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 When time rolled around to breed Juliet, my daughter Johannah and husband Derek had talked me out of her. She was living in Columbia, South Carolina, and we agreed she would come back here for a litter. Juliet is a lovely girl, affectionate, playful, and gets along with everyone. Her genetic health history is spotless as far as one can know these things. Physically we were looking for more length in muzzle and a better front.
I was visiting Johannah and Derek during the summer, with Chippy, Ivy, and Diamond in tow. One of the disadvantages of having a breeder for a mother is that she always visits with a carful of dogs! We were watching television one night when Jo said, "Is Chippy's father Justin?" I said yes. She said, "I want to breed him to Juliet."
 I thought about it awhile. We were already planning to repeat the Candy and Justin breeding, but the idea was tempting -- I absolutely love Justin. I looked at Juliet, at Chippy, and thought about it. She was right. Chippy has a lovely head and a good front. So did the other puppies in her litter.
 When I got home, I called Nancy and the plans were made. I was down again visiting Jo and Derek in August and the day I got home, they called to tell me that Herself had come in season. (Figures -- it's a seven-hour drive from my house to theirs and I hadn't even unpacked the car yet!) We made arrangements to meet, and they asked if they could "borrow" Chippy to keep their other whippet, Chase, company. No problem -- Chippy loves everybody and would enjoy the vacation.
 Juliet missed Derek and Jo but enjoyed being back at the old homeplace. When we went to visit Justin, she fell in love very quickly and in a few weeks, she began to "gain weight" pretty obviously. Three days before her due date, I took her for an xray to see how many puppies to expect. When Dr. S. asked me how many I guessed, I said, "Well, I would say eight or nine, but I always guess high, so let's say seven." We got Juliet xrayed and I went out front to wait. Dr. S said six, the tech guessed nine. Ha ha.
Things you don't want to overhear from the back of the vet's office. "Oh my gosh!" followed by laughing from the tech and the vet. "Let's just say I was the closest," the tech chirped. When I looked at the xray, all I could see was what looked like a basket of eggs. Little skulls were packed in tight...eleven of them!
And two days later, Juliet delivered. Five boys and six girls. She has been an excellent mother and we call them, of course, the Shakespeare litter: Tybalt, Helena, Anthony, Macbeth, Kate, Rosaline, Falstaff, Ophelia, Viola, Miranda, and Buckingham.
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