What's happening in my tummy!

Mommy found a very interesting website, www.debbiejensen.com/date.html that will calculate what is going on in my tummy! You simply put in the date of my first mating with Windemere, December 1st, and the calculator will fill in the rest.

For example............
(taken from the website)
Sat 26 Dec 2009 -
Wed 30 Dec 2009 An experienced person (a breeder or a veterinarian) can tell by careful palpation whether the dam is pregnant.
It's now the best time to do this because the embryos are walnut-sized now and easy to count.

Tue 29 Dec 2009 Start to increase the dams food ration.
Don't overfeed, excessive weight gain should be avoided.
The foetuses are formed now and are fully developed miniature dogs...(end of this week)

So my babies are really little puppies now! This is so exciting! I am having a great time at Grandma's house. All of the grandchildren have been here and I get so much attention and love. My little friend, Candi, has been welcomed with very loving arms and her new mommy and daddy (Grandma and Papaw). They are very proud of how smart she is and how sweet. She likes to chew on me a little too much, but that's a puppy for you.

Pregnancy update!

I had a wonderful time with my Canadian boyfriend, Windemere. We mated 6 times! Now it is a process of waiting and taking good care of myself. When Mommy came to get me, she had a new little friend waiting for me, Candi. Candi belongs to Gramma and Papa and Mommy had found her in Michigan. Candi is a little West Highland Terrier and she is pretty cute for not being a Bichon. But after we came back home to the US, Candi started crying the next day. Mommy rushed her to our friend Dr. Taylor at Caputo Animal Hospital. It turns out that the Westie breeder had sold Mommy a puppy with a genetic condition commonly called "lion's jaw". It affects different kinds of terriers. Mommy was devastated because Candi was in so much pain. However, Dr. Taylor did research and prescribed a drug similar to Mobic for people, an anti-inflammatory and pain killer. After 2 days, Candi was much better. The condition is supposed to correct itself after 10 months. So, Candi is not in pain now and will be ok. BUT Mommy has a warning to anyone about to buy a puppy - be sure that the breeder will offer lifetime support and a genetic guarantee. While we didn't want to give Candi back, Mommy did try to get the breeder to talk to us and the breeder is avoiding all contact! The vet says that the breeder KNEW, because it is a genetic condition. All of that to say that Mommy didn't follow her own advice to people who talk to her about buying a puppy! Get everything in writing!!!

Choosing a breeder is a difficult decision, be sure to use the AKC guidelines on their website, www.akc.org

Anyway, Candi and I are having a lot of fun at Gramma's house. She was a good traveler all the way from Michigan to Arkansas. But she will stay in her new home with Gramma and Papa who have absolutely fallen in love! Why not a Bichon you ask? Because they love the strong will of a terrier! :-)

I am doing fine and gaining weight slowly. Mommy says I have to watch what I eat and get plenty of exercise. But it is raining - no, pouring! and we can't go for walks just yet. I feel great and I, of course, look fabulous! Christmas pictures soon.

Merry Christmas to all!

If this is your first visit to my blog

If this is your first visit to my blog, please be sure to scroll all the way down past the posts so you can see what beautiful Bichon Frise puppies should look like. I have had 2 litters, and am now working on my third. I am 4 years old and my champion boyfriend is 6. We make the most beautiful and sweetest babies! Read on.............

Going to Canada

Crossing the border at the Ambassador Bridge is always interesting. Of course I was super good and just looked sweet quietly at the border guard in Canada but it didn't seem to help much! She asked all kinds of questions about me going to see my boyfriend - I mean, that is pretty simple don't you think???? Anyway, we made across and to Fern's. I was able to see my Windemere, but I wasn't quite ready yet - a girl has to play hard to get, right? "=_

Mommy has sent me a message that she really misses me. I miss her too, but I have lots of friends here to play with. Especially my biological mommy! and Fern and David are so nice to me too!

Mommy also says there is a lot of interest in my puppies - Windemere and I make beautiful sweet babies just like the 2 of us. Mommy is always very careful to find such great families for our darlings. She says that we look for exceptional families for exceptional puppies.

More updates soon........

Joie de Mon Coeur (Joy)

Heat has arrived!

I know it has been a long time since I wrote - and a lot has happened! I had a very bad experience with poison ivy.........I didn't even know that dogs could get poison ivy but I did! I finally had to go on steroids to stop the itching. Then Mommy found some great supplements for skin and hair that I absolutely love to eat. So I am doing great now and Mommy is going to bathe me tonight because we have company coming for Thanksgiving and then.....Friday I am going to go see my favorite studly guy Windemere in Canada!

More later today!

Back from the show!

We went to an outdoor show in Woodstock, Ontario Canada for three days in mid-July! We stayed in the wonderful Comfort Suites in nearby Ingersoll. All of the staff there spoils us rotten because, well frankly, we are so beautiful and sweet! Anyway, they take good care of us there. And we drove to the show in Woodstock every day just a few minutes away.

This was our first outdoor show. It was a lot like camping. Mommy and her friends Fern and David (www.bichonlovers.com)helped set up the canopy and the exercise pen. We had electricity, water, and nearby modern washrooms (for you Americans that's restrooms!). There were plenty of vendors and lots of dogs. The first day was mostly setup and getting oriented. But there was a free handling class by Eric from Chris Christensen Systems (www.chrissystems.com) that Mommy says was incredible! Gigi went with Mommy and I stayed back at our setup with Luci. Eric taught Mommy and Fern lots of great tips about showing and dogs. Then he gave them a grooming lesson using Gigi as the example. Mommy already uses the Chris Christensen products such as White on White shampoo and the white show chalk, but Eric showed her some brushes that were just incredible. So of course she bought the 3 piece set for Bichons! I love these new brushes because they don't pull on my hair. I especially like the butter comb - it goes through your hair like butter to pouf up our hair! It makes us even more gorgeous!!! Anyway, throughout the three day show Eric continued to teach Mommy and Fern about grooming bichons and let me tell you, the before and after pictures of Junior(Fern's dog) and Gigi were really something! I am only going to put the after pictures of Gigi though because the before looks so bad.....

Mommy also found this product for cooling dogs. Gigi was getting very hot in the sun on Friday while Luci and I were just chilling back in the shade at our site. This cool coat is wet in cool water, wrung out til almost dry. Then you put in on and it doesn't make your coat wet, but the evaporation keeps you cool and comfortable. Gigi gave a big sigh of relief when it first went on and every time after! I will have to get Mommy to take a picture of it! If you want to keep your doggies cool, this is the way to do it!www.mustluvdogs.ca

Mommy was able to get her scissors sharpened at the show too, and let me tell you I am glad! They were so dull they would pull our hair and not cut straight! Now they are sharp and make us beautiful again.

Saturday it poured, but the show must go on........believe or not they showed in the pouring rain. The hunting dogs didn't seem to mind, and Gigi did her strutting stuff in the rain too, but I was a little worried with all of the lightening!

Eric showed Mommy another product that has really helped with Gigi's tearing. Gigi isn't as pretty as me because she tears, but Mommy is working on that. Mommy is using a spray that is called "Peace and Kindness". Eric demonstrated it by spraying in his own eyes!! It has helped the gunky stuff that comes out of her eyes a lot, but the stains will have to grow out now. Mommy did find a mixture that is supposed to take the stains out, update on how it works in a few weeks.

Gigi won Best Puppy in Breed three days in a row, and she loved showing! Every time Mommy started to put Gigi's lead on, Gigi would get very excited. She wagged her tail and had a lot of fun each time. Gigi will need to keep learning about focusing on her ring and not being distracted by others. The grass was especially distracting with all of the smells of other dogs.

Here are some pictures of Gigi just before the last show. I think she looks wonderful, and remember, the judges don't penalize for tearing. She also has a modified cut because she is a puppy.

The next show we are planning on is in Tillsonburg, Ontario in October. I am not sure who Mommy is going to show, Gigi or me, but I know I get to go along no matter what. Mommy promises to take some new pictures of me after she grooms me with her new skills so watch for that!

MoJoe/Winston has a new home!

MoJoe has gone to a very special new home with another bichon to play with! His new name is probably Winston, which is close to my sweetheart's name Windemere (MoJoe's daddy)Now only Suzie is here, she is staying with me until August 12th. My other boy Frankie(now Romeo) is going to come visit in August for a 3 weeks while his family is out of the country. I am a little sad to see them go, but they are big enough and they are all going to very good and loving homes.

Next week is the show in Woodstock, Ontario. I will post some pictures after Mommy grooms Gigi and me! We will be a beautiful pair I am sure! This will be Gigi's first show and I am anxious to see how she does!

Posing pretty

Here are some new pictures of all of my beauties! The guys are quite handsome and the girls are so sweet........they are all very adventureous and love to run around the yard. Mia and Bob will be going to new homes next week and the others will follow soon after July 4th. MoJoe is still waiting for that special family. He is a little bigger, but he will really steal your heart.

Mommy says that we are going back to the show ring in July over in Woodstock, Ontario. Probably she will enter my little half sister Gigi because she will just be over 6 months old. Mommy is anxious to see all of Gigi's energy in the ring!

Vet visit!

All of the puppies went to Caputo Animal Hospital today for checkups and first shots. I had to stay home, but I am not sure I would have liked the doctor poking my babies anyway! Mommy said they went to the same examing room where they were born! All of the assistants were glad to see them all grown up!

MoJoe was the biggest, surprise suprise as he has been all along! 3 pounds 13 ounces. Suzie Q is tiny at 3 pounds 6 ounces, Mia is even smaller at 3 pounds 4 ounces and Bob is the same at 3 pounds 4 ounces. Frankie is 3 pounds 8 ounces.

So all of doing great - no problems! Doc said they were cuties!

The babies are a little sleepy after their shots, but no other reactions.

Almost all gone....

Well, as I said before Bob is going to Louisiana, Mia to Michigan, now Suzie to Florida to be a pet and a show dog and Frankie will have a new home with a delightful young lady and her family. Only MoJoe is left! And Mommy says we will wait for just the right family for him.

I am ready for these babies to go and to be back in the show ring in July......then probably around Christmas I will be back to see my sweet boyfriend again. We do make beautiful babies!!!

Almost to the end!

Well, my babies will be going to new homes soon! While I will be sad to see them go, I know Mommy is very careful about families for our babies. Bob will be flying to Louisiana, Mia is going to a happy home here in Michigan. The others will be sold sometime this weekend. I am ready for a day at the spa and get a good haircut! You ladies out there who have been new moms know exactly what I am talking about!! and those late night feedings! But they are almost weaned now.........here are some pictures taken out in the sun.....

Weaning those puppies!!!

I am working very hard to wean these puppies! Mommy started feeding them puppy food and they love it. Of course they still want to nurse, but they are big enough now that only 3 can nurse at a time! and they are very rough! So I only nurse them once in the middle of the night for about 3 minutes and then a few times during the day. They are awfully cute and playful now. My little sister Gigi loves to get in with them and roughhouse. This morning three of them were on top of her chewing on her ha ha! She is getting back what she has been giving to me!

Their cutest trick is standing up and trying to climb over the board that divides them from the grown ups, Mommy says she is going to try and get a picture of it. Meanwhile, here are some recent pictures of their changing faces.

Mommy says that she has already found new homes for 2 of my babies. I love them, but I am looking forward to some peace and quiet and some lazy summer days by the pool. Right now, the evenings are still pretty cool. So while Mommy swims I sit under her chair next to the firepit and soak up the warmth and quiet away from the nursery.

I am one proud and protective Mommy, aren't my babies just the cutest???

Puppy power!

The puppies are starting to walk and crawl out of their box! They are so strong my preferred method of nursing them is standing up! Mommy groomed me over the weekend and I feel a lot better. My coat is actually white again and my knots are all out. Look at how cute the puppies are today..........

Busy busy busy

Well, I know you are wanting new pictures and comments about these puppies - they have simply kept me so busy because there are 5! Remember, I only had one before - this is a whole new experience!!

So, here goes.........I had a hard time adjusting to the stress of labor in a public place (the vet's examining room) even though everyone at Caputo Animal Hospital was WONDERFUL to me, amd having 5 puppies. Even though my puppies continued to gain weight from day one, I had a very upset stomach. But Mommy and Dr. Taylor suggested I try some pills to help and after about 3 days on the pills my bowel movements were finally normal. I had spent most of my time feeding puppies and then pooping, feeding and pooping. Let me tell you that was not pleasant!

I also bled the first full two weeks from the hard labor, but I am recovered now. My beautiful coat is a mess from well just having babies to take care of rather than just me! You moms out there know what I mean! So Mommy is slowly getting my coat back to show quality and we hope to be on the circuit in July.

My little sister Gigi has driven me crazy - she wants to already play with the puppies. I have growled at her and told her to stay back, but now that the kids are almost 3 weeks old I don't mind if she jumps in the pen with them. Mommy says she is still too rough though and kicks her out.

When you look at the pictures, watch them grow step by step. Each puppy weighs over 1 pound, and most of them are over 1 pound and a quarter. Mommy has names for them, and colored collars to tell the puppies apart. Belinda is pink, she was the first born. Suzie Q has a white collar, Bob the Builder has a light green, Frankie the Enforcer has purple and the last one born, MoJoe, is dark green.

Puppies are here!

Well I am exhausted so this will be short! I had 5 puppies this afternoon... but I had a little trouble with strong enough contractions so Mommy ran me to Dr. Taylor at Caputo Animal Hospital (THEY ARE FANTASTIC!!) Dr. Taylor gave me some medicine and out came numbers 1 and 2 then those 2 nursing made 3 and 4 but number 5 took over an hour and some help! He has a bigger head than the others! Mommy gave me a sink bath and now I smell and feel better. All of the babies are eating well and I am going to get some sleep!

Latest news!

So much has happened in just the last few weeks! I am pregnant with puppies due any minute now from my awesome Canadian boyfriend! 2 weeks ago the xrays showed 3 puppies but today the xray clearly shows 5 puppies and maybe a 6th! My temperature has dropped to 98 when it was 101 around 5 pm at the vet's office.

Even pregnant I won my first breed event in Simcoe, Ontario Canada in my last show before the babies. Mommy and Daddy had their car broken into just before Easter and the cameras were stolen so no new pictures of me yet! But my tummy is huge and I really waddle!

Puppies may come tonight - I hope they come quickly and easily!

I promise to update more often during this exciting time!

My first dog show the Canadian National!

Today was my first dog show! I was pretty nervous let me tell you! All of the other dogs, other people talking to me and the big building were an awful lot for my first time - but we go again tomorrow and I am going to do even better. We are here for 3 days and I am going to learn more every day. Everybody is being very nice to me. A new friend groomed me so I look more like a show dog. Mommy likes my hair longer, but this is a good shape to grow out from here. Here is a picture of me taking second place.

Honeymoon

I went outside today with my new friend, Windimere. He is a Canadian champion show dog and pretty cute. I hadn't been really interested in him, but today I simply fell in love. After we were together, Mommy's friend Fern brought us in and put Windimere in another room and I cried. I just want to be with him all of the time! I think we will make pretty babies together. We will see in late April. Fern says Mommy is coming to get me and my new little sister, Gigi, Sunday afternoon. I will be glad to see her, but I think I will miss Windimere too!

International Trip!

Well, Mommy thinks it is good news that I have gone into heat but I am not so sure! I feel funny and pretty mopey. But after a few days I am better and this weekend we took a trip. I love to go in the car so that was a piece of cake. We went across the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit to Windsor and then on to Langton, Ontario. Mommy has a friend there who has some bichons too. I was nervous when we first went in because the other dogs were loud. But then Mommy's friend brought in a dog that had been outside - I immediately stopped looking at Mommy and looked straight at this dog. My heart stopped - it was my doggy Mommy, Bunny! She and I got very excited and when they put us down we wagged our tails and kissed each other's faces. Wow! Mommy said she got goose bumps from our reaction together!

Then Mommy told me goodbye and that she would be back for me in about a week. Fern and David tried to put me in a pen with the stud but I was NOT interested! Fern is going to take me to the vet tomorrow so we will know when I will be ready. I hope soon because I want this over!

Mommy looked at all of the puppies and found a little baby sister for me. She even has the same doggy daddy that I do. She is a little thing and I am looking forward to playing with her. That has been the most fun here to play with the other dogs.

Mommy says we are going to do some dog shows in March. I think I will like that - I get lots of treats and Mommy tells me how beautiful I am! Which I am by the way.......:-)

More about me and this new boyfriend later this week......

2009 is here!

We have been playing in the snow for several days here in Michigan. It had been too cold.......-30 wind chills so I had been making my trips outside short and sweet. But last night and today I got to play in the snow which is one of my favorite things to do! I bury my face in a snow bank and run like crazy through the snow. Daddy clears me a nice spot by the door, but I love to run in the back yard where it is nice and deep. Mommy is afraid when I try to run around the pool - there is so much snow you can't tell where the pool is and where the edge is! But I am careful!

I should be making a trip to Canada in the next month or so. I am waiting for my next heat so I can go and see a new boyfried. Mommy says he is a Canadian champion too and is quite handsome. I hope he loves snow and treats as much as I do.

Enough for now..........I will try to be better about posting more often and certainly have new pictures! I have been going to my favorite groomer Bonnie and I have to say I am looking wonderful! She says she still has to work on my arch on my neck but my legs are filling out nicely. I am to go to a dog show in Iowa in May so I have been going to classes on Thursday with some new friends there. We missed a few weeks due to Christmas but I am ready to go back. I get lots of praise and treats and I just have to walk around and look pretty - easy!