Greta – Page 9 – The Dackel Princess

Mischief and Mayhem! Ha!!!

I woke this morning and went out to the puppy room to clean them up and feed them. I figured it would be half as bad as it had been because two of the little poopers were gone.

I was wrong.

I think last night Baron and Baerbel had a talk. It went something like this.

Baron: I think I need to poop!

Baerbel: Me too.

Baron: I think I will poop again. Bet you can’t!

Baerbel: Bet I can.

Baerbel: Go ahead Baron, top this!

And Baron did! Oh my goodness, I didn’t know two puppies could poop that much in 8 hours! I laughed knowing that this had totally been a competition.

So I cleaned it all up, washed the floor and fed my little darlings. Oh yeah, you can tell I love my babies, when I think even poop is funny!

Baerbel left and Baron right.

I picked up Greta’s x-rays today from our old Vet. These are x-rays from her last litter. I want our new Vets to see these so we can prepare for Greta’s next litter. We go on July 29th for her first pre-natal exam. Personally, I think she is pregnant and feel pretty confident.

Baerbel and Baron are enjoying the freedom in their room and pen. We can also bring them out a bit more, as it is easier to run after 2 puppies than it is 4!

Baron running in the yard.

Baerbel hopping in the yard. She is so fast!

Greta and Baerbel playing. This is a new game where Greta goes over to the pen and attempts to steal the puppy bones.

A close up of Grandma Greta with Baerbel. And yes, Greta got the little white bone you can see near Baerbel’s paw.

Morning Sickness

My day began with Greta going woof-woof! I woke and groggily made my way to the bathroom and found that she followed me. Before I could do anything, Greta choked and gagged and I lifted her up and held her over the sink. She then had her first bout of what appears to be morning sickness! (or so I think)

After I brought Greta and the other big doggies outside for a walk in the back yard. I opened the door for the puppies to go outside in their pen, and then set about cleaning their room, while the coffee brewed.

Soon all the dogs were fed, the coffee made and I was sitting in my chair watching the rain fall once again, wondering when summer will come to New England!

Makenna was over helping me with the puppies. She is a natural with them and they just love her. Here she is holding Baerbel.

Baron got thirsty and stopped for a break and some water while she was over playing with them.

Ali watched with an adoring eye. She never seems to stay still for long. Ali is always moving! So please forgive the slight blur to the picture.

The afternoon brought more showers and gloomy weather. I really am ready for some nice sunny and dry weather, even if it means I’ll have to hand water my garden!

Tonight the puppies have finally settled in for the night and Greta seems to be her usual self. We will see what tomorrow morning brings. (More morning sickness?)

Puppy Dogs & Puppy Dogs?

The day dawned much like the previous month. Dark, dreary and moist! I keep wondering when summer will join us. It could be that we will just have one of those wet ones, but I sure hope not!

I spent time this morning and afternoon walking Arnie. I tried to get him out of his crate and exercised so he wouldn’t be feeling so bad. However, like most teenage boys he had just one thing on his mind!

The puppies were out several times and this was good. They ran around and they got their exercise and I sure as heck got mine chasing them! They sure are cute! After their mid-day run they all started to crash out and go to sleep. Ali was on the patio and Anneliese went up to her and she rolled over on her back and was starting to fall asleep.

Baron, Baerbel and Bogart curled up together and slept like this for a long time. They did wake long enough for this picture because I was using a flash.

Here is Baerbel and Bogart close up. Aren’t they the cutest!

Soon we had them outside again and I snapped these two pictures of them. This is Baron and Baerbel.

And this is the amazing running Baerbel!

Bernie arrived late in the day and I have to tell you I was just shocked at the speed of the breeding this time! He went right to work, and although she was a little prissy, she succumbed quite quickly and easily. Now we wait a month to see if she has conceived! If she has, she will be due August 31st!

Someone Got Lucky!

This morning Greta’s longtime husband came for a conjugal visit. The last time he was here she played hard to get and was really not terribly nice to him. I spoke to her and explained that it was her duty to be nice and accommodating and give me some more grand-puppies! I also promised her that I would not keep any of them!

I promised! Really!!

So today Bernie came back and once again she was not being very nice to him, and I despaired that I would ever have more puppies from Greta. However, Bernie had something else in mind. He kept at her and at her until my little Princess was over come with his charms and succumbed!

I’m not sure who was happier at this turn of events. Me or Bernie? Now Barbie will bring Bernie back one more time tomorrow so we can give them one more afternoon of passion, before we feel fairly certain that she is with pups.

Is all this more than you wanted to know?

Meanwhile on the puppy front, we managed to get them out in between rain drops and allowed them to run in the wet grass. It’s sort of like a mini bath as I wipe them off when they come in.

It’s tough because they need the exercise, and then the peaceful naps after.
Ali

Baron

Baerbel

Bogart

I had to run down to the Town Hall today to pay our taxes and so I decided to bring a puppy. Hmmm, which one to bring? Well I picked up Bogey, as he was the closest, and brought him. Everyone went wild, and he did very well meeting people. So far I have had thee of the four out to visit. The only one left now is Ali. So next time I go to the Post Office, she gets to go.

A Dackel Day

The dackels (all of them) woke me at 6 this morning. I was awake anyway, so I didn’t mind starting the day so early. I walked all the dogs and the puppies, cleaned the puppy room, and then made the puppies their breakfast. They ate and then immediately went outside into their pen. I can leave the door open and they can go out and come in at will. They love it and I sometimes find them collapsed in the sun sound asleep.

Fritz will go out and do his inspection of our yard and our neighbors yard and then come back and lay down by the puppy pen. Good old Uncle Fritz, babysitting the puppies.

Since I decided to spend today doing all the things I have been putting off, I amazed myself and completely cleaned the puppy room (including washing the beds), vacuumed and washed the kitchen floor and then because I felt the need to prove I truly am “Super Dackel”, I did 7 loads of laundry, and took my darlings out twice in the yard for good long runs.

Anneliese was out with us today and she was amazing. She kept all the puppies in a group, when they were playing too hard, she corrected them with a little bump, and then the sweetest thing, at one point she lay down with all four of them and cuddled. It was such a sweet moment.

After that she came in and snuggled with her Daddy in his chair. The position was too cute not to capture!

Makenna arrived and we played with the pups and ran them around some more, after which they fell asleep and stayed that way until dinner time.

Greta is still in the throws of her heat, and poor Arnie has really needed to be locked away. He hates this, but it is for his own safety, and hers. In the meantime, she lounges on the sofa cuddling her ducky.

Tonight I’m spoiling Hubby with a new recipe for potato salad, broiled pork loin and broccoli! Then I hope to make it an early night.

More pictures of my darlings tomorrow! Have a good week everyone!

One More Time…

Today I was late in making my bed. Okay, it was 4 o’clock in the afternoon, but heck, I had a bad migraine and didn’t get around to it until then. Anyway, it was then that I saw the tell tale signs. Yes, Greta is now in heat!

Greta in her special panties!

I had suspected that it would happen soon, as she has been really showing major signs of PMS all week. Add to that the fact that Arnie has been more interested in her than is really legal for a mother and son, and it all was adding up!

On June 28 we will breed Greta and Bernie and around the 1st of September Greta should be having her litter of babies. Ah yes, the pitter patter of more little dackel feet!

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Today I finally got the paper work from Germany that I needed to register the puppies with the AKC! Yippee!!! There was this long snafu due to a language barrier, but today my friend and the Breed Warden for my German Dackel Club helped me out and we got it all taken care of. I should have their papers here next week and then I will fill out each document and submit them to register the litter witht their names.

Our Breed Warden should be coming up to tattoo the puppies in the next two weeks as well. Their right ear will be tattooed with my kennel number and their puppy number. All my pups have green tattoos as Greta came with a green one and I have carried on the tradition.

Today was a great day here in New Hapshire. Lovely! So the pups spent most of the day outside. Sometimes running me around the yard and sometimes in their pen. All in all, a good day!

Wednesday Happenings

Hubby is on my “Fabulous” list! Today he ordered me a new laptop. A Toshiba with a 3 year extended warranty! I am so happy as it will be here in one week! Ah, the joy! I can feel my hands trembling at the mere thought of a new laptop!

The puppies are doing great. We had them outside three times today, and they ate like wild beasts when served their food. They’re eating 4 times a day now and the little ones even like drinking water!

My friend brought her 4 year old daughter and 18 month old son over today to see the puppies and Hannah was so sweet with them. Jaden wasn’t quite sure what the big deal was with them, but he patted them too.

Another friend was over tonight with her new boyfriend and we really liked him and got along well. It was a nice dinner party!

Lastly, I know I keep telling you this, but I am so tired. I know I am not the one who had these puppies, but they sure keep me on my toes! Time for an early bedtime, after all 6 AM comes awfully quickly when the puppies will demand their first meal of the day!

Greta, Anneliese and Arnie

My day started at 5 AM, when Anneliese woke me to go out. I crawled out of bed, put on my robe and slippers and coat and walked her in the yard and then returned to bed, hoping upon hope to sleep another hour or two.

Forty-five minutes later I was awakened, and gave up all hope of sleeping in. The robe and slippers came back on, and my jacket once again. I put Arnie and Anneliese on leashes, but left grown ups Greta and Fritz to walk freely, as they are usually good.

Not today! Greta and Fritz raced off, up the hill and before I could get out a good yell were gone!

I finished the walking of the two pups and brought them in. I grabbed the keys for the Jeep and headed up our driveway. I got half way down our street and there were Fritz and Greta walking along like they owned the road!

I yelled (quietly, after all it was Sunday) at Greta and Fritz, put them in the Jeep and drove back home.

As I came in the door I caught sight of myself in the window and cringed. Thankfully it was still very early, and hopefully no one saw me in my robe and jacket and slippers, with bed-hair and the sleep still in my eyes!

The day progressed and eventually I did shower and do my hair, but even then I wasn’t feeling too great. I definitely need a hair trim!

Enough about me. I know you all want to hear about Anneliese.

She is 22 pounds now and literally waddles when she walks. She doesn’t want to run around playing right now, she wants more than anything to lie in her little bed, with her ducky baby and rest.

Do you see the ducky under her? She just loves that thing, and hardly leaves it at all!

Occasionally she leans forward a little and nibbles on some dry food. Of course we keep the dish nice and close to her.

April 20 011

I love to look at her big fat belly! I used the clippers and shaved it today, to make it easier for the babies to find a teat.

She seems to enjoy all the attention, but then Arnie started to feel badly. Poor guy needs some attention! He was lying in the new doggy bed posing for me, so I simply had to take his picture.

No doubt at all that this is Arnie! lol! He sure knows how to make himself comfortable!

The Celebrations

Despite the snow and generally awful weather we managed to celebrate Greta’s birthday. As you know we like to get a yellow cake, and allow each dog a little taste after we sing Happy Birthday to the Birthday Dog. Ah such fun, isn’t it? A Birthday Dog, and kids? Perfect!