Looking out with deep brown eyes, through the thin, clear panes of the sliding door was a much larger Irish Setter, the puppies' mother Lulu. At twenty seven inches in height, she was quite large for her breed, and not only in that respect. While she was pregnant with her litter, her owners and her mate had encouraged eating much larger portions at mealtimes, to allow for the extra energy required for the growth and nurture of Lulu's puppies. Rex, the father of the puppies, had also been very protective of her, rarely allowing her to overstretch herself, for he cared deeply for his mate, and would spend hours at a time by her side.
However, the increased consumption and lack of mobility had left a definite mark on her frame. During the short eight weeks, she had put on a fair amount of pudge which seemed to collect mainly around her tummy, meaning that she still looked pregnant for several weeks after giving birth. Her auburn bellyfur stretched by her expanded tummy and the rest of her body inflated to a smaller, but still noticable degree. In the weeks that followed, she was still allowed to free-feed by the family, and her waist contiued to expand with softness, as she and Rex looked after their young. She was an intensively motherly dog, always looking out for and fretting over her little ones.
But after the puppies were weened off her milk, Lulu began to lose some of the weight she had gained. More activity in her life had allowed her stomach to shrink as the setter's fat melted slowly off her, but soonLulu was starting to slow down again. She had no real reason to lose the weight, and she was excercised by her owners at least daily, so she would have nothing to worry about from being a little heavy set.
Lulu sighed a little, still gazing at her offspring, and lay down on the plush carpet. She was glad that she had children, and loved them to bits, but they could be oh-so tiring, particulrly the twosome of Dora and Sarah. While they were outside, she could catch up on some rest, and the Setter closed her eyes in preparation for a good nap.
Just then, the door was brushed open, and the sound of heavy breathing entered the room. Lulu turner her head, still lying down, to look at the intruder. It was Rex, and her expression immediately softened. He was a lean and wiry dog, unlike his mate, but he couldn't care about her physical condition, he loved her too much to be swayed by such things. Twenty eight inches high, with strong legs and seemingly straggly fur, his appearance suggested a rough character, but Rex had a heart of gold. Caring madly for his mate and children, he was the first to suggest to her that she take it easy in her delicate state. Now, half of his day would be spent frollicking with his children, a playful soul.
Rex glided softly into the room, and lay down next to Lulu, leaning gently against her. He could feel her rounded stomach against his skinny waist. He cocked his head towards hers.
"'See you still have some holiday weight," he said playfully.
"I know dear, but you don't mind do you?" she asked.
"Why would I mind? I'd love you however big you were," he replied, pushing lightly against her luxuriously soft side. "What were you staring at?" he inquired.
"Oh, nothing, I was just watching the kids. I can't believe how much they've grown already. I can still see them no bigger than your muzzle, and now look at them."
"I can't believe it either."
"There's something worrying me though," said Lulu, her words sounding a little shaky.
"What is it, is it something serious?" replied Rex.
"Not really. But, don't you think some of them are getting bigger in a different way. Look at Tommy," she said, staring at her son.
Rex did the same, and knew what she meant instantly from the way he was lolloping around, trying to keep up with his siblings. Tommy was chubby to say the least, bordering on downright fat. Rex stared intently at his child, the way his round tummy was moving, but also saw Tommy laughing, having fun and enjoying himself. Rex knew that his owners were overfeeding his son, but he saw no malice in them when they did, or when they rubbed his engorged stomach after a meal, stroking the puppy. He remembered how they treated his mate when she was growing rounder almost by the day, and how they made sure she was as safe as could be. He then looked at Lulu, her present, slightly heavy form a tribute to her indulgence. He smiled, and responded gently to her question.
"Honey, I don't know why you're worrying. Sure, Tommy's a little heavy, but so are Alfie and Matt, and they don't have any problems. You know that our owners would never do anything to hurt us or the pups," he said, nuzzling her softly afterwards.
"You're right, the puppies are fine, I should know that. Michael and Sally (The Mother and Father in the family that owns them) care so much about us, I don't know what I was thinking, thank you dear," and she licked the tip of his muzzle.
The two proud parents continued to watch their children play, but Rex soon remembered why he came into the room in the first place. His eyes opened wide, and his breathing sharpened up. Lulu noticed almost immediately.
"Rex, what's the matter?" she inquired, panicing.
"I overheard Micheal and Sally earlier. They were talking about..." he stopped for a few seconds, shivering, " The Vet!" he whispered to Lulu, almost distraught. He was petrified of that place, and was verging on needing sedatives last time he was taken there.
"Shh, calm down," said his mate softly, "I'm sure it's just a check up." She nuzzled hi to try and relax her partner, but he wasn't swayed.
"No, I know what it'll be. They're going to get me fixed! Just one more night..." he was seriously fretting now, but Lulu intervened.
"But what bad will it do? You already have five wonderful children and I love you more than the Earth and always will do."
"But, you know. There's one thing that we'll never be able to do again after then," he responded. The penny dropped for Lulu, and she smirked slightly.
"Well, if we only have one more night..." she started, and left the sentence hanging, wriggling her hips slightly. Rex cottoned on.
"You mean.."
"Yes"
"...Tonight?"
"After the puppies are all in the land of nod, we go outside, and 'do our thing'," she replied, rubbing her mate's side. His mood quickly changed.
"Oh thank you thank you thank you!" he jabbered. "I love you so much, and I want you to know it!"
"I already do, loverboy," she replied, "but not a word about this until the pups are asleep," she finished smiling.
"I understand love."
"I just know it's going to be a checkup, but since you insist.." and the pair left the room to round up their children for dinner before the sun started to set.
Dinner was the usual affair of kibble and some table scraps from the human meal. The canine family chatted happily as they tucked in to their food, and one in particular: Tommy. Though the puppies all ate from the same tray, the rounding dog was packing away the crunchy morsels like no tomorrow. He was tired out from all the running he had done, and had worked up an enourmous appetite, which hadn't gone unnoticed. Sarah, next to him, confronted her brother on the matter after they had finished. Tommy was relaxing infront of the living room radiator, his midsection taut, almost full to bursting.
"Are you alright bro?" she asked, rather bluntly, "you put away a lot of food there. Is there something wrong with you?"
"Nope, just really hungry from all that chasing earlier. Need to sleep now, Sarah," he replied, closing his eyes, just as their mother rounded the doorway.
"Come on little ones: Bed time!" she called them, and, reluctantly though for seperate reasons, the two puppies followed her to the 'den' they had, of old blankets and pillows, next to the doggy-door at the back of the house, where their father had rounded up Alfie, Dora and Matt already, and was serving as a make-shift climbing frame.
After saying goodnight to all of their children, wishing them sweet dreams and nuzzling them half-to-death, the parents settled down next to the mass of fuzzy shapes that was the puppies.
But soon they awoke again, or at least, Rex did. His anxiety and anticipation had been hidden by the calming effect of the meal, but he was soon back on edge. He gently nudged Lulu, coaxing her from slumber. She moaned quietly as she got up.
"Couldn't you wait that long?" she asked coyly, with a small smile.
"Uh-hm," was the answer.
"Come on then, big-boy, if you want it," and she walked out of the flap. Rex followed her eagerly into the cool, night air, and into the nearby foliage for a long night of passion and pleasure.
After several hours, the pair emerged, Rex grinning mercilessly.
"I love you so much, Lulu, and did I prove it?" he whispered to her lovingly, slightly slurring his words. Lulu was still panting slightly.
"You did it alright," she said in one puff, and she licked her lover's muzzle. "Now lets get back inside, loverboy, before the puppies wake up and wonder where we are."
The pair returned to their sheltered beds, exhausted from their night's antics, and fell asleep quickly. Their tired minds almost devoid of thought about what was to lie ahead tomorrow for Rex, and what their night-life had done in terms of their family's growth.
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