Ezzy’s Whelping Story — The Highs, the Lows, and Everything In Between

Whelping Ezzy’s first litter was everything I expected… and also nothing like I expected at the same time.

Her pre-labor actually started Friday night around 9:30 PM. You could tell things were shifting — the restlessness, the subtle changes — that quiet “it’s coming” energy. But like a lot of first-time moms, it wasn’t a straight line from there.

By Saturday morning around 9 AM, about 12 hours later, I could tell we had moved into active labor. Things were finally progressing, contractions were real, and we were getting close.

At 11 AM, we welcomed the first puppy. Flik.

And just like that…we were officially in it.

The next part went exactly how you hope it will. Ezzy delivered her first three puppies within about 90 minutes — strong, healthy, and steady. Everything looked textbook in that moment, and I remember thinking, “Okay… we’re doing this.”

But then… things stalled.

And if you’ve ever been through a whelping, you know that’s where your brain starts going a million different directions.

Looking back, I truly think part of it was that Ezzy, being a first-time mom, was so distracted by her first three puppies. Those tiny little noises they make — she was completely locked in on them. Watching, listening, checking on them constantly. It was like she couldn’t fully settle back into labor mode.

And honestly? I don’t think that helped keep things moving the way they should have.

Time kept passing, and we were in that uncomfortable waiting period where you’re constantly asking yourself: Is this still okay? Do I intervene? Do I wait?

This is also where having the right guidance matters more than anything.

My mentor — who is hands down one of the most knowledgeable Newfoundland breeders I know — was absolutely invaluable through this. Because here’s the reality: as much as we rely on vets (and I absolutely respect them), most regular vets don’t have deep, hands-on whelping experience the way seasoned breeders do.

And of course…this all happened on a Saturday, and my repro vet wasn’t available.

So we monitored. We supported. We stayed ready.

Hours later, we continued delivering puppies — but not without heartbreak.

We had two stillborn puppies in this litter.

That part never gets easier to talk about. It’s part of breeding that people don’t always see or understand, but it’s very real.

From the moment the first puppy was born at 11 AM…to the very last puppy arriving at 11 PM…this was a full 12-hour whelping.

Twelve hours of highs, lows, second-guessing, relief, and exhaustion.

And through all of it, Ezzy did what first-time moms do — she learned.

She grew into it as it was happening.

She figured out her puppies. She figured out what her body was doing. She figured out how to be a mom in real time.

And I’m incredibly proud of her for that.

Whelping is never just one thing. It’s not just joy, and it’s not just stress. It’s both — constantly.

This litter reminded me (again) that even when things don’t go perfectly…there is still so much to learn, so much to respect, and so much to be grateful for.

And at the end of it all — we had 7 healthy puppies, a safe mama, and another chapter written for Kinson Ridge Giants.