Anahera Bernese Mountain Dogs

Anahera Isadorable (AI)

H: 1-1 / E: 0-0

   

Meggie shown at 3 weeks and at 18 months old.

 

Above: October 2009

  

February 2010

Meggie is one of the 14 pups born from Amity's 2007 litter by frozen semen.  Dad, "Yupp V Colmberg Waldchen" is a German imported dog living in Canada with Kiki & Pat of Sennenhof Farm!

Meggie was normal in every way until Amity lay on her at 5 days old. I heard a muted wailing noise and hoisted Ami up to find a very floppy Meg with her mouth gaping open and gasping for breath.  I had never experienced this before and didn't know what the usual treatment would be so I blew in her face and rubbed her back simutaneouly until she apeared to settle. She was a bit slow to drink afterwards but still seemed keen to nurse.

Two days later I woke to find Meggie shoved away from the other pups, cold, writhing and moaning in such a wretched way it was chilling. I raced her into the vet clinic packed on a hottie and wrapped in a towel.  Wonder Vet, Rob hydrated, tube fed her, gave her puppy antibiotics and gave me instructions to keep her very warm and hydrated. He kindly said her chances were very minimal, but where there is life, there is hope!

From that first night I kept Meg in a laundry basket beside the bed. I set my alarm each hour to check she was still alive, and to feed her every 2nd hour, either by bottle or by heaving Amity out of the whelping box so Meg could feed by herself and during the day she stayed wherever I was, tucked up in her basket in between the 2 hourly feeding.  After a week of this she was slowly getting stronger although I felt like something a cat dragged in! I took her in to Rob at the end of the week and he was surprised but thrilled to see her alive and kicking but was still guarded about her future.

She went from strength to strength and after my puppy-leave was over she came to work in a zip up cat basket. Each day I prepared her lunchbox and drink bottle to keep her happy. She came home with me at lunch time to check on the other pups and pretty much spent her days drinking and sleeping. She became an extension of my hand - everywhere I went, Mini Meg came too.

At 4 weeks old we popped back in for another check up with Rob. I had already decided there was no way I could part with her! Rob told me you knew you were breeding for the right reasons when you keep the ugliest pup in the litter! Admittedly, she was a pretty odd looking baby - like a spiky wee urchin, but I loved her so much!

She became very demanding from that time, wobbling around the house bravely exploring, then crying pitifully until someone came and found her! She had me wrapped around her paw! Many times I had to cut phone calls short "Sorry, Meggie needs me!"

From 5 weeks she began spending time with her littermates.  She was still half their size but she more than made up for it with her feisty attitude! When she'd had enough, she would yodel until I came and took her back but by 7 weeks she was all but fully integrated into the litter again and enjoying herself.

When the families came to collect their new babies, Meg charmed everyone by sitting up on her bottom with her paws up, asking to be picked up and 4 of the families asked if they could take Meg home too!

Despite her earlier dependence, Meg has become very independant and likes to do things her own way. At their first shows at 12 weeks old, to my immense pride and everyone else's amazement, Meggie won the first Baby Puppy Bitch class of the weekend against 3 of her sisters - bopping around the ring with a concentrated expression on her wee face!

I am very proud of Meggie's fighting spirit that saw her overcome her terrible start in life. The spiky urchin has grown into a similar type to grandmother Dorli, with wonderfully fluid movement. There are no expectations for Meg, other than to enjoy her charmed life!

   

At 3 weeks fast asleep in her cat basket and at 4 weeks old.

April 2009