Puppies and Mom are doing great. Lila is a super mom. The first 2-3 days we had to put a leash on her to get her to go for doggie business.
Kathleen came by on Monday, puppies one day old, and we got lots of pictures. Lila was super pleased to see "grandma" and actually left the whelping room to greet Kathleen as she came in the front door. That's Rhodesian Ridgeback bonding for life. Kathleen took a look at all the puppies, with me doing the handling. Even bonded, the smart, safe and healthy thing is to keep outside handling to a minimum. We think pink and purple girls may be liver nosed. They currently have very pink noses.
Tom has gotten very attached to the pink girl. We are planning to keep a girl if she tests as "show-quality". Let's hope pink passes because that's the one Tom coos with when he helps move them during whelp box cleaning time.
The puppies will be evaluated at 8 weeks old by outsiders who are experts in the conformation world. Show quality is only an issue if you plan to show in conformation. Which we do. All the puppies are great, but subtle differences, like too much white, could keep them out of the conformation ring. All have been checked for health, kinked tails, DM etc... I would encourage anyone interested in just a companion to look at the ridgeless puppies. They are super and often built better than the ridged. Nice thing about this entire litter. They should have the wonderful temperament of their parents. Lila is my sunshine on 4 legs. Even with her pregnant hormones she has been very nice to our new puppy. This was a major concern when we brought him home.
Our greyhound Tori, is dying to get into the whelping room. We keep a child gate at the door and Tori has taken to sleeping at the gate. She would love to be a surrogate mommy. When we brought Reddington home 2 weeks ago Tori immediately started mothering him. Our other greyhound Rocket is not interested. FYI, those greyhounds got Reddington house-broken within a week.
All the puppies have been vet checked and had their dew-claws removed.
I have weighed the puppies everyday and everyone has gained weight everyday.
At 1 week old we trimmed all their nails. Brown puppy gets gold stars for best behavior during nail trimming.
Sunday December 7 One week old Stats:
Purple Girl: birth weight 14 ounces, Week One 25 ounces.
Pink Girl: birth weight 17 ounces, Week One 29 ounces.
Lime Girl: birth weight 13.5 ounces Week One 23 ounces
Blue Boy: birth weight 16 ounces Week One 29 ounces
Red Boy: birth weight 14.5 ounces Week One 29 ounces
Green (BRG) Boy: birth weight 13 ounces Week One 28 ounces
Yellow Boy: birth weight 13.5 ounces Week One 28 ounces
White Girl: birth weight 16 ounces Week One 27 ounces
Brown Boy: birth weight 17 ounces Week One 30 ounces.
All puppies are healthy and very strong. After a week we are getting to see little differences in their little selves. This may change but it's fun to see. White likes to scoot off on her own and Red likes to burrow under everyone. Brown "talks" when he is eating and Pink sleeps with the teat in her mouth. Lime is a cuddle bunny and snuggles with any sibling she can find. Blue has cute little white "paddles" on his back feet while yellow has a white "butterfly" on his chest and a thin white little "y" near his belly. Purple's nose is changing colors. Green is the one I enjoy cuddling with the most. He seems to catch my eye and next thing I know I am snuggling with him.
Lila has become more relaxed. She is very comfortable with Tom and me handling her "kids". We do a puppy count every hour or so, to be sure no one has gotten buried in the pads or otherwise harmed. We also rotate the "fatties" off and the smaller ones on to nurse.
Lila started short walks with Daddy, Tori and Reddington each morning on day 4. All seem to enjoy their morning outings and Lila needs exercise, even if just a little. Lila is very patient with her own puppies and our now 11 week old puppy Reddington. The 2 Ridgebacks are off-leash and Tori on-leash on these short walks into the forest. The distance is usually determined my Tori as she has bone cancer in her shoulder and some days she is less able to walk the rough ground.
Day 5 Lila started to come out of the whelping room to spend a few minutes with the family. It was a nice surprise to have her jump the baby gate and come spend time with me at my desk yesterday. I miss having her at my side. Tom's puppy chewing on my shoe laces is not the same.
I will update the gallery with individual pictures soon but the puppies mostly look the same in pictures. Their eyes are still closed and it takes close up inspection to see the differences in markings, ridges and size.
They are all loved and I will always consider them part of my family.
Kathleen came by on Monday, puppies one day old, and we got lots of pictures. Lila was super pleased to see "grandma" and actually left the whelping room to greet Kathleen as she came in the front door. That's Rhodesian Ridgeback bonding for life. Kathleen took a look at all the puppies, with me doing the handling. Even bonded, the smart, safe and healthy thing is to keep outside handling to a minimum. We think pink and purple girls may be liver nosed. They currently have very pink noses.
Tom has gotten very attached to the pink girl. We are planning to keep a girl if she tests as "show-quality". Let's hope pink passes because that's the one Tom coos with when he helps move them during whelp box cleaning time.
The puppies will be evaluated at 8 weeks old by outsiders who are experts in the conformation world. Show quality is only an issue if you plan to show in conformation. Which we do. All the puppies are great, but subtle differences, like too much white, could keep them out of the conformation ring. All have been checked for health, kinked tails, DM etc... I would encourage anyone interested in just a companion to look at the ridgeless puppies. They are super and often built better than the ridged. Nice thing about this entire litter. They should have the wonderful temperament of their parents. Lila is my sunshine on 4 legs. Even with her pregnant hormones she has been very nice to our new puppy. This was a major concern when we brought him home.
Our greyhound Tori, is dying to get into the whelping room. We keep a child gate at the door and Tori has taken to sleeping at the gate. She would love to be a surrogate mommy. When we brought Reddington home 2 weeks ago Tori immediately started mothering him. Our other greyhound Rocket is not interested. FYI, those greyhounds got Reddington house-broken within a week.
All the puppies have been vet checked and had their dew-claws removed.
I have weighed the puppies everyday and everyone has gained weight everyday.
At 1 week old we trimmed all their nails. Brown puppy gets gold stars for best behavior during nail trimming.
Sunday December 7 One week old Stats:
Purple Girl: birth weight 14 ounces, Week One 25 ounces.
Pink Girl: birth weight 17 ounces, Week One 29 ounces.
Lime Girl: birth weight 13.5 ounces Week One 23 ounces
Blue Boy: birth weight 16 ounces Week One 29 ounces
Red Boy: birth weight 14.5 ounces Week One 29 ounces
Green (BRG) Boy: birth weight 13 ounces Week One 28 ounces
Yellow Boy: birth weight 13.5 ounces Week One 28 ounces
White Girl: birth weight 16 ounces Week One 27 ounces
Brown Boy: birth weight 17 ounces Week One 30 ounces.
All puppies are healthy and very strong. After a week we are getting to see little differences in their little selves. This may change but it's fun to see. White likes to scoot off on her own and Red likes to burrow under everyone. Brown "talks" when he is eating and Pink sleeps with the teat in her mouth. Lime is a cuddle bunny and snuggles with any sibling she can find. Blue has cute little white "paddles" on his back feet while yellow has a white "butterfly" on his chest and a thin white little "y" near his belly. Purple's nose is changing colors. Green is the one I enjoy cuddling with the most. He seems to catch my eye and next thing I know I am snuggling with him.
Lila has become more relaxed. She is very comfortable with Tom and me handling her "kids". We do a puppy count every hour or so, to be sure no one has gotten buried in the pads or otherwise harmed. We also rotate the "fatties" off and the smaller ones on to nurse.
Lila started short walks with Daddy, Tori and Reddington each morning on day 4. All seem to enjoy their morning outings and Lila needs exercise, even if just a little. Lila is very patient with her own puppies and our now 11 week old puppy Reddington. The 2 Ridgebacks are off-leash and Tori on-leash on these short walks into the forest. The distance is usually determined my Tori as she has bone cancer in her shoulder and some days she is less able to walk the rough ground.
Day 5 Lila started to come out of the whelping room to spend a few minutes with the family. It was a nice surprise to have her jump the baby gate and come spend time with me at my desk yesterday. I miss having her at my side. Tom's puppy chewing on my shoe laces is not the same.
I will update the gallery with individual pictures soon but the puppies mostly look the same in pictures. Their eyes are still closed and it takes close up inspection to see the differences in markings, ridges and size.
They are all loved and I will always consider them part of my family.