Here Comes The Stork!

It's been awhile since we've had a litter around here, but the stork is finally heading for New Jersey Beagles.  Our beautiful dog Wendy is expecting her litter around the middle of March.  The proud daddy is our one and only Sam The Man Tequila Sun Rise.  Better know to us as Sammy.  As you can see from the photo below, Wendy is already quite large, and, she still has more than a month to go, so we are going to watch her very closely over the next four weeks.  Stay with us as we monitor her progress .

Here's our girl with just about a month left before her pups are due.

It may still be cold outside but Wendy found herself a sunny, warm spot on the frozen ground.  For now there's only two things she's thinking about, spring flowers and puppy breath.  Well, if you truly know beagles you know we should probably add food to that list.   Anyway, it's February 21st, and although the calendar says Wendy has three more weeks to go before her puppies are due, both Wendy and I say, there's NO WAY she's going to make it to her due date!  If I were you I wouldn't miss a day checking her stork page because you certainly do not want to miss the big event, especially since you just might be in the delivery room with us this time. 

If you REALLY want to get in on all the excitement, click here to visit Wendy's very own page on our beagle discussion forum, and please sign up so you can be part of the discussion and post comments with some of our other members.  Everyone is welcome, but it would be especially nice to have Wendy's very own waiting list families join us too.   Come on over guys.  It's fun!

How many puppies do you think Wendy is going to have?  Click here to cast your vote.

  
"February 26, 2009"
Wendy's due date is just two weeks from today.  She's still just being her normal self, except she's being a little more needy than usual.  Seems she wants her mama a little more each day.  It makes sense.  Usually by the time they go into labor I'm in the dog house with them trying to comfort them.  So, today I decide to put Sammy in with her to cuddle up with.  She's pretty big for still having two weeks to go.  Either she has big pups or she has a lot.  I'm thinking she has a lot.

OH MY GOD WENDY, THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN JUMP UP THERE!!!
 OR CAN YOU????

  

What do you think?
Do you think Wendy jumps up and makes it, or do you think she has second thoughts and walks away? 
Click here and cast your vote.  The outcome photo will be posted sometime on Monday, March 2, 2009.

Hurry and vote.  Polls close 2pm Monday afternoon.

Click here to see if Wendy Jumps onto the stump or walks away.  

..... How Sweet .....
Sammy took his best girl out for a stroll in the snow today.  With a week or less to go, they didn't want to stray too far from home so they stayed kind of close to the old nest.

 
And Wendy just LOVED spending time with her man!

Wendy is looking rather happy today.  She's getting ready for her spa treatment from her brother in law Jake.  This seems to be a ritual I've noticed Jake doing for all our expectant mother's just prior to their due dates.  I'm wondering if he knows something I don't know, or perhaps I should start paying a little more serious attention to this sign. 

 
Good boy Jake.  First the left ear, and then the right.


And of course before she was put away today for her nap I had to give all of you a birds eye view of what I thought a pregnant beagle looked like who was about to give birth to 12 puppies on or about the 9th of March.  By the way, ask anyone,  I am almost ALWAYS wrong with my calculations....  One thing I do know for sure is, Wendy's milk is in, so she's ready.  All we need now is a bunch of hungry mouths to feed.  I'M PSYCHED!!  

        
Count all the flying storks

Wendy is doing great.  She still has plenty of energy when she's awake, and when she's sleeping, she sleeps very peacefully.  I'm watching her on the monitor from in the house and I'm very happy to see she's getting plenty of rest.  Her appetite is good, so all and all I'm very pleased with her progress.  I spend a lot of time with her in the kennel.  She likes staying inside with me while the other dogs run and play.  It's kind of our special time together.  She gets groomed, and of course tons of hugs.  I call her my little Chickie.  She gets her temperature taken, although she's not too happy about that.  She gets a couple of treats, and my treat is I get to feel the puppies kicking, which is something I never get tired of experiencing. 

She is quite large, and even though it does look like she's outgrowing her space, trust me, she still has plenty of room.  The photo is a little deceiving.  If you remember, this is the kennel I actually had to get into with Bonnie when she was in labor.  Yes, I do just about anything for my beagles.  I Like using this one for our pregnant girls because it's the closest one to the door, plus it's equipped with a light and camera.  Wendy has a lot of freedom here too.  She has plenty of room to come out and walk around when she wants to stretch her legs. 

  
Today is Saturday 3/7/09.  It's a beautiful day so I decided to let Wendy out to relax in the sun for an hour or so this morning.  She's really tired today.  Sammy came and spent a little time with her too, but I didn't leave her out very long.  I think she's starting to show some very early signs that time is getting close.  Her temperature has begun to drop.  This morning it was 98.2.  Still not quite low enough, but when you put it together with her loss of appetite and energy it's starting to paint a picture.  She hasn't begun any nesting, but Wendy really hasn't done that in the past until she was in active labor.  The best thing for her right now is to get as much rest as possible and that's exactly what she's doing.  Stay close to our discussion forum for updates.

CONGRATULATIONS WENDY AND SAMMY

Well, I was wrong again.  My prediction was off by a day and a puppy, but Wendy did a "WHOPPING" good job giving birth to ten healthy puppies Tuesday 3/10/09.  Her five males and five females have made nine waiting list females very, VERY happy.  One family is getting two puppies.  Wendy had eight tri colored pups and two lemon and white pups.  Each a male and female.  All and all you couldn't ask for a more perfect litter, as each family will get exactly the gender puppy they requested. 

On as sad note, Wendy did have an 11th pup that was not born alive.  I only mention this to show what an incredible dog she is to carry such a HUGE litter.

All our waiting list families and our New Jersey Beagles Discussion Forum Members were invited to watch the delivery of Wendy and Sammy's puppies during a live private internet broadcast, which many of them accepted.  It was an incredible experience for all and now they have the same thrill of watching the puppies grow and interact with their littermates over the course of the next seven weeks via our live internet webcam connection.

3/17/09

Wendy and Sammy's pups are exactly one week old today.  All ten of them are doing FANTASTIC!  The pups were moved out to the puppy nursery yesterday where it's nice and private.  Here you see them resting comfortably while mommy is outside taking a potty break.  The pups are sleeping on the heated section of the floor.  If it gets too warm for them they have plenty of unheated space to move to, but so far they've all opted to stay put.  We have a wireless camera set up at there, so we're keeping a close eye on them at all times to make sure we continue to have ten very content little babies.  Each pup has been nursing nicely and we're happy to announce they are all gaining weight daily. 

We're very pleased with their progress.

3/19/09

Let's me Wendy's boys



Let's meet Wendy's girls

4/06/09

 
At four weeks old, Wendy's pups are definitely up and around.  They love to play and wrestle and bite each others ears and tales.  They have little puppy teeth and have the sweetest little puppy barks and growls.  They get very excited when they see me come into the room and have definitely bonded with me.  They love curling up in my arms and are very affectionate.  Next weekend their new families will come to meet them for the first time.

4/8/09

It looks like mommies milk isn't quite going to cut it anymore now that the puppies have gotten the taste for real food.  Here they are getting their first taste of puppy kibble.  As you can see, they're LOVING it!

Then again, maybe there isn't anything better than good old mom's milk.  Even if you have to nail her to the floor to get it.  Being swormed and wrestled by 10 hungry 4 week old puppies is enough to stop a mother in her tracks and pose for a photo.

Meet our new puppy

"The Hunter"
Michael wasn't too excited about helping grandma and grandpa Rich pick out their new puppy Hunter.   I have a feeling he's going to be having a lot more sleepover's than usual from now on.

"Tootsie Belle"
This little puppy is not going to want for anything.  Infact, I'm not sure Tootsie Belle's feet are ever going to touch the floor because I don't think Joyce is going to ever let go of her.  She is in love!!! 

"Shadow"
Larry and Tammi knew before they got here that Shadow was their pick, but I don't think they knew just how adorable he was until they saw him in person.  Wait until the kids finally get to meet him next week!  This is "ONE" fine looking beagle puppy.

"Ruby"
.......Happy Birthday to Dot......
Little Ruby is a gem of a present, isn't she?!

"Darby"
John, Mary Lynn, and the girls loved all the pups but they finally settled in on little Darby.  A sweet little puppy for two sweet little girls.

"Sadie and Sammy"
Most kids are lucky enough to get one puppy, but Matthew is going home with two pups from Wendy's litter.  Matt chose Wendy's smallest male, which he named Sammy, and one of her look a like females who he will call Sadie.  Two adorable puppies for one happy young man. 

"Norton"
One little puppy living with three active boys?  I don't think Norton is going to have any problems finding someone to play with in this house.  Infact, I have a feeling Norton is going to be exhausted and begging to go to bed at night.  

I'm Alice, and I can't wait to meet my two new mommies.  They're coming to pick me up next weekend all the way from Atlanta, Georgia.  Geee, I wonder if I'm going to bark with a southern accent when I grow up?  Hurry moms!

I'm Lucas, I can't wait to play with my big brother Patrick.  He's driving with mom and dad all the way from Maryland just to come and get me.  Boy do I feel special!