[Heatheranne]

Carley - my Golden Retriever - had her x-ray today and the Vet counted eight heads. He said that one is small and Carley will likely deliver seven healthy pups. This is twice as many as I expected, but we'll deal with it. Tok - my Alaskan Husky - is the proud poppa! This was not planned and I had Tok fixed as soon as I realized that Carley had gone back into heat after I got her, but they did link once and it seems that is all it took.

I've never had a pregnant dog before, so I will be researching information about whelping and general care. I have to collect together bedding and make up a deliver area for her and an area for the pups, so I expect to be busy over the next couple of weeks. She'll likely deliver on the 15th of August, nine days before my birthday! I'm so excited! :-)

[Smiles]

Congratulations, proud Dog Mom!
I hope you are able to find good homes for them all. They'll likely be beautiful!

[Vaughnde]

Congratulations Heatheranne! They will be beautiful pups. A mix like that makes beautiful babies! The only thing I can tell you is be on hand for the birth and make sure you have lots of towels on hand. The vet will tell you what food Carley should be eating to ensure healthy pups.

[mbc72]

How fun! We just adopted a puppy from the shelter, I can't imagine 7 or 8 running around!!

[Ngaire]

Oh Heatheranne all I can say is have your camera ready for when those little delights start running around. You sure are in for some fun laughs and times. I wish I was closer, I would have one of them, probably the little one!! But alas that is not the case. Give Carley a big hug and tell her to rest!!

[Heatheranne]

Thank you everyone! I will have my camera ready for sure - both of them! lol :-) I've started to feed Carley puppy food, as was suggested and I keep her as calm as I can because apparently stress is not a good thing.

I will be getting information from the Vet Hospital and they are right next door if there's a problem. I know that I have to get bedding, towels and a rectal thermometer! Ewww! lol

The Vet has a screening process in place for dogs that they adopt out and have already offered to help me find homes for the pups. I already know that I will have a lot of trouble parting with them. I'm so clingy when it comes to my pets - they're my family! :-)

I can't imagine what it will be like to have half a dozen puppies running around but it makes me think of the Beethoven movies. roflol

Ngaire, I've given Carley a big hug for you and she was very pleased. We wish you were closer too, because we would love for you to have a puppy. :-)

[teecee]

Heatheranne! Be sure to keep us informed!

[Jenna]

How fun! As long as Carley is a good mom you shouldn't have much to do at all. LOL I think the biggest worry, especially with a first time mom, is making sure she bonds well & doesn't accidentally smother them. We had a Boston Terrier that smothered at least one from every litter.

[PBarnes]

How exciting Heather. I've never had a pregnant dog either so I'm no help. Can't wait to see the photos when the puppies arrive. Husky and Golden Retriever should make interesting puppies.

[Sara Arell]

Oh, wow, Heatheranne - what great news! Puppies! You're going to want to keep them all!

Wonderful news - I know you're excited - they should be beautiful pups!

Keeo us updated throughout her pregnancy.

[Heatheranne]

From what I understand, Carley has had a couple of litters already and had ten pups with her last litter. This will be the last time that she has pups though, because I intend to have her fixed. This pregnancy was not planned! I will watch for the puppies so that they don't get smothered, thanks Jenna.

I believe their pups will be gorgeous. If they have their dad's friendly submissive nature and their mom's playfulness, they'll be perfect. I've already said that if there's one that has one ear that's pointy and one ear that flops, it's mine. lol Here's a layout I did with the two of them in it if you want to see them. :-)

I've decided that look on Tok's face means, 'Don't look at me, I did what came naturally.' and Carley turned away, thinking, 'Now, doesn't that sound like a male?' roflol I couldn't help myself from interpreting for them. :-)

[Sara Arell]

That's too funny, Heatheranne - but you're probably right - that's probably what they were thinking/saying! Animals are people, don't you know?

[KayMitch]

Congratulations Grannie. There's nothing like a little puppy. So soft and cuddly and they smell so sweet, BUT 8 of them. Lucky you have an endless supply of love and cuddles. Oh how hard to part with any of them. They will all have their own little personalities. Good luck for the 15th. My son is 40 on the 19th. Is that in the same category?

[KarinaS]

LOL, when I read the title of your post, I thought it was your daughter or something!! Not that anyone wouldn't want 8 beautiful babies, all at once, but.....

Good luck for a safe pregnancy and delivery!

[Heatheranne]

Hey Kay! Thanks! I think your son is in my category, since my birthday is on the 24th. I'm having trouble imagining all these puppies, but do think it'll be a hoot!

roflol Karina - sorry for the alarm! Thank you for the good wishes!

Thanks to everyone for the good wishes! :-)

[AnnBK]

Nothing sweeter than a pile of puppies! We raised dachshunds many years ago and always loved the litters. Our moms were so capable, they really didn't need our help. I remember one litter we had barracaded into a basement bathroom, and mom kept trying to carry them upstairs to her favorite closet. Amazing the instincts they have and how self-sufficient they are. Have fun and keep the camera ready!

[DelilahsMommy]

Congrats! That is a lot of pups! Our Jack Russell had a litter once. Five! It was easier than I thought to let them go to good families. My Husband was the one who made up his mind to keep one. That's when I decided she would never have pups again! There is no way I am going to let him talk me into keeping more dogs!!! We already have 3 and one is a beast!!!

Good luck with everything! Maybe they will come August 14th and share my birthday!

[Heatheranne]

Ann, I'll definitely have the camera ready and I'm hoping that she's as capable as your dam was because I'm still sort of clueless. lol Doing some research though so I'll have a clue. I'll have to keep my closet doors closed because I don't want them full of puppies. I could just see me crawling around on the floor looking for puppies. roflol :-)


Kera, I'll be posting when they arrive, so you'll know then. I was told to start checking a couple of days before their due date because they can come a little early or late. If the pups are anything like their parents, they'll be very sweet natured, wonderful animals. :-)

[Jenna]

It will take a while to tell if you have a straight or flop eared pup - Chewbacca looked like he was in a wind tunnel until he was about 6 mo old or so. Maybe just keep 1 & hope.

Every once in a while I wish we had not fixed Leia & Chewbacca - would love to have a litter from them, but we can't keep another dog anyway so it's all for the best. LOL

[SodScrap]

awwww, congratulations!! My goldens usually had 10 pups! 7 or 8 is a great number!! We haven't had any litters for a few years now. I miss my babies!! The smallest one still might make it, I've had runts half the size of the biggest make it! You just never know!

[elibar]

Congratulations!!!

[Heatheranne]

SodScrap, on 27 July 2010 - 06:48 AM, said:

awwww, congratulations!! My goldens usually had 10 pups! 7 or 8 is a great number!! We haven't had any litters for a few years now. I miss my babies!! The smallest one still might make it, I've had runts half the size of the biggest make it! You just never know!

Thank you for the comforting words. When the Vet was talking about it, he was very casual, but I'm not sure how I will deal with a stillborn, so am hoping for all to be alive and healthy. He did say that it's hard to be sure of the number in an X-Ray but that there were eight for sure and I've heard that Carley had ten with her last litter, so we will see. I had hoped that it would be a small litter to be easier on her, but since it's not her first, hopefully she will do well. :-)

[Heatheranne]

Jenna, on 27 July 2010 - 01:18 AM, said:

It will take a while to tell if you have a straight or flop eared pup - Chewbacca looked like he was in a wind tunnel until he was about 6 mo old or so. Maybe just keep 1 & hope.

Every once in a while I wish we had not fixed Leia & Chewbacca - would love to have a litter from them, but we can't keep another dog anyway so it's all for the best. LOL

lol I love your description of a wind tunnel - too fun! I've learned something new - I didn't realize that you couldn't tell which way the ears would go when they are pups. I would not have put her through this on purpose but resign myself to the thought that it must be meant to be.

My son had Carley for a couple of weeks before he brought her to me. She was in heat when he got her and he thought she had gone out of it, but when he took her for shots, she was still in heat. (It would have been the second half by then) The Vet said that she would be out of heat by the weekend and she was, so he brought her to me on the Tuesday. Within a week, she went back into heat and nature took its course. My Vet was back from holidays, so I took her in and told him what had happened but the original appointment was to discuss having her fixed and what to do about her broken paw. The Vet said that it's very unusual for a dog to go back into heat but it has been documented and does happen. After she recoups from the pups, we'll have her fixed, then after some more recoup, her leg will be removed. :-)

[CRS]

Congratulations, Heather!!! I so wished I lived in Canada so I could adopt one of your puppies! You know I want to kidnap Carley...well, before she got pregnant, lol! Buddy would love a little brother or sister! Good luck finding homes for them and enjoy the puppies while you can!

[Heatheranne]

CRS, on 27 July 2010 - 09:02 AM, said:

Congratulations, Heather!!! I so wished I lived in Canada so I could adopt one of your puppies! You know I want to kidnap Carley...well, before she got pregnant, lol! Buddy would love a little brother or sister! Good luck finding homes for them and enjoy the puppies while you can!

Thanks Carla - I'll tell Carley that you are thinking of her and would love to have one of her babies. She knows that she's loved and I'm sure is enjoying the extra hugs and compliments that she's getting from others. I really do pass them on! lol I know that I won't have any trouble finding homes for them - the hard part will be letting them go. roflol :-)

[Sara Arell]

What is Carley's due date, Heatheranne?

[Heatheranne]

I've put Carley's due date in my original post and will let everyone know when the puppies arrive. :-)

[Sara Arell]

Oops! guess I missed the date somehow.......sorry.

Oh, what a nice birthday present that will be for you.

[Heatheranne]

No problem! Yes, I expect to be very busy! lol :-)