I categorize breeding into 4 Phases. The first phase is the breeding. You would think that it would be the easy one. But, one has to make sure that the timing is right with ovulation. And since this can happen throughout a 7 day time period, it takes lots of testing. Then after 20 days an ultrasound to determine if we have pups growing in that little belly. The second phase is the whelping phase. This is the busy phase that turns the puppy room into what looks like a hospital room. I really think that I'm going to buy scrubs for this next litter. It's intense and exciting getting each puppy to breath and nurse before the next one arrives. It takes both of us to keep up with the pace. Then the third phase is working with the little bundles to help them learn what they need to know before they troddle off to their new homes. The fourth phase is saying good- by and with tears as they start their next chapter of life. I know that dogs have been having puppies forever and you would think it would be as easy as throwing them together and letting nature take it's course. Since we want to make sure that the pups come from the right parents and have a good start to life than we need to do our job to make sure this happens. In the end, Mother Nature has the say so. We are only guides. I'm planning on an ultra sound May 5th to determine if we have puppies or not. No Stress, No Stress... One thing about all of this is that Belle Starr is looking great and seems to be in excellent health. Go Belle Starr
Back on Board
I took a break from blogging and it's time for me to get back into the routine. So easy to get out of a routine and seems to always take time to get back into it. After a wonderful vacation in Hawaii, a couple of weeks subbing, and Easter, spring came up fast. Belle Starr came into season mid-April and we just bred her this 2nd full week of April. This is a month later than I had expected. But, mother nature knows best... On March 19th and 20th we took Storm Trooper and Bones to the International Dog Show. Storm Trooper took best puppy in all 4 shows. He also got his International and National Puppy Titles. Along with that he got his Canine Good Citizen certificate. So proud of our Trooper. He is now in weekly training and as soon as he turns 1 will hopefully get his therapy dog certification. This has been very exciting for us. The same weekend of the International Dog Show I brought home our new little Cassiopeia. We are adding her to our breeding program. She is true English and a cutie. So there is a lot of action at Happy Labs Kennel. Breeding, Training classes, potty training, etc. All is good... On the down side, our Abie the older lab is having panic attacks. His health seems good, it just that he has anxiety in his old age. His wears a calming collar that the vets gave him and that helped a lot. This past week he got worse and we started giving him calming pills and they are helping. We love our Abie and it is hard to see him this way. Giving him lots of extra love. Storm Trooper lays beside him and he really likes that. Therapy in action among the pack. Lots of action and love at Happy Labs Kennel
20 Weeks and Waiting
The pups are now 20 weeks and range in the 30 pound to 40 lb range. This is about what Belle Starr weighed in at. So it seems as if the pups are going to be between Belle Starr's and Shadow's sizes. Bones in Frenchtown is very stocky and weighs in the 40 pound range. He is very beautiful and so Mary Ellen and I became co-owners just so we could show him. All that means is that I am able to sign him up for shows and show him. We will see how he does to see where we go with him. Her son Ashton is interested in showing dogs, so I will put him in the Junior Handler class as well so he can start showing Bones too. Storm Trooper is smaller and lankier but very mellow. He is going to be a good therapy dog, but not so sure about the show ring. His face is narrower and I'm not sure where he got that. His dad never had a narrow face. Belle Starr does, but her head is more blocky. So the Storm Trooper is a mix of his mom and dad. I have him signed up for the Internation Dog Show the end of March along with Bones to see how the two boys do. It will be a great experience for Storm Trooper to be out in public for some serious socialization. So let the fun begin. My little girl from Eugene should be coming to us the end of March as well. For sure I will be showing her the end of May. She is out of some good champion lines and hoping she does well. Most of the black girls look like Belle Starr but seem to have longer legs. I haven't seen the black boys, but from reports they are blocky and very mellow boys. Last weekend some us got together for our own puppy class training. There isn't much in St. Regis for opportunities to socialize dogs. So we decided to have our own little sessions. There were 6 puppies here last Saturday and we had a good day. Five of the puppies were from Bell Starr's litter. So of course they were very happy to see each other and that made for interesting training. Today we are meeting again and planning on meeting for a few weeks until formal training starts in Missoula. Now our next thing is WAITING for Belle Starr to begin her cycle so we can breed her for the next litter. I have some anxious people waiting to hear of puppies on the way. Unfortunately mother nature is in charge of this one. My only fear is that we have rescheduled our Hawaii trip for next week and I was hoping to have her bred before we leave. But that isn't happening at this point and if she comes in this week then we will have to leave her and Shadow at the vet while we are gone for the breeding. Something I don't want to happen. Too expensive and they are a week away from home. So I'm hoping that she now waits until our return from Hawaii. But it's Belle Starr, No one ever knows about her...Love her anyway. Things are good at Happy Labs Kennel...
Onward with the Journey...
Okay, so now that I am down to one puppy, our Storm Trooper, the house is very quiet. Maybe it's called Empty Kennel Syndrome. Now that I have time, I started looking for another female puppy to add to my breeding program. A while back we had a gentleman call and was interested in coming to the kennel to see our pups and meet Belle Starr and Shadow. He said something to me that really struck home. He said that it was nice to talk to a breeder that was cordial and friendly and didn't act as if it was a privilege to even speak to them let alone visit their kennel. Needless to say, he visited our kennel and put in a request for a puppy out of our next litter. Now as I am looking for a pup and looking at many sites, talking to a few of the big breeders, I know exactly what he means. It's like you are at their beck and call and really shouldn't bother them and how dare you want to look and buy one of their pricey labs, especially for breeding and showing. And then it's also like some and I say some, are the gods of the labradors. Some don't even put down their phone numbers and it is a task just to get them to call you. I realize that I'm not an expert at this, but I do know what I want for my kennel and that is a well rounded lab that is a good pet, companion, hunter, or therapy dog. With this past litter, I feel that I met that criteria and whelped good solid pups with good bloodlines. So, my journey has just begun.. And may I never forget to be friendly and treat fellow lab lovers with up most respect.
With Princess Laylah (now Sage) is in her new home, I am focusing on Storm Trooper. He is coming along quite well with his training and is a handsome mellow little guy. My goal for him is to be a therapy dog. If he turns out to be blocky enough I will show him as well. He is so eager to please and is so quiet, one doesn't even hardly know he is here. We make sure that we spend a lot of time with him. Slowly, he is becoming part of the pack and has the run of the house more and more. Old Drake is so good with him, just like a grandpa. Abie has his respect and is his walking partner, but keeps his prestigious air about him. Shadow needs to get a daddy of the year award for he treats his son with love and care. Belle Starr is torn between being a mom and playmate. I believe that is due because we had to wean them from her at 4 weeks so she could get well. And Robin is Robin, but keeping her cool and staying away from him. Cow Dogs... What can I say. I'm trying to train Trooper to ring a bell to let us know he wants to go outside to potty. First I must train myself to ring the bell before I take him out potty. Work in progress.
Now What?
January: Pups are gone except for the two I kept back, holidays over, and the house is nice and quiet with everyone waiting for spring. A time to think about the new year and plans for the kennel. Storm Troopers and Laylah's training is going very well. They are very smart and pick up quickly on new lessons. They go on nice walks everyday that are also training sessions. Of course they don't know that. Belle Starr is looking really good, she has grown back this beautiful coat and has muscled out with her walks. Looks as if she will be show ready this spring. Shadow is Shadow and you find him mostly upside down either on the couch or on my bed. Such a goofy one. He's waiting for shed hunting to begin and trips on the four-wheeler. Robin is Robin (our rescue cow dog) and just makes sure everyone else is doing what they need to be doing. We call her the enforcer. Abie and Drake (our geriatric ward) are doing okay. They still love their walks, but spend the rest of the time sleeping. We walk them about every other day. Abie has a shorter path that is on the road so he doesn't tire too much. I take him for I'm about in the same boat... So all and all Life is Good at Happy Labs Kennel. Laylah looks as if she is going to be a awesome hunter and we are still looking at what will be best for her. She would be great at agility, but I'm quite sure that I wouldn't be. We will start her on a hunting training session and see how she does with that. She is such a love and a smart little pup with a very athletic build. As she grows, I can see that she is too leggy for the show ring. In the meantime, we will love her and train her up to see what will be best in her future life. Storm Trooper is looking to be an excellent therapy dog and as he grows I'll know more about the show ring. For sure I will take them to the International Dog Show so they can earn their titles and possibly the puppy show in Albany. I'll continue showing Belle Starr whenever I get the opportunity and also looking at breeding her again this spring. Then I'll give her a year off. We are thinking of adding a cream female to our breeding program. That way we can have 2 litters each year and a replacement for Belle Starr for we won't breed her past the age 6. A good little mate for Storm Trooper. Decisions!! Decisions!! I'm attaching a picture of Abie and Drake that I took yesterday. It so reminded of 11 years ago when the two became friends and later on inseparable. As pups they would lay together like in this picture, only Abie was small and Drake was a lot bigger than him. Love these two boys. What will 2016 bring??
