I took Joy’s temperature as usual Wednesday night. It didn’t indicate impending whelping so I put her to bed in her crate and laid down on the couch next to her.
Her restlessness woke me a bit after 3:00 am. I thought she might need to go out to potty so I got up and let her out. She pottied, came back into her crate and we both proceeded to go back to sleep, sort of. From then on she was not only restless but whining. It was apparent that labor had started.
I lightly dozed on and off through her groans and whines, getting up to check her on and off to see if something was actually happening.
Then a little before 5:00 am when I checked it was obvious that the first pup was about to make its appearance into the world; backwards. It was a blenheim boy.
About twenty minutes later a gorgeous ruby was born. Another boy.
Then about a half an hour later the third pup was born, another blenheim B.O.Y.
I mean I love boys. I have three sons. I love my boy dogs. My horse is a gelding (boy). I’m surrounded by boys!
But the whole point of breeding Joy & Asher was to keep some daughters from Joy to continue this line of amazing Cavaliers before she retires.
Thoughts were rumbling through my head “I’m going to be so upset if I don’t get any girls!” “I don’t need any boy Cavaliers”. And then my thoughts changed gears, “nope, I’m going to be thankful for any healthy puppies I get”.
Almost two hours after the third boy, the fourth pup appeared and man, was it a flashy blenheim! But the cord was still attached closely so the puppy was stuck up against mom and I couldn’t tell the gender. Finally she gave a push and the puppy and sack dropped out on the bed. IT.WAS.A.GIRL! God had just presented me with the prettiest little blenheim girl puppy and boy, was I thankful! She’s a keeper for sure.
Mom went outside for a potty break and I could feel at least one more puppy in her abdomen. I was hoping for another girl, but true to form at the Wood house, number five, another blenheim boy arrived about an hour after his sister.
So here they are, our first litter of purebred Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in over five years. Part of the next generation of Pinewood Cavapoos. <3
❤️