Baby Faces

Lola's two chocolate boys at one-day old. (It has taken that long to peel Lola off of them as she just LOVES her babies.  We have to hand-deliver the water and food bowls to the whelping box, as she won't leave them to go 3 feet across the room).

Hard to tell these little boys apart...

Unfortunately, Lily (with her poor math skills) was extremely suspicious that all-of-a-sudden Lola just appears with two puppies out of the blue, and where can she have possibly gotten them from but one place?!  So now Lily sits fixated outside the door of Lola's room trying to figure out how to get them "back."

Lily's puppies are happy snoozing in the sunny breakfast nook

Lola Momdoodle

Lola delivered her first of the two expected puppies this morning at 7:15 AM--a robust little chocolate boy, who right away pushed himself up onto his chubby little legs and wiggled a bee-line to mom's milk. 

Lola has been very interested in Lily's litter all week, and Lily has gradually become used to Lola hanging around gazing adoringly at her puppies, although I would not leave them unattended together, as hormones can wreak havoc with even the most easy-going girls.  

At about 4:00 this morning, I turned on the lights to check on Lola as I could hear how restless she was from my bed on the sofa in the adjoining room.  Nothing yet, but I decided to clear the decks for action and move some of my whelping supplies to one of the three different areas that Lola seemed to have selected for whelping.  When I walked back into "Lily's room,"  Lola was in Lily's whelping box busily cleaning up the babies while Lily (nonplussed) nursed them!    

I shooed Lola out of the box so that I could escort Lily outside, and returned to find Lola actually nursing Lily's puppies.  "None of that!," I exclaimed and picked her up forcibly to remove her, locking her out of Lily's room.  (Can't think that a "double-shot of colustrum" can be bad...I wonder if it diversifies their immunities, getting it from two different mothers?)  

(Still waiting for the second puppy four hours later. )

-- Oops, spoke too soon...it's another chocolate boy!  Lola is enjoying her big bowl of vanilla ice cream.

Puppies Doing What They Do Best...

Their little tails all start to wag in unison when the milk turns on...
(Click on the photos for larger views)

Sleep, Eat, Sleep, Eat, Poop...

Lily continues to refine her natural mothering skills. While she is not that happy about leaving her babies even for a few minutes, we have managed to convince her to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine and a little ball play with her special basketball.  She is nursing them so much that the pups have fat round roly-poly bellies and it is natural that they spend a lot of time sleeping it off!

(Don't forget to click on the photos to see large, higher resolution views.)

She wishes she had stronger math skills so that she can be sure they are all there when she comes to tuck them in!

Hungry Hungry Hippo takes a nap

Lily has caught on extremely well  to even the most unsavory aspects of motherhood!

Birth Announcement: Vives les Puppies!

Golden Gate Lily whelped her "Bastille Day" litter of five little beauties--three boys and two girls--between 4:00 and 7:00 PM yesterday, July 14th.  (Our profound gratitude to lovely Lily for the non-wee hours timing of this endeavor--but it's probably only because it's her first litter and she didn't know any better!)

Lily took care of the whole whelping herself, with very little human intervention, enjoying two bowls of vanilla ice cream between puppies. (OK, I was sitting on my hands the whole time),

The puppies are gorgeous little chunky-monkeys in chocolate and apricot/cream and have been nursing busily all night. Lily is already exhibiting excellent mothering instincts, helping them eat, keeping them warm, and cleaning up after them. She is very uncomfortable leaving them, making rare dashes outside to do her business, after a thorough securing-of-the-perimeter to ensure none of the other dogs even get a peep at her babies.

There are two choco-boys, one choc girl, one apricot-cream girl and one apricot/cream boy.

Psychic Labradoodle Puppy

One highly-appreciated characteristic of Australian Labradoodles is their innate "intuitive" instinct.  These are the quiet, reflective dogs who stare into your eyes, working very hard at reading your mind. There are many Australian Labradoodles who have enjoyed great reknown as service and therapy dogs.

This is our wonderful Bibi, who is quietly dedicated to attending her family.  No matter where they go, she does not take her eyes of them.  At not even 1 year of age she can beat all of the kids in a stare-off!

The Beebs is in our breeding program. Stay tuned for her first litter next year.

A Perfect Afternoon for a Labradoodle Romp

Cosmo, Lily, Bibi, and Emmy--- excited to see each other again

"I'm waiting..."

Gretel and Bibi in action

Expectant Mom Lily REALLY wants to join in...

"But, should I?"

Lily prudently sidelines herself from the action, but enjoys the outing nonetheless!

Gretel and Kotah -- Real, live Teddy Bears!

Go, Dog, Go!

Mom Lola knows to keep fit with her favorite sport!

Lily thinks it's time to get back to her den...