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Shayleigh Litter 2006 |
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The 1st one born was Sapphire. She arrived at 10:15am and weighed in at 8.2 ounces. I couldn’t believe my eyes when she was born that she was totally black except for a very small white patch on her chin and each of her back paws is tipped with white. To have an almost all black or totally black Coton is very rare. I believe there are only a handful or so of them in the United States. As always, Sapphire and her sisters spent the 1st week and a half of their brand new little lives upstairs cozy and warm in their whelping box. Newborn puppies can’t thermo-regulate their temperatures, which means they can’t shiver if they are cold or can’t pant if they are hot, so the room had to stay at about 78 degrees. Shayleigh is a very good mom. She was on constant watch and took care of their every need as I took care of Shayleighs every need. Once the puppies pass the critical stage as newborns they were brought down stairs to start their next adventure in their young lives. On March 23rd, 2006 Sapphire now at 6 weeks of age made her 1st trip to the vets office. She weighed in at 3.5 pounds. My Veterinarian and her staff are wonderful with the puppies. Sapphire not knowing what was coming loved all the personal attention she was receiving. Once she got her vaccination she let out a big yelp as if to tell her sisters your not gonna like this. Once I put her back on the floor all her siblings came over to check and make sure she was OK. Even though Sapphire didn’t like the end result she was now ready for visitors. On April 20th, 2006 Sapphire now at 10 weeks of age made a return trip to my veterinarian. She weighed in at 5.25 pounds. Sapphire like her 1st trip to the vet didn’t like it any better. She again let out a yelp when she received her vaccinations and when she got her micro-chip. She was not a happy camper at all. When I put her back down on the floor she went straight to the corner and laid down.
Sapphire reminds me so much of her father
Romeo. Her facial looks are the same and she has his beautiful gate. I
love watching her from behind as she strolls down yard. She is such a
gentle soul. When people come to visit she is right there waiting her turn
to be petted. Sapphire is very comfortable sitting in you lap, or just
hanging out. She will jump up at you when she wants to be picked up and
lets out a little grunt as she is being raised in your arms. She has such
a laid back personality, but when her sisters are up for a game of catch
me if you can she is off and running. |
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The 2nd girl to be born is Ruby. She arrived at 10:38 am and weighed 6.8 ounces. Again I was totally shocked and ecstatic at the same time that she to is almost all Black. Like Sapphire, she has some white on her chin and her back paws are tipped with white, but the difference between the 2 is that Ruby has some white on her chest and is smaller. I can’t tell you how very happy I was that Shayleigh and Romeo have not 1 but 2 Black Cotons. Before Ruby and her sisters were brought downstairs I set up a pen in my living room that will now be their new home. Shayleigh will also stay with them and attend to their every need for the next few weeks. Around 3 weeks of age the puppies’ teeth are starting to come in and they are a little wobbly moving around the whelping box until their motor skills develop more. On March 23rd 2006 Ruby at 6 weeks of age was also introduced to my Veterinarian and her staff and she gave everyone tons of kisses. She weighed in at 3 pounds. Although she did very well in the car she was not a happy camper after she was given her 1st set of shots. Like Sapphire she let out a yelp as if to say what the heck was that for. When I put her back down on the floor she went over near where the vet was standing and peed on the floor. I truly believe she was trying to tell her something. Ruby is now ready for visitors. On April 20th 2006 Ruby now 10 weeks old made a return trip to the vet’s office. Again she greeted everyone with tail wags and kisses. She now weighed in at 4 ½ pounds. When she received her 2nd set of shots and her micro-chip she let out another yelp. This time when I put her back down on the floor she went straight over to Sapphire and laid down right next to her. She slept all the way home and for at least another hour after that.
Ruby is such a sweetheart and a happy puppy,
always there to greet you. She plays with just about anything she can
find, but her best chew toy is one of her sister’s ears or a tail will do.
She is a little kissing machine. As soon as you lay on the floor she is
right there with her tongue aiming for you face or an ear. Ruby always
likes to investigate things or as I always say looking to get into
trouble. Every time when go outside I have to say Ruby what do you have,
Ruby no no or Ruby drop that. She has anything in her mouth from a leaf,
or a twig to a dandelion and sometimes even a snoot full of dirt. You
gotta love her she is a puppy true to form. |
    
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The 3rd girl to be born is Amethyst. She arrived at 10:53am and weighed in at 7.4 ounces. This beautiful Black & White fur baby looks just like her mom Shayleigh when she was a tyke. After living upstairs for a couple of weeks Amethyst and her sisters were brought downstairs to the living room. At about 3 to 4 weeks old I decided to put some piddle pads inside near the front of the whelping box hoping that the fur babies would go on those instead of the whelping pad. For the most part they got the hint. Although still a little wobbly and trying to get their footing they did well. They are also learning to lap liquids (water) and I have now started them on some weaning formula. On March 23rd 2006 Amethyst now at 6 weeks of age also had her 1st trip to my veterinarians office. When I arrived the vet tech Kim came out to help bring in the puppies. Amethyst greeted her with some little sweet kisses. She weighed in at 3 ¼ pounds. I think Sapphire and Ruby told her to watch out for that pinch because it smarts a bit. When Amethyst received her 1st set of shots she like her sisters let out a yelp as if to say I know what you mean. My vet also trimmed the puppies’ nails which none of them seemed to mine. Ever since they were born I would always pick them up and touch their feet all over so they would get use to being handled. On April 20th Amethyst now at 10 weeks of age made her 2nd appearance at the vet’s office. This time she weighed in at 4 ¾ pounds. I think Amethyst new what was coming after listening to her sisters’ grumble. Although she was very interested in the instrument the vet was using to look in her eyes and ears I could see her start to tense up. When she received her 2nd set of shots and her micro-chip she let out another yelp. While she was sitting on the floor she kept looking towards her shoulder blade and when I felt her I thought she was bleeding but it was her micro-chip that had backed out. Poor Amethyst had to receive another one and needless to say she was very quiet for the next few hours.
Amethyst is such a good girl. She is
very playful and like her sister Ruby is a kissing machine. She is always
the 1st one to start up the game of catch me if you can. She
likes to be held and will snuggle into your neck. She likes belly rubs and
likes to climb all over you if you are sitting on the floor. I can’t get
over how much she looks like her momma Shayleigh. |
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The last girl to be born is Diamond. She arrived at 11:20am and weighed in at 7.1 ounces. She is basically all white except for her ears and a striking mask over her eyes. At around 4 ½ weeks old I have now taken the whelping box away and they now snuggle on a few cozy beds. I also put down trays that have piddle pads on them hoping they will use them and for the most part they do although they are not perfect. They are now eating a mixture of soften puppy food and weaning formula along with mom who spends the night with them. They are now really starting to get around more so I let them out of the pen to explore. On March 23rd, 2006 Diamond now at 6 weeks of age made her 1st trip to the vets office. She weighed in at 3 pounds. Diamond didn’t do to well on her car ride to the vet and Ruby was wearing most of what Diamond threw up. After getting cleaned up the vet gave her a thorough check up and passed with flying colors. Diamond kept looking around waiting for that mean pinch. When she received her 1st set of shots, just like her sisters, she let out a yelp. She like Amethyst slept for the next few hours. I now set up another pen in my sunroom where they can enjoy being close to the outdoors or watch TV if they prefer. They also have been exploring every room of my house. I put down machine washable piddle pads in each room in case they have to go. At this stage puppies are always going!!!!!! On April 20th 2006 Diamond now at 10 weeks of age faired a lot better in the car on her return engagement to the vet’s office. She weighed in at 4 ¾ pounds. Since she was the last one to receive her vaccinations she hung out with Kim (the vet- tech) and my veterinarians 3-year-old son Allen. I think she thought if she could blend in with the 2 of them that maybe we wouldn’t be able to find her. Diamond like the rest of her sisters let out a yelp when she received her 2nd set of shots and her micro-chip. After going through all that once she got home she was ready to play. The puppies have now been exposed to almost everything in the house. They have even learned to go up the stairs to the 2nd floor. Since we have a waterbed I have a set of stairs for the big dogs to get up on the bed. When I didn’t see puppies in the hallway I found them up on the bed making them selves at home. Diamond is my energizer bunny. I always seem to have one in the bunch. She is the 1st one up and the last one to go to sleep. She is really a sweetheart when she wants to be. She is always on the move and into a lot of things. She loves to play with toys but always seems to want what some else has. She, like Ruby would rather play with one of her sisters’ ears or tail or face. Diamond gives kisses and when she is tired you can do just about anything to her.
UPDATE |
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