The Journey of Labor: Autumn’s Incredible Night Bringing Barbado da Terceira Puppies into the World

The journey to bringing new life into the world is always filled with anticipation, excitement, and a touch of nervousness. For our beloved Autumn, it was no different. Her labor signs began subtly on Wednesday night, with all the telltale signs described in the books—panting, restlessness, nesting, and a distant look in her eyes as if she knew something big was about to happen. I stayed by her side all night, waiting and watching, but nothing came.

By Thursday, she seemed calmer, almost as if she had changed her mind about the whole thing. That night, she was relatively normal, so we decided to get some rest. But at midnight, when I checked on her, I found her restless again, refusing to settle in the whelping box. Instead, she kept going outside, pacing in the cold, snow-covered ground. 

We had set up a bed in the room so we could stay with her during the nights leading up to delivery. By 2:00 AM, she still wouldn’t return to the whelping area, and at around 2:15 AM, she finally settled—under a table. It seemed as though she just wanted a quiet, hidden place. I sat on the bed, trying to respect her space, when suddenly she jumped up beside me. I reached out to pet her, and that’s when I felt it—strong, undeniable contractions. I realized it was happening.

Without hesitation, I grabbed her collar and guided her to the whelping box. Amid the chaos of the moment, I barely had time to process what was happening when I looked down and saw a tiny, perfect puppy lying on the box floor. Our firstborn, beautiful Dakota, had arrived at 2:20 AM. Autumn instinctively began cleaning her, and at that moment, I felt the full weight of what was unfolding—a miracle right before my eyes.

Dakota Autumn's first born - 100 registered Barbado da Terceira in the USA

I called for my husband and daughter, and together, we spent the next several hours in awe as Autumn brought her puppies into the world, one by one, about every 30 minutes.

The night was long, filled with emotions—joy, exhaustion, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

Finally, at 7:45 AM, our last little girl, Venice, made her entrance. Ten perfect Barbado da Terceira puppies, each a tiny piece of Autumn and Toby, snuggled together in their warm new world.

Autumn feeding her pups

That night changed everything. It was chaotic, magical, and humbling. Watching Autumn embrace motherhood so instinctively reminded me of the beauty of life’s natural rhythms. As the sun rose over the snow-covered ground, our home was filled with tiny cries, warm cuddles, and the beginning of a new, beautiful journey.