GCH/CAN GCH Ch Surrey Hill Mariner Smooth Hopperator RATI, RATN, TKN

“Gator”

GCH Northwind’s Gentlemen Prefer Blondes – “Monroe”

whippet with puppies

DOB 6-8-2023 Pedigree (courtesy of the whippet archives)

Announcing the “Road Warrior” litter.

There is a saying “breeding is not for the faint of heart” and we certainly experienced that whelping this litter of puppies. Monroe began panting, nesting, etc. about 7 a.m. but didn’t begin active labor until about 9. A bubble protruded and stayed out for 45 minutes when she sat on it and it popped. No puppy. A second bubble came out and it stayed for an hour. Still no puppy.

Invergrove Heights Animal Hospital called at 11, since Monroe was a client. I explained the circumstances and they felt she should be seen. My own vet was not available and the local ER clinic wouldn’t be open for six hours, so Mark and I made the 2 3/4 hours drive to the cities at 80 mph. I spent the time crawling around in the back of the minivan delivering puppies.

In Cloquet, 30 miles from home, the first puppy finally arrived, a second arrived 15 minutes later while passing Barnum. The 3rd puppy arrived in Forest Lake and the remaining three were delivered via C-section at Invergrove. The repro clinic’s address is on Cahill drive. So, now you know the origins of all the puppies’ temporary names.

Some of the puppies have a mark on the back of the neck – green stripe, green dot. The clinic marked them so we would know who was present before the C-section. It’s fingernail polish, so it’s going to have to wear off….