Rhodes Family Goldens

04/12/2024

Puppy Days: Movin’ out and movin’ in with their forever families!

We said goodbye to our final puppy last Saturday. It was a bitter sweet feeling for sure!

Weeks 6-9 with these puppies was a whirlwind of crazy! They suddenly were growing and learning so quickly that we were huffing and puffing just to keep up with them! The mischief and mayhem these pups got into evolved everyday. As soon as we solved one issue they would figure out some new shenanigan. Whether it was escaping their dog pen, running around the house, chewing on bushes and plants, tipping over pots, digging holes, walking through p**p, chewing shoelaces, or trying to eat non-edible objects, the list kept growing and the chaos was multiplied by nine. We loved every minute of it, except for the minutes we didn’t.

As they were growing their little legs needed more room to run and get their energy out and their minds were ready for more exploring. We were so thankful to have a greenhouse outside that was warm and had space for them to run around in. One of the biggest chores was bringing them all outside two or three times a day. Carrying nine puppies up-and-down our stairs was quite the workout.

Once they got the hang of dry kibble they begin eating so much every meal. At the height of their growth with us, before they started going to their new homes, we were feeding them five or 6 cups per meal three times a day! As hungry and excited as they were, table manners were still required. We trained them all to sit before being fed which is quite the group achievement. I’m a little biased but I think these puppies are some of the smartest pups out there.

Another task that was non stop was picking up p**p. If we did not pick up the p**p in time the puppies would often run through it and spread it all over which became a nightmare for cleanup. All of the kids were such big helpers during this process with carrying the puppies or watching for p**p. My daughter Annabelle gets major kudos for all her help picking up after the puppies. After this puppy experience, she’s added veterinarian to her list of possible future interests.

The final and probably most important task was figuring out the best way to find the right families for our puppies. We wanted to make sure the families we found were ready to care for a puppy and also understood their value. We made our own website, as well as posted on a few different puppy websites. It took a few weeks to find the right homes but, after we weeded out a lot of potential owners, we found each of them great families. Each of the puppies went to a great home and will have a wonderful life.

After getting them vet checked and vaccinated, puppy pick up days started rolling in. It was always bittersweet to see them leave but the kids were very supportive and we were all a little relieved to have less p**p to pick up. It was also really nice to see the puppies getting the one on one attention they so deserved.

Having these little pups in our home and in our family for the last 2 1/2 months was such a wonderful family experience. 💜 As much as we’ll miss them, they are going to bless some great families and homes and be loved and nurtured.

Now that we are out of the weeds, I have time to sort through our videos and pictures. I will continue to post on this page as I get up

03/18/2024

Congratulations Dug! We said goodbye to him this last Saturday. It’s tough seeing these little guys and gals leave, but I’m so excited for them and their new families

03/15/2024

We said goodbye to our first Little pup today! Congratulations Rolly on finding your new home and family 💛

03/08/2024

Pups first time exploring the yard. And… more napping and puppy snuggles. 🥰

03/07/2024

Six weeks old!! Puppies are getting their exercise and socializing in the green house today at puppy preschool. Puppies and toddlers, can’t get much cuter!

03/05/2024

Our puppy website is up and running! If you or anyone you know is Interested in bringing a puppy home you can get more information here.

03/02/2024

03/02/2024

Snoozing in the greenhouse while we pot up some strawberries 🍓

02/29/2024

Puppy Days: Where oh where have my Little puppies gone???
5 weeks old now, and in the last three weeks our little pups have really taken off! They are learning so much!
During week three of their life their teeth came in, they started barking properly, and they were introduced to their first toys. They’re also learning new skills like climbing so we had to raise the door of their box so they wouldn’t climb out. They also grew enough to eat from Lola while she was standing which is a big win for the pups. Chasing their dinner around, but not being able to reach it was quite the struggle.

Speaking of dinner, during week four and five, the puppies finally got their taste of real food! We started them out by feeding them puppy mush for the first few days before introducing hard kibble. They lapped it up! Literally.

Along with eating real food came p**ping real p**ps. The box was getting messier so we had to introduce a potty in the box. I am so proud of how well these puppies learned to use their bathroom! It only took them a couple days to use it consistently. I guess they like a clean box as much as I do!

Their milk teeth (which is the name we give new puppy teeth) have really grown in! They are now doing a lot of puppy bites which can sometimes really hurt! With great power comes great responsibility! We are working hard to train them not to bite human flesh which, they seem to have developed a taste for.

The puppies running and playing has also leveled up during week 4 and 5. They are jumping and chasing each other all over. And are starting to use their words to let each other know when they play a little too hard.

Lola is doing great. She is back to her routine of daily walks and her food intake and milk production are slowing down. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks she’ll have weaned the puppies all the way.

We are excited to see what week 6 brings with these puppies!

02/08/2024

Eyes and ears open! So much to explore for these two week old pups!

15 days old, eyes and ears opening up, these pups are exploring a whole new world!

02/08/2024

Puppy Days: Time flies when you're having fun!
The days are flying by here at the Rhodes house and the puppies aren't wasting a single second of it. Our little pups are starting to show more and more of their personalities and I'm sure we'll come up with a nickname for each of them while they're with us. For now, we mainly call them by the color of their collars.

The puppies spend the day snoozing, snuggling, and eating. During their first week, we weighed the puppies twice a day using grams because every little bit counted. On week two, once they started gaining more consistently, we weighed them once a day.

Well, those little sleepers took their eating very seriously! Already they have almost tripled their birth weights! Listed from oldest to youngest here they are!
Name -- Day 1 -- Day 14
Red -- 1.02lbs -- 2.87lbs
Purple -- .85lbs -- 2.74lbs
Blue -- .85lbs --2.45lbs
Yellow -- .91lbs -- 2.65lbs
Aqua -- .86lb -- 2.74lbs
Orange-- .95lbs-- 2.73lbs
Black -- .93lbs-- 2.77lbs
White -- 1.01lb -- 2.68lbs
Brown -- .94lbs-- 2.88lbs

They Puppies weren't the only ones sleeping on and off through the day and night. Lola, Ben and I had a rough first several nights taking care of these littles. And it wasn't just the puppies who had needs. It also took Lola quite a while to get her digestion back to normal after giving birth. Fun fact: if allowed to, dogs will eat all of the placentas and afterbirths from each pup! Yum...?

Now, on week two, we are looking forward so some more exciting milestones! Up until the last couple of days the puppies could not see or hear. They also don't have any teeth (thankfully for Lola). Now that they are two weeks many of their eyes have opened and they're starting to hear as well. Their baby teeth or "milk teeth" will come in around 3-4 weeks of age. All the Puppies have received their first mani/pedis AND they all graduated into their "big pup" collars which they'll where at least for the next several weeks. I'll keep the updates coming!

02/01/2024

Puppy Days: Let the Games Begin!
Did you know puppies only take 63 days to mature inside their momma before they're ready for the world? That is a very short amount of time to grow 6-12 pups! But with so many little kickers moving around in her tummy it's no wonder they're born so soon.

Lola's pregancy went well and very quickly! She did a lot of eating and sleeping but also made sure to get us out on a walk everyday. Very thoughtful of her.

I had expected Lola to go into labor during the night but she had her own timeline. Leading up to B-day, Ben and I were watching closely for any signs that puppies might be on the way. On January 23rd, Lola finally stopped eating and dropped a few degrees in her temperature, both signs labor is starting soon. We kept an eye on her through the night with little evidence of any puppies on the way. Day 63 finally came and much to our surprise and delight so did the puppies!

The morning of January 24th was in a word, chaos. We were doing the normal pre-school scramble, trying to get all the kids ready for school and out the door. This particular morning came with a side of Lola franticly looking for a place to "nest". Her pre-labor signs had really kicked into gear and we guessed she only had a few hours before actual labor would start. Between the two of us, we were able to get the kids ready and Lola settled in her whelping box.

Part of what I've loved about this experience is how much Ben and I have worked as a team to accomplish so many things! One of these accomplishments is Lola's whelping box. For those not familiar with this term this is the area where Lola gave birth and where she and the puppies will spend the next three to four weeks. After researching different types of boxes we decided to try and build our own. I'm not the most handy at building things but I know my way around a screwdriver and drill. Some of the design came from what we've seen others do, but we took much creative liberty in the materials and design aspects. Anyway, enough about that. Back to the puppies!!

With Lola in place and Ben/kids heading out the door, I thought Lola and I would relax for a bit. NOPE!! Within minutes of them leaving Lola started having contractions. And within minutes after that the first puppy started to make his debut. On our own now, Lola and I gritted our teeth and got to work. Well, mainly Lola, I just made sure my camera was on.

This first puppy took an unexpected amount of time and had me a bit scared. Lola really had to work to get him out. And it's no wonder why! First, but certainly not least, came "Big Red" as we affectionately call him. He was, and still is, quite a bit bigger than his pack mates.

After the excitement of "big red", Ben came back to help with the rest. Lola pushed out puppy after puppy with little more than 10 to 30 minutes between each pup. She did amazing! We were prepared for any unexpected emergencies but thankfully everything went smoothly. To our surprise, we ended the morning with 9 healthy, cute puppies and a very tired mom. Lola was pretty tired too ;)

02/01/2024

Puppy Days: Introduction
One of the most common questions I've received since breeding Lola has been "Did you plan for her to have puppies?". Well, Yes. Yes, we did! Here's our story:

All last year we worked hard preparing Lola and ourselves in the hopes of welcoming some little Goldens into the world. After many, many vet appointments, lab tests, clearances, registrations, research, and waiting we were finally ready to put "Plan Puppies" into action.

A little about Lola:

She comes from a long line of strong hunting and kind family dogs. We had to travel about 5 hours to pick her up. She’s sweet, loving, and wants to be involved in whatever the family is up to, whether that’s four wheeling, bird hunting, camping, climbing ladders, or swimming. Lola has a great sense for adventure and fun. She’s also a very quick learner and easily trained, especially when it involves getting a treat. ;)

When choosing a stud dog, we weren't asking for much. We just wanted the best, healthiest, most handsome Golden Retriever out there with two good hips. That's all.

After much scrolling and sifting through all the options we tossed out the rejects and BAM!!! "Sir Oakley the Great and Handsome" (his legal name), Oakley for short, was chosen. A match made in heaven. Aside from his stunning good looks and long flowing white locks, Oakley comes from a long line of European champion showdogs, all with great hips :) Oakley’s health and winning smile complimented Lola well.

Oakley was a right gentleman and after a few dates and 63, days… puppy day was finally here! We’re now excited to lovingly raise them in our home as part of our family, helping these little cuties learn, grow, and find the best families for them. More puppy posts to come!

For more detailed health information on Lola and Oakley follow the links in the comments.