Anyone had Puppies? Part 1

[nellie-m]

What a happy little family, I hope you are having some happy moments now, too, VC!

As for the panting, that is perfectly normal, it will go on for a few more days and gradually disappear. She will also continue to have some blackish/greenish discharge, that is normal too unless it's smelly. In that case contact your vet!

What a good girl, eating for 6, because that's what she'll need to do now Goat's milk is a great idea.

[Zelenina]

Oooooh puppies!!!! Sorry I missed all the excitement. What a lovely healthy looking little family! Congrats Bessie and VC

(There were more smileys, but it seems I'm not allowed more than 4)

[mothhawk]

Funny your OH should say that because Bess came from a home with a Cavalier and a Jackapoo (Jack Russell x poodle) - but we don't whether either were unneutered dogs.
Goggling images of jackapoo puppies, lots of them are black with white chest markings.
Its certainly a possibility.

As you also have a brown pup, probably more likely to have been the Cavalier, especially as one of Bessie's parents is a Cavalier. So you've 4 black and tans and a ruby

edit - Oh, and an absolute diamond in Bessie

[veggiechicken]

I've found out more about Bessie's history that may help to pin down who the father was.
If we work back 63 days from yesterday, the approx date would have been 1st October.

On 1st October the owner rang the Sanctuary and asked whether they'd take Bessie (because she'd snapped at the 15 month old baby). She was handed in sometime between the 5-10th Oct and was still in season then. The Sanctuary are trying to contact the previous owner to find out about her other dogs. Watch this space.

Did the owner know she had been mated and wanted rid of her, did Bessie actually snap at the baby or was that an excuse, was Bessie hormonal and being pestered by one of the other dogs?

Will we ever know the truth? Does it matter

[veggiechicken]

Oooh Look - Puppies taken quickly while Bessie was out in the garden - but she caught me

[mothhawk]

Bessie is so lucky to have been chosen by you VC.
Another person might have returned her pronto once they discovered her pregnancy, making her a cast-off twice in her short life.

[Glutton4...]

Agreed, MH! My rescue girlie was quite clearly post-pregnancy, when I got her last year. She was very fat and saggy, and very down. Some people just don't consider the dog's feelings when they palm them off on someone else.

It's wonderful that there are 'Vine rescues' and fab to be part of their success stories. Just sad that we can't rescue them all!

[Scarlet]

It's a fab experience VC, you'll never regret it. Bessie is super lucky.

[Nicos]

Have to mention that I think it's really wonderful that although Bessie hasn't been with you very long, she's clearly bonded with you really well to trust you with her pups.
Both she and you must have caring, trusting natures...

[Nicos]

Oh....and I can't wait to see them opening their eyes!...at what age do they open?

[nellie-m]

Around ten days of age, which is also when they will start to hear.

[Lumpy]

Bessie looks rather chuffed with herself - and so she should be.
I didn't realise that rescue centres occaisionally had offers on such a 'Home One Get 5 Free'.
It's a shame the supermarkets don't do the same - they could call it the Bessie Bonus.

[veggiechicken]

Bessie and family say Hello and Happy Friday
Bess is a lot brighter now and is leaving the puppies for longer, while she tears round the garden doing her stuff!
There's temporary fencing around the den (to keep Mary dog away) but Bess has worked out how to "escape". The rattle of a fork on a plate is enough. One minute she's lying quietly covered in puppies, the next she's at my feet looking for food. She's so fast and silent that I don't even notice her escaping. Its good to see her getting back to normal

I have a question about Ears!! How do ears develop - not the hearing but the shape!
At the moment, they stick out like little handlebars. Bessie has spaniel ears, so will the ears grow larger and flap down, or move up their heads and stick up - or will they always be handlebars? Just curious

[roitelet]

If they are anything baby lop eared rabbits they start of straight and then flop at about 2 months when the ears get too long to stand up straight any more.

Glad to hear all is going well!

[Glutton4...]

Ears will do what they want, when they want.

I have a chum with a Smooth Fox Terriorist. They have floppy ears, but for some reason, his started to stand up after a few weeks, and they both now stand fully upright! looks normal to us now, until you see a 'proper' one lol. I also know someone with a Rat Russell that has stand-up ears. Bat ears, I call 'em!

Both lovely dogs, by the way.