One More Week (or so)

Here's a picture of Dixie today. We're getting ready to start counting down the days instead of the weeks now. I am guessing that pups will arrive late next week or next weekend. Typically, puppies whelp 9 weeks (plus or minus one day) from the date of ovulation. When the breeding is done via artificial insemination, progesterone testing is done to determine the date of ovulation and thus the optimum breeding window, which is 3 to 5 days after ovulation. This was a natural breeding and no progesterone testing was done. So I have to go with dates of the actual breedings and assume that ovulation occurred a day or two prior to the first breeding. That is not always a good assumption - some dogs will breed prior to ovulation. But it's a place to start. I'll be using the temperature drop method along with plain old observation to determine when puppies are on their way.

I think Dixie is telling the kids about the accomplishments of their granddaddy as she gazes at all his awards.