Trying to walk

I'm no expert, but I'd think it would be easier to master walking if they'd just open their eyes! Over the past couple days Wilbur has tried walking. Today everybody has been working at it. It's hilarious to watch...they try to stand, fall over, roll over and try it again. They are noisy too, and it almost sounds like barking. This is by far the most fun day so far!

Another highlight, Reggie and Lizzy have spent time together for the first time since the puppies were born. Reggie is being very gentle with her, but I can see in his eyes that he wants to play...I think we'll curtail that a little longer. But they're bookends again!

an oreo

They look like an oreo cookie!











Tristan got his first look at the puppies today. He's been patiently waiting since he met Lizzy and Reggie a month ago. He's still trying to decide which puppy he likes the best. lizARd- please send me the pix with Tristan and the two choc girls....thanks!













Lizzy took a break from puppy-care and spent some quality time with "Uncle Jay." As you can tell, she likes some attention after everyone has admired the pups. I wonder if Tristan's puppy will be allowed on the couch in their living room??

more visitors, more names

Today the pups have had more visitors. Liz came down from the cities, she'll be the proud owner of one of the females. Angie, Charlie, Sam and Jack also had a good visit. The boys were great with the pups. This litter will be easy to socialize as they get older, they're so good with being handled already.

A phone call last night brought a couple more names to the bunch. I suppose its time to post individual pictures and names. One pups is awaiting a name, so send your suggestions our way.

yellow female to be named___OLGA___


chocolate female to be named_____________


WILBUR (trying to walk)


FANNY (as in Fanny Farmer candy)



MOOSE (Chocolate) and AXEL (yellow)


LUCY


AXEL















And we're STILL waiting for the eyes to open. For as long as these pictures took to upload, you'd think they pups would already be weaned and retrieving pheasants!
More visitors tomorrow...sleep well tonight little labbies!

the guys

I've been waiting to see if their eyes would open today before I posted. No one seems in much of a hurry to see their brothers and sisters. Lets hope for tomorrow!

This shot wasn't staged, I just happened to find all three males laying like this.

Aunty Janis visits

Some people will travel a great distance to see puppies. Aunty Janis came all the way from North Carolina (via Arizona) for a chance to see and hold them. She was one of the two crying when they heard about the births...the other was my mom. At one point, she thought Lizzy was worried about her holding a pup, then she realized that Lizzy was miffed that Janis wasn't petting her with both hands. Its a mutual admiration society.





We have a new olympic sport...
its called the incline platypuppy
face press. He slept this way for
a long time! How can his neck not
hurt??















Too bad their tail wagging isn't
intentional yet. Happy eating kids!

One week old

Today the pups are one week old. Its been a big day in their lives...their whelping box got powerwashed. This was partly due to Grandma and Grandpa and Aunty Janis's upcoming visit tomorrow.
Welcome to our new blog visitors too...the staff at the St. Peter Clinic!












Another must post picture puppy butts

Family visit

A late afternoon posting after a visit from my sister and her kids. The puppies loved being cuddled by someone other than me. Carl and Liz were slightly grossed out by some of the maternal functions that Lizzy provides for the pups...chalk it up to a life lesson!

Carl is holding the three male pups.


Liz has the four females, they are a bit more camera shy!
















Another must show photo...probably the first time that six puppies were nursing, and Wilbur wasn't one of them. That may be the first meal he's missed since being born!

Boy bonding

Sometimes when you're surrounded by women, the boys just have to stick together! Well, unless you are Wilbur and busy eating.





The chocolate with her mouth open was too cute not to post.

They are definitely growing, their size has increased dramatically from birth until today. I read that they grow while they are asleep...no wonder there is so little noise, they're busy growing.

Lizzy will finally take some breaks from them. She sits outside the box and looks in at them. But one little squeak and she's running back!

Chocolates in a row

These pictures are especially for Tristan: Here are the chocolates! The females are left and middle, the male is on the right. For those of you who haven't met Tristan, he's Carl and Liz's cousin and he'll be the proud owner of one of the chocolate girls. He's one excited kindergartner!

The pups had some visitors today. Butch's mom, Katie, brought Lee and AmyJo to check out the group. Wilbur was AmyJo's favorite, but AmyJo was Reggie's favorite, he loves blonde girls!

names

A couple of the pups have now named themselves:
The little red girl is Lucy (for Lucille Ball)
The chubby black male is Wilbur (the pig from Charlotte's Web)



Is it a Lab or a Platypus?

growing

You can almost watch these little pups grow!

Nine Labs in one house?

Yes, indeed! "Uncle Reggie" returned home to find it filled with puppies. He's curious, she's aloof. Normally they are the best of buddies and love to wrestle. While pregnant, she refused to play. I'll keep them separated until the pups are older and Lizzy is less hormonal!

Reggie is less impressed than I originally thought, he's already asleep on the couch.

Dew Claws

It started as such a nice, quiet morning. All the pups just eating and sleeping. We then packed up Lizzy and all the pups for our trip to the vet for dew claw removal. She was one frantic mother! We're back home and things are beginning to calm down, but she's still quite nervous. A couple hours and I'm sure life will be back to normal

The happy little family

Our litter is complete with seven. It is mostly quiet in the box, a squeak here and there. Lizzy is a great mom! She tries to sleep between feedings, cleanings, and other assessments of her kids.

Well deserved rest

Nothing new since 8pm. we're holding at seven. Lizzy seems to be getting some sleep and the pups look fat and happy.

and now seven!

Two more chocolates, one male and one female. And yet again, she is still scratching in the box.






The count so far:
black male
chocolate female x2
chocolate male
yellow female x2
yellow male

One of each gender that are listed as yellow are more red in color.

now two males too!

She just took a break earlier. Now we have 5, three female, two male, and more scratching in the whelping box! She's one busy mama.

Yup, more scratching...must be more to come!

three GIRLS

Three females born over about 20 minutes. I'm not sure if she's done yet or not! These three all look healthy and have good lungs (as is evident by the volume in the house). More photos later.

We're in LABOR

As my dad would say, Lizzy is as nervous as a popcorn fart. She isn't using the whelping box yet but seems to be content to lay on the laundry room tile. Her temp is down lower than yesterday too. Hopefully things will progress smoothly...we could both use some sleep this afternoon!! Pictures as soon as there is something to show off.

The promised picture

Lizzy is spending a quiet day in the house. She hasn't really started "nesting" but her temperature has dropped below 100 degrees. She is obviously on her own schedule!

Last night, Lizzy wanted to sleep right next to me in bed. I could feel the puppies moving in her belly with my hands. I bet the sensation is much stronger inside her with a whole batch of offspring...no wonder she keeps looking at her stomach.

I hope we sleep tonight!

Closer by the day

Yes, they are getting closer by the day! Due to a family emergency, Lizzy spent the weekend being cared for by Mike and Sandy...I owe them a million thanks. Lizzy had a little trouble climbing into my pickup, but enjoyed the ride home. She's searching for Reggie who will come home tomorrow morning. Otherwise she is pretty calm and hasn't really started "nesting" yet. I think that will begin soon.

Pictures tomorrow once I unpack my camera!!

Upcoming birth

Since the breeding on November 16th, the wait has been difficult. We are now only one week from the litter's arrival. As major events occur, they will be posted here on this website.

Lizzy is a 2 1/2 year old yellow, this is her first litter. Butch is a big, solid chocolate who has sired two previous litters. His pups are outstanding in hunting abilities, temperment, and looks.

We have a waiting list established for the puppies.
The first choice goes to Butch's owners,
Brandon and Katie.
# 2 Jay, Deb and Tristan.
# 3 Liz from White Bear Lake.

The Veterinarian assured me last week that she had
"at least three pups and probably more" following an abdominal Xray.