The big boy cats moved into my bedroom and master bath today. They really like it there.

No more kittens

The kittens went home today. Wow, no puppies and no kittens, only Velvet Bear and the big boy cats. I feel like a normal family.

and then there were none

Avery flew to his new home today. He lives in New Jersey. After all this time and this many puppies, I still feel really badly at the airport the moment I give 'em a kiss and hug, tell them to have a good life, put 'em in the crate, look at 'em one last time, turn and walk away. Avery is one that I will miss a little more because he was the last to go and stayed around a long time.

Rosie is in a family way

Rosie is pregnant with Mars babies. She had a ultrasound today and the vet saw 6 or maybe 7 puppies. Not bad at all for shipped chilled semen and only one time at that. She is due to have her puppies Oct 15th.

Honey went home this evening. She was such a good girl. Bear is going to miss having her to hang out with when Velvet is at work. Avery is going to miss having her to play with in the evenings.

I really worked today

Velvet and the others were grounded today. I left them home today and actually got some work done at work today. The residents and staff were disappointed that I didn't bring Velvet. Oh well, there was no way I was bringing anybody today.

Too much

This was just over the top. Honey, one of my breeding girls in a guardian home, came today to spend a few days with us while her family is on vacation. Her mom is Josie and her dad is Da Vinci. She is so pretty, just perfect. She has a sweet disposition and I decided it would be great to take her with me to work today. My plan was to keep Velvet with me as usual and to have Honey and Avery play outside in the enclosed area so the residents could look out their windows and watch them romp and play and have a good time. I also wanted to introduce Honey to the place so maybe I could bring her with me sometimes instead of Velvet to give Velvet a break. Well, that all sounded like a great plan. What is the problem you ask? I'll tell you. Avery was small enough and kept squeezing outside of the fence. No way, I couldn't take the chance of him wondering away or getting hit by a car so I had to bring him inside. I left Velvet outside with Honey to keep her company. Avery didn't do too badly for a little puppy. He didn't stick with me like Velvet does thought. Ugh, before too long Velvet started barking to come inside. So I brought her in, but had to bring Honey inside too because I knew she would bark. So, there I was at work with three dogs with me. It was insane. They were insane. Honey was happy a lark, and looney as one too. She was running and bounding up and down the halls and had Avery and Velvet bouncing off the walls too. Good thing I was boss. But still, I would have fired myself if I coulda. During supper, Avery actually wondered into the kitchen. I don't think the kitchen girls thought he was cute like the residents did. Really though, he was only just inside the kitchen door and only for less than a minute. Shooey, I was so glad when this work day was over.

Avery went to the vet for a thorough vet check and health certificate for his flight home. The vet deemed him very healthy. The other kitten boy got neutered today.

Avery was selected by a family in NJ. He will go home in a week or two.

Just more of the same: taking Velvet to work with me, coming home, eating, having short training sessions with Avery, Bear, and Velvet, and doing whatever else needs to be done.

Velvet and I had to be a work bright and early this morning. yee haw
She loves going to work and the staff and residents love having her.

Bear and Velvet went to the doggie eye doctor for their annual check up today. Yes yes, I know Velvet has been spayed and doesn't have to be tested anymore. She is the foundation of my breeding program though and I want to keep close track of her health. I want to know exactly what goes wrong and when. So far...knock on wood...so good. The Opthamologist said her eyes are perfect. Bear also got a perfect score.

One of the baby kitty boys got neutered today.

It is all about Avery

It is like I have my very own puppy now. Avery is getting all the attention. I'm working on potty training and very basic obedience training and leash walking. He sleeps in his crate for about 6 hours a night before waking up.

...and then there was one

Poor poor Avery, he is all alone, so very alone. Frank went home today leaving Avery as the last puppy. This happens almost every time, one of the cutest puppies is the last to go. He was one of the first to be picked and put on hold. Then when the family came to get him, they decided to get a chocolate one instead. That is understandable. He was passed up a couple of times because the families wanted a straighter coated Doodle. He was on hold once and when the family came they picked the pup with the longer and less hairy nose. I was secretely happy about that one. People typically don't like the long smooth noses. Usually they prefer the shorter full-furry ones. He was never passed up because there was some wrong with him. It was always because one of the other pups struck the fancy of someone in the family. For now, I get to have and enjoy Avery all to myself.

This was a lazy morning. I went back to bed and was there at 9:00a.m. (highly unusual for me) when Velvet gave out one bark. Of course I got right up. She went over to the front door and just stood there looking at it then looking at me. She seemed to be saying "It has been three days now, it is 9:00 and time to go to work". Yesterday was my day off, and the day before was the wound care seminar, so she thinks it is high time to go to work.

Francie's progesterone

Francie had her Progesterone level checked today. Her guardian grandma is so wonderful. She took Francie to the vet and then delivered the blood sample to Indianapolis to the lab so we would be sure and get the results today. She is at 2.7. We will be doing the AI 3 and 5 days after her level goes over 5. She will have it checked again on Monday.

Poor Velvet

Poor Velvet didn't get to go to work with me today. I had to (got to, actually I was looking forward to this) go to a wound care seminar. I love wound care. Unlike the usual nursing home work, wound care is something concrete and usually fixable.

Francie

Francie is also going to be bred via Artificial Insemination. Her long distance husband lives in California too. This breeding is going to cost $3,050. That includes the stud fee, collection and shipping of the semen, progesterone testing, the actual AI, and the shot to make her ovulate. The ultrasounds and x-ray will come later and will add to that cost. I am excited to see how these puppies turn out. She Better get pregnant.

Rosie and Francie

Rosie is an F1 Labradoodle. She has a wonderful coat and does not look like the typical F1. This will be her 3rd litter. Her first litter was with an standard Poodle. Her second litter was with a standard F1 Goldendoodle for a litter of North American Retrievers. This litter will be with a mini Poodle.
Rosie

Francie is an F1B Labradoodle. Her mom is Rosie and her dad is a standard Poodle. This will be her first litter. She is going to be bred with a mini F1B Labradoodle for a litter of F3 Labradoodles.
Francie

Francie's period

Francie's guardian mom called to let me know "Francie got her period". *giggle

My Daddy's birthday

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Here are some pictures with Nikki, Velvet, and Eldin.


Now there are only two puppies left, Frank and Avery.

Nikki and the slumber party

Nikki is from Mera and Da Vinci's first litter together. Here she was as a baby Here she is now
Pretty cool eh? Frequently people ask "will the puppies retain their jet black color?" My answer is "I don't have any way of knowing for sure". I thought Nikki was going to look like Mera and have chocolate highlight with silver sprinklings. I had no idea she was going to turn that color. She is pretty and her family really likes her looks. In fact, they were hoping to get Phil. He has a white patch on his chest like Nikki did. They would kind of like for the puppy they are getting now to turn out like Nikki.

Nikki and her family drove all the way here from WI to see the puppies and see if there was one for them. They wanted to make sure Nikki liked one before committing. Of course Nikki liked them. She is a doodle. Doodles like everybody. They had tentatively planned on getting Avery. While they do like Avery and he and Nikki had a great time together, they were drawn to Eldin. Eldin has a longer nose and not as much hair on his face. They like that.
Eldin

Avery


Nikki got to spend the night here while the rest of the family spent the night in a hotel. It was so cool having her here. It felt like Mera was here (I miss Mera). Nikki is way bigger than I thought she'd be. She is almost as tall as Mera. She was nice and quiet and stayed right there by my side.