Puppies redux?

On the left is Ch Whistlestop John Jameson “JJ”, and on the right is my sweet Ch Stanegate Second Thoughts RN JH WD “Tooey”.

And yes, they are doing It. Clearly, JJ and Tooey both thought that today was the perfect day to try to start puppies.

Tooey went into season on April 23, so this would seem like the right time, just looking at the calendar. But there are no guarantees.

Tooey’s progesterone blood level has been checked every couple of days for the last week, and it is just not rising the desired levels. The vet said that it seems “stalled” at 3 ng/ml. Reading around on the web, I find a lot of variation on what the recommended level is for breeding, but most say that ovulation occurs at 5. So…

On the other hand, we can consider the analog method of making these determinations. While the potential sire is interested in the whole idea nearly the entire time the potential dam is in season, she is supposedly interested only when the time is “right”. Blood test? she says. We don’t need no stinking blood test.

Even so, another blood test will be done tomorrow with results available on Friday. So who knows? Maybe a mix of science and intuition will give us good news soon.

———

Note added on May 10: another tie today. Bloodwork be dammed!

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Oonagh — not last and not least

Ms. Rainbow is the youngest girl, and she was the smallest puppy in Tooey’s litter of pups. Every week, when I went up to Colleen’s to visit the puppies, I took a special interest in Rainbow. Sometimes she shivered, and I put her under my shirt. She often spent time off in a corner by herself — her own girl. Sometimes, another puppy would be fooled by her size and try to tell her what to do, but Rainbow held her own.

Whistle Stop’s Pick Me, Pick Me “Oonagh” (Ms. Rainbow) at about 5 months

As you can see from the picture, Oonagh is very beautiful. Her people say that along with that beauty, she’s also an intelligent pup, perhaps even a little too much for her own good sometimes! Of course, she’s a teenager, so that’s to be expected.

Oonagh is also very lucky for a Water Spaniel — she lives on the Oregon coast. Her people say she loves the Oregon coast and the rain! And they say she loves to bring it all in the house with her. Well, her mom also loves the ocean and bringing it all home. Love to see the legacy continue.

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Ms. Yellow is growing up

One of the happy consequences of going to the IWSCOPS Christmas party is that I got to see a couple of Tooey’s puppies. Luckily for me, Russ took pictures.

So here is Sorcha, the former Ms. Yellow, after an afternoon romping outside in the cool, damp Pacific Northwest.

Whistle Stop’s Mine To Keep at Tirriki “Sorcha” (Ms. Yellow) at one day short of 7 months

Sorcha (pronounced Sir’-ka) had Tooey’s high forehead and eyes. Her people think she has a beautiful head and lovely movement.

I believe the movement part, being as how she’s Tooey’s daughter. Sorcha will be in her first conformation show next month, so we’ll all get to see for ourselves.

She’s also quite the athlete. At Sorcha’s house, dogs eat in their crates, and Sorcha’s crate is one level up, so to speak, stacked on top of another dog’s crate. Sorcha has taken to leaping up into her crate at a single bound. A real athlete, her people say. Probably she also loves her food, just like Mom.

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Another Tooey puppy checks in

After I wrote the post about the pictures I’d gotten recently of five Tooey puppies, I got news and a photo of a sixth Tooey puppy. Oh joy!

Whistle Stop’s Are We There Yet “Jax” (Mr. Purple) at almost 7 months

Jax ‘s people say that he is about the sweetest puppy they’ve ever met, which is saying a lot for a boy IWS who is entering adolescence. He’s just about to finish his third round of puppy classes, and will probably continue on. I am so happy to hear that — that should increase the happiness quotient of the whole family.

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Tooey puppies at six months or so

It’s amazing. Tooey’s puppies have gotten bigger! They reached six months of age on November 9th. Hard to believe that 6 months and more have gone by so fast.

I was thrilled to get relatively recent pictures of five of them:

Whistle Stop’s He’s Breathing On Me “Foley” (Mr. Blue) at about 6.5 months

Foley is so beautiful — nice dark coat like his dad, and a face that looks like both Tooey and Cork. I hear he’s being a typical 6-month boy IWS — full of his own ideas and trying to get away with doing what feels good, based on all those hormones that are starting to run around (ahem!). I also hear that he is really enjoying beginning agility class, with the A-frame being his favorite so far.

Whistle Stop’s Not Me, ‘Pax’ Did It “Pax” (Mr. Red) at about 5 months
photo by Penny Diamond

Pax has got that tendency to turn orange from the sun, just like his Mom. And that expression on his face? Just like Mom, too.

Whistle Stop’s Bring It On “Bold” (Mr. Green) at just under 6.5 months

Bold was being shown at his first conformation dog show, at the Whidbey Island Kennel Club show on Nov 17. The quality of the picture isn’t beautiful because it was grabbed from a video. But isn’t that stack beautiful? Such attention and focus! Completely unlike parts of the rest of the video, which shows him bouncing around enjoying the whole process. But really, for his first time he did a great job, and so did his handler.

Whistle Stop’s Is It My Turn Now? “Chica” (Ms. Pink) at about 6.5 months

Chica is going to handling class and doing well. Apparently, the phrase “my turn now” fits her perfectly. I hope she enjoys showing her stuff in the conformation ring. Getting points too would be a delightful bonus.

Whistle Stop’s I Know Who Did It “Kwest” (Mr. White) at about 6 months

Kwest recently finished a few weeks of training at the Academy of Canine Behavior, learning to control those hormonal impulses and behave politely. All reports are that he’s a very sweet boy.

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Orange has his someones

Orange has found his Someone. Or rather, his Someones. David and Shirley came this evening to pick up my sweet Orange and take him home with them.

David, Orange, and Shirley

I was reassured to meet them both this past weekend, and watch them interact with Orange. And then just a day or so later, Shirley texted me, saying they were thrilled with him. I know what they mean. I would be thrilled with him, too.

In a parallel universe, Orange is my dog. But in this one, he’s Shirley and David’s. I hope he turns out to be every bit the heart dog and companion for them as I would hope he’d be for me.

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Purple has new people

Purple went home today with his new people, Susan and Denny. They took the opportunity to really spend some time with him yesterday, and they decided that they wanted him.

Lucky Purple! His new people live in Seattle at a house with beach rights. If Purple has inherited his mother’s adoration of water and swimming, he should be one happy boy.

Mr. Purple

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Mr White on the Oregon trail

Here are Mr. White and Mark, just as they were ready to hit the road on the way home to Oregon:

Mr. White and Mark

Both Colleen and I met Mark at last January at the Rose City Classic in Portland. He was there looking at dogs and breeds, hoping to find a new companion. Made me smile — that’s where I met Irish Water Spaniels and their people for the first time, too. Maybe it’s a good omen.

Mark heard that there were plans to breed Tooey, so he had been keeping in touch and following the blog. Then he found the portrait of Mr. White that Russ took on June 2nd, and that was it. Mark liked the philosophical expression on Mr. White’s face, and so he wanted White. He came and visited the puppies a couple of weeks ago, held most of them, watched them play and gait in Colleen’s back driveway. After that and a chat with Colleen, he still wanted White.

By this time, Mr. White has probably reached his new home, in one of the quadrants of Portland, Oregon. It’s an auspicious day — July 4th — and with all those fireworks, it can be a scary one, too. But that’s like life, isn’t it? White has the benefit of being loved his whole life, and really wanted. Let’s hope it just gets better from here for Mark and Mr. White.

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Baby Blue goes home

I just got word that Kathy has landed safely at the airport with my first favorite puppy, Mr. Blue. He’s a sweet puppy with big feet, a curly head, and an even disposition. He’s brave without being reckless. Motivated to be with people, but not clingy. Interested in food and toys without being obsessed. A nice balanced dog.

Here’s a picture of Blue with Kathy taken on Sunday afternoon in Colleen’s back yard.

Kathy and Mr. Blue

I like Mr. Blue. In fact, I like him a lot. I liked him immediately when he was born. I don’t know why — maybe because he was first. Maybe because as a first-born myself, I feel a little kinship. Maybe it’s his crooked tail. I think that little crook in his tail just adds to his intrigue.

Blue is going to live near Chicago with his 4 people: Kathy, her husband, and their two boys. I’m sure he will keep them all on their toes and thinking of ways to keep him occupied and channel that sweet puppy energy. I hope he enriches their lives the same way that Cooper and Tooey have enriched mine.

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Pink and Red go home

Pink and Red left this morning for their new homes in Canada. Both Pink and Red are opinionated dogs who like exploring and playing with toys. I’m sure they’re very eager for new adventures with their new families.

Pink confident on the wobble board

Red jumping through the ring

 

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Tooey x Cork Puppies at 49 Days

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Tooey x Cork Puppies at 44 Days

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Tooey x Cork Puppies at 37 days

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24-day-old gluttons wallow in dinner

Cooper is 5-1/2 years old, but he still loves to get his face wiped off with a towel. I think it all comes from the memory of being fed warm food and then getting cleaned up with a warm, wet washcloth.

I hope Tooey’s puppies come away with similar happy memories. Feeding and caring for them will certainly be one of mine.

Mixing puppy food for dinner, with Tooey supervising

Puppy dinner, pre-gluttonous free-for-all

Puppies start to eat

Puppies get food everywhere — faces, feet, bellies, floor

Human cleans while puppies eat

Mom cleans up the puppy food while puppies try for a second course from Mom.

After dinner, wiping puppy feet with a warm wet cloth

Wiping puppy face

Wiping puppy belly

Drying puppy off

Puppies fed, area cleaned, towels changed, and puppies napping. Moms agree: “Good job!”

Just a couple of hours later, it’s time to eat again

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Puppy portraits, plus Mom

Portaits of the puppies and Mom, compliments of Russ Dodd. This was his first chance to see the puppies, and so their first chance at being made (relatively) famous by a real photographer.

First, the producer of this little slideshow:

Tooey Mommy

Now for the 24-day old puppies. Still too wiggly to get a consistent pose. Besides, this way we get to see a bit of their individual personalities.

Mr. Blue

Mr. Red

Mr. Purple

Mr. Green

Ms. Pink

Mr. Orange

Ms. Yellow

Ms. Rainbow

Mr. Gold

Mr. White

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