One summer we bought a chocolate lab female puppy, (Ariel) to be with our black male lab. When she was 1 and a half years old she came into heat with out my knowledge. She stayed in the pen out side at night with our black male. I was astonished one morning when I found them connected breeding. She never showed any sign of being in heat. She was also too young. I was going to wait till she was 2 years before breeding. Both dogs always stayed inside during the day but liked to be out side in their dog room at night.
A week before she was due to have puppies, during a very cold month of February we kept Ariel inside, This was to be her first litter of pups. During one very cold winter night, we awoke to noises under our tall poster bed. She was having puppies. Ten puppies in total. She had all colors. Choc, Black, and Cream. She was smart, she would have 5 or 6 sleeping while cleaning and feeding the others.
We let her keep the pups under the bed for the first few days then she and her litter went down in the basement. When puppies are being born, it is a very messy time. Our bedroom rug had to be replaced and the walls washed down.
As the babies grew, we gave them lots of attention. When they were 3 weeks old I noticed they were already nibbling at the puppy chow dog food in Ariel's bowl. I started feeding them soft food between nursing. We kept fresh water for Ariel and her puppies at all times. At 4 weeks of age the pups started eating hard food at least 4 times a day. Ariel would always come up stairs for relief from her pups.
Teeth are growing fast. The pups were trying out their teeth on every thing, including my hands. I would gently tell them no and give them a chew toy or bone instead. This taught them not to bite our hands. They learned to be gentle.
We had a large covered dog crate downstairs. I put a warm comforter inside and placed dog treats around on the comforter. The puppies always wanting to see what I was doing, went inside the crate to find their yummy treats. After playing and nursing, the puppies began going inside the crate to sleep. They would all pile in together.
We shampooed the puppies with the dollar general baby wash. It was gentle to their skin and eyes. This wash also kept the fleas off.
We took them in to be Vet checked and wormed. This was an adventure. We got two large storage bins lined with lots of news paper and placed them on the back seat of our car. 5 pups in each worked good. They recieved a good health check up, wormed, and shots were given.
I noticed the puppies were going to the dirt section of our half finished basement at 5 weeks old to do their duty's. I gave them lots of gentle praise for this venture.
The weather was warming up during the day, so it was time to set up a out side nursery in the 10' by 10' dog room with a heat light hanging from the ceiling for those still cold nights. A 20' pen is connected to the dog room for exercises. When puppies were 5 weeks old we put the pups and their mommy in their new pen. They enjoyed being out side to play. I noticed some of the pups would go out of their room to do their duty's on the dirt. I think the mother dog was teaching them where to go during this time by her own good example and the puppies closely watching and following her. Some times there were of course accidents inside. I would gently coax them to go out side to pee and praise them for doing their business.
I made a small place for mommy to jump out of the pen for relief from all those sharp teeth. This way her tits did not get all scratched up. Ariel was free to go in and out at her own will to nurse and play with her pups. Every day I cleaned their pen of any poop and gave fresh puppy chow,water and of course gave them lots of praise and attention. A clean pen is a healthy pen. Socialized puppies with humans and other animals teaches them to be good natured and gentle puppies.
At 6 weeks all the puppies would go out of the room to poop and pee. We placed small chew toys and bones around in their room, for them to chew on. I would sit and hold each one petting and talking to them every day and was even able to teach them commands like stay, no, and come here. I bought small collars and introduced walking on a leach. Coaxing with treats help with this venture. Soon they caught on and enjoyed walks around the yard. The puppies would watch their mom and dad catch and fetch the ball. Soon the pups were eager to try this too.
At 7 and 8 wk of age the puppies were fully weened, playing ball, and walking on a leash. They were very friendly gentle puppies and very socialized to people and our other pets.
I have learned when puppies are very young it is a good idea to interact with them, with gentleness, patients, and kindness. It is a good idea to socialize them with other people and animals during this young age too.This teaches them to be gentle well socialized dogs as they grow up. This gentle and kind interaction while they are young also helps them to want to learn and makes them feel secure with and around other humans.
Kindness, patients and gentleness is the key to a well adjusted and good tempered dog.
Two months after all Ariel's puppies were gone to good homes, She was struck by a speeding car when she crossed the road. I found her dead minutes after the accident. I quickly pulled her off the road, and noticed cars zooming past me exceeding the 35 mile an hour speed limit. Cars were going at least 50 plus, miles an hour. It was graduation day. The motorist that hit her did not even stop. I was very heart broken for our loved dog. She was my best friend dog. She was trained to round up the chickens and put them up in their pen. She also helped me by letting me know when the phone was ringing or if some one was at the door. I am deaf in one ear. She is so missed. I wish people would slow down when they see animals walking or standing on the side of the road ahead of them. If a dog or any animal for that matter is walking on the side of a road, usually they will cross it to go to the other side. We all need to be cautious and respect the rights of animals too. Remember, most animals are loved by some one and or by their offspring.
Yellow, chocolate, black
