GOLDSMITH BLOG

2 weeks old!

July 27, 2013
Almost 2 weeks old....puppies are growing and developing on schedule.  Eyes opened in the last 48 hours and are starting to travel in the whelping box.  Some are very mobile and fearless and then there are a few that start whimpering and whining as soon as they get to far from their littermates.  I have a baby video monitor set up so I can check on the pups - they are a noisy bunch!
Dion continues to be a great mom and keeps their living quarters very clean...as long as the puppies are nursing, she will eat all
all their excrement.  It's been a good two weeks  - half of the puppies have doubled in weight - nice chunky monkeys!  Next week the puppies will get stronger and start walking instead of just wobbling around.  Dion may start standing while they nurse - puppies gain a lot of strength by being made to balance on their hind legs.    I will take more pictures on the weekend on post on the website and fb page.  I will also shoot some video and post.

Posted by Delores Smith.

 

Prince(ss) Litter

July 19, 2013


6 days old - what a good week.  Puppies are growing and gaining weight at a good rate.  Their pigment is changing to black.  They still cannot hear or see...by the next weekend eyes will be open.  They're a pretty content bunch...a lot of eating, pooping, and sleeping.  Dion keeps their area very clean.

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Posted by Delores Smith.

 

Princess Litter

July 16, 2013


It is fabulous being able to be home with the puppies this week.  I must admit there isn't much to do at this point - Dion does it all.  I change blankets, make sure Dion is drinking and eating enough to produce enough milk for them.  But I do like to sit in their area and just stare at them.  Already their pigment is changing from bubblegum pink to black.  There's a picture to be taken every time I enter their room....between my grand daughter Chandra and the puppies, my camera is always rea...
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Posted by Delores Smith.

 

Worth the Wait! Prince(ss) Litter July14 2013

July 15, 2013
What a great day.  With Dion on day 64 of her pregnancy, I must admit I was a bit concerned.  Had visions of an emergency c section, which thank goodness, wasn't needed.  The night was uneventful...but Dion was a bit different in the morning...I had slept on the couch in the sunroom with a blanket spread on the floor for Dion - I was determined not to miss any births.  At 7 am I left the room for a minute and when I returned, Dion was lying on the couch, her head on my pillow.  She was hard t...
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Posted by Delores Smith.

 

And We Wait....

July 13, 2013
Day 63 for Dion...her actual due date.  It's slow going.  At 4 am last night her temperature was 37 and I thought ok, now it's starting. Was back up to 37.4 at 7:30 am. I established a few days before that her normal body temperature is 38.   When a pregnant dog is close to whelping her litter, her body temperature will dip below 37.  It's common for it to fluctuate which it has been doing all day.
She's at 37.2 currently. She is doing more self grooming, which is another sign.  Her breathing ...
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Posted by Delores Smith.

 

Countdown to Princ(ess) Litter

July 11, 2013
We're in the final stretch...a few days to go.  I'm sure Dion is counting down the days also.  She measures at 38.50 inches (96.62 cms) around her girth.  Her temperature is steady at 38.  This is her normal temperature...normally a pregnant dog's temperature will dip well below 37 - once that happens you know that delivery is only hours away.  She's a bit more clingy...underfoot all the time...no appetite for 2 days, which is also normal for this stage.

When it comes down to where she's going...
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Posted by Delores Smith.

 

1 week to go!

July 7, 2013
Only one more week to go  - today is Day 57 for the Dion x Oz litter.  Today is the day Dion told me in no uncertain terms that she was not walking further than a few feet.  I guess it's just too uncomfortable.  Her breathing is certainly different this evening..more labored.  It's too soon - she needs to hang on for a few more days.  Gestation period is 58-63 days - our girls are always closer to 63 days.  Lots of movement of the puppies - love putting my hands on her sides and feeling the m...
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Posted by Delores Smith.

 

Princ(ess) Litter July 13

June 26, 2013
I always measure the pregnant girls to monitor the growth of their girth.  Dion measure 36 inches (92 cms) with 18 days to go.  37 inches usually means 8-10 pups.  I found an old post I'm going to share - some information on the female's gestation period which is 60-63 days.

WeekChanges
Zero to One *Breeding takes place. *Within a few days, the sperm reaches the eggs and fertilization occurs.
Two *The fertilized eggs make their way to the uterus for implantation. *You may notice behavioral...

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Posted by Delores Smith.

 

July puppies!

June 24, 2013
We're excited to announce that Dion is pregnant and expecting around July 13.  This is great news after 2 failed breedings earlier this year.  Dion is carrying the extra weight and back to her better than average appetite.  She usually has her head in her bowl before I can even set it on the ground.  A few weeks ago she went a week of not being interested in her food...can be a sign of pregnancy.  Her appetite is good again and she is steadily gaining weight.  Will take some measurements so I...
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Posted by Delores Smith.

 

Empty Nest

October 30, 2012

Last two puppies left this past weekend so we have an empty nest.  The last male from Gloria's litter went to a great family in Brandon - the only puppy from this litter to stay in province!  The others went to Regina, Calgary, Montana, Victoria.
Ms Yellow also was picked up by her family from Fort Frances, ON.  She had a great reunion with Lucy (Ms. Purple) who came along for the pick up.  Ms. Yellow is now Des (Short for Destiny) and will be a great addition to their family. She was a very ...


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Posted by Delores Smith.

 

Ms. Yellow

October 17, 2012
Ms. Yellow is doing just fine!  She is 19 lbs and a solid girl.  The scarring above her nose is moving upwards so that suggests that her face is growing somewhat.  Prognosis by my vet is that her bottom jaw will grow at it's normal rate, but her top jaw, because of the front bone being removed, will not grow, causing a noticable underbite.  While I am very attached to her I would place her in someone's home with for no cost.  Is there a risk?  No one knows how she'll look 6 months from now......
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Posted by Delores Smith.

 

Classic Rock Litter And then there were 2!

October 17, 2012

We have a few less furry mouths today - Mr. Blue was chosen by a young family in Regina who made the drive out on Regina to pick him out and take him home.  Today our little Nugget "Nuggie" is going to meet his family - he is being brought to Brandon and met my his new owners.  We will miss both pups but especially Nuggie, who managed to nuzzle his way into our hearts.  He is the first in the food bowl and the last - he still has some catch up to do.  The 3 remaining boys had their 2nd set of...


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Posted by Delores Smith.

 

Classic Rock Litter

October 6, 2012
It's a little quieter around here these days - 4 from the Classic Rock Litter have gone to their new homes.  Ms. Braun went to Stanton, ND; Mr. Black flew to Victoria on Thursday and Mr. Yellow's owner flew to Winnipeg from Calgary to pick him  up and fly back that same day.  On Friday Ms. Orange was picked up in person by her owner from Montana and flew back home with her in cabin!
 That leaves 4 boys and Ms. Yellow from the D litter.  Beautiful puppies - Nugget has grown so much that you ca...
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Posted by Delores Smith.

 

Ms. Yellow

September 30, 2012
I've had several emails and phone calls with people asking about Ms. Yellow - out of concern for her well being.
She is doing marvelously - what a trooper!  Her wires were removed on Monday - she was put under again - the top bone in her jaw is dead so the dead bone was cut out.  The upper jaw will not grow any more and with the bottom jaw continuing to grow, she will not have the classic beautiful golden retriever looks.  Her bottom jaw will protrude giving her more of a bulldog profile. She ...
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Posted by Delores Smith.

 

Classic Rock Litter 8 weeks old

September 30, 2012
8 weeks old - what a fast 8 weeks.  Ms. Brown has joined her new family.  Ms. Orange travels to Victoria on Thursday and Mr. Yellow travels to Calgary, also on Thursday.  5 boys still looking for their forever home!  They continue to be a quiet litter - I can have them in their outside pen all day long and hardly hear a noise - once in a while I hear he playfighting - but there is no whining or complaining - a really well behaved bunch of pups.

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Posted by Delores Smith.

 

Classic Rock Litter - 6 weeks

September 17, 2012
6 weeks old - can't believe we're at this point already.  What a nice group of puppies - quieter than the D litter - pretty content.  They're in the big puppy pen now - they can come and go inside and out - hardly hear anything from them.  Ms. Red and Ms. Yellow from the D litter are with them - blending quite nicely.  6 week pictures have been posted under Classic Rock Litter - also weighed all of them - a lot of variance in weights and size - beautiful temperaments - they will all make some...
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Posted by Delores Smith.

 

D Litter

September 17, 2012
2 puppies left - Ms. Red will be going to California at the end of the week - what a sweet heart - so calm - so laid back - very easy to have around.  Ms. Yellow will be with us a few more weeks - her Dr. appt is Sept 24 and we'll get an assessment as to how her jaw has healed and if there are any long term effects.  She's feeling pretty good now - teasing the smaller puppies - lots of energy.  The best part of raising litters is the part of meeting new people - adding more people to my circl...
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Posted by Delores Smith.

 

Ms Yellow

September 12, 2012
For those of you who have been wondering how Ms. Yellow is doing, she is doing well  - to my eyes that is.  Swelling is down on her face - nose is back to normal size.  Won't really know the prognosis until her upper jaw wires are removed on Sept 24 - the moment of truth!  She still sounds a big garbled with her breathing - but since her upper jaw was pretty much pushed into her sinus cavity, she is doing well considering.  She lost 1 lb during her first 3 days after surgery - since then she ...
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Posted by Delores Smith.

 

Classic Rock Litter Gloria x Oz

September 12, 2012
The puppies are growing by leaps and bounds - being on 4 solid meals a day puts on the weight and size quickly.  The litter is still all over the map when it comes to size and weight.  If I could fast forward to a year from now, I've got a feeling there will be very little difference in their adult sizes - just now we have the range from the large Ms. Orange and Mr. Yellow to the little boy I've dubbed "Peanut" - he's less than half their size - he's a perfect little puppy - just quite small....
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Posted by Delores Smith.

 

D Litter Jazz x Oz

September 12, 2012
Bittersweet week - puppies are now 7 1/2 weeks old - quite the personalities - lots of biting..playing...sleeping and eating.  It is obvious that they need their forever families now - that one on one attention that will help them grow to be big strong confident pets.  The first 4 puppies leave tomorrow.  One is going to Kenora; one to Red Lake, On, one to Winnipeg and one to Arborg.  On Friday, Ms. Red flies to California and Ms. Multi goes to her home in Minnesota.  Saturday, Ms Purple's ow...
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Posted by Delores Smith.

 
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GoldSmith Retrievers est 1996