The Autumnal Equinox, Pumpkin Spice, and Puppies

October 14, 2024

It is officially Fall.  On September 22, the world experienced a moment of celestial synchrony as the Earth struck a pose of neutrality and equality for a few hours.  All of humanity was granted the same amount of daylight and darkness as neither the northern or southern hemispheres were tilted toward or away from the sun.  And most of humanity was not aware of this special phenomenon that predictably happens twice a year: the Equinoxes.  The day came and went, and I was too busy to pause and ponder this foreseeable, unfailing miracle of a tilted Earth in its annual orbit around the sun.  The seasons change. The sun rises and sets every day without fail, and I always take it for granted.  

What I have begrudgingly noticed is that it is dark when I’m feeding the dogs and horses.  I wear a headlamp in the morning and in the evening now.  Our animals provide more obvious clues to the changing seasons.  With decreasing daylight comes increasing hair growth.  The dogs and the horses are adding “fluff” as the nights are cooler and longer.  

And we are anticipating two litters of puppies!  Emma and Ollie are due this week, October 17.  The vet thinks she saw five or six puppies in Emma’s ultrasound.  At the moment, the pick list is full with six in line, but we hope Emma may have seven or eight pups. We will open the pick list if there are more puppies.  

Mini Aussiedoodle Puppies Arriving Soon

Help us name our litter of  Standard Golden Doodle F1b arriving around October 31, 2024

Raven and Mack are expecting their first litter of Standard F1b Goldendoodles on October 31.  A Halloween litter could be very fun naming! I think of names like “Boo, Shadow, Jinx, Echo, and Magic.”  Genetic testing reveals the potential for a very colorful bunch.  Mack is a Tri-Color Phantom Parti Poodle and Raven is a black F1 Goldendoodle. Both dogs have OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) clearances for hips, elbows, patellas, and cardiac.  The results of their health testing can be found on our website. To add to the great genetics, they are both strikingly beautiful dogs with great temperaments. 

Mack and Raven First Time Mom and Dad

 Mack and Raven are big dogs (55 and 60 pounds) and I happen to be partial to big dogs.  Big dogs seem to bark less, are easier to potty train, and are generally more good natured.  But, in our experience, the mini doodles are more popular.  The smaller dogs are more portable, adapt easily to apartment living, and eat less.  I understand and appreciate all of those things about small dogs.  I still adore big dogs.  I find a dog’s attention span is commensurate with its size.  That makes big dogs easier to train overall.  Big dogs aren’t tripping hazards like a small dog, (however, a big dog can knock you off your feet when they body slam the back of your knees!) Thank goodness that they are easily trained since they will learn your rules, boundaries, and limitations (such as no body slamming) early.  

So the waiting begins.  I have begun taking Emma’s temperature twice a day to watch for a sudden drop which means labor will likely happen within 6-12 hours.  She will have a daily bath after the pups are born.  Raven is faithfully eating her prenatal vitamins and is still very active.  Both dogs are enjoying puppy chow topped with cooked chicken and carrots, beef stew, or broth.  We joke that all of the females enjoy their status as “Queen Bitch” for a few months.  

Tonight is chilly and overcast.  Emma with her swollen belly is snuggling next to me as I type,  I enjoy the “whelping watch” when the weather is cooler and nights are longer.  As we tilt farther from the sun, I lean into the comfort of warm food, family movie nights, and Pumpkin Spice coffee with my husband.  I love long nights with squeaking, chirping, purring pups and a content nursing mama.  Each day is determined by anticipated patterns and routines.  We clean pups, feed mamas, bathe mamas, feed again. Puppies grow quickly and reach milestones as certain as sunrises, sunsets, moon phases, and seasons.  With every litter we are immersed in the beautifully predictable, miraculous rhythm of life. 

For more information on upcoming litters, please visit doodlepatchfarm.com

Located in South West Ohio in the country near Dayton and within an easy drive from Columbus, Cincinnati, Indianapolis. For others we have delivery nanny options.