10.09.2026 Busy Days at Think Twice: Cider, Emma and Kerol Welcome New Puppies

The kennel has been full of tiny squeaks, warm blankets, short nights and very full hearts lately. Kerol, Cider and Emma have all welcomed their puppies, and as you can imagine, life here has suddenly become wonderfully busy.

There’s joy, relief, a little sadness, and a lot of gratitude all mixed together. Every litter has its own story, and these three certainly do.

Three mums, three very different stories

When several litters arrive close together, the rhythm of the kennel changes completely. Everything starts to revolve around the mothers and their puppies.

The days are filled with checking weights, changing bedding, making sure everyone is nursing well, watching the mums eat properly, and keeping the whelping areas quiet and comfortable. The nights are lighter on sleep and heavier on listening. Every small sound matters.

Cider and Emma both had smooth deliveries, and we’re so thankful for that. Their puppies arrived safely, and both mums settled into motherhood beautifully. There’s nothing quite like seeing a mother relax with her new puppies, proud, tired and totally focused on them.

Kerol’s story was harder.

She had a uterine torsion, which is a serious and frightening complication. Sadly, we have only one puppy from her litter. It isn’t the outcome we had hoped for, but we’re deeply grateful that Kerol is here and that her little one is with us.

Moments like this remind us that breeding is never routine. Even with care, planning and experience, nature can still take a road you didn’t want to travel. All we can do is act quickly, support our girls, and be thankful for every life that arrives safely.

Cider’s litter feels extra special

Cider’s litter has a very special place in our hearts because this is her last one.

That makes every little paw, every tiny stretch and every sleepy puppy pile feel even more meaningful. Cider has given us so much, and seeing her with her final litter is emotional in the best way.

She’s calm, attentive and steady, just as we hoped she would be. There’s a quiet confidence about an experienced mum. She knows her puppies. She knows her job. She seems to take it all in her stride.

Of course, we’re also watching this litter with a little dream tucked away.

We’re hoping there might be a lovely little princess among them. A girl who could stay with us and continue Cider’s show line into the future. Nothing is decided yet, and at this stage they’re still far too young to know how each puppy will develop, but the hope is there.

For now, we’re simply enjoying them as they are: tiny, warm, sleepy and perfect in their own way.

Emma is settling beautifully with her puppies

Emma also welcomed her puppies without trouble, and that calm start means so much. A smooth birth gives both mum and pups the best chance to settle into those first important days.

At this stage, the puppies don’t do much besides drink, sleep and grow, but that simple routine is everything. Good nursing, steady weight gain and a relaxed mother are the things we want to see.

Emma has taken to her babies so sweetly. She’s attentive and gentle, and it’s lovely to watch her settle into the quiet rhythm of feeding and caring for them.

These early days are not about rushing anything. They’re about warmth, milk, rest and calm.

The puppies are still tiny, and their world is very small. It’s their mum, their siblings, soft bedding and our careful hands when needed. That’s exactly how it should be.

Kerol and her very special little one

Kerol’s litter has been the most emotional.

A uterine torsion is one of those complications every breeder hopes they never have to face. It can happen suddenly, and it turns what should be an exciting time into a very worrying one.

We won’t pretend it was easy. Losing the chance of a full litter from Kerol is heartbreaking. At the same time, we’re holding tightly to what we do have: Kerol, safe and loved, and one precious puppy who is getting all the attention in the world.

A singleton puppy brings its own kind of care. Without littermates, we need to watch closely, support feeding, keep the puppy warm, and give Kerol the calm space she needs. One puppy may sound simple, but in many ways it asks for extra attention.

Kerol is being cared for with love, patience and plenty of quiet. Her little one is being watched closely, and every small sign of strength feels like a gift.

What the next weeks will look like

The first weeks after birth are quiet from the outside, but very busy behind the scenes.

Our focus now is simple:

• Making sure each puppy gains weight steadily

• Keeping the mothers comfortable and well fed

• Giving every litter a calm and clean space

• Watching for any small changes in behaviour or health

• Letting the mums do what they do best

  
  

As the puppies grow, things will start to change quickly. Eyes will open. Little legs will get stronger. The tiny squeaks will turn into little barks and playful sounds. Before long, they’ll begin to explore, and the calm puppy boxes will become much livelier.

That stage is always magical, but we don’t rush towards it. These first days matter. They set the base for strong, confident puppies.

For now, we’re taking it day by day, cup of coffee by cup of coffee, puppy check by puppy check.

A grateful heart, even on the hard days

Breeding dogs brings so much happiness, but it also asks for resilience. There are beautiful moments, like seeing Cider and Emma resting peacefully with their puppies. There are hopeful moments, like wondering whether Cider’s little princess is here. And there are painful moments, like what happened with Kerol.

All of it belongs to the same story.

We’re grateful for the puppies who arrived safely. We’re grateful for our girls. We’re grateful for the trust placed in us to raise these little ones with care. And we’re grateful for everyone who follows along and understands that behind every sweet puppy photo, there are many quiet hours of work, worry and love.

If you’d like to follow the puppies as they grow, you can visit our page for current litters and updates.

The kennel is busy, the nights are short, and our hearts are full. Cider, Emma and Kerol have each given us something precious, and now our job is to give their puppies the very best start we can.