Stacy + Eight

Stacy is getting plump with Flamenco puppies. She loves chowing down on 6 cups of kibbles a day, then napping in front of the fireplace. Only 10 days left until the puppies are due.

Stacy's puppies

Stacy went in for an ultrasound on Wednesday. The vet saw about 8 or 9 puppies, but said it gets hard to count after 7. Because the ultrasound is in black and white, the vet couldn't tell whether the puppies would be black or yellow.
Stacy doesn't seem to be really excited about the pregnancy thing, but she sure is enjoying the increases in food. By Christmas she'll be up to 6 cups of food a day. Yummm!

Stacy meets Flamenco

Stacy went into heat and was bred with a tall dark handsome stud named Flamenco. He is a black lab. If Stacy conceives, the puppies will be due on January 3rd, 2012.

Stacy Update

Stacy has settled into her new home in San Anselmo with her "breeder custodian," Sharol. She has the companionship of a retired yellow lab, a cat, a turtle, and a wonderful woman.

Of course the life of a breeder is a cushy one, as you can see from Stacy and her friend napping on the couch.

In about 4 months, Stacy will go into heat, and have her first opportunity to make guide dog puppies. I wish her will, and hope her puppies have her calm, confident temperament.

Mister M

Life without Stacy has been a bit too quiet. So, on 7/12/2011, Mister M will be coming to live with us.

I'm calling the puppy Mister M for now because Guide Dogs for the Blind will only tell me that the first letter of his name starts with an "M". I don't understand the secrecy, but it sure is fun to get together with friends and try to guess what the puppy's name will be. The last M puppy our club got was Malbec, named after a grape from Argentina. Anyone for Mustard? Mayonnaise? Mischief?

Mister M is a yellow color Labrador / Golden Retriever Cross, born May 15th to Lamar and Jenkins. That makes him Stacy's half sib, since both they were both fathered by Jenkins.

Our plan is to raise up Mister M until he is about 4 months old and can transfer to a person who wants a guide dog puppy who is old enough to be taken in to a workplace. Before 4 months of age, puppies are not allowed to go to the office with us. Since I work from home, I get around that restriction.

So, welcome to the family Mister M!

It's official, Stacy's a b*tch

Guide Dogs for the Blind just notified me that Stacy has been selected as a breeder.

I have mixed feelings about this. I raised Stacy because I wanted her to help one blind person.

And while she won't do that, her puppies could go on to help dozens of people.

So, make confident, calm puppies Stacy.

We miss you!

No more polar bear...

When Stacy arrived, we laughed at our little polar bear cub puppy. Her fur was so light, she was so round, and her black nose and dark eyes just painted the picture of a baby polar bear.

Alas, her cute little black nose is turning pink. And no, I didn't use bleach! Her paw pads are also fading to pink. It is a shame, because her dark nose was so cute. From what I hear, it is isn't uncommon for noses to fade like this.

Along with the fading nose, the snoring seems to have dissipated, too. So, I think I'll happily trade a beautiful black-nosed puppy for a pink-nosed dog who sleeps quietly. For now, I have a hybrid, some black and a little night-time noise.