Here Come The STORKS!
Our two love birds, Bonnie and Sammy, have decided to start a family. The couple are happy to announce they are offically expecting.
Their puppies are due around December 13th, so it's going to be a VERY special holiday this year. Please come back and visit us as we watch their stork story unfold, and start the countdown to the big event.

And to make the holidays and MORE special, congratulations to Powder and Jake as we watch their stork page come to life. Their little ones are due around December 22nd.

Mother and daughter, Powder and Bonnie are both expecting only 11 days apart, and from the looks of the two of them, they're both going to have pretty nice size litters. I'm predicting 8 or 9 puppies each.

Stork Daddy's

Our two Dads, Jake and Sam are taking a well deserved rest after working very hard at becoming new papa's.

Stork Mommy's
12/1/06

Our moms, Powder and Bonnie are doing great. Both girls are enjoying the sun and warmth of what's probably going to be one of the last decent days before the winter really hits us up here.

With only 6 more days to go, Bonnie has started slowing down. Definitely in her, "I need MY mommy" place of her pregnancy, and I don't mean her real mommy, Powder. Bonnie needs her human family now. For a dog who is always way too busy to stop whatever she's doing at the moment for a little human attention, wanting only that right now is a big sign that things are getting close. It seems hugs is at the top of her agenda list at the moment, and of course we're here to give them.

Powder on the other hand is still running around the yard chasing everyone who comes within ten feet of her and her new toy..... The garbage can lid! Everyone pretty much understands she's "Special" right now and they try to keep their distance and let her have her own way. After all, soon she'll be gone having her babies and the garbage can lid will be up for grabs.

All and all both girls are doing great. At the moment Bonnie and Powder are sharing a kennel house, but within a few days Bonnie will be moved by herself where she can start nesting and preparing her home for her new babies. Once we do that, the cameras will get turned on and we'll be able to watch her every move from inside the house.

It's December 11Th and Bonnie is just two days away from her due date. Here you can see her in her kennel house where she'll remain until whelping time. At that point she'll be moved into the house to have her babies. The view you're looking at in this photo is the exact view we have of her on TV monitors where we're watching her very closely.

Right now we're watching her nesting activity and many other little signs to indicate labor is approaching. For me, a good sign that things are getting close is when our dam loses her appetite or when her temperature takes a sudden drop. Bonnie's temp has dropped to 99 degrees, but she still has a pretty good appetite. Many other little signs can be observed by monitoring her through our cameras, which helps us determine exactly the right time to move her to the "Delivery room."

12/12/06
Just one day before Bonnie's due date, but I have to wonder if she's going to make it. It will be close.... Her temp is dropping as the day is going on, she's lost her appetite, she's nesting BIG time, and is extremely restless. Aroooing, breathing heavy, and in dier need of me. I actually just spent a good part of the last hour cuddling her in her kennel house. (Yes, the two of us fit) The things I do for my dogs, but it did seem to calm her down alot. Right now she's resting. We'll see what the rest of the day brings.

December 13, 2006

Happy Birthday to Bonnie's new family. Bonnie gave birth to her babies right on her due date, delivering nine beautiful, healthy pups. We have 5 males and 4 females. Congratulations to all our waiting list families and thanks to all of you who participated in their birth, and to those who waited patiently for news. And, lets not forget those "Night owls" who kept checking in throughout the night. Bonnie didn't exactly work with us as far as giving birth during normal hours, but it was still exciting just the same.

Congratulations new daddy Sammy
Watch for Sam in the coming weeks as he gets to meet his new family.

Bonnie's pups are just one day old and boy are they doing great! Everyone has found moms nipple and are sharing nicely. Even our smallest pup gained over an ounce since birth. I'm very very pleased with everyone's progress, including Bonnie. She's doing great, feeling good, and taking great care of her puppies.

NOW, back to Powder

Well, last week it was the garbage can lid. This week it's the tennis ball. Hopefully her favorite toy next week will be her puppies. At any rate, she's looking good and feeling good. I will say this much, Powder is already bigger than Bonnie was when she gave birth, and with 8 more days till her due date, this could be a record breaking litter.
Or, she simply has big puppies.

It's December 18th. Powder is four days away from her due date and I have just one thing to say.

SHE IS

HUGE

This little sweetheart is really hanging in there. She has a couple of days left. She's so big I can't even imagine how big she's going to be in another 3 or 4 days. Her spirits are great though. She seems to have alot of pep and energy. She does need help getting up the step into her kennel now, and is definitely seeking out her human family more than usual for a little attention and comforting. Her temperature is 99.5, which is lower than usual, but not low enough. She's eating normally and seems to be in tip top shape. The camera's are on and she's under close watch 24/7.

Bonnie's Babe's

Four days old and sleeping like little babies.

December 21, 2006
Just like her daughter Bonnie, Powder had nine beautiful pups. Five males and four females just one day short of her due date. It was a VERY long labor, (over 24 hours) but as you can see, the pups are adorable and everyone, including Powder are doing great!

Congratulations new daddy Jake
Watch for Jake in the coming weeks as he gets to meet his new family.

One interesting note:

Look at the two sets of litters. Bonnie's are mostly black with white markings, and Powder's are mostly white with black markings.

Bonnie and Powder are both open marked beagles, white with black and brown patches.

The difference in the coloring of the two sets of litters is of course the totally different coloring of the two dads.

I just find it so facinating. The daddies definitely had the last say in determining the coloring of their babies.

On the left is a photo of Bonnie's 9 pups at 15 days old. On the right are Powder's puppies at just one week old. All the pups seem to be doing fine and are gaining weight everyday.

Click here to see more photos of Bonnie and Powder's Pups. In their montage, the photos of the puppies on the little green carpet are Powder's.... The others with the gray flooring are Bonnie's.

Bonnie's pups are doing fantastic. They are alert and definitely respond to my voice. They are starting to play and wrestle with each other, and even let out a cute little puppy bark or growl from time to time. Their teeth are starting to come in and their ears and eyes are completely open now. They love being held and cuddled and DEFINITELY love laying on their back for a relaxing tummy rub.

And while Powder was out playing today, her babies we're in the nursery just kicking back and doing what they do best..... SLEEP!

Bonnie is enjoying a little time away from the kids and back in the yard running with the rest of her beagle buddies. Click here to see a montage of her puppies, and what they're up to while she's gone.

Bonnie's babies and their new families

Little Miss Prissy with the big black dot on her chest will now be known as Diamond. Diamond and her handsome little brother Ranger were the two lucky puppies Catherine and Carissa picked. Two happy little girls with two adorable little puppies.

Cindy fell in love with Bonnie's quiet but sweet little boy who loves to be cuddled. Luckily for her, husband Jeff and son Aaron felt the same way. They named their puppy Opie and can't wait to pick him up next week.

Charlotte, Niels and the girls had a great visit picking out their new puppy, and Lucca is the lucky little puppy who won their hearts.

Picture perfect beagle is the best way to describe this little guy, not to mention he's ALWAYS ready to play and wrestle with his littermates. Chris and Karen finally narrowed it down to two males, but it was Brady that finally won their hearts.

Her eyes are always saying, "Hold Me," and of course I do, but soon Peppermint will be held by her new family..... Mike, Lori, and Jessica couldn't be happier with their new puppy and are counting the days until they can come back to bring her home for good.

I'm sorry, but you just have to love this little guy with the half white and half brown face. Obviously Jim and his family did, even though little Sarge didn't stop howling the whole time they were here. Remember Jim, YOU'VE been warned. <s>

Anne and her family have decided on Bonnie's little girl, who they have named Belle. Belle is a little spitfire and is always in the middle of a good wrestling match with her littermates. Luckily for her she'll have two big brothers and a big sister to keep her busy.

Chance finally got to meet his new family today and it was love at first sight. Stephanie and her mom and dad had a solid smile on their faces from the first moment they laid eyes on their new little beagle. I can see this little guy isn't going to spend too much time on the ground.

Powder's puppies are 8 days younger than Bonnie's pups, so they still have those baby features going on, but every day they're getting bigger, more active, and playful.

Powder's babies and their new families

This pretty little girl hasn't met her new family yet because they're on vacation, but the have named her. She will know be known as Chardonney. We'll have pictures of Chardonney with her new family when they come to pick her up.

Olga and Amil couldn't be happier with Powder's handsome little boy Bandit. Their three sons couldn't be here today, but are thrilled with mom and dad's choice. Pick up day is Feb. 9th and it can't come soon enough for this family.

Mark and Danny got the surprise of their life when they came to pick out their new female puppy and wound up getting the one extra little male puppy too... A handsome little guy with a face that's ALL his daddy Jake's. He even has Jake's little marking on the top of his head, which I'm sure helped the boys pick his name. Spot is a very sweet, playful little guy. And Sammie, on the right, has a face you just have to love, with a sweet personality to match it. This little girl just wants to be cuddled and loved, which I'm sure her new daddy Charlie is going to be happy to oblige her with.

Mike wanted to meet his new puppy before he picked a name for her, but Powder's adorable little girl is already totally loved by her new daddy.

Click here, or on the group photo of Sammy and Jake and Bonnie and Powder to see a final montage of their babies.

Powder's pups at 5 1/2 weeks old

Click here to watch and hear a video of these five little racals playing this morning.

A couple of group photos of Powder's pups just days before they leave for their new homes. From left to right we have Sophie, Sammie, (back) Bandit, (middle) Chardonney , and Spot

Left to right is Spot, (back) Sammie, Chardonney, Bandit, and Sophie