True to form, Olive visits her pups with her 'wrap' on.

Although the pups get a bit frustrated, that tells me my 'Teat Cocoon' I made is working perfectly. :+) Olive gets to visit and tend to their cleaning needs. All are happy as I know those little bellies are full and Olive's teats and calcium supply are protected.

Try as I may, there are some things I cannot control.

Unfortunately, Olive had an Eclampsia episode last night and I had to rush her to the emergency vets to have a calcium drip done. She stayed there all night. She was comfortable and an excellent patient. This seems to happen with each litter and I am very accustomed to the signs and know what to do, but it not only baffles me, but all the 'experts' as well. I have tried working with traditional medicine vets, holistic vets, herbalists, you name it! I have a great diet proven through excellent blood work results and purchase the very best quality supplements...but my girls still get 'milk fever'. :+( It is common, but I sure wish I could get through a litter without dealing with the frightful run to emergency rooms in the middle of the night!

But, the old adage of 'when you have lemons, make lemonade' gave me an idea. Since I have done everything possible to prevent this and it doesn't work, I have made the decision to be properly equipped for its appearance. :+) Miss Olive is now outfitted with a lovely pink 'teat cocoon'. :+) This allows her to be with her pups to bond and clean but they cannot nurse. It is the vigorous nursing that depletes her blood of calcium which causes the episode. The pups are eating food very well and don't need her milk but DO need her comfort. So there, out of a negative comes a positive. :+)

You can't see it in the pic, but one of her front legs is shaved where they had to put the IV in. She is feeling much better and is happy to be back home.

Olive's litter is 4 weeks old today.

This week, the pups' seem to be seeing better and negotiating around their pen more. They are more physically active and enjoying each other's company. They have begun to drink water along with mom's milk supply and are stronger on their little legs. Hearing has sharpened and those noses know when mom's around! I am happy to see some of them utilizing the potty boxes but it is way too early to think this will be 100% any time soon, so mommy Olive and I share the 'clean ups'. :+)

Blue Boy always makes me feel special - he wags and wags his tail when I sit in the pen. He is always the first to come to me. 3 & 1/2 lbs.


Red Girl is always snuggling with the large teddy bear in their pen. I am not sure if the size seems more like mom or that she simply prefers a 'queen size' bed. 2 & 3/4 lbs.


Black Boy. Tall, dark and handsome sum it up for this ebony male . 4 lbs.


Oh, this face! What more can I say? 4 & 1/2 lbs. (Green Girl)


Another tail wagger, Teal Boy is a charmer. 3 & 1/2 lbs.


I awoke Purple Girl from a deep sleep. Most of her pics are of her yawning! 4 & 1/4 lbs.

Casual Olive pup pics taken during the week.

'Can you come out and play with me?' Blue.


Look into my eyes.......... (Teal)


'I feel like the peanut butter between two slices of bread!' (Black between Teal and Blue)


Pssssst...are you awake? Purple & Red



I wish I could ask Purple Girl what she is thinking. She was not looking at me, but something caught her deep attention.


'Don't you know it is not polite to stick out your tongue!' informs Teal Boy.


Blue Boy says....'You are not one of those wild animals that stink', are you?



No, this is not a mirror image! It is Red Girl (facing us) and Teal Boy having a chit chat.


The pen has been reconfigured at least twice.


There is some interest in using the potty boxes!


Some are still at the sniffing stage of using them.


Olive enjoys the new spacious quarters and is quite happy to let me take care of some of the 'diaper changes'.

Olive's three week old puppy pics!

Olive has been a great mommy and I took this pic because both Mommy and puppy were yawning at the same time! :+)


Here is the group of them all napping with full bellies. Their colors are so beautiful.


Red Girl, who is a light apricot, weighs 1 & 3/4 lbs.


Black Boy weighs 2 & 1/2 lbs. and is as silky as they come.


Blue Boy, who is a deep caramel, weighs 2 & 1/2 lbs.


Teal Boy is a lovely shade of red and weighs 2 & 3/4 lbs. FYI - (He is considered a 'red' because his pigment is black. Although the same coat color, a 'caramel' must have liver pigment.)


Purple Girl has that silky, shiny coat too and weighs 2 & 3/4 lbs.


Green Girl is a glossy deep caramel and weighs 2 & 3/4 lbs.


They are walking now, a little tipsy more like 'waddling'. They complain when hungary or just to vocalize their disagreement about this or that. I handle them all several times a day for very short periods. Some complain, others don't - this is normal and happens with every litter. Equate it with changing a baby's diaper as they express displeasure when their damp skin is exposed to the cool air along with the handling - same with young pups. :+)

I expect the blacks to remain glossy and black like their mom but both caramel and red pups tend to lighten a bit as they age. I have never seen a red keep the same 'tone' of red as when they were puppies. In order for them to do so, they would have to ONLY have reds and blacks in their lineages on BOTH sides of the parents for many generations. This has never been done with the Australian Labradoodle lines to my knowledge.

We have moved!

Ahhhhhh...I have my office back and my feet can stretch under my desk. :+)

I spent most of the day cleaning the Puppy Room from Maple's litter to prepare it for Olive's. I always use a bleach solution along with steam cleaning. The windows sparkle and the tile floor looks lovely. It will only be for a short time though, as pups grow quickly and make a mess in no time. Such is life.

It is necessary to keep them in their pool until they become familiar with the new area; and the shades will be down to protect their sensitive eyes for a few days. The A/C is working just in case we have hot days - otherwise nature's breezes will blow through the multiple window screens to keep things comfortable.

Growing quickly, it was necessary to upgrade to colored 'cat' collars for identification. Same colors, different style.

They have settled in quite well and Olive already went in to nurse in their new space. A couple of them went to 'sniff' the teddy bear in the corner.


It did not take long at all for them to find a comfy spot and take another nap. There will be plenty of time to investigate their world later. :+)

Maple's litter have all gone home. (Tillie, too!)

Another litter has been successfully placed and from reports seem to be doing very well. I want all of you to know that I am always here for you to answer questions or to listen to concerns. This is what our program is all about. Care and concern does not end just because they are no longer here at Annabelle Doodles! :+)

I spent the afternoon shopping for some shrubs to plant in our pool area and enjoyed perusing through all the brightly colored flowers. Once I finish bleaching the puppy room tomorrow, I will get to play in the garden.

Camden is enjoying her guardian family and they are learning all about puppy behavior. Severe allergies kept this family from ever owning a dog, so this is a 'first'. We are keeping our fingers crossed that all continues to go well.


This seemed to be the litter for allergic families! These happy folks are all smiles to enjoy their first doggie as well! Lots of controlled visits and perseverance has paid off. Finley will also have the pleasure of playing with her sibling, Seamus, as the two families are very close.


Emme will continue to always provide lots of smiles for her new family. She also gets to enjoy life both in the suburbs and the Maine coast - lucky girl!!


Seamus was a surprise birthday gift to this couple's adult daughter. They came to visit with their friends and ended up with a pup that became available at the last minute. There is lots to love about Seamus in size and temperament.


Funny how things happen. Diane accompanied her friend Dina, to view my previous litter as Dina was getting a pup. It wasn't long after they left that I received an email from Diane asking to be placed on Maple's list. Diane lived through the Annablog twice - once for Dina and then for her bundle of fur, Stella. :+)


What a great college graduation gift! It pays to be a good student! :+) Amy will be taking Riley with her to teach at a private school that is very dog friendly. I don't think Riley will be alone much at all with a dorm full of students who will want to walk and play with her.


Rueben has been doing extremely well with his guardian family and they love him. He left at 11 weeks to be with them. We have high hopes that he will join our stud list one day.


Lastly, little Dancing Matilda, lovingly called our 'resident duck' because she loves the water has gone to be with her guardian for a few days. We will be taking turns with her for a bit as our schedules work themselves out. Tillie is the daughter of our stud, Rumple and was my pick from a litter he sired for another breeder. She has quickly captured our hearts. It is Joanne's and my hope that she will become a Therapy Dog.