5. Jenny

2 WEEK UPDATE

This puppy continues to be small in size and thinner in frame compared to her siblings, but she is not underweight or struggling to gain weight. This puppy weighs 3 lbs. 1 oz. at 2 weeks old.

BIRTH NOTES:

This puppy came into the world at 4:15 a.m. She was head first with her sack intact all the way out. She weighed 13 oz. at birth. She had fluid in her lungs. I could hear her heart beating, but she wasn't breathing. I was able to get the fluid out and she began gasping for little quiet breathes. It took her a few minutes of gasping slowly to pick up her breathing pace and ease into life. Once she began regular breathing, she cried and cried with all her might. My conclusion was that she must've been in some pain from lack of oxygen or perhaps had tingles all over her body as the oxygen began flowing down to her extremities. It's unknown exactly what she was feeling, but it soothed her immediately to be placed next to human skin under a covering to warm up. She cooed gently when she was massaged all over her body. She then had a bowel movement, which may have also contributed to her initial painful entry into the world. As of two hours after life, I have yet to observe her eating at the milk bar. We'll update as she progresses.

2.5 hour update - This puppy continues to cry out when frustrated or upset, such as when she can't find something she wants, like milk. While she may have been in pain right after birth, she continues to cry out when pain is no longer a factor. This may be a learned behavior since she did receive physical relief when she cried out the first time, but the tendency appears to still be there. We shall monitor this for the next day.

TEMPERAMENT TEST #2

This puppy flinched her head and drew back away from the handler when pet on the head for the first time in a strange location. Her body was somewhat stiff, but only when pet on the head. Otherwise, she was very curious with a lot of sniffing. She did not lick the handler's skin. She whined slightly in protest, then was quiet as the handler continued to touch her. This puppy moved right past the handler and pack to the puppy pile when placed back into the den away from her siblings.

This puppy receives a score of 7 for this second temperament test.

TEMPERAMENT TEST #1:

This puppy is very vocal with much crying out throughout the first 24-hours after birth. This puppy moves about a lot more than other puppies. She wiggled on the scale. This puppy was loose at the lift, but pumped her feet slightly at first. This puppy tested the boundaries with placed on her back and cried out some, but then quieted and relaxed. This puppy did not remain in place when put back her her siblings, but crawled right back to the puppy pile as soon as she could.

This puppy receives a score of 6 for this first temperament test.

BIRTH NOTES:

This puppy was very loud for the initial hours after birth. This may have been due to the birthing process she went through. We will continue to observe her vocalizations as she grows. This puppy moves a lot. She rarely seems content to remain in one location for long. Again, it's not certain if this is out of necessity or because of inherited temperament. She was completely still on the scale, but she had just begun breathing, so that is also a factor in this beginning part of life.

2 WEEK UPDATE:

This puppy is thin in bone structure and lighter in weight. She will be in the large category as far as general dog breeds, but is on the smaller side of life for an American Dirus™ dog. She is a dark silver wolf sable with shorter straight coat. She has a thinner overall head shape.

BIRTH NOTES:

This puppy is a small silver wolf sable female. She doesn't have any white spotting. Her frame is light and thin. She has a thin tail that is not too long in length. She has a medium length straight coat. Her nose and tail tip were black at birth.