quick pics of pups, 5 days old

both girls are usually in this corner half on the plastic, this time it's Hannah & Harley

Harkin

Hattie

Hunter

more pictures

the boys

Neurally Stimulating the Puppies

Neurally stimulating the puppies now, see they've grown so big!

(I need to get pictures of this but seem to do it when it's quiet and usually home alone)

1.  Tactile stimulation - holding the pup in one hand, the handler gently stimulates (tickles) the puppy between the toes on any one foot.  Time of stimulation:  3-5 seconds.

It is not necessary to see a reaction.  Handler must ensure not to control or transmit anything to the puppy.  3-5 seconds, calm, in a quiet setting.

2.  Head held erect - using both hands, the pup is held perpendicular to the ground (straight up), so that its head is directly above its tail.  This is an upwards position. Time of stimulation:  3-5 seconds.

3.  Head pointed down - hold puppy firmly with both hands, the head is reversed and is pointed downward so that it tail is directly above its head.  Moves the synovial along the spine. Time of stimulation 3-5 seconds.

4.  Supine position - hold the pup so that its back is resting in the palm of both hands with its muzzle facing the ceiling.  Allow the puppy its reaction to rest or struggle. Time of stimulation, 3-5 seconds.

5.  Thermal stimulation - use a damp towel that has been cooled in a refrigerator (after 10 days old, a chill can compromise a new born severly).  Place the puppy on the towel, feet down.  Do not use restraint from moving.  Allow the puppy to react naturally.  Time of stimulation, 3-5 seconds.

These five exercises will produce neurological stimuation, none of which naturally occur during this early period of life.  Experience shows that sometimes pups will resist these exercises, other will appear unconcerned.  In either case a caution is offered to those who plan to do this.  Do not repeat them more than once per day and do not extend the time beyond that recommended for each exercise.

These exercises impact the neurological system by kicking it into action earlier than would normally expected.  The result being an increased capacity that later will help to make the difference in its performance.  Those who play with their puppies and routinely handle them should continue to do the neurological exercises however are not substitutions for routine handling, play, socialization and bonding.

Five benefits

Improved cardio vascular performance

stronger heart beats

stronger adrenal glands

more tolerance to stress

greater resistance to disease

In tests in learning, stimulated pups were found to be more active and were more explorator than their non-stimulated littermates over which they were dorminant in compelttive situations.

so...

please understand when looking at the Volhard apptitude testing, our puppies test with less stress and are more outgoing, they usually enjoy the testing. Our puppies in the past have tested with a couple of 1s and 2s as well as straight 3s.

 hence why I strongly guess and allow the reservation list come to the personality testing.

If you are getting a puppy out of this litter, it would behoove you greatly to be at the personality testing.  Only the people on the reservation list is invited and will be told when and where the testing will take place.

the neural stimulation of these puppies encourages performance and show ability puppies due to strong constitutions and ability to handle stress

This is La Roux' and Viktor's first litter.  I don't have other litters to compare to, I can only make my best educated guess what exactly these pup's personalities and abilities will be like, and why we do have them testing with the Vohard certified tester.

xoxo, Paula

5 day old individual pictures and comments

puppies are plump and sweet, momma has calmed down and puppies are getting older already

can you believe these little guys are five days old!  oh my gosh

today is individual pictures and neurally stimulate

sorry you can see my messy countertop

Harkin

black collar
weighed 1.4# today
Harkin is the lightest boy.  Every time I pick him up he's as hungry as a bear, his first thought:  food!  He struggled and settled with the stimulation then pooped. Putting his best foot forward.

Hattie

pink collar
weighed 1.2#
She is the darkest girl.  She struggled with the stimulation, yelled and settled several times. 

shoot forgot her picture, will have to go get that again...

Hannah

purple collar
weighed 1.1# today
Hannah has a little tiny patch of lighter hair coming in on top of her head.  She is one of the darkest reds of this litter.  Her stimulation was less voictress than her sister, she struggled and settled.

 see the top of her head?  she's got a tiny bit of lighter curly hair

Hunter

green collar
weighed 1.1# today
Surprisingly Hunter was the most voictress with the stimulation: struggled, settled, yelled, however he settled several times.  Here's Hunter looking at you (remember I said he looks right at you?  well here he is, just like his daddy very personable)

Harley

blue collar
weighed 1.2# today
Harley struggled and would relax into it.  I noticed his nose is still filling in black.

all of the puppies pooped after they were done, Harkin pooped as soon as he was set down.  I've done a little with them before this, but today they had they were neurally stimulated, color-coded collars on again, weighed, pictured ... whew, that's a lot for a five day puppy.  Momma is back with them.  Yes I can still tell them apart.  Harkin is the lightest, Hunter is the smallest, Harley is the same size as Harkin but darker.  Hattie is the darkest, Hannah is also dark but has a wave of lighter hair on top of her head.


how do you like their tails?  we left on 3/4 and took off 1/4, dew claws removed
I hate dew claws, they snag and splinter, we always have them taken off


It's not inexpensive - we don't do things with the puppies b/c it's cheaper.  Neither is the professional volhard testing or reserving the facility, but this is how we've been doing it and we are happy with the results and how our puppies are when they are older.

what do 3-5 day old puppies do?

Puppies have instinctive reflexes, they crawl, seek warmth and eat.

New born puppies need their momma to potty them

90% of the time spent sleeping

10% eating

they can right themselves if placed upside down

rapid development of central nervous system

need constant care from momma

weight should double by the end of their first week

any weight loss and gain is now stabilizing

momma's milk is in and puppies have plumped up

Pricing for this litter

Puppies are personality tested at 7 wks old.  The new families pick out their puppy according to their pick # on the reservation list, they are ready to go home at 8 wks old with their first puppy shot & vet wormed.

This litter is pretty easy to price.  They are different shades of reds, but they are all red.

Prices

Harkin is the lightest puppy, he will be $1800

Harley will be $2000 (if he's available)

Hattie, Hannah and Hunter are the darkest reds we were hoping for they will be $2200

this might be fairly quick to say, but we've decided to ...

co-own Viktor instead of the puppy

if we can find someone that's a great home for him in the bay area that we have access to for breeding for two years until the male can take over.  (we probably will choose Harley, I think he will be La Roux' size)

Hunter is his daddy

Hannah is her momma

Harkin is probably from La Roux' momma

Hattie, she's just cute, will see who she takes after

Harley is very much like Harkin, just a tiny bit darker

La Roux won't stop roughing up the towels so I put the big pillow in there with towels on top of it, I think she's just uncomfortable

Puppies get their dewclaws removed and tails docked 1/4 off today, I really like my vet, he'll do a good job

Harkin

white collar

weighs 1# today

I tough Harkin and he's hungry!

Hattie

pink collar

weighs 15oz today

Hattie wiggles around and is so cute

Hannah

purple collar

weighs 15oz

went in there this morning and Hannah's on her back with a smile on her face, fat and happy Hannah.  Have you noticed everything rhyms with Hannah?

Hunter

green collar

weighs 14oz

Hunter is a rolly polly, he's a bit overweight, the smallest of the litter

Harley

blue collar

weighs 1#

also fat and happy this morning, pretty much asleep

puppies are doing good this morning, they are so cute!

The Winner is.... Lara ...  Whooo hoo.... the winner (she will be getting a gift)   Since we only had 5 puppies and no one guessed the girls right go to the boy guess   Three Boys Lara and Jim   Lowest number of Girls Jim Five  (I don't count) Lara Six   Number of Reds Lara Five Paula Five MiKala Five   Born on the July 25 MiKala   Since Lara got the most right she won....   Suzanne McLeod - 5 Boys - 4 girls

Lara - 6 Girls - 3 Boys - 5 Reds - 4 Apricots

Suzanne Ryan - 5 Boys - 3 Girls - Born July 27th

Paula - 4 Girls - 4 Boys - 5 Reds - 3 Apricots

Jim - 5 Girls - 3 Boys - 6 Reds - 2 Appricots

MiKayla Ryan - 4 Girls - 4 Boys - 5 Red - 3 Apricot - Born July 25th

People Blogging

Hello!

I have enjoyed LaRoux's blog so much and am thrilled with the puppies. Congratulations!

I, too, have a red poodle sired by Token (La Roux' dad) "Kindle" is 14.5", 15#s and 18 months old.  My daughter, Molly, is 13 and she and Kindle will be entering their first agility trial in September.  I see a lot of Kindle is LaRoux's pictures - the whole genetic thing is fascinating! I love seeing Kindle's relatives and your new little ones are beautiful and perfect in everyway.  Everytime I look at LaRoux I just want to give her a hug and love on her.  She did a great job with her pregnancy.

Interesting too... I read on your website about Jim serving active duty in Harrisburg PA.  Although I have lived in Florida for 25 years, I grew up in Gettysburg PA and lived there for 21 years.  I still have family there.

Keep up the good work!

Tami Bentley and Kindle

Harley 2 days old

Harley in blue, he and Harkin look a lot alike

Hunter 2 days old

Hunter in green, he's so cute

Hannah 2 days old

Hannah will have a purple collar like her momma did

Hattie 2 days old

pretty in pink

yes, she's that dark

Harkin 2 days old

It's difficult telling the white collar from the light blue collar

need to change Harkin's collar to black

he's lighter than his siblings, but as reds go?  he's red

this is his color, the others above are washed out with the flash

almost 24 hours old

yeah, I got to look over the puppies!

Momma does not like to be away from them for very long, sorry no individual pictures yet.  Put her outside with Hilde, Fifi and Pippa and she was smiling ear to ear, she was so happy to be outside and play.  Brought her in and she's all upset I moved her puppies (I didn't move them this time, I promise!)

their color-coded ribbons arn't on them yet, picture was taken about noon.  Cleaned the room, changed them into the whelping box, they are now officially on towels.  La Roux is much happier, she didn't like the hard blue pool and she got a bath.  The two darkest puppies are the girls. The lightest is Harkin, the square little boy (perfect by the way) is Hunter he's facing this way.  One in front is Harley.  I can still tell them apart, whoo-hoo, but that will change quick.  They rub up on each other and twist and turn constantly.  Took a video last night and it won't copy over ... will have to have Jim's help I guess.

little info about the puppies now that I got to look them over 

Harkin

weighs 14oz today

white collar for now, he will be so handsome in black later

He looks like a baby bear, chews on his hand, sucks my finger, sweet guy.  His eyes are glued shut but I swear he looked right at me (that's his father).  The largest puppy at birth is not always the largest puppy grown.  For now Harkin is the lighter colored cuddle guy, his brother Harley has caught up to him in size.

La Roux weighed 15oz, she's 20# 17.5" at the withers

Hattie

weighs 13oz today

She's the pretty in pink girl.

Hattie has calluses in her hair, it's the cutest thing.  She's fairly calm, had something to say about being looked over and turned upside down, then calmed down, I guess you could say with a cuddle.  My favorite name with this litter (but I like them all) and she's a lovely little girl.

Hannah

weighed 12oz (I think, she was a wiggle worm)

also has these cute little hair calluses, so cute.

Hattie is her momma's daughter, she's fiesty and she's sweet.  Fiesty meaning she has something to say and doesn't hold back.  Sweet as in melt in your arms sweet like her momma.  La Roux has a wonderful personality, kids do not intimidate her but she takes the punishment.  La Roux is on the adventurous side and is lightweight and fast, I think Hannah will be just like her.  We adore La Roux, she's Jim's baby, he picked her up at the airport and she's been on his lap ever since.  She adores Jim, whatever Jim says ... blah, blah, blah (LOL).

Hunter

weighs 12oz today

surprise!  Hunter has a green collar

He got the right name.  He's wiggling all over the place, I move my hand and he follows it -- blind as a mouse you know.  He moved with me with scent just like his father does.  Hunter wasn't very calm today, but his daddy is very layed back and calm but motivated to run and play.  He's got his father's body, I expect him to be Viktor's size, shape, color and personality.  He's a clone!

please note, puppies at this age are survivors, they arn't looking to cuddle, that comes later as they get older.  For now mother nature motivates them to only be happy and comfortable with their mother ... hence why we neurally stimulate them.  I did put them on their backs, moved their legs, looked under their chins, hugged and kissed them.  They get hugged and kisses from now on, if they like it or not.  As of today, they are getting use to people.

Harley

14oz today

Harley is the manly-man and gets the blue collar

There's something about this boy I really like.  He's not as calm as Harkin, he's not small like Hunter, he's just ... a cool kind of guy.  He's La Roux' color.  Every litter there's one puppy that captures my heart right away, it's Harley this litter.  I really like him ... he's like warm porrage.  Harley also has the collases in his hair, it's so cute.  Don't know if it will stay like that.

fyi, my fav's are usually one of the boys

I think a neutered male is the best pet for anyone, just my thoughts.

the new litter

are we surprised there's Five?

seems like enough this morning, momma is busy feeding and taking care of them

they are so cute!

more pictures this afternoon, momma is quite concerned about who's in the room and where the babies are.  I guess I got her upset taking them out of the way once or twice, she's not forgiving me.

will schedule their tails & dewclaws

will schedule their personality testing

Jim has will decide who's the closest for the prize guessing the closest.  One of the boys, I think it's Harley, he is the same color as La Roux with dark red ears like his momma.  Harkin is a little lighter, I guess we can call him light red/apricot ... so early to have to decide.  Both girls are the same size, dark red like their daddy and granddad.  Middle boy Hunter was suppose to be called Harley but he was small and dark red I had to call him Hunter. I was glad one more bigger boy came next, he's a great little Harley.  The girls names were ready, I had six girl names.  The boys' names, I couldn't make up my mind as they were being born, but that's most of the fun to match their looks and personality at birth with a name.

blessings, they are the sweetest little puppies and momma already has them rotating when to eat.  Little Hannah seems a little bit more adventurous like her momma.  Harley was like... "why am I last?!  I didn't want to be last"  He was wound up coming out.  He would have also been a good Howie, a lively and wild kind of guy after La Roux pushed for an hour.

welcome to the world

Harkin

Hattie

Hannah

Hunter

Harley

Momma La Roux

she loves her babies

the first was born, Harkin, she's like "oh that's cute, what do we do with it?"

now it's like, I'm hugging my babies so you don't move them.  In other words "keep your damn hands off of my babies lady!"  ... sweetly


her eyes get all soft and squinty, 
"I'm in love"

Momma La Roux 
Harkin, Hattie, Hannah, Hunter and Harley
so far ... there's more in there

Harley

La Roux deserves metals ... whew, a lot of pushing to get another big boy out 
(ha! 13oz not so big now that he's out)

Harley

born 12:25am

July 26th

a red boy
similiar to Harkin's color

weighed 13oz

guess we will have two winners, July 25th and July 26th

augh ... and she's on a break, two hours and counting.  She is pushing seriously and then naps, I think everything is fine. It's not unusal to have her take a longish break half way and we are half way.

This has been an unusual delivery for us.  She pushed about one hour fifteen minutes to get the first puppy out.  She's a small girl and 14oz is a big puppy for her.  The presentation hung out I started to panic.  Started loading up the car, my vet had just closed for the day.  I picked her up to put her in the bathroom while I was tending to the other poodles.  I think that actually helped.  I lifted her from her chest and let her legs lengthen.  She looked up at me.   There's times I really wish the poodles can say what's on their minds, that was one of the times.

She's taking some serious pushing and then rests.  Obviously all of those puppies have to get down to a workable labor and out to the world.

The new puppies, 2 boys and 2 girls, Harkin, Hattie, Hannah and Hunter are full, have pooped and a sleep.  Harkin looks the same color as La Roux, kind of a red-apricot.  Hattie, Hannah and Hunter are all dark red.  Hannah seems to be more active than Hattie, but they are all precious and sweet like their parents.

more serious pushing, she will not tolerate having her puppies put in the basket while she's in labor.  I do move them out of the way so they dont' have to swim in the stuff.  

Should be soon, she's doing a great job.

much hard pushing for about 30 minutes 
and here he comes...


Momma La Roux & baby Hunter

Hunter

9:27pm

red

Hunter

12 oz

a little guy
he latched on immediately, individual pics later

four little red butts sitting in a row
from left:  Harkin, Hunter, Hattie and under her is Hannah

 yum-yum eating, momma won't stop cleaning us!