Happy Thanksgiving

The sweet potatoes are baking and we are eagerily awaiting the gathering of friends and family to give thanks in this season of warmth. From our family to yours we wish you a very lovely day and a happy Thanksgiving.

Miss Treasure and Mike

Here is Miss Treasure with Mike on the occasion of winning her first AKC championship point in Ft. Wayne Indiana a few weeks ago. She is darned naked but still a cutie!

Silva Lade Sparkler Of Nansan

Beamer

January 31, 1994 - November 22, 2008

We said good by to Beamer on Saturday as she passed to the Rainbow bridge. Beamer lived a good life with Mike and Linda's parents and will be remembered for her loving and inquisitive nature. She produced two champions and several favorite pets. Today Mike laid her to rest in the garden along side her friends.

Pretty Daddy!

The new show pictures of Austin just arrived and this beautiful head study took my breath away! If his puppies are this pretty we will be very happy indeed. Austin has incredibly black pigment and beautiful eyes.

Growing Fast

Korbel's babies are growing fast. They are all either approaching or over 2 lbs now. Taking pictures has it challenges. Somehow they like to turn just as the camera approaches to flash a rear end angle. Life consists of eating, sleeping and more eating. Little noses are ripening as fast as bananas. The colored yarn collars had to be removed today and replaced with larger braided yarn which is easier to see. Here are a few cute shots (out of 85 taken today)...more tomorrow.

Treasure's first rig run

Today Treasure got to try out running in harness for the first time. Here she is with Austin next to her in lead and Bill's Cruiser at wheel (closest to the rig) The most important part of the picture is the tug lines which are taut! She ran three miles today and never once let her line go slack. That is the beginning of a great sled dog! In the upper picture she is on the right in the front.

Korbel's Six Pack

Korbel presented us with a lovely six pack of puppies today. The first Red boy was born at 4:00 a.m., followed quickly by Orange girl and Yellow boy. Later at about 8 a.m. we had Green girl and then Blue girl. The last one was Purple boy born at close to 10 a.m. They weigh between 13.5 oz and 1 lb 2 oz.

Getting near

The time is getting near for Korbel to have her puppies. We check her temperature twice each day. It should drop about 24 hours before the puppies come. The first few times we took her temperature she stood quietly munching on the milk bone I offered her while Mike attended to business at the other end. Last night though when I called her into the living room to take her temperature, she looked at me once and quickly ran around the coffee table so her rear wasn't near Mike. It took several tries before she was willing to stand for us. I guess it isn't that much fun after all...certainly not worth the milk bone! Tonight I'll have to offer something a bit better.
Watch the temperature as I post it here (below).

Korbel's x-rays showed us five or six puppies. Two are way up under her rib cages where it is hard to see them but the vet is pretty sure he could make out their sculls. Only time will tell. Please think good thoughts for Korbel as we all wait for the babies. The camera is set up and we will turn it on when there is some action. Stand by!

TEMP: 100.8 TIME: 9:00 a.m. DATE: 11/6/08

TEMP: 101.0 TIME: 11:55 p.m. DATE: 11/6/08

TEMP: 100.6 TIME: 8:30 a.m. DATE: 11/7/08

TEMP: 99.8 TIME 7:00 p.m. DATE 11/7/08

TEMP: 100.4 TIME 10:15 a.m. DATE: 11/8/08

TEMP: 99.6 TIME 2:30 p.m. DATE 11/8/08

Korbel has now voluntarily moved into her whelping box and is in Stage I labor. This stage can last up to 24 hours.

Box is going up

Korbel's whelping box is going up. It takes a full day to get the room ready and the box up. It is 4' by 4' and the sides are 2' high. Walls are made of laminate shelving for easy cleaning. A door in the front swings down for Korbel to easily step over while the puppies are small. Notice the pipes that go around the bottom. This is sometimes referred to as a roll bar or a pig rail. It is elevated off the floor just enough for a puppy to fit underneath and helps prevent the mother from accidentally laying down with a puppy between her and the side of the box. This way the puppy will be able to crawl out and around to safety. The floor in the room is tile, but is covered with vinyl for easy clean up. Lots of towels will be on the floor for delivery, to be replaced by rugs once the puppies are born.

Gettin Ready

This weekend I'm working on my dissertation and also starting to get the puppy room ready for Korbel. Korbel is filling out nicely, but she can still sail over our baby gates! Tomorrow are x-rays and we find out how many little ones are in there.

Mike is showing this weekend and Miss Treasure was WB this morning for her first point. When he comes home we will celebrate by putting up the whelping box.