Zsa Zsa Mae Mansfield Gives Birth
to Min-Pin Puppies!

Zsa Zsa Mae as a puppy


Winston Charles Mansfield
(the young man shots)


Zsa Zsa Mae gave birth to 6 puppies on Friday at approximately 5am. Pictured is Zsa Zsa with 2 of the 4 puppies that survived. Small dogs rarely have more than 3 puppies (especially young first timers). Her vet calls Zsa Zsa an exemplary mother and a "very brave and sweet dog." Her owner couldn't agree more or be proud.

If you can start your day without caffeine

If you can get going without pep pills

If you can resist complaining and boring everyone else with your troubles

If you can eat the same food every day and

Be grateful for it

If you can understand when your loved ones

Are too busy to give you anytime

If you overlook it when something goes

Wrong through no fault of yours and

Those you love take it out on you

If you can take criticism and blame without resentment

If you can ignore a friend’s limited education and

Never correct him

If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend

If you can conquer tension without medical help

If you can relax without liquor

If you can sleep without the aid of drugs

If you can say honestly that deep in your heart you

Have no prejudice against creed, color, religion or politics…

Then, my friend, you are almost as good as your dog.

Zsa Zsa Mae Gives Birth on April 4th at approximately 5am, two days BEFORE her
own 1st birthday!

"She's an excellent mom and a very sweet dog." Dr. Foster, Zsa Zsa's Vet.

The birth of Zsa Zsa's first puppies came early in several senses of the word. She was a young mother. Her first heat lasted almost a month. Ideally, she would have not become pregnant until her second heat this summer. Nature took it's course though inspite of extensive efforts to prevent a "teenage mother." She was due on April 7th and delivered 4 days early.

Several sonograms and X-rays revealed what the doctor said would be "at least 4 puppies." There were actually to be 6.

Of the 6, 4 survived. One "was too big to make it through the birth canal" said Dr. Foster, her vet.

While Zsa Zsa is proving to be an exemplary mother, she apparently was confused about what was happening initially and gave birth to the first puppy in the back yard. She then may have forgotten about the puppy who crawled into the backyard pond.

Min pins typically have 2-3 puppies per litter and young dogs usually have smaller litters so it is quite unusual for a first time, young mother to have 4, let alone 6 puppies. I'm very thankful for the 4 and that Zsa Zsa has survived the birth and is a healthy happy mother."She's a completely different dog" said Carrie, Stan's best friend. She's clearly a more relaxed and mature dog as a mother. The rest of this page documents each week of the puppies first four weeks.

Here are the Day One Shots:


Zsa Zsa Mae pictured with three of her four
surviving puppies 15 hours after birth. We
were unaware at this point that the sixth puppie
was still trying to be born.

Zsa Zsa Mae resting at the start of day 2 with two puppies
Zsa Zsa Mae on Saturday, day two after having the sixth puppy removed. The poor thing was in labor for almost 30 hours. She delivered the 6th puppy "without a wimper" said the vet aid, "she's a VERY sweet dog."

Zsa Zsa Me with all four surviving puppies on Sunday March 6th, day three. She refuses to leave the puppies alone for more than a few minutes and constantly bathes them.
Charley (an extremely anxious dad) visits the puppies for the first time, Saturday. Zsa Zsa is not happy. She's angry that he is threatening her puppies AND her pigs ear. Charley has been banned from the whelping area for 2 weeks until the puppies open their eyes. He is not dealing real well with that. I am hoping for a complete reconcilation after some extensive couple's therapy.
A face shot of one of the puppies
The Puppies at One Week Old
 
Day 12 The EYES ARE OPEN!!!
  
Whitey (now Ajax) and his one sister have opened their eyes on day 12. Their sister and brother's eyes are still closed.
   
Pictuires of the Puppies Celebrating Their 2nd week Birthday Friday April 18th 2003

They do a great job still of sleeping. this is Whitey's brother Winston Charles Mansfield in his first recognizable picture. As a full grown Min-pin, Winston still prefers to sleep on his back.

If it's over 75 degrees in the sun room they prefer to sleep on their backs. Makes mom's job keeping them clean that much easier.

The puppies are quite good at sleeping through just about anything. Day 15 was the first sign on play between two puppies.

Whitey (later to be renamed Ajax) , Winston's brother
   
These shots from the puppies 3rd week birthday party Friday, April 25th.
They are growling, eating and playing a lot.
Individual headshots of the boys and girls here!
 
4 Weeks Old Friday, May 2nd! The puppies have moved to a new home (they were getting out of the whelping area and freaking mom out. Zsa Zsa is ready for these guys to be weaned, her titties are KILLING HER! Their new home has a view of the back yard, water dispenser and a separate bathroom! They prefer meat to cereal foods but they have all been eating well for over a week.
4 weeks
 The pupppies at just over 4 weeks old! Zsa Zsa was tolerant enough to allow this picture to be taken. She prefers having her puppies couped up. The idea of independent puppies running around all over the sun room is not playing well with Zsa Zsa. She is still refusing to allow the father (Charley) any peace around the puppies. Charley is not helping when he growls and becomes anxious around Zsa Zsa's puppies.

8 weeks
The whole family poses together for the first and last time. The puppies are leaving this week for their adopted homes. I wil miss each one of them, they are all truly unique and wonderful.


Bluebonnets are out in Austin as of March 15th and here is a picture of Stan with Charley and a very pregnant Zsa Zsa Mae Mansfield. She delivered 4 healty puppies on April 4th!