Week Two-Collie Puppies

Tiny Tri and Big Tri

Week two puppies continue as week one--mostly eating and sleeping. Towards the end of the week, though there is a dramatic difference. Suddenly they are walking --although a bit shakily! They sit up like 'real' dogs for a short time before they keel over on their sides.

Cute, Cute Puppy Toes!

Eyes are starting to open in the corners and ears should be opening as well. Once the ears are open there will be no escaping their notice! They can tell when Ashley is close by. It's quite hysterical as sometimes when they are sleeping, she will tiptoe into the whelping box and quietly lay on the opposite side from the pups. It doesn't take long until they wake up and turn into little heat seeking missiles.

And Equally Cute Puppy Noses!

The biggest of the pups (the big tri girl) is up to about 2 lbs 11 ounces. The smallest tri girl is steadily gaining each day and is now up to about 2 lbs.

It's funny to see them turning into dogs right before my eyes. Later this next week, I'll be introducing them to regular food. At first they won't each much, but will smear it everywhere I'm sure. Soon though they'll be digging in. Six short weeks to weaning.

Growing Is An Exhausting Business...

Helen is coming for first evaluation this next weekend. Eye checks will be April 26 and will finalize decisions. A couple of the puppies are spoken for, if it all works out that way. Helen will get first pick of the puppies.

And here are week two puppy pictures!

Puppy A--Tri Girl

Puppy B--Sable Merle Girl

Puppy C--Tri Girl

Puppy D--Sable Merle Girl

I struggle on with the hard business of loving on these little scraps of fur and attitude!

(Coming soon--week three and suddenly we have walking, 'talking' little collies!)

Tortie Tuesday & Puppy Training....

Well, it has fallen to me, Tempe, to get these puppies off on the right paw. They may be young, but the sooner you start teaching them that Cats rule, the better.

So.....here goes....

Hello there, cute little smelly puppy. I'm a Cat. We rule, but we like dogs, so you are okay.

Hey Verity (seen in back) watch how I learn these cute smelly puppies about Cats..... First you make yourself small and non threatening....then...

...Verity? Hey, where'd you go??

Anyway..then you twist around and act really sweet, maybe tap them on the head a little (but we don't use our claws!).....

Whoa! Dude, that smelly little puppy can move fast! Okay...lesson over for today, I'm outta here...

Ahem..well you don't want to rush these things.....

The Cookie Monster

This is the Cookie Monster. It started innocently enough--I needed a way to tell if Rouen was feeling spry and well each day. She is eleven this year and a few extra handfuls of grain and a few cookies are going to be put to good use.

Who knew though that sheep can count? Rouen gets two cookies in the morning and four at night (they are very small cookies) and gets quite upset if she is shorted. In fact she will ransack my pockets and demandingly paw at my leg if her cookie quota isn't met. She also prefers iced oatmeal cookies, thank you very much.

The other sheep are just furious about the whole situation. They can't believe she gets cookies and they don't. I tell them when they reach the age of 11 they will get cookies too. Gracie is counting the days, which is probably something like 342.

Rouen makes a huge production of getting her cookies, so even those sheep that are a little on the slow side know exactly what is happening. First she follows me closely while I do chores, then she paws my leg. Once I pull out the cookies, she backs up about ten paces and then comes in for the cookie. She has a wonderful straight back up by the way, even if that isn't a terribly useful skill for a sheep. She takes a cookie, then CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH, turning her head this way and that so no one can mistake that she is getting a cookie. Then repeat the whole process for each cookie.
Sometimes old sheep (and old people) get shuffled off to the side so I enjoy letting her feel special --- because it's not all about the cookies, but the power of the cookies!Here's to many more cookies for you, Ro-bear.

Gracie says it's more like 330 days til the big 1-1! (and cookies!)

Week One--Collie Puppies

The puppies are two weeks old today, so I thought I better get busy and do some catching up! Week one was tense and busy. The littlest tri girl required tube feeding for the entire week. The morning of their third day she was slowly spiraling away. After a night of her temps dropping and losing weight, it was decided as a last ditch effort to tube. The first part of the week it was about every two hours, but she almost immediately and rapidly gained ground so within a few days I was able to extend the time between feedings. By Sunday she was down to every six to eight hours. I gave her last feeding on Sunday of last week. While she is much smaller than her siblings she continues to gain about two ounces a day and is one tough little cookie.


The puppies were restless and vocal a good part of that first week--especially those first few days. As time progressed they actually started sleeping (quietly) for longer periods and were less dramatic when they did wake up. The noises that can come out of a pound puppy are amazing. Grunts, yips, yaps, wails, an occasional scream--momma don't clean my bottom so hard! --to the more contented humming and suckling sounds.

Apparently puppies can neither see nor hear for about the first fourteen days. They use their little noses and do allot of loud sniffing. When one was separated from the others, at first they would wobble and bobble as they crawled around (mostly in a circle those first few days), squalling at the top of their lungs. After a few days they got better at finding each other (and momma).

This is a puppy corral--at first when I let Ashley out they would flop and roll everywhere, screaming the whole time. I finally rolled up a little blanket and would place them in there when momma was away.

Ashley has done a good job so far, in spite of all my 'advice' to her. My big fear is that she will lay or step on one of them, so especially for the first week, I was constantly on the alert. I didn't get much sleep.

Into that first week their personalities started emerging (can you say DIVA??) but I'll talk more about that in Week Two).

Holding and cuddling them has been a real chore, let me tell ya. The kitties are becoming more used to the sudden invasion, although they still get concerned when one of the pups starts squawking.

Without further ado, here they are..in order of birth. No they aren't named--I daren't get too attached to the little buggers (yeah, right) because three of them will go to new homes. I will not get first pick either.

Puppy A--Tri Female (this is the one that had to be tubed)

Puppy B--Sable Merle Female

Puppy C--Tri Female (and largest of the bunch)

Puppy D (for DIVA???)--Sable Merle Female

Puppy E--Oh, wait, that's not a puppy, but Chaco surveying puppies from on high.

Cob Web Felted Scarves.....

As usual I didn't get as many crafty things done this winter as hoped, but I did manage to do some 'cob-web' felted scarves. At least my version of cob-web felt. These were fun and much easier to do than the nuno felted wool scarves with the silk base.
Awhile back I sent off a bunch of white merino/dorset raw fleece to be processed into batts. Well, when they came back the batts were huge and there were two bags full. I haven't even touched the second bag, but the first one, I cut up into smaller felt blocks to sell and/or made longer pieces for scarves.


The process is simple---cut or gently pull apart the approximate length and width of the scarf that you want from the batting. Then separate the layers, until you are left with a very fine layer of batting. Start pulling length and width ways and work your way down to the end. When you are done, you will have a thin piece of batting, with some holes in it....looking very much like a tired old cob-web. The real beauty of this process is that you can't 'do it wrong' as each piece is unique. Some have scalloped looking edges, all edges tend to be uneven etc. etc. If you are a perfectionist this might not be the project for you....

Once that is done, you use the same process as nuno-felting (again my version...) and lay out a long piece of rubber shelf liner that is longer and wider than the scarf. Place a short piece of pool noodle at the end and start rolling the whole thing up around the 'noodle'. When you are done pop a couple of rubber bands around the ends and head for the nearest sink or bathtub. Because you want to shock the wool and cause felting, it doesn't much matter the soap you use--just something that lathers well. I usually use whatever dish soap I have on hand and hot hot water from the tap. Submerge the roll and start kneading it, and rolling it--gently at first so the fibers catch. Again you are wanting to shock the fiber and cause it to felt. It really is kinda fun, although your arms can get tired! Depending on the piece, I usually roll and thump and knead it for about 15 minutes. Then I take it out, remove it from the shelf backing, turn it over, lay it back on the shelf backing, re-roll it and return to another 10-15 minutes of hot soapy water and thrashing.


When that is done, I rinse in cold water, and remove from the roll (you have to be careful as it will often stick a little to the backing, and the cobweb at this point is fragile).

Now is one of the fun parts! Lay a thick towel on a solid surface, wad up your scarf (after wringing out excess water), and start throwing it down on the towel as hard as you can. Thunk, thunk, thunk. Turn it often and do all sides. I think this is what is termed 'fulling'. About five to ten minutes of this and you are done.


Then comes the really fun part! Dyeing! I use Koolaid, because for now I don't really have the time or inclination to research and use more powerful dyes. Someday I would like to use more natural dye materials, picked from the sunny meadows and cool forests of my own tiny little farm. (lalalala)

For now though Koolaid is fun, and it smells pretty good too. There are lots of good internet articles that detail how to do this, if you Google it. Basically you take a large bowl (microwave) or pot (stove), add the Koolaid color of your choice (the less water the darker the dye), enough water that the scarf will be covered and your wet (or pre-soaked) scarf. For different effects you can sprinkle some Koolaid powder straight onto the scarf, or knot string around pieces of the scarf for a more tie-dye look. Heat until very hot, let set and cool, heat again and so forth until the water is clear and your scarf has absorbed all the dye. I then fill the sink with cold water and vinegar and put the scarf in there to set the dye. Koolaid is very acidic so you probably really don't need to do this part, but what the heck, and it rinses it of any remaining soap scum.

Let dry and you have a nice felted and very unique scarf!

Note: It's very important that resident cats are basking in front of a wood stove or other heat source before attempting this project. Trust me.

Gabe & Noah Basking....

Puppy Feet

Puppies are one week old today! Phew. What a week. The littlest tri girl (that is her second from left) is down to being tubed about every six to eight hours and still continues to gain. She is up to 1 lb .2 Ounces (from 9.9 ounces). The others are like little ticks and the biggest one (the other tri) is about 1 lb 9 ounces.

There still remains the danger of Ashley accidentally stepping on or laying on them, but praying that doesn't happen.

They are much stronger now and are like heat seeking missiles when Ash steps into the whelping box. One of the Sable Merles is actually trying to walk already which is a hoot.

Anyway....I will try and get some individual pictures up, but they are so bobbley and will not hold still for anything. In the meantime, hope you enjoy this picture of sweet little puppy feet (and puppy bums too....)

Announcing....

Milen's Merrehope Mesmerize
"Frank"
(pictured at nine months)

Milen's High Steppin
"Ashley"

Well, as you know, puppies are here. Since Ashley didn't take last time it didn't seem prudent to get hopes up until it was obvious she was pregnant. Then 'everything' happened and blogging went by the wayside.

If you remember the first time, Ashley was bred to Kurt, a lovely sable/white. However this time around it didn't work out because of holiday and work schedules, so instead she was bred to 'Frank' a most lovely blue merle that Helen has. I was ecstatic, because blue merles are my favorites in the collie colors. Although any color looks good on a collie, in my very prejudiced opinion.
In order to produce blue merles though Ashley would have to carry the 'tri-factor' (which is the black/white/tan color). It was possible she did, but something you can't know until they whelp.

So the big day arrived last Saturday, after a long sleepless night for Ashley and me, as she became more restless by the hour. Morning brought only more restlessness and attempts to get her settled in her whelping box were futile. Around noon I decided to put her outside and walk around with her, hoping it would help things move along. After a bit I brought her back into the house, and she immediately ran to her doggie bed in the back room, lay down and started pushing. Since she was finally doing her thing, I just ran and got the 'ob' kit, and a stack of towels and came back to where she was.

Within a few minutes she was finally pushing a puppy out. Unfortunately it was breech (which is fairly common in dogs, but the puppy needs to come out quickly so it won't aspirate fluids) and rather large. It took a bit to help Ashley work the pup out and by the time it was born, at 1:10 p.m.the puppy was non responsive and wouldn't breathe. Fortunately Helen had given me 'pep talks' and told me to work on puppies even when it seemed hopeless. Within a few minutes of vigorously working with the pup, she gasped and squealed. And squealed and squealed. Did you know that new born pup squealing sounds like a cat on crack? (Not that I know by experience what that sounds like, but can only imagine....). I cannot even tell you what this did to the emotional level of the resident multiple cats!

Fortunately Ashley was agreeable at this point to move to her whelping box, so, with puppy in hand and coaxing Ashley and being swarmed by, uh, multiple cats we made it to the whelping cage.

The cats were going nuts. Meowing and running around. Meshach demanded--loudly-- to be let in so he could take care of the squalling baby. Both he and Sage tried to pull me through the fence when I had my back near it.

There was no time to counsel kitties though, beyond a few distracted 'it's okay kitties' which they obviously didn't believe.

In case I didn't mention it, the first puppy was a she and tri-color--but the possibility of blue merles never crossed my mind again, as things went rapidly downhill from an already rocky start.

The next puppy was even larger and also breech. All the puppies were over a pound each---which is abnormally large for a collie pup. This one took forever to work out even though I tried everything. I knew it was taking too long and when he was finally born, he never came out of it, despite working on him for a long time. It was a large perfectly marked sable male and he was born around 1:45 p.m.

At that point I was feeling pretty upset and overwhelmed. Ashley was content to lay around and lick on her puppy, with no sign of further contractions. Finally a little before 3 p.m. she started pushing again and another large puppy presented, this time head first, but with one tiny paw out as well. The sac broke and the puppy was moving around, gasping for air but she was wedged tight...and I do mean tight. I worked and worked and Ashley pushed and pushed and nothing..except the puppy became quieter and quieter. Finally I made Ashley stand up and after a bit that seemed to help resolve the impasse and finally the puppy popped out. It was 3:10 and she also was not breathing or responsive. I couldn't even believe it, but doggedly kept working on her and finally she gasped and squeaked. Yes! This one was a pretty sable merle with a full white collar.

Then it seemed we were done. Ashley had some chicken noodle soup and the babies eventually figured out how to nurse with a little guidance.


Helping puppies being born is terrifying---nothing like the lambs that is for sure--and that can be nerve wracking enough! While working with the sheep helped me know 'the basics' of what needed to be done, the puppies are so tiny and there is really nothing you can grab on and pull in fear that you will injure them.

Two hours after her last pup, I gave her a shot of oxytocin, certain she was done. At 6 p.m. she had contractions and very quickly popped out a pup with no assistance from me! In fact I had just hung up the phone after talking to Helen, when I realized that Ash had another pup. Unfortunately she was more interested in the afterbirth and the sac was still firmly encasing the pup. Quickly tearing the sac and cleaning the nose, I took the pup up and rubbed it briskly and just as quickly got that satisfying gasp and squeak. This was a nice big tri-color with a 'broken' white collar (white on the back of her neck and chest but not all the way around her neck). Yes, it was another girl born at 6:10 p.m.

A little later as Ashley lay stretched out with the babies nursing I noticed a very large 'lump' still in her belly. Shortly thereafter she started having light contractions which went on for quite some time.

Finally at 8:03 p.m. in another quick whoosh the last puppy was born, unassisted. Repeat of the sac as above but also quickly responsive. The final puppy was another large sable merle girl.

Let's just say it was a long day. Yes, all four surviving puppies are girls!

There was very little sleep that night either, as apparently newborn puppies can be very noisy. Who knew that four pounds of little puppies can sound like a whole pack of coyotes? At each yelp or scream or yodel I would stagger in there to make sure they were okay.

I think they may have been a little too cool, despite the heating pad in the whelping box. Or maybe this is just normal, I don't know. They have settled down a little, but being a puppy ain't for sissies. I've never seen such dramatics at the 'milk bar' let alone all the yodeling and yelping and humming. Yes, they hum. Apparently this is normal and a good sign.

So not much sleep Friday night, little to none Saturday night, marginally more on Sunday night, interspersed between the yelping and crying. By Monday I was zonked. Then I realized that the first born Tri girl was losing ground. I knew she wasn't thriving as well as the others by Sunday, and she progressively was looking thinner and her coat was duller not to mention that her body temp was cooler than the others.

Monday morning I called Helen to ask her what she thought I needed to do. As I feared it was 'tube feed her'. Yikes. I had boughten a can of goat's milk to have on hand for something like this and was instructed to half it with water. Helen had given me a puppy sized feeding tube 'just in case' so with no excuses left, I went to work.

First I had to dig around in the sheep supplies and find a larger syringe, then heat up four ccs of the milk. Attached the tube, removed the air bubbles and went and got the unsuspecting puppy. Laying her on her belly on a towel, I proceeded to measure and mark the tube to the length of her tummy and then thread it down her throat praying it wouldn't end up in a lung. It actually went fairly easily, and every two hours after that I tubed her. Helen called back and we increased the formula to six ccs (she had consulted with her vet on the complicated figuring of needed ccs compared to her body weight (which by then was down to 9.9 ounces).

Through that day and night she was on two hour feedings. By the next morning she was much stronger and starting to hold her own at the milk bar. By noon I was able to start increasing the time to three hours and now a day later up to four hours. She has gained two ounces over the last two days. I hope she continues to gain and thrive. She is now much more vocal and physically fights the tube. (Puppies have no gag reflex at first so it is 'easy' to thread the tube down their throats).

So that has been the first five days. A few catnaps here and there and I'm doing a little better. We aren't out of the woods by any means, as there is always the danger of Ashley laying on the pups and accidentally killing them as well as continuing to tube the little tri. But I've got to settle down and quit my constant hovering and worrying. I've done what I can--and can only pray for a positive outcome.

I'll be glad when they are a few weeks old and able to move about better. Right now they are so helpless--but definitely fighters! They are blind and deaf at this stage, but they sure do allot of sniffing!

I hope to get pictures posted later this week of each of them. And yes, the deal is that I get to keep one of them--although I won't be sure who until after Helen does her assessments and decides who her keepers will be. We have someone anxiously awaiting a tri-color girl as well. (A 'repeat' customer whose older collie died etc.) Keeping myself from getting attached will be hard...you know how I am!

And to clarify, a sable merle is a sable that also carries the merle gene, which explains why the sable looking pups have little brown dots on them. It's more noticeable in their faces and tails which almost carry a 'blue' cast. As the puppy ages most of the merling will fade and blend so that they will look like a regular sable for the most part. However sable merles like the blue merles can have partial to all blue eyes or the more typical brown eyes.

Prayers for their safety are much appreciated.

The kitties were so exhausted and traumatized after their long day on Saturday that they resorted to 'pile sleeping' behind the stove....(there are four of them)

Torti Tuesday -- Secrets

Tempe here.......

We've got some noisy new secrets, but the 'bean is too overwhelmed and 'xhausted to blog about it yet. She promises there will be updates soon.


In the meantime, us cats are really overworking the 'cute look at me card', says the 'bean. But I says we don't have to work no card cause I, especially, am always cute.