Week Five (Days 28-35) of Zene's pregnancy

At this stage, amniotic fluid in the uterus increases in order to protect the pups around day 32 of gestation, and so you or your vet will no longer be able to detect the presence of puppies by palpating the abdomen. 

From week five onwards, the puppies are much less susceptible to developmental issues and defects. The individual toes begin to form, and claws and whiskers start to grow. Fetuses grow from 18 mm - 30 mm. The foetuses also develop their male or female sexes during this time. The puppies will begin to develop their markings and the skin pigmentation that will eventually determine their color and looks.

The fetuses develop their sex organs and begin to look like actual puppies. The leg buds lengthen and develop toes. Your dog's belly will begin to look noticeably swollen as the pups take up more space. With less room for full meals, it's time to think about serving smaller meals more frequently.

• Dam begins to lose her "tuck-up" as weight increases and puppies shift
• Swelling of the vulva becomes more noticeable
• Be aware of her weight, do not over feed

Week Four (Days 22-28) of Zene's pregnancy

Development of the Puppies

• Development of eyes and spinal cords 
• Faces take shape 
• Fetuses grow from 5-10 mm to 14-15 mm 
• Organogenesis begins -- Embryos are at their most susceptible to defects 
• Days 26 - 32 are the best days to palpitate (i.e. feel for the puppies) 

Changes and Care Required in the Momma Dog

• Possible clear vaginal discharge 
• Mammary development begins 
• After Day 26, palpitation may be possible to diagnose pregnancy 
• Limit strenuous activity (such as working, jumping, long runs) 
• Add 1/4 cup cottage cheese or a hard boiled egg to food on alternating days 

Breeder "To Do " List

• Schedule ultrasound (Day 30) or palpitation with vet if desired

What is the Goodies Litter?

Litter themes are the norm when going to such great lengths to plan a litter of puppies and the 2017 Teak x Zene litter is no different. 

Puppy parents-to-be, Teak and Zene made their love-connection the weekend of the prestigious Santa Barbara Kennel Club dog show in August 2017.  The event is near Goleta in Santa Barbara County, which was initially named “The Good Land”.  The town is situated between the Santa Ynez Mountains, which offer a scenic backdrop to downtown, and the Pacific Ocean with temperatures warm enough to be outside all year long, and a list of things to do that includes cycling, world-class surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, hiking, camping, and golf.  In searching for a litter theme it made sense to tie back to the Good Land and the Goodies was too cute to pass up.

Each pup in the litter will have an AKC Registered name which must include the word "good" or "goodies". Their "call name" can be anything but it can be cute if they tie back together. For example, Zene's call name means "music" in Hungarian, and her AKC Registered name is CH Moonlight's Rock'n Ow't RN JH CGC.  Make sense?

Here are some examples of names, but feel free to let me know if you come up with others:

Moonlight's Good to See You
Moonlight's All in Good Time
Moonlight's A Good Spell
Moonlight's In Good Company
Moonlight's Bill of Goods
Moonlight's On Good Terms
Moonlight's As Good as New
Moonlight's For Good and All
Moonlight's Get On My Good Side
Moonlight's Get the Goods On
Moonlight's Good Lovin'
Moonlight's Good Enough to Eat
Moonlight's Good for What Ails You
Moonlight's Good for You
Moonlight's Good Luck
Moonlight's The Good Life
Moonlight's Have a Good One
Moonlight's In Good Company
Moonlight's in Good Graces
Moonlight's Kiss Good-Bye
Moonlight's Let the Good Times Roll 
Moonlight's So Far, So Good

Sunset at Goleta Pier - Unknown

Planning, progesterone and dog sex (oh my!)

Zene is fairly predictable as far as her heat cycles go -- she came in season on August 16th which is six months after her last heat.  In looking at dates, I realized we may have the opportunity to breed her to Teak the end of August.  Teak's owners were heading to Santa Barbara for the prestigious Santa Barbara Kennel Club dog events so the timing was perfect. When doing a breeding, step #1 is to do progesterone testing. Good breeders do progesterone when organizing each breeding (whether "live cover" or an AI - artificial insemination breeding).  

What the heck is progesterone testing, you ask?

Basically, progesterone is a hormone produced by the ovaries that rises as the heat cycle progresses. Early in the canine heat cycle the progesterone values will usually read less than 1.0 ng/ml. The first significant, sustained rise in progesterone usually coincides with the "LH Surge". The LH stands for luteinizing hormone and is released by the pituitary gland in the brain. This is important because ovulation occurs about 48 hours after the LH surge. The progesterone value at the time of the LH surge is usually about 2-3 ng/ml. The progesterone will rise to about 5-8 ng/ml at the time of ovulation. Canine eggs are not ready to be fertilized at the time of ovulation and take about 2 days to mature. Once mature, the eggs remain fertile for 2 to 3 days and then begin to deteriorate. Of note: progesterone stays elevated for about 2 months whether the bitch is pregnant or not. We like to know when the "surge" is so that we have an idea of ovulation, when to breed, and to estimate the whelping day.

Zene's progesterone testing came back as 2.4 on Thursday, August 24th. We're looking for the LH Surge of 5+. She met up with Teak over the weekend and there was a "love connection" regardless that she was lower than a 5. Over the next few days we had successful breedings and Zene travelled with Teak to his home in San Diego for more of the same. 

More details to follow . . . We will we plan to do an ultrasound in four weeks to verify a pregnancy. So please check  back . . . 

Teak . . . Daddy to the Goodies Litter

MBISS GCHS CH Russet Leather Ride To The Top JH AX AXJ "Teak" 

Sire: GCH Brittania's Taylor Made For Two JH

Dam: GCH Russet Leather Wild Ride RE JH NA OAJ

Owner/Breeder: Mary Grant

AKC#: SR73973803 / DNA#: V686108

DOB: 6/30/12

CHIC #: 107792

OFA Hips: VZ-14030G34M-VPI (Good)

OFA Elbows:  VZ-EL2112M34-VPI (Normal)

OFA Thyroid: VZ-TH1043/34M-VPI (Normal)

OFA Eyes: VZ-EYE360/37M-VPI (Normal)

OFA Advanced Cardiac:  VZ-ACA53/60M-VPI (Normal)

"Teak" is a versatile Vizsla who is titled in Show, Agility and Hunting and has an impressive pedigree.  "Teak" has been a very successful show dog and won Best of Breed at Westminster Kennel Club in February 2017!  In 2016, "Teak" was the #3 Vizsla in Breed points and #5 All Breed. He is also a handful of Vizslas who have earned their Silver Grand Championship. Teak has seven (7) Best in Specialty Show (BISS) wins.

"Teak" is a moderate male Vizsla with a lovely front assembly and return of upper arm and is clean moving coming and going. He is biddable and has a nice easy going temperament who lives with his intact son, "Tanner" CH Comynara Tanner Is The Silver Lining Ride JH NAVHDA NA Prize 1. I have met the two of them together and they are adorable.

Check out his 2017 VCA Nationals ad for his performance highlights:

"Teak's" mother is "Kona" GCH Russet Leather Wild Ride RE JH NA OAJ is a beautiful moving bitch and hails from a litter of nine (9) AKC Champions! They also are versatile Vizslas who are titled in Advanced Hunt, Agility and Obedience titled, Multiple Best in Show and Best in Specialty Show Winners. W-O-W!

"Kona"

"Teak's" maternal grandmother is "Geli" BIS MBISS GCH MACH2 Russet Leather Sacajawea RE SH MXG MJC XF ROM HOF who is one of  most influencial bitches in the breed. I had the pleasure of meeting her in person throughout the years and she was simply lovely.  In 2016, Geli was inducted into the VCA Hall of Fame! Read more on HOF requirements and past recipients here:  http://www.vcaweb.org/breed/hall_of_fame.shtml

"Geli"

Zene . . . Mommie to the Goodies Litter

GCH Moonlight's Rock'N Ow'T, RN JH CGC "Zene"

Sire: GCH/Can CH Captivatin' Ain't He A Knockow't ROM "Rocky"

Dam: CH Tamaron Okos Piros Csillag, CD RN JH CGC ROM "Csilla"

Owner/Breeder: Karen Lake, Co-Breeder: T Westerbeck

AKC #: SR65041506 (Pedigree) - DNA Profile #: V625573

CHIC #: 86671

OFA Hips: VZ-12914G25F-VPI (Good)

OFA Elbows: VZ-EL618F25-VPI (Normal)

OFA Thyroid: VZ-TH729/25F-VPI (Normal)

OFA Eyes: VZ-EYE12/25F-VPI (Normal)

OFA Cardiac: VZ-CA406/31F/P-VPI (Normal)

---

 Multiple Best of Breeds 

Finished Grand Championship with FIVE Majors 

Junior Hunter at 10 1/2 months – Owner Handled/Trained

2x's Best Puppy in Sweepstakes Winner

---

Zene completed her AKC Conformation Championship with a 4 Point Major; earning the majority of her points from the Bred-By-Exhibitor class. The day after finishing her title, she took back-to-back Best of Breed wins for two 5 Point Grand Champion Majors - and she made the cut both days in the Sporting Group.  In short order she finished her Grand Championship with FIVE majors!

As a baby puppy, she won back-to-back Best Puppy in Sweepstakes from the 6-9 month puppy class. Zene has also dabbled in Obedience and she has one Beginner Novice (BN) Leg, and earned her Novice Rally Obedience with little effort. Prior to those she easily earned Canine Good Citizen title. Her passion, though, is BIRDS! She is birdy can be and has a tremendous prey drive (loves rabbits and lizards when birds aren't around).  At 10.5 months old and owner/handled and trained she earned her Junior Hunter title, and she could easily get advanced Hunt Titles given the time and training to do so.

Besides her good looks and biddability, Zene has a wonderful temperament, with an up for anything attitude. She is a joy to live with and loves sitting upright in my lap (on her back) and being held. She is my first home grown girl and I could not be happier with her.

As a Dam, she has produced multiple AKC Champions with several others Major pointed. She's successfully passed on her good looks and temperament to her progeny (and her good health). She is a natural brood bitch and an amazing mother. I am so proud of her!

Zene's pedigree reflects holds a proven strength in conformation and versatility:

"Rocky"

Her Sire "Rocky" (GCH Can CH Captivatin' Ain't He A Knockow't ROM) finished his AKC Championship at 7 1/2 months old with 5 Majors in only 8 shows. Before age 18 months, Rocky was awarded several Best of Breed wins and earned multiple Sporting Group Placements — all owner handled! With relative ease, Rocky finished his AKC Grand Championship (owner handled) in August 2010. He has also been a formidable producer earning his Registry of Merit (ROM) from the VCA - with only four litters. He has seven (7) Champions and other titled progeny across multiple venues. In both 2011 and 2012, Zene's Grand-Sire, “Owe’n” (MBISS GCH Tivoliz CC Joint Venture, JH ROM), earned recognition as the #1 Top Producing Sire, and as of 6/2013, he has nineteen (19) AKC Champion offspring.

Her Dam "Csilla" (CH Tamaron Okos Piros Csillag, CD RN JH CGC ROM) is a proven producer earning a Registry of Merit (ROM) from the VCA in 2014. Her progeny include a Specialty Show Winner (BISS), (5) Champions and two (2) Grand Champions (two more are Major Pointed), seven (7) Junior Hunters, and (2) Rally Novice (RN) titleholders; along with Multiple Best of Breed, Group Placing, Award of Merit, and Multiple BBE Group Placements. Csilla has consistently passed her faultless temperament and good looks to her offspring. She hails from a successful litter with siblings earning Multiple Best in Specialty Show wins, and a Best in Show.