No Time for a Long Rest

 Nearly one day after our last Puppies left for California and Pixie went into Season.  Two days later Lucy started her run as well. It is Lucy's turn in the pairing rotation and there's still a bit of time before things get really crazy, but  it might have been nice to have a few weeks where our Hounds just played on the Farm and little else. But nope, we are right back into trying to control nature once more.

Today it is all about dogs running around catching things and having fun. Tomorrow might be a bit less happy and a bit more snappy and snarly.

Once Rocky loses his mind and quits eating (breeding is hard on the boy, he thinks of nothing else) we'll put Lucy and Rocky in the same space until the job is done. We have been waiting for a bit of time off to move our segregation kennel so that we can build wood decking on that side of the house. Now it seems we are needing to get the job done a bit sooner than later. 

The Last Two

Ruby and Pearl are going home to California. We're sad to see them go but happy to see them go together. 

Now for a bit of rest and some time off to get over this year's COVID. . . 

People without this year's vaccines need to start being very careful. I got the vaccine last year  and we don't see a lot of people (almost never close enough to get infected with anything)  but COVID is a special bug and I we've been quite sick for two weeks. Time to mask up again just to avoid it

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Bubba at home

Our new Puppy Parents sent us a few pictures 

of Bubba (Toblerone) at home.

He's up to sixteen and a half pounds.

Little Ruby bit a bee.

Poor little Ruby bit a bee. Benadryl and a bit of downtime and she'll be fine tomorrow. She probably won't do it again.

Candies in the Mud

 Today didn't translate to video at all. This morning we had to call everyone into the house and the last of the hounds that answered the call were the Candies. They had been out to the well house and had rolled themselves in the mud. They were a real mess and we figured we'd spend the rest of the morning bathing babies. But a quick toweling and a few minutes later they were clean and fresh once more. 

We get this same sort of thing when we have out Spa Days and everyone gets a bath. They run off and drop into whatever filth they can find, but by the time they are dry the dirt has all found a way out.

Puppy puzzle.

They all used to fit in the kennel with room to spare.
These are the last 4 pups all in there. Can you spot yours? 

Three With Their New Families

Three of the Candies have gone to their forever homes this week, leaving four very active puppies still with us for a few weeks. These last four go to central California in pairs.

It's a bit quieter, a bit less of everything. But plenty of fun. 

Adios Puddles

 Every litter has one puppy in it that I would keep if I could.  I don't even try to pretend that Puddles wasn't my favorite this time. We go way back . . ..

When we were still Whelping babies eight short weeks ago we figured we were done at one point and Ann took off for the showers while I kept watch.  About ten minutes later I heard Lilly stirring in the whelping pen and found her just finishing up birthing a suprize bonus baby.  This was Milka, now Puddles. 

Puddles went to her new family today. She will be missed. But the new parents have another little girl Basset at home and promises to bring them around for vacations and visits. It will be good to see him grow up.

Last Vaccines

Today we're doing the last vaccinations. We did the last worming a few days ago so this is the last thing, other than invoices, we do. All of the veteranary things are in the Candies envelopes to take to the Vet. Along with AKC forms and Well Puppy checks.

The first flight of invoices went out this morning so it's winding down here a bit. We'll miss them all, but like being able to hear again. So. . . Bittersweet.

Six Weeks Evaluations: The International Candies Litter : Pocki (Harvey)

 At Six Weeks of age we evaluate our litters using a six point set of criteria. Five of these points are derived from the American Kennel Club Standard for the breed. One point is given that is subjective and purely based on what we like to see for coloring and aesthetic qualities. It is difficult to look into a puppy's future and see what they will truly become, but at six weeks there is enough of the traits emerging in appearance and personality to give it a good guess.

Our breeding program has been aimed toward breeding a smaller form of Basset Hound, something that won't exceed forty pounds when fully adult and perhaps less than fourteen inches at the shoulder. In this litter we only see two pups of this smaller form developing, four which will be of the more normal American Basset size (perhaps fifty pound fully grown and fifteen inches at the shoulder) and one standard sized little boy who will likely top out at sixty pounds. All of the Candies show very good traits, but as is the usual, the sire (Rocky) brought into the mix all that we expect in an American Basset Hound. The very long ears, head shape, boxy nose shape, and heavy foreleg size are all of Rocky's very good features. Lilly, the Dame, is a good example of the smaller form Basset and has very good features as well.

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Harvey is a great little pet quality tri-colored boy. The sort we often love just a bit more because he is so much fun and comes by often to get his snuggles in before running off to find some trouble to get into. He is fast, perhaps the quickest boy of the group, but one of the last to master climbing stairs. If someone has wandered off, Harvey is problably at their side.

Structurally he is a fine example of the breed. Though you can't see it in the picture (above), he has adequate ear length and well domed (sub-optimal) head shape, a wonderfully boxy nose (smaller than most) with large fews hanging low from his snout.  He is well made from neck to tail with stocky shoulders and heavy foreleg bones. His stance is not great, but is good enough so that excersize should keep his hip bones healthy. Harvey is a smaller form Basset, one of the two in this litter, so expect forty pounds, though it may take a few years to get there. His skin folding is good, but he will not become more European as he grows, more of a long eared Foxhound with short legs.

Coloring is not symmetrical and his facial fur displays a quirkly good looks. This is the very essence of pet quality; he is nice looking, but not a show dog in the making. His head will eventually turn all the way to brown and he will evetually have brown legs too.

Personality is the thing about Harvey. He is a dare devil, jumping from high places rather than finding a more suitable way off of the porch. He is slow to climb stairs, but the careful part of this boy leaves off at the edge, so be careful for him or he may jump. Harvey is a real snuggler and will become a great companion. Watch out parents, this one might be trouble if left unattended. 

Pocki (Harvey) gets four and one half points when compared to the Standard. He is simply a good dog, but there are a few areas where he isn't as good as others. Harvey gets half of the aethetics point simply because of his coloring pattern. Five of the Six points in a great little boy Basset wrapper. 

Six Weeks Evaluations: The International Candies Litter : Hapi (Ruby)

 At Six Weeks of age we evaluate our litters using a six point set of criteria. Five of these points are derived from the American Kennel Club Standard for the breed. One point is given that is subjective and purely based on what we like to see for coloring and aesthetic qualities. It is difficult to look into a puppy's future and see what they will truly become, but at six weeks there is enough of the traits emerging in appearance and personality to give it a good guess.

Our breeding program has been aimed toward breeding a smaller form of Basset Hound, something that won't exceed forty pounds when fully adult and perhaps less than fourteen inches at the shoulder. In this litter we only see two pups of this smaller form developing, four which will be of the more normal American Basset size (perhaps fifty pound fully grown and fifteen inches at the shoulder) and one standard sized little boy who will likely top out at sixty pounds. All of the Candies show very good traits, but as is the usual, the sire (Rocky) brought into the mix all that we expect in an American Basset Hound. The very long ears, head shape, boxy nose shape, and heavy foreleg size are all of Rocky's very good features. Lilly, the Dame, is a good example of the smaller form Basset and has very good features as well.

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Ruby is fortunate to have a sister going along with her to her new life. But, as much as I love this little girl, I don't envy her new parents. The two girls we had, when combined, are going to be a hand full of fun. This girl is fearless and wanders off very often to find new trouble to get into. Her goal is World Domination, and nothing less. When combined with a sister of much the same temperment, watch out and lock the gate. 

Structurally Ruby is a very good medium form of the breed. She is very well put together with a great head shape, well domed but not rounded, from which extraordinarily long ears hang in true Basset style. Her snout is a bit smaller than most but it is boxy with less than generous fews. Her jaw set is great. From her neck to the ground she is heaily built with very heavy foreleg bones and heavy paws. Her neck meets with her stocky shoulders then tapers wonderfully back to small hips. Ruby has good stance so there's not much likelyhood of hip issues later on. Expect a forty-five pound adult Basset. She is a wonderful little girl.

She is covered in a nicely symettrical coat of deep mahagony Red with white collar and matching shoes. Her tail tip is very slightly white. Her face is very pretty.

Ruby gets all five of the points we use to judge against the Standard, there simply is nothing wrong about her build. She also gets the full point for pretty. She is a lovely little girl Basset and might be bred if rights are secured. Six out of six points. Not a show dog, for a few minor reasons, but will definetly be a lovely pet.

Six Weeks Evaluations: The International Candies Litter : Reisen (Hank)

At Six Weeks of age we evaluate our litters using a six point set of criteria. Five of these points are derived from the American Kennel Club Standard for the breed. One point is given that is subjective and purely based on what we like to see for coloring and aesthetic qualities. It is difficult to look into a puppy's future and see what they will truly become, but at six weeks there is enough of the traits emerging in appearance and personality to give it a good guess.

Our breeding program has been aimed toward breeding a smaller form of Basset Hound, something that won't exceed forty pounds when fully adult and perhaps less than fourteen inches at the shoulder. In this litter we only see two pups of this smaller form developing, four which will be of the more normal American Basset size (perhaps fifty pound fully grown and fifteen inches at the shoulder) and one standard sized little boy who will likely top out at sixty pounds. All of the Candies show very good traits, but as is the usual, the sire (Rocky) brought into the mix all that we expect in an American Basset Hound. The very long ears, head shape, boxy nose shape, and heavy foreleg size are all of Rocky's very good features. Lilly, the Dame, is a good example of the smaller form Basset and has very good features as well.

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Hank is a very special little boy. One of the rare Bassets with Heterochromia, a condition where one blue eye exists next to one brown eye. To be honest, the AKC Standard calls this a fault and I will deduct half a point from his evaluation, but the fault is merely formal and not any sort of a problem. In fact, We like how his one turquoise eye catches the sunlight and shines like a blue jewel.  Otherwise, this is as good a Basset puppy as we have seen so far.

Structurally Hank is a well built Basset Hound. He is of a medium size, so expect a fifty pound boy when fully grown, but not nearly as large as a European Basset. His head is domed well and his snout is boxy and carries significant fews, even at this young age. His ears are very good and hang exactly as they should at the back of his skull in they drape very nicely almost to the ground. He has a strong neck (a bit sub optimal) which are rooted in very substantial shoulders,. The whole thing is supported by nicely formed and heavily boned forelegs, His body flows backwward smoothly to his narrow waist and chunky hips. His stance is not all that we wish it were, but keeping him well excersized will certainly help him stave off any bone health problems later on.

Hank is covered almost entirely by deep Mohagany fur with just a few white accents and excellent skin folding. He has a symmetrical facial coloring pattern which is really more like a Redbone Coonhound in appearance. Hank has no white tip on his tail which makes him something unique in Bassets. Hank has quirky good looks and a quirky attitude to match. 

Hank is as playful as they come. He never shirks a fight, never fails to explore a hole he finds, and always wanders off, so lock the gate.  If there is some mischief he can find, he will be in it. He will be leaving us with his brother Harvey and we are sure the two of them will come to rule their new homes.

Of the five AKC derived points for form Hank gets four and a half (the eye). He gets half a point for pretty due to his unique coloring and lack of a white tail tip. Five of the six points available but there's nothing at all wrong with him. We do not recommend breeding because the aesthetic traits are not prime examples of the breed. 

Six Week Evaluations: The International Candies Litter : Toblerone (Bubba)

 At Six Weeks of age we evaluate our litters using a six point set of criteria. Five of these points are derived from the American Kennel Club Standard for the breed. One point is given that is subjective and purely based on what we like to see for coloring and aesthetic qualities. It is difficult to look into a puppy's future and see what they will truly become, but at six weeks there is enough of the traits emerging in appearance and personality to give it a good guess.

Our breeding program has been aimed toward breeding a smaller form of Basset Hound, something that won't exceed forty pounds when fully adult and perhaps less than fourteen inches at the shoulder. In this litter we only see two pups of this smaller form developing, four which will be of the more normal American Basset size (perhaps fifty pound fully grown and fifteen inches at the shoulder) and one standard sized little boy who will likely top out at sixty pounds. All of the Candies show very good traits, but as is the usual, the sire (Rocky) brought into the mix all that we expect in an American Basset Hound. The very long ears, head shape, boxy nose shape, and heavy foreleg size are all of Rocky's very good features. Lilly, the Dame, is a good example of the smaller form Basset and has very good features as well.

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Toblerone, now named Bubba by his new family, is and has been the largest of the litter and he had a head start with a two ounce advantage at birth and an appetite to match. 

Structurally Bubba is a very good example of the breed. His head shape is good with an adequate domed shape from which hang very long ears which drape as they should. Bubba has the boxy nose we love to see and a strongly set jaw over which his few will likely drape once he has grown a bit. Foreleg bone size is quite heavy for a puppy this young and he needs a heavy set due to his very heavy chest and shoulders. His body flows smoothly back to a stocky set of hips. His stance, the way he stands when simply standing still is good, but not great. Stance is usually a good indicator of hip bone health and longevity so it will be important to get this boy out for plenty of excersize as he developes to avoid hip problems in a heavy dog.  There is a trace of rib flanging as he tapers from front to back, but nothing worthy of a demerit.  His paws are very good and everything is headed in the right direction. Bubba's ever wagging tail is quite heavy and will likey become the shin bruising bludgeon both his Dame and Sire already have. 

Personality in the biggest puppy is always something more peaceful than the smaller siblings. He is a happy little guy and fearless in how he approaches the outdoors and new situations. Bubba loves to be cuddled, though he doesn't actively pursuit it. He is often found playing alone and loves to find new toys, which he doesn't play with once they are dragged out where the others can find them.

Bubba is a good looking red and white with symmetrical coloring on his head. There is ample skin folds which includes extra skin on his head. When he looks down the skin slides forward in true Basset fashion. Overall he is a nice looking lad which recieves all five of the ACK derived points and the single point for pretty. Six of Six points means he is eligible for breeding if breeding rights are secured.

Six Weeks Evaluations: The International Candies Litter : Cadbury

 At Six Weeks of age we evaluate our litters using a six point set of criteria. Five of these points are derived from the American Kennel Club Standard for the breed. One point is given that is subjective and purely based on what we like to see for coloring and aesthetic qualities. It is difficult to look into a puppy's future and see what they will truly become, but at six weeks there is enough of the traits emerging in appearance and personality to give it a good guess.

Our breeding program has been aimed toward breeding a smaller form of Basset Hound, something that won't exceed forty pounds when fully adult and perhaps less than fourteen inches at the shoulder. In this litter we only see two pups of this smaller form developing, four which will be of the more normal American Basset size (perhaps fifty pound fully grown and fifteen inches at the shoulder) and one standard sized little boy who will likely top out at sixty pounds. All of the Candies show very good traits, but as is the usual, the sire (Rocky) brought into the mix all that we expect in an American Basset Hound. The very long ears, head shape, boxy nose shape, and heavy foreleg size are all of Rocky's very good features. Lilly, the Dame, is a good example of the smaller form Basset and has very good features as well.

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Cadbury is a great puppy. Fun, strong, fierce, and adventurous. Absolutely a great example of the breed and I really can't say too much to point out his greatness.

Structurally Cadbury is nearly perfect. His well domed head, boxy snout, adequate fews, and extraordinarily long ears make him a prince among his kind. The Head is supported by a thick neck which rises agressively over very heavy foreleg bones. His body tapers smoothly back to a narrow waste and his stocky hips are a joy to watch as he runs. Everything about this puppy is good or better than good. 

He has wonderful skin folding and excellent facial coloring symmetry, he even takes a good picture.  He has a strong will and is hard to catch when he doesn't want caught. If tends toward collecting things he shouldn't have, and this is half the fun. He's a wonderful little boy.

He gets all six points, the five for Form, and the one for Pretty. He is a good prospect for breeding and will likely become something better than he is growing up. Breeding rights are avaiable for him if needed. He's a good one.

Six Weeks Evaluations: The International Candies Litter : Milka (Puddles)

 At Six Weeks of age we evaluate our litters using a six point set of criteria. Five of these points are derived from the American Kennel Club Standard for the breed. One point is given that is subjective and purely based on what we like to see for coloring and aesthetic qualities. It is difficult to look into a puppy's future and see what they will truly become, but at six weeks there is enough of the traits emerging in appearance and personality to give it a good guess.

Our breeding program has been aimed toward breeding a smaller form of Basset Hound, something that won't exceed forty pounds when fully adult and perhaps less than fourteen inches at the shoulder. In this litter we only see two pups of this smaller form developing, four which will be of the more normal American Basset size (perhaps fifty pound fully grown and fifteen inches at the shoulder) and one standard sized little boy who will likely top out at sixty pounds. All of the Candies show very good traits, but as is the usual, the sire (Rocky) brought into the mix all that we expect in an American Basset Hound. The very long ears, head shape, boxy nose shape, and heavy foreleg size are all of Rocky's very good features. Lilly, the Dame, is a good example of the smaller form Basset and has very good features as well.

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There is always one puppy in every litter that I would keep if I could. Puddles is the one, for many good reasons. He is an excellent little boy with all the right stuff.

Structurally he is nearly perfect. His head shape is very well domes and his face and snout very boxy.  His snout carries very pronounced fews whcih will undoubtedly become something like his Sire's highly exaggerated features. His ears are very long and drape perfectly down to the ground. His thick neck rises perfectly above stout forelgs and his body shape runs smoothly back to a narrow waist and very strong hips. Puddles has a great stance (a good indicator of bone health prospects) and loads of extra skin folding over his legs and on the top of his head. Puddles is a fine example of the breed. 

He is a lovely little dog and is covered in a soft, thick, light red fur with very nice symmetry throughout his body and face. He is a beauty and might do well at shows if someone wanted to train him to it.  He has the patience and majesterial atittude of a champion.

Of the five AKC derived points Puddles gets all five (despite a baby tooth overbite that will clear itself in a few months). He also gets the full point for being pretty and if I could I'd give him more. He is lovely, easy going, and built like a Basset Hound shaped sports car. I still want to keep him. He is a good prospect for breeding if rights are secured.

Overbite

Six Weeks Evaluations: The International Candies Litter : Kinder Bueno (Pearl)

 At Six Weeks of age we evaluate our litters using a six point set of criteria. Five of these points are derived from the American Kennel Club Standard for the breed. One point is given that is subjective and purely based on what we like to see for coloring and aesthetic qualities. It is difficult to look into a puppy's future and see what they will truly become, but at six weeks there is enough of the traits emerging in appearance and personality to give it a good guess.

Our breeding program has been aimed toward breeding a smaller form of Basset Hound, something that won't exceed forty pounds when fully adult and perhaps less than fourteen inches at the shoulder. In this litter we only see two pups of this smaller form developing, four which will be of the more normal American Basset size (perhaps fifty pound fully grown and fifteen inches at the shoulder) and one standard sized little boy who will likely top out at sixty pounds. All of the Candies show very good traits, but as is the usual, the sire (Rocky) brought into the mix all that we expect in an American Basset Hound. The very long ears, head shape, boxy nose shape, and heavy foreleg size are all of Rocky's very good features. Lilly, the Dame, is a good example of the smaller form Basset and has very good features as well.

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Pearl is a wonderful little girl. Not the best in any category, but overall in the top three of the seven just for attittude. She is really quite a girl. Pearl goes to her new home with Ruby and between the two of them their new family will be in for quite the ride. She is ferrocious, very active, and loves to tag team attack her brothers with her sister Ruby. Growly, snarly, and fun. But not very adventurous. 

Sturcturally Pearl is a good example of the breed, Her head is well domes and she is of the smaller form that we are trying to breed. Expect she will eventually become a thirty-five pound Basset, but those numbers could creap higher is she likes the food. Her neck is strongly built, her foreleg bone size is nice and heavy. She has something of a minor flanging of one rib, but she is not a show quality dog and nobody would notice. Her wasit is narrow, her hips quite stocky. Pearl has a wonderful stance which makes her look fast even when she is at rest. 

Pearl's head coloring is in flux. I expect her to eventually have a head covered in brown fur before too lang. She may develope brown pants as well, but expect quite a bit more brown to emerge before she is fully adult. She lack symmetry in her fur coloring and this likely won't get any better with time. She's lovely, but not advertising picture pretty. 

Of the five AKC derived points Peral gets all five. There is nothing about her structurally that is anything but good. She lacks the pretty thing, loses a half of the point for coloring. Five and a half points of six is quite a high grade. We don't recommend breeding her simply because she is not the best example of the breed, but there's nothing wrong with her at all.  She's a great little dog.

Hank

 

Full Bassetty Behavior

 As we are approaching the six weeks mark the Candies are all showing real Basset behaviors more and more. This morning at eight we opened the pen so that the babies could go outside with Lilly and Pixie. )It is just a whole lot easier to change out bedding without twenty-eight little feet helping the process.) They all came out of their pen quickly and ran as a group for the front door. This is new. Yesterday they came out in a trickle, a few didn't seem interested at all, and then they sort of milled around in the dining room until we picked them up one at a time and took them outside. 

Yesterday a few of the have good mastery of the stairs out front. When we built the stairs we set the stair height at seven inches because it makes for an easier climb, but the easier climb is still a bit much for the babies at first. Eventually they figure out using their forelegs to do the first part of the lift and then catching a hold with a back foot. This morning had all seven going down stairs and four going up. And when we ask Lilly to take them inside she lead the way as the four ran along after her after climbing all the way up. We helped the other three  and they ran in to catch Mom as well. So the babies are well aware of outside and eager to go, eager to return. A big improvement over carrying them all out and then carrying them all back in. 

Everyone is wrestling, if they are awake, and dreaming if they are asleep. But it isn't very quiet these past few days. We're hearing a few barks, quite a bit of growling, and even heard on little howl from someone, along with the puppies talking a chirping that has been the norm for a few weeks. Soon there will be a lot more barking.

Personalities are beginning to emerge as well. There are a few who are intredip explorers, they push the envelope as to how far from the front door they will roam and lead others away to the edge of safety. A couple are loners, more interested in whatever they find interesting. These are independant types. And then there's those whose favorite thing is climbing up and down stairs, because they can and others can not. These stand on high and taunt the less fortunate into games of "King of the Mountain" that they alone can win. Soon there will be retribution and a more fair game to play.

Nobody has been to the botttom of the stairs yet, down into the world of plants and dirt clods to chew on. They are all looking down there where all of the big dogs settle down for naps. And there have been a few who tunbled down  a stair level or two and needed help getting back to the group. But so far there's an invisible frontier nobody seems to want to cross.

By next week everyone will begin running up and down stairs, and the yard immediately at the bottom of the stairs will become the new playland. Things are so much more fun and getting better all of the time. 

The Candies went for a Car Ride

We got everyone loaded up for a trip to the Banks Vet and everyone was just great. We had one very minor overbite and one flea that probably jumped on at the clinic. Nothing else of note. 

So we wormed everybody this morning and flea dropped the big dogs for safety's sake. And we checked babies carefully for anything creepy crawly.

Crate Training the Candies

We put a crate into the pen two days ago and the Candies are spending time in there. This morning all seven were in at one time. We threw a blanket over the top of the crate so it's a bit like a cave in there.

If they have a safe place to hide out they use it. If you need to lock them in for a little while, so long as the door is usually open they will like having a place to go.

All of Our Puppies are Taken

 We thank everyone expressing an interest in taking one of our Basset babies into their family. But all of our puppies now have future furever homes. Barring something unforseen, we have closed the Wait List and won't be notifying Wait List people from this day forward.

We usually have two litters each year, though this is a natural process and nature has a way of throwing us curve-balls occasionally. Our next scheduled pairing is Lemonhead Lucy and Rocky Rhodes and expected to be a near to Christmas delivery date. It is possible that we might wait until Spring of next year for this pairing to allow Lucy more time between litters if the Vet. thinks it a goood idea.  Please let us know if you wish to be put onto our next Wait List so that we can notify you when things begin to take shape. 

Aunty Pixie

Pixie has taken up the job of Aunty for the International Candies. She keeps an eye on them whenever they go outside. There's an Aunty for every litter.  Since the babies can range far and wide and harrass Lilly every chance they get, Pixie has been in there.

I uploaded this video to YouTube and had to delete the music. The App left something behind so I put this one up directly to this BLOG. 

The Candies First Meal Video

 I'm just starting to play around with my YouTube channel. I've been thinking about it for years, just never done any of it.  I had ROger Miller music on the video but had to delete the music to get Youtube to publish it. The app deleted most of the music, but left something behind. 

Sunshine Surprise

We took everyone out to the front porch for ten minutes in the evening sunshine. This is an adventurous lot. They don't seem worried in the least way. Tomorrow there's going to be imagery, I promise.

The big news came from Reisen. Up until we saw him in full sun did his beautiful blue eye shine like a jewel. The "one blue eye" thing is called heterochromia, a rarity in the world and another reason to love Reisen.  This is not a problem, just a lovely little flaw that makes this one special. The lore surrounding this is that he can see into the future, as well as the past, and see spirits when they are around.

Tails Up!

 Another milestone. When the Candies get old enough to start feeling confident about their world their little tails go upward. This is the default position of a Basset tail: up and waggy. This morning everyone is running hither and thither with their tails up and wagging.  Love it!

Yesterday Ann put puppy toys into the pen and a few of them have started playing with them.  I'll try to get some pictures . . . The babies also have their noses in the water dish. Not drinking, just seeing what's there. A day after they start drinking we will begin putting soft puppy chow into their diet. 

One Little Indian (pending deposit)

We will have only one little boy still available after this morning. 

Pocki, a lovely tri colored male, is the last puppy.
Someone has to be the last one.

Worming Day

We do a worming treatment three times every litter. And we also treat our own hounds at the same time, just in case. Worms aren't really a big problem, especially if you stay on top of things.

This morning was treatment one, the first thing they've tasted that wasn't from Mom. They will get their first puppy chow soon so worming now means better digestion once real food shows up. We're watching for them finding the water dish. Once they find it we can begin suuplimenting Mom feeding with something a bit more solid.

Awareness

This morning the Candies all became very aware of things, as things. They have been playing gently and wandering around a bit. But for the most part everyone is sort of poking around and wondering what things are. This morning it seem they have figured out what is going on. Lilly has been able to walk in and out of the pen so far, but now that they understand what's happening this will become much more dificult.

The puppies are also understanding that Mom isn't just a source of food so this morning they were all bundled together in a tight pile of fur. Not for breakfast, but for comfort alone. It isn't cold in the morning so comfort and companionship are more likely their motivation fro balling themselve up with Lilly. This is quite a big step in their development and  Lilly is very happy about it.

In a week we expect the pups will get vaccines and be allowed outside for the first time. We can also let people handle the pups with washed hands. So exciting.

Bubba (top left) was visited by his new Mom this weekend.
He weighed just over three pounds and is quite a chunk of Baby Basset.
Everyone else is doing very well, but not nearly as big.

Sorted Themselves

The Candies have themselves sorted out by color. This happens every litter at some point early on. 

The Beginning of Knowing

Another milestone has been met. Bubba (Toblerone), first puppy in many respects, has escaped the Whelping Pool for the first time. All Hell is about to break loose at Creekside Farm. Everyone is moving around on their feet, all are standing tall, but one puppy saw over the wall and decided to go see what there was over there and could not be stopped by common sense or that fact that shortness ought to keep them contained. This is a big deal in the life of a Basset.

Lilly is now able to spend time among
the tangle of hounds to hunt and sing.
 Being in the pen will become much more exciting.

We will remove the pool since it will no longer hold anything other than water. We will carpet the pen with blankets and towels and laundry will become our prinicple occupation for the next five to eight weeks. There will be toys and the babies will come close to the other dogs, only seperated by a thin screen of open steel. 

Aunt Pixie is in love with Toblerone (Bubba).
She completely agrees with having puppies
to talk to and kiss on the nose.

Watch out for Scammers

Whether you get a puppy or not, watch out for Scammers and Con-men.  The Internet has been around for long enough that people ought to be able to recognize a scam, but we get at least one attempt a day so. . .

Visit your breeder, check references, and read the contract. . . If you can't visit, even when you want to, walk away. If the references are wrong, or too recent, move on. And if the contract seems stupid, poorly worded or ineffective, don't get into one. We hear about people getting ripped off all the time. It's only money, but if you need to give it away we'll find a place for it that doesn't purptuate the problem. Protect yourself.

At Two Weeks We Have Three (No) Boy(s) Available

 Once upon a time we forced people to wait for six long weeks before choosing a new baby. The idea was to make people happier, but it didn't work. Now we have people picking Babies at just a few day old, despite our trying to hold things off a bit. This generates more happiness generally even though it makes some people a bit nervous (including us).  We had Seven available and four of these are already taken by good families, leaving us with three wonderful Baby Boy Bassets still available, no girls.

Milka, the Beach Boy (Taken)

Reisen, a lovely mahogany hunter. 
Reisen is taken and going to live in California. 

Pocki, a wonderful little tri-colored boy 

with the Ninja Nut-sack (Taken).

 

Get in touch if you needs Basset. Call Ann at 503-351-0212 and arrange a visit before deciding. 

Reisen at Two Weeks (Taken)

 Reisen is a lovely little boy and is
the best at standing in this litter so far,

He weighs 33.1 ounces
without a trace of tail tip white. 

Reisen has chosen a new family and will be going to California sometime in September. We arranged for a Skype visit since traveling before meeeting everyone wasn't an option. 

Late Summer litter's delivery dates often conflict with back to school dates and vacation schedules so we get to keep the babies a bit longer most years. We allow families to leave their puppy with us, for advance Basset Training, until twelve weeks. 

He has his eyes wide open, one of the few, and he's looking to explore everything he sees. And although he's not especially cuddly, he will probably make for a great family dog because he's built tough.  . Reisen has an asymmetrical nose fur which gives him quirky good looks.  If I would keep one, Reisen would be in the running. from what we see here he will be a great Basset.

Milka at Two Weeks (Taken)

Milka is my choice for prettiest puppy at two weeks.
But I don't get to have him.  :-( 

He's going to live in Beaverton. :-)

Calm and snuggly. An easy puppy to love

From the "God's Thumbprint" on top of his head, to those tiny symmetrical nose spots, he is sweet and lovely looking little boy.  Milka is a Toddler and weighs  a healthy 35.8 ounces. 

Hapi at Two Weeks (Taken)

Hapi as our Peppermint Patty award winner.
Sort of a tough little girl vibe happening here. 

Pretty and perfect.  
She wants what she wants.
And looks to get it. 

Hapi is going to California with her sister Kinder Bueno. We really appreciate it when we send two of our babies out to one family. It is far easier on the babies to have a cuddle buddy built into their new family and it is half the work for the new family (just not the picking up part). They play more and better (Bassets play very hard), are less likely to be bored (about the same for destructivness),  and they are happier by far when Mom and Dad are away doing Mom and Dad Stuff. We give a two hundred dollar discount on each puppy when taking two just to make this happen more because it is better for everyone. Two Bassets is half the work of one.

Hapi has her eyes open wide and her feet firmly on the ground. And this is not an easy little girl to hold onto. She weighs a very healthy 36.6 ounces and I expect bathtimes will be a challenge. We cut everyone's nails today and it took the both of us to get her done. 

Kinder Bueno at Two Weeks (Taken)

Kinder Bueno is going to live in California with her sister Hapi.  We really love it when we send two of our babies out to one family. It is far better the babies to have a cuddle buddy built in to their new family and it is half the work for the new family (not the picking up after part). They play better (Bassets play very hard), aren't as bored (about the same for destructivness),  and they are far happier if Mom and Dad are away. We give a two hundred dollar discount on each puppy when taking two (same sex babies) just to make this happen. Two Bassets is half the work of one. One is good, two is gooder. Three is a lot of Bassets and not for the first time Basset parent.

A headstrong go-go girl with eyes open 
with a mouth ready to taste everything. 

Kinder Bueno has a wonderful coat with good sumetrical markings
She will become a tri-colored beauty. 

A whole bunch of fun, but don't expect an easy puppy experience.

Kinder Bueno is a very head strong toddler and uncooperative in taking pictures and trimming nails. but she is also 38.1 ounces of squeaky toy joy. This one is going to be very playful and we are seeing a lot of brown emerging in her coat already. 

Pocki at Two Weeks (Taken)

Pocki has the mystery gene which makes
a Basset fall over when petted. 
He loves tummy rubs.

His eyes are opening a he is a Toddler.
He gets on his feet but hasn't mastered walking yet.

He seems to defy taking good pictures.
It took nine attempts to get this one picture.

Pocki is a healthy little boy with an asymmetrical coat. He weighs a good 33.65 ounces and looks to be a smaller form Basset. He's patient with people holding him, but uncooperative at times. Pocki is probably going to be a properly stubborn little boy, he is already wirey and strong. Likely a good pick for a family with children. He's a tough little guy and a bit funny.

Cadbury at Two Weeks (Taken)

34.05 ounces of Bear Walking Explorer.

Cadbury is gentle and patient.

Cadbury is a lovely little cuddler. Strong, but easy to hold and patient when trimming his nails. He looks around through his new eyes and sees things to do when he gets a chance.

Toblerone (Bubba) at Two Weeks (Taken)

Toblerone's new mom say he's going to be a Bubba, and she's right.  Bubba has his eyes open and is still a Scooter and a Toddler. He's a bit large at 45.3 ounces so we'll begin training him to walk on his feet.

Bubba is a carnivorous beast.

Bubba is a scooter and sometimes toddler.

Eyes are open but not looking to explore just yet.

Nice and fat

The babies are getting so big. We'll get pictures and weights later today and post them. Today may be the last for the kiddie pool.

Two weeks already. Two babies already picked out with a few more being thought about. Eyes open and nails needing cut. Lots going on.

Lilly is a good mom.

Happy Peepers Day!!!!

 Every litter has special days. These are milestones we look for every time and there are quite a few. Two days ago we had scooters when they started moving in one direction. This morning we had toddlers and they were getting up on all four feet just to stand there for a minute. When this happens we no longer have to worry that someone might get squished because their little bones set themselves in the right places and the puppies get less squishy.

Tonight it  is officially "Peepers".  Imagine the first time you opened your eyes. Amazing. Their eyes are opening for the first time tonight and when we see their eyes for the first time we call out "Peepers", say hello, and make a fuss over it. They can see us. It's so cool. It's a big deal for them and they start seeing places they want to go check out and start moving toward things they want.

Peepers is also sort of a big deal for us because it signals our returning to a normal sleep routine. (I am posting this at 12:30 A.M.  because my night shift is until two when Ann takes her turn.) We watch them 24/7 until Peepers when we can go to bed at a reasonable time and return to a normal morning too. 

I'll get some pictures today when the sun is shining and they are all awake and looking around. Flash photgraphy is a pretty bad idea for new eyes.

Next up, ears will open and they will begin exploring their world as we release the hounds and remove their whelping pool. 

Bear Walking

 This morning we have puppies walking like baby bears. The legs get under them and they move forward two steps before returning to swimming around on their bellies. The Internations Candies move very quickly at this stage of the game, compare to the first few days when they don't move well at all. But with their eyes and ears closed they tend to bump into things. Walking at one week is more about getting to Mom quicker than the next guy than it is getting somewhere in particular.

Lilly spends less and less time in the Whelping pool as days go by. They are good eaters and she empties out pretty quickly now, but as they begin moving faster the competition can get stiff and the babies insistent. 

In a few days their eyes and ears will open fully and they can begin to learn how to use them. Yesterday we could see a few of them trying to force the eye lids open, but so far we don't see the dull reflection of new eyes. Once the eyes are open we'll remove the kiddie pool and things will get a whole bunch more interesting.

They've grown so much!

They most certainly know how to eat! 

The International Candies are all proficient eaters. It might sound weird but this isn't always how things go. We've had litters where there are one or two who don't know how to get enough food from Mom to put on the desired amount of weight. The danger in not eating is called a "failure to thrive". It happens every once in a while so we have strategies and tools to put the weight on when we see this and get everyone healthy if needed. Right now it's not needed.This bunch is a whole lot of milk sacks.

There are other concerns about eating too much that we watch for as well. Heavy puppies can have "Swimmer Syndrome" and need remedial training when learning to walk. This lot likely won't have any of that to worry about.  They will all be runners by four weeks and we are already seeing a lot of pushing each other around as they learn to use their legs.

We will weigh everyone on Saturday, at one week old. We expect them all to have doubled their birth weights and continue doubling every week. until weening at four weeks. We expect to see eyes and ears opening at the end of the second week, give or take a few days. This is when pictures start being taken.  This is about the time when we take the whelping pool out of the puppy pen and they will start running around. Four weeks is when Mom can't possibly keep up, so we start putting mushy puppy chow into the mix. From that point on it is a smelly pandemonium around here and people visitors begin to handle them.

Summer is the best time for puppies. they get a lot of outdoor time and start interacting wth our pack of hounds. This is going to be fun.

Dewclaw Day

Not a Basset Foot

 Very early in every litter we remove the "Dewclaw" to make everyone's life easier. Ann does most the work. Though I am a tough, I simply have a hard time watching. My job is to hold each puppy with my eyes closed and that's enough involvment for me.

The dewclaw is a thumb on the foreleg and it can be something of a problem. It performs no function for pets and can get caught on things and injured.And it makes makes trimming the nail more difficult, so the nail is often neglected since the other nails wear down through use and this one doesn't. Bassets are huggers and wrap their fore-legs around you in different ways, the dewclaws can make this less fun. So taking them off is a good idea and best done when the babies are only a few days old.  Ann does the deed and before you can carry them back to the Whelping Pen the momentary bleeding is stopped and the puppy feels just a second or two of pain the entire time. 

Today, while I went for supplies (mostly the junk food we eat during the long hours when the babies are very young) Ann called my brother in to hold babies and I came home to a peaceful, and Dewclaw free, house. Hurray for me!

Morning for our International Candies

Click for a bigger picture

 The Candies are doing very well. Eight beautiful Basset Babies have their cute little tails on the ground. Lilly is eating well, as are the Candies.  There's enough of everything, sleep schedules are being maintained, and nobody needs to run into town for anything. Even the weather is in sync. The days are lovely and the nights are cool with a light Summer breeze. I could go on and on. All is well.

We will be posting new pictures and weights pretty soon. Right now there isn't enough change to make our first pictures different than what we see today. But things progress pretty fast and the first six weeks go by quickly.  We weigh them weekly to make sure they are thriving. If someone doesn't eat well we find a way to get them growing. The milestones for growth are pretty well known. At six weeks we do a final evaluation and can say pretty definitively what each puppy will become. They have personalities right now and characteristics show up early on. But everything else is in flux and nothing is certain until about six weeks. The only thing that doesn't change is the boy/girl question, but even that can be read wrong at first. Laffee  Taffee's first Bubblegum girl (Bubbalicious), is the best boy Basset (Bubba / Stanley) we have seen so far. . . 

We've had a few people coming out to meet our family in hopes of finding a new baby for theirs. We really encourage people to come meet the hounds prior to committing themselves to spending money on their project. It is hard to keep the scammers out of your pockets and the most certain way to protect everyone involved is to do things old school. Visit your breeder, read the contract, and trust your gut. We will certainly earn your trust and deliver on the promises we make.

One family has chosen a puppy (not out of the ordinary to have early adopters). Pending my sending them a deposit invoice Toblerone will no longer be available. We don't encourage such quick decisions but we do things on a first come and first served basis and deposits are never returned if minds change. Take your time deciding as best you can, that is the best way. If you have preferences as to who or how many of what, we will try to accomodate your desires if it is possible. 

So far this entire year has gone along as if we planned it. This is strange because we've been doing this for twenty years and so far nothing has gone along as if we planned anything. Who and when we paired Lilly and Rocky was planned years ago. The pregnancy went very well and Lilly was very happy right up until the final act played out. The babies took their sweet time finding a way into the world, but we had everything in place to handle a seige of any length. In truth, we made it look easy this time. I suppose experience counts after all, but it might be that we didn't have crops to plant so time was on our side. However occurring, even the food we did plant went easier and is doing better. So life is better than good here and even the fruit tress are cooperating. Would that the length of our long lives had always gone so smoothly during the difficult bits.

Still more to do?

Update: Lilly has stopped laboring, panting, and having solid contractions, so we are assuming there are no more than the eight we have lounging around on blankets right now. We do everything naturally so we really don't know.  Any last babies are taking their own sweet time showing themselves. Right now there are five boys and three girls. This is a pretty good litter and easy to count. One more girl puppy would be nice, but another boy is certainly welcome too. So long as everyone is happy and healthy we are good with whatever the day brings. Eight is plenty.

Being able to count puppies easily is important because until their little eyes are open and they are up on their feet they are always in danger of bigger things. When they are very new they wander under their mom pretty easily and she doesn't notice. We will count them a lot and stay within close hearing range (twenty-four-seven) to avoid accidents. After they can keep themselves safe we will still count them a lot, but not because we're worried about accidents.

We are now accepting deposits from those people who wish to choose their new baby(s), but there is no hurry. People's preferences are being considered as we go forward and we will let you know if your preferences are in conflict with others. 

The International Candies Litter: Milka (Taken)

10:20 a.m. Male Caramel Red and White named Milka. After five hours of waiting he came out with no note explaining his tardiness. 14.6 ounces and quiet.

The International Candies Litter: Kinder Bueno (Taken)

4:55 a.m. Female, largely black, tri colored. Her kennel name is Kinder Bueno. Lilly is pretty tired out but she's still working on the project. 12.5 ounces of pretty little girl.