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Writer's pictureHoekema Family

Belly Bumps!

We definitely have belly bumps this week!

 

Meiko has exploded in size this week and is now obviously prego with more than a bushel of babes!! This photo was taken at day 39 out of 63 which is on the early side for sure for showing especially to this degree at this stage.


She consistently has 9 or 10 pups so it looks to me like she is yet again my most predictable mama. She's glowing literally and figuratively everyday. She plunks down in any sun spot she can find and soaks up the heat from the sand. 


She looks up at me and blinks sweetness and contentment my way.  With that look she could sell sand to a desert dweller. Her pups have been magically perfection and now with this litter sired by our Tonka, a step above is expected in everyway.  I am itching to meet these babies. 

 





Our Isla Nae is only 6 days behind and is also getting very thick in all areas.  She's a bit longer bodied so she shows her growing glowing size a bit later.  But as you can see in her photos she is also probably carrying a full sized litter. She is always content with the world around her and calm and collected in every moment of her day. This litter was also sired by our Tonka so very much anticipated pups are ahead.



Leia is our follow up girl completing this beautiful sequence of our puppy ménage. She continues to be extremely clingy in the most darling of ways. Not so much looking for reassurance this week but more so just to share space and swap energy.  Her most recent ultrasound images are showing her peanuts way clearer now and everyone and everything is looking spot on. 



She has yet to lose her figure but the difference week to week from here on out is massive so I'm sure by next week she won't be my tiny little thing anymore. She may be 2.5 yrs. old but she still looks like a puppy and especially if she's not going to give up her 'binkie' anytime soon!

 


Neema has completely stolen my heart and swallowed the key.  She's the perfect balance of a soul searching creature and a playful young companion trying to contain her wiggles. I adore her more and more each day.



Her white face flashes across the yard for everyone to see and of course her puppy energy radiates in every direction.  There's different levels of how you search for personality and demeanor vs. Plain flat out puppy age energy. You have to push the initial curtain aside and step past to see the beauty of what's beyond.  One layer you see a puppy doing the zoomies around the yard but if you take the time to watch where their eyes go,  you can see where and what their eyes stop on.  Or trying their best to contain their wiggles is the puppy age layer, but how they decide to contain their wiggles is their demeanor.  Deciphering between the 2 is insanely important to see the true heart and soul of a puppy.  



Neema has figured out each dog in the pack and they have figured out her.  The stumps and spools are the mama dogs best friends. Leia and Isla tolerate her more than Meiko does but they still run for the spools most of the time and join Meiko and pull up their tails. Mamas have one job, to bake babies, not to entertain toddlers. Neema has easily conquered the step stump but isn't big enough yet to follow them up to the top so they are safe to sun bathe without a shark attached to their tails... or ears... or faces!



Meiko at times kisses Neema and shares in a quick wiggle butt dance but Neema knows she is not to eat her face. She also knows not to use her mouth on me at all. I showed and guided her from day 1 how to interact with me and she follows instructions to the tee. Incredibly smart cookie. The puppy energy layer sometimes overlaps and collides with personality but my heart only sees the under layer as I've grown to know her true self.  Not to say I don't see, interact and love her puppy antics because I absolutely do. I love every second. The entertainment factor she brings is hysterical and I could watch her for hours.



Her and Tonka are still attached at the hip.. the ears.. the tail.. the scruff. Half the time I can't tell where one ends and the other starts. As Neema grows, Tonka adjusts his play style impeccably. It's fascinating to watch. It's very clear that teaching is constant and learning is continual. I will use Tonka once again in the side yard with the new wee pups and get him to teach the newbies this bite inhibition along side their mamas. More input from my pack the better. It'll be interesting to see if Neema has learned enough so far to be able to play nicely and calmly with the new pups. This vibrating puppy energy is at times very hard to control so it'll be interesting to see how this plays out when I invite her to play with the wee ones.



Everyone got groomed a little extra this week with full pedicures, ear cleaning and extra time spent on their teeth. The days have been so beautiful lately with the fall chill in the air but the sunshine still blessing us in the afternoon. My pack has been taking full advantage of these moments to bask. I giggle as they bolt out into their yard after their afternoon nap and flop down into a sun patch before even doing their rounds to eliminate. Totally sun obsessed. I join in with them and sit down with my scissors and clippers and work away slowly on their feet as they zone off without a care at all that I'm in their personal toe space.



I give all the mamas a bit of a tummy trim to take off some of the mass under their under carriage. Some breeders will completely shave their bellies right before birth, I do not find this necessary as with the combination of a slight trim and it falling out somewhat on it's own (nature at work) it's thin enough that pups don't get lost in the fluff. With bellies up to do trimming as well as what I see on these mamas ultrasounds it's very clear we are very much anticipating full sized litters. Looking forward to meeting each and everyone of these precious little beings and can't wait to guide each of them earthside.



3 weeks and counting until these pups start to arrive. Meals will start to be added to a little more and care will continue every moment. Birthing treats have been created and frozen. Extra supplies continue to show up on my doorstep and my piles of preparation for what's ahead grows. I am honored to be part of so many stories as these families on board eagerly await these much anticipated arrivals. Once these pups show up, things roll and pass by very quickly.


Families are contacted immediately and assigned officially to a litter, files fly out soon thereafter, dates for visits are contemplated, and photos of growing pups go out daily. The growth rate is rapid and everyday something new arises to be shared. Heads spin with thoughts of 'what do I need' 'am I ready' 'can I manage'


I will guide you along this process and do my very best in juggling everyone. I will feed my patience bucket and I promise to put everything I possibly have into each and every one of these darling pups despite the quantity of pups drawing near.



So as summer turns over to fall this morning...on this very minute @ 8:44am I send all my best your way!

Much love as well sent your way from my pack..


Tonka, Meiko, Isla, Leia and Neema

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