Upgrade...

Before her morning jog today (she's already working out), Darjeeling requested an upgrade from the junior suite so we obliged and presented her with the presidential suite and the Heavenly Bed, armed with a heated mattress and customized baby duvets for each puppy gender...

The foursome are doing quite well and have increased their weight by 20% in just one day. Personalities are already noticeable. The two firstborns are definitely mommy-oriented whilst the two latterborns, especially the tri-coloured girl, constantly explore on their own. Red girl is definitely a Type-A like Lady Farnsworth. The grandparents have grand expectations with her overachieving disposition...

Good Morning Sunshine...

PUPPY WEEK ONE

Mommy Darjeeling and momma stayed in the parlour together til morning.  This is the first thing I saw when waking up:

Darjeeling never misses an opp for a photo...and even scarier, I have my camera to shoot within 3 seconds...

#3 + #4 ...

#1 and #3 with a headless #4

More nap time...

Issues, Issues, Issues, Issues...

Presenting the issue of 

CH Taji's Mel Bourne in the USA, JC & Lady CH Taji's Tea For Two, JC

22 June 2008

"Blue" Red/White Boy

8.6 oz

22:45

AKC#: HP304989-01

"Red" Red/White Girl

7.6 oz

23:12

AKC#: HP304989-02

"Yellow" Tri-coloured Girl

8.2 oz

0:00

AKC#: HP304989-03

"White" Red/White Boy

8.6 oz

1:12

AKC#: HP304989-04

Baby Mommy...

Like a royal birth scene, the family gather around Darjeeling for her whelp.  The first starts to emerge at 10:30P...

The firstborn was the most difficult being one of the largest puppies and breech (feet first).   Here Darjeeling begins her initial role as baby mommy.

Barclay is presented with the firstborn and gives his blessing...He even dressed up.

The other three follow suit quite smoothly and without any complications.  At 1:15 AM, Darjeeling finishes whelping:

4 PUPPIES

2 Red/White Boys

1 Red/White Girl

1 Tri Coloured Girl (the milkman's daughter)

The puppies were then groomed for their prospective careers in the modeling industry. Dewclaws and nails are clipped and Darjeeling taking care the rest...

Darjeeling did amazingly well and settled into her new baby mommy role with ease.

Cheers!

Sun Come Up, Sun Go Down...

Apparently when dogs go into whelp, they wait til it gets dark.  So during the summer solstice in Seattle, that would mean 10:00PM.  If this was winter, conveniently, it'd be 4:00PM.  

Almost like clockwork, Darjeeling begins mommahood at sunset.  Here she is digging yet again for another birthing spot (other choices denied by momma were the bedroom, Barclay's crate and under the armchair).  Grandma Katie is called and we're off to an all nighter...

The Darjeeling Unlimited...

Momma went to Trader Joe's today to stockpile for the OB call hibernation. Ironically the first thing I see is Naan bread so I decided to make Indian tonight.  Then I realized it was Darjeeling's special day, so I might as well go Top Chef on that, hence I make uberIndian fare: Masala Chicken with rice, spinach paneer naan and Darjeeling Chai...

Apparently when a dog is in soft labour they fuse to the one person who they love the most...

The two seemed inseparable today...

Miserabilism...

Darjeeling's expression makes it clear she feels like a zeppellin trapped in a dog's body...


While Barclay is trying to restrain his judgments about her looks...


Darjeeling's temperature has dropped to an all-time low (97.9 degrees = impending labour) so we're on "OB call" for the day/night. Stay tuned...

My Way or the...

The general rule of thumb with predicting the birth of puppies is monitoring the mother's body temperature.  Typically, the mother dog will hover at a certain temperature and when the big day is near, you will see a rise and fall of 2-3 degrees.  Here is Darjeeling's chart:

Darjeeling has never been typical and has always done everything on her terms.  From potty training, going into heat at 6 months of age (basenjis typically go into heat after 9 - 10) to multiple heat cycles per year (basenjis, again, typically have one per year) and winning all her titles (she never won in front of her stage mother dearest), it's always about her calling the shots...

Elastic Waistbands...

Week 9

june 2007

june 2008

Darjeeling is feeling clunky today.  Chasing squirrels takes the wind out of her after 10 minutes. 

These pictures are virtually one year apart. Momma caught Darjeeling looking at herself in the mirror and reassured her that she's not fat...

Baking Biscuits...

Darjeeling sees the vet again for final preparations.  The radiograph (x-ray) reconfirms four puppies and based on today's calcification of the bones (ie: bone density), Darjeeling should whelp (birth) no earlier than next Saturday, June 21.   The vet also noted that all puppies are even sized (no runts apparent) and the even distribution of puppies, two on each side of her abdomen.  The latter tends to be an issue if there is a maldistribution of puppy space, which often results in varying size of puppies.

Radiographs are taken to "really confirm" the number of puppies to expect and gauges when the delivery date may be.  Knowing how many puppies helps to plan when you're actually done with puppy delivery (which can take several hours).  Radiographs are recommended to be taken as late as possible during the pregnancy period given puppy exposure to x-rays may be harmful to the puppies if done too early.

Everyone seems to comment that four puppies is a manageable number...

Barclay's Humdrum Boredom

Barclay Featherstonehaugh makes it quite clear when he's hit his threshold with being ignored...

WellBeing...

Week 8

Darjeeling's daily regiment:

7:30 Morning Jog

7:45 Breakfast (Adult and Puppy Innova Kibble w/ Greek Yogurt,                                    Herb Pharm Raspberry Leaf  Tincture & 5 grain Rice)

7:50 Barclay dishwashes

8:00 AM temperature monitoring

8:15 Cookie Party

13:30 Midday Jog

13:40 Midday temperature monitoring

17:30 Pretheater temperature monitoring

18:00 Dinner (Adult and Puppy Innova Kibble w/ Greek Yogurt                                         & 5 grain Rice)

18:05 Barclay dishwashes

21:00 Daily torture to neighbor's dog through fence line

22:00 PM temperature monitoring

23:00 Stomp on Barclay to claim prime sleeping spot

23:01 Bedtime