Planning Puppies!  − 19 May, 2008

So for those of you following my blog, you know my beloved Kiri (Fayr van Corsalabroek, HIC) will be bred on her next heat. Though I had planned to breed her at some point, it was certainly not going to be happening this soon, but I have been told this is the only way to regulate her reproductive tract after her bout with Pyometra.

Though she recently blew her coat from her Lutylase treatments, thanks to Inflight Coat Formula supplement, it’s already growing in lush and thick and gorgeous – right in time for our upcoming UKC show this weekend. I have already selected a male – a many-times-titled in conformation and Schutzhund – boy nicknamed “Little Man.” His official name is V Leri Unesco, SchH 3 and a host of other titles I can’t remember at this point. He is a magnificent male – masculine, balanced, deeply pigmented, conformationally superior – not to mention having the steadiest, most serious work ethic and sound temperament. He is a rock. And he passes on his superior structure and character to his offspring. Also, as he is older, I know he is free of some of the common health issues seen in our breed – “bloat” (gastric torsion) and DM (Degenerative Myelopathy).

Judging from the pedigree and the individuals involved, the litter should be very uniform – medium to large puppies with heavy bone, strong heads and calm, steady personalities. They should all be conformationally correct, rich black and reds with an excellent work ethic.

My girlfriend Bonnie is going to be staying with us at least that first couple of months to help with the babies and Kiri. She will be Kiri’s nursemaid-midwife. My other girlfriend Siobhan will also be lending her hand at enrichment and psychological development of the puppies. She has her own version of puppy Einstein training, and will be using Kiri’s litter as her first videotaped and tracked litter of puppy Einsteins. Kiri may have some issues with it, as she and Siobhan are not the best of friends… J

I also plan to do a Pat Hastings “Puppy Puzzle”-style evaluation of them at 8 weeks old before they go to their new homes. Most of the homes are friends of mine, so that will make it pretty easy to track their psychological and physical development. I am also thrilled and honored to provide my loved ones with new family members.

Though Kiri is younger than I had planned, I have done all of the health testing I wanted to – her hips and elbows are “a” stamped normal from Germany, her heart and thyroid are OFA-Certified and her eyes passed CERF with flying colors, so she is as sound as I could hope for. Little Man has also passed all of the tests I wanted, so I am comfortable using him. Not to mention the fact that I have seen what he has produced in 2 successive generations and in combination with multiple bloodlines… I wanted the best, and he certainly fits the bill for me.

So keep in touch and I will undoubtedly update you all once the breeding has taken place, when the pregnancy is confirmed and all about the labor, delivery and raising of the first litter at Casa del Mango (well, maybe the second – as Ginger, our Finkie, is due to come in to heat soon and will be bred, too). I am really looking forward to it…