asked me if I had felt any puppy movement yet? I said I thought I had, but wasn’t sure. He said it was one of two things. Either the puppies were moving and surprising Greta, in many ways scaring her, or she actually could be having the doggy equivalent of Braxton Hicks contractions, otherwise known as false labor. Who knew doggies could have that, as well?

I sat with her for a long time and let her rest. She returned to normal and all was well. Except I never did get my hair done. Oh well, my girl needed me and as you all know, I would do anything for her, even cancel my hair appointment!

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PLUSH

Me, with my dear Greta on the day she received her perfect score at the dog show. Greta was given the opportunity to collect a prize for her hard work. She selected this PLUSH dog toy. Which she loves.

With less than a month to go, I have noticed how Greta’s belly has just popped out. So, I had to share these with you.

(Please ignore the crazy lady in the leopard print pajamas!)

The news is, “Greta is Pregnant“!!! Our Vet examined her and felt at least three little bundles of puppy love inside! There could be more, but it is too soon to tell. Another thing we learned was that Miss Greta has to cut back a little on the vittles! She has already gained 3 pounds!!!

I’m so excited about this and I am ready to call everyone on my cell phone list and then in my personal phone book.

I know I am a day late, here, but what did everyone (who watches) “Desperate Housewives” on Sunday night think of this episode? All I can say is wow! After several long weeks of the obnoxious former girlfriend of Lynette’s husband making everyone nuts, she finally took the big hit. Hallelujah! Now we don’t have to listen to or watch her character anymore. I also felt like it was the first episode this year that was any good. Well? What do you think?

Greta is doing well, but she is showing more and more signs of pregnancy. She sleeps a lot

and is hungry a lot of the time too. I finally gave her a bath this morning and then after I dried her I groomed her coat. She had a ton of old hair to be removed and after I got done she looked beautiful. Or should I say more beautiful than usual?

I can hardly wait for Friday to come. I have never been so excited to take an animal to the Vets as I am right now!

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