All official :)

Kennel club registrations applied for for the puppies.
I do like to have it all in order and pass it onto the new owners as the puppies leave me.

They are all doing very well, becoming active and enjoying 3 meals a day. I'm not sure how much Lola goes in with them to let them have some milk but Phoebe certainly goes in for play time. She is lovely with them, often laying on her back with them all over her. Surprising as they have needle sharp teeth which they sink into her.

A new bed :)

 Where are those teats?

10 days old now and eyes almost open. They are very cloudy for a couple of days so it's probably like looking through net curtains in the early days.
I do love the smell of puppies. They have an enzyme in their saliva which has a specific aroma.

What fat puppies!!

A friend called by this morning and couldn't believe how fat the puppies are. They are, at just 2 weeks old just having Mums milk and they look stunning. Their eyes are just starting to open and as Lola is so laid back they have had lots of visitors so socialising already.

I am trying to build Lola up a little as of course she has dropped some weight after whelping but that shouldn't prove too difficult as she is a Labrador after all. :)

I have requested the documents from the Kennel Club so will be registered soon too.

Seething Mass!!

A week old already!!
And so, very noisy, in fact they rarely shut up. What do they have to chat about?

Lola is being a great Mum in that she is feeding them well and they are all thriving. She is not too good in the cleaning department as I have to change the bedding atleast once every day which is unusual.
She has been out to play with her mates which is a good thing as she is obviously not stressed which has to be good for her milk production and her puppies general well being.

She allows our other dogs to see her puppies too which Gemma (our old girl) loves as she likes to wash and sit with them.

They are here, safe and gorgeous

 Lola and the puppies are all doing very well as you can see. She whelped well and is quite a laid back Mum. She spends lots of time with the puppies but has had a short time playing with Phoebe. Every new Mum needs a little break :)

I do love puppies feet, the pads are so perfect and that tummy is soooo round at just 2 days old.
Bitch milk is very, very rich and Lola is definitely enjoying unlimited food.

They are on their way

Lola is due to whelp tomorrow

We have had a very busy day today and she has shown no signs of being ready so we started our" how many and which day" sweep stake this evening.
We finished our jobs, shopping and had just sat down to a cuppa when we heard a little squeak.

Yep! a gorgeous chocolate boy has arrived. Lola wasn't too sure what to do with him but is suckling him now. Surprisingly, for a ravenous labrador, she hasn't eaten the amniotic sack, yet anyway.

I will sit up with her incase so a long night ahead for me.

Very round

Lola is looking very round now. She has just a few days to go now and we should have some lovely chocolate/golden Labrador puppies. This is her first litter but generally Labradors whelp (give birth) easily so I'm not anticipating any problems. Oscar is Dad and a finer, more handsome Labrador you couldn't wish to meet. He has 0/0 elbow score and a very low hip score too

I do love Labradors. I was practicing our new "down" work with Phoebe with Lola in the room and she did it very quickly and long before Phoebe. They are so clever and very quick to learn and I guess that is what makes them our nations number 1 breed.

Despite her very large tummy she has been enjoying running around and wrestling this afternoon you would never guess she is pregnant but that is dogs for you. As long as they are fit and well they will play right up to the last minute. Jilly, one of my other girls will go out to play ball as soon as the last one has arrived too.