I've been on this site  for 7 or so years now--a blink of an eye. In that time I've bought my first dog in this breed, and over the years taken part in things I never dreamed I'd do...shows, trimming, obedience training, and now, finally, whelping my first litter after our mad dash to Poland for the mating. Last night we welcomed 4 long awaited and treasured little souls into the world. I'd never have done it without all the help and support from people in the CD community. Thanks so much for everything, and long may CDers continue to share their expertise. Hope one day I will be able to do the same :-) 

CONGRATULATIONS!

I could burst, Blay..a very emotional day here--tears and smiles all together

Oh WOW!

Absolutely thrilled for you and so pleased that your very first experience has been so positive.  Big smile here.  :-)

Now my girl.  Someone has to tell you about the grey hairs that you are about to grow.  :-)

You enjoy those puppies and enjoy every moment.  I always feel that the time goes too quickly.

Many, many congrats. Well done to you and your girly xxx

LOL JeanSW...the grey hairs came in long ago. The only way I can go from here is bald :-p

Needless to say I haven't been able to take my eyes off them since they arrived. What a miracle it all is. So glad I was able to be part of it.

Well done :)

Woo hoo hope that gives you the choice of sex etc you hoped for.

Many congratulations !

Ahh- how wonderful you can hear how stoked you are. Xx

Just to say all 4 are doing very well, growing like weeds--they are 1 week old today and looking a stunning bunch if I say so myself :-)--so happy I haven't even noticed the grey taking over

Only just saw this. So pleased your litter arrived OK and that everything is going OK. what sexes did she have?

Thanks smithy--she has 3 of each--perfect--but the third puppy (a girl), and the sixth (a really beautifully marked boy) were stillborn. I tried to get them going with everything I knew, but they never drew breath. The two boys and two girls who made it are just going from strength to strength and I can go up to visit our two little angels in the garden to remember them.

Oh how sad that you lost two. That is the down side of breeding. I have had 2 stillborn puppies in different litters and it is heartbreaking. I always wonder if I had just tried a little harder could they have been revived but deep down I knowI did the best I could. Lovely that you still have 4 though. Are you keeping them all? Just joking really, but at a week old selling any of them just seems so impossible :)

I just felt numb after they'd gone--I worked on them for 20 minutes, but there was nothing to be done. They won't ever be forgotten though.

The four survivors are doing really well. I will be keeping a bitch--wish I could be greedy, but I can't.

I'm glad to hear that the pups are doing well.  The time goes far too fast really.  Bet you are really enjoying them.  Were you always going to keep a bitch, or, if the well marked boy had lived, would he have been the keeper?

No, the bitch was always the one. I'm lucky to have a choice, and I hope the one I don't keep will also go to a show home. If the boy had lived I would have loved to have him, but it wouldn't be ideal for the 5 I will have, so the best I can do for them is to find them people who will love them as much as I do. Time will tell!

>so the best I can do for them is to find them people who will love them as much as I do.

That is the hardest  thing about breeding.