All of our puppies were easily placed - However, 2 of them were exceptional enough that we decided to keep them and show them to their championships.
There are some more photos of Lexus' puppies at 3 weeks of age, and you can see them here.
The Sire and Dam of this litter are at the bottom of the page. This breeding was met with great excitement and anticipation, and we were not dissappointed. Great bloodines and championship wins for both parents. Take note of the health testing - you can check this out by clicking on the links below the Championship photos. This is Typical of the breeding quality of this Kennel, and what should be expected of all Rhodesian Ridgeback breeders.
The following is a sort of chronology of events that we journaled as the delivery began. We do this for all of our puppies in order to keep precise records for future breedings.
November 1st, 2004
7:00 AM Lexus didn't eat much this morning.
9:00 AM I re-introduced food to her again, but she shows no interest.
11:00 AM I may have detected a slight panting. Frequent urination.
2:00 PM - I observed Lexus panting somewhat. Some of our other dogs are in the house with her, and none of them were panting.
4:00 PM - I noticed Lexus "shivering", and thought it might be a little cold. She also seems to be isolating herself a little...
7:30 PM Lexus is whining a little and will pant and shiver from time to time. She is making circular motions in her already prepared whelping area.
Here is what it says in the UC Davis book on veterinary medicine:
"Stage I labor may be exibited by the bitch "appearing restless and nervous, and often refuses to eat. She may be seen to shiver, pant, vomit, chew, scratch at the floor, or pace. Most dogs seek seclusion and/or exibit nesting behavior. (digging or tearing material to create a nest) during or near the end of Phase I. There is little for the owner to do aside from provoding the bitch with some privacy and an area for whelping..."
"... Stage I Labor in the bitch averages 6 - 12 hours, but may last as long as 24 hours"
9:00 PM We will keep posting as news changes...
9:15 PM Digging vigorously at her bedding area...
November 2nd 12:00 AM - Asks to go out to do her numbers.
2:45 AM - Asks to go outside, goes through the motions, but nothing. I am thinking this is going to be a long labor for Lexus...
4:45 AM - Where as earlier last evening tremors/shivering was slight and around her rear legs, Trembling has increased noticably, and is throughout her body. Panting has increased quite a bit. She prefers my wife and I close by... Occasional breaks for coffee is about all she allows...
5:01 AM - First Born Boy Puppy with a ridge! Rear dews. We tagged him with a purple ribbon. He weighed in at a whopping 11 and 3/4 ounces.
The first Rhodesian Ridgeback Puppy was a boy - Forgive the poor photo quality/color...
5:50 AM - Boy puppy number 2. Weighs in at a staggering 13 5/8 ounces! Great ridge as well. This puppy also has rear dew claws. Tagged with a turquois ribbon. Shall we call him Turq?
Puppy number 2, a boy is on the left.
6:13 AM - 2 Rhodesian Ridgeback girl puppies pop out at once! Both beautiful, and with ridges,of course. But since they both were born at the same time do I weigh them both together? Well thats what I tried to do, but they wiggle in the scale too much. The first girl weighs in at a petite 13 7/8 ounces, no rear dews on this one - shes got the pink ribbon. The second girl weighs in at a modest 13 5/8 ounces, rear dews- shes got the green ribbon.
Girl on the left is 3rd puppy born in the litter, on right is 4th born - one right after the other, both girls.
Are you wondering where the other 2 boys are? Well after they got some suckling time, they're placed in a heated whelping box while we try to get things in order, wait for the next set of contractions etc. During the wait, the puppies are cycled in and out with Mom, so she also gets "baby time".
Bianca, our other pregnant Rhodesian Ridgeback girl is staying close by her buddy. The two of them are together alot, and she is obviously concerned. Yep, you guessed it - two mothers celebrating new babies - at least thats what it seems to me.
7:15 AM - Another girl puppy with a nice ridge. She weighs in at a healthy 14 5/8 ounces. One rear dew claw. We attached a red ribbon for identification.
Puppy #5, a girl is on the left.
7:45 AM - Girl Puppy 6 is born - with a nice ridge and rear dews- Boy we're batting a thousand so far. Shes 12 1/8 ounces. She has a black ribbon for Identification.
Puppy #6, a female. Thankfully all are healthy thus far.
We're very happy so far. This is a healthy litter. Hopefully the next ones will be as nice, and as healthy as these first few Rhodesian Ridgeback Puppies...
9:05 AM Another apparently healthy, beautiful female puppy - nice ridge, no rear dews. Her weight is 12 1/4 ounces.
Puppy #7, a female - Shes the one near the center of the photo, purple ribbon...
Yes, we had a puppy with a purple ribbon already, but it was a boy!
Puppies are slowing down now, which is normal. Its sort of like "relieving the pressure". We expect a least a couple more Rhodesian Ridgeback Puppies.
Note that the puppies seem very dark. Thats normal, and they will lighten to a standard Wheaten color. No Red Wheatens as far as we can tell. There is a lighter one. They will mostly be a variation of color between Lexus and Galahad.
9:31 AM - Girl Puppy number 8. Weight 12 1/2 ouinces, no rear dews - and another nice ridge. Can you see me grinning? We're attaching a teal ribbon to this one.
Puppy # 8 a female, near the center of the photo
10:40 AM - Another girl - puppy number 9 - weight 11 ounces. Shes got a ridge and no rear dews - We have a white ribbon for her
Puppy # 9, Female
10:50 AM - Girls are out numbering us! Puppy number 10 - weight 12 1/4 ounces. Another nice ridge.This one has rear dews. This little gal gets a yellow ribbon.
Puppy # 10 - Female, with the yellow ribbon
Well we knew that Lexus' litter mates and mother as well as grand-mom all had big litters. I guess its hereditary! It looks like everyone who wanted girls are getting girls! In any event there are plenty of Rhodesian Ridgebacks Puppies to go around.
Would you believe we are doing this all over again toward the end of the week?
12:15 PM - Do the girls ever stop coming? 12 1/4 ounces, beautiful ridge - no rear dew claws. We've attached a powder blue ribbon to her.
Puppy #11, Female
12:40 PM - It looks liike she may be finished with delivery. She's calmed down considerably and is carefully assesing her litter.
Today, when I went out to check on the rest of the "pack", their faithful greeting warmed me, and reminded me of what a wonderful temperament this breed has. Somehow this, along with last evenings events acted as a catalyst making me feel as though I haven't been entirely honest. Have I ever disclosed to the world what a treasure of comfort, of joy that the whole process of raising Ridgebacks has brought to me?
I realized again, as I have often before, that I'm privileged. I've been granted a role as a participant, in a creation by a God who doesn't need my assistance - but His faithful loving kindness grants such blessing toward us. And for the thousanth time I am convinced - God still does perform miracles, both in the treasure of life, and in his patient revelation to us - that it is in Him "from whence all blessings flow".
Its a gorgeous day here, in the White Mountains.
The Sire and the Dam
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CH Camelot "Galahad of Avalon"
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CH M.H. "Lexus"
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Champion Camelots Galahad of Avalon
Click Here for Galahad's Health Records and Testing
"Galahad" is owned and loved by Clayton Heathcock and Cheri Hadley.
Champion M.H. Lexus
Click Here for Lexus' Health Records and Testing
Qualified Puppy homes for our "Lexus & Galahad Litter" are presently being filled.