So near the end of our first week with our puppies our lives were turned upside down with a wicked storm that went thru these parts. We had 100mm of rain and hail in what was one hour in our small town of Elmira which all of Kitchener-Waterloo does not see in one month. The result was a flooded basement and pups including the whelping box were emergency evacuated to the main floor. Everyone is doing well and momma Daphne has become adjusted to her new living quarters. This just goes to prove why Chris or I are ALWAYS home while we have a litter at the house….you just never know what could happen.

During the last week I have not had a chance to post the lovely photos Chris has been taking since turning the dining room into our new office and now will be bombarding you with all the updates.

The first week of the puppies lives is the Neo-Natal Period which lasts well into their second week. The puppies are born helpless and completely rely on their mom, they can feel her warmth, smell and touch her when she enters the box or is near. The puppies make peeping noises when they are looking for their mom to nuzzle them or are hungry. These vocalizations are usually almost always to let mom know that they want some milk but the puppies can also let her know if they are laid on or in distress from digestive problems or infections. Every good dam will know the difference in their pups cries and will be on alert for the next few weeks. It is crucial at this point that momma Daphne is healthy and happy so she may have all her strength to tend to her little ones.

During this first week we have begun the puppies Early Neurological Stimulation which will have important and lasting effects on the pups. This program has shown that newborns can respond to thermal, tactile and motor stimulation in order to give the dog a superior advantage. The program requires handling the puppies one at a time while performing a series of five exercises for 3-5 seconds from the puppies third day of life and lasts until the sixteenth day. The five exercises are:

1. Tactile stimulation – holding the pup in one hand, the handler gently stimulates (tickles) the pup between the toes on any one foot using a Q-tip. It is not necessary to see that the pup is feeling the tickle.
2. Head held erect – using both hands, the pup is held perpendicular to the ground, (straight up), so that its head is directly above its tail. This is an upwards position.
3. Head pointed down – holding the pup firmly with both hands the head is reversed and is pointed downward so that it is pointing towards the ground.
4. Supine position – hold the pup so that its back is resting in the palm of both hands
   with its muzzle facing the ceiling. The pup while on its back is allowed to sleep.
5. Thermal stimulation—use a damp towel that has been cooled in a refrigerator for at least five minutes. Place the pup on the towel, feet down. Do not restrain it from moving.

There have been 5 benefits noted with preforming the Early Neurological Stimulation (Bio-Sensor) exercises. The benefits noted were:

1. Improved cardio vascular performance (heart rate),
2. Stronger heart beats,
3. Stronger adrenal glands,
4. More tolerance to stress, and
5. Greater resistance to disease.

These exercises in no way are suppose to substitute our daily handling and loving of the pups. We make sure to hold and cuddle each one several times throughout the day, holding them close to us and showering them with many kisses. We weigh the puppies everyday for the first few weeks, maintain keeping their little toenails trim and give them the occasional wipe down with a face cloth if they have made a mess. Chris has taken the time to give these guys a photo shoot while they were just a few days old. He does so very carefully by making sure the pups are never far from mom and after each photo spends his time getting to know the pups by giving them some love Here are Chris’ wonderful photos from week one….