happy birthday

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L-R: Taika, Taito, Karhu, Koda, Diesel, Torvi, Keksi

Ten years ago today – a very special day, as it was the day that Neka gave birth to our very first litter of puppies.  Stoic as she was, and inexperienced as I was, I didn’t see the signs that they were on their way and so I left her snoozing on the sofa when I made the 20-minute round trip to pick up Jay from the park & ride on his way home from work.  When we got back she had gutted the sofa cushions, leaving chunks of foam all over the floor.  Ah, that would be the "nesting" that I had read about, then.

Pretty soon I noticed she was grunting, and a quick phone call to a more experienced friend confirmed that this was certainly contractions, so we retired to the whelping box in the back room. 

I cannot now remember how long I had to wait for the first puppy to arrive, nor how long it all took for the 7 to arrive.  I do have notes filed away of the event, but sadly there was no blog in those days, so when an old computer died without a backup a few years ago I lost most of my photos of this litter (back up your computers, people!).   

But I have a few.

I was hoping to have a reunion for this milestone birthday, but with one of the gang in Scotland awaiting the imminent arrival of a new human baby brother or sister, and a family member of another out of the country at the moment, it was never going to happen.

These dogs are a great bunch of characters – good-natured, friendly & easy-going, occasionally lazy & stubborn, blessed with excellent health & good looks.  Very happy 10^th birthday to the oldies, and many happy returns, in birth order, as always:

Koda

6 weeks & 9 years (Photo: Helen Golden)

Taika

6 weeks & 9 years (Photo: Kate Wilson)

Karhu

10 weeks & 10 years (Photos: Wendy & Scott Gilmour)

Diesel

6 weeks and 10 years (Photo: Melinda Groves)

Taito

6 weeks & 10 years (Photo: Mark Treasure)

Keksi

6 weeks & 10 years (Photo: Daniel Spencer)

Torvi

 

9 weeks & 9 years with Steve (Photo: Steve Giles)

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention all the special families who have loved and cared for these fabulous dogs for the past 9 years and 10 months:  the Goldens, Wilsons, Gilmours, Groveses, McCarthys, Spencer-McGinleys and Gileses – with special mention of Steve Giles who loved Torvi so much and who sadly died earlier this year.  Thank you everyone for 10 great years.

and they're off

Over the weekend the puppies set off on the next leg of their big adventure - one to Cornwall, one to Plymouth and one all the way to West Sussex.  Before they went, they had 3 clear vet checks, 3 microchips and 3 clear eye tests.  There was not one episode of vomiting in all that - and not even any drooling!  Natural-born travellers, these puppies.

And also before going, there was the opportunity for a few last cuddles with mama.

Karhu having mama cuddles all by himself

Considering how much Tuuli has enjoyed spending time and playing with her puppies, you might think that she was distressed to see them go.  But no, she was quite content to see them go off one by one with their new owners and when she wagged the last one off, she promptly hopped up onto the sofa, flipped onto her back with her feet in the air and had the best, deepest snooze she has had for 2 months.  As with all things puppy-related, Tuuli knew exactly when the time was right for them to go.

After Anni and Karhu had left, Arvo was left briefly on his own.  Luckily I had borrowed Ulla for the weekend to take her to a show, so she was on hand to keep him well occupied and tire him out for the drive to West Sussex.  When you think how roughly she plays with Loki, it's amazing how gentle she was with Arvo.  And she did a pretty good job of teaching him all the funny play-faces.

And so to the home pics.  Arvo was the last to go and Karhu was first, followed by Anni shortly thereafter.  I couldn't resist including a photo of the same family members leaving with Rauhan EIGHT years ago.  I don't know if they can believe it was that long ago, but I sure can't.

Karhu off with Kirsty & Luke

Arvo heading off with Adele & Wesley

Anni with Katy, Hattie & Emma

The same family 8 years earlier with Rauhan

mid-week games

The puppies were rampaging around the outdoor pen in the way that 7-week-old puppies tend to do first thing in the morning, so I got out the camera to catch the evidence.  Of course, the minute I pointed the camera at them, they did this instead.



But they can't just sit there looking cute indefinitely.  Eventually normal service resumes, as shown below.  And if any of you were thinking Karhu was quiet, retiring and shy, you should see him when the scrambled eggs are served.  Not to mention when he gets his sister on her back in the box.  Once she has given up trying to get my attention, that is.

7 weeks old

The countdown has now started.  This time next week all the puppies will be in their new homes.  It's a bittersweet time for us - so exciting for their new owners, and it's heartwarming to be making some people so happy.  But we will miss them.  We always do miss them, and I shed a tear as each one leaves.  But we will especially miss these 3 who are so quiet and easy.  It's quite a difference to have a litter of 3 from, say, one of 9.  Quite a difference.

Having said that, even three 7-week-old puppies can make their mark is pretty short order.  Anyone who hears me talk about puppy-proofing might think I exaggerate about doing away with EVERYTHING within reach that's not tied down or otherwise firmly attached.  Woe betide anyone who underestimates the determination of a tiny Lapphund who has discovered a loose thread... or a gap by the skirting board, for example.

And people might think I'm being a bit overly dramatic when I tell them not to leave their puppy unsupervised.  Here's what the threesome did this morning in the few minutes I left them unsupervised in the kitchen.  Instant chaos and destruction. 

So, their new owners are duly warned.  But they can be pretty cute and butter-wouldn't-melt-ish too, as evidenced in their 7-week portraits, taken today with the help of some grated cheese.  So if you're wondering what's on their faces, it's cheese crumbs.  And if you ever need to bribe your puppy to do something, then a sliver of grated cheese is the answer.

Arvo

Anni

That tail?  Wagging.  As usual.

Karhu

6 weeks old

Here they are, a little late, but with their new names, which, as always at this stage, are still subject to Kennel Club approval.

Little Arvo

Infindigo Täysikuu Arvo (Arvo)

With the added bonus of Maija peeping over the top

Wagging

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Tähti

Infindigo Täysikuu Anniina (Anni)

Kuu

Infindigo Täysikuu Karhu (Karhu)

2 weeks old

I haven't had the opportunity to spend nearly as much time with these puppies as I would like.  In past years I have had lots of time to spend with the puppies, and earlier litter coverage on this blog is testament to that.  But needs must, as they say (where does that come from, anyway?), and my needs at the moment include working long hours away from home, apparently.  So I only get to see these puppies first thing in the morning and when I get home from work in the evening.  And, believe it or not, you can see a difference in size from morning to evening.  No lie.

Normally I would take the weekly photos on the birthday, which for these puppies is Sunday, of course.  However, I'm going to be away for all the daylight there is tomorrow, and so here are the puppies' 2 week portrait a day early.

Yes, they have their eyes open.  That's about the only news yet.  They are not yet walking (too fat) and not yet playing with each other (too lazy).  They have, however, already figured out what the water bowl is for - i.e. snuggling up to as it's nice and cold.  Sounds like a bunch of typical Lappies already. 

Little Arvo

Little Arvo - profile

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Tähti

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Tähti - profile

Kuu

Kuu - Profile

happy birthday to the veterans

Well, well, well.  A few months ago I had the shock of realising that my puppy dog Neka had somehow reached the age of 10 years while I had my back turned.  Even greater than that, though, is to find that today her (and my) first litter of puppies turn 7 years old and become officially veterans. 

It really doesn't feel like 7 years since I first read The Book of Bitch cover to cover (3 times) in preparation for what was to come.  Nor does it seem like 7 years since I sat up 3 nights in a row with an increasingly-restless Neka as we both steeled ourselves for the big new adventure.  And it doesn't seem like 7 years since Neka shredded the sofa cushion, leaving the foam in chunks all over the floor, so that she had a nice comfy nest to give birth in.  (Don't worry - I did move her upstairs to her brand new and shiny whelping box.  I was just a bit tardy in doing so, apparently.)  These days I am much more in tune to the grunting of a bitch whose contractions have started.

So a very happy birthday to my gorgeous firstborns and the very first Infindigo veterans, in birth order, as always, at 7 weeks and 7 years (or as close to 7 years as I have).  I was a bit slow to request new pics of the new veterans, so if I get some more up-to-date photos, I'll update the blog post too.

Infindigo Kultainen (Koda)

Koda 7 Weeks

Koda 7 Years

Infindigo Taika (Taika)

Taika 7 Weeks

Baby Taika with baby Jamie

Taika 7 Years - Beach Dog

Happy rolling dog

Infindigo Pikkukarhu (Karhu)

Karhu 7 Weeks

Karhu 7 Years - Another Beach Dog

Another happy rolling dog - I can see a pattern developing here

Infindigo Seppo (Diesel)

Diesel 7 Weeks

Diesel 3 Years - Yet another beach dog

Infindigo Taito (Taito)

Taito 7 Weeks

Taito 7 Years - Photo (c) Mark Treasure

Infindigo Keksi (Keksi)

Keksi 7 Weeks

Keksi (left) 7 Years with her son Kuura (right)

Infindigo Tuuri (Torvi)

Torvi 7 Weeks

Torvi 6.5 Years