Monday, October 5, 2026

I slept reasonably well. The puppies are nursing well from Ginny. Ginny isn't leaving the whelping box; she eats her kibble inside it, though she does drink outside the box.

The puppies have gained weight well. Two of them haven't yet surpassed their birth weight and need a little supplemental feeding. The puppy that was struggling the most is drinking very well from the bottle.

We have now registered the litter with the *Raad van Beheer* (Dutch Kennel Club). This time, we chose kennel names based on English-language songs starting with the letter G.

Here are the names we selected:

Female

Grace Kelly From Bobbers Love Of Beauty                                           (Mika)

Males

Geronimo From Bobbers Love Of Beauty                                            (Sheppard)

Graceland From Bobbers Love Of Beauty                                           (Paul Simon)

Gangnamstyle From Bobbers Love Of Beauty                                    (PSY)

Glory Days From Bobbers Love Of Beauty                                          (Bruce Springsteen)

Get Lucky From Bobbers Love Of Beauty                                           (Pharrell Williams)

Ghostbusters From Bobbers Love Of Beauty                                    (Ray Parker Jr.)

We have already been able to make a number of people happy with a puppy. Some people changed their minds about getting a puppy—though that always happens—while others would do absolutely anything to get one. Three male dogs are also going to Germany this time. I am so happy for these people.

Sunday, October 4, 2026

It took a long time for Ginny to return. The vet who had performed the surgery had come to see us at 10:45 PM to say that the operation had gone well and that it would take about 45 minutes for Ginny to be back with us.

However, that wasn't the case. After we had consumed plenty of coffee, tea, and water, the assistant finally arrived with Ginny at 1:00 AM. She was very calm. She turned her head away from the puppies and didn't want to look into the heated box where they were lying. Ginny also didn't react to the sounds the puppies were making; by then, they were hungry.

We quickly laid Ginny on her side, placed a towel underneath the puppies, and put them to the teat one by one. She was perfectly fine with it. While she was nursing, Ginny received antibiotics and pain relief via an IV line, which was removed afterwards.

The vet stopped by briefly to go over a few things; we were given medication to take home and then settled the bill. We were free to go. Ginny sat alone in the back of the van, while Leanne sat up front with me and the puppies.

Once we got home, Leanne and I weighed the puppies and then put them back with Ginny in the whelping box. From that moment on, Ginny truly stepped back into her role as a mother; she started cleaning the puppies and responded to every little sound they made. Leanne went home to get some sleep.

I did lay my mattress down next to the whelping box, but I hardly slept at all. The puppies themselves were still restless.

I was up again at 6:30 AM to let Ginny out for a pee. She ate and drank, which was a relief.

Richard hadn't slept much either; you naturally worry about Ginny. Fortunately, she is doing well. The wound did bleed a little for a while, but it had dried up by the course of the morning.

In the meantime, I answered various messages. I had already updated Sjaak and Nelleke the previous evening.

Joey and Leanne came over again in the afternoon. They brought cake, since things had turned out well after such a crisis. They stayed for a while, which allowed me to quickly catch an hour of sleep.

The puppies have all lost a little weight, but they are doing well. That evening, I set up my new mattress by the whelping box, and it was wonderfully comfortable.

Saturday, October 3, 2026, Day 59

Ginny slept peacefully enough. However, as the morning progressed, she became a bit more restless. She couldn't seem to get comfortable. She kept wanting to go outside to pee and was already starting to strain. She wanted to go out frequently, and when she was back inside, she would pant heavily, occasionally experiencing contractions.

Her belly is very taut; you can even feel the puppies moving while she is standing. At one point, I decided to call Leanne and ask her to come over. We didn't know how long it would take, but this way Ginny could calmly get used to Leanne being there too.

Leanne arrived at 2:00 PM. Ginny was delighted. We sat with her for a while; she kept wanting to go outside to pee. Back inside, she constantly crawled behind the whelping box.

At 3:30 PM, she passed some blood and wanted to go outside. We both went out into the garden, taking a towel along just in case a puppy was born. She passed more blood out there. Inside, she was also discharging a blackish-green fluid.

I performed a vaginal exam but couldn't feel anything. The amniotic sac was still intact, though.

After the exam, a thick, green, slimy substance came away. That worried me. Leanne looked up what it meant, but I already knew it wasn't a good sign.

At 4:30 PM, Ginny started straining every now and then, though she also rested in between. She still constantly wanted to go outside, where she paced in circles around the garden. She was clearly uneasy. At 6:30 PM, I performed another vaginal exam. The fluid sac was gone, but I couldn't feel anything, even though she was pushing regularly. After the exam, a green substance came away again. I then picked up the phone and called Evidensia in Arnhem.

We were told we could come in right away. We had to bring the insulated box with hot water bottles, a mucus aspirator, and towels, and we had laid down absorbent pads in the van. Leanne had to ride in the back with Ginny, though, because a puppy could easily be born at any moment.

On the way, Ginny was indeed having contractions, but nothing was coming out. I drove briskly so the trip wouldn't take too long.

We received a warm welcome upon arrival and were taken straight to an examination room. A vet named Daan arrived very quickly. He examined Ginny and performed a vaginal exam as well. Even during the exam, Ginny kept wagging her tail; she just let it all happen.

Next, we went to the ultrasound room. We laid her on her side and examined her abdomen. The puppy lying at the bottom—which was due to be born first—was not doing well; its heartbeat was weak, whereas the others were strong.

The treatment plan was an emergency C-section. Ginny could go with the vet immediately. Another vet was currently performing surgery but was just finishing up, so Daan was able to put Ginny on an IV and shave her belly, ensuring she could be operated on quickly.

Leanne and I were waiting in the waiting area. The emergency veterinary clinic was very busy. At one point, Daan came out and told us the puppies had been born. The puppy with the weak heartbeat had survived, but he was still very frail and required a lot of stimulation.

He also explained that Ginny’s uterus was very fragile. It had torn while being sutured, causing post-operative bleeding. Daan advised us against breeding her again—and even recommended removing the uterus right then and there, while her abdomen was still open from the surgery, to prevent further complications. Naturally, we agreed, as Ginny’s health comes first.

At 9:50 PM, the veterinary assistants arrived with the puppies. You could hear them coming loud and clear. I took the weaker puppy and rubbed him vigorously to keep him warm. He was stained quite green, indicating he had been in severe respiratory distress.

We examined the litter and found six males and one female.

By then, we were in an examination room, waiting for Ginny. She was allowed to go home, but she needed to be fully awake first, given how much blood she had lost.

Friday, October 2, 2026, Day 58

Ginny slept very peacefully last night as well. She digs occasionally, but otherwise, she is still sleeping quite a lot.

Joey and Leanne are back from their vacation and came by at 2:30 PM to check on Ginny. Every now and then, Ginny would sit up and appear to be in a trance; she is already experiencing contractions. Joey and Leanne stayed for quite a while to observe how things progressed with her.

However, she remained fairly calm, so they eventually went home. I made up my bed again and spent the night with Ginny once more.

Thursday, October 1, 2026, Day 57

She slept peacefully last night. However, she keeps crawling into corners and had an accident—peeing indoors. I was too late.

She is still barely eating, and getting her to drink is a real struggle, too. Every now and then, she goes into a sort of trance, after which she pants more heavily. She keeps passing large amounts of thick mucus.

Her temperature hasn't dropped yet—or at least, I haven't noticed it happening.

Otherwise, she remains quite calm. Joey and Leanne are returning from vacation early tomorrow morning. Leanne is very keen to be present at the birth to provide support.

I think she’ll make it in time.

We also bought a different mattress. The one I’ve been sleeping on during all the whelping watches is actually too thin for three weeks of use. I’m curious to see what this new one is like.

Wednesday, September 30, 2026, Day 56

We’ve moved Ginny into the whelping room now; she gets much more peace and quiet here. Mike spent a lot of time with her, which helped her settle down comfortably. She does pant a bit more at times and is passing mucus. I think she’s in the dilation phase.

She isn't eating well and isn't drinking much either. She needs to be taken out regularly, as holding her urine is becoming more difficult.

I’m going to sleep next to her tonight; otherwise, she’d be all alone, and this way I can keep a close eye on her. She’s been fairly calm during the day.

Tuesday, September 29, 2026, Day 55

We started early in the morning by setting up the whelping box. We cleaned it thoroughly and then installed the heating plate and heat lamp. First, I checked that everything was still working, and fortunately, it was. Mike was a great help; he really enjoyed doing it, too.

Next, I gathered the supplies and placed them on the grooming table, along with the scale. I checked the scale first to make sure it was working properly.

The thermometer hanging in the whelping box needed a new battery.

Later, I gave Ginny a thorough brushing. She was lying comfortably on her back, which allowed me to easily feel her belly and sense plenty of movement from the puppies. As I say every time: what a miracle it is—truly beautiful. It’s something I never tire of enjoying. Mike was sitting nearby, so I asked if he wanted to feel the puppies too. He came over to sit next to me; I placed his hand on Ginny’s belly, and a huge smile spread across his face. He could feel them too.

After feeling her belly, I shaved the hair from her underside so the puppies would have easy access to all the teats for nursing. She has seven large teats and two very small ones.

After shaving, I washed her teats and belly to make sure they were clean.

Monday, September 28, 2026, Day 54

We have a vet appointment today at 11:00 AM. An X-ray is being taken to assess how many puppies Ginny is expecting.

She has gained a good amount of weight again, but not too much. She is also eating less.

The X-ray was taken, and the vet counted 7. A second vet was brought in, and she counted 7 as well.

So, we shall see. Afterward, I had her anal glands expressed; they were indeed completely full. Her anus was also somewhat irritated.

Later on, she was able to defecate much more easily.

Once home, I cleaned the entire whelping room. Tomorrow, I’ll set up the whelping box and get the supplies ready. Some items I ordered are also due to arrive then.

Sunday, September 27, 2026, Day 53

In the evening, Annet and I returned from the shows in Maastricht. Richard had let me know on Saturday that Ginny wasn't feeling very well. She kept wanting to go outside to poop; she couldn't really pass anything and kept straining.

Just like last time, I suspect her anal glands are full.

Annet and I agreed that if there were still problems on Sunday morning, we would pack up and head home.

However, on Sunday morning, I received a text from Richard saying she had pooped a lot in the kitchen and was doing fine again.

So, Annet and I stayed, and sure enough, Jodey became the Dutch Junior Champion.

On Sunday evening, I also checked if any supplies were needed for the whelping and ordered them right away. I’m a bit late with this this time—I’ve been busy with the shows—but we still have some time.

Friday, September 25, 2026, Day 51

Today, I’m going to Maastricht with Annet. We have two final shows before Ginny gives birth—one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Jodey has the chance to become the Dutch Junior Champion.

Richard is staying home to keep an eye on Ginny.

Tuesday, September 22, Day 48

Today, I cleaned up Ginny’s belly a bit. She has a really big, taut belly. Her teats are also starting to fill out nicely. On Monday, I’ll shave away some more hair and carefully clean the teats as well.

Sunday, September 20, 2026, Day 46

We are back home by 3:00 PM. Every time we haven't seen her for a while, she looks bigger. I weighed her, too; she had gained a significant amount of weight.

Joey and Leanne mentioned that she was taking a very long time to eat; she was really picking at her food.

She was happy to have us back home, though.

Saturday, September 19, Day 45

Richard and I are heading to Genk for one night with Jodey and Yuky for a show. Once again, Joey and Leanne are coming over to look after the dogs. Ginny still whines when we pack our gear into the van for a show; she knows exactly what’s about to happen and would still love to come along. However, that isn't possible right now.

We’ll be back on Sunday.

Thursday, September 17, 2026, Day 43

Starting today, Ginny is getting 10% more kibble per day than usual. She is eating it all up. Otherwise, she spends a lot of time lying down and doesn't join in the rough play of the others; she is really taking the time to rest.

Monday, September 14, 2026, Day 40

We are back home around 3:00 PM. In those few days, Ginny has grown visibly larger. I weighed her in the evening; she has already gained a good amount of weight. She doesn't find the food particularly tasty, but she is eating it.

I used to walk her together with Jessy, Xanthy, and Jodey. From Tuesday morning on, I’m going to walk her only with Jodey; that will be more restful for her. Ginny has certainly become a bit calmer in her demeanor.

Friday, September 11, 2026, Day 37

Today, Richard and I are going to a show in Leipzig with Jodey, and we’re taking Yuky along. Joey, Leanne, Bodhi, and Amy are looking after the other dogs again. We’ll be back home on Monday.

Ginny is now getting an evening meal as well. She’s growing well and is getting quite round.

She doesn't play much with the others anymore; she just lies down somewhere and lets them play.

Wednesday, September 2, 2026 – Day 28

We have an appointment at the vet’s with Ginny at 1:30 PM for the ultrasound. Even though she’s developing large nipples and is clearly getting bigger, it’s always a tense moment. The ultrasound will confirm once and for all whether she’s pregnant.

Ginny got up on the table, and as soon as the ultrasound probe touched her belly, it was immediately clear that she was pregnant. The fetuses were clustered close together; there wasn't much space between them.

The vet tried to count them, but it was quite difficult. She counted at least six, though she thought she might have missed one or two.

We’ll wait and see. We’ve scheduled an X-ray for September 28. Hopefully, we’ll know then how many puppies Ginny is carrying.

In any case, we’re thrilled that it worked. Once back in the van, I naturally called Richard first, followed by Sjaak and Nelleke Meijer.

We’re really looking forward to this pairing.

Back home, we bought and ate some cake.