Six weeks old

Wow puppies turned six weeks old yesterday.  I can't believe how quickly the time is passing. I only have three more weeks left with my little babies.  I will be sad to see them go, but excited to watch them grow up in their new homes. 

I started crate training a few days ago.  When the puppies are tired and starting to sleep I put them in a kennel, two per kennel.  They usually just fall asleep right away and don't fuss at all.  Occasionally one will realise it is in a smaller space and will cry and whine for a little while.  It never lasts longer than 10 minutes and the puppy usually just gives up and falls asleep. Right now they only stay in there for maybe a half an hour or no longer than forty five minutes at a time. I just want them comfortable with being placed in a smaller space and locked in there for a while.  I'm hoping by the time they go home I can put them in the kennel and they will instantly lie down and go to sleep.

Pics from yesterday:

"we love our auntie Kloee!"

sable girl

Spryte and the large bi black playing together

who needs a hug?

small bi black girl

sable boy

Day 39

It's getting harder and harder to take pictures of the puppies.  When they are awake they are in constant motion. I end up deleting most of the pics because they turn out blurred.  I did manage to get a few for today's blog entry.

Puppies are getting lots of visitors every week.  Besides the soon to be owners, many of my students have had the chance to come in and cuddle the puppies too.  The puppies are usually on their best behaviour for these visitors as they are often pretty sleepy.  Paul and I are the lucky ones that get the crazy puppies first thing in the morning and just before bed.  At those times they are pulling apart their bedding, full out brawling with each other, they bite our toes, our chins, our ears, they are just down right wild!  but I love it.  It is by far the most entertaining times of the day, and when I get the best videos of the puppies too.

Tug training is really starting to come along.  They all love the washcloth that I use.  It is easier for them to grab and pull on.  They will follow it around, pounce on it, perform the death shake, and I can even apply gentle pressure and tap them on their bodies and they will keep pulling and  not let go.  All the puppies have great tug drive so far.

Here are pics and videos from today:

sable girl playing with toy

boy and tiny girl playing together

large bi black girl

sable boy

sable girl

small bi black girl

large bi black girl

sable boy

A non puppy post

I have been so busy with the puppies that I missed Strider's birthday!  My little sheltieman turned 10 on Friday.  Happy Birthday to my heart dog.  The sheltie that has started a lifelong love for the breed.  Strider you are the best! I love you little buddy :)

puppy strider

strider under a year old

strider under a year old

Day 34

Puppies had another big day today.  In the morning I took them out front to explore the yard while Paul washed vehicles.  The puppies had the chance to hear and see cars driving, starting up, stopping and of course the hose, and lots of water.  I then bathed all our adult dogs (yay clean, fluffy dogs again!) and the puppies had to check that out too. They wandered up close, walking through the water to investigate.  They also had the chance to walk on a travel plank for agility, on a rubber mat and on rocks and asphalt.

Later in the day the puppies came out on the deck with us while we read and enjoyed the sun.  The puppies played, explored and soaked up the rays.  The sable girl even decided to climb right in the adult dogs water dish. Maybe these shelties will actually swim???

Pics and videos from today.


sable girl in water dish

bi black girls playing

 large bi black girl

little bit of a size difference ;) (small bi black girl)

 sable boy

sable boy and small bi black girl sleeping together

sable boy and small bi black girl

sable girl & small bi black girl

Day 33

Spryte actually played with the puppies yesterday.  She got into a play bow and then did a little twirl around the pen.  Not that much room for her to run, but she sure tried.  Then she would stop in front of a puppy and gentle paw at it and then bat it a bit with her nose.  The puppies had this sort of confused look on their faces and then they started to paw back. They didn't chase her, but they definitely wanted to play with her. 

So it's official, Spryte has produced little howler monkeys.  This morning the sable girl wanted out of the pen. She wanted to be with her mom and the humans. So she was pacing and whining and crying and then back went the head and a little puppy howl came out.  I even managed to get it on video!

There is a little cat tunnel in the puppy pen now.  The puppies race in and out of it, wrestle in it and of course chew on it. They love their new toy.

Pics from today and howling video.


sable girl

sable boy

large bi black girl

small bi black girl

Day 30

I came into the puppy pen this morning calling "puppies puppies" and everyone came running. The puppies are starting to realise that people are FUN.  They want to come and visit and climb on me, nibble my feet, pounce on my hands.  They want to be with people now. 

Every day I handle all the puppies. And I don't mean just cuddle them (they get that several times a day), but I mean I do a little exam on them.  Touch their feet, look at their toes, handle their ears, look inside the ears, check out their pearly white teeth, pull their tail a bit, that kind of thing.  I also touch all of them while they are eating.  At least one meal a day I have my hands on them while they eat. I pet them, pick them up and move them to a different spot on the dish, put my hands in the dish.  I want these puppies to be bomb proof! 

Spryte is also starting to play a bit with the puppies.  They roll over and bite and whack her nose and she nudges them around a bit.  She is very gentle and it doesn't look like much yet. But I can see her tail wagging the way it does when she greets adults dogs and wants to play.  I think she will really enjoy them in another week or so when she can really start playing with them.

Pics and video from today:

Spryte is such a pretty mommy :)

The food dish is an acceptable bed isn't it?

small bi black girl

sable girl playing with toy

sable boy playing with his little sister

sables

small bi black girl

Day 27

The puppies had two new experiences today, they moved to their new home in the kitchen and they went outside for the first time. 

They now have a nice big area in the kitchen to play and explore in, complete with dog beds, toys, the wobble disc, a kennel and an astro turf area that will hopefully become the potty area.  The puppies will now get to experience all our daily house noises up close and personal.  The phone ringing, the dogs barking, the microwave beeping, the blender and so many other sounds.  The puppies also met Kloee and Strider through the expen for the first time too (ok I guess they have had three new experiences today).  They are realising that mom isn't the only dog out there.

The outside trip was also a great success. I set up an expen in the shade and the puppies got to smell the grass, dig in the dirt and fall asleep with the breeze ruffling their fur.  It has been a big day for these little puppies!

Pics from today:

sable girl

large bi black girl

sable girl

small bi black girl

small bi black girl

sable girl

large bi black girl

 

sable boy