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February 2015 and Millie is nearly ready for her pups….

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Millie Relaxing.

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Millie still playing the Matriarch with her older half brother Alfie and her first litter pup Ella.

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Millie and Alfie relaxing

Millie and Alfie 2

Awwwwwe!

2015, Millie going strong in last week before pups arrive...

2015, Millie going strong in last week before pups arrive…

Millie is still playing well and apart from eating a lot more – is much as per usual.  Easily as big as 2013, here’s hoping for happy healthy pups….

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day 63 -final day here for last pup

Well that is our last puppy away to her home now and the place is very quiet. Millie is subdued and slightly unsettled, but will see Freya tomorrow which should help.

So, we have…
Rosie in Holm who has a great family that she has settled in well with. Rosie always seemed like the show dog girl of the litter, so will be interesting to see how she turns out as she grows up.
Moxi who just left today and is going to a young family in Kirkwall. Moxi will be seeing a little of Winston which is great for them. Both have a lot of energy and Moxi seems particularly quick witted.
Alfie who went yesterday to his home in Kirkwall where he is wowing two small weens with his antics. I tried not to be, but was most attached to this wee lad. Another great match to a great family household.
Twist in Shetland is living with 3 lurchers and a cat, playing football and running free and a great excuse for us to visit Shetland.
Ella living in Kirkwall and has been shopping and socialising as well as attending the Christmas Ba’. Not bad at all.
Winston in Burray to a lovely home with a fine Wheaten Terrier as well. When he grows up a bit I think the difference Winston lacks in bulk will be made up for in speed! And Moxi on hand too is superb.
Finally Freya is staying local with my folks which has ended up a fantastic solution for our last pup to find a home. We hung off re-advertising and considered ourselves first of all, but we need to be realistic and as both working full time and kids busy too, it made sense and the folks are over the moon too. We also will be able to mutually help out each other with training and holiday cover. It’s worked out well. Millie will also see one pup regularly which will help her as well I think.

So all in all quite an experience for us all. No losses, all healthy and lively, really good homes found for all and a big weight off our minds.
Thanks to all those that helped and gave advice including Chris and Sue, Linsay, Jen, Sarah, Fiona Keith, Jan Gillies, Colina and Hagan.

But most of all to Millie who has been an unbelievably good Mum.

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Day 44 update

The seven pups are really finding their feet now, and have just experienced the outdoors for the first time. With the short days it’s not as easy to get them out during the week, but weather dependent should manage more. Very difficult to keep track of seven pups all running in opposite directions though!

We have found six excellent homes for six pups now. One girl left and the pressure is on at home to keep her. It’s not an easy choice as despite being another mouth to feed, walk and pick up poop, we have been lucky enough to have them from day zero and they are very much part of the family already. Watch this space…!

All are still gaining weight, though the order of large to small has changed a little, but not too significantly I don’t think. It’s a full time job just to keep on top of keeping the cage clean and mopping up after them, but it’ll not be forever.

Millie is now seeing them less except for milk-time and the pups are enjoying their own time far more. It’s nice to watch, and Millie is even starting to play with the pups too. Alfie is tolerating them and just puzzled by their persistence despite him barking at them sometimes!

Outside on the grass at last.

Outside on the grass at last.

Picture says it all!

Picture says it all!

Eating well and enjoyed the morning air.

Eating well and enjoyed the morning air.

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Day 32/Week 4 – Pups active & feeding well

Seventh born, girl, Seems to have her mums softer fluff and incredibly amenable little puppy, quiet and restrained just now, although loves to get mucked in at dinner time.

Seventh born, girl, Seems to have her mums softer fluff and incredibly amenable little puppy, quiet and restrained just now, although loves to get mucked in at dinner time.

Sixth Born, boy, a clever wee cookie who is first in and last out of the food, or the play. Doing well.  White has found a great home locally.

Sixth Born, boy, a clever wee cookie who is first in and last out of the food, or the play. Doing well. White has found a great home locally.

Fifth born, girl, beautiful and happily independant if she wants to be - or part of the rough and tumble.  A bit of everything.

Fifth born, girl, beautiful and happily independant if she wants to be – or part of the rough and tumble. A bit of everything.

First Born, girl, is calm but joins in the fun when she wants to.  She has found a lovely new future home also!

First Born, girl, is calm but joins in the fun when she wants to. She has found a lovely new future home also!

Fourth Born, Boy, and the largest pup on average and growing into a lovely gentleman, not too pushy but has presence.  Destined for a loving family now.

Fourth Born, Boy, and the largest pup on average and growing into a lovely gentleman, not too pushy but has presence. Destined for a loving family now.

Third Born pup, boy, gaining weight but not as fast as his peers at present.  Very loving little pup, loves cuddles.

Third Born pup, boy, gaining weight but not as fast as his peers at present. Very loving little pup, loves cuddles.

Second Born, girl, has stayed middle of the pack and is first to get involved in games or into the food. A bright clever puppy.

Second Born, girl, has stayed middle of the pack and is first to get involved in games or into the food. A bright clever puppy.

Seventh born, girl, Seems to have her mums softer fluff and incredibly amenable little puppy, quiet and restrained just now, although loves to get mucked in at dinner time.

Seventh born, girl, Seems to have her mums softer fluff and incredibly amenable little puppy, quiet and restrained just now, although loves to get mucked in at dinner time.

At Day 32, the pups are very active and feeding well. They have been wormed again and are all looking bright and alert.

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Pups starting weening and some have met their new owners-to-be.

The seven pups have started another milestone and begun weening onto more solid food.  It consisted of a mix of eating and walking in it – but they seemed to enjoy it!

Also, three pups have met their future owners which was great to witness.  Millie has been superb throughout and is turning out to be a super-mum, so that leaves 3 girls and a boy available at present.pups weening

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7 Pups born 28/10/2013

Millie has given birth to seven healthy pups, the first came out at 21:40 and the last at 23:15.  She was more than capable and knew exactly what to do herself – really amazing to watch nature in action.

So we tagged them with a colour to start with, then once the drama was over we looked for markings to tell them apart – and they do have some individuality – much to our amazement.  Very subtle though – but different.

Two were born significantly lower weights and we just hope they pull through and suckle properly.  All look to be ‘Blue’ Bedlingtons – if you don’t know what this means, it’s just the colour of their coat will be a light grey/almost blue colour.

So the table of stats…

Labour started 20:30

Puppy 1 – Red – born 21:40 – Female – 164g – ‘I’ marking on her chest, white toe front right.

Puppy 2 – Blue – born 21:50 – Female – 174g – white stripe marking on chest, pink paws.

Puppy 3 – Green – born 22:20 – Male – 133g – ‘batman splodge’ marking on her chest, black paws.

Puppy 4 – Orange – born 22:30 – Male – 175g – triangle marking on chest, pink rear right paw.

Puppy 5 – Purple – born 22:45 – Female – 130g – double splodge bit like a heart on chest.

Puppy 6 – White – born 23:00 – Male – 163g – ‘L’ marking on her chest.

Puppy 7 – Yelow – born 23:15 – Female – 163g – tiny splodge on her chest.

All well so far…

Tomorrow, two pups leave the nest…

Well time has fairly flown by and tomorrow Twist (Orange) and Ella (Violet) leave for their respective homes. I’m sure they will handle this better than us! But we know they will be spoiled rotten and hope to catch up with them sooner rather than later. Of the five that are left, two more may go to homes before Christmas leaving us three pups over the festive period – which should be fun! (Wrapping paper…)