CHECKED!!! Applause Paws …3/10/16
Written by Pam on March 3, 2016
At HGT we try our very best to capture every detail before we breed our magnificent creatures. (You should see the charts and graphs!) We not only capture the details but we want to share the results of these tests with all our HGT families as we know our dogs are true family members and there is advanced planning that needs to happen – even at this very early stage.
In this blog you will read about this breeding experience and my journaling of the chronological events for our two HGT sisters: Ty and Kiss… and their mom, Koko.
3/10/16: Now we start to count the days. Within a months time, we will have ultrasounds done to determine viable pregnancies and to see if our dogs conceived. A decision was made for Koko. We are taking her out of early retirement for one more litter. We are still at the progesterone stage with Koko, but this pairing will be HomeGrown Trilogy’s Koko Kawaii Hito + Zinfandel’s Marker Mark or Marcus. We made the decision to wait on Kissakee and to not breed her this time – she is young – she is a smaller lab so I need to make sure I have the right sire for her. Marcus is magnificent but he is a larger sire so I think the pairing of Koko and Marcus will be just right. Their genetic results complement each other – so all these numbers have been evaluated as well. Let’s truly hope for the best for Koko and for her daughter Ty. I am so very proud of all our girls. They showed me that you can take them anywhere for anything and they will …hit their marks! I am very hopeful.
3/9/16: I think today was the day. See the pictures I have included in this blog –
This photo was taken as we looked under the microscope – I get to see every detail before we inseminate. All the white you see are very active – perfectly formed semen/sperm!
I also included a file of what you do not want to see … 
A very happy Ty! I think the pictures…say it all :@)
3/8/16: Our girls have hit their numbers and now the breeding starts :@) :@) Koko had a surprise for us too – she must truly want to be back among her daughters in the breeding ring – she came into season and now I have to seriously think about breeding her. This happens occasionally that when one bitch comes into estrus, others that are near to her … follow suit. This is the situation now with Koko. I will blog my thoughts if we decide to breed her as well. In the last year, we have had many families inquiring about Koko’s pups, so this may be the right time to allow her one more litter. To learn more about Koko and her daughters, their genetic results, health clearances and a description of each, go to LABRADORS/Adults.
3/7/16: We dropped Kiss and Ty off this morning to stay with our vets – while I tend to everyone and everything else. Both had another progesterone or luteinizing hormone test – we are just being super cautious as this is the first anticipated breeding for Kiss and the second for Ty. Fingers-Crossed :@) :@) Koko, their mom, so wants in on the action. Koko has produced a few litters for us and all were amazing. We are seriously thinking that maybe when its Koko’s time, we may breed her back to Mr. Bojangles for some more KokoBos. I wanted to include this picture of how the dogs positioned themselves in the back seat on the ride home – I see some cross-paws! Koko also came for the ride to see what her daughters have been up to – hopefully creating another rite of passage in becoming a grandma!
3/6/16: Received the results of Kiss and Ty’s 2nd progesterone levels – both girls are climbing along to that ovulation number that we look for. It seems very clear to me that both will be bred this week. I am planning to do one more set of progesterone levels, then set a schedule for the breeding to begin. This is a very exciting time for us as we know the sire owners, we love what they produce, we love our line and we are very hopeful our dogs will treasure us and our HGT families with many beautiful beginnings :@) :@)
3/4/16: Back to our veterinarian to have another progesterone test on each lab. Their results come to us within 12 hours – so we sit patiently until tomorrow morning – where we will see their numbers climb. I don’t think the breeding will occur for the next few days, but hopefully by next week we will have the spike, the correct number and hopefully both of our beautiful girls, will accept and conceive!
3/1/16: Our two labs, Ty and Kiss, were at their favorite veterinarian’s office this week. We did a health check and their base-line progesterone test. Both labs were well behaved with tails-wagging and kisses given to every tech in sight. I believe the excitement starts soon after the first progesterone is done. Then the ball starts rolling – fast I must add, there seldomly is any … stalls with the numbers, they just keep climbing. The optimum time of the breeding needs to be precise for there to be conception – especially when this is the bitch’s first breeding. Only time will tell :@) although the sires nail the timing impeccably well but here at HGT we only do Artificial Insemination (AI) for the protection of our girls. We received the numbers, both sisters have started their cycles, their numbers are climbing – Kissakee’s number is slightly higher than Ty’s but with this type of competition between siblings, I am sure Ty will hit her mark! Next set of progesterone numbers due on Friday!
Below are some pictures taken of HGT’s Ty-Ty and HGT’s Kissakee prior to their base-line visit. Both labs were just happy go lucky girls that love everything in their path and truly nothing – absolutely nothing seems to dampen their amazing spirits. Both are a joy to be around. Keep watching our blogs for updates to see if Kissakee and Ty conceive!
Remember if I don’t have a completed questionnaire from you, I will not have your name on our Lab_list. So if you are interested in a HGT labrador puppy, please go to the Contact heading of our website and fill out the questionnaire – then we will call you if you have questions and again once we know our dogs conceive! Cheers, Pam
Before The testing…3/1/16 – more alert
Before the testing …3/4/16 – more relaxed as they know what to expect…
HomeGrown Trilogy’s Ty (in car) & Kiss (at vets)
3rd Time to the Vets 3/7/16 – all excited about the car ride, but why so early Pam? –
HomeGrown Trilogy’s Ty 1st pic, Kiss 2nd pic, Koko 3rd pic!