Previous Litter - Claire and Kramer.
Claire delivered her litter of 14 on June 23, 2016. There were 8 males and 6 females.
The pups went to their new homes about August 13, 2016.
Ch Setherwood Bouclaire CGN
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Claire
is a big solid girl who is very fit and fun to be with. She has a
mid-gold coat which is straight and very thick. She finished her show
championship easily with some excellent wins and has her Canadian Good
Neighbour title. As we were very pleased with the pups from Claire's
first litter (sired by Kramer) and with the pup we kept from the litter
(Nora), we repeated the mating.
Claire has clearances for hip dysplasia, elbow displasia, detectable heart defects and eye cataracts.
Sire - Ch Bowbell's He's Got The Kavorka "Kramer"
Ch Bowbell's He's Got The Kavorka "Kramer"
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Kramer
is a young male from the Bowbell kennels in Newtonville, Ontario. He is
mid-sized, heavy-boned, with dark pigmentation, dark eyes and a
straight easy-care coat. He got his show championship at an early age
displaying his good looks and happy out-going nature.
Kramer has clearances for hip dysplasia, elbow displasia, detectable heart defects and eye cataracts
Birthday - June 23, 2016.
Claire
delivered her litter of 14 between 12:45 am and 9:15 am. She was calm
throughout and the births were uncomplicated. The pups averaged just
over 12 ounces at birth (good for a litter this size) and ranged from 9
to 15 1/2 ounces.
Claire
is nursing her pups in two shifts as there is not enough room for all
14 to
nurse at once. So she nurses seven while the
rest sleep in a heated green bin. After about 45 minutes, the shifts
change. We will follow the same
process overnight except that the shifts will change every 2 hours. The
smallest 2 pups will be weighed daily so that we know if they need to be
supplemented.
As of 9 pm today, all 14 are doing well. The next 72 hours are important as Claire settles into
motherhood and the pups organs begin to function.
Claire at 10 pm on June 22. | 
Claire at about 9 pm on June 23. | 
Shift A. | 
Shift B. |
Three days old - June 26.
The
pups are now three days old and all 14 are doing well. They are gaining
weight and appear to be healthy. We have supplemented the smallest ones
and they have responded. We are continuing with the two shifts which
allows the pups with Claire to nurse properly.
The
heated bins are in the kitchen so that Claire will not hear the pups
and become upset. Each shift change involved moving the pups between
the kitchen and the whelping area. Here are pictures showing this morning's shift change.
Shift A - ready to visit Claire. | 
All aboard the transport vehicle. | 
Shift B to a different transport vehicle. | 
Shift A given to Claire. | 
Shift A hard at work. | 
Shift B back in the heated bins. |
June 30 Pupdate - 8 days old.
We
are very pleased with Claire and her litter of 14. The pups are growing
well enough that supplemental feedings are not required. The pups
continue to nurse in shifts and they and Claire have adjusted to the
schedule. There are no problems at present and we feel that none of the
pups are at risk.
Here are 2 pictures taken today showing Claire with one of the shifts and what it would be like if she had all at the same time.
I can do this! | 
I can't do this! |
July 3 update - 11 days old.
A
few of the pups were climbing up the sides of the green bins so we
bought a larger bin with higher sides. Otherwise, all is well.
Here are a few pictures taken today.
Most are happy to lounge in the green bin. | 
But some yearn for adventure. | 
New facility - more area and higher sides. | 
Claire being a great Mother. |
Three weeks old - July 14.
We
have all survived the first 3 weeks. The pups are still being
nursed in two groups of 7 switched every hour during the day and every
2 hours overnight. The pups have outgrown the larger bin so the group
that is not with Claire is sleeping in a separate whelping box set up
in the dog room.
The system has worked well. All the pups
are growing and Claire is maintaining her weight. The pups eyes have
opened and they are beginning to walk and to play. We began to feed
solid food (Royal Canin starter kibble soaked in hot water until soft)
and fortunately all the pups ate. This will take some of the pressure
away from Claire and the pups will get extra food to help them grow.
This
will be the last week that the pups will be in the whelping boxes. By
the end of the week, we will reorganize the dog room so they have more
room.
Here are pictures taken on July 14.
We know Mum's here somewhere! | 
Claire - currently unavailable. | 
Even my feet are cute. | 
Look Mum - I'm walking! | 
Come and get it! | 
The girls. | 
The boys. | 
This could be considered piggy! | 
Someone stole my bib. | 
After dinner nap. |
Visitors - July 17.
Todays
visitors spent some quality time with the pups who stayed awake for a
while then went to sleep. Everyone had a good time. Here are a few
pictures.
Moving day - July 20, 2016.
The
pups will be 4 weeks old tomorrow, time for us to move them from the
whelping box that has been their home. As there are 14 pups, we needed
to give them as much space as possible. So, we moved the adult dogs'
crates to the basement, moved Adele and her pups to that side of the
dog room and gave the entire whelping area to Claire's 14. It all went
well. Claire's pups adjusted quickly.
Claire will continue to nurse in two shifts of seven. We will feed them their starter ration four times daily. As
the weeks progress, the number of nursings each day will decrease so that the pups are weaned by the time
they reach seven weeks of age.
Claire's pups on the left, Adele's on the right. | 
Crates moved to the basement. | 
All together during renovations - Claire gives advice. | 
The re-configured whelping area, ready for guests. | 
The guests have arrived. | 
First toy experience. | 
First time at the water bowl. | 
First morning play time. |
The
next four weeks will be a time of change. Before the pups leave us, they will be weaned, de-wormed, vet-checked,
microchipped and vaccinated. They will spend several hours with their
new owners and others during visiting times so that they will be
confident with people. They will also develop their individual
personalities as they interact with each other. It's a lot to
experience but essential if they are to be ready for life in their new
homes. They are up to the challenge.
Mug Shots - July 22.
The
pups received their coloured collars today. As usual, we asked
them to show their most intelligent faces. Here are the results.
Visitors - July 31.
We all enjoyed spending time with these 14 pups. Here are a few pictures of the happy participants.
A wheelbarrow full of happiness - August 4.
Outside time - August 5.
The
pups spent several hours in the renovated puppy pen (holes filled, flag
stone added + new benches) this morning before the afternoon heat
arrived. Claire led them from the dog room to the pen, then suggested
activities that they would enjoy. Here are the photos.
Follow me to the puppy pen! | 
Keep up! Keep up! | 
Rats - this happens when the gate is closed. | 
Also when the gate is open! | 
Here is what you can do while I'm away: | 
Spend some time indoors. | 
Play in the water. | 
And turn it into mud. | 
Dig with your friends. | 
And by yourself. | 
Lie in a hole. | 
Assault every leaf. | 
Stay clean if you can. | 
And if you can't, then enjoy being dirty. | 
Chew on a stick. | 
But not your brother's tail! | 
Be a bit goofy. | 
And sleep in the shade. |
Deworming and microchips - August 9.
Mr Brown was selected to describe his experience being dewormed and microchipped.
First I was weighed - 8 pounds 10 ounces. | 
Then they gave me the right amount of dewormer. | 
Next, got my microchip, which did not even hurt! | 
This is my new ID number. |
I am officially me! |
Vet check and first vaccinations - August 11.
Dr. Dan of the Uxbridge Veterinary Hospital visited to check
each pup and give the first set of shots. Miss Hot Pink agreed to give her account of this very important process.
Before Dr. Dan started, I looked up vaccines on Wikipedia. | 
Then I checked a vet reference book for potential side effects. I was reassured. | 
When I was ready, he checked my eyes, | 
Then my ears | 
And my throat. | 
Then he checked my belly button (he said it's cute!) | 
And my hips. |  Next he listened to my heart. | 
And last, I got my first shot! | 
Great news - I am healthy! |
Going home - August 13.
After what seemed
like a very long wait, the pick-up day arrived and the new owners came
to attend the new puppy seminar, have their pictures taken and then
take their new family members home. We enjoyed meeting each of them and
look forward to hearing from them as their pups grow. And we thank them for
choosing Setherwood Golden Retrievers.
The seminar is about to begin - June and Claire officiating. |
Setherwood Teddy "Winston Gibbs" (Mr Brown) | 
Setherwood Toffee "Piper" (Miss Hot Pink) | 
Setherwood Theodore "Gus" (Mr Orange)
| 
Setherwood Tattie "Darcy" (Mr Red) | 
Setherwood Triskele "Ellie" (Miss Purple) | 
Setherwood Triton "Hudson" (Mr Green) | 
Setherwood Tabatha "Molly" (Miss Green) | 
Setherwood Timbergold "CJ" (Mr Black) | 
Setherwood Tapanga "Jennings" (Miss Turquoise) | 
Setherwood True "Cookie" (Mr Blue) | 
Setherwood Tomika "Mika" (Miss Pink) | 
Setherwood T-Rex Charley "Charley" (Mr White) | 
Setherwood Thomas "Dexter" (Mr Yellow) |  Setherwood Tilda "Tilda" (Miss Yellow) |
And two more.
Just one last time. | 
Goodbye CJ. Keep in touch! |
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