Sassi's Litter Has Arrived

This past weekend Sassi gave birth to her pups sired by Anne Midgarden's boy Matrix (Ch. Teine Unstable Force, SC). 5 boys and 1 girl in tricolor and sabled red or gold.

Sadly we lost one of the boys - he wasn't thriving and upon closer examination was found to have a cleft palate. That was my first experience with such an anomaly, and hopefully the last. It is so sad to lose one, no matter how young.

Now, almost a week later, the remaining pups are plump little milk-suckers and Sassi is being a super mom.

Individual photos are posted in their online photo gallery at the Gryffyn's Aeyrie web site and will be updated once their eyes open and as they grow.

Still contemplating a theme, although at this time I am leaning heavily on warrior names (always wanted a girl named Boudicca!).

Silken Pups Galore!

It didn't turn how we originally planned, but we will certainly make the best of our overabundance of puppies (soon to be poopies) here at the moment.

We were so certain that Kandi had not been bred. She came into season Friday a week prior to Silkenfest. We had planned to pick up Bruce (her intended) at Silkenfest and bring him home for the tryst - but Kandi thought otherwise. Due to some good luck, Chuck was in TX and we met that weekend for Kandi to head to KY with him.

I was dismayed to hear that neither Kandi nor Bruce showed much interest in each other. She had had a super-short cycle when at Mary's for her breeding with Dan when she was leased - so we figured we had missed the window. Francie kept them penned together during her stay and when we picked her up at Silkenfest, we did bring home Bruce for another try. She wasn't even swollen!

Trouble had come into season the Friday we were in MO for the show. We started noodling over that idea, and since it looked hopeless with Kandi, we opted for a breeding with Bruce and Trouble after a phone call to Chris.

Kandi didn't even really look preggers until the weekend prior to delivery, other than she had seemed to have a bit of extra hair. But her tuck-up disappeared
suddenly while we were in Texarkana for shows!

On the morning of June 19 she delivered 4 pups with no issues (she'd had primary inertia her first litter and a c-section) during delivery. She's being a wonderful mother and very attentive to her brood. Two boys and two girls - all extreme white, one little boy just has a speck of color on his right ear - the one with the most color is a wee female clone of papa Bruce.

Trouble's litter (her first) arrived on July 5 - 3 boys and 2 girls, all spotted gold brindles, although 1 girl has heavy striping which makes her look silvery, and 1 boy has hardly any and almost looks like a clear gold.

Pictures of Kandi's pups at 4 weeks:
http://www.gryffynsaeyrie.com/silken-m.html (the litter's page)
and more photos in the online album at
http://www.gryffynsaeyrie.com/gallery/kandi-bruce

Trouble's pups at 2 weeks with freshly opened eyes:
http://www.gryffynsaeyrie.com/silken-n.html
and their online gallery at
http://gryffynsaeyrie.com/gallery/trouble-bruce

The "OZZlings" - 10 weeks

10 week stacked pictures are posted on the litter's page at
http://www.gryffynsaeyrie.com/litter_achillesduri.html

There are also some candids taken this past Saturday of the little heathens running about and chasing a lure toy. I do mean heathens! I gave them a nice new stuffy Saturday morning, and within 15 minutes (if not less) it was completely destroyed. Fluffy bits everywhere! Annihilation!

Candid pictures start at http://www.gryffynsaeyrie.com/gallery/achilles-duri?page=8 in the online photo album.

I've also received several new pictures from owners that I am working on editing and uploading, and J/T's win picture for his first points/major is also now online at http://www.gryffynsaeyrie.com/gallery/jt/jt_nolanriver2009

The updates will be listed with direct links at http://www.gryffynsaeyrie.com/updates.htm

Indie Pix of Duri's Mob

We took individual pictures of Duri's pups and they now have their own page on the Gryffyn's Aeyrie web site at http://www.gryffynsaeyrie.com/litter_achillesduri.html

The Pups Have Arrived

Sometime between 11pm Thursday and 1am Friday, Duri began delivering her puppies! In total, there were 13 (5 boys and 8 girls), although 1 little girl (#10) was stillborn. All in various shades of red or gold, some brindle, some not. After pup #11, she was taken to the vet as we thought she was finished and wanted to be sure - x-ray revealed the final 2 and a shot of oxytocin brought them into the world (one on the way home). I will take individual shots later, but for now....here's a picture of the crew!

Look Out! She's Gonna Blow!

3 days before her due date - she looks like she is about to explode!

Duri's Packin'!

We pulled an x-ray on Duri to count skulls/spines on the pups contributing to the massive expansion of her belly. The vet did two films - 1 showing 10-11 pups, the second showing 11-12. WOW!

We will be getting her whelping area set up this week - she's due around the 15th, but with that many on the way, she might decide to pop early. Although her last brood was delivered right on time.

Fingers crossed for an easy, problem-free delivery!

Duri's Expecting

Duri's breeding to Achilles has taken! Her pregnancy is confirmed via a relaxin test, so we hope to be welcoming puppies in mid-November!

We will take an x-ray the weekend before in order to get a count and will post once we know it. Her first litter gave us some exciting youngsters - so we are hoping for more!

Late Weekend Update

Two more pups left the nest this past weekend - "Scooter", now known as "Griffie" from Duncan/Josi's litter left for WI with his new family, the Olsens. They are soft sculpture artists and showed me some pictures of lovely Borzoi creations! So lifelike! And they used Borzoi hair brushings to complete the detail - it was beautiful.

"Beast" (Isaak/Serena) is now known as "Ajax" and left with the Lynn and Doyle Wall Saturday evening. He will be co-owned with Mary, who has VooDoo from us (and we have Peepers from her!) and is currently keeping Kandi's daughter Blondie company down in Cypress, TX.

"Mo" is still hanging out here with our definite keepers, Shadow and Fanci (Isaak/Serena) and Sunni and Lola (Duncan/Josi). There's just something about him that makes me not want to let go of him just yet! Smudge is also still here as I await hearing from who I thought was going to be adopting her.

As to out other activities - Gazehounds in Texas (GIT) had their first race meet of the season (LGRA) just down the road in McKinney! We took some youngsters to practice and then Sunday worked with Peepers and Nox on box training, and entered them in the Sunday meet. I was pleasantly surprised that Nox wouldn't back off when things got tight, and she had some nice push throughs when things got tight. I guess her stubborn streak may pay off! Peepers is fearful of strange dogs, so we had a nice crowd for her to work her issues out with since the other two dogs that were running don't give off aggressive vibes, and one of them makes Solo look very serious as he is yet another friendly goober. In the third program she did get the courage to pass him and come in third (behind the meet winner and Nox).

We also had some promising practices with Pumpkin and Shugah, although Azchyl, who had seemed so promising back in the spring, was not very excited in anything at all. Hopefully, it was just a result of the pushing-90 degree temps.

Catching Up

The past week has been something of a whirlwind. On the way back from the CO roadtrip for Duri's tryst with Achilles, my back called it quits. BIG time. Each successive gas or potty stop it became progressively harder for me to get out of the car, much less walk. Thank goodness Duri was kindly very well behaved and never tried to bolt from the backseat - she just calmly watched me struggle and didn't offer any trouble. During my ultra-brief stay in CO we did manage two breedings - so here's hoping for some lovely pups to arrive in mid-November.

Much of last week was spent in a daze thanks to muscle relaxants and pain killers and I finally got back to more normal functioning on Thursday, although sitting in a chair was not enjoyable at all (I had worked from home Monday afternoon and all day Tuesday, then took a day off after my doctor's appointment Wednesday morning). I managed to get caught up with various web projects Sunday and most of my ISWS Registrar duties, and we did get some cute candids of the K- and L-Band litters, who spent both days outside. Also got some new stacked pictures.

"Beta" (the irish-marked black boy) and "Anti-Mo" (our name for the little boy that almost looks like "mo") leave for their new homes this week with 515am drop-offs at the airport (separate days) - so I know I'll be early to work 2 days! Scooter (aka "Duncan Jr.") also has a new home that we're working on travel arrangements for. So the wee beasties are gradually leaving the nest! Perri (Harper/Ginger) hitched a ride with Jill to the Atlanta shows where his new family picked him up - causing Borzoi fanciers, and an Iggy fancier, to turn their heads with admiration!

Pupdate

This past Saturday we were blessed with a milder day than we've had in a while with a wee bit of cloud cover. It was almost comfortable outside before noon!

Serena and Josi's pups were introduced to the world outdoors...and each other - we weaned Serena's crew, so they will now live together for a while. They also got to meet Ginger's pups, Goth and QiQi as we let them out of the puppy pen to take advantage of exercise in the full yard.

We took new shots of Darkun, Pryss and Perry (Harper/Ginger) - they're in that leggy, uneven stage, but they still look pretty decent. Darkun's coloring has become richer and more vibrant - it will be interesting to see where he finally ends up.

The Duncan/Josi crew turned 6 weeks old the previous Thursday (14th) - they didn't crouch as much this time around for their photo session. Yay!

my fave girl - Smudge
This was the first stacked session for Serena's kids and they behaved pretty nicely! The worst, of course, was the smallest - she sure packs a lot of attitude into her little body. Some of them are getting call names...one being the tiny girl who is now called "Bitsy"...as any time we picked her up we would coo "look at the itsy bitsy puppy" . The blueish spotted girl has been dubbed "Smudge" because of the muddy markings around her upper lip, and the lighter sabled self brindle boy has now been named "Mo", because the coloring and markings on his face is like a mosaic. One of the boys also has been christened with his formal name...from a Led Zeppelin song...it was only natural that he be named Gryffyn's Aeyrie Black Dog .

Links to the updated pages are at http://www.gryffynsaeyrie.com/updates.htm

There's also a new shot of Goth - also in a leggy stage, but definitely in
need of a new picture.

Peaceful Puppy Moments

Of course with all the craziness and chaos that is our lives here at Gryffyn's Aeyrie, there is a balm to soothe the frazzled soul.

"Puppy TV" - otherwise known as sitting and watching our puppies while they are still in their "larval stage". That is really when it's the easiest, since mom's doing most of the work keeping them clean and fed. We can sit back and gaze at the little pink noses and wee pink feet that burst with color after they have had their fill at the "milk bar". Watching them twitch while they sleep the sound slumber of the innocent, and yawn as they begin to awaken. Sleep. Eat. Sleep. Eat.

I think that's what I am going to try and do this weekend. Housekeeping be damned.

The pups pictured above are from our L-Band litter. Not quite 2 weeks of age when the photo was taken. The colors are just turning more and more exotic. The pups pictured below are from the K-Band litter. They are getting more and more active and their personalities are beginning to come out.

Serena Has Eight Lovelies

Serena (Gryffyn's Aeyrie Witchy Woman) began labor Friday morning a bit after 5. Victor stayed home from the office to be her whelperhelper and they made a great team! She has presented us with 8 pups (5 boys, 3 girls) sired by Isaak (Gryffyn's Aeyrie Wicked Game).

For those at Silkenfest - Serena was the black (brindle) bitch I showed in the Open class and Isaak was the microscopic self cream sable boy I showed in Open. Both carry the saddle pattern. Serena is from the breeding of Ivanhoe and Jett (Kristull Jetsetter) and Isaak is from Appley/Firebug.

I am not sure of the colors at this time - it's an interesting bunch! There are two self sabled brindles - one looks to be the shade of Darkun from Ginger's last litter and the other is lighter/bluer.

2 dark dark selfs - hard to see if their bodies are brindled at the moment although the larger boy looks to have some dark tan areas above his paws - so possibly a black/tan brindle. Two spotteds, one with a blueish tint to it, and sabled since there are eye pips - unsure at this time if they're brindle. An irish-marked black (brindle?) without a full collar, and then a heavily spotted sabled blue brindle (again, eye pips).

Serena is being a fabulous first-time mom - hurrah! There are a few group shots at http://www.gryffynsaeyrie.com/gallery/isaakserena

I also took some indie shots of the Duncan/Josi pups that are a week old. They can be found at http://www.gryffynsaeyrie.com/gallery/duncanjosi
They are constantly at the milk bar and look like absolute hulking giants next to Serena's brood.

Also, today Elf's sister Azshera arrived to be bred as she has just come into heat. Will be firming up her choice of beau in the next couple days.

New Arrivals

This morning saw three new arrivals come to Gryffyn's Aeyrie. Josi gave us two boys and a girl sired by Duncan. The pups are helping themselves to long sessions at the milk bar and Josi is, as always, an exquisite mother.

Nox and Shugah Get Edu-ma-cated

This past Saturday we took Nox and Shugah to handling class in Garland. David (who handles Solo on occasion when Jill isn't available) has discontinued classes, and it was so difficult for us to get to them anyway since they were on a weeknight and over an hour away :( So we tried another class for the first time since we're in town more often thanks to less trips out of town to show.

We were a bit apprehensive since we hadn't done much with the girls other than take them to visit at occasional field trials, and Shugah had only gone once! So neither really had show-level leashbreaking. Thought it might be nice for them to get some class experience since they are entered in their first show on July 4th!

When we arrived an earlier class was still in progress - full of plenty of interesting new breeds that the girls had never been exposed to. Borzoi can be notoriously "breedist" - recognizing the sighthound type and being wary of the others. At the first show of this year, we had a heckuva time walking Buster and Wulfie through a group of Bulldogs awaiting at ringside! They did not want to be anywhere near the "alien doggies"! Nox and Shugah didn't even look twice (and even touched nosies with some) at the Pug, Bulldog, Dachshunds, Irish Setter, BIG Irish Wolfhound, or even the Husky. So within 5 minutes of our arrival we were already doing better than expected .

Both girls were a bit hesitant about the rubber mat flooring. They behaved better on lead than expected, especially since it was a bit more restrained than the "walk about on a long, loose lead in the middle of the field" method that they were familiar with. They both behaved excellent on the stacked exam, although both tend to post slightly out of fussiness about being made to stand still a certain way. A stranger's approach didn't bother them in the least, and they didn't break their stack either. Woohoo!

We might just survive the Dallas shows!

Out Into the Big World (Kinda)

With the almost oppressive heat that has descended upon North Texas, Ginger's pups that remain here have been kept inside longer than our personal preference for optimum growth (much less, life experiences). We settled for a compromise and a few days ago started putting the rowdy trio into the puppy pen in the evening and they stay out the night with adopted brother Goth and surrogate sis Qiqi, along with Missi. Pryss, Darkun and Perry get to raise some cain throughout the night with their new buds and after we bring them in in the morning, they're a bit too tired to trash their kitchen area while we're away at work for the day. Perry will head to his new home (with half-sister GoGo) in Florida at the end of August!

Beautiful Spring Weekend

Munch and J/T fuss at sister Shugah
Last weekend was absolutely what I needed! Mild temperatures with a bit of wind - blue BLUE skies and signs of spring everywhere, with blooms of color appearing everywhere, and the grass a vibrant green. Kept the back door open throughout the morning to try and coax some of the fresh air into the house.

Victor had left for Boswell, OK (and WindyGlen) to attend the ASFA lure trials there and attempt some practice with Peepers, Wulf and Buster. For myself, I attempted to catch up on some work and some housecleaning (yuk!) and a bit later in the day, get some new pictures of some of our crew....namely, the youngsters. Ginger's pups were also introduced to the wide, wide world (of our backyard) and spent a few hours sunning in a large ex-pen setup.
the 3 J-Litter brothers
I did manage to get gobs of photos of Missi, Tyler (about time I got some nice ones of him!), Gabe, Shugah and Goth. Also got a few of the other kids as well. I will be posting direct links to those on the Updates page at the Gryffyn's Aeyrie site.

Some Happier Tidings

I received word that our "golden boy" that we placed with a couple in California has finished his requirements for both a Rarities and an ISWS Championship this past weekend! He won Winners Dog at the Rarities show that had an ISWS Specialty in conjunction with the classes, as well as another WD win. He had gone in with 5 Rarities points - so the newly earned 10 finished him up! He is also an SRC (Silken Racing Champion) - so he now has dual champion status (the 4th Silken to do so)! So BIG congrats to Rick and Ann Steele on Brewer's accomplishments!

ISWS NAKC/Rarities IABCA UCICB International Champion Gryffyn's Strange Brew, SRC
It was a difficult decision for us to place Brewer - but after chatting with the Steele's online and realizing that he would have the best chance at something of a racing career out west where there are many participating - we decided it was a great match. And it has been!!

Brewer's sister Kandi has been leased to our friend (and Peepers' breeder) Mary Childs for a breeding, and I got an email yesterday letting me know that her pregnancy is confirmed! Kandi and Brewer are siblings of Ginger (and Tyler) from the repeat breeding of the first litter. I look forward to more news on Kandi, seeing her puppies, and also Kandi's return home! I've missed her so much!

Gryffyns Under the Milky Way

Ginger Babies - Week 4 Approaches!

Isn't he the cutest? Just give him a beer and a remote control like any other fella and he will be in absolute heaven!!

The pups will turn 4 weeks old this Saturday - they are a very promising lot and I can't wait for their 8-10 week evaluations as we determine who will stay here to carry on and the others prepare for their new homes. I took several candid pictures of them yesterday and got them edited and uploaded to their online photo album.

Promised Pix

Finally got several sets of pictures uploaded to our online gallery at the Gryffyn's Aeyrie web site!

Photos from our trip to NYC for Westminster, including more from our wild drag dining experience! [ LINK ]

Photos of Ginger's puppies born March 1 [ LINK ]

Photos from our Snow Day! [ LINK ]

There are several other updates to the web site - you can check out a listing HERE.