SoftMaple Fall 2002 litter

Hopefully!

SUCH Ringlets Constant Wind X SoftMaple's Fairway Explorer CGC

9/29/2002 The last day of the Fingerlakes shows Ripple comes into season. She was acting squirly all weekend. Peeing a lot. Sensitive about other dogs sniffing her. She had been due to come in season sometime near the end of August. Sometimes having one bitch around another bitch in season will bring them into season. (I knew her cousin Lola would knock her in!)

I have the PreMate tests ready and waiting.

PreMate is an Ovulation Timing Test Kit that tests of the amount of progesterone in a blood sample to help determine the time of ovulation. Since Ripple will be bred by Artificial Insemination it is important to know when she is going to ovulate so I can call Eva and tell her to have Tarras collected. (Yea, I know....takes all the romance out of it!)

Since the PreMate has a short shelf life, my vet does not carry the test. It was easier for me to purchase the test kits from Camelot Farms and have them on hand at home.

10/3/2002 This is only day 5 of Ripples season, but I wanted to run a PreMate test and see how hard/easy it would be. You can see where I shaved Ripple's leg to draw the blood sample. Ripple didn't mind at all. I figured it would be less stressful on Rip to draw the blood and run the tests here.

It wasn't necessary to shave her leg, but it makes it easier, and I don't have any plans on showing her in the near future. I also hadn't drawn *dog blood* since I stopped working as a Vet Tech, and wanted to give myself every advantage! My patients don't have nearly as much hair... on their arms anyway! Ripple was great and didn't even seem to notice what I was doing. As long as I wasn't near her toenails with the nail clippers, she was happy. ;-)

What I am looking for is for Ripples sample to be lighter than the dark control sample. As you see here (not that great a picture) but the first sample is dark pink, where the middle sample is lighter pink. Ripples is the far right sample, and the darkest of them all.

Since August (when she was due to come into season) I have given her Breed Heat Supplement. Breed Heat is a Herbal supplement for the breeding bitch during preheat, heat, conception, & gestation. Start 2-4 wks prior to heat cycle; continue throughout the gestation period until the whelp is over. Sometimes I use Solid Gold Concept-A-Bitch, which I decided not to use this time. Concept-A-Bitch has wild yam which provides natural progesterone. Since I am doing progesterone testing, I wasn't sure if a natural progesterone would throw off the test results. (yea, that may be far fetched, but you never know) I don't know if it helps giving these homeopathic products, but I have used them with all my litters.

Other than that, we aren't doing anything except waiting. I will do another test in two days.

Other things we have done to prepare for the big day....

I had to get both Tarras and Ripple DNA profiled.
Tarras has gotten a doppler to check his heart.
Ripple of course is OFA, CERF, and Cardiac Clear
Tarras is eye clear, heart clear and hips A/B
Ripple is up to date on all her shots and worming
I did a vaginal culture to make sure she does not have any infection
I have gotten the paperwork from the AKC for a chilled semen breeding
Eva has been in contact with her vet, who will do the collection
Tarras has had a test chilling, to make sure his semen will stand chilling and storage
I have contacted Eva to let her know Ripple is in season

10/5/2002 Ran another PreMate test today. As you see from the fuzzy picture, Ripples sample (far right) is about as dark as the negative control. I'll probably test every day now, since I have the tests... they outdate in June, so I won't be using them up any other way. Ripple's mom Bumper was bred on day 9... then she had a few days where she wanted to take Sam's head off...then she mated again for three days in a row. With a one shot deal, I want to make sure we catch Rip on her optimum day.

10/9/2002 Ripples progesterone test showed that she is ovulating! Kerstin and Eva have been on the phone all day and the semen is shipped out tonight. I can follow the tracking on the DHL website as it left Sweden and was transferred to the UK. It should arrive in Syracuse NY Friday.

This is also the 1st Birthday of SoftMaple fall 2001 litter. You can see them at a year here on the update page. SoftMaple 2001 Litter ~ Happy Birthday!

10/11/2002 Today we did the artificial insemination.

I had tracked the shipment online as it left Sweden, went through the UK, entered the States, came to NY. I picked it up at the shipping office, and brought it to my vets along with Ripple. The semen was shipped in a plastic test-tube placed in a long cylindrical shaped thermos (Vildmark Termos) which was packed in a padded mailing bag.

At the vets, they took a small sample out to check how active it was. (sperm motility) A drop is placed on a microscope slide and watched as it warms up. My vet was very pleased with the activity and quantity of the semen after such a long trip.

Ripple cooperated very well with the vaginal insemination. Now we wait!

11/16/2002 I cleaned off the whelping box and gave it a new coat of paint. The dogs of course are nosy, and Seger manages to step in a big drip and leave a nice paw print across the puppy room floor.

My husband is sure Ripple is pregnant. She is wider through the middle. I hope its not just because of the extra food and shorter walks! She never went through morning sickness but she has been extra mushy. I have switched Ripple over from her normal food to the puppy formula in the same brand. It is denser in calories than the adult food. So I don't have to increase the amount she is fed, yet she is getting more nutrients. She also gets snacks of meat and cheese throughout the day. We don't want her to gain too much weight at this point, but she needs the nutrients for the growing family.

Pictures of Ripple 11/25/2002

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ripple on December first

Countdown.... Ripple December 10th

Happy Birthday! 12/10/2002 Ripple goes into labor

Pregnancy Calendar for SoftMaple 2002 Fall/Winter litter
Date: Sat 12 Oct 2002
Sire: SUCH Ringlets Constant Wind Cardiac clear, eye clear, Hip A/B
Dam: SoftMaple's Fairway Explorere CGC CR-CA74/16F/S-PI CREL98F28-PI CR-642G28F-PI CERF
Breeder: Mark and Cathy Lewandowski
Fri 11 Oct 2002
First day of mating.
48 hours after the first mating the bitch should be mated again. Subsequent matings occurring over a period of time enhance the chances of fertilization taking place.
The spermatozoa migrate up through the cervix.
Sat 12 Oct 2002
Sperm travel searching for a mature ripened eggs.

Sat 12 Oct 2002 -
Sun 13 Oct 2002
Spermatozoa reach the eggs in the oviducts.
Sun 13 Oct 2002 -
Mon 14 Oct 2002
Fertilization occurs in the oviducts which lead from the ovaries to the uterus.
Mon 14 Oct 2002 -
Wed 16 Oct 2002
Fertilized eggs migrate down the oviducts and into the uterine horns.
The migration continue to enable even spacing of the embryos.
During this migration the eggs will grow into a blastocystes.
Tue 22 Oct 2002 -
Thu 24 Oct 2002
The blastocystes implant in the wall of the uterus.
Tue 22 Oct 2002 -
Mon 4 Nov 2002
The blastocystes will grow into an embryos.
During the next two weeks the important organs will develop.
Fri 25 Oct 2002 -
Thu 31 Oct 2002
Dams nipples begin to pink enlarge.
The fur on the dams belly and around the nipples may become thinner.
Wed 30 Oct 2002 -
Wed 6 Nov 2002
Morning sickness might occur due to hormonal changes or stretching and distension of the uterus. Dam may appear a bit apathetic. She may be off her feed for a while and vomit from time to time.
Feeding the dam several meals spaced throughout the day might help.
Your veterinarian may want to prescribe a drug to relax the uterus.
Mon 4 Nov 2002 -
Fri 8 Nov 2002
An experienced person (a breeder or a veterinarian) can tell by careful palpation whether the dam is pregnant.
It's now the best time to do this because the embryos are walnut-sized now and easy to count.
Thu 7 Nov 2002
Start to increase the dams food ration.
Don't overfeed, excessive weight gain should be avoided.
The foetuses are now and are fully developed miniature dogs.
Wed 13 Nov 2002
The Dams abdomen starts to get larger.
Sat 23 Nov 2002
It's very easy now to feel the puppies, counting them might be a bit more difficult.
Tue 26 Nov 2002 -
Wed 4 Dec 2002
Dam begins to spend a lot more time in self-grooming.
Her breasts become even more swollen.
She may become a bit restlessness and begin to search for a suitable place to have her puppies.
Thu 28 Nov 2002
The dam might lose her appetite during this period. Her abdomen can be crowded with puppies.
It is better to feed several smaller meals spaced throughout the day.
You can easily detect abdominal movement now.
Thu 28 Nov 2002 -
Fri 13 Dec 2002
Nipples and vulva should be gently cleaned with warm water, you might want to trim the hairs surrounding the nipples, to allow easier access for the puppies to suck.
Sun 8 Dec 2002 -
Wed 11 Dec 2002
Milky fluid may be expressed from the nipples.
Mon 9 Dec 2002
You might want to start taking the dams rectal temperature each morning and evening.
Thu 12 Dec 2002
Twelve to 24 hours before she is due to deliver, the dams rectal temperature may drop from 101 to 98 degrees.
Clear discharge from the vulva might occur.
Fri 13 Dec 2002
Expected date of whelp. Of course this is just an average. Whelping may take place from the 59th to the 65th day. Puppies born before the 58th day will probably be too young to survive.

Back to Ripple and Tarras Pedigree

See pictures of Tarras's siblings

Ripple's Page

Back to the Puppy Diary Home

Back to SoftMaple

SoftMaple Curly Coated Retrievers
Mark and Cathy Lewandowski
8282 Soft Maple Road
Croghan New York 13327

For information about our exciting upcoming litter email me at:
softmaple@curlycoat.org

More extensive Pedigree

Out of this litter, we kept Aysa. CH SoftMaple's Comin' To America CD CGC

SoftMaple's Announcement page


Pregnancy Calendar for SoftMaple 2002 Fall/Winter litter
Date:	Sat 12 Oct 2002
Sire:	SUCH Ringlets Constant Wind Cardiac clear, eye clear, Hip A/B
Dam:	SoftMaple's Fairway Explorere CGC CR-CA74/16F/S-PI CREL98F28-PI CR-642G28F-PI CERF
Breeder:	Mark and Cathy Lewandowski
Fri 11 Oct 2002	First day of mating. 48 hours after the first mating the bitch should be mated again. Subsequent matings occurring over a period of time enhance the chances of fertilization taking place. The spermatozoa migrate up through the cervix.
Sat 12 Oct 2002	Sperm travel searching for a mature ripened eggs.
Sat 12 Oct 2002 - Sun 13 Oct 2002	Spermatozoa reach the eggs in the oviducts.
Sun 13 Oct 2002 - Mon 14 Oct 2002	Fertilization occurs in the oviducts which lead from the ovaries to the uterus.
Mon 14 Oct 2002 - Wed 16 Oct 2002	Fertilized eggs migrate down the oviducts and into the uterine horns. The migration continue to enable even spacing of the embryos. During this migration the eggs will grow into a blastocystes.
Tue 22 Oct 2002 - Thu 24 Oct 2002	The blastocystes implant in the wall of the uterus.
Tue 22 Oct 2002 - Mon 4 Nov 2002	The blastocystes will grow into an embryos. During the next two weeks the important organs will develop.
Fri 25 Oct 2002 - Thu 31 Oct 2002	Dams nipples begin to pink enlarge. The fur on the dams belly and around the nipples may become thinner.
Wed 30 Oct 2002 - Wed 6 Nov 2002	Morning sickness might occur due to hormonal changes or stretching and distension of the uterus. Dam may appear a bit apathetic. She may be off her feed for a while and vomit from time to time. Feeding the dam several meals spaced throughout the day might help. Your veterinarian may want to prescribe a drug to relax the uterus.
Mon 4 Nov 2002 - Fri 8 Nov 2002	An experienced person (a breeder or a veterinarian) can tell by careful palpation whether the dam is pregnant. It's now the best time to do this because the embryos are walnut-sized now and easy to count.
Thu 7 Nov 2002	Start to increase the dams food ration. Don't overfeed, excessive weight gain should be avoided. The foetuses are now and are fully developed miniature dogs.
Wed 13 Nov 2002	The Dams abdomen starts to get larger.
Sat 23 Nov 2002	It's very easy now to feel the puppies, counting them might be a bit more difficult.
Tue 26 Nov 2002 - Wed 4 Dec 2002	Dam begins to spend a lot more time in self-grooming. Her breasts become even more swollen. She may become a bit restlessness and begin to search for a suitable place to have her puppies.
Thu 28 Nov 2002	The dam might lose her appetite during this period. Her abdomen can be crowded with puppies. It is better to feed several smaller meals spaced throughout the day. You can easily detect abdominal movement now.
Thu 28 Nov 2002 - Fri 13 Dec 2002	Nipples and vulva should be gently cleaned with warm water, you might want to trim the hairs surrounding the nipples, to allow easier access for the puppies to suck.
Sun 8 Dec 2002 - Wed 11 Dec 2002	Milky fluid may be expressed from the nipples.
Mon 9 Dec 2002	You might want to start taking the dams rectal temperature each morning and evening.
Thu 12 Dec 2002	Twelve to 24 hours before she is due to deliver, the dams rectal temperature may drop from 101 to 98 degrees. Clear discharge from the vulva might occur.
Fri 13 Dec 2002	Expected date of whelp. Of course this is just an average. Whelping may take place from the 59th to the 65th day. Puppies born before the 58th day will probably be too young to survive.