Heartbreaking

No puppy over the week-end, so to the vet's on Monday morning. The ultra-sound showed a good heartbeat and we discussed continuing to wait versus a c-section. I decided to go ahead with surgery and it was scheduled for first thing Tuesday morning. Phoebe picked at her food on Monday, making us think she might still go into labor. She slept hard all day and that night. Shortly before we went to the vet's, Phoebe seemed different, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Right after I left the office, she became quite agitated and the staff had a hard time calming her down. A thunderstorm passed through and even though storms don't usually bother Phoebe, they wondered if that was the cause. In prepping for the c-section, another ultra-sound was done and the puppy's heart had stopped. Dr Robbins quickly did the c-section and tried to revive the puppy, but she didn't respond. I brought the puppy home to be buried with all the other Hillcroft collies. She seemed a little small for being a singleton but no other apparent reason for not surviving.
Phoebe is recovering well. She was uncomfortable on Tuesday afternoon, but since then has bounced back, almost to her normal self. She does, of course, enjoy being inside in the air conditioning and getting all the solo attention!

Diva in the House!

Phoebe is firmly in diva mood! Her list of annoyances is long and growing...Harley the cat, the broom, a song on the radio, no radio, being brushed, being left alone, having company, getting breakfast, having breakfast picked up, being walked, going inside, seeing the other dogs, being alone, sunshine, shade...in other words, anything she is currently not doing! This evening is a bit better, she wanted her dinner and is more her sweet self. A call to the vet is the first order of business tomorrow if nothing happens tonight but Phoebes definitely acts like that pup will be here soon.

And Still Waiting

Phoebe is not showing any inclination toward delivering so I took her in to the vet tonight for a quick check. The x-ray showed a normal size puppy--definitely just one--with the head in the right direction. An ultra sound showed a good, strong heartbeat. We just have to wait until it decides it's time to be born although if nothing has happened by Monday, we'll think again about letting her keep going. By the look in Phoebe's eye earlier this evening, I'm sure the pup will be here by Sunday--especially since I'm scheduled to work Saturday and Sunday and it's hard to find extra staff to take my place!

Ready...

and waiting! Phoebe seemed to have lost interest in being pregnant and her upcoming responsibilities, but re-gained her focus yesterday. Her fur is coming off in sheets so her belly is completely bald now. She'll spend some time in the whelping box, ripping up papers but spends just as much time sleeping on the cool floor. Her milk is coming in and her temperature dipped yesterday morning but was back up this morning.

Getting Close

It's almost delivery time! Phoebe spends most of her time on her cot, sleeping. She still enjoys her special breakfasts--a couple bites of braised liver with her puppy food. We want to make sure she has a nice healthy puppy, but not too big to deliver easily. She's made a few half hearted attempts at nesting outside, but I'm sure she's waiting for me to bring her in and provide her with fluffy blankets--won't she be surprised at the newspapers until the litter is born and well established! Her tummy hair is coming out, revealing an udder-like abdomen. Today, Phoebe suddenly looked much larger. I hope this means there's at least a couple of surprises on delivery day!

The Litter's Sire

CH Marnus Lucky Strike

Library Volunteer

In 2007, Phoebe was the "posh puppy" for the Rust Library's program, Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy. She loved her tiara and of course, all the attention she received. In September, she and her puppy will be featured in another library program, "Dawggonne It", to teach kids the basics in dog care and choosing the right family pet.

Hard work

We are spending the long week-end working in the kennel--leveling runs, moving gravel, scrubbing beds and mats. For some reason, just watching us, seems to exhaust Phoebe! Or, now that her pregnancy is confirmed, she feels the need to play it up to the hilt! Phoebe has always had a bit of diva in her, but generally is so sweet that we overlook her demands and sometimes over-the-top quirks. She's been on puppy food for a little while and shortly I'll go to the store to buy her some liver for her breakfasts until whelping. If she truly only has one puppy, we don't want the singleton to be too huge to deliver, just big enough to be healthy and have a good start.

A Favorite Picture of Phoebe

We're Having Puppies!

Phoebe is our delightful girl that we got from Joan Kirkland of Kirkhaven Collies four years ago. We've enjoyed Phoebe so much that we bought (also from Joan) her half sister, Kirkhaven Clairvoyent--Claire--a year later. In the capable hands of their wonderful handler, Ellen Russell, both the girls hit the show ring and started earning points. Phoebe finished her championship this past April!! Claire still has one major to go to finish but kept up with her sister in other ways. Both girls came into season in May. Phoebe went off to NY to be bred to CH Marnus Lucky Strike and Claire went to DE to be bred to CH Bo-Dandy's Rock Solid, ROM. Both girls came home showing pregnancy symptoms and would have been due the same week! We took them to the vet's last night to get the official confirmation. Claire, unfortunately, is not pregnant. Phoebe is pregnant, however! But, she has a teeny, tiny litter--maybe only one puppy! We're hoping at least one more pup wiggled out of the ultra-sound's view and we'll be surprised in a couple of weeks with a better number. Keep your fingers crossed!