Pups are becoming more active between eating and sleeping, still leaving Pickles a tad bemused at what to make of them. They started scraped meat at three weeks and loved it. On their four week birthday they had their first taste of puppy mousse, while it was deemed accepatble it did not get the same rave reviews as scraped meat. They continue to enjoy their yoghurt. They have also been introduced to the puppy pen in the living room and have had the opportunity to suckle from mom on the living room rug. While Big Gherkin is full of himself in the box, Little Gherkin seems to be the bolder of the two in new situations but that could change. The puppy room pen has been reconfigured again and the side of the whelping box dropped. I might miss being able to go straight from the bed into their pen so it may get changed again.

Three week stats

Little Gherkin - girl - 2 lb 8.2 oz
Big Gherkin - boy - 3 lb 2.5 oz

Little Gherkin checks out the cadillac while Big Gherkin tries a different sort of "getaway"

Really Pickles, I hope this was more comfortable than it looked

Milk coma, Big Gherkin style and Little Gherkin style, so typical

Al fresco dining in the living room. Pickles did have a bed option but preferred the carpet

Big Gherkin works out on the Fit paws, goodness knows he needs it

Celebrating the four week mark with breakfast in the sun. I think this is Pickles' favourite spot for nursing and when she can combine it with sunpuddling, that is the best

Pickles checks out the new puppy room configuration. The Pink Cadillac has been "towed" as Little Gherkin was intent on making modifications to the steering wheel and seats

More time out in the living room puppy pen. Little Gherkin practicing her "teeter" skills in the rocking cradle and challenging Big Gherkin to do something about it...he didn't

Pups are up an moving around. Big Gherkin has tried to interact with mom a few times after feeding but she seems flumoxed at how to cope. Thankfully she gets up and leaves rather than doing something rash. This does tend to leave Little Gherkin short changed on her meals but her weight gain is good. Both pups are doing well at leaving their bed to go pee.

Three week stats

Little Gherkin - girl - 1 lb 11.9 oz
Big Gherkin - boy - 2 lb 7.4 oz

Classic bed fail

Tickle that tummy

Another round tummy for tickling

Make that two tummies

Big Gherkin has ideas (he didn't make it)

Let's play "bitey face", Little Gherkin on the left

A picture of peace and tranquility, love these moments

"Remind me, exactly when do they leave home?" Big Gherkin on the left

Pups are developing nicely and Pickles is doing well despite throwing us a few curve balls. It seems that the fleecy bedding in the whelping box which has delighted all our previous bitches is not up to Pickles' standards. The first hint was when I tried letting her feed them on my bed, an arrangement that resulted in a much calmer but attentove mealtime.
Then I thought it would be nice to put a soft snuggly in the box for the pups, they absolutely loved it. So did Pickles! she went in to check it out, liked it and lay down. For the first time, Pickles did not immediately abandon her Gherkins after they had finished feeding, instead she stayed in the bed with them for several minutes. A definite small step in the right direction. Pups eyes opened at 13 days and the cuteness stage is coming on strong.

Two week stats

Little Gherkin - girl - 19.2 oz
Big Gherkin - boy - 28.8 oz

Big Gherkin imitating grandpa Felek's preferred sleeping position

The benefit of allowing Pickles to feed the pups on my bed is quite obvious.

Nothing quite like climbing on top of your brother, this girl is "going places"

The snuggly bed turned out to be a most welcome two-week birthday present

Pickles definitely approves of the bed upgrade, she is even more relaxed than on my bed

We have made it through the first week despite the hiccups along the way. The sadness at the loss of Angel Gherkin has not abated and probably never will.
The size difference between the two pups remains distinct. Big Gherkin is bigger than his father at the same age (four in that litter vs. two in this) but was smaller at birth. Little Gherkin is a fraction bigger than her mom and was a fraction bigger at birth. But she is smaller than her Aunt Loki who matured as quite a petite girl. Confirming that nursing puppy weights have little bearing on size at maturity.

One week stats

Little Gherkin - girl - 10 oz
Big Gherkin - boy - 15.7 oz

Our neonatal puppy room set up, it has been through a variety of iterations over the 43 years I have been breeding but the box (made by Chris) has been a constant

I'm not sure just how seriously Pickles is taking this motherhood business. "Milking" it for all it's worth comes to mind. Either that or dreams of a Downton Abbey nanny.

She can be quite attentive when the need arises. The girl is in front

Quite the size difference, even allowing for the fact that the boy is a tad chunky!!

I guess that's on way of allowing extra access. Pickles has an odd ball nipple arrangement.

Poor wee Gherkins have been plagued with diarrhea. According to the repro specialist, most likely due to the high fat content of Pickles milk and overreating. But at least they are vigorous and nursing well. Pickles is also not overflowing with milk so minimaizing the risk of mastitis.

3 day Stats

Red Girl - 6.1 oz
Red Boy - boy - 9.1 oz

Basking in the warmth of the heat lamp at the tropical end of the oversize whelping box with a warming pad underneath for an added touch. It doesn't get much better!!!

Moments with momma, wild child Pickles is trying to be a good mom but I think she is a career girl at heart, just like first cousin once removed, Maisie.

Despite being in great shape and everything seeming good, Pickles ran into difficulty. Heartbreakingly, the first pup, born at the vets, could not be revived. Five minutes or a more forceful approach on my part would have made all the difference. A devastating loss made even worse by its avoidability and the fact we had the three most amazing homes anyone could wish for anxiously awaiting news. I am so very sorry Angel Gherkin, I let you and your would be owner down.
I delivered pup two in a quiet room at the vets and, with help from oxygen out back, she picked up nicely. Dr. Ball did everything he could, without jeopardizing mom or pup, to deliver pup three but ultimatley a c-section was the best option and paid off with a vigorous boy pup.

Day one stats (unable to weigh at birth owing to circumstances.

Pup-two - red girl - 4.6 oz
Pup-three - red boy - 6.9 oz

Red boy on beige towel, red girl on white towel.

This photo really shows the size difference.

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