A Hole Is A Hole Is A Nest?

Reacher's continuing excavation project.

Lately, Vega has taken an uncommon interest in Reacher's holes that dot our yard. She is sniffing each one and sticking her nose down the deeper cavities as far as it will go.

I hope she's not considering dropping her puppies in one of them. Reacher may be thinking the same thing. Perhaps that's why he has been enlarging the crater to the left (the photo really doesn't do it justice) to make plenty of room for one very pregnant German Sheperd and her soon-to-be litter of puppies. Since Vega has been ignoring Reacher lately, he may just be trying to win back her heart.

Whatever the two of them have in mind, going back to nature is definitely not going to work for me. I already have plans in the works for a custom-designed whelping box where Vega is supposed to have her puppies in style.

It will be 4'x8' with rails around the inside walls that will prevent mama from accidentally lying on top of her babies. The sides will be about 3' high and have a Dutch door that opens top and bottom. When the puppies are tiny, we'll leave the top open so Vega can easily step out. As the little guys grow, we can close the top to prevent them from escaping. The floor of the box will be tile for easy cleaning and there will be a space underneath so we can slide heating pads in. Think of it as radiant heating just like in the coolest bathrooms on HGTV. There's nothing too good for my girl and her babies.

A nest of dirt? Not when there's a designer labor and delivery suite being built just for Vega.