Loua is on the chopping block...

[Jollymolly]

Well I could not imagine being with out her for 2 months . So I really hope she does not go into a heat cycle.

[Black Labbies]

It happened . After 14 months since her last heat cycle, Loua went into heat today . Her breeder will pick her up on Sunday and take care of her for about 1 week, then she'll come home to us bred and probably pregnant. Poor Loua, she'll miss out on her favorite night of the year when the kids come to 'her' door for Halloween .

Ursa will miss Loua along with us. We might have a chocolate Lab here while Loua is away.

[Black Labbies]

So Loua was away from us for about 36 hours and DANG did we miss her. How are we going to get through this?!?!? As exciting as this should be, we're not .

Breeder checked Loua's blood progesterone level on Monday morning, is it's at baseline, we picked her up on Monday eve. Another check will be on Friday morning (drop off on Thursday eve - so Loua can be home for Halloween) and if it's at the right level, then AI breeding will happen. This handsome boy is Loua's "husband" https://www.skyfirelabs.com/boys/nitro/

[Berna]

Ah well. At least you will have cute little puppies! Loua's husband is a handsome boy! May all go well and may her time away from you pass fast!

[Snowshoe]

Wow, he looks so handsome. Impressive set of clearances. Love his call name, Nitro, from the dynamite.

[Jeff]

That's a big boy, he is as Tall as Hemi was.

[smartrock]

I hope things go smoothly and the time flies for you as much as possible. Nitro is a handsome guy so no doubt the puppies will be extra adorable. Do you think you will want a puppy from Loua, is that part of the deal?

[Black Labbies]

Do you think you will want a puppy from Loua, is that part of the deal?

It is part of the contract, that we get a pick of the litter black girl, but time will tell if we take one. Ursa is still very happy and healthy and with Loua, 2 Labs is enough for us. Besides, our Aliner trailer is small and only holds 2 dogs for the nights when we're camping.

[Black Labbies]

Update, if you're interested.

We dropped off Loua at her breeder's last night.

So we're learning a lot of progesterone levels and ovulation during heat cycles. Loua's baseline level on day 7 of her heat cycle was 0.6nmol/L, today, on day 11, it's 1.8nmol/L. The average intact girl dog (it starts with b and ends with ch) ovulates on days 9-11. To be at peak ovulating, Loua needs to be at, or over 15.0nmol/L. Loua is slow to ovulate, so the breeder wants to keep her at her house for now and will check her level again on Sunday - every other day. We're not too surprised, since Loua is also slow going into regular heat cycles. We sure hope Loua surges that number ASAP so she can come home again!!! Come on Loua, OVULATE!!!

[Black Labbies]

That's a big boy, he is as Tall as Hemi was.

Ya and Loua is short, really short at 20.5". If this breeding takes, most of the puppies will be of "normal" height, unless some take after Loua. BTW, we love short! Our past Labs, Bailey and Opal were also shorties!