I was asked by Karen Dean, the editor of the monthly newsletter...

Ms. Karen,
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Mr. Stan told me that you wanted me views about the first puppies born to Heidi (Daizi) and myself (Huck). I remember the day my puppies were born this way. If I got within 6 feet of the whelping box I was thankful that the whelping box had a panel high enough that Heidi couldn’t get to me. She (Heidi) would bark and growl so loud that slinked as close to the couch as I could hoping the color of the couch would help me blend in with it, but no she would always see me and made me feel like an invader.
 
 I remember Ms Judi and Mr. Stan talking about the first puppy born and said that Heidi didn’t have a clue what was laying on the birthing pad behind her. Mr. Stan had to clear the birth sack and cut the cord and then breath into the puppy to get it breathing, what a good influence he was to Heidi because she learned how to be a good mom by the time the third puppy was born. He took the puppies and put them in her face and she caught on that she need to clean the sack from their nose so they could breath and she cut the cord off. They took pictures of each one weighed each and placed in a basket with a heat lamp.
 
Mr. Stan and Ms. Judi had decided to name all the puppies with a name that started with the letter “H” after Heidi and myself. I think only one of our puppies kept their given name and that’s ok with me. I’m sure their new parents had favorite name like Heidi’s given name was Daizi.
 
When the bunch was born I kinda thought, at first, I didn’t exist because all they talked about was Heidi and the 2 boys and 5 girls. They thought it unusual that there was this ratio of boys to girls and seemed pleased about the number of girls. The puppies weighed in from 257 to 222 grams with an average of 240 grams. They grew so fast that by the time they left they averaged 111 oz. If I remember what I was taught at puppy classes is 111 oz. equals 3108 grams.
 
Some other things about my puppies are: They were born on Sept. 7 in the afternoon, they opened their eyes at 12 days and teeth at 16 days, started eating ground-up puppy kibble bolstered with dried milk for puppies soaked in water to a gravy consistency for 3 weeks before feeding dried Taste of the Wild Pacific stream formula with smoked salmon, de-wormed at 5 weeks, puppy shots and microchip at 6 weeks. I remember them talking about when the dark of the moon would be and that was exactly 6 weeks after they were born I don’t know what’s in their head but Mr. Stan says that weaning would be go smooth if weaned at the dark of the moon.  It must work because there was nary a peep from the kids. I remember Ms. Judi bemoaning about the puppies getting bigger because when she started trimming their nails at 5 weeks it was easy but at 8 weeks they were so squirmy it tried her patience. Oh I almost forgot a very important fact that being Ms. Judi had water in front of the puppies at day 17. They would like to know if this is proper timing.
 
At day 49 Jac and Ann Knoop came and gave the kids their Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test.  Mr. Stan had always said the first-born Huxley should go to Karen Parker, our VP and the test showed the same. The rest of the kids tested more calm in personality. A little history about where all the kids ended up. Huxley now Tijs to Washington with Karen Parker, Harley now Toby to Florida with Yesenia Bravo, Haylee to Ohio Chris Carroll, Heather now Tinker Bell Heather to MA. with Kate Ryan, Haven now Elle to Iowa with Brian and Rhonda Lane, Hope now Winnie to Oakville. Ontario, Canada with Desiree Duffy and Harper now Hannah to Ohio with Danny and Jenny Deaton. I don’t know when I will see the kids again but Jac, Ann, Mr. Stan and Ms Judi said they got together and agreed about placement.
 
Proud Dad,
Huck