For those of you who are not familiar with whelping boxes, the little shelves that go around the inside - about 3-4 inches high - are called pig rails. Pig rails are small railings that stick out and provide a place for newborn and young puppies to roll to get out of the way of their mom in case she accidently lays on them. Pig rails can often save a puppy’s life and prevent the mother from smothering the puppy accidentally. For Oakley, she's very careful when laying down around them, but she has devised her own use for the pig rails....
Pig Rails
Oakley has various uses for the pig rails. They often give her a head rest when she's sleeping or nursing puppies. When she was whelping the puppies, she would sit on the rail for leverage when pushing. But (pun intended), her one use for the pig rails that I wish she wouldn't do is that she sits on and leans on them during the night. She'll put her whole side on the rail and lean against it - causing a creaking noise on and off all night long. I'd like to think she has no idea how it keeps me awake or how it reminds me of nails on a chalkboard, but I wouldn't blame her for getting even with me for breeding her.
Even though her girlish figure is back - except for the milk, of course - she is subject to nursing six very active puppies, staying inside most of the time - no romping around outside with her human kids and no cat chasing - and frankly, she eats puppy poop and encourages the puppies to pee. So, her life is not so glamorous at the moment. I guess I can't complain too much about creaking noises and her awful breath.
Barking
Well, I have identified the barker. Orange and Green were wrongly accused - it's the girl, River. She has started little yips in her sleep, but she will really BARK (in a puppy pitch, of course) if she gets turned around or if she wants Oakley. There is no question that it is, in fact, a bark. And, it does get Oakley's attention AND mine. She will likely be a talker just like Oakley. I wonder if she will grin like Oakley, too.
New pictures from today... enjoy!