I’ve been starting to get things ready for the Trip-lets this week. I went out and bought some of the most obnoxious toys I could find–they sing, they dance, they move around. Also found a keyboard and a skateboard.
I decided to use a huge cardboard box from work as a whelping box. That way, when we’re done with it, I can just toss it out. I put some wooden dowels in it to make a rail for the pups so they don’t get squished. I found some mattress pad protectors to line the bottom of my box–quilted on one side, vinyl on the other, so the moisture doesn’t seep through.
I will be having a webcam of Trip and her pups, so I can keep an eye on them when I’m at work. We will be doing everything possible to have someone here as much as possible the first 2-3 weeks, and definitely the first 3 days, but much of the time it will likely be Ryan, so this way *I* can see what’s going on too. And as they get older, I can still keep an eye on them. We may put a second camera up as well–will just have to see how that will work.
Trip has been doing well. No weight gain, but her behavior is definitely “off.” She’s a little clingy, a little whiney, and a little less active. She is of course entitled to be all of those things. 🙂
Here is a test recording, similar to what will be seen with the webcam stream.
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Trip had her ultrasound today, and she is PREGNANT! Obviously, I’m relieved and ecstatic. We counted 4 puppies. Of course, ultrasound isn’t great for that purpose, since it’s hard to tell if you counted the same one more then once, but I really think we have 4 (definitely 3).
Now time to get into planning mode and get everything ready! 🙂
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Well, Trip’s breeding has come and gone. It came up so suddenly, I didn’t get a chance to put up a post when we were heading out. I was sure I was going to be flying in Sunday, for breeding on Sunday and Tuesday, but when Trip’s progesterone was higher then I expected on Thursday, we made the decision to go for Saturday/Monday breedings instead. I think it was a good decision, but didn’t leave me with a ton of time to plan. 🙂
The coolest thing about the way it ended up happening, is the time I was able to spend with Dillon. I picked him up from Kentucky, and then drove him and Trip down to Tennessee, where we were breeding them. I don’t think many dam owners get the opportunity to spend a lot of time with the stud dog, unless he’s theirs or a friend’s. I really love Dillon’s personality, temperment, and drive. He’s fun-loving, and sweet, two things which Trip really is not–she’s more serious, and while she’s sweet to me, she’s always been a more typical sheltie and not one to just sit in your lap. I’m really excited about what the two of them will produce.
All appendages are crossed–ultrasound in 3 weeks. If Trip is pregnant, she would be due the beginning of November.
Here’s a pic of Trip and Dillon. 🙂
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