Blottie is now around seven weeks pregnant. She is around two weeks from the birth of her pups, so time for the whelping box to be put in situ and her her to get accustomed to the area she will give birth in. 

Blottie is now around six weeks pregnant and looking very big for this stage. This evening I have been able to easily feel movement of the pups she is carrying. Blottie with her previous two litters has had big litters of ten and nine pups. I think unless she is carrying a lot of fluid, she is carrying a big litter again. It is now getting her through the next two to three weeks safely.

Waiting list for Blottie's litter is closed
Please read this blog ​Waiting list unchanged and the waiting list is closed

A bitches gestation is around 63 days (9 weeks). Blottie was five weeks from her first mating on Monday and five weeks from her last mating on Wednesday. So she is around 37 to 39 days pregnant. She is looking big for this stage of pregnancy and from palpation she is giving all the signs of carrying another good size litter. Which actually worries me rather than making me rub my hands with glee seeing £ signs. 
She is ravenously hungry all the time at this stage. I think because of her size she is getting as much in, as she will struggle to eat as she blossoms. I tend to find bitches ravenously hungry at this stage is often an indication they are carrying a good size litter. I made some sausage rolls for pack lunches yesterday and this morning one of our children left one of the sausage rolls a bit to close to the side in the kitchen, as they turned to the cupboard to get the cling film. They turned back and the sausage roll was gone and so was Blottie, who had been watching them closely. She was found in the living room eating the last morsals of the sausage roll. A bit naughty, but she is pregnant.
​The two photos are of her watching us eating a bit of cake with afternopon tea, after she had just eat a plate of meat and biscuits. The look on her face, you would think she had had nothing to eat all day.

We finally got Sasha spayed on Monday. She was meant to be done back the end of March, but lock down happened and then she was booked in to be spayed as we came out of the first lock down, she then decided to come on heat two months earlier than usual. Thankfully with this lock down are vets are still doing spays, as I was worried it would be delayed again. Sasha got through the spay with no complications and three days later is recovering really well. 

Caught this bit of video of Billy and Polly playing together yesterday morning on my return from milking. The background noise is some of the dogs excited by my return and playing behind me.

Over the last couple weeks away from the blog, I have been catching photos of Polly in her crate with different family members. Anyone care to have a go at how each of them are related to Polly? We have Teagol, Puddin' Blottie, Smudge, Henry and Toby in the photos resting with Polly in her crate.

Still busy trying to finish up the work we have been doing on our home and realised it's over two weeks since I last blogged. Since then we have gone into another locking down, so this means I won't be getting Blottie pregnancy scanned. I am tho pretty confident as she approaches five weeks pregnant on palpation of her tummy that she is pregnant and carrying a good size litter. She has been having a bit of sickness along with being ravenously hungry. Which are all good signs at this stage. Fingers crossed!

I'm taking a two weeks break from my blog, as got some things I need to get finished up around our home, as we have been doing some home improvements. I will be back in two weeks time with hopefully good news that Blottie is pregnant. 

So it is just Polly left with us now from Puddin' and Teagol's litter. She is the girl we decided to keep from this litter. She is a little .character

Update for Tamsie, who left us on Sunday. which arrived yesterday. She is from Teagol's litter.

The last of Teagol's pups to leave us Gwyn, left us yesterday with Joan and Les. A very pretty boy full of play and also found of a cuddle. 

Joan emailed me later in the day to tell me how they got on getting home.

"Hi Jane
We had a quiet trip home. Gwyn dozed in between chewing his puppy kong which he loves. He seems to be settling in well and no accidents so far.
He has been exploring the garden and playing this afternoon as well as having a short nap.
Many thanks for the excellent pack and for the way you have raised the puppies.  We have managed to book him in for puppy classes in mid November which hopefully he will enjoy.
Regards 
Joan and Les"

Lynda sent me an update for Ted from Teagol's litter along with some advice if your pup likes their food as much as Ted does.

Lovely update came in yesterday evening for Pepper, after she left us from Gilly. Unfortunately, I can't load the video up on hear. So it is minus the video.

"Hi Jane
We had a good journey home. Pepper slept most of the way after a chew. 
As you can see from the video she settled and enjoyed racing around the garden. All great until she fell in the pond (she can swim). Dignity and courage now restored after a long sleep on my chest, both wrapped in my body warmer. 
She loves the bumblebee that you gave her. 
Thank you for all your care and attention, I love her and we are going to have great fun together
​Best wishes Gilly"

Tamsie (from Teagol's litter) has just left us this morning with Elizabeth and her family on her way to Salcombe to start life in her new home with them. Tamsie is a bit of a Tom boy, but also loves a cuddle and to curl up on your lap to sleep. I wish Elizabeth all the best with Tamsie.

Gilly came today to pick up Pepper from Teagol's litter to start her life with her in Plymouth. Although the now smallest of the litter, she leaves a big space. Very much a Gung ho puppy who has made us all smile and laugh with her derring-do. She is also a very loving little girl and I think will bring a lot of fun, cuddles and a few tears of laughter into Gilly's world. 

And an update yesterday arrived for Otto, who was the second of Teagol's pups to leave us, nearly two weeks ago.

​"Hi Jane
I just wanted to let you know how much we are loving having Otto in our lives. He has settled in beautifully and is such a happy little dog. 
He is doing really well with his toilet training and recall, sit and lie down. 
Despite having 3 beds in various parts of the house, his favourite sleeping place (surprise, surprise) is on our laps - or sometimes in Romilly's teepee! We love our evening sofa snuggles!
He's enjoying mini exploring trips in our fields and today we took him to the stream for his first paddle! 
I would also like to belatedly thank you for the most generous bag of information and all the goodies you provided with him. He loves the toys and treats and we are enjoying the book. You certainly go way above and beyond any other breeder we have known and it is very much appreciated. 
Happy 10 week birthday (Wednesday) to all Otto's siblings!
Many thanks again,
Helen, Al and Romilly"

Lovely update came in for Ted a few days ago. Ted is the first of Teagol's pups to leave us around two weeks ago.

Darcey who left us early today, got to her new home safely.

"Hello Jane
Darcey slept all the way home. Occasionally waking up for a stretch and to change position. She seemed to properly wake up as we came to the top of our street as if she knew in some way it was time to see her new home.
We went straight out to the courtyard, where after a bit of play and acknowledging every leaf around, she did a wee. 
Then we did some more playing, sorted her lunch, and then she did another wee and a poo outside. 
After bit more playing, it’s time for a nap on the lap! Pic attached. 
If she needs something, she definitely tries to communicate that with us with little noises, which is helpful. That’s how we knew she was wondering where to poo so we got her outside quickly again.  
Noticing her interest in leaves and large fabric labels on her toys, we’ll seek out a crinkly sounding toy with flat wavy bits tomorrow!
Thank you for creating such a lovely little pup! Darcey has been a credit to you!
We’ll keep you posted on how she’s doing.
All the best, Gemma"

Gemma and Stu picked up Darcey today to start her life with them in Plymouth. I wish them all the best with gentle Darcey. 

In the photos below the dogs are watching my husband, David early in the morning making his pack lunch. Millie is the Great Great Grandmother to Teagol's pups, making her daughter Smudge the Great Grandmother to Teagol's pups. Jessica is also the Great Great Auntie to Teagol's pups.