Canan

Country of Origin: Turkey

Group: Guardian Dogs (United Kennel Club).

Use today: Guardian, national dog of Turkey

Life Span: 12 to 15 years

Color: Cream to light tan to gray in a sable pattern with a black mask.

Coat: Short double coat, neither wavy nor fluffy.

Grooming: Brush weekly.

Height: 28 to 30 inches for females and 30 to 32 inches for males.

Weight: 90 to 110 pounds for females and 110 to 145 pounds for males.

Shadow Wings Farm

Canan's Puppies - Week 1

Canan with her new litter of puppies...7 males and 5 females. She did awesome delivering them all. She's understandably exhausted but it is always an honor to midwife a Kangal as she delivers her babies.

We began keeping Canan close as her due date loomed, watching her for the usual signs of impending birthing. She got to the point where she wouldn't eat anything we offered her, no matter how special it was. The only thing I could get down her all day was a dog bone. We had been taking her temperature for several days and was watching it drop as her time grew closer.

All day on the 27th, she was unusually clingy, wanting me to stay close to her, petting her, comforting her. The labor had begun although it would be several hours before puppies would actually be born. Finally about 12:30am she began to whimper and a few minutes later we watched her first delivered puppy...a female who was crying up a storm. We helped dry her off and got her close to her mama so that she could begin to nurse, getting the critically important colostrum they need within the first hour of life. We sat with her, stroking her head and body, hoping to comfort her as her labor progressed, giving her water as she wanted, and waited.

And waited and waited and waited. 3 hours we waited, which is the longest any female I've had has taken inbetween puppies. Although it was 3:30am there is an awesome emergency vet clinic in town so I called them just to make sure everything was ok. They assured me this kind of time period inbetween birthing puppies can be normal, which helped me to not worry as much. Canan was calm and relaxed...I think that I was the nervous one.

Of course, as I was talking with the vet hospital, my daughter called out, "mom? it's time", and I knew that she was finally delivering her 2nd puppy. After that, the rest came with consistant regularity until it was close to 8am when she delivered her final puppy...a boy. All in all, she delivered 7 strong and huge males and 5 beautiful and active females for a total of 12 puppies.

Once we got all the puppies nursing and settled, we all crashed...Canan, my daughter and I, and the puppies nursed happily while we slept.

While today is the first day of their new lives, they are already filling our hearts with love as we watch their little newborn bodies navigate to mama, nursing and sleeping, which is the job of a newborn Kangal. The next several weeks will unfold a new batch of personalities and we have high hopes for the families that will love them for many years to come.

In the meantime I'm supplementing Canan with all kinds of extra nutrition...nursing 12 babies will take alot out of her if I don't. It's my pleasure to serve her here at the 'Kangal Ritz' for as long as she needs.

We're so excited about this litter! The heritage and history that is behind each and every puppy is something we're very proud of.

Come on, admit it. Is this not the most precious puppy you've ever seen?!?

The pile of puppies grows as they grow. Check out those chubby tummys lol

Ok, I admit it. I'm having a blast with these puppies.

How could you not? Watching Canan with her babies is spellbinding.

Why don't we just make ourselves comfortable and at home, even if that means at the expense of our brother? lol

This is what you call the 'Kangal Headlock'...puppy style. :)

I can't believe it's already been 5 days. In all honesty it's starting to feel like they've been here far longer and I'm beginning to get a glimpse into a few of their little personalities. The days and weeks ahead will begin to solidfy who they were created to be.

My job is to give them a secure and loving home. It's a responsiblity of breeding and it warms my heart knowing that I'm contributing to their foundational beginnings.

One little, two little, three little indians...

It's amazing how they lined up right next to each other, side by side. The last little puppy on the right is probably going to be the clown out of the litter...laying opposite way of the others, just because...lol

And then of course, we have the mama's boy, tucked up close against Canan's chest.

Canan's puppies at 5 hours old

Contact us at 706/633-0507 or by email at: ShadowWingsFarm@yahoo.com