Welcome to VIRTUS and DINA’s litter page!
Parents
Growth Updates 0-8 Weeks
Pregnancy
Dina’s pregnancy progressed smoothly from start to finish. She maintained a strong appetite throughout and carried herself well, showing steady development as the litter matured. As with all DKV pairings, this breeding was approached with intention, and we were eager to see it come full circle.
Delivery Day
Dina has safely delivered her puppies!
The delivery was calm, steady, and uneventful, exactly what we aim for. She took her time throughout the process, and each puppy arrived naturally without any need for assistance or intervention. Everything progressed as it should, and Dina handled the entire delivery with ease.
All puppies were born strong and healthy. Dina has transitioned naturally into her role as a mother and is already attentive and settled with her litter.
We are very pleased with how everything went and proud of Dina for a smooth and successful delivery.
Week 1 Update
The puppies are now one week old and doing excellent.
They are very chunky and very healthy, which is exactly what we want to see at this stage. They are gaining weight consistently and nursing well.
This first week is always a quiet one. The puppies are sleeping about 22+ hours a day, waking up only to nurse and then going right back to sleep.
Dina is doing a great job with them. She is very protective of her babies and watches us closely anytime we handle the litter. She is absolutely in love with them and very attentive to their needs.
While there’s not much activity yet, this is one of the most important stages for building a strong foundation. So far, everything is right on track and we’re very happy with how this litter is progressing.
Week 2 Update
The puppies are now two weeks old and starting to become more aware of the world around them.
Their eyes and ears are now open, and you can see them beginning to look around and respond to new sounds. They’re still very young, but this is where that first bit of curiosity starts to show.
They continue to sleep the majority of the day, but when they are up, you’ll see them starting to waddle around the whelping box and interact a little more with their environment.
Dina continues to do a great job with them. She stays very close and keeps a watchful eye anytime we’re around the puppies. She’s very attentive and protective, just like we expect at this stage.
The first three weeks are always fairly quiet with not a lot of action. This time is all about allowing them to grow, develop, and build a strong foundation.
Everything is right on track and we’re happy with how this litter is progressing so far.
Week 3 Update
The puppies are now three weeks old and starting to become much more active.
They’re walking around the whelping box and beginning to play with each other. You’ll see a lot of slow-motion pawing, little tumbles, and them gently gumming each other’s ears as they figure out how to interact. It’s always a fun stage to watch as those first playful behaviors start to come out.
They are also starting to wander a little farther away from mama, although not for too long before they make their way back.
Dina continues to do a great job. She still keeps a close eye on them, but she’s becoming more relaxed with us picking up and handling the puppies, which is exactly what we want to see.
We are starting to handle them more at this stage to get them used to interaction and being comfortable with us, while still keeping everything balanced and not overwhelming them.
Everything is progressing right on track, and we’re very happy with how this litter is developing.
Week 4 Update
The puppies are now four weeks old and becoming even more playful each day.
They are wrestling gently with each other, exploring more confidently, and really starting to show their personalities. This is always such a fun stage as the litter becomes more interactive. They’re learning how to play, discovering their voices, and definitely let us know they hear us whenever we walk by.
This week, the puppies were introduced to puppy food for the first time, and they absolutely love it. They were already showing a lot of interest in Dina’s meals, so it was no surprise that they took to their food so naturally. They will still continue nursing with mom while gradually making this new transition.
The puppies have also started their introduction to toys, which has been very entertaining to watch. Their curiosity continues to grow, and they are becoming much more engaged with everything around them.
Dina continues to do an excellent job. She is still very attentive, but now that the puppies are becoming more confident and independent, she is starting to take short breaks throughout the day.
Overall, this is a wonderful litter. They are very cute, very playful, and developing beautifully. We are extremely happy with how they are progressing.
Week 5 Update
We are posting this update a few days early, as we will not be available this weekend due to a few family events.
The puppies are now five weeks old and full of personality.
They are very playful at this stage and have definitely found their voices, and they love to use them. You’ll hear them anytime they’re interacting, playing, or letting us know they’re ready for attention.
Their appetites have really picked up. They are doing great on their puppy food and still go straight for Dina anytime she comes into the whelping box, draining her of milk in about 30 seconds flat. LOL.
They are very engaged with their environment now and love their toys. You’ll see them playing, exploring, and constantly interacting with each other. This is such a fun stage as everything starts to come together.
The litter is super cute, chunky, and just a really fun, playful group. They are active, happy, and right on target for their age.
Dina continues to do a great job managing them, even with their growing energy.
I will be getting new photos today or tomorrow for everyone, so look forward to that.
We’re very happy with how this litter is developing and looking forward to the next couple of weeks as they continue to grow.
(Click on a thumbnail below to see full size photo)
Week 6 Update
First, thank you everyone for your patience this past Sunday. Since it was my birthday, we had some scheduled family events and were unable to do our normal Sunday evening update, which is why I am posting it today. We truly appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding.
The puppies are definitely thriving and growing by the day. They are solid, playful, full of energy, and constantly interacting with each other. This litter has a lot of personality and it has been very fun watching them continue to develop.
They spend a lot of their time wrestling, playing, and carrying toys around the puppy area. They absolutely love their toys and especially love playing tug of war with each other. What’s funny is they can have 10 toys laying around, and several of them will still all fight over the exact same one. I guess they’re no different than children. lol.
The puppies are also currently being weaned off of mama and transitioned fully onto puppy kibble to prepare them for their new homes. They are doing extremely well with the transition. Some litters will occasionally refuse food for a few days because they miss nursing and struggle a little with the adjustment, but definitely not this litter. These puppies LOVE their puppy food and honestly seem to find it more satisfying at this point.
As soon as they hear Angel pouring food into the bowls, they all immediately perk up and get extremely excited for meal time. It’s become one of their favorite parts of the day.
The puppies are also heading to the vet this Friday for their physical exams and first puppy vaccines. While there, we will also be getting all necessary travel and health documentation prepared for their upcoming transfers.
If you have not already sent over your owner information and puppy names, please do so at your convenience so we can finalize everything properly. All transfers are currently scheduled, and any flight arrangements have already been booked.
We are very excited for our DKV families and truly think you are going to be very pleased with how gorgeous this litter is developing. Their structure, personalities, and overall presence continue to impress us more each week.
As stated above in our update schedule, the next official photos will be taken during the Week 7 update.
Over the next several days, I will also begin sending over information regarding recommended items, food instructions, and a few things to help everyone begin preparing their homes for their new fur babies.
Thank you all again for your patience and for following along with this litter journey.
Week 7 Update
We hope everyone is having a blessed Memorial Day weekend.
The puppies are doing amazing and have grown tremendously over the past two weeks. They are very large, very healthy, and absolutely thriving. We took new photos yesterday evening, and all I can say is... WOW. Look how much they have changed since their Week 5 photos. They are absolutely stunning, and we could not be more excited for our DKV families.
The puppies visited the veterinarian on Friday and did excellent. All puppies passed their physical exams and received a clean bill of health. No heart murmurs were detected, and all fecal tests came back negative for worms and parasites.
We did have one puppy with a very small pinpoint hernia. The veterinarian considered it extremely minor and not a concern. I will be providing additional information directly to that puppy's owner.
The puppies have also received their health certificates and are now cleared and ready for their upcoming travels. Yay!
Another big milestone is that the puppies are now fully weaned off of mama and doing great on their puppy kibble. They have transitioned very smoothly and continue to have excellent appetites.
On Tuesday, I will begin preparing and sending out purchase contracts. Once received, please review, sign, and return them at your earliest convenience. I will also be sending food information, feeding instructions, and general care recommendations to help everyone prepare for bringing their new family member home.
Everything is coming together quickly now, and go-home day is right around the corner.
Thank you again for trusting DKV Rottweilers. We are incredibly excited for each of our families and cannot wait for you to meet your new additions. This has been a wonderful litter, and we think you are going to be very pleased with how these puppies have developed.
Week 8 Update
The day has finally arrived. Yesterday, the puppies began leaving for their new homes and starting the next chapter of their lives with their new families. It is always exciting and bittersweet at the same time. We spend so much time raising, caring for, and watching these puppies develop that they truly become part of our family.
We would like to congratulate all of our new DKV families and thank you for trusting us with such an important decision. We are confident these puppies will bring many years of love, loyalty, and companionship to their new homes.
This litter has been a pleasure to raise from start to finish. They have been healthy, playful, confident, and absolutely beautiful throughout their development. We could not be happier with how they turned out.
As a reminder, breeder support does not end when your puppy leaves our home. We are always here to answer questions and help guide you throughout your puppy's life.
While most of the litter has now departed, we do still have two exceptional male puppies available and searching for their forever homes. If you know someone who may be interested in adding a German Rottweiler puppy to their family, we would greatly appreciate you sharing our website with them.
Thank you for following along with the Virtus × Dina litter journey. We look forward to watching these puppies grow and receiving updates from their new families in the years ahead.