Week 2

 The pups have turned two weeks old and they are moving out of the potato phase and starting to show some personality.  Eyes are open and they are fully on their feet and are walking, albiet clumsily.  Their favorite activity is still eating, with sleeping a close second...

 ...They are, however, starting to wrestle and play

 Puppy nap time

 Snuggles

 They are growing very quickly- i can see a difference in size in just one day sometimes!!

 Mr. Tawny

 Mr. Polar

 Mr. Steele 

 Mr. Silver

 Mr. Red

 Miss Grey

 Miss Yellow

 Miss Honey

The milkbar is starting to fill up already!  I wonder what it will look like in a few weeks!!  Luckily Chili has 11 functional teats so all 8 can nurse at once and even if they get jostled around, there is an available tap close by.

Week One

 The pups are one week old and are doing great.  Some of the boys have a little rash on their bellies but everyone is gaining weight and shooting around the whelping box.  It was quite warm ( for washington) so I took advantage of the sun to capture the good light and get some puppy pictures.

 Mr. Silver

 Mr. Polar- I love his big fatty muzzle!

 Mr. Steel was born with full tan markings...which is different than my other grey/tan dogs who have born solid grey and gradually acquired the tan. 

 Mr. Red

 Mr. Red looks like something smells pretty unpleasant

 Mr. Tawny 

 Miss Honey

 Miss Grey

 Miss Yellow

A very bendable Miss Yellow

Happy puppies at the milk bar

Pups are here!!

Chili delivered 8 large rambunctious pups on Wednesday, June 13th.  There are 5 boys and 3 girls.  Chili went into labor tuesday afternoon but did not start pushing until 24 hours later.  She was deadset on having pups anywhere but her whelping box, preferably outside, and I was set on her having them in the room I spent hours setting up for her.  It was a battle of wills.  I finally called the vet on weds when she was obviously having contractions but not pushing for over a day.  I was worried she had uterine inertia and needed a c-section but my vet had me check some vitals on her and the pups and everything looked good- she was just being stubborn.  The vet had me give her TUMS and wham, she started pushing and out came the pups.  The first 7 were born in about 5 hours and then she took a 5 hour break for #8.  The smallest pup was 1lb!!  the two lightest pups were 1#5oz.  Poor Chili!!  One of the pups came out all 4 feet first and bent in half and the largest pup had his front feet folded under his belly so his shoulders were bulging.  she had to work hard on those two but did a great job and the other pups were cake.  she is a great mom and keeps pups and bedding spotless and has a lot of milk.

 The girls: Yellow, Honey, and Grey

 The boys were less cooperative for pictures: Silver, Polar, Tawny, Steel, and Red.  Red looks small compared to the other pups and he is the smallest but still 1lb.  Not sure what was in the water she was drinking.  Chili is a little girl but produces big, vigerous pups!!

 Puppy pile

 Chili loves pups but hates being pregnant

The proud dad did not have to do much work.