A teenage love story... You may have noticed that we didn't post this litter or offer a public live stream until recently. This is because this special pairing was NOT supposed to happen. At only 1 year old, Lucy is a bit younger than our other mommies. We planned to wait at least one more estrus cycle (called a heat cycle) before she was to have her first "boyfriend" so that she could mature a little more, and we could complete all of her health testing.... but this silly girl had other plans.
Lucy and Rocky are full time residents in our home at Red Spring Farm. When Lucy entered her heat cycle (which occur about 2x a year last 3 weeks) we separated these two youngsters- they were not allowed in the same room and had to be separated by 2 fences outside. This worked well for 10 days and they didn't seem to think much of it. On the morning of the 11th day, Lucy decided to perform a feat that no dog at Red Spring Farm had done- she managed to climb AND dig under both fences. In a matter of 15 minutes- what was supposed to be a morning potty break turned into a full blown honeymoon. I panicked, called our vet, and rushed Lucy in for blood work to determine where she was in her heat cycle. Sure enough, she had recently ovulated and chances were good that she would conceive. I discussed our options with the vet and we decided not to go the route of the "doggy-abortion" shot (I felt that the side effects for mom were riskier than a pregnancy). Lucy is in great health, and the vet assured me that many, many dogs get pregnant at her age and much younger, that chances were all would go well.
Rather than offering Lucy's litter to the public, I decided to wait until:
1) We knew she was in fact pregnant, even with perfect timing pregnancies don't always occur 2) If she was pregnant, I wanted to wait until she delivered and successfully mothered her litter- I was nervous that a young mom would have difficulties with the adjustment into motherhood 3) I made decisions on how to complete her health testing during/after her pregnancy.
Thankfully Lucy made it easy on me! She had a very smooth "teenage" pregnancy and quick delivery, she gave birth to 6 healthy pups. She has been a fabulous mom with plenty of milk and natural instinct, and her pups are thriving. I have decided to offer her pups with our full health guarantee, and Lucy will complete her testing once she recovers from this litter. All of her puppies will be free of all the genetic diseases that we test for (based of Lucy's parent's results and Rocky's results). Lucy has had a normal OFA CERF (eye exam) and preliminary/office vet exams of her heart (via auscultation) and knees, she will receive official certification for these when her pups go in for their puppy exam. We will be waiting until after she recovers from this litter to complete her Hip and Elbow xrays (for OFA and Pennhip) because these require sedation, and we do not want to sedate her until she is done lactating and gains her weight back. Her parents scored OFA Final Excellent and OFA Prelim Good on their hips, and both elbows were normal. Rocky received OFA Prelim Good on his hips and completed his eye, heart, knee, elbow and genetic testing- all perfect. Both dogs come from a long line of Good/Excellent hips with many tested relatives- all passing.
I always say, sometimes the dogs just know best. I think that rang true in this situation!
I make a huge effort to be as transparent as possible here at Red Spring Farm. If you are interested in this list but you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out and ask.
Weekly "Pupdates" are posted below on Fridays by 5PM The 1, 2, & 3 Week Pupdates will include weights and a general litter update. At 4 Weeks, ID collars go on the pups (prior to this we avoid any sort of collar or color coding dye for their safety. The 4, 5 & 6 Week Pupdates will include weights and brief description of each pup as their personality emerges. The 7 Week (Final) Pupdate will include weights, personality descriptions, temperament testing, and vet checkup results.
This litter page has closed. Available pups will have photos and information posted about them on the "Available Pups" page after puppy pickup day (8/3).
07.26.19 - 7th Pupdate
I really want to thank you for your patience this week. A quick update on my dad: He is still in the hospital (2.5 hours from my home), but he is doing well and is spending his first night alone tonight. He is on the road to recovery and will be moved to a rehab center next week. Now for the PUPPIES! They are doing very well and I have wonderful friends and family members who were willing to help out while I was gone. It is amazing how much these babies grow and change, it becomes even more obvious when you don't see them every day.
Puppy Selection Information: I apologize for not scheduling puppy selections until now. We luckily only have to make appointments with 3 people, so please let me know if the time slot listed below works for you. If so, you are welcome to contact me during that time if you need to discuss your selection. You are also welcome to email me.
Conte: Must know puppy selection by 10AM on Saturday 07/27 Leitzer: Must know puppy selection between 10AM-2PM on Saturday 07/27 Craddock: Must know puppy selection between 2PM-6PM on Saturday 07/27
Puppy Exams:
Our vet is EXTREMELY thorough, which we love. We describe puppy vet exams in three different ways... perfect, normal, or abnormal. Every puppy in Tessa's Litter had either a "perfect" or "normal" vet exam... yay! Anyone who did not receive a perfect exam has a note in their pupdate description about what was found. If you are interested in a pup with an exam that was under the normal spectrum but not perfect and you have some concerns, please reach out for additional information.
Perfect exams mean that the vet didn't notice anything out of the ordinary.
Normal exams are when pups have something worth noting, but these things are common in young puppies and not expected to impact long term health. It is not unusual for puppies to have imperfect exams at this age. They are growing at a rapid pace, and this sometimes results in awkward phases. In fact, sometimes we have more pups in a litter with "normal" exams than "perfect" exams! Normal exam findings will likely either correct themselves with age or need simple correction at the time of spay/neuter. Examples of "normal" exams include pups with small under or overbites, small umbilical hernias, "innocent" heart murmurs (grade of 1 out of 6) which are expected to go away within a couple vet visits, or missing a testicle (sometimes they don't both "drop" until pups are much older). We will ALWAYS notify you of any such things on the first vet visit, and you are NOT required to take a pup that you do not feel comfortable with due to any finding at a vet exam which concerns you. We will only allow pups to go home if we feel comfortable that the issue is benign/likely to go away with age.
Abnormal exams are when pups have an exam that concerns us for their long term health. An example of this would be severe patellar luxation (extremely loose knee joints- very different than typical puppy laxity), a loud heart murmur (ex, 4 out of 6), cataracts, etc. In these situations, where the severity of the issue in question may impact their long term health, we "pull" the puppy from the reservation list and they are no longer available until we can either wait for the next exam of have the pup checked by a specialist, depending on the issue. We have been very blessed in that every single pup we have ever had to pull from a list due to an abnormal exam has ended up being just fine and the condition went away with age! Still- we don't let pups go to new homes until we are comfortable that they can live normal, happy lives.
Personality Pupdate:
Mr. Red: 4lbs 2oz. This silly boy is so funny! He is naturally submissive with humans and is all puppy wiggles during playtime. He acts big and tough with his siblings, but is a bit of a weenie in scary new situations (but warms up quickly, especially with a yummy treat). We have started manding this week, which is when he sits for treats and attention rather than jumps, and Mr. Red is doing very well, he often wants to lay down rather than sit. Mr. Red had a "Perfect" vet exam.
Mr. Green: 4lbs 10oz. This guy's tail never stops gently wagging when he is around people! He is a chunky hunky fella with lanky legs. He thrives with attention and is doing pretty well with manding (though sometimes he can't help himself, he just wants to cuddle with you). I expect he will land on the higher end of the estimated weight range. As shown in this weeks video, he likes playing with shoes and toys will likely have a retrieving drive. He is really stunning and has a classic wavy style coat. He is all boy, very goofy and sweet. Mr. Green had a "Perfect" vet exam.
Mr. Blue: 3lbs 6oz. This fella is SUCH a sweetheart!!! He is gentle, submissive, and so very sweet. He has a very soft curly coat and enjoys belly rubs and attention. I expect he is going to be a velcro pup with his very special human, he is going to be one of those dogs that wants to be touching you at all times. He likes being held like a baby and I expect he will be on the smaller end of the weight range. Mr. Blue had a "Perfect" vet exam.
Ms. Purple: 3lbs 8oz. This little diva is the dictionary definition of ADORABLE. She is more compact than her siblings and has a nice square build and frame. I expect that she will land on the smaller end of the weight range. Though she enjoys playing with her siblings, she is one of the more independent pups in the litter and is able to keep herself occupied alone. She loves playing with me, and will swat and paw with her front paws during play sessions. Ms. Purple had what I consider a "Normal" puppy exam, but not perfect. My vet could hear a teeny tiny heart murmur. He and I both agree that this is most likely a puppy hood murmur and we expect that she will grow out of it in the coming weeks. We have a grade 1/6 murmur in a pup or two every few litters, it is quite common in young puppies. We have never had a pup with a murmur have any health issues as an adult and we will continue to cover the cardiac portion of this pups health guarantee.
Ms. Pink: 4lbs 8oz. This chunky gal has mastered her sad puppy eyes. She makes good eye contact and has a straighter-style wavy coat. She enjoys a good wrestle with her siblings and is very interested in people. She is one of the more confident pups in the litter and will likely have a ball drive as she likes to chase toys and siblings. She is adventorous and is the first to explore new toys and areas. She likes to be held and is doing exceptionally well with manding. Ms. Pink had a "Perfect" vet exam.
Ms. Yellow: 3lbs 10oz. Yellow has a classy doodle build with a nice square face, good balance, and a classic wavy coat. She is a smart, intuitive puppy who I find very feminine. She crosses her legs when she lays down and you can see her wheels turning when she is exposed to a new situation- a thinker! She is a relaxed girl when being held or petted, but is a lot of fun during play time, she likes to chase things and will let out the most adorable puppy "yips" when she gets excited. Ms. Yellow had a "Perfect" vet exam.
Temperament Testing: Using [A] for active response, [N] for neutral and [P] for passive based on:
1. Observation. Watching how she plays with other puppies, does she jump right into group activities [A], hanging in the midst of the activity [N], or submitting when approached [P]. Mr. Red: N Mr. Green: N Mr. Blue: N Ms. Purple: N Ms. Pink: N Ms. Yellow: N
2. Play. When you first take a puppy aside to play with, is he hyper [A], easy going [N] or does he just want to be petted [P]. Mr. Red: N Mr. Green: N Mr. Blue: P Ms. Purple: N Ms. Pink: N Ms. Yellow: N
3. Cradle. When cradling a puppy in your arms, does he relax [P], wiggle a bit and then relax [N] or kick like crazy [A]. Mr. Red: P Mr. Green: N Mr. Blue: P Ms. Purple: P Ms. Pink: N Ms. Yellow: N
4. Call back. Using a treat or squeak toy and calling to the puppy while backing away, does he race after you while jumping or nipping at your ankles [A], follow happily [N] or hesitate and need coaxing [P]. Mr. Red: N Mr. Green: N Mr. Blue: N Ms. Purple: N Ms. Pink: N Ms. Yellow: N
5. Tuck and pat. When kneeling/sitting on the floor, settle the puppy between your legs. Pet him in long gentle strokes as you praise him softly. Does he wriggle free as he nips [A], wriggle and then relax [N] or simply melt in your embrace [P]. Mr. Red: P Mr. Green: N Mr. Blue: P Ms. Purple: P Ms. Pink: N Ms. Yellow: N
6. Bend over. Stand up, stretch and relax, Now go to your puppy and lean over to pet him. Your doing this may seem overwhelming to the pup because you're so large and he's so small. Does he jump up at your face [A], cower in confusion [P] or just relax and let it happen [N]. Mr. Red: N Mr. Green: N Mr. Blue: N Ms. Purple: N Ms. Pink: N Ms. Yellow: N
7. Nose kiss. Cradle your puppy's face in your hands and kiss him on the nose. Does he bite you back [A], accept the smooch calmly or return the interaction with a soft bite or kiss [N] or pull back in confusion [P]. Mr. Red: N Mr. Green: N Mr. Blue: N Ms. Purple: N Ms. Pink: N Ms. Yellow: N
8. Toe squeeze. In this exercise, you're testing your puppy's reaction and sensitivity to discomfort. While petting the puppy, gently squeeze the skin between his toes. Does he attack your hand. If so, he's definitely an A type personality with high sensitivity. A neutral puppy may lick or mouth gently, whereas a passive puppy will cringe fearfully. Mr. Red: N Mr. Green: N Mr. Blue: N Ms. Purple: N Ms. Pink: N Ms. Yellow: N
9. Startle sound. Take a bunch of keys and when your prospective puppy least expects it, rattle them above his head and gauge his reaction. Does he attack the keys [A]. Does he give it a nonchalant glance [N]. A fear reaction is noted by cowering or withdrawal [P]. Mr. Red: N Mr. Green: N Mr. Blue: N Ms. Purple: N Ms. Pink: N Ms. Yellow: N
10. Crash test. Stand and wait until your puppy is no longer interested in you. Suddenly fall to the ground as if you've tripped and exclaim "Ouch" Does the puppy race over and pounce [A], come to sniff or lick your face [N] or cower and run in fear [P]. Mr. Red: N Mr. Green: N Mr. Blue: N Ms. Purple: N Ms. Pink: N Ms. Yellow: N
11. Uplift. Lift the puppy 4 inches off the floor by cradling his midsection. Hold him there for at few seconds. Does he wriggle and bite furiously [A]? Does he relax and look around [N]. Does he look fearful and constrict his body posture [P]. Mr. Red: N Mr. Green: N Mr. Blue: N Ms. Purple: N Ms. Pink: N Ms. Yellow: N
All A's: This dominant puppy is bright and interactive. Raising him will take concentration, consistency and time. His favorite expression is "What's Next!"
All N's: Easy going and contained, this puppy will be pleasant and self-assured, though perhaps not terribly motivated to follow your agenda when it conflicts with his own. His favorite expression is "Is it absolutely necessary?"
All P's: This puppy has a weak self-esteem and needs your reassurance to feel safe. Without proper lessons and socialization, he'll be shy. His favorite expression: "It's been 3 minutes, do you still love me?" Mix of A and N's: This active puppy will want to be in the middle of everything but will show slightly more impulse control when stimulated. His favorite expression is: "Let's do it again"
Mix of N and P's: This self-assured puppy will be easygoing and gentle yet with a stronger sense of self than a completely passive puppy. Because he's more composed, he'll be an ideal puppy for a calm house with or without older children. Favorite expression: "Another back scratching please!"
07.19.19- 6th Pupdate
Lucy's crew had a big week of growing! They are really getting active and playing, so we will be working on setting up a "big puppy" pen for them to spend periods of time playing. This coming week they will also have their vet visit for vaccinations and exams. Remember, next weekend is puppy selection day! We will be posting information regarding how and when selections will be made on Monday.
Mr. Red: 3lbs 6oz Mr. Red is full of personality and fun (but is also secretly a cuddle bug)! He uses his paws like hands and will swat at his siblings while they wrestle. He acts big and tough, but is really a huge baby who gives the sweetest kisses. Mr. Green: 4 lbs 1 oz. What a looker! This hunky fellow is confident, playful, and gentle. He is food motivated and has quickly learned that treats are in my hands, he is always licking my fingers hoping for a morsel. Mr. Blue: 3 lbs 1 oz. Mr. Blue could pass for a little lamb, he has the softest curly coat and is gentle and sweet. He is low key for a puppy and is so gentle taking treats from my hand. Ms. Purple: 3 lbs 3 oz. This little girlie has a gorgeous plush coat and a nice square frame. She is all girl and poses so sweetly for the camera... she has also really mastered those puppy dog eyes. She is playful with her siblings but quick to retreat if playime gets too rough. Ms. Pink: 3 lbs 14oz. Ms. Pink is all about FOOD, she is quite the chunk and takes food willingly out of my hand. She has a straight style coat with very little wave. She is on the submissive side and has expressive eyes. Ms. Yellow: 3 lbs 9 oz. This beautiful pup has a nice square head while still being feminine. She is intelligent and thoughtful, and is more interested in what you are doing than treats. She has a very soft fleece coat that runs through your fingers like silk.
07.12.19- 5th Pupdate
Lucy's little tikes are on the move! We expanded their toddler pen so they can move a little more freely, and we had added a litter pan. Litter training has many benefits- but the most notable is that it helps with potty training (and crate training) when they join your family.
Mr. Red: 3 lbs 0 oz. Mr. Red a total playtime-starter with his siblings and is playful as ever! Mr. Green: 3 lbs 4 oz. This big guy is definitely going to be larger than his siblings- I suspect he may push the estimated weight range for this litter. He is still a pretty chilled out pup and spends a lot of time sleeping, but has started playing a little more (when he isn't posing for the camera). Mr. Blue: 2 lbs 10 oz. This fella is the sweetheart of the group, he has a quiet, gentle demeanor and prefers relaxed playtime rather than rambunctious wrestling. Ms. Purple: 2 lbs 10oz. The smallest in the group, this gal doesn't let that slow her down. She is a blast... confident and playful! Ms. Pink: 3 lbs 3 oz. Ms. Pink has come out of her shell this week! She is very interested and focused on people, and is the first to greet me at the edge of the playpen. Ms. Yellow: 2 lbs13 oz. This girlie is precious! She is relaxed enough to sit quietly while you pet her but still plays with you when prompted and already makes eye contact. She has a great stocky build but is still feminine- excited to see how this one looks as she grow. Beautiful!
07.05.19- 4th Pupdate
Lucy's litter is doing SO well. They are little butter balls at this point- so chunky and healthy! Normally puppy ID collars go on today... but we are out! I have ordered them off amazon and they should arrive early next week and will be put on when they get here :)
This has been exciting week, we moved pups to the toddler pen (too many escape artists!) and will slowly begin litter training. In the very first step, we bring over their old/used whelping pad and add a clean, soft bed. The hope is that they begin using the bed as their sleeping space, and move off of it to use the whelping pad to defecate. Of course, it will be many weeks before they perfect this, but we are starting to see progress already.
Mr. Red: 2 lbs 5 oz. This little dood is inquisitive and alert. He is docile while being handled, but is a playtime starter among his litter mates. Mr. Green: 2 lbs 8 oz. This hunky monkey is thick built with a handsome blocky head. Because of his extra "bulk" he is a little slower moving and sleepy than the others... but super sweet. Mr. Blue: 2 lbs 2 oz. Awww this curly fella is just precious. He doesn't mind being held upside down or really in any direction. He is a happy guy, and likes to nurse on your fingers. Ms. Purple: 2 lbs 1 oz. This gal has spunk for her age! She was the first out of the whelping box and continued to escape until we had to upgrade this bunch to a toddler pen :) She is alert and interested in what you are doing. Ms. Pink: 2 lbs 5 oz. This sweetie is a little quieter and more reserved than her littermates (but this could change, they are still just babies). Ms. Yellow: 2 lbs 3 oz. Wow- every time I look at this girl I am taken back by how pure white she is. Quite the stunner, with a great middle of the road temperament.
06.28.19- 3rd Pupdate
We have peepers!!! Pups are starting to look around and actively toddle... Lucy is following in her mom's footsteps and is a fabulous mother.
Mr. Red: 693 grams Mr. Green: 702 grams Mr. Blue: 668 grams Ms. Purple: 658 grams Ms. Pink: 717 grams Ms. Yellow: 684 grams
06.21.19- 2nd Pupdate
Lucy's pups are growing very quickly, all are nursing well and getting FAT. Lucy has shocked us with how well she is adjusting to motherhood, especially for her young age. She is a very attentive mommy, who is obviously quite proud of her attractive brood!
Mr. Red: 513 grams Mr. Green: 551 grams Mr. Blue: 497 grams Ms. Purple: 492 grams Ms. Pink: 519 grams Ms. Yellow: 517 grams
06.14.19- 1st Pupdate
This is an early 1st week pupdate... but since we have other litters coming, this is the best way to space out puppy pickup weeks in October! Babies are all nursing and mommy is a natural, way to go Lucy!
Mr. Red: 352 grams Mr. Green: 312 grams Mr. Blue: 299 grams Ms. Purple: 274 grams Ms. Pink: 278 grams Ms. Yellow: 292 grams
06.13.19- Happy Birthday!
Welcome to the world, precious babies! Lucy had 6 beautiful babies, 3 girls and 3 boys. Mom and pups are doing well, every pup nursed immediately and was a healthy birth weight.
Mr. Red: Red with white markings, curly coat Mr. Green: Red/apricot with white markings, wavy coat Mr. Blue: Solid white, curly coat Ms. Purple: Red/Apricot with white markings, curly coat Ms. Pink: Red/Apricot with white markings, wavy coat Ms. Yellow: Solid white, wavy coat
Because there are such extreme color differences in this litter, we have split the reservation list based off of color... one list is for the white colored pups, the other list is for the red/apricot colored pups.