23/05/2026
This morning’s sky on our run, gave us the most beautiful little show — cloud iridescence glowing around the sun, Pippa running back towards me in this photo was something magical, and the farm feeling very much like it was holding its breath for the next season.
And speaking of seasons… we may have a sneaky little Pippa update.
The boys have started to tell me what nature hasn’t quite announced loudly yet: Pippa appears to be in the very early stages of coming into heat.
Male dogs are incredibly sensitive to hormonal changes in a female’s urine. As a female begins moving into the early part of her cycle, her oestrogen levels start to rise and her scent profile begins to change. The boys pick up on those pheromone shifts long before we see the more obvious signs.
That’s where the jaw chomping, drooling, intense sniffing and slightly “ruffled” behaviour comes in. They’re processing those scent signals through a specialised scent organ called the vomeronasal organ, or Jacobson’s organ, which is designed to detect pheromones.
So while Pippa is still just quietly moving through the early hormonal changes, the boys are already acting like they’ve read the headline before the rest of us.
She is looking absolutely magnificent — strong, healthy coat, sparkly eyes and in beautiful condition heading into this next stage.
Now we wait and let nature take its course.
For our waitlist families, keep a close eye on your inboxes — this next chapter may be getting quietly closer.
www.pinetreehillfarms.co.nz
