The second BrownStone litter was born 12 years ago to Frontier Rain Dancer McKenzie. Since the puppies would be leaving for their forever home around Thanksgiving, this litter was named the Thanksgiving litter. I did not give names to the puppies. They were referred to as Mr Red, Ms Green... McKenzie had a long hard labor lasting all night. By the time the vet's office opened she had what appeared to be uterine inertia and was no longer having contractions. The vets gave her a shot of pit and sent me home for a nap. I missed the fact that excited Willy had knocked the phone off the hook. By the time Dave drove home from work to find me, four of the puppies had whelped. I made it to the vet's office in time to assist with the last two births.
Milk drunk day 3.
Under the watchful eye of McKenzie, my niece Emily unsuccessfully tried to make a pyramid of puppies.
Willy was enamored with the little ones and rarely left the whelping box.
A crowded milkbar. I never did tire of watching puppies nurse.
Day 12 it was warm enough to take the puppies outside. Always attentive McKenzie was quite concerned about the adventure.
A warm BrownStone photo-op before returning them to the whelping box.
McKenzie was the best mom ever...
just as Willy was the best half-brother.
McKenzie kept her little ones spic-&-span.
By day 24, the pups had mastered the art of scaling the whelping box walls. An x-pen was set-up to prevent further escapes and poopy puppy escapades.
Supervised, the puppies were free to roam the great room. Ms White discovered Willy's bone...
and was soon joined by her siblings and gentle Willy.
Puppies get very sharp little teeth and claws early on. Most moms dissuade nursing days before this but not McKenzie. She continued to nurse until they left for their forever homes.
Outside frolics.
The milkbar is still open.
Exploring the joys of the outside world.
Willy's bone looks a bit smaller now that the pups are bigger.
Mr Blue with my great niece Sarah.
Crate training of sorts.
McKenzie getting a rare chew on Willy's bone.
Still nursing at the final vet check.
Indoor explorations.
Emily and I decided to make Christmas cards of each of the puppies. The pictures took a lot of patience and created a lot of laughter.
Ms Green, BrownStone Lolo Kuntux of Rain (Lolo), followed in McKenzie's footsteps in the show ring and went on to have two litters.
Ms Yellow, BrownStone Tillamook (Tiki) on her 12th birthday now shares her home with BrownStone Cascade Mt. Pahto (Kyrik)
Unfortunately Mr Navy, BrownStone Rodian (Rodian) tragically lost his life in a house fire. I have lost contact with the other now senior pups. I wish the happiest birthday to all the Thanksgiving litter pups and thank their forever families for caring for and loving them for all these years.
