January 25, 2006 -Nod is going to have the color of Bobby; black
There is some white on her rear feet, and a touch on her chest, but that will probably
not show when she's in full coat. Winkin and Blinkin are Irish Pied. Blinkin is going to
most resemble Mom, with that flashy white on her paws and chest and a little on her nose
and throat. Winkin will have a little more white on her feet and nose than Nika does.
OH, we couldn't resist; there is a new picture of Bobby's cords on on of the puppy pic pages.

January 22, 2006 -We took a "road trip", loading the puppies into
the motor home in their play pen. They adapted so easily to travel, sleeping
most of the time of course. Watching their personalities developing, they are
a lot alike! They all love people and attention, eager to greet when we come to
puppy pen, crawling all over us on the floor, playing with tug toys. They'll
chase a ball but they always come back to play. Nika is playing with them too;
tugging on tails and correcting them if they bite but also herding them and playing
runlikehell. It seems at different times every pup will stand up to mom; they are ready
to jump on her and play again!
We're training them to stack and there are some new pictures up, and they are all learning
the feel of a leash, and being exposed to many sounds and locations and different footing.

January 14, 2006 -All the puppies are health and gaining weight.
They are eating solid food, and Nika is happy about that! We've been asking
a thousand questions, so much has changed about what is known about puppy
development and socialization since the last litter I bred! These pups are
so much alike! They love play time with people, and exploring and trying out
new places and new things. Its still too early to really evaluate them, but
it looks like they could be really nice. Of course, considering the pedigree
and health testing behind them, what else would we expect!

January 1, 2006 -With so much going on at this time of year,
and spending so much time with the new puppies and, we haven't been posting
much here! Today was clear and warm, so we took the puppies outside. They
were so curious, exploring and learning their new surroundings.
There are more pictures to see!

December 15, 2005 -Well, if you've been waiting for updates on the puppies
and wonder why we've been quiet, its because at this age, there isn't much
to report! The puppies nurse, the puppies sleep, the puppies grow. Oh, and
the puppies nurse, the puppies sleep, the puppies grow. Winkin, Blinkin, and
Nod are doing well, nice and round and happy. They have nails trimmed so
its easier on Nika as they knead and nurse. Nika's had a bath, been out
for some walks, and can't wait to get back to her babies. The next week
will bring a lot of changes, but for now, they eat, they sleep, they grow.

December 6, 2005 -The pups are nursing well, Nika is a great mother.
Its hard to find time to update this Puppy Journal because we just sit and watch them.
LOL now I guess that means we are way too easily entertained. The puppies are steadily
gaining, they are sleek and round and active. Nika has her appetite back after being
off her food for a day or so, and Mom and pups are doing just great!

December 4, 2005 -We have puppies! Nika seemed anxious starting about 10:30 am,
but there was no drop in her temperature. We thought we had a few hours but she
surprised us. The first puppy, a bitch, came at about 11:15 am. After an hour, a
male and female came at 12:13 and 12:26. We could have gone out to eat, she
didn't need us. It helps to have a foundation bitch from a line of easy whelpers
and good mom's; Nike had her pups like a veteran and settled in quickly with
them. The pups are all between 5.2 and 5.6 oz, and are nursing well. Their puppy
names are Winkin, Blinkin, and Nod.
(Steve suggested "Klatu", "Barada", and "Nikto" but was outvoted.)
Here are their first pictures.

December 3, 2005 - Nika has found two places to nest. One is on my chair!
The other is under the bed, where she's never gone before. The first couple of times
she went under the bed, we couldn't find her. She took a small quilt bed, her favorite
squirrel toy, and a couple of paper towels. (Just like a Havana Silk Dog; to be sure she has paper
to shred.) No drop in her temperature yet, so she isn't getting close. But we've got to
persuade her that she likes the whelping pen, rather than the places she seem to have chosen.

December 1, 2005 - The vet confirms 3 pups. We are monitoring Nika's
temp but so far she isn't close. She has wanted to stay closer to us since she's
pregnant, she went through a period for the first 3 weeks when she seemed a little
confused, perhaps by the changes in her body, but those are the only behavior changes
we've seen.

November, 2005 - A trip to the vet confirms Nika is pregnant; palpating
and ultrasound indicate 3 pups. So its time to finish all her health testing, gather up the
whelping supplies, put off plans for a Specials career for now, and eagerly wait to see
the new little guys. Anyone wanna bet on black?
The biggest decision for now is whether to call the little pups Winkin, Blinkin, and Nod
or Klatu, Barada, and Nikto. (You can guess which suggestion is Pat's, and which is Steve's.)

If Bobby were human, I'd swear he's going through a "sympathy" pregnancy. He's demanding
more attention, and he's digging at the bed in the whelping pen.

October, 2005 - We plan to breed Nika and Bobby when she's 18 to 24 months old,
but after her Group 3 at Tyler, we are considering delaying that to campaign her
for a year at least. So we've been keeping a close eye on Nika, even though these
bitches often don't have their first season until 18 months old or later. She showed
no signs of proestrus; there was no swelling, no discharge, no unusual interest
from Bobby (believe me, he's been in the ring with bitch in heat, and he KNOWS
the scent), and no changes in behavior. Ask us about "silent heat." The first
clue we had Nika was in season was a tie!
So our planned breeding comes at an unplanned time! We sent Nika up to Oklahoma
with Jackie Breazeale to finish her Championship.

pre October, 2005 - When we decided to add a foundation bitch
to our household, the choice was easy, and difficult. We knew where we wanted
to go for her - Bydand Havana Silk Dogs. Bill and Diane suggested a puppy from Puff,
a good match with Bobby "when" we had an accidental breeding. So we waited for
the right bitch, and then we got Nika. But I thought to myself "Hey, guys,
I've had studs and bitches together, and I know how to manage them. There won't be an
accidental breeding." (Does the phrase 'famous last words' ring a bell?)

Steve Harris & Patricia Stein Havana Silk Dogs Exhibitors and Breeders Houston, Texas | ©2005 - 2008 Tehas Havana Silk Dogs You are Visitor #