Eloise trying to wean the puppies but they will have none of it. - Contributed photos

This is the first chapter in a bedtime story by Emma Dalton-Brown, using Eloise as the storyteller. So, who's Eloise? One of her adorable dogs.

My name is Eloise and I am a golden retriever mixed with another breed that has given me a beautiful, jet-black coat. I am two years old, that's 14 in doggie years, and I have a lovely human Mummy who has owned me for most of my life. My son, Yoda, and I are going to tell you a bedtime story over the next couple of months. The first chapter is about my babies, where we lived at the start of their lives, and the mischief they were already getting into within the first few week.

On February 29, 2008, 10 puppies came out of my tummy. It was a leap year so I've decided to celebrate their birthdays on February 28 in all other years. The night before, my human Mummy had put a large wooden box on the veranda for me, but with a Rottweiler, a Pomeranian/papillon mix and a chocolate Labrador living at the house, I did not feel comfortable with all three lurking around while I brought these tiny creatures into the world. So, I found a cave under the rockery outside the veranda.

Giving birth

This secret hiding place is like the camps which you kids set up with your living room sofa cushions and sheets from your bed. When you're in there you feel safe from all worries. It's yours, but you can invite friends around or, perhaps, let Mummy and Daddy see how cool it is too.

When my puppies were born, I cleaned them up and began feeding them. They were so small and each of them had their eyes shut tight. This is normal for puppies, who only use their sense of smell when they are first born. Mine did not open their eyes until they were two weeks old, so they stayed within the cave. I only left to get my food and water from human Mummy, and to use the bathroom. I don't really use a bathroom, of course, as I might get into trouble, and I'm not sure if I could sit on the toilet seat!

Once my four-legged furballs were past the two-week mark, they began to explore the wilds of the lawn. It must have been like you being able to run and play in the largest park you've ever imagined. The grass came up to the top of their legs, the flowers towered over them like tall trees, and the trees themselves were so high up that they probably thought they were part of the sky. The puppies romped around together for hours, pulling at one another's tails with their mouths and chasing the ladybugs along the ground. There were times when I could not find them, but when they were hungry, they were sure to find me!

They whined and scraped to get to the nipples that had the most milk, even pulling off a brother or sister to do so. Yoda was strong from the beginning, and the largest of the litter, but he was gentle and did not make as much noise as his brother Pluto. By the end of each day, I'd be exhausted and I'd have to run away from them all for an hour or so. It's hard work being a Mummy, and even though we love our children very much, we need to take a break every so often. I'm sure you'll hear your Mummy say the same thing when she gets tired. She'll feel like being in her secret hiding place, just like you do sometimes.

NEXT WEEK: Then there were only three. This time, told by Yoda.

Emmadaltonbrown@gmail.com.

POSITIVE Parenting

Meet Eloise.

Mission a success - the puppies are feeding on their own.