E Litter, Follow Along (and check out page 2)
I will keep adding sections below as things progress
3/9/26
Late Saturday evening We checked Katies temperature and she was at 100.5. I knew that a dogs temperature dropped right before whelping, but I never really paid much attention to it because I was always with the dog and could pretty well read the signs.
With the timing of this litter being anywhere from the day of the West Virginia fur auction, and the day before the Ohio fur auction, a more exact prediction was in order. The veterinarian advised to not go on Sunday if her temperature was below 100, a 98-degree temperature means pups within 24 hours.
Getting home after 9 PM Sunday, she looked good, and since Carol had been checking on her off and on all day, we didn't check her temperature then. Noon today she was at 99.4 so she is dropping. Since I've never done the temperature checking before, I'm not sure whether that means Tuesday is the likely day or not. Her actions would suggest maybe not. She is off her feed a little, but hasn't really shown a desire to nest yet, so maybe we're still two days out.
Stay tuned!
3/10/26 4:20 AM
Serious nesting started about an hour ago, I think I have her settled in now. I'll check in on her in a little bit.
From A few days ago, she's bigger now.
3/10/2026
9:30 PM
The first pup made its entrance a little before 6 PM and it has been a rough go ever since! Katie had the pup on top the dog boxes, in a pile of empty feed bags. I tried to get her to stay down in the wading pool, she wasn't having it. So, I set up the box I use for stage two, still wasn't going to happen, she insisted on being on top.
She was very frazzled and just plain uncooperative, so we just moved stuff, added towels and carpet under her as we could, and went with it. After pup #6 she started to calm down a little, and I took an old whelping box that we used for Lilly the first two litters and basically set it up over top of her and the pups so they can't roll off onto the floor, and now she seems as happy as a clam.
7 pups so far, I need to head back out, 8 is about due now. The bad news. 6 males and 1 female. I'm crossing my fingers for females from here on out.
10:45 and now we are at 8 males and 1 female, what luck :( I think there's is still one more to go, I feel a hard lump anyway. Maybe we'll still get a second female.
11:30 PM, I Think We Are Done
It's been over an hour since the last pup, and I don't feel the lump anymore, still sitting at 8 M and 1 F. I'll go back out about 1 AM and make sure everybody has a full belly, the last male born is a little on the small side he may need a little help. New bedding is down now, hopefully that keeps Katie happy and calm.
3/12/26
Another thrill!
Carol called right at noon, Katie moved the pups and she needed help.
I was going to change the bedding again tomorrow when I took everyone out for the vet visit, but maybe it was getting too rank. Anyway, there was the most of a bag of shavings in the building, and she ripped the bag open and moved all the pups into the shavings pile. This was the opportunity to get them into the wading pool. The problem was for every 2 pups I put in the pool she took one back to the shavings. After finally getting the partial bag pulled out and dumped in the pool, we managed to get the pool full of shavings pushed up where she wanted, then I started scooping out shavings back into a bag until they were just making a good covering.
Once she was satisfied, I finally got her to go outside and relieve herself, it was her first bowel movements since she started whelping a day and a half ago, I swear I saw a smile on her face after she finally got done!
3/13/26
First Vet Visit
Today was the first visit to the veterinarian and dew claw removal. All went well and the pups got the thumbs up from the vet, all healthy and full bellied.
Katie seemed to handle the separation pretty well, and it gave me some time to get her out to stretch her legs for a little bit. I think we both would have enjoyed a little longer walk but the wind today was brutal, 50+ MPH winds during storm fronts are pretty common here, but sustained all day long was a little much, at 7:45 it's calmed down to 24 MPH with 40+ gusts, seems kind of calm in comparison!
The appointment was at 1:15, I should have just brought them back home afterwards. The pups seemed to enjoy the soft bed, but it was a little too small and several of them rolled out onto the floor throughout the afternoon. The whole crew is settled back into the wading pool now, and are all sporting full bellies again.
3/14/26
Looking Good
Nothing exciting to report, pups are really growing, Katie is still reluctant to leave them!
3/16/26
Albert's Day Off
Yesterday was pretty hectic. We spent the whole morning cleaning up the yard, two 5x8 trailer loads stacked four feet high of limbs, twigs, leaves etc. That 50-55 MPH constant wind with 70+ gusts all day Friday made a real mess.
Late in the afternoon Katie went out in the yard, and I did get the pool cleaned out with and put in a new piece of carpet. I was hoping that since she had made it home now, she'd accept it with no pine shavings, and thankfully she did.
With the pups getting big enough that they don't need to nurse constantly, Katie is leaving them more often, so Albert got to come to work today, that way Katie can have free run of the yard without him being locked in a kennel run all day.
I think he's been feeling neglected, he hopped up in the front seat of the truck and curled up like, finally, I get my old spot back again!
3/18/26
8 Days Old
All are fat little guys now, Katie is doing a fantastic job with them. Their eyes will begin to open in the next few days, and in about a week they'll be getting a little mobile, then the fun will begin!
3/22/26
Fat Little Dogs
Eye Corner Just Starting To Open
Eye Corner Just Starting To Open
That is a serious pile of fat puppies, Katie is feeding them well!
Eye Corner Just Starting To Open
Eye Corner Just Starting To Open
Eye Corner Just Starting To Open
The eye corner is just starting to separate, another day or two and they'll begin to see what the world looks like.
3/23/26
Right on Time
Starting to open enough to see the eye, things will start getting loud and rowdy by the weekend!
3/26/26
Moving to New Quarters
The Pool Isn't Holding Them Anymore
The Pool Isn't Holding Them Anymore
This little guy sleeps like his dad.
The Pool Isn't Holding Them Anymore
The Pool Isn't Holding Them Anymore
The Pool Isn't Holding Them Anymore
Well, when they're sleeping in a pile it does, just not when they are awake
Bigger Box
The Pool Isn't Holding Them Anymore
Eventually They'll Use the Dog Door
More room and bumpers on the ends
Eventually They'll Use the Dog Door
Eventually They'll Use the Dog Door
Eventually They'll Use the Dog Door
Not going to get out of this, even with the top off
Hopefully Katie Settles In
Eventually They'll Use the Dog Door
Hopefully Katie Settles In
With Lilly I just laid the top on, I put some weight on it for Katie just in case.
The Old Man
Eventually They'll Use the Dog Door
Hopefully Katie Settles In
Albert just being Albert at the shop today, not a care in the world.
3/29/26
A few pictures of their first time on grass today, they weren't impressed, but it may be because I woke them up. They seemed happier in the bucket.
Five of them already found their way out the dog door into the outer box, so I added a board to keep them from getting out on the concrete. When they can easily go in and out the board will come off.
I'll add a short video tomorrow, our connection at home is very slow to load to Vimeo. Some ground and fence work was done to try and puppy proof the chain link, it's hard to do, they tend to find any possible escape route.
4/3/26
Good Friday Morning
Two of the pups made it over the 6" high barrier at the outside entrance and were on the concrete this AM. I set them back in over the barrier in the dark when I took Albert out. 45 minutes later they had all made their way back into the inner box, acting all innocent on their fresh pee pads.
I will be zip tying extra wire at the bottom of the chain link tonight. Believe it or not, at this age their heads are the perfect size to poke through chain link but not be able to pull back out!
Several pups are still available!
4/5/26 Easter Sunday
Ready To Come Out
This Was a Surprise
This Was a Surprise
After getting the chain link puppy proofed some of the pack seemed ready to come out, so the board came off.
This Was a Surprise
This Was a Surprise
This Was a Surprise
It took a while for them to get comfortable being on the concrete, but then they discovered Katies bowl and quickly filled their bellies on dry dog food, that wasn't expected. I will post a video tomorrow when I get to the shop for a better connection to upload.
4/7/26 4 Weeks Old
I spent some time sitting with the crew, most of them opted for inside the box to wrestle instead of cold concrete in 37-degree air.
New pee pads in the outside box and what do they do? They start shredding them, at least it's not a pillow. (Ben)
The whelping box is now down and the door closed, time to spend more time outside!
4/12/26 The Last Few Days
My Camera Case Became a Target.
The Tiger Is Learning About The Legacy Passed Down From Albert
The Orange Squeaky Pig Doesn't Stand a Chance. Video tomorrow after I get to the shop to load it to Vimeo.