Gladystar Poodles » Orchid

First time for everything

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:18:20 +0000

All the puppies went for a ride in the van today. Just about five miles; didn’t want to over do it. Having the whole litter together for a new and different experience gives them some comfort when things get scary. During the ride, no one made a peep and afterwards everyone seemed fine. Don’t want anyone to be carsick as an adult.

House training started last night. Everytime the puppies wake up from a nap which is always right after their tasty bowl of gruel, they go outside immediately. I have to rush because the puppies are getting fast. They get herded to the door with much encouragement and then I quickly close it before anyone tries sneaking back in. Only a couple of little messes in the play area and no messes in the whelping box.

The Puppies are exploring the Poodle Play Pen for the first time and what do you know, there’s an Agility Teeter Totter on the floor. The plank moves about two inches which is almost imperceptible. It does make a little noise but not very noticeable now. The most important thing in this lesson is the unusual surface. It has sandy grit painted on. Next time the puppies see it - ho hum - “another day in the park”. Check out the youtube video.

Shave and a haircut …

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:30:22 +0000

NO! I’m not strangling this little guy - it just looks that way. Actually, I’m very gently holding her head just enough to keep her safe from the clipper blades. The first shave is more about getting them used to the sound and feel of the clipper. I try to make it as comfortable and stress free as possible. Poodles have a lifetime of grooming and it helps to start off on the right foot. When the puppy goes to their new homes, their regular groomers will appreciate it.

The all pups got their first bath and blow dry today also. They’re so fluffy now. To help keep them clean and sanitary, the tail area was clippered. I was surprised at how much hair four week old puppies can have. In a week or so, the Puppies will have another bath and a more thorough grooming.

Patty enjoys taking a break with the puppies. They really like snuggling and will purr when they’re nestled in your arms. Although, teeth are emerging the puppies haven’t quite figured out what to do with them yet. Wait ’til next week.

Puppy Firsts

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:41:03 +0000

The puppies are getting busy and active for longer periods of time. No more “ready” box for them! Now the real fun begins. They have to learn about everything including water. They sniff it, lick it, paw it, fall into it and walk in it. What fun! The floor has to be mopped up anyways so why not get a little head start. Before the puppies start on real food, they need to learn how to drink water. This will be a good start.

I left Orchid’s food bowl on the floor and the puppies found it. They were very interested and licked away at it. Pretty good indication that they’re ready for their first meal of gruel. A blender ground up some regular dog food real fine which was then mixed with some warm puppy formula to make a watery gruel. As the picture shows, all the pups just dove in with no extra encouragement needed.

Honors for Orchid

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 05:05:33 +0000

Orchid earned a high honor from one of Poodledoms most prestigious organizations - Versatility in Poodles (VIP).
She was awarded a Versatility Certificate (VC). That means Orchid met the point requirments in a number of different areas including health reporting(CHIC), conformation champion award (AKC CH) and performance awards (AKC OAJ).

Orchid’s registered name with titles is
Ch Gladystar Obsidian Flower OAJ.

Poodle Puppy Pile

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:33:09 +0000

Here are all 11 Standard Poodle Puppies sleeping in the “ready” box while their whelping box gets cleaned up and Orchid, their Dam, is outside exercising during a cold Wisconsin morning. There’s a heating pad in the bottom of the cardboard box which seems to make the pups instantly fall asleep in addition to keeping them warm and very cozy. The “ready” box is used during whelping to keep the pups warm while getting them dried off, weighed, and marked. It’s also used to transport the puppies to the Vet for dew claw removal and tail docking.

Part of the morning routine is to weigh and chart each Standard Poodle Puppy. If a Puppy doesn’t gain any weight or loses weight, those puppies will get supplemental tube fed formula. Vanilla puppy boy is over one pound already which is more than five ounces more than Merlot and Forest. So, the light-weights were supplemented even though they gained weight from the previous day. We don’t want them to get too far behind or they’ll always get out-muscled for the best feeding position.

Poodle puppies squawking and squirming

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:25:06 +0000

Orchid is doing well taking care of her 11 Standard Poodle Puppies. The puppies get weighed every morning and those that didn’t gain much are supplemented a little. We do that, not only to help the puppies, but to give Orchid a little break. Here are two pups that seem too hungry!

Here’s a video of the puppies demanding to know where Mom went. I think I’d hide if I were Orchid.

One little, two little …

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 21:34:36 +0000

One little, two little, three little Poodles
four little, five little, six little Poodles
seven little, eight little, nine little Poodles
TEN little Poodle Pups!

Late breaking news! Another female pup arrived - 2 1/2 hours after the “last” one. That makes seven females and four males.

Skinny legged Poodle

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 19:00:11 +0000

Now, who’ll take the Poodle with the skinny legs?
(Try, Leroy)
Stand right there baby, I’m ‘on give you away in a minute.

Come on, somebody please take the Poodle with the skinny legs?
(I don’t ‘wan ‘em!)

Now, ya’all know the Poodle with skinny legs got to have somebody too, now.
(No, I don’t wanna help that person!)

Will somebody, please take the Poodle with the skinny legs, please?
(Ay, Joe!)
Yeah, Bobby
(Why don’t you take her?)
She ain’t no fool!
I don’t want no Poodle with no skinny legs

(Paraphrasing Joe Tex “Skinny Legs and All”)

Shearing time (maternity outfit?)

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 03:34:51 +0000

Orchid’s hair is very long for a pet Poodle trim. We’ve been growing it out for months to get enough hair to spin into yarn. Linda from Door County(WI) is going to spin it for me. She’s an expert knitter that recently took up spinning. Linda thinks the hair needs to be at least two inches long to spin. Most dog fur needs to be blended with another fiber. Linda knows someone on Washington Island, WI that has black Alpacas. I’m hoping for 100% pure Poodle hair. Linda won’t know how the Poodle hair spins until she tries it. Orchid’s hair is about five inches long in the before picture.

Wrong time of year to get clipped down to almost nothing! Especially in Wisconsin! The hair came off in sheets and and weighs over one and one half pounds. This is a great maternity trim for a Poodle. Now Orchid will be all set for whelping - much easier and faster to clean up. And, this nice short clip should grow out just in time for when she’ll be able to compete again towards the end of January. I really much prefer a Poodle with some hair.

Orchid is ON at Oshkosh

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 02:25:46 +0000

Two First Places!

Orchid is moving right along with her Agility career. At the Oshkosh Kennel Club Agility Trial today, she earned two first places. One in Novice Standard and the other in Open Jumpers. As usual Orchid performed better in Jumpers. Who wants to slow down for contacts!

Although her contacts in the Novice course were impeccable, getting on the contact obstacles can be challenging. The usual scenario is to try blowing past the teeter and dog walk the first time to see if I’ll notice. Not today though! She looked like the champ that she can be. I’ll have to think about rewarding the upside of the contacts more effectively. With the ‘jumpiness’ of Poodles, the main focus is back-chaining the contacts to get that steady two-on-two-off behavior.