The countdown begins! We've been slowly getting things set up for Lucy in preparation for her whelping. This weekend it was all hands on deck and we worked to clean out the lower section of our barn. The plan is to replace the dirt floor and bedding in one of the stalls with cement and linoleum to provide a more cleanable surface. This will be the transition area for the puppies once they reach 4 weeks. They will still spend a good part of their day in the house with us, but this will be a great place for them to sleep and play and give us a break from having puppies in the house constantly!
It's still not quite ready, but we also began to get inside the house ready. Today we set up the whelping box. The pig rails are not installed yet, but we wanted to get Lucy accustomed to the space. We've put her bed in it for now. Although my kids seem to think we've set it up as
some kind of play space/reading nook lol.
This won't be the final resting place for the box. Once Lucy gives birth we'll move her and the puppies to our laundry room. There they will have the dark, quiet, and mama time they will need the first few weeks, free from the hustle and bustle of our busy household. However, we realized having her deliver in the laundry room would make it very hard to be present to observe and assist throughout a long night of delivery. The living room will be more suited to resting on the couch alongside Lucy during her long night of giving birth.
The kids are as excited as I am about the expected puppies. There is nothing quite as sweet as the arrival of new life - from baby goats, chicks, and kittens, it's a special experience each time. My littlest, Zipporah, has such a sweet bond with Lucy during this time and I love to watch her cuddle and comfort as the days proceed. Lucy has developed a definite waddle and a rather forlorn expression. It makes me wonder just how much dogs are aware of as their body is going through this process. I can't wait to see what kind of a mother Lucy will be.
Off topic, I was thrilled to find Lucy using the front stoop we finally put in this summer. I've always wanted a spot for our dog to rest and "keep watch". She's going to teach our puppies how to be a wonderful dog, this I know for sure :).
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