Our litter of lurcher pups

[shell 42]

After losing p***y in that accident last September we've been looking for a suitable lurcher pup to join the pack. Nothing stood out, so when Atol (our big collie greyhound) came into season we decided to breed off her. The guy that bred p***y offered us a stud, so we used Pikeys full uncle.

 

At 8 weeks Atol was massive! I was hoping she wouldn't have a big litter. In all she had 10 pups. A couple were still born, and she laid on one the first night. Left us with 7. She seemed happy enough and settled really well with them.

 

Then disaster struck.

 

One by one the puppys started fading. We didn't know what the heck was going on. All the years we've bred Border Terriers and we've never lost a single pup. Atol had plenty of milk, the pups were warm enough and she was keeping them clean.

 

Spoke to the vets and found out that the main cause of fading puppy syndrome was canine herpes virus. I had tried bottle feeding a couple of the pups, but unfortunately they both died. Apparantly when a puppy starts to fade, 9 out of 10 will die regardless of bottle feeding etc. I did a lot of reading up about the virus, found out the conditions it thrives in and those that it doesn't. At 2 weeks old we were down to 3 pups. A dog and 2 bitches. They all seemed to be doing well. At 3 weeks old a puppy can regulate its own body temperature, and the virus can't survive at body temperature. We saw this as a crucial point. If we could get the pups to 3 weeks surely they must stand a chance.

 

The 3 pups are now 4 weeks old and absolutely thriving. Acting like a normal litter of pups.

 

We're not sure where the virus came from. It could be that Atol has it, or the father to the pups has it. It could be that losing the pups is nothing to do with the virus but something else. It's all speculation. Not something I ever want to go through again.

 

But anyway, here are the three pups:

 

The three with their minder.

 

 

The 2 merles - Blue merle is Reeba (bitch we're keeping) and the other is Tank as I call him (cos he's huge)

 

 

Tank and Red (the other bitch) - Red doesn't like posing for the camera! Excuse the chicken nugget. Nim thought they might like it!

 

 

Blue eyed Reeba

 

 

Tank again - he's going to a friend of ours who is a fantastic joiner, in exchange for a lovely hand made bow back ferret box!

 

 

And here's Atol - taking a while back but only reasonable picture on this pc.

 

Shell

[Kay 3,709]

Awwww there beautifull

[Running 7]

very nice will they keep those blue eyes

[swamper 11]

cracking

[NIGHTSHADOW 3]

Cracking looking pups hope all goes well from now on good luck

[Guest Boston]

What a cracking litter, shame about the others if they were any thing like the ones that lived.

 

I used to breed Yorkies when I was at home with my parents and in seven years of breeding we lost two litter to the same thing. Nomatter what we tryed the puppies died regardless, both litters we were left with nothing bar for bitches that had milk

 

Sounds like you are past the worst and I do hope they continue to thrive!!

 

What hight should these little ones make?

[Rabbithunter 456]

stunning pups, im thinking of putting a salukia/greyXbull/grey over my blue merle, when she is a bit older.

[shell 42]

Thanks everyone!

 

Height wise they will be fairly big. Mother is 27 inch to the shoulder, father is a bit taller, probably 28 inch. We wanted something like Atol that can handle the country round here.

 

I've no idea if they will keep the blue eyes. Maybe someone could tell me?

 

Shell

[Guest Frank]

Well done.

 

Cracking healty pups.

 

Frank.

[skycat 6,173]

They'll definitely keep the blue eyes if they are pale or bright blue and they're merles: normal puppy eyes are dark blue, and change to their adult brown/black colour at about 7-8 weeks. I wanted to know if my merle pup would keep her electric bright blue eyes she had as a tiny pup: but of course they changed and are now very pale: spooky!

5 weeks or thereabouts:

 

 

and at 5 months:

 

[Hob&Jill 258]

Lovely pups , Shes big for a collie grey!

 

What breeding is the sire?

[Guest bezza]

Crackin pups ,lovely kiddie.

[shell 42]

skycat - nice looking pup there.

 

Hob & Gill - she is big yes. Really solid. She's had some knocks over the years but never *touch wood* had anything bad. The pup that we had (p***y) was very light framed and the accident she had totally shattered her back leg. If it had of been Atol that had hit the rock, it would have been a different story I think. She'd have been bruised and battered no doubt, but still with us.

 

The sire is an old fashioned norfolk type collie greyhound. Rough coated dark dog, stunning, works like a good one. Line bred for years and years. Don't have a picture of him. But this is p***y:

 

 

 

Shell

[waz77 15]

A credit to you shell,at least some good came of it :thumbs-up:

[Guest Boston]

Skycat - Your dog has amazing coloured eyes!

 

Shell - p***y looked a beautiful dog. I have all sorts of worries getting our first dog with accidents as they so easily and quickly happen