For a couple of weeks, it's been is-she-isn't-she. Daniel reported a terrible kitchen bin raid during which Keksi spread rubbish all over the kitchen and hallway looking for food. Food stealing is usually a good sign that a bitch is in whelp. In the case of most bitches, anyway. In Keksi's case, you would think she was always in whelp, she's such a scavenger. Her sister Taika is bad too, but Keksi makes even her look like an amateur. 'Tenacious' and 'cunning' were two words one of her owners used to describe her food thieving exertions. In fact, since she has been here while said owners have been away, I've been quite astonished by her ingenuity in finding food in the kitchen. This dog who barely breaks her sedate waddle out on walks will stop at nothing to acquire the least little morsel.
So, while the bin escapade was a sign, I wasn't convinced by that alone. I asked Daniel whether Keksi was showing a little skirt of fur in front of her back thighs. That was something that Neka showed in both her pregnancies. Suddenly the fur on the sides, just behind the rib cage, stuck straight out in a ruff. No, Daniel said, no skirt.
Then she came to stay with us. There was definitely a skirt. And you can sort of see it here:
So, did I say so to Daniel? No, I didn't want to get everyone's hopes up, just in case. Did I say so to anyone? Of course! But only to Jay. I wanted someone to know I was right, after all.
So, the scan said 5 puppies, same as Taika had. We might get 5, we might get 4, we might get 6. The 5 is, shall we say, "fluid" at this point. Things can still change, but at least she's definitely in whelp. And so I have to start getting ready.
First things first: make sure Keksi is as fit as she can be. This is a tough one for a dog who doesn't really like to break a sweat. Daniel was under strict instructions to get her fit before she was mated, and he gave it a good shot. Then she put on a bit of weight, got lazy, as she is prone to do. This girl has to squeeze out some puppies in a few weeks time, so she's now on a gentle fitness drive before she's too far gone. Since she arrived here, she's been out for long walks at least twice a day - and not leisurely strolls either. She trots, she runs, she breaks a sweat. Is she impressed? Probably not. Is her shape improving? Her stamina? Yep and yep.
Today she had fun on the beach then came home and has a snooze with Maija on the sofa to recover.
When she puts her ears on sideways like this you can see why Jay & I have nicknamed her the brown sheep.
In no time at all she's back to her usual funny self, asking when dinner is going to be ready.
Classic Lappy-no-ears face
And this is how adorable she was at 6 weeks:
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