"Just A Dog" By Richard Biby

Enjoy,

From time to time people tell me, "Lighten up, it's just a dog,"
or, "That's a lot of money for just a dog." They don't understand the
distance traveled, time spent, or costs involved for "Just a Dog".
Some of my proudest moments have come about with "Just a Dog".
Many hours have passed with my only company being "Just a Dog",
and not once have I felt slighted. Some of my saddest moments
were brought about by "Just a Dog". In those days of darkness,
the gentle touch of "Just a Dog" provided comfort and purpose
to overcome the day.

If you, too, think its "Just a Dog", you will probably understand
phrases like "Just a friend", "Just a Sunrise", or "Just a Promise".
"Just a Dog" brings into my life the very essence of friendship,
trust, and pure unbridled joy. "Just a Dog" brings out the
compassion and patience that makes me a better person. Because
of "Just a Dog" I will rise early, take long walks and look longingly
to the future.

For me and folks like me, it's not "Just a Dog". It's an embodiment
of all the hopes and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the
past, and the pure joy of the moment. "Just a Dog" brings out what's
good in me and diverts my thoughts away from myself and the worries
of the day.

I hope that someday people can understand it's not "Just a Dog". It's
the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being "Just a
man or woman". So the next time you hear the phrase "Just a Dog",
smile, because they "Just Don't Understand."

Richard Biby - Oklahoma

5 Days and Growing Fast

Squeak

Bear and Razzle

Gummi Bear aka Bear - he's the heaviest pup at the moment.


Sleeping - it's what we do best right now!


Lemon Drop perched on top of Mom in order to eat while she's on her back!


Quick Everybody - protect the little guy! Lemon Drop's in the middle.


Paloma and Squeak cuddle.



Patriot and Paloma - she likes all her brothers!

Marley at Day 4 Post Whelp

Marley on the couch having some alone time with Lemon Drop (yellow).


Squeak (because that's what he was doing when I found him) cuddling his Mom.

Belly up to the milk bar - it's time to eat! Pictured are Patriot, Paloma, Lemon Drop and Razzle.

Marley in her den.


Being a good mom and cleaning up after Patriot. He was found barely breathing under my desk and Bree brought him back to life. Needless to say, she has a special bond to him.

Pups At Day Three

The puppies are doing well today - they are all gaining weight and motoring around the whelping box. They went to the vet yesterday evening to have their tails and dews done. A controversial procedure but one we do to lessen the odds of having an injury (tail wounds are very difficult to heal) and to meet the AKC Breed Standard. All in all, the pups did very well. Marley had her post-whelp exam and came through that with flying colors! She has plenty of milk and with a little diligence on my part, everyone should eventually catch up weightwise.

I hope you enjoy the pictures I took this afternoon. Red and Yellow (Lemon Drop) seem to be great buddies. No wonder, Yellow was born right after Red. I'm going to try to give all the pups candy names but I'm going to need to be creative. I just don't know many candies!
Oh, no worries. The names I give them are not the ones you will eventually be calling them.






Take care ~ Audrey and Marley

Puppies

Here is Marley and the pups when they were just born.

The second picture is of the pups when they are 24 hours old.

More to come . . . . . . . Audrey and Marley

The Sweetest Day!

We have puppies! Marley started the party without me and I feel badly for not being here at the beginning. We came home from breakfast to two pups already born - green and orange. I took her temperature before we left and figured I had a little bit of time - it was only 98.0. I really thought we had a few hours before anything started - Oh, boy!

We figure the puppies began arriving shortly before we got home at noon. The the last one, a girl, came at 2:25pm. Anyway, she has 5 boys and 1 girl. I was pulling for girls but it was not to be. I know most of you wanted girls so I will ask you to consider a boy if you are still interested in a Marley/Kirby puppy. Boys are sweet in their own ways and can be very tuned in with their owners, emotionally. Some people would say boys are easier than girls. Guess I'm going to find out! :)

So, we'd been talking about how neat it would be if Marley would have her pups on the Sweetest Day but didn't expect it, obviously! She's such a good girl and has pleased Mom one more time!

I'll post pictures soon - I just wanted to get the word out!

Take care - Audrey and Marley

Marley at 8 Weeks

I'm not quite sure why her ears are down, maybe she didn't want to pose for this picture! Hannah is totally bored - she is sleeping in the background. Could be that she was just tuckered out from having her teeth cleaned.

Anyway, here is Marley at 8 weeks. As you can see, her shape has definitely changed since last week. We went to the vet on Monday for an x-ray and the count is 5, maybe 6 pups. Her milk is already coming in so she could go any time.

No worries, I'll keep you posted.

Take care - Audrey and Marley