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Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Wednesday, January 19, 2005 - 11:45 pm
Oh Jen.. I'm shedding tears here. I had to go it alone for my three labs when it was their time and it really IS so so difficult. You have a gem in MrHavens and your sweet Corky has a fitting resting place and tribute from his beloved humans. Spy, those tears from Fly do indeed bode well for the future. And Herk.. same for Ed.. it takes a good and confident man to be able to express those emotions. And to all who posted your sweet pups and dogs.. they are all adorable.. Silly, clearly a beagle!
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Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 12:03 am
Jen, any chance that you would consider coming to meet us in Fort Worth?? See the Texas thread in Getting to know you/caring place.. People will be there starting Thursday 3 Feb thru morning/noon of Saturday 5 Feb.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 1:26 am
Spy, remember one of the reasons we liked him was cuz he loved your pups. We knew then he was a keeper. Jen, I am so sorry for yours and your husbands loss. What a lucky dog Corky was to be so loved. Our pups are our family. They become such a big part of our lives and need us so much it's impossible not to think of them like that. I am glad to hear he has a nice place to rest, and that he'll always be close to his family.
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Goddessatlaw
Member
07-19-2002
| Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 6:04 am
Oh goodness, Jen - more tears. I just went back to all the grief of my kitty, Julio's, death this summer. It also reminds me of when our little Buddy died a few years back - my two grown brothers and my Dad, all military men, spent hours digging a grave in the frozen ground and stood around it crying while they buried this sweet little puppy. It is so hard, and yes they are like another child in the house. Corky was well loved, and he returned in share - isn't this what we all wish of our lives? It sounds like you and your husband have alot of love to spare, and some new puppy will be the very lucky beneficiary of this. But Corky will always have a special place in your home, and some days his absence will seem overwhelming. I'm sure it will be a comfort to have him so close though - hell, we still go out in the backyard to pour potato soup over Buckwheat's grave every Christmas - and she died in 1987. Little scavenger loved to go through the garbage. We didn't like it at the time, but we celebrate it now. Hugs to you, Mr. Jenhavins and sweet little Corky. You are very lucky to have such a warm and loving home and I'm sure Corky knew every day how much he was loved.
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Pcakes2
Member
08-29-2001
| Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 7:13 am
(((Jen)))
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Sillycalimomma
Member
11-13-2003
| Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 8:26 am
Jen-I hope I didn't seem rude just posting my pic and not mentioning anything about your loss....I actually didn't read any previous post before I posted mine....now I feel bad :-( I had a pekingese growing up who was my best friend as. A friend of ours bred them and Cooper was a runt who they could not sell......we took him in the very day they had thought of ending his life. He needed constant care and was bottle fed for a long time, but he lived with us for many years. We loved him dearly-they are such caring and loving dogs. They truly become just one of the family. I am very sorry for your families loss.....take time to grieve and even though there is an emptiness try not to jump into getting another dog right away....we made that mistake and after an hour of having him home we had to return him-far too emotional at the time. Anyways...sorry for just jumping in with a cheery post and not acknowledging your loss. I am usually not like that 
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 9:17 am
Thought you'd all enjoy reading about a happy ending. This (click on the link) happened in my old home state of Delaware: Holly Saved
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Jenhavins
Member
08-23-2000
| Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 9:47 am
Herckle, those are wonderful memories to have! I remember Corky sitting upright on his rear, swaying like he was in a heavy wind, balancing for 10-15 minutes, waiting for popcorn! The good things make me smile. I would have been sitting right beside your Ed sobbing if I had to go get a shovel. Both of our eyes were swollen Monday morning, even after I put Mrhavins through a battery of facial treatments on Sunday Evening! Spy, I am so happy for you and your man. I have been reading up in the wedding planning section, but I just lurk most of the time. It is wonderful that he has such a big heart. That is a great selling point too. If he loves your pups, then he is s keeper!!!! I work with a woman that if one of her pets has hip dysplacia (sp) or another type of ailment, her hubby just takes it in the back and shoots it! I freaked me completely out! But he's an avid hunter and I guess if you can gut a deer, you can kill your pet. I know that not all men (and women) are that cold, I just find it fascinating that they have it in them. I am a wuss I guess. Sillycali, your Buddy is a rascal! That picture says it all! I just love the pictures in this room. How old is Buddy? He looks like he still has some puppy in him! I love when people post pics of their dogs. I didn't mean to hog the folder~I was just feeling sad and decided to post after a long long time of lurking. I am so glad you had a great experience with Cooper. Corky was a runt too, but he grew up to be such a loving companion. We had a great life experience with this dog. ((((Pcakes2)))) right back atcha hun! Sea...Thank you so much for your kind words. I wouldn't be able to come to Ft. Worth until Saturday morning on the 5th, but I will check out the folder. If not, hopefully there will be another get-together. I would love to meeting everyone. Gracie has mentioned it to me a couple of times (get togethers), but it was last minute and I had prior commitments. War, I have missed talking to you! Thank you for reading my story. It was such a difficult thing for me to write, but it has been the best therapy for me. With no children in the house (not yet, but keep fingers crossed), Corky was like a child to me. I had a purpose to rush home in the evenings. Goddess, I am so sorry for your loss of Julio! They somehow become a part of you and it is so difficult when they're gone. My hubby was military too, and it was such a warm feeling to know he cared about Corky as much as I did. You have given me a great idea! I will have to scatter popcorn over Corky at Christmastime. It was his favorite treat! (Not so good for the gums as my Vet will tell you!) Thank you for your kind words. This entire process has made me feel so much better!
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Jenhavins
Member
08-23-2000
| Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 10:02 am
What a scary but wonderful story. Thanks for sharing. I doubt a human could have withstood that for 30 minutes.
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Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 11:04 am
Jen if you were up for a fairly early start for you, I'm sure you could have some great TVCH company for breakfast!! and of course you'd get a quackle if you wanted one 
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Kstme
Member
08-14-2000
| Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 7:07 pm
The AKC 2004 Breed Statistics are out. The Sussex Spaniel is now 151 out of 154 breeds. Last year the Sussex was 137th. Only 45 dogs were registered this last year. In this breed, there aren't 'backyard' breeders...too few and everyone knows who has what, so our Little Brown Dogs just aren't doing so well. There were many failed breedings, fetuses that were absorbed and pups who didn't make it through those first two critical weeks after birth. The UK and other countries didn't fair much better. Let's keep our fingers crossed for a better 2005. It would seem impossible to think this breed could die out, but it could.
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Thursday, January 20, 2005 - 11:13 pm
What does it mean to ABSORB a fetus?
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Whoami
Member
08-03-2001
| Friday, January 21, 2005 - 12:03 am
Some recent pics of Bomba. Here he is with a healing boo-boo on his nose. He got it in the process of letting us know in no uncertain terms that the dry food he was getting was stale and unacceptable. He dumped it out of his bowl, and made his nose raw by scraping it along the carpet as he attempted to push the pile of dog food over towards the heating vent. I think he would have pushed it down the vent if the slats in the grate had been big enough. He has a fresh and new brand of dog food now.
And here he is having a midnight snack of Grandma. OK, seriously. When she pats his head a certain way, he reaches over, grabs her arm (very gently) and guides it down to his belly where the hand/arm can do what they were made for. Belly rubs.
And here he is with the infamous and beloved Yellow Bear....

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Kstme
Member
08-14-2000
| Friday, January 21, 2005 - 8:35 am
Eeyor...Yes. This happens between the 25th and 30th weeks. A scan is usually performed at 28 weeks and will usually show a hard, dark mass. The puppies are never born and there is no discharge. The mother just absorbs the fetuses back into her system. Who...What a DOLL!!
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Friday, January 21, 2005 - 8:56 am
Hahahaha! Great picture of Bomba and Yellow Bear, Whoami!
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Friday, January 21, 2005 - 8:59 am

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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Friday, January 21, 2005 - 9:03 am
Kstme, 25-30 weeks? Perhaps you meant 'days'
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Kstme
Member
08-14-2000
| Friday, January 21, 2005 - 11:20 am
LOL...OG...You're right!!! I know better than to type or think BEFORE that first cup of coffee!!! Thank you!!!! Oh Julie, that's a wonderful pic!!
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Eeyoreslament
Member
07-20-2003
| Friday, January 21, 2005 - 11:45 am
Wow! What's the deal with them being absorbed? It that specific to your breed? Is that like a miscarriage?
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Kstme
Member
08-14-2000
| Friday, January 21, 2005 - 12:53 pm
Eeyor, there are a couple of other breeds that have this problem, but it's most common in Sussex. And, yes, it is like a miscarriage, but without expelling the fetus. This problem has happen with both of our breeders, so it isn't happening to 'just' the dogs in the US or 'just' the dogs in UK. One of the main reasons Sussex don't live past those first few weeks is called 'Fading Puppy Syndrome.' It's very much like SIDS. No one is sure what causes it, but the lungs fill up with liquid and the puppy 'fades' away. This happens in other breeds, as well, but again, is more prevalent in the Sussex. Sussex, like Basset Hounds, tend to accidentally sit on and smother their babies, also. It is VERY rare for a breeder to have a litter without losing, at least, one out of 3. More puppies, more losses. That being said, there is always the exception. A friend in England has had 3 litters with over 10 living puppies. She broke the record with 14 and only one death. She had 13 in the last litter her b!tch produced without a single loss!!! That, as I said, is the exception in every way!!!! When we begin our breeding program, we will have been back into this breed for just over five years. Every day is a learning experience and since Thekid will be the primary caregiver/owner of our new b!tch and stud, it is important to know as much as she can about most of the pitfalls. There are always surprises, though. Now that everyone knows more than they ever cared to know...I'll go back to my coffee...
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Ophiliasgrandma
Member
09-04-2001
| Friday, January 21, 2005 - 4:07 pm
Horses will absorb their fetuses also.
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Jenhavins
Member
08-23-2000
| Friday, January 21, 2005 - 8:21 pm
Great pics of Bomba!!! And cute pic Julieboo! Are those your babies?
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Friday, January 21, 2005 - 9:22 pm
Dang, Julieboo, you got the knack! You do have an eye for a picture. Another great composition.
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Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Friday, January 21, 2005 - 9:43 pm
I think fetuses can be absorbed in any mammal, including human beings. If the moms are clumsy.. hmm well some people would say that may not be the mom you should be breeding over and over, but if you have one who seems to have better instincts AND is a good specimin of the breed.. go with that one. And of course you want a whelping box with a very good "pig rail" or ledge so that if the mom lets pups get behind her the rail will be at a height to keep her back from the flat side of the box and allow the pup to fit under the railing and be safe.. We had boxes with ledges and we had a small lilght over the box and one of us would sleep in the same room and we tended to count little noses really often.. especially after a C-section since the mom may not be able to react to the little ones. Actually for a C, we'd have the pups in a box with a heating pad and then bring them to mom really often for cleaning and feeding, when she could handle that. We also, with large litters, or if the mom couldn't nurse them for some reason (some reason the vet said they shouldn't nurse) we'd supplement with tube feeding, which is magnitudes better than bottle feeding in terms of speed and ease and lack of gas.. Puppies can be tons of work, even with breeds like labs who are usually easy whelpers (but they can get uterine torsions and require c-sections..) Kstme.. I'd recommend, if you can arrange it wit some breeder, that Thekid is allowed to observe, then assist at some whelpings prior to starting with yours.. my ex and I were so fortunate that we hooked up with some lab breeders.. we bought our first labs from them and while the dogs themselves didn't turn out for breeding or showing, what these people shared with us was invaluable.. they invited us, several times, to be present at whelpings (Labs being very gracious about sharing that experience with people) and they got us right into things like drying off pups, how to "get a pup going" if it didn't breathe immediately, how to clear the lungs, how to keep a chart as each pup was born and keep track of which was which, ways to get the mom going to have the next pup (if a puppy nurses that causes the uterus to contract some more), how to tell if progress wasn't being made, and so much more!! By the time our first b!tch had a litter, we were pretty prepared.. It is pretty amazing to help bring those little slugs into the world.
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Seamonkey
Member
09-07-2000
| Friday, January 21, 2005 - 9:44 pm
Julie, great picture! Who.. that is a riot.. Bomba and his yellow bear!! He looks like he's telling the world not to mess with his bear!
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