Shire Litter

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(D.O.B. 7-22-25: 2 girls)
Dates:
Puppy Party - Sunday, 9/7/25 at 3-5 PM (date change!)
Temperament Evaluations - 9/12-13/25
Puppy Vaccinations Round 1 - 9/16/25 (Dr. Borden could not find a single thing wrong with them! Commented on how healthy all the pups were)
Puppy Evaluations - 9/17/25 and again at Pug Nationals 10/7/25
Puppy Vaccinations Round 2 (plus Microchips) - 10/14/25
Puppy Assignments anywhere after 10 weeks of age (around 9/20/25 or following week)
Gotcha Day at 12 weeks of age or later (10/18/25 or 10/19/25 at the earliest, which will give them a few days after 2nd round of vaccinations before traveling)

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Bella (new name Flora)
Pickwick’s Laugh and Bee Merry
AKC Registration TS68264801
Microchip: 956000019909088
Owners: Ian and Deb in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Goldy/BeBop (new name Bramble Jane)
Pickwick’s Bee Bop a Lula
​AKC Registration TS68264802
Microchip: 956000019813562
Owners: Englands, Tennessee

l-r: Emma (brown cape) Mother; KK (green cape) Great Grandmother; Bella/Goldy; Lilly (pink cape) Grandmother

Note: The word "Bee" was worked into their registered names because that was a nickname of their paternal grandfather, Rumble, who was a very famous pug -- actually favored to win Westminster Best in Show. Here is a photo of Rumble.

Dam

Pickwick's Judge of Your Own Happiness (Emma)

Sire

GCH CH Hill Country's I'll Bee Your Shining Star

Bella - "Pickwick's Renowned Belladonna Took" (black girl -- 1 black dot of fingernail polish on back at base of tail for ID marker)  (Bella)

Goldberry - "Pickwick's Laugh and be Merry (yellow girl - 1 dot of yellow fingernail polish on back at base of tail for ID marker)  (Goldberry ... the wife of Tom Bombadil -- associated with water and nature, particularly the river Withywindle. While her exact nature is enigmatic, she is often interpreted as a spirit of the river. She and Tom Bombadil provide shelter and guidance to the hobbits during their journey)

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Dates:
5/10/25 - 1st blood
5/19/25 - progesterone testing (1.3)
5/21/25 - 2nd progesterone testing (4.4)
5/22/25 - 1st AI (with Robert)
5/25/25 - 2nd AI (with Robert)
6/23/25 - Ultrasound (showed at least 2 puppies)
​7/14/25 - Radiograph showed 6 puppies!
Possible c-section as early as July 21, 2025 (progesterone testing in AM to determine)
​7/24/25 - 63 days from possible ovul.
7/22/25 - C-Section

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Emma, 2 days before her ultrasound, wondering if she is pregnant! 

Ultrasound at Galleria Animal Clinic showed at least one puppy and heartbeats!

Radiograph on 7/14/25 showed 6 puppies! We have scheduled progesterone testing for Monday AM 7/20/25 and the possibility of a c-section that day, or the following days as progesterone level indicates.

Emma enjoyed some chicken backs that arrived today from My Pet Carnivore. She is always hungry, but not lots of room in her tummy for large amounts of food at a time ;)

1 more day before we head to vet Monday AM to check progesterone .... the "reverse progesterone" test allows us to know birth times -- once below 2 it is safe and the pups' arrival will be soon! Update - We headed to vet today, Monday 7/21/25 for progesterone tests. Alas, they are still to high to go ahead with a c-section. Emma started nesting last night and there are other signs that it is getting closer ... but not quite yet!

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Just born!! 7/22/25

In between Days 3-4:

Sadly, we lost Arwen, the smallest girl from the Shire litter on the first day. She was just not ready for this world. Perhaps we did the C-section too early or perhaps it was something not fully formed inside. This is natures way, we know, but it is still always so sad. Honestly, when we hear how many newborns longtime pug breeders lose on a regular basis, we have always felt truly blessed with our luck, but not this time. A week later, we lost Gandalf, also from the Shire litter. He just faded gradually over the last few days. During his short life he enjoyed smelling things like Honey, Cinnamon, and got a lot of loving and enjoyed snuggling with his "double mamas". He nursed well for the first few days but gradually became more lackluster. Then his breathing became more labored. Our vet gave him some SubQ fluids and listened to his heart and lungs. But, sadly, he was just not ready for this world. Then, the next day, we lost Brandy who was born very frail to begin with. We tube fed her throughout the week and, while she wasn't gaining weight, she also enjoyed a week of "firsts" on this earth before she moved onto the next world. God had other plans for them We held a memorial service that went along this line (made a video in case someone ever would like to do this for their own pet.) The rest of the pups are thriving and getting fat. Black girl Viking has almost double her weight (by day 6!) and it seems all of them are on track to do this by Day 10, which is always our goal for them. Tory and Emma are getting better at being moms, but, alas, only Tory has mastered the licking part so far. We let Tory help with Gandalf and Brandy by licking -- Usually the pug moms only lick the rear end to help the puppy eliminate, but she sensed something was wrong and licked all along the pups' sides, belly, back and even head. It did seem to help briefly, as did the oxygen, tube feeding, nebulizing and more. But our efforts still couldn't save them. Here is the memorial service for Gandalf and we also will do one for Brandy (we renamed her from Galadral) who just died today, 7/29/25. ​

In case anyone would ever want to use this service for their pet, this one is a basic one anyone could use (no mention of Gandalf etc.)

Pups including Gandalf and Brandy:

Gandalf:

Healthy, plump, and thriving -- Bella Donna Took and Goldberry (we are calling her "Goldy") in between 7/30/25 and 7/31/25 (2 AM?) 

The mamas love their little fans. The pups stay in the incubator with regulated temps when they are not nursing, but the mamas get hot "making milk".

Each day the pups enjoy the ENS protocols, a novel texture and experience, and scent!

Eyes open!! Transitional Period has begun. Now the fun starts! Ears/hearing should be open now or very soon (usually a day to a few days after eyes open). 

Double Mamas! They liked sharing the whelping box ;) IKEA even preferred Emma's milk bar. Both mamas are SO good at licking and cleaning. It took them awhile to learn but they are fabulous now. 

Here are some shots of the puppies (both litters) 8-9-25:

Emma and Tory say "milk bar is closed". Let us out!!

Here is a video of the puppies practicing "manding" (asking politely for attention -- not jumping up etc.) 8-12-25:

https://youtube.com/shorts/wrNCMfhiXgo?si=DW0H2_HKfqpiLJwy

Shire and Ikea Litter pups at 5 weeks . . .

The Puppy Party was a great success! For the pups, we had delicious treats and, for the humans, we had tea and scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam on bone china (appropriate "Hobbit" theme) plus gingersnaps for the IKEA pups. Here are some outtakes from the party, plus the play time afterwards.

Ikea and Shire pups go camping! They stayed in a KOA cabin and enjoyed seeing their first campfire and lots of other fun things! They also experienced their first long car trip (all the way to Chattanooga TN) and were absolute pros using the litterbox in their big crate. We also did their 8 week evaluation photos and videos and got some input from folks at the dog show. Still haven't made a decision on our pick, yet. They really are all nice.

Perhaps the raw fish I used for the stacking bait was a little TOO tasty :) Actually, I could never get Tobias to stand still he was quivering so with delight and chomping at the food (and my fingers!)

Ikea and Shire puppies take a trip to The Hobbit House! They got to see chickens and all sorts of new things!

And yet another Hobbit House in North Carolina!

Out of the 10 week fear phase so back to Socialization trips! Group and solo. The race is on to meet (and have wonderful, positive encounters) with as many different types of people as possible. Different sights, sounds, and all kinds of new experiences.

BeBop on gotcha day, 12-27-25 with the England family: