The Inspiration

The names for this litter, born during the "Polar Vortex" are inspired by winter storms, snow or places that are cold.

 Sochi - Male 

Born January 23, 2014 at 1:46 a.m.

• 13.7 oz.
• Black wavy with white from chin to belly and white gloves front, white tips on toes back
  
• Sochi - host city of the 2014 Winter Olympics
  

 Sochi - 1 week old

North - Male 

Born January 23, 2014 at 3:43 a.m.

• 13.8 oz.
• Black curly with white head, black mask around eyes and ears
• North - cold place
  

North - 1 week old

Nevada - Male

Born January 23, 2014 at 5:00 a.m.

• 14.2 oz.
• White curly with black spot on head, black sweater, shorts and various other random black markings
  
• Nevada - Spanish meaning covered with snow
  

Nevadai - 1 week old

Rin - Female 

Born January 23, 2014 at 5:55 a.m.

• 13.7 oz.
• Black curly with white around mouth, chest, white front mitts and white rear toes.
• Rin - Japanese meaning cold
  

Rin - 1 week old

Denali - Male 

Born January 23, 2014 at 6:50 a.m.

• 14.9 oz.
• Black curly with tiny white moustache, neck, bib and line above belly ... identified with a yellow collar to differentiate between other similarly marked siblings
• Denali - Snow covered mountain in Alaska
  

Denali - 1 week old 

Neiva - Female 

Born January 23, 2014 at 8:10 a.m.

• 12.7 oz.
• Black wavy with long white gloves, white belly and white on back feet 
• Neiva - Spanish meaning snow covered
  

Neiva - 1 week old

Storm - Male 

Born January 23, 2014 at 8:45 a.m.

• 13.5 oz.
• Black curly with white toes on all 4 feet, white nose, chin, bib/chest ... identified with an orange collar to differentiate from similarly marked siblings
• Storm - Weather during the birth of the puppies
  

Stormi - 1 week old

Winter - Male 

Born January 23, 2014 at 9:15 a.m.

• 12.4 oz.
• Black curly with white toes on all 4 feet, white nose, chin, bib/chest ... identified with a red collar to differentiate from similarly marked siblings
• Winter - The coldest one in recent memory
  

Winter - 1 week old

Tundra- Male 

Born January 23, 2014 at 10:15 a.m.

• 13.5 oz.
• Black curly with white mitt front right, white toes on back feet and white line with zig zag the length of the tummy ... identified with a white collar to differentiate from similarly marked siblings
• Tundra - Cold arctic region
  

Tundra - 1 week old

The Experience

Zoe's due date was January 22nd.  Like clockwork her temperature dropped to 99.6(normal is 100.3-100.5) at noon on the 22nd indicating the onset of early labour.  By 5:00 p.m. she could be found under the desk in our den nesting in her bed.

At 7:00 we decided to go have a nap and rest up while we could.  Zoe was very relaxed.

We got up again shortly after 9 and went back to bed at 11 p.m. and Zoe rested comfortably once again.  At 1:15 a.m. she gently barked so taking this as a sign I got up and took her downstairs to her whelping box.  She jumped right in and began to get herself organized. 

At 1:45 Zoe's water broke and about 30 seconds later she delivered her first born.

It would be 2 hours later before her second puppy was born and everything continued along at a leisurely pace until all puppies were born at 10:15 a.m..

All went extremely well with no drama or delivery issues.  There were a few retained placentas which passed on their own within 12 hours of the final delivery.  No additional Oxytocin required as all puppies were latched on tightly creating enough natural Oxytocin on its own.

Zoe's milk came in nicely the following day and all puppies began to gain and continued to gain weight with ease.

Thanks so much to Mike for being there as always and taking such good care of the puppies and I.