Labrador puppies at Southlands
8th June 2010 | Dee's Diary, Southlands Farm News
Gasket's puppies and Rosie's toes
Friday 21th May, and after much deliberation our plans changed. Charles, Hector and I were off to the wedding of Charle’s cousin and Rosie and Widget ( small hairy terrier) were going to stay at Granny and Grandpa Gordon as Rosie was mid g.c.s.e.’s and snowed under with revision.
‘The girls’ (Three black labs; one Gassy; heavily in pup) were going to stay with John and Dott Clark (the lovely Gun dog trainer and his wife) but Gassy suddenly showed signs of a more imminent whelping so Granny and Grandpa came to the rescue and took residence here with Rosie and ALL the dogs…Cows,Pigs,sheep and hens to look after!
We had a fantastic wedding and they coped famously and Gassy hung onto her puppies until we got home.
Two nights later and Gassy was restless, firstly she went missing and was eventually found stuck (as she was so fat)! trying to ‘nest’ under and old vehicle in the field, but after gentle encouragement from a very relieved Charles and Hector. She was then settled her in the prepared nest, the old Pig sty. In the Pig sty Charles had made a great whelping box two storeys high (great for when Mum needs a break from Puppies) and even made a door and flight of steps for the puppies when they are older so that they can venture out into the open area of the pig sty. We had scrubbed it from top to toe (as it was 3 years since we last had a litter),washed all the bedding, dusted down the velvet curtain (courtesy of Charles Mum) that stops any draughts! rigged up the heat lamp and we were all ready. Gassy settled down a little reluctantly and I was woken at about three in the morning with woofing from the kennel…dressed in my dressing gown I let Gassy out for a pee, supplied a good midnight feast and whispering sweet nothings of encouragement to her. She eventually settled down again (this is a dog who loves her home comforts be it sofa or Hectors bed!!!) and I went back to bed.
An hour later and more woofing and it was Charles turn. He let Gassy out for a pee and immediately she headed back to the old vehicle up the field. Worried she might repeat her previous antics he dragged her out by the back legs just as she was disappearing under the vehicle, he was knee high in nettles and only clad in his dressing gown!!! and a bit more TLC and she was settled back in the pig sty and Charles eventually came back to bed.
Hector was the next on shift duty and by then he declared”there are feet” after a little while and a lot of effort on Gassy’s part a big GOLDEN puppy was born, quite a surprise but Gassy’s grandpa “Otto” is a beautiful Golden Boy. After this big chap six more puppies came in succession. Two bitches and five dogs.
I have to say no matter how many litters one sees be it puppies, calves, lambs or piglets born the last is still as wondrous as the first. After only approximately 65 days ! these perfect beautiful little puppies arrived ….a wonderful day!
Gassy is proving to be a great and very efficient Mum. She feeds her babies very well then does the old ‘woof’ and gets a little glimpse of the home comforts again before the next feed!!! Our aim now is to find good homes for the five fantastic dogs as the girls are spoken for. One is to go to the family we got Sproket (Gassy’s Mother) from ten years ago so that the line may carry on. Hopefully they might go to working homes as Gassys beau Hamish is not only very handsome but a great gun dog too. Well done Gassy! Today two puppies opened their eyes.
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