Birth date: June 01, 2022

Litter size: 6 males & 5 females

Birth time: 5:50 to 8:40

female dogs

Breathless from elf happiness

Amazing from Elfen Glück

All your need is love from Elfen Glück

All of me from Elfen Glück

* * *

males

Always on my mind from Elfen Glück

A moment like this from Elfen Glück

A deeper love from Elfen Glück

A thousand miles from elf luck

Another day in paradise from Elfen Glück

Ace on Spades from Elfen Glück

Golden Nugget´s Bernhard

Golden Nugget´s Andromeda

DEVELOPMENT

birth

The days around the expected due date are always an exciting time. Everything is prepared and the bitch is under 24 hour surveillance.

On May 31, as in the textbook, hippie's temperature dropped by 1 degree and rose again.

It couldn't be long now, it had to start within the next 24 hours.

Hippie was relatively calm. She changed berths here and there, panted very little and seemed to rest most of the time.

I gave Hippie a choice, a large plastic basket, the whelping box or the armchair.

On June 1st she went into the big basket and seemed to be asleep.

I made myself a coffee to start the day, I could hardly believe my eyes

when the wonderful hippie gave birth to her first puppy.

Without much fanfare, she gave birth at 5:50 a.m. to a beautiful two-tone male weighing 315 grams at birth.

I could forget my coffee first, because the next puppy followed on the foot.

6:05 a red girl with 275 grams saw the light of day.

I hardly had time to cut the umbilical cord and weigh it before the next little treasure arrived.

How lucky that this was not my first birth and I could give hippie peace and security.

At 8:40 am the last pup was born, a red girl weighing 335 grams at birth.

I couldn't believe 11 puppies.

It was a dream birth, I can't put it any other way.

Hippie has lovingly taken care of her offspring from the very first moment.

week 1

So many puppies are also very hungry.

I knew from the first moment that I had to supplement.

But I came up with another idea. I had a pug that gave birth to puppies 8 weeks ago and she was still milking.

With a bit of persuasion, I got her to breastfeed hippie's puppies. So now both bitches lay in the same whelping box and suckled Hippie's puppies.

The idea of a breeder colleague to provide one of her Silken bitches as a wet nurse in the hope that she would get milk failed.

Obviously it's better to take a bitch from your own pack as a wet nurse, the breed doesn't matter here, but behind you're always smarter and it was worth a try.

Despite all that, the nights are short and I fed every two hours.

... but the big eyes and the little sleep were worth it,

all 11 puppies are doing great and are in great shape.

week 2



All puppies have developed splendidly.

The first have already reached 1000 grams of body weight, even though I reduced the supplementary feeding to every three hours at the end of the second week.

They are quite active for their age and are already attempting to push their bodies off the ground and walk. It is a great pleasure to watch them take their first steps.

And something else great happened in the second week.

The eyes slowly opened. :-)

What a milestone in a puppy's development. They still look a bit awkwardly at the world and it will be a few days before they can see properly, but it is so nice to look the mice in the eyes.

... are the eyes, the mirror of the soul.

week 3

"Living in a Box" ... or the world has so much more to offer.

You can watch the little treasures grow.

As you get older, your desire to exercise increases. Of course they still sleep a lot, but when they are awake you can clearly see how they get more and more interested in exploring their surroundings.

At the end of the third week of life, she got to know a small area of our play paradise in the living room. Here they can collect new impressions during the day and retire to the cozy play house with heating mat to sleep.

Mom hippie comes by from time to time to suckle her children and then settles back on the sofa in the living room.

At the end of the 3rd week/beginning of the 4th week solid food was eaten for the first time. With so many puppies, it's time to relieve mom hippie as soon as possible.

The offered puppy food mixed with organic ground beef was very well received by the little ones and they ate it with great appetite.

week 4

The little ones have conquered the play paradise.

The wobble board is tried out, the tunnel is tested and all the different games are played.

The first cautious steps into the puppy garden through the dog flap are also dared. Brave ahead! :-)

Still a bit hesitant, but that will change very soon. ;-)

People still like to sleep in the play house on the warm heating mat, snuggled up close to each other. Anyway, the little ones still sleep a lot, play 30 minutes, sleep 3 hours.



Her teeth are growing and already pointy.

Small milk teeth that have to be tried everywhere.

The little ones are now given food 4 times a day, which they devour with great appetite.

All puppies have now found their favorite human.

Great people who are longingly waiting for their fur offspring.

week 5

You can watch them grow from week to week.

It's amazing how fast they grow up.

The puppy garden is now completely taken over and people are busy running in and out.

They enjoy their newfound freedom.

Playing, romping and still a lot of sleeping is on the plan.

... but please no longer in the play house, we are grown up now and sleep on a blanket or in a basket.

Now it was time to take the DNA sample for parental verification from each puppy.

Great that my girlfriend was visiting, so we could let this run together in a controlled manner.

The puppies do not need to be tested for CEA and MDR1 as both parents are free.

It is a so-called 4 mating.

It's nice to know that none of the puppies can be carriers of these terrible hereditary diseases.

The first new puppy parents have visited their little ones.

There are always exciting, beautiful hours for puppies as well as for the new families.



... bathe in the midst of the puppies, please. :-)

week 6

The day starts at 5:00 am. :-)

The little mice would then like to get out and make themselves heard loudly.

Since the slider of the dog flap is of course closed at night, the little ones scratch it and howl loudly.

I think it's great how they already understand that they have to do their business outside.

Of course it's not 100% working yet, but they're starting to learn this.

The appointment for vaccination and microchipping is set and the veterinarian is kind enough to come to our house. With this number of puppies a great relief.

The dates for the vaccination cards have been passed on to the veterinarian, so that everything is well prepared.

Of course, the puppies received visitors again this week.

It's always nice to look at the smiling faces of the new owners and to watch the little puppies, how happy they are and pounce freely and cheekily on the visit.

A decision was made at the end of the week.

You "must" keep a girl from such a beautiful litter. ;-)

Little "Mulle" will expand our Silken Windsprite pack.

We are so much in love with the little girl.

week 7

This week we had a busy schedule.

Driving was on the plan.

Divided into two groups, I rode a medium-length route with the puppies. One or the other sang a bit, but that gave up very quickly until they all slept peacefully.

On another day, we played through the visit to the vet.

The puppies were lifted onto the table, which was quite exciting for some puppies.

Then they looked into their ears, mouth, eyes, touched their paws and finally they had to lie on their side.

Their urge to move is now enormous and so the puppies can now run around to their heart's content and explore new things under supervision in the large garden.

It's amazing how fast they can run.

week 8

Where has the time gone?

They were just little puppies that were lovingly nursed by their mother in the whelping box.

Now they are playing in the garden and have a lot of nonsense on their minds... just like little puppies are.

No flower bed is safe from them anymore, flowerpots have to be raised and their favorite hobby is digging holes. ;-)

I enjoy watching the wild gang.

Just beautiful and my heart rises.

week 9

The puppies were vaccinated and chipped this week.

We were lucky and the vet came to our house.

It took some time before the 11 puppies were presented to the vet and he examined them thoroughly. He then issues a health certificate for each puppy, which is given to the new families.

The vaccination and chipping itself then went quickly and the little ones were very brave.

All of them tolerated the vaccination well and after a short nap they romped happily through the garden.

A few days after the vet visit, the puppies were examined by a physical therapist. Larissa Witthoft, herself a greyhound owner, enjoyed bathing in the puppies.

All puppies passed the examination without any major findings. That makes me very happy.

So I have a clear conscience to give the puppies to their new families.

week 10

Now it's time to say goodbye to the first puppies.

You are well prepared for the world and now want to experience more.

Common moments, excursions and experiences connect and they should experience them with their new families.

As a breeder, however, it tears you apart every time the day of departure approaches.

Day after day, the little ones are cared for, cuddled to sleep, and each one of them is intimately known.

Every single puppy grows dear to your heart.

But the new puppy parents are well chosen and are so looking forward to their addition to the family that the farewell tear is followed by a smile.

Of course, even after moving out, I'm always there to help and advise the new owners and I'm happy about every picture and video of my pupils.

It's time to let go, ... and as the saying goes.

"When they are small give them roots,

when they grow up give them wings."

week 15

It has become quiet.

The last bitch that moved to Sweden was picked up by her family.

15 weeks is a long time and saying goodbye hurts but I know she is in the very best hands, just like all the other elf children have found great and loving families.

I look forward to every message from my puppies and of course I am always available to give advice and support after they have moved out.