Flute & Ash's Puppies

Swimming for Sprite

2011-09-02T07:53:00.000-07:00

Milwaukee County Parks had a Doggie Dip event recently.

Sprite loves water so much that one of her nicknames is "Water Sprite."

Naturally, I couldn't resist seeing how she'd do at a pool.

She adored the shallow pool, as you can see.

Although she was initially mystified at being lowered into the big pool, she was soon doing a funny half swim, half hop, then dog paddling away and even diving off of the edge into the water.

Sprite fun play videos

2011-08-23T13:37:00.000-07:00

Sprite and siblings are now 6 months old. Earlier today, Sprite was part a TV broadcast about a great new agility and training facility in Milwaukee, Zoom Room. While Sprite didn't get much camera time, she did have a blast after the filming playing with cousin Bea, Hedgie, the Jack Russell Terrier, and Elliot, the Standard Poodle mix.

Luckily, I was ready to take video! Enjoy.

Kabuki has found a great new family

2011-08-23T13:34:00.001-07:00

Excellent news. Kabuki met her new family, including a mini schnauzer boy, this past weekend.

Sounds like she doing quite well and is enjoying her new life.

Thanks to everyone who helped with Kabuki's dilemma, esp. GB, for caring for her and extra special assistance with finding her a new life.

Thanks to Kabuki's new family for giving her a super home!

5.5 month Pepper & Salt Female Seeks New Home

2011-08-08T14:46:00.000-07:00

Since I last posted, Kabuki found a great home. Everything was going well and Kabuki and her owner were really enjoying each other.

Sadly, her owner was in a serious car accident and sustained an injury that will have a long recovery period which will prevent him from keeping Kabuki.

Kabuki is currently in Pheonix, AZ enjoying herself with a super standard schnauzer person, but she needs a new, permanent home of her own as soon as possible.

If you think that you may be a good match with Kabuki, especially if you are located within driving distance of Kabuki, please contact me for more information. Email: chimeradog@gmail.com

Thanks, Brooke

15 week old female available to right home

2011-06-14T15:38:00.000-07:00

Kabuki is one of two beautiful Flute daughters that we held on to as potential show pups.

We have now decided to make her available as a companion to the right person or family.

Now, I'll let Kabuki introduce herself!

HI!

My name is (currently) Kabuki.

I am beautiful, fun, friendly, smart and very affectionate, love to be cuddled and played with.

I will be a gorgeous adult schnauzer of about 35 pounds and 18:75 inches at the top part of my shoulders (called withers in dog and horse-speak!).

I am 15 weeks old, up-to-date on vaccinations, worming and working on house and crate-training and basic obedience.

I am looking for a fun, active family/person who will include me in their lives, activities, and also commit to developing a strong bond of communication and love with me through consistent training.

I would even really enjoy agility and/or obedience/fly-ball/lure-coursing/tracking because I have very good, balanced physical structure and an outgoing and confident mind and body :-).

Think of me giving you great kisses and nuzzles with my beautiful, big rubbery nose, silly, silly puppy whiskers, lovely floppy ears, and dreamy, dark almond eyes.

If you think you might be my family or person, contact Chimera at chimeradog@gmail.com and tell Brooke why we are a great match!

I hope to meet you soon,
XXOOO
Kabuki

Eight week old pups enjoy themselves

2011-05-07T15:42:00.000-07:00

during a visit with friends.

It's great to get pups out to visit and to meet and play with children.

You can see that Flute's pups thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

You can also see that the kids enjoyed the pups just as much.

8 week pups group wrestle

2011-05-07T15:41:00.000-07:00

Pups enjoy time with kids ...

2011-05-07T15:38:00.000-07:00

and vice versa!!

Scenes with Eight Week Old Pups

2011-05-07T15:16:00.000-07:00

Felix has amazing powers of concentration to focus on his book with all the puppy action around him!

A born scholar!

Pups say that the book will always be there! Focus on our cute antics, Felix!!

Scenes with Seven Week Old pups

2011-05-07T15:10:00.000-07:00

Nearly 5 week old portraits--the Boys

2011-04-16T14:54:00.001-07:00

Nearly 5 week old portraits--the Girls

2011-04-16T14:47:00.000-07:00

The black girls have non-toxic fabric paint on their heads for identification purposes.

And purple girl has yogurt on her mustache!

Puppy Prison?

2011-04-16T14:32:00.000-07:00

Pups look a bit like they think they are in puppy prison in these shots.

Really, they are just very tired from playing in their exercise pen and have cuddled up together in preparation for a nap.

Pups in these shots were nearly 5 weeks old.

4.5 weeks old--pups enjoy a pink bunny toy

2011-03-26T18:56:00.000-07:00

4.5 weeks old--mainly pepper & salt pups

2011-03-26T18:50:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th Week Birthday to Pups!

2011-03-22T16:57:00.000-07:00

Are Flute and Ash's puppies really 4 weeks old?

Time both flies and stands still when raising young pups. All the time simply watching them sleep or nurse or play with each other is wonderful.

It often feels like moments stretch on forever and will last equally long in memory. In contrast, they grow and develop so quickly and even in one day can seem so different.

Raising pups is a lot things: magical, entrancing, fun, funny, warm, delightful, and, as they get older and require more care and maintenance from humans and less from Flute, definitely, messy and indisputably challenging.

Always, no matter what, raising pups of this quality is rewarding and, beyond that, a true privilege.

I am grateful to the generations of dedicated standard schnauzer breeders/exhibitors who made both Ash and Flute possible so that these pups would ultimately come to be born.

Beyond all that (as important as it is), raising pups gives the gift of time to reflect and especially focus on bits of life that must be savored.

In the midst of the profound tragedy and strife across the world at this time, I am deeply grateful for these pups and the sweet, simple focus and joy they are able to bring to my life every day.

(Okay, remind me of this tomorrow morning when I am deep in cleaning the puppies and puppy box because weaning brings, ahem, "challenges" to keep everyone and their environs tidy as their systems adjust to a significant change from Flute milk with the additional food.)

Photos are a look back at Flute and Ash's puppies the day they were born. How many changes can a pup have in just one month? Amazing.

Hard to believe that in just 4 more weeks, pups will be very different, quite developed and super ready to leave their littermates and even Mama Flute for their new homes where they willl be the center of attention of new families ...

as it should be for both pups and families!

Pups' first (sort of) solid meal

2011-03-21T15:22:00.000-07:00

This video shows pups enjoying their first non-Flute meal.

The meal consisted of raw ground beef, goat milk, plain yogurt, and ground, overcooked barley.

Pups found it super yummy.

The adult schnauzers were very jealous, so each got a little bit with their own meals.

Wearing their first meal!

2011-03-21T15:16:00.000-07:00

After these photos were taken, Flute came to visit the pups and offered her cleaning service.

Flute is very dedicated, but it certainly didn't hurt that Flute finds their meal of raw ground beef, goat milk, plain yogurt, and ground, overcooked barley delicious.

3.75 weeks and feeling frisky

2011-03-21T15:13:00.000-07:00

Pups are feeling frisky after a good meal!

Nursing pups at 3.75 weeks

2011-03-21T15:09:00.000-07:00

You can see how challenging it has become for Flute to nurse her pups.

They are not unusually large, but they sure look massive in this photo.

See how quickly they drain Flute of milk in the video.

Pups at this age need to begin the weaning process.

Both Flute and pups will appreciate that!

3.5 week old cute black pups

2011-03-21T15:07:00.000-07:00

I love how this pup seems to proclaim, "This is MY toy!" in the first photo.

Super cute pups. No bias here!

3.5 weeks is play time

2011-03-21T15:05:00.000-07:00

Pups are at the age when they are really enjoying playing with each other and learning about toys.

Mainly Lighter Pepper & Salt Girl

2011-03-21T15:01:00.000-07:00

Pups are 3.75 weeks old.

I love this pup. I call her Kabuki because her face coloration looked like a mask when she was smaller.

3.5 weeks old videos

2011-03-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

Black boy at 3 weeks

2011-03-21T14:57:00.001-07:00

This little boy looks so much like his sire, Ash.

Mainly Pepper & Salt girls

2011-03-21T14:48:00.000-07:00

Black boy and Dark Pepper & Salt girls

2011-03-21T14:45:00.000-07:00

What a lucky boy to be with these pretty girls!

He looks like he realizes how fortunate he is :-).

He says, "You look pretty enough to eat!"

Pups are 3 weeks old here.

Nearly 3 wks old--pretty cute

2011-03-21T14:40:00.000-07:00

Featuring black pups

2011-03-21T14:39:00.001-07:00

Featuring Pepper & Salt Boy

2011-03-21T14:37:00.000-07:00

Isn't he handsome?

I love the shot where he seems to be yodeling.

Sleeping is important ...

2011-03-21T14:33:00.000-07:00

for young pups.

Pups are in their third week of life and get cuter and cuter every day.

more sleeping

2011-03-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

for pups in their third week of life.

3 week video

2011-03-21T14:28:00.001-07:00

It's fun to watch little pups sleep. You will see that they twitch and hear that they make noises as well.

Enjoy.

2.5 weeks old Video--cuter and cuter

2011-03-11T16:05:00.000-08:00

Flute and Ash's pups are 2 and half weeks old.

Standard schnauzer pups are so neat at this age. They are truly cuter and cuter every day, really every morning and every night!

I think this video shows how much they've developed and how fun these pups are to watch ... and listen to as they are now discovering their abilities to communicate via sound.

Happy 2 Week Birthday to Pups!

2011-03-08T15:11:00.001-08:00

This handsome, masculine (think lion or bear baby) seems to be saying, "Happy Birthday to ME!"

The 3 boys in this litter are so handsome. Everything one would want in a male standard schnauzer, plus cute, affectionate, playful.

Ash is proud of his sons!

Week Two--Big changes

2011-03-07T14:28:00.000-08:00

Eyes are starting to open for the pups.

I love how the camera made the heating light reflection look like stars in the eyes of this pretty girl.

Pups are also starting to walk (sort of).

The video below shows dark pepper & salt girl managing some steps.

Week Two--sleeping

2011-03-07T14:26:00.001-08:00

Week Two--still sleeping

2011-03-07T14:23:00.000-08:00

Week One Videos, aka meditation assistance for humans

2011-03-05T11:53:00.000-08:00

These videos show what pups do during week one (don't we all wish we were so lucky?):

Sleep and Eat!

Enjoy.

Watching can be a bit like meditation: breath in and out, slow, steady, concentrate, focus on the repetition and the joys in the small variations within the repetition.

Minutes, hours, days of this for pups, Flute and human caregivers. Magical and entrancing in its own way. Best to approach in a calm (or calm-seeking) frame of mind :-).

Otherwise sensible people claim they lose hours sitting next to a new litter in a whelping box.

I hope these videos give a sense of why/how this happens.

See earlier posts for lots of photos of Flute's pups doing ... pretty much the same thing :-))!

Hey, pups are so cute, who needs variety?

Week One: sleeping

2011-03-05T11:33:00.000-08:00

Pups spend most of their day asleep.

You can see that they enjoy sleeping on each other very much.

You can also see that they enjoy sleeping in all positions, not all of them particularly comfortable looking!

Pups also stretch and twitch in their sleep and build muscle that way.

If you click on a photo, it will open in larger format.

It's fun to see the details of the little puppy whiskers, noses, toes, toenails, ears, coats, etc. Enjoy!

Week One: more sleeping

2011-03-05T11:29:00.000-08:00

Week One: and more sleeping

2011-03-05T11:24:00.000-08:00

Scenes from Day 1

2011-03-05T11:12:00.000-08:00

Day 1 was all about eating ...

for both pups

and Flute.

You can see that one pup has even fallen asleep in her nursing pose! Looks very comfortable.

You can also see Flute in these shots enjoying a meal of ground turkey, pumpkin, egg and homemade poultry broth followed by a big bowl of french vanilla ice cream!

I love the photo that shows the ice cream on the pup and the other pup balanced on the ice cream bowl while nursing.

Pups' One Week Birthday

2011-03-01T16:46:00.000-08:00

Today is the one week birthday for Flute's pups.

Hard to believe only one week has passed.

Lots has happened for pups and Flute.

Pups had their first vet visit, tails docked, dew claws removed, and made great progress at what new pups do:

Eat

Sleep

Oppress siblings by laying on them while sleeping (the natural right of a standard schnauzer puppy and perfect preparation for their later critical "jobs" of oppressing their humans and companion animals in similar manner)

For Flute, this week was about learning more deeply what her natural mothering instincts told her to do:

Feed pups

Clean pups

Watch over pups

Eat, Flute, Eat!!! (the noble Flute proclaims this is simply for the benefit of the pups, but those who know and love Flute agree that she never met a meal or treat she didn't like, so perhaps there's a bit of enjoyment for Flute in being able to eat as much as Flute can manage ;->).

& take some small breaks, Flute, for "Flute-time," aka quality Flute cuddling time from the humans, and time to keep the other schnauzers in order (Flute is, after all, the undisputed QUEEN, a job she takes seriously but also relishes), and to run outside, aka "guard the yard" (after all, her pups are inside!).

As you can see from this photo, Flute has excelled at feeding her pups. They are huge.

Scroll down and compare them to their size one week ago. Flute has been producing lots of milk and the pups have been more than happy to drink it and grow.

There are lots of other pup shots to post to look back at this week, but those will have to wait for another day.

Flute and pups--day 3

2011-02-24T19:07:00.001-08:00

Things continue to go well for Flute and pups.

You can see how fat, glossy and content the pups look.

Flute excels at doing her job, which includes keeping sharp eye on me (well, the camera) to be sure no potential threat exists for her precious brood.

Flute is a great natural mom. Nurturing and protective, just what one wants to see in a standard schnauzer mama. Lucky pups.

First puppy exams and more tomorrow

2011-02-24T19:02:00.000-08:00

Pups go to their vet, Dr. Marty Greer, tomorrow for their first exams. They will also have their dew claws removed and their tails docked. Exams, dews and docking for schnauzers are usually done in the first 3-5 days after birth to minimize the stress on the pups.

I am always more than a bit sad when tail docking day comes around. As anyone who knows me can attest, I love schnauzer tails, especially puppy schnauzer tails.

I always take lots of puppy tail photos. I hope you enjoy some of the ones I've taken for Flute's pups in the posts below. There are more and video as well, but I am still quite sick and these were all I could manage to post for today. I will get some others up over the weekend.

Tails, glorious tails!

2011-02-24T18:59:00.000-08:00

Day 3--a nursing scene

2011-02-24T17:53:00.000-08:00

Enjoy a nursing scene featuring Flute's gorgeous pepper & salt daughter.

She is an enthusiastic and assertive nurser.

As soon as she was born, she immediately clambered over siblings and pushed them out of the way for a nipple.

Gotta love a girl who knows what she wants!

You can see that she feels that using Mama Flute's cheek/neck for leverage to enhance her ability to milk out better nursing is a great strategy.

This pup will be one food-motivated and and problem-solving girl. Just like Flute!

I say trouble on the horizon, but in the best way :-).

Flute says she is already proud.

Flute is pleased with her pups

2011-02-23T10:50:00.000-08:00

Flute has been a great mom. She clearly enjoys having her pups and seems be proud and happy in the first shot.

You can also see that she is a cleaning whiz! No surprise she's a blur of pup cleaning action in the second shot.

Flute's Pups Arrive!

2011-02-22T17:30:00.000-08:00

After a long night, Flute's puppies all arrived.

Flute's pre-labor began earlier in the day and active labor started late evening. The first pup (a pepper & salt male) was born at 11:15pm. The last pup (a black male) was born at 4:35am. This is a relatively short time for whelping that many pups and Flute, pups and I are thankful for that!

Flute is proud to announce that she has 7 pups, as our reproductive vet predicted from the xray (see earlier post for xray image):

1 pepper & salt boy
2 black boys
2 pepper & salt girls
2 black girls

Flute and pups are doing incredibly well. Flute has really taken to motherhood, is very attentive, loving and protective of her pups.

The pups are all vibrant, nursing and sleeping well.

Wish I could say the same of myself, with a raging case of the flu (great timing, mother nature!), and after an all-nighter mid-wife-ing Flute through her first litter!

I've taken lots of photos today, but am exhausted, so will post in the future as I am able.

I have to say that I am soo impressed with first-time mom's Flute's natural and easy mothering sense. Considering she was whelping on the tail end of a major snow and freezing ice storm that would have made reaching the vet nearly impossible, I am beyond grateful that she was able to deliver all those pups naturally.

Thank you, Flute!!

"I'm having puppies soon!,"

2011-02-20T15:27:00.000-08:00

says Flute.

Flute also says that she is so beautiful, no one would know she's expecting.

... until one looks at the shots below!

Almost Due--Flute enjoys a walk

2011-02-20T15:16:00.000-08:00

Standard Schnauzer, Flute, is pregnant and due any day. You can see she still really enjoyed a walk yesterday. Hard to imagine how she is so cheerful and has such a spring in her step. She is carrying 7 pups and is nearly 15 lbs heavier than pre-pregnancy.

It has been snowing all day, so this will probably be her final walk before she has her pups.

How many pups for Flute?

2011-02-18T16:13:00.000-08:00

The Xray tells the tale (to the expert eye!).

During the ultrasound, Dr. Greer saw 5 pups for sure, but felt there may be 6 pups.

Dr. Greer was about to go into surgery but stopped to examine the Xray and give me the great news: Flute has "a bonus pup" and is expecting 7 pups!!

After that, the great reproductive vet techs showed me the skulls and corresponding spines for the 7 pups on the xray.

See if you can find all 7 skulls and spines in this reduced image.

It is so fun and exciting to examine puppy Xrays and try to trace where the pups are and how many pups are there. I have a friend who is so good at it that she has found pups that vets have missed, but Dr. Greer has never been wrong, so this time, I'd say that the count looks--and should be--right on.

A vet visit for Flute (and pups)

2011-02-18T15:53:00.000-08:00

As you can see here, Flute hopes that if she just hides under the chair, she will not be noticed nor compelled to endure the hideous tortures ;-D that surely await her at our Reproductive Veterinarian, Dr. Marty Greer's, clinic.

Yes, horrible to be coo-ed over for her cuteness, admired for how beautifully she is handling her pregnancy and how fit she is (esp. considering how BIG she is), gently lifted up by 2 highly sensitive and skilled veterinary technicians for an xray, and rewarded with ginger snap cookies for her bravery.

Of course, let's not remind Flute of the temperature taking part of her visit... ;-D.

Not sure there are not enough cookies in the world for that!

Flute--One Week to Go!

2011-02-15T11:37:00.000-08:00

As you can see, Flute is huge (but still quite beautiful!).

She is very round and Flute is so short-backed that she looks like a balloon or a beach ball.

I hope you enjoy some photos taken of Flute on a walk this past weekend. It is important to keep pregnant girls active and fit until pups are whelped. Flute loves walks, but is clearly feeling the strain of pups and her size. I let Flute set the pace and watch for signs that she is tired and ready to head back. Her walks are, not surprisingly, becoming much shorter as she gets closer.

It is hard to believe that pups are almost here.

2011-02-15T11:35:00.000-08:00

Flute loves puppies

2011-02-15T11:25:00.000-08:00

Here she is hanging with her nearly 6 mth old cousin, Bea.

You can see lots of Flute enjoying pups as she tried to take over for Iska for our 2010 litter.

I am sure Flute is going to be a super mother. Lucky pups!

"What? That's MY crate ..."

2011-02-10T15:24:00.000-08:00

Flute seems a bit put out by Bea's occupation of Flute's crate.

Bea has a kong stuffed with peanut butter and Flute has clearly decided to stake her claim to the territory as best she can.

Perhaps this blog entry should be titled, "My crate. MY kong."

You can see from Bea's face and distance from the kong that Flute's presence has intimidated her into not licking the kong. This was no doubt Flute's plan.

Before pregnancy, Flute was known for her super power of levitation.

I have no idea, however, how Flute (with her current very large girth) managed to hop on top of the crate, but when food is involved, Flute is always both determined and inventive.

It's easy to see how big Flute is getting in this shot. She's like a balloon. I call her my little luftballoon.

Perhaps she simply floated up to the top of the crate.

Compare Flute now to Flute before!

2011-02-08T17:37:00.000-08:00

For fun, compare Flute now, becoming fuller and fuller with growing pups, and Flute in September, at peak, dog show "fighting" trim and muscle in the photo on the bottom of the blog.

Quite a difference!

Both beautiful.

Both splendid for what they are doing at each time.

Flute clearly excels as both a show dog and a mama dog.

Beautiful and bigger Flute

2011-02-06T18:32:00.001-08:00

Flute has gained 4 inches on her waist over the past week!

That sure seems like a lot to me, but especially to Flute, who is being so careful and clearly is not feeling as agile and confident as she usually feels.

Plus, Flute is sleeping a lot. Her pups must need much of Flute's energy to grow right now.

Each schnauzer female experiences pregnancy differently. Flute feels hungry, sleepy, cautious about her body, and very, very sweet and cuddly.

Have I mentioned how much I love Flute?? Pregnant Flute is even cuter and more cuddly than normal Flute. How fun!

Here is a shot from today. It was snowing and grey, so the light could be better, but I think Flute looks lovely.

Big Snow

2011-02-03T08:41:00.000-08:00

Flute found yesterday's adventure in big snow very interesting.

Most of the snow was above Flute's back. Here it has been trampled down by dog play, so Flute can stand comfortably.

"Come on and play, Flute!"

2011-02-01T07:46:00.000-08:00

Ash seems to say.

Flute may be saying, "Hey, Buddy, take care. I'm pregnant!"

The photo of Ash racing and leaping in the air makes me laugh. He'll try anything to entice Flute to play. Clearly, Flute is unimpressed.

Ash is a playful boy and Flute usually does like to play with him. Not these days, though. Flute is being pretty careful with herself and her pups.

Flute is expecting!

2011-01-29T11:51:00.000-08:00

Ultrasound this week confirmed that Flute is pregnant.

This is great news!

Our Veterinarian, who specializes in canine reproduction, Dr. Marty Greer, counted 5-6 pups in the ultrasound.

Pups looked healthy, vigorous and big :-D.

It was already possible to see their beating hearts, legs, heads, and even wagging tails!

Dr. Greer said that one pup was running! Exciting, but surely that's the tiny, unborn pup version of running :-). Lots, and lots, and lots more growing to do before real running happens.

Flute is doing very well. She's enjoying her food, gaining weight, sleeping a lot more than usual, and has been very affectionate and snuggly.

Pups are due on February 21, 2011 and will be ready for their new homes in late April. Because Flute is pepper and salt in color and Ash is black, we anticipate that we will have both colors in this litter.

While we wait for Flute's pups to arrive, you might enjoy a puppy fix from the blog for the litter in which Papa Ash was born.