1
15 day old Tiny is the first to open her eyes!
Both wide open - but both still unseeing. It will take some time before she can recognize shapes - at this point its only shadows and light. I snapped this pic first thing in the morning when I saw that they were open - its about 6b am here, and Tiny is very wide eyed considering the early hour!
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2
Later that night.....
15 day old pups and another bedding change. Pups practice 'creative nursing' while they wait for the nest to be reassembled.
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3
Everything is all tore up!
And tossing the cardboard hood over Xena while she waits for me to finish works well to get it out of the way!
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4
Pottying pups is non-stop work!
Xena is an excellent mommy and keeps her pups super clean!
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5
They are really toddling now...
Pups stray from the temporary nest - probably drawn by familiar smells all around.
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6
Pretty pups!
I like the range of color the pups show at this stage. They will all turn out tan and white; the black seen on their spots is fading due to the 'sabling' gene, so its a real treat to see them each day and watch the colors change before my eyes!
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7
Do you see it?
Maybe not from this angle....
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8
We got a One Eyed Jack!
15 day old Jack the Knife, one eye open, one eye still shut!
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9
Is that a PITBULL?
Xena remains vigilant and posessive about the pups, but is relaxing more and more with the pack. Even tho Xena normally occupies the 3rd rung in the pack pecking order, from the largest to the smallest dog in the pack, they all without fail respect Xena's control over the bedroom and the nest.
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10
17 day old pups in the nest...
They hang onto Xena's boobs and when she exits the nest they come spilling out! I have woken up to Snapper nudging my hand and hubby says he found a dark pup (no glasses on, but it sounded like Snapper or Nemo) on the FLOOR under the nest! Xena created a huge ruckus and woke him up to collect the pup and return her to the nest; what ever happened to the dam using her mouth to transport her pups? (Apparently Princesses do NOT transport their pups via their mouths - mouth for cheese cake, thank you!)
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11
OK, sorta gross butt......
I noticed a drop of discharge and so take a look; at this stage of the game postnatal discharge is normal and can be expected for some weeks.
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12
Rattie history!
Day 18 for the pups, and a day that Cherie Rhoad came to town on business and stayed the weekend for pleasure! I have taken Cherie to Albrechts Antiques in Blakey, Minnesota. The store owner Arlene used to be a circus girl, and her family used ratties in their circus from about the 1920's to the 1950's - they switched to spitz at one point because they were all white and a bit easier to see in the main ring! I have read about circus ratties from various clubs, however NONE have provided a source! To the best of my knowlege, I am the ONLY American Rat Terrier historian to find a verifiable source to the connection with the rat terrier and the circus!
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13
19 day old pups await the stress excercise for this week..
They are stressed, weighed and get another nail trim too!
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14
Look - a helper!
I have taken most of these pix by myself, so its very hard to document what goes on each night this week. Having weekend company allows me to both fawn over pups with a friend, and provides me with a willing accomplice! Here Cherie Rhoad puts Snapper thru the elevation excercise. In this excercise the pup is elevated and allowed to feel a bit helpless for 10-15 seconds before being lowered and comforted.
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15
Dominance excercise is next....
Pups are held on their backs for 10-15 seconds each. Most squeal, some take it calmly, and all are soothed once the restraint is over! Also note in this pic that Xena is pottying Dauntless who is trying to climb on Cherie. Cherie has spent two nights in the bedroom and so her scent is now 'part of the pack.' I think Dauntless is crawling to Cherie because she is family/familiar!
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16
Pup in air...
And Astro has to check things out from his end too!
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17
Pups squeal while aloft...
Xena keeps an eye on them, but doesn't get worked up about strangers making her pups squeal.
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18
Hey!
Don't you think you are getting a bit TOO close? Xena gives Astro the Evil Eye to get him back off from the pups. The squeals of his half siblings interest him, but not enough to want to defy his momma!
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19
Is she allright?
Pups are moved from the holding nest on the bed (from the bedding change) to the nest as excercises for each pup (including nail trims) are completed.
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20
Xena peeks from the nest......
As Cherie dominate another pup.
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21
This one is squealing very loudly...
Xena pokes a nose out to make sure her pup is OK.
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22
Imagine doing this 7 times a day...
For 7 days. YUP, I do appreciate the help!
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23
Xena tends her brood...
While the excercises continue!
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24
More domination...
Some folks make a career out of this sort of thing...(hehee.. I am so naughty...)
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