The first swedish litter is born!

Sorry, it took me a while to post this one - we are very happy but even a bit exhausted right now after 2 days awake in a row...
I just want to tell the short facts, more will follow tomorrow as promised!

We got a litter of one grey male, two brown males and two brown females.

birth-weights:
1. male grey - 411g
2. male brown - 492g
3. female brown - 373g
4. female brown - 422g
5. male brown - 358g

Skadi and her newborn children are healthy, the mother is sleeping and the pups are drinking - so everything is as it should. Skadi made it really enthralling until the end and the result is more than suprising - no one could expect that she would get so many brown ones!

Puppy Birth Update

So far there are 4 puppies born - Nr. 3 and 4 are also brown (which is a suprise) and both females. They have weights of 373g and 422g.
But as supposed there are more inside and the birth is still going on, even if Skadi is resting at this point...
Next short update will follow when all are out and the whole story including pictures comes after some well-earned sleep!

First swedish SWH-Puppy born!

At 2.45 AM the first swedish Saarlooswolfhond puppy was born.
It is a grey male with 411g.
Skadi gave birth to a second male with 492g at 3.30 am, this one is brown.
Now we are waiting for the rest - more details later!

64th day Part 2

I haven't that much to write right now - nothing changed since my last entry this morning, so we are still waiting.
Hopefully my next post will contain some more positive news.
At the moment we are preparing for another restless night ;)

64th day Part 1

Nobody who knows Skadi will be suprised - we are still waiting!
We have a night behind us that was characterized by impatience, tension and little or at least bad sleep.
The temperature was still dropping further to 36,6°C and first started to increase again this morning. So now, finally, the real countdown has begun and within the next 24 hours we should see the appearance of a handful of new lives...

Some more words about the last night.
Skadi was restless but took her first yesterday's food in the late evening. Then, around 11 o'clock everyone (except for me...) went to sleep.
I stayed awake to have an eye on Skadi who did not really know what to do and where to go.
There was an obviously calming effect when I lay by her side, petting her until she fall asleep, too. But from now on it was not possible to leave her alone - I had to stay by her side and was not allowed to stop petting her.
In the end, I was lying with Skadi in the whelping box until 4 o'clock in the morning when my shift was done and my wife took over...
Even if this may sound kind of uncomfortable or stressful - there was one point making it a pleasure for me. Skadi has so often been at our side when we needed her closeness, made us happy when we were sad or calming us down when we were angry. But she herself is usually far to independent to need someone else. This was a possibility for us to give something back, because last night she really needed our attention and presence! To fell how she was calming down when I lay my hands on her belly was simply wonderful!

63rd day Part 2

A bit earlier than usual follows this second part for today, just to keep all those updated who regularly watch this blog waiting for news.

This photo is showing Skadis current whereabout - under a couch in the living room...

At the moment the general opinion in this house is that we will witness a birth tonight or tomorrow in the early morning.
Skadi is very changed in her behaviour if you compare it to the last few days.
Her efforts to burrow herself down into every hole and gap have become almost desperately, her restlessness is highly infectious. So here reigns an atmosphere of high tension!
The last time we measured her temperature she was down on 37,0°C.
Here's another video taken today in the morning, showing even more distinct motions of the pups.

63rd day Part 1

Something is going on! Skadi was temporarily nervous last night, waking us up whimpering, trying to crawl under our bed (which btw. is impossible).
Now she is still kind of restless, appearing somehow unhappy or stressed. However her temperature is still normal at 37,4°C. Let's see what this day brings...