Jacques and Casey followed me in to the bathroom (they remind me of having toddlers...no privacy) today and commenced to "get busy". Although Casey didn't appear to be uncomfortable today, she still didn't hold still for him. So, I sat on the bathroom floor and held them-stuck together-on my lap. Man, this is so much easier than breeding big dogs.

Omg! Velvet got out of the yard. We live on a very busy street very near the heart of downtown Indianapolis. It is freezing and snowy outside. She also didn't have her collar on. I've been grooming her on and off all day and had taken it off. I know better than to let her out without it, even just to go potty. I put on shoes, gloves, a coat and a hat; grabbed her collar and leash and headed out to look for her. As I was walking I became appalled and alarmed by all the dogs out in the neighboring (fenced) yards. Since she didn't have a collar on and wasn't finished being groomed, somebody that found her would probably think she was just another outside stray dog...gasp! The thought of that was terrifying me as I was walking (slipping) along calling for her. I went down an ally and came back up one of the side streets coming up to the busy street dreading what I might find. Then I heard someone whistling as if for a dog. I quickened my step until I saw a man about a half block up out on his porch wearing a t-shirt. That is not right for this freezing weather so I hoped and prayed he was whistling for Velvet to get away from the street. I called for her yet again and about died with relief when she came bounding towards me. It appears that kind gentleman was most likely whistling for her, and I will be forever grateful.

My nose and ears are still cold from being outside, but Velvet is at my feet and that is all that matters.

Lillie

The breeder I got the poodles from called me today to say Lillie, the Chihuahua I'm getting from her, is finished breeding and ready to be picked up. We met halfway in a Taco Bell parking lot. As I was climbing in her truck to make the transaction, I said "this certainly isn't the first parking lot transaction I've made and it always feels like a drug deal". After we reviewed the paper work and I paid her (in cash of course) she handed Lillie to me and said "now here's your drugs".

Peanut Butter and Jelly went bonkers barking at Lillie when we got home. The Poodles seemed delighted to see their old pal. I had Kris sleep in the pen with her to keep her company. The rest of the pack, with the exception of Velvet who prefers to sleep on the cool dining room floor, slept up in the bedroom with me. Ok, who am I kidding, they all slept in the bed with me.

Jacques and Casey sitting in a tree...k i s s ing...

Today I put Jacques and Casey in the pen together so they could play. Next thing I knew I heard a yelp. I went running in the room and...well...I'm sure I don't need to spell out what they were doing. I could tell it was her first time by how uncomfortable she appeared. She was trying to get away from him and was dragging him around by it. Poor doggies...both of them. I jumped in the pen and held her and comforted her.

ooo...possibly 3 litters at once?!?

The plan is starting to work

The plan was for me to stay at home and raise dogs. The plan is working already. I am now officially a stay at home doggie mom.

Casey's season

Casey is "my" Poodle girl. She and I have bonded. She is so tiny and so cute. When Peanut Butter isn't looking I bring Casey up in bed with me at night. Yes, yes, I know, I am the alpha and it doesn't matter what Peanut says. If I want Casey in bed with me, then I bring her up. When I am half asleep I just don't feel like getting in a growling match and I avoid the situation. Anyway, Casey came in heat today. Hmm, that was quick.

New Toys

This morning I went to work extra early so I could get off early. All day I just couldn't wait to get home to play with the new dogs. They are just so cute. They look like little 4 week old Velvet puppies. Velvet is my retired Australian Labradoodle. She was the foundation of my previous breeding business. Anyway, she and the poodles are black and they do look like they are related.

Peanut Butter and Jelly are the Chihuahuas we already had. Peanut had one litter before being spayed. Jelly is one of her puppies. She (Jelly) is almost 1 1/2 years old and in heat. Jacques, the poodle boy we brought home yesterday, nailed Jelly this evening. Looks like we are going to have a litter of ...um...PooChis or ChiPoos or WaPoos...just depends on who you ask as to what they are called.

This makes 2 litter of puppies we are going to have at the same time. Still, they will be so small they will be no problem.

How it began

Michelle said the magic words "You know if you want to breed dogs, you could stay home". If she had said that before I would have dismissed it and thought she was crazy. For some reason, this time the words were barely out of her mouth, and I threw myself in a computer search in my usual Jane Fashion. Within a matter of days I found exactly what I wanted, a breeder going out of business who had Toy Poodles. Michelle and I made the drive out to look at them...just to take a peek (yea right). Her house was neat and clean with no foul doggie odor at all. Her dogs were all clean and healthy looking. She had 2 female Toy Poodles who were 2 years old, registered, never bred, just getting ready to come in to heat, perfect coats, clean and well groomed, healthy looking, cute as could be, and friendly. "How could it be more perfect" you ask? Well I'll tell you, she also this little boy Toy Poodle who was about 3 1/2 or 4 pounds experienced stud who doesn't mind help in reaching his "target". He is AKC registered, DNA on file, health testing completed. Oh, and he is completely unrelated to the girls who are unrelated to each other. Did I mention the girls were each pick of their litters? Ok, now how could this get any better? I'll tell you how. The husband brought out this AKC registered pretty Chihuahua pair who were just getting ready to breed with each other. The girl was to be in peak season in just a couple days. The boy was long haired, tiny and cute as a button. The breeder offered to breed them together and sell her to me in whelp. My head was about ready to explode. I wanted to take all of them. We ended up getting the 3 Toy Poodles and agreed to come back in a couple of weeks to get the Chihuahua girl after she was bred.

Wow, that is a lot of dogs. But...they are like 4 1/2 pounds each. Their combined weight is, like, an insignificant fraction of any one of the Australian Labradoodles that I used to breed. I can carry all 3 of the Toy Poodles together in one arm with no problems. I certainly can't carry a 60 pound Labradoodle. The Toy Poodle poo's are like little tootsie rolls. Their puppies will be maybe 2 pounds when they go to their new homes.

Seriously, how hard is this going to be?