The “No Vacancy” sign is hung out! We are plum full. There is no more room.

If you Follow our Facebook page, you already know that our first-ever litter of F1b Cavapoos have arrived!

For those who might wonder (we’ve had questions) what an F1b Cavapoo is, let me explain. A “regular” Cavapoo (what we call F1 or first generation) is from two purebred parents (a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a Poodle (generally a miniature-sized). An F1b Cavapoo is when a F1 Cavapoo is bred to a purebred Poodle (occasionally it will be an F1 bred back to a Cavalier. But what’s the point of that?) The F1b is generally considered the “least likely to shed” and better for those with allergies.

So Sage (an F1 Cavapoo; daughter of our very own Lucy and Dickens) was bred to the handsome Sundae. Since this was her first litter we had no past experience to go on to give us an idea what her pre-whelping routine might be.

The morning after Oakley had had her late night litter, I was up doing the regular chores. I was just heading to get the thermometer to take Sage’s morning temperature when I heard a quick bark/moan. I’m not sure how to describe it but it was a typical sound a dog might make when a contraction hits. I peeked in her crate. Yep, she was in a labor.

I didn’t know how many babies she had, but I knew her little barrel-shaped body could easily hide a bunch of puppies.

She labored and delivered steadily throughout the day.

About noon things got interesting as we lost power. Thankfully, we heat our home with a wood stove so things stayed nice and cozy.

Puppy after puppy arrived. I helped with each one making sure the sack with off each puppy, suctioning out the mouth/nose, rubbing and drying them, hearing their first little cry and letting mom lick and nuzzle each one. She seemed to settle into motherhood naturally.

Look at the curls already!

Just born and this kid’s got some sucking power!

Such a good mom.

Getting settled in. (Sorry for the glaring picture. The power was still out so it was taken with a headlamp and a camera flash).

Still a little discolored from the birthing process but still pretty!

Sage and Sundae gave us eight colorful, robust puppies; five boys, three girls!

We have to blue merle parti, three black and white, two blenheim and one sable parti.

 And now the living room is plum full!