The "J" Litter
We have been extremely pleased with Holly, out of the
Dillon/Kira litter of 2008, and decided it was time to try a
repeat of that breeding. At 4 1/2 weeks along in the
pregnancy, the vet could only see 2 pups. So we knew we
were in for a small Kira litter.
On Saturday night, September 17th, Kira's pups made their
appearance. Since there were only two pups to name, I had
been thinking it would be fitting to name them after two of
my grandfather's first English Shepherds. The male pup will
carry the name of Jack, in memory of Major Jack, who was
born in July of 1949. The female will carry the name of
Joy, in memory of Princess Joy, who was born in December
of 1949. Jack's & Joy's descendants were the pups that I
played with as a child. Many a happy childhood memory at
my grandparent's house involved those wonderful pups!
Week 1 - Having only 2 pups is similar to having only 1 pup
in that there is still plenty of food to go around! This week,
Jack & Joy have done what come naturally, which includes
eating to their heart's content, sleeping & learning to get
around. Needless to say, they have grown much faster than
pups in a full sized litter, and at 1 week in age, were flirting
with weights of 2 1/2 pounds. I can see beginnings of them
trying to raise themselves up on their legs. Over the next
week, their eyes will open, along with their ears, and they
will begin to start using their legs to support their body in
preparation of learning how to walk.
Week 2 - I got behind in things around here & didn't get
this posted when I should have! However, I did get pictures
taken of Jack & Joy & have posted them to their individual
pages. At 2 weeks in age, eyes were opened & they were
beginning to try to stand and take wobbly first steps. Joy
was first in the endeavor. Jack is bigger than Joy, so I
figured it took longer for him to be able to support his
weight.
Week 3 - Life is still very good for the pups. They are
eating well (still only nursing), walking & running now,
playing with one another, and looking up when I walk to the
pen. They are around 6 pounds with Jack being 1/4 a pound
heavier than Joy. Both pups have been great when I turn
them on their backs in my arms. I have been trimming nails
without too much problems, gently squeezing their feet,
along with lots of touching around their heads to get them
used to folks reaching out & petting them. Next week will
be the start of the "fun" times with them initiating play in a
big way.
Week 4 - Through the end of week 4, Jack & Joy were
still nursing, but growing on a steady basis. I have figured
out that they are about the weight of a normal 6 week old
pup. ;-) Both pups are adventurous and are exploring all
parts of the den, dining room, the bricks around the
woodstove, the great outdoors, etc., with little, to no balking.
I am always amazed at how the small litters tend to
approach new situations, in which they display a certain
confident air about them. These pups are no different.
Still receiving a lot of handling by everyone. Jack & Joy
had their first visitors this past Saturday. Also are playing
with their big sister Holly now. Kira continues to take very
good care of both pups, along with teaching them how to play
and how to nurse without using those sharp puppy teeth!
Week 5 - How time seems to fly by when there are puppies
in the house! It seems like it was just yesterday that they
could hardly walk, now the sky's the limit on what they can
do! This week the pups were introduced to some solid foods
and are eating it several times during the day, along with
nursing. We have added outside playtime (lots of it) to the
everyday routine, plus quite a bit of playtime with Holly.
Jack & Joy have now added grass, dirt, cement, bricks & the
wooden porch to their list of surfaces they have been on.
Once they started going up the brick steps, I helped them
come back down one day. If they go too fast or too hard,
they are likely to end up on the sidewalk on their chins. By
the next day, they both came down the steps on their own,
stretching out slowly (like I helped them do) until they
reached that "pivot point" and then dropped down easily. I
love working with smart puppies! They also have learned
how to go in and out of the house & seem to understand the
words "inside" and "outside."
Week 6 - Even though Kira allows Joy & Jack to nurse
some, they are pretty much on kibble for their daily rations.
The great outdoors has become a bigger place for them to
explore over the past few days. Confidence is building to
where they will go to the end of the house & out of sight to
see what is going on elsewhere. They run and jump most
everywhere that they go these days. The steps are not
obstacles any longer as they bound up and down with ease.
The flowers have suffered greatly between puppies playing
hard in them & the recent frost. Holly continues to be a
great playmate for the pups.
We have been extremely pleased with Holly, out of the
Dillon/Kira litter of 2008, and decided it was time to try a
repeat of that breeding. At 4 1/2 weeks along in the
pregnancy, the vet could only see 2 pups. So we knew we
were in for a small Kira litter.
On Saturday night, September 17th, Kira's pups made their
appearance. Since there were only two pups to name, I had
been thinking it would be fitting to name them after two of
my grandfather's first English Shepherds. The male pup will
carry the name of Jack, in memory of Major Jack, who was
born in July of 1949. The female will carry the name of
Joy, in memory of Princess Joy, who was born in December
of 1949. Jack's & Joy's descendants were the pups that I
played with as a child. Many a happy childhood memory at
my grandparent's house involved those wonderful pups!
Week 1 - Having only 2 pups is similar to having only 1 pup
in that there is still plenty of food to go around! This week,
Jack & Joy have done what come naturally, which includes
eating to their heart's content, sleeping & learning to get
around. Needless to say, they have grown much faster than
pups in a full sized litter, and at 1 week in age, were flirting
with weights of 2 1/2 pounds. I can see beginnings of them
trying to raise themselves up on their legs. Over the next
week, their eyes will open, along with their ears, and they
will begin to start using their legs to support their body in
preparation of learning how to walk.
Week 2 - I got behind in things around here & didn't get
this posted when I should have! However, I did get pictures
taken of Jack & Joy & have posted them to their individual
pages. At 2 weeks in age, eyes were opened & they were
beginning to try to stand and take wobbly first steps. Joy
was first in the endeavor. Jack is bigger than Joy, so I
figured it took longer for him to be able to support his
weight.
Week 3 - Life is still very good for the pups. They are
eating well (still only nursing), walking & running now,
playing with one another, and looking up when I walk to the
pen. They are around 6 pounds with Jack being 1/4 a pound
heavier than Joy. Both pups have been great when I turn
them on their backs in my arms. I have been trimming nails
without too much problems, gently squeezing their feet,
along with lots of touching around their heads to get them
used to folks reaching out & petting them. Next week will
be the start of the "fun" times with them initiating play in a
big way.
Week 4 - Through the end of week 4, Jack & Joy were
still nursing, but growing on a steady basis. I have figured
out that they are about the weight of a normal 6 week old
pup. ;-) Both pups are adventurous and are exploring all
parts of the den, dining room, the bricks around the
woodstove, the great outdoors, etc., with little, to no balking.
I am always amazed at how the small litters tend to
approach new situations, in which they display a certain
confident air about them. These pups are no different.
Still receiving a lot of handling by everyone. Jack & Joy
had their first visitors this past Saturday. Also are playing
with their big sister Holly now. Kira continues to take very
good care of both pups, along with teaching them how to play
and how to nurse without using those sharp puppy teeth!
Week 5 - How time seems to fly by when there are puppies
in the house! It seems like it was just yesterday that they
could hardly walk, now the sky's the limit on what they can
do! This week the pups were introduced to some solid foods
and are eating it several times during the day, along with
nursing. We have added outside playtime (lots of it) to the
everyday routine, plus quite a bit of playtime with Holly.
Jack & Joy have now added grass, dirt, cement, bricks & the
wooden porch to their list of surfaces they have been on.
Once they started going up the brick steps, I helped them
come back down one day. If they go too fast or too hard,
they are likely to end up on the sidewalk on their chins. By
the next day, they both came down the steps on their own,
stretching out slowly (like I helped them do) until they
reached that "pivot point" and then dropped down easily. I
love working with smart puppies! They also have learned
how to go in and out of the house & seem to understand the
words "inside" and "outside."
Week 6 - Even though Kira allows Joy & Jack to nurse
some, they are pretty much on kibble for their daily rations.
The great outdoors has become a bigger place for them to
explore over the past few days. Confidence is building to
where they will go to the end of the house & out of sight to
see what is going on elsewhere. They run and jump most
everywhere that they go these days. The steps are not
obstacles any longer as they bound up and down with ease.
The flowers have suffered greatly between puppies playing
hard in them & the recent frost. Holly continues to be a
great playmate for the pups.
Jack weighed in at 1 pound at birth. It's hard to tell
from the pictures, but I believe that he will be seal in
coloring when he is grown. You can see some of the brown
highlights in his fur. Although he will have limited white
markings, he will be a stunning dog with his seal coat.
Jack was born with double rear dewclaws which have been
removed.
from the pictures, but I believe that he will be seal in
coloring when he is grown. You can see some of the brown
highlights in his fur. Although he will have limited white
markings, he will be a stunning dog with his seal coat.
Jack was born with double rear dewclaws which have been
removed.
Joy is basically a black and tan girl with some white
markings. The small white blaze on her head & the markings
on the back of her neck will shrink, and may disappear as
she grows. I believe she will still have white around the end
of her muzzle, some white on her chest & on her feet when
grown. The tip on the tail will be almost nonexistent. Joy
weighed in at 1.05 pounds at birth. She too had double
rear dewclaws which have been removed.
markings. The small white blaze on her head & the markings
on the back of her neck will shrink, and may disappear as
she grows. I believe she will still have white around the end
of her muzzle, some white on her chest & on her feet when
grown. The tip on the tail will be almost nonexistent. Joy
weighed in at 1.05 pounds at birth. She too had double
rear dewclaws which have been removed.
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| All photos on this site: © 2011 White Oak English Shepherds |
| Kira, Jack & Joy - pups are 5 weeks old. |
| Joy, Jack & big sister Holly - above: pups are 5 weeks old. below: pups are 6 weeks old. |
