Isla's First Litter

When Isla came in heat in early May, we decided to have a litter from her as well, she had after all an amazing pedigree. Judy suggested we use Johnny Cash but we though at keeping a female from the litter to mate with our Argyle one day in the future (to sustain ourselves), we therefore preferred another sire and Judy informed us of the availability of a wheaten boy in Northland, originally from the UK: Bonnie Bruce.

Isla didn't get as big as Skye during her pregnancy, we knew she would have a smaller litter. Unlike Skye too, Isla was very active throughout, giving us cold sweats several times by jumping up or down, as if there was nothing in that belly. Luck was on our side, we had a litter of 4 boys, 2 wheaten and 2 brindle.

The Father

Bonnie Bruce was living in Northland, so it was a bit of a logistical challenge to get him to us for the mating but after some last-minute planning, we had it all sorted with his owners, Anne and Peter Fowles. Bruce was bigger than Isla, her being of a tiny frame, and he was wheaten, which is what attracted us in the first instance. Bruce also had a very gentle nature, so we were hoping for a female with the best characteristics of her parents. Bruce was treated like a king but there was one thing he wasn't allowed: getting access to Isla before the time had come. This "white" dog was a bit of a novelty for our black clan.

A pregnancy

Looking at Isla and her behaviour, appetite, etc ... it would have been hard to say that something was changing in her body. She has always loved "jumping up" onto things, being the doggy gym, the outdoor furniture, our bed, and this never ceased. She ate and slept as before. We were looking forward to taking her to the 4 week ultrasound to find out if she was actually in whelp and we were glad to see some embryos on the screen.

The remaining 5 weeks went fast. Isla had reached her due date but wasn't showing any signs of getting ready to whelp; we decided to go for a c-section, not wanting to risk her life or that of the puppies. The next 2 pictures are our Isla at the vets, not knowing that her life was going to be quite different soon after.

A difficult first week

Birthing anecdote: the first puppy delivered was wheaten, followed by a brindle and the second wheaten. The vet wasn't aware that Scotties come in wheaten too, so when he delivered the second wheaten he exclaimed "we are having a problem here!". A more knowledgeable nurse reassured him that this was very normal".

Isla had 4 puppies; 2 wheaten and 2 brindle. They were all boys and in good health. Sadly our wish to keep a girl would not happen.

Having puppies via a c-section is a delicate affair. The bitch doesn't go through the natural process, one minute it's just her, she goes to sleep and wakes up with those little things; her hormones haven't had a chance to get into action. Although she didn't show any aggressive reaction towards the puppies, Isla just didn't want them on her teats. She was fortunately producing milk and with a lot of patience (and holding her rugby fashion style), she gradually accepted the puppies and became a very dedicated mum.

Small vs Big litter

Six months after having reared a litter of 8 with one of the puppies having several issues, it was a breeze with 4 healthy little ones. Isla had plenty of milk and she turned out to be an amazing mum, spending much of her time caring for her babies. The first 2-3 weeks were relatively similar to those of Skye's litter, but whereas Skye started to move away from her puppies as they became more autonomous, Isla carried on being a constant presence.

The puppies - Image gallery
(Slideshow below, use arrows to navigate the pictures)

Fife & Barclay

Dougal & Lewis

Dougal

Fife & Barclay

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Meeting the "Clan"

At 4 weeks old, the puppies graduated from the nursery to the lounge. A few days earlier, we had started introducing them to Skye. Being the matriarch and the dominant bitch, she had been wanting to see them for a while. We were unsure how the two girls would get on; it was interesting to watch Isla, the sub, letting Skye into the room but staying at all times between her and the puppies. After a couple of days, she saw no threat in Skye and let her approach her babies.

Once we moved the pen into the lounge, the boys (Argyle and Monteith) were quite curious about these little things. When the puppies were out, the boys had to spend some time in the garden. After a couple of days, they started interacting with the puppies through the pen's bars. We were not worried about Monteith; because of his problems, he lives in an alternate world in which dominance and aggressivity do not exist. Argyle was our concern; we didn't need to worry, he was still a puppy himself, 7 1/2 months older than these little ones ... and he had just got 4 new playmates!

The arrival of the puppies into the living quarters of the house also started a new routine: once the puppies had finished eating, the older doggies had to do the dishes, to their biggest pleasure.

(Slideshow below, use arrows to navigate the pictures)

The Zoo

Isla with her bubbas

Dougal

The Zoo

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The last two weeks

The last two weeks are really intense. This is when one needs steel-capped shoes and thick leather gloves. The puppies have gained a lot of confidence and there is that whole world to discover. They also need to test their teeth and bravery, whilst working out their hierarchy. They can be ruthless. Fingers and especially toes suffer from their sharp little teeth. Under a full assault, I often find refuge in the staircase, because they can not yet climb stairs. The other dogs in the house show a high level of patience, and yet, once in a while, a puppy is put back in his place. They learn socialisation. Their favourite toys? Cardboard boxes and all sorts of cardboard rolls. Oh, and balls, of all sizes.

A little about each puppy to close this page

Dougal: the tiniest but fiercest. Full of energy, he is scared of nothing. Terrorized just about everyone and everything.
Barclay: earned the nickname "Fluffy". Loves being around the bigger dogs and show off. Knows he is cute despite being a little devil at times.
Fife: Mister Quiet. Loves playing with his littermates, but just as happy to be on his own with a toy. More reserved, he prefers a quiet routine rather than chaos.
Lewis: I am your best friend. Lewis knows moderation and is very attentive and wants to please you. Update from the Strong family on Lewis's second birthday: "he only gets excited around other dogs and will only obey to a command when you give him a treat or when he is really calm in the afternoon".