the 'pippuri' litter

I've decided to give these puppies the name "pippuri" which is Finnish for "pepper".  For one thing, Pepper is Tuuli's nickname.  Also, it's strange for me to have a litter of nothing but black puppies.  I haven't had one of those since the Devon Nine all those years ago.  It's already MUCH easier to keep track of 5 black puppies who all look alike than it was to distinguish between 9.  So these are my 5 little black peppercorns.

The first one appeared 1 hour and 50 minutes after the start of contractions and then the rest arrived more or less 20 minutes apart with a little break before the last two.  Textbook stuff, and mercifully stress-free.  Apart from the screeching bit obviously.




Tito - Puppy 1

Sex:  male
Birth Time:  04:50
Birth Weight:  370g

This boy's markings are so much like his dad - bright white face, big white front paws, tan legs front and back.  So he is the Teeny Taito, shortened to Tito (pronounced tee-toe, Spanish fashion). 

Socks - Puppy 2

Sex:  male
Birth Time:  05:10
Birth Weight:  380g

This boy is a mixture of both his parents - white front socks like his dad, tan legs and face with a little white chin like his mum.  Although not the biggest puppy I've ever had, he was one of the biggest of this litter - no wonder poor Tuuli shrieked as he came out.

Fiia - Puppy 3

Sex:  female
Birth Time:  05:30
Birth Weight:  380g

When you're expecting only 4 puppies and the first two are boys, you start to worry for those people who are waiting for a bitch.  But then came the first girl - phew!  Named Fiia which is the Finnish variation of Tuuli's kennel name, Fia.  You guessed it - she has markings like her mum: tan face and legs with white tips on the toes.  Not forgetting the little white chin.

Tuulen - Puppy 4

Sex:  male
Birth Time:  06:17
Birth Weight:  355g

The smallest of the bunch, but still a very good size.  Tan face & legs - check; white toe tips - check; little white chin - check.  This boy is also named for his mum.  He's so much like Fiia except he has a little more white on his toes.  And, well, he's a boy.  Tuulen is Finnish for "the wind".  And before you ask, no he does not suffer from flatulence.

Mini - Puppy 5

Sex:  female
Birth Time:  06:55
Birth Weight:  363g


The bonus 5th puppy is a little mini-Maija, who is half-sister to dad Taito.  She has a tan face, white around her nose and chin, bright white front legs, and although you can't see it in this photo, her entire chest and belly are also white and she has a tiny white tip on her tail.  Just like Maija.



Welcome Pippuri puppies.

Can I have a nap now?