Allow me to introduce ..............

Bootsand friends

'ere are you listening to me?

Gemma's pups are now 9 days old and have more than doubled their birth weight of approx 500 gms.

Day 1 pics

We had just given Gemma a bubble bath and she then received "the treatment", a clip here and a snip there to ensure that she looked her best! I can't get over how docile she is - anyone can do anything to her and she doesn't complain. It's very spooky the way she knew instinctively to rip into and eat the sack/placenta for each pup and then to bite off the pup's umbilical cord.

Who taught her?

She's a super Mum and we're very proud of her!

Whelping for Joy and the cricket's gone OK!

Gemma produced her first pup at 8.15 am this morning and her last at about 4 pm this afternoon. Of the eight puppies, two were stillborn and one, poor little thing, had a cleft palate and was euthanazed by the vet. Of the surviving five, she has three boys and two girls, all of whom are in good form as is Mum. We've 99% identified Dad who lives opposite and is a pure bred Kelpie. So, not only will the pups round up the sheep, they'll bring them back to you!

Doggone and done it!

Younger daughter came round on Saturday, took one look at Gemma and exclaimed "She's HUGE!"

Yep, we are now expecting the patter of at least 28 tiny feet!

We had decided to arrange a marriage for her at about Xmas but the little slut has clearly had other ideas.

If we could just lay our hands on the little mongrel (Oh please God a Labrador or something a bit up market) who led her astray.

Mad panic, we've bought a HUGELY expensive whelping box and expect to be boiling water and bringing fresh towels in about a week!

Yes, a week! Vet was very nice about our inexcuseable ignorance - a bloke brought in his dog the other day, said he thought she wasn't very well whereupon a puppy dropped onto the floor!

All whelping tips greatfully received!