Yarrowfell Dalmatians

Maggies Puppies

Maggie with the puppies - 2 days old

On Tuesday 28 October 2003 Maggie, Yarrowfell Youre On Next ET, went into labour and delivered 8 puppies. The sire of the litter was Raine, Aust Ch Lukius Draco Malfoy ET, owned by Ms Rebecca Woiwade.

17 November - three weeks of age

Click here for pictures of each of the puppies as they have grown up:

25 December 2003, the puppies first Christmas
29 November 2003
19 November 2003, the first time the puppies tried baby cereal
17 November 2003, weigh in for the puppies
10 November 2003
30 October 2003

The times and weights of the puppies are:

							BAER test result
Number	Time	Weight at birth	Sex	Colour	Name	Comments	Left	Right	Official Name
1.	0800	10 oz	Male	Tweed	Donegal		Normal	Normal	Fyre Chief
2.	0815	11.5 oz	Female	Pink	Barbie		Normal	Normal	Fyredancer
3.	0900	10.5 oz	Male	Blue	Royal		Normal	Normal	Fyrecracker
4.	0915	9 oz	Male	Black	Panther		Normal	Normal	Fire Mission
5.	1000	8.75 oz	Male	Brown	Russet		Normal	Normal	Fyre Fighter
6.	1050	11.5 oz	Female	Red	Flame		Normal	Normal	Fyrebird
7.	1200	10 oz	Male	Yellow	Jensen		Normal	Normal	Fyre N Forget
8.	1425	12 oz	Male	Green	Brooklands		Normal	Normal	Fyrebrand

17 November was a big milestone: the first two puppies managed to clamber out of the box

The names come from a piece of coloured wool we tie around the neck of each puppy at birth. This allows us to keep track of the growth and development of each pup until they get their spots (Dalmatians are born covered in white hair only). This method of naming puppies has led to some interesting adult names - the mother of this litter is called Maggie because she had magenta wool around her neck from birth, while the grandmother is called Gold and the great-grandmother was called Lilac.

Helping Mum finish off her lunch (24 November)

We have a policy of testing all our breeding stock and every puppy from every litter for deafness using the BAER hearing test. Click here for a page with detailed information on BAER testing and why we do it. The puppies are tested after they have been microchipped for identification. This ensures that the results of the test can be unequivocally linked to the relevant puppy. An example of the certificate issued to each puppy is shown on the left - copies of the actual certificates are available on request. We publish the results of all our testing hoping to encourage other breeders to do likewise. If you are buying a puppy from a breeder and they are not BAER testing the puppies, ask why not? The test is now inexpensive and available in three states in Australia, and does not harm the puppy if conducted correctly. Some breeders will argue that their puppies have been home tested - remember this is unreliable and will not diagnose puppies that are unilaterally deaf.

5 November - 8 days old

We maintain a waiting list of prospective owners of puppies (some people have been on it for two years), and all new owners are extensively "vetted" before we let them have one of the pups. This involves, at the very least, visiting our farm prior to the birth to see the fully grown dogs, discussions on what to expect from a Dalmatian and how to train them, and a commitment to undertake basic obedience while the puppy is growing up. As someone once said who went through this process "It's like trying to adopt a child getting a puppy out of you!".

This is a pedigree for each of the puppies in the litter:

Ch Lukius Draco Malfoy ET
9100003902

Grand Ch Belnova Sovereign King (L)

Ch Wongabeena Prince Lockett (L)

Strathrose Call Me Madam

Yarrowfell Whirlwind ET
2100023145

Yarrowfell Sorcerer ET
N1481559

Ch Yarrowfell Romancer CD AD ET
N1393390

Yarrowfell Youre On Next ET
2100078404

Trailblazer Mr Chips
N1331649

Ch Bravissimo of Washakie [R02] (Imp UK)
R2118201