The Winston x Sophie Puppies are 3 Weeks Old

It's been another great week for Northrock's E litter.  The pups eyes are all open now.  They had toys added to their whelping box during this last week and have slowly begun to interact with them.  They are also beginning to play with one another.  Mouthing and batting at each other and with Sophie.  I could sit and watch them for hours on end.

Minx and Duke

The pups are also up on their feet now and are moving about the whelping box.  It's not the most graceful movement but they are most definitely up and about and enjoying their new found ability to explore.  We had to add the door to the whelping box as they had figured out how to climb over the pig rail and out of the box!

Here is a video of the pups at 2 1/2 weeks old.

These little pups are growing quickly and the weeks ahead will be lots of fun as we get to know their little personalities.  

Rogue - 3 weeks

Duke - 3 weeks

Minx - 3 weeks

Duchess - 3 weeks

Lady - 3 weeks

The Winston x Sophie Puppies Are 2 Weeks Old

It's been a great week here at Northrock for momma Sophie and her pups.  Everyone continues to do well.  Today wraps up the end of the Neo-Natal Period which lasts from one to fourteen days.  We continue with the Bio-Sensor and Early Scent Stimulation programs and will continue with these exercises through day 16 of the puppies lives.  

The pups have all gained very nicely.  As of today's weigh-in they range from 2.2 3/4 lbs to 2.7 1/8 lbs.  Duchess and Duke were the first to open their eyes followed closely by Minx.  We are still waiting on Lady and Rogue.

The puppies have been spending most of their time sleeping and eating.  They are a quiet bunch as Sophie is a very attentive dam and keeps them well fed and comfortable.  Her whelping box is always clean and you can tell she is very pleased with her little family.   We look forward to watching the pups continue to grow as they move into the Transitional Period (14 - 21 days). 

The Winston x Sophie Puppies are One Week Old.

November 5

The Winston x Sophie puppies are doing great.  They are a week old now.  Small and precious, these little neonates still have not yet opened their eyes or ears.  They do however taste, touch and smell.  Their mobility is improving and they are pretty good at moving around in the whelping box and climbing over one another and their mother.  The puppies are weighed daily, they have all gained well and have more than doubled their birth weights.

Lady - November 7

We started the Bio Sensor Exercises and Early Scent Introduction on day three and enjoy doing this with the pups.  They receive lots of cuddles in these early weeks and regular nail trims have commenced.  The puppies are absolutely marvellous.  I love to sit in the whelping box with them and listen to their little coos and murmurs.  The tiny little gulping sounds they make when Sophie's milk lets down are music to my ears.  We are all so in love with these darling pups and are looking forward to getting to know their little personalities over the coming weeks.

The puppies now have litter names:

Rogue wears the camo collar

Lady wears the red collar

Duchess wears the lime green collar

Duke wears the blue collar

Minx wears the pink collar

Frequent updates and photos are posted on our Northrock Barbets Facebook Page if you would like to follow the litter's progress.

Duke - Nov. 9

Northrock's "E" Litter - Welcoming the Winston x Sophie Puppies

Announcing the arrival of the Winston and Sophie litter!  Five lovely Barbet puppies were welcomed into the world on November 2nd, 2014.

Introducing:

Miss Pink born at  4:32 pm 10 1/4 oz - Black

Miss Green born at  5:24 pm          9 7/8 oz - Brown

Miss Red born at  6:40 pm         10 3/4 oz - Brown

Mr. Blue born at 10:45 pm         10 1/2 oz - Brown

Mr. Camo born at   1:30 am               11 oz - Brown

Sophie is doing a wonderful job caring for her puppies.  She is a calm and attentive mother and her puppies are strong, happy and content.  We are grateful to Winston’s owners Denyse Rousseau (BleuZorange Barbets), Isabelle Auger and Derek Duguay for making this litter possible.  My dear friend Nellemarie Hyde was once again great company and a fantastic whelper helper.

Please visit our Facebook Page Northrock Barbets for frequent video and photo updates.  We will also be providing updates via the blog, just not as often.  

Upcoming Litter - Winston x Sophie

Sophie is doing great throughout this pregnancy.  She’s such a sweetheart, always wanting pets and cuddles.  It’s not too much longer until her puppies with Winston are due and she is definitely looking pregnant.  

Here is a photo of her taken on our walk today.

We are able to feel the puppies moving and if you look close enough you can even see little ripples in her abdomen as they move about in the womb. We are able listen to the rapid tic, tic, tic of their little heartbeats with the stethoscope.  The miracle of new life growing never ceases to amaze me.  We are very much looking forward to meeting these special pups.

For those who are interested in seeing how puppies develop check out this poster developed by Matt Beswick http://barksandwoofs.blogspot.ca/p/embryonic-puppy-and-dog-development.html

More information about this exciting breeding can be found on our website http://northrockbarbets.com/litters.html

We anticipate that these pups will have many of the wonderful qualities their parents possess.  If you are interested in a puppy for show, performance or as a loving companion contact  Stephanie at northrockbarbets@gmail.com 

Barbet Josie in the Club Barbet Canada booth

Josie and the CBC booth. Josie is Northrock's Black Seal from the Chmurnik x Sophie litter. 

I am back home again after spending the weekend in London, Ontario attending the 2014 Purina National™ dog show which was hosted by the Elgin County Kennel Club.  Club Barbet Canada (The National Club for the Barbet) had a breed booth in the Breeders’ Village all weekend long and that’s where I was stationed.  The Purina National is a large, prestigious dog show that attracts many exhibitors and offers over $40,000.00 in prize money.  This show took place in conjunction with the 2nd Annual London Pet Show and attracted a lot of visitors.  

Josie with Brian and JoAnne who stopped by to visit the booth on Saturday and help meet with the public and hand out brochures.

I like to keep my dogs at home when one of them is pregnant or if there are puppies on the ground.  With Sophie’s puppies due at the beginning of November, Brian and JoAnne were kind enough to let me borrow their Barbet Josie for the weekend.  I had a great time hanging out with “Josie the Wonder-Dog” as her family affectionately calls her.  Josie is such a sweet Barbet and she did a great job all weekend long meeting and greeting with the public.  She was a wonderful ambassador for the breed.  

Derek Duguay who travelled all the way from Quebec with his family and his two Barbets, Pearl and Winston as well as Myself and Josie.

Throughout the entire weekend a large number of visitors who had never heard of the Barbet before stopped by to say hello and to get to know the breed. Myself along with the other club members who volunteered in the booth handed out close to 150 brochures during the weekend long event.  It was a great weekend of breed promotion and education and I look forward to doing it again in the future.

Upcoming Litter - November 2014

Sophie has been bred to Winston and puppies are expected at the beginning of November 2014!

At the beginning of September my daughter Olivia and I drove to Quebec to breed Sophie to Winston.  We had a wonderful time and enjoyed visiting with Isabelle Auger, Derek Duguay and their boys and Denyse Rousseau.  Winston is a lovely Barbet and we are very excited about this litter.  More information can be found on our website.

CH BleuZorange Xed dit Winston, the sire of our upcoming litter posing with Isabelle

Isabelle and Derek live near Old Quebec City.  Olivia, Sophie and I were able to take some time to explore the city while we were there.  Here are some photos from our visit.  

UCD CH Neigenuveaux Fleur D'Northrock WC CGN "Sophie" and Olivia - View from the Citadelle de Quebec.

Taking a little break beside the St. Lawerence River. 

On the promenade de Samuel de Champlain.

Sophie is doing very well.  Her pregnancy was confirmed by palpation towards the end of September.  She getting a little bigger now and her svelte little tuck up has disappeared. Sophie is in great shape and we are enjoying the beautiful fall weather we have been having by going on lots of walks together.  We are so looking forward to the Winston x Sophie litter and we are very grateful to Isabelle, Derek and Denyse for letting us use their beautiful boy.  

 We anticipate that these pups will have many of the wonderful qualities their parents possess, especially their outstanding temperaments.  If you are interested in a puppy for show, performance or as a loving companion contact  Stephanie at northrockbarbets@gmail.com