SoftMaple Summer 2003 litter
Countdown



7/1/2003

July 1st. We still keep Seger active. Swimming and running with the other dogs. She needs to be in top physical condition for when she goes into labor. Some pictures of the gang at Camp.

Still too early to really tell if Seger is pregnant. She is eating a high quality diet as she was prior to being bred. I have not increased her food yet, but from the time she came into season I have given her Solid Gold Concept-A-Bitch. Solid Gold Concept-A-Bitch is a natural supplement for brood bitches.
o Contains kelp and red raspberry leaves. Red raspberry leaves have been used by breeders for many many years to help to bring lubrication to the birth canal and after whelping it helps to tone the uterus to help lessen the possibility of infection.
o Wild yam provides natural progesterone, which may help the fertilized egg to become attached to the uterine wall.
o Also contains folic acid to aid lactation and as an analgesic, and beta carotene and vitamin A to help produce colostrum.

I don't know if it really helps, but I have used either the Concept a bitch product or just the raspberry leaves with all my litters. While Seger isn't getting any more food yet, I am gradually changing her over from her normal kibble to the puppy formula.



7/12/2003
Seger is starting to get quite thick around the middle. You can see her nipples are becoming more prominent.



I have to get the puppy room ready for Seger. The whelping box even though clean, has to be scrubbed out and aired. All my whelping box liners will have to be rewashed and ready. Seger will start sleeping in the puppy room at nights pretty soon, just to get her used to it again. I try to keep all my whelping stuff in order and ready from year to year, but now is the time to check everything out to see if anything needs replacing.


7/12/2003



7/17/2003

Seger is looking bigger. Here she is enjoying a day at the lake. The long walks have been cut short, with the heat, and her being so fat! So swimming is filling in for her exercise.



Seger and Aysa on the island


7/26/2003


7/30/2003


8/2/2003 2:00am, Seger goes into labor!

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

For information email me at:
softmaple@curlycoat.org

Pictures of the family

Back to the Pedigree

Click below to order your copy of
The Puppy Diary thrugh PayPal for $19.95
($5.50 Shipping and Handling)










Or mail a check to:
Cathy Lewandowski
8282 Soft Maple Road
Croghan NY 13327

About the Book

Follow a litter of puppies from birthday until they go to their new homes. The diary contains lots of pictures, tips on puppy rearing, some breed specific information, and lots of information on the care of any breed of dog.

I started doing an on-line puppy diary since many of the people that would be getting one of my pups would not be able to travel here to see the pups. I did not want to put a bunch of cute puppy pictures online, and encourage anyone to have a litter just because they wanted to see cute puppies! Breeding dogs, if done the right way, is a lot of work. Lost sleep and sometimes heartache. It takes a lot of time, effort and money to raise a litter of puppies. Once I started doing The Puppy Diary, I realized I had a captive audience. These people logged on every day to see the pictures, and read what was happening. I used this opportunity to cram as much education into each day as I could. Health, Coat issues, grooming, feeding, socializing, vet care, puppy evaluations, shipping puppies.... you name it! I tried to put it in The Diary. It was suggested that I make it into a book. Well here it is! There are 560 pictures and over 300 pages of living with and watching one litter grow up.

I am sure may conscientious, caring breeders raise litters similar to the way I do. Its is a good look into the time, money, commitment it takes to bring up a litter of pups. Some of the things that go on behind the scenes, that the eventual puppies owners (family), never realize go into the litter. Enjoy my litter as I see them. Day to day

Contents

Chapter One (Week One) ... Page 1
Seger comes into season
Happy Birthday!
Removing the Dewclaws
Start of the Bio Sensor program

Chapter Two (Week Two) ... Page 48
Coat issues.
Tail Gland Hyperplasia
Do Curlies Shed?

Chapter Three (Week Three) ... Page 94
End of Bio Sensor Exercises
Worming The puppies
Eyes are open
First pup escapes from the box

Chapter Four (Week Four) ... Page 130
Weaning. The great food fight!
Introduction to the puppy play room
Shark Cage

Chapter Five (Week Five) ... Page 156
Field dog? Show Dog? CPE?
Happy Mothers Day!
First Stacked pictures

Chapter Six (Week Six) ... Page 195
Toys! Toys! Toys!
What’s In A Name?
Kids and Dogs
Introduction to Wings

Chapter Seven (Week Seven) ... Page 236
About Puppies and Retrieving
Socialize your puppy
First Shots & Vet Visit
Splish Splash, first bath!

Chapter Eight (Week Eight) ... Page 286
Shape up or ship out!
Requirements to ship puppies
See all the pups!