This week, within minutes of the vet's call saying "It's Time! She is ovulating." Cedar and I headed out for Seattle. Rushing around and gathering last minute things I felt like Desi when Lucy famously said: "it's time".
Oscar was beside himself to see Cedar again
Marleen and I have been planning the breeding of her handsome, athletic Oscar with sweet, beautiful Cedar for almost a year. Cedar came into season on April Fool's Day while we were crowded in the motorhome with her boys at the Mush without Slush.
This week Cedar and I got to stay in Marleen's beautiful old Seattle area house. Morning coffee with a view of lake Washington and the Olympic Mountains while the dogs raced about the yard - life is good.
Alas, inexperienced Marleen, Oscar, Cedar and I could not quite manage the logistics of canine mating (not for want of trying). That afternoon we took the two of them to a repo vet for an unsuccessful turkey baster job. The vet told us to keep them calm and apart until the next morning. Yeah, sure! Every cell in Oscar's being was aware of Cedars hormones. He had whined and howled all night the night before. Now for an afternoon and night they had to be kept apart?! Oscar on one side of the doorway gate...
coy Cedar on the other
coy Cedar on the otherFriday the 13th morning the vet found Oscar not quite mature enough to produce adequate sperm. She felt Cedar's window of fertility was near to closing, if not already there. Marleen and I were totally crushed as we threw all my stuff into the van for a trip north to see if Cedar could be bred to one the Moonsong boys. Fortunately, Jiggles found Cedar still fertile and she happily complied with the breeding. Pleased with himself, Jiggles went back to his crate; Carie went back to work; and Cedar and I headed south.
Willy, McKenzie and Koyuk were so excited to see us home - especially Willy. Both of his girls still smelling of hormones kept him quite noisy and occupied all night. Of course all of the dogs don't want me out of their sight so for now I am also sleepless in Eugene.
Paws are crossed for a successful litter to be whelped the second week in June.