06/03/2026
Yesterday, Lana had her C-section and welcomed five healthy puppies into the world! 3 girls and 2 boys. One of the females is tiny, but she is proving very quickly that size really doesn’t mean ‘weak’. Her vigour reminds me of myself!
Lana’s recovery has been a little more challenging than I would have liked… She bled quite heavily after surgery and was clearly uncomfortable during the first 24 hours. Thankfully, she is starting to feel more like herself now. She is resting with her puppies, feeding them, and settling into motherhood like I always imagined she would!
Almira’s own puppies turned two weeks old today, yet she immediately decided that Lana’s puppies were also her responsibility. She cleaned them, fed them, slept with them, and has generally behaved as though all 8 puppies are hers 🤣😬 both helpful and fascinating to watch…
Moments like this remind me why I place SO much value on maternal instinct! Health, structure, movement, temperament, and function will always matter to me, but I also pay super close attention to the qualities that are harder to prove... How does a dog handle stress? How do they respond when something vulnerable depends on them? What do they do when nobody is watching and there is nothing to gain from the behaviour?
A pedigree can tell you many, many things. Health testing can tell you many things as well. None of them can fully replace living with a dog and observing who that dog actually is…
Meanwhile, Almira’s puppies continue to amaze me. At two weeks old, they already look and act older than they are! They are exceptionally large, strong, and developmentally advanced (mentally and physically). Today, they spent a short period outside on a blanket in the grass, taking in some fresh air, natural light, and a few new experiences!
Socialization is not something that starts at eight weeks old. It begins with small experiences that help puppies become comfortable with the world around them!
I am exhausted, running on adrenaline and gratitude! This gig is NOT for the weak, but if it is indeed a passion, man, it can be so fulfilling!
