BitterSweets

Definition of  "Bittersweet"

1: something that is bittersweet; especially : pleasure alloyed with pain
 
This is the definition of the past week.  As the weekend drew nearer, our collective family disposition became progressively sadder.  Though we tried to bury the feelings in our duties, the mood was palpable.  Our family poured our hearts and souls and lives into this last litter of pups from Tessa and Jack.

 In the confluence of a single morning, 5 of seven pups were escorted out to waiting vehicles to transport them to new loves, new lives, new homes. Sunday came and a sole girl remained. 
 
It seemed Tessa sensed the coming as well - allowing the last two pups to nurse even at 8 weeks, long dried of milk it must have been pure emotion having "lost" most of her litter the day before.  She has kept close watch on the remaining pup, staying near.  The remaining girl will be with us for one more week - she is our blessing and I'm certain will grow even larger in our hearts in the coming days. 

 
These are the times caring breeders dread.  The sudden emptiness, the deafening silence, the remnants of what moments before was an exuberant overflowing emphasis of life sits now like a vacant tenement.  There is no other description that suits the bitter taste left behind.  So why do we do this?  Why put our lives through such a roller coaster of emotion knowing this is a result...?
 
Because the second portion of the term is "Sweet". 
"something, as an experience, that gives delight or satisfaction" and "agreeable to the mind; gratifying"
 
To bring these adorable puppies into the world, hold them and care for them, foster their development to the best of our abilities so that they can be great additions to other's lives -
To see young Regan and Mia and Landon wrap their arms around a puppy that loves them purely for simply being -

To know the enjoyment and life they will bring to Paul and Joy, Tom and Nancy, Hal and Victoria, Wes and Aulani, Tim and Karen, Jodi and Ed, Dominik and Anne and their families -

To see the pups grow and develop and demonstrate their genetics afield...

 
These are the decades of sweet moments to which we are afforded by enduring the current moment of bitterness.  It is a bad tasting medicine well worth taking.

The friends we meet

We have been so pleased and thoroughly enjoyed meeting such interesting people that are becoming part of our extended family.  One of the families that stopped by for a recent visit owns a Photography school on the Central Coast and makes some pretty good wine too!  Today we received several photographs they took while visiting - just snapping randomly.  I hope you enjoy these as much as we do!

The blonde curls were FASCINATING to the pups!

"Playing Puppy"



Fa-la-la-la-LAAAA!!!!!

If you would like to learn to take photo's like this - I'd suggest http://www.lightworkshops.com/  Ask for Victoria or Hal.  Both are wonderful people, passionate about what they do and highly skilled!

The first Big Move

This is the second litter we've raised in this home. We had one two years ago and as with that litter, the pups are raised in the house with us. For logistic purposes, the whelping nest gets set up in the Master bedroom and this is where the pups live the first four or so weeks.

Dogs from the household gradually get introduced and there's still a lot of comings and goings, though not the same rate as the kitchen.

At about 4 weeks, when the Dam begins weaning, we move the pups to the Kitchen and expand the setup with a Weaning box as well. It gives the pups a lot more room to roam and play and exposes them to all the sounds and smells of living with a family.

Having trouble uploading a video this morning - Hughesnet is practically worthlesss as a provider....grrrrrr.....

We're also taking pups out individually to prepare them for their next big transition, and it looks like the weather will cooperate this weekend for their first outdoor excursion! 

A Great day of visitors

Saturday was a beautiful day. We had the priviledge to open our home up to our new friends and family and introduce them to the litter. We couldn't be happier!

We wished we would have taken more pictures - we got so wrapped up in the moment - especially watching a very beautiful Mia interact with the litter!

Jodi had great fun with Orange boy, aka "Monkey"

why would we call him Monkey?

We can't forget Dean - but sadly no pictures!  It was an interesting day, hosting folks from a Veteran Police Sergeant to little Mia - it is always so interesting the people we get to know through the dogs that we would likely never meet otherwise.  Though the differences in background - the commonality in watching people interact with these toddling youngsters is amazing.  They bring us all to the same place!  As one said "it's impossible to pick them up without kissing them!"

We look forward to hosting the rest of our new family in the next week!



Puppies are growing

This clip is really the first time the group has played.  They are developing quickly now and we'll start seeing more what each one's personality will be like.  The play didn't last long, only a few minutes before they all piled together again for yet another nap.



I like this short clip - The puppies had been playing for a few minutes then all gathered into a pile, this little one (pink girl) faced me and gradually nods off...  zzzzzzzzzzzz 

A couple Puppy video's

Ok, so I'll try this again!  Here is a little clip that we took today.  You'll notice their eyes are opening up and their mobility is increasing.



Here's a longer clip - I cut the resolution so it wasn't so huge a file, but it's still pretty large.



We'll post more soon!

Puppy Update

It's been a big growth spurt from the last update on the puppies!  They are growing so quickly and all of them are solid and getting stronger every day.  Their eyes are beginning to open and their world is expanding. 

We've completed the bio-sensor training.  Yesterday was the 16th day.  We did this training from day three to day sixteen (see "Super Dog" Post ) for more information on Bio Sensor training and it's benefits.


Tessa keeping tabs on Janet with black collar pup



It's been interesting watching them progress through the training.  Initially, much resistance to lying on their backs, now though, they all seem to just melt in your hands.  The cool rag portion gets them standing quickly.  No one cares for the inverted hold very much at all, and they seem oblivious to the toe/foot stimulation. 



They all like the lying on their back... now.



We'll post a bunch of pictures in the next day!  Thanks for your patience while I went to play with the grownup dogs!



Dew's and Docks

Yesterday Janet and a very good friend and fellow Vizsla enthusiast and Breeder "Auntie Lynn" took Mom and her seven dwarfs to see the Vet for the first time.  It was for their initial health check and to get their tails docked and dew claws removed.  They all came through fine and seem very content and happy.

In the US, the AKC standard is that the Vizsla tail is to be docked at 2/3 it's length.  This is typically done between day one and day three as the Pups nerve system is not yet fully developed.  There are some factions that feel this is a cruel and un-necessary procedure.  It has been banned in some European countries by legislators listening to the Animal Rights crowds rather than the Sporting breed owners and Veterinarians.

Some excerpts from a well done article by Steve Peacocke and re-produced on Vizsladogs, Ltd.
         

So why don't we ban tail docking if it's such a barbaric practice? The answer is plain and simple, it is detrimental to the health and welfare of some breeds of dogs not to dock their tails - i.e. it is cruel not to dock. Let's examine the reasons behind why docking is done today. Let's examine each argument that I have heard to date…

The tail bone of a pup at less than 3 days old is still soft and the nervous system undeveloped. Consider that a young lamb or calf is so developed at birth that they can stand and walk besides their mothers within minutes of being born; a human, although not able to stand for many months, is still fully formed at birth; a pup though is essentially still developing after birth, the eyes, for example, do not open for many days. The pup is still developing hearing, sight, and the nervous system for many days after birth. As a hunter and scavanger, the dog has developed the ability to carry pups for only 63 days before giving birth to allow to mother to venture from the den to obtain food. The pups are still forming after birth, docking at this age causes only a momentary discomfort that is almost instantly forgotten.

Argument:     There is no reason to dock dogs’ tails.

Response:     The Hungarian Vizsla is a hunter, pointer and retriever with 1 third docked from the tail. Although the remainder of the tail is strong, the third docked is thin and whip-like and is open to damage in the field. The Vizsla holds it's tail horizontal to the ground and wags it forcefully while charging through rough scrub and undergrowth. The unprotected tip is docked to keep it from splitting and bleeding. Once damaged, the tail is extremely difficult to heal, sometimes requiring amputation later in life when the dog must be placed under general anaesthetic causing undue stress and pain.



Argument:   Tail docking is completed only to win shows.

Response:   There is no rule made by the New Zealand Kennel Club that requires any breed to be docked to allow it to show. The Hungarian Vizsla has been around since the 10th century and earlier and even early records show a docked tail yet, other than a brief test at showing early this century in Hungary, the first Vizsla to show anywhere in the world was in the mid 1960's. Docking is performed to save the dog pain and hardship.



Argument:   Tails are required to aid in swimming.


Response:   Many docked breeds including the Vizsla, and even fully docked breeds, are excellent swimmers.


Argument:   Tails are required for balance.

Response:   Despite this seemingly plausible argument, no dogs to my knowledge, have ever fallen over due to the lack of a tail. Wobbly dogs are almost non-existent.



Argument:   Tails are required for expression.

Response:   The tail is immediately seen by humans but the full body language is used by other dogs. Even a fully docked dog can easily give the full range of emotions to both other dogs and to humans. Arguments to the contrary usually go along the lines of "why then are most aggressive dogs the ones with the docked tails?" When the word "aggressive" is used people usually conjure up images of the American Pit Bull Terrier (which is not docked), the Rottweiller and the Doberman. These latter dogs are bred to be guard dogs and have their tails docked to prevent intruders gripping the tails making the dog ineffective. Docking their tails didn't make them aggressive, they were docked because they were trained to be aggressive.



Argument:   Docking tails is "Cosmetic Mutilation".

Respons:   This is the "catch-phrase" of the SPCA. It means nothing and is specifically designed to bring emotion into the argument. It is hard to argue against as it contains no facts to argue. It's like saying "I think you're ugly", it's designed to get an emotional response.



Argument:   Other hunting dogs don't have their tails docked.

Response:   The practice of docking some hunting dog's tails was done for practical reasons, if there is no practical reason, why dock at all? The Labrador has a thick, powerful and well padded tail throughout the full length, the Irish Setter and the Golden Retriever have long course hair for protection the Vizsla, GSP and Weimeraner have no such protection. There is also the question of the type of hunting done, the Labrador is the traditional retriever with the likes of lowland ducks where tail damage is unlikely. The Vizsla on the other hand hunts ducks on rivers and ponds; pheasants and quail through the rough; and even deer in dense bush.


Argument:   Other countries are banning tail docking.

Response:   While this is true for some countries, this experiment has proven disastrous for working dogs such as the Hungarian Vizsla, the Weimaraner and the German Short Haired Pointer. Most countries that have banned tail docking are currently considering, if not totally reversing the law, allowing docking of hunting breeds for humanitarian reasons. In Denmark, the Anti-docking law specifically excludes five hunting breeds, the Hungarian Vizsla is one of those five. Even there, the law is being reconsidered due to the number of reported tail damages in all traditionally docked breeds.

Tessa's Litter day zero

Thought I'd load up a short video clip and a few more pictures!  YAY! 

Is anyone else noticing that Sarah seems to be in the litter box as much as Tessa?

Yes, we're proud parents so we'll do as typical and take a million pictures the first week, half a million the second, 12 the third and maybe another four in the four weeks after.  :-)

Here's a link to a short YouTube video.... still can't figure out how to "embed" one.

 Video - Tessa puppies day zero

10-10-10

It's been both a fast and long nite at the same time. I guess she just wanted the unique birthdate! Tessa whelped her  pups starting a little after midnite. 

We'll post pics etc. later - just very tired and very busy right now - but the tally is - 7 total - 3 girls, 4 boys!  All seem to be doing well!

Still Wating....

Ah the joy of breeding dogs.  You plan and plan - research, more research - then you get to the actual breeding.   A whirlwind of activity and lots of driving is often the norm.  Everyone is full of excitement, and then.....

Tick.......  

Tock....


Now the waiting game is going soooooooo slowly!

Tessa has her ultrasound appointment Saturday morning.  We have several really nice folks interested in the litter.  We can't wait to give them good news!

On the upside (or downside for Tessa) she seems to be in the phase of not wanting to eat so much, lots of gurgling, a spreading rib cage and a bit of morning sickness.  :-)))