Archive for August 2019

“Breeze Babies” has been quiet for far too long, and the pups are clamoring to be shown off again. Unfortunately, the last week was overwhelmed–and consumed–by attending the Golden Gate Kennel Club show, a two day “benched” canine affair that requires competitors to remain in the exhibition hall from nine to five, to meet and greet the public,…

Week six, and the Fab Four are sturdier on their feet, and sing in ever louder voices. They stand at the edge of the pen and cry piteously to be let out. Breeze is weaning them now, to their great dislike, even though they are chowing down on their solid food, which no longer has to…

This week brought more new things for the Fab Four. Most specifically, a residence high in the sky, moving on up from the bottom floor guest room: now they are in the garage, which has been converted over entirely to a big puppy pen, warmed nicely by two large heaters. They still have their whelping…

Rocking, rolling, scrambling, backing up, climbing the walls—the Fab Four are doing it all. They now walk steadily through their world at a good clip, and stand on their hind legs to look out over the top of the cutout in the box where their mother comes and goes. We have blocked off that opening,…

The puppies have made great strides since our last report, improving at walking, though their rears often don’t cooperate with their fronts and falling over seems to be the order of the day. Mom Mount Everest seems to hold great attraction, and they climb up and down Breeze’s head, back and rear with no fear. Their first…

This week brought in the spots! These boys now officially look like Dalmatians. Suddenly, there’s quite a bit of black in this whelping box, though luckily not too much on any one pup, and overall they are marked quite handsomely. Though some of these photos (taken just three days ago) don’t show it, eye trim…

Breeze says: Thank God, they’re here at last! I feel a lot better with my tummy back to near its regular size, and being able to breathe again. Underneath I look a bit like what Mom says they used to call a “sweater girl” because I’ve got so much milk, and there are only four…

Breeze is home at last and happy to be “unburdened.” Delivered by Cesarian section at 2:45 p.m., were four healthy, happy boys, all with strong suckling reflexes, who look as if they are going to grow up to be fine fellows. Breeze was the consummate mother, waking up from her surgery in record time, and…

Breeze gets bigger by the day and the pups kick harder by the hour. As time rushes by like a flood tide now, our true preparations begin. Out come the piles of white shop towels, the sheepskin puppy rugs, and the pee pads, all to be double-bleached and washed—even though they were perfectly clean when…

Breeze says: “Well, Thanksgiving was great. My Mom’s family was all around and I got lots of treats. Of course, I was literally starving and finally Mom gave me a big piece of turkey and a spoonful of stuffing with gravy. But, of course, it wasn’t enough—because I am a Dalmatian and a lot is never enough. Finally, I was stuffed…