The Whelping Box
We usually set up the whelping box about a week before the puppies are due to arrive. Typical gestation for dogs is 63 days, but the normal range for whelping is between 59 and 66 days after breeding.
The first time we used this box was in 1985, when our grand dam setter, Ghost’s Ginger Cahill whelped her first litter. Since then it has held every litter of English Setters born at Kendal Hills.
The whelping box is assembled and thoroughly disinfected with organic, non-toxic cleansers from Lifetime Solutions. We hang a heat lamp 36 inches above the box to keep the pups warm. The box is lined with carpet to provide traction for Grace and her nursing pups.
Grace is spending her days in the puppy room, in the hopes that she will decide to have her babies there. So far, she is not happy with this arrangement, and will most likely have them in her favourite spot – under Tim’s desk.
We will keep you posted!
February 21. Family day.
How appropriate for Grace, given that she is in a family way!
Conditioning is an important part of keeping your pregnant female fit
Grace certainly has fit right in at our house. She loves the cat, much to his dismay as he would prefer to torment her the way he does with Zack!
Grace is getting quite large! We have felt the puppies move and of course now we are wondering how many she will have.
She is at 8 weeks gestation. At this stage, the pups have fur and are crowded in the uterus. We notice a lot of activity as they are beginning to get into position for the coming birth. Grace has begun to demonstrate some ” nesting behaviour”. She has dug a hole in the carpet under Tim’s desk, much to our chagrin. We think she plans to have her babies right under the desk….No that is not going to happen.
This week we will build the Whelping box. It is about 4′ X 4′ and has a bar on the inside of each side to prevent the mother from sqaushing her puppies against the side of the box. Grace will start spending her days down there in the whelping room so she gets used to the space.
Puppy diaries Feb. 9, 2011
Welcome Grace!
Grace's arrival at Kendal Hills Kennels
Grace, (BAM’s Amazing Grace) arrived at Kendal Hills Kennels today. She has been leased by us and bred to Ch. Chip’s Uncle Buzzy. We are expecting beautiful English Setter puppies the first weekend in March.
This is very exciting news. Grace is a 6 year old female bred by us. We are thrilled that her owners, Blake and Irene Mooney have leased us this delightful, talented and beautiful daughter of Meg and Dan for this up-coming litter.
We plan to “blog” about Grace’s progress and about the puppies when they arrive.
Stay tuned for updates and photos.
In this cold dry winter weather, your dogs need extra water to make sure they are well hydrated. Here at Kendal Hills Kennels, we find it helpful to add warm water to the dogs’ food at meal time.
Merry Christmas!
Tim & Frances wish all our English Setter and dog boarding customers a wonderful Christmas.
We are so pleased to be able to have 4 generations of our home bred English setters home for the holidays. Here in the photo are Polly ( Kendal Hills Cosmopolitan). mom Sally ( Kendal Hills Sally Tap-dance), grandma Bonnie ( Kendal Hills Brazil) and great grandma Speckle (Kendal Hills Spectra).
Wishing everyone a healthy and happy 2011!
Cheers from Frances & Tim Tufts
Kendal Hills Kennels
Congratulations to Windsong Horse & Carriage on the purchase of Vanbar Dynamo Kharma, your beautiful Canadian mare.
We usually set up the whelping box about a week before the puppies are due to arrive. Typical gestation for dogs is 63 days, but the normal range for whelping is between 59 and 66 days after breeding. 
