Two litters! Easy Peasy!
Whoa Nellie — bit of context is in order here.
Claire was bred in Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 — and did not get pregnant either time.
Claire on a breeding adventure — even the good luck sign couldn’t help that time.
Timing for both attempts was perfect because we carefully tracked progesterone levels. We used a different male each time. In both cases veterinarians were involved because artificial inseminations were done. Semen looked fine. The breedings should have worked and they did not.
Dianne graciously agreed to breed Claire’s sister to Claire’s #2 male — just in case. Time, hope, money, trouble — no puppies.
Sparkle and Jordan with Dianne
Before Claire and Jordan, we had three failed breedings of Sparkle after her one litter (Sparklers). Perfectly timed. Two high tech, one natural. Three different males — one frozen.
And then Sparkle came up with pyometra and was spayed.
In seven breedings, we had ONE litter — thank you, Daisy/Major.
The disappointment is the worst part. The hoped-for puppies are real — until you get the bad news that the only place they ever lived was your heart and mind. And then to tell people that have patiently waited with you — SO HARD.
The expense is also real.
Consider this — Claire’s bill for progesterone testing during this cycle was about $900 since we ran the blood draws on two different machines to support optimal timing.
Semen had to be collected in Minnesota and shipped to Missoula — twice — and then put into Claire. There was one surgical implant under general anesthesia and one artificial insemination. Both on a weekend.
A service fee was paid to the stud dog owners.
And so on.
The upfront expenses in a quality breeding are high — we have done that five times with no puppies in the past few years, plus Dianne’s failed breeding of Jordan.
Breeding these dogs well is not about money — it is about love and commitment. It is about trying so hard to make a positive impact on the breed we love, and on the lives of the families who will invite a puppy into their homes. It is about having the next generation be better than the one before, and keeping beloved dogs in our lives through their children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Zoey’s great-grandpuppy!
My joy at Claire’s pregnancy is in direct proportion to the sorrow and disappointment I felt every time her mother, Sparkle, was not pregnant (n=3) and every time Claire was not pregnant (n=2). All those sad ultrasounds, empty tombs of the puppies who lived in my dreams.
As you might imagine, there is a whole lot of joy happening right now, even if Claire’s pregnancy is a bit dramatic with all the puking, picky eating, and now her injured knee.
Claire
And then there is Miss Daisy, who makes the whole thing look easy…
Have a Super Sunday.