We like to keep our permanent families informed with updates throughout the puppies' growth and development, as you can see for our 2017 litter below.
Olive's litter, 5/21/17
Crummy weather put a damper on much the puppies' outdoor fun this week, but we were still able to do a fair amount of socializing. Week 7 is a great time to invite friends to play with the brood, so we had lots of folks over and all of the pups enjoyed showing off for visitors large and small. Other big events included changing their diet to dry puppy food, no more blending with water - and the puppies couldn't be happier. They are eating like champs. Olive still nurses them on rare occasion and likes to keep them clean, but the babies are pretty darned self sufficient now. They are also showing a real preference for doing their business outside - holding it when they're in their box, kennel and playpen areas and then cutting loose the second they hit open grass. We are proud of this first step toward house training. We'll continue to encourage this and keep working on voice recognition and socialization during our last week with these guys. We are confident that they will be ready for their permanent homes and families, right on schedule next week.
Crummy weather put a damper on much the puppies' outdoor fun this week, but we were still able to do a fair amount of socializing. Week 7 is a great time to invite friends to play with the brood, so we had lots of folks over and all of the pups enjoyed showing off for visitors large and small. Other big events included changing their diet to dry puppy food, no more blending with water - and the puppies couldn't be happier. They are eating like champs. Olive still nurses them on rare occasion and likes to keep them clean, but the babies are pretty darned self sufficient now. They are also showing a real preference for doing their business outside - holding it when they're in their box, kennel and playpen areas and then cutting loose the second they hit open grass. We are proud of this first step toward house training. We'll continue to encourage this and keep working on voice recognition and socialization during our last week with these guys. We are confident that they will be ready for their permanent homes and families, right on schedule next week.
Olive's litter, 5/14/17
Now 6 weeks old, the puppies are growing up rapidly. Thanks to the great weather, they are spending more time outdoors - sometimes in their portable pen but they much prefer running loose whenever we are outside doing yard chores or just relaxing in the shade. We are calling all nine by name and working on getting everybody to come when called - all the pups are responsive and usually (not always) they come running in a big pack. We are also spending individual inside time with each puppy to get them familiar with the rhythms of family life - the clanging of pots and pans, doors opening and closing etc. It's a nice way to get to know each one a little better. All in all, they are adjusting quite well to their expanding world. Feeding is going great - Olive still nurses them several times a day, but that's more for her benefit than theirs. They're a nice bunch of pups and we thoroughly enjoy spending time with them!
Now 6 weeks old, the puppies are growing up rapidly. Thanks to the great weather, they are spending more time outdoors - sometimes in their portable pen but they much prefer running loose whenever we are outside doing yard chores or just relaxing in the shade. We are calling all nine by name and working on getting everybody to come when called - all the pups are responsive and usually (not always) they come running in a big pack. We are also spending individual inside time with each puppy to get them familiar with the rhythms of family life - the clanging of pots and pans, doors opening and closing etc. It's a nice way to get to know each one a little better. All in all, they are adjusting quite well to their expanding world. Feeding is going great - Olive still nurses them several times a day, but that's more for her benefit than theirs. They're a nice bunch of pups and we thoroughly enjoy spending time with them!
Olive's litter, 4/29/17
Week 4 has been eventful. The puppies are now wearing collars - the girls are red, purple and pink and the boys are all other colors. They've become much more mobile and aware, and are now experiencing new environments inside and outside the house. Friday and Saturday, they went outdoors for the first time - very exciting. The pups are alert, engaged and enjoying all these new experiences. They are starting to recognize our voices and we are totally enjoying holding and stimulating them. They've also started on solid foods, first with rice cereal and formula before moving to wet, ground puppy chow. Olive keeps a close watch and nurses them up regularly but both mom and pups are starting to become more independent.
Week 4 has been eventful. The puppies are now wearing collars - the girls are red, purple and pink and the boys are all other colors. They've become much more mobile and aware, and are now experiencing new environments inside and outside the house. Friday and Saturday, they went outdoors for the first time - very exciting. The pups are alert, engaged and enjoying all these new experiences. They are starting to recognize our voices and we are totally enjoying holding and stimulating them. They've also started on solid foods, first with rice cereal and formula before moving to wet, ground puppy chow. Olive keeps a close watch and nurses them up regularly but both mom and pups are starting to become more independent.
Olive's litter, 4/23/17
The puppies are three weeks old and continue to grow and change rapidly. As their eyesight improves, all nine are beginning to explore their world. For the most part, this means Olive, their siblings and the confines of the whelping box, but we are beginning to take them out to the larger world - today a couple of the pups met their Sire Zeus and Grandma Bear. Next week, we'll start them on a slurry of rice cereal and formula to begin the weaning process, and start introducing them to new environments both inside and outside. For now though, they are content to eat, play for about five or ten minutes, then cuddle up and go back to sleep.
The puppies are three weeks old and continue to grow and change rapidly. As their eyesight improves, all nine are beginning to explore their world. For the most part, this means Olive, their siblings and the confines of the whelping box, but we are beginning to take them out to the larger world - today a couple of the pups met their Sire Zeus and Grandma Bear. Next week, we'll start them on a slurry of rice cereal and formula to begin the weaning process, and start introducing them to new environments both inside and outside. For now though, they are content to eat, play for about five or ten minutes, then cuddle up and go back to sleep.
Olive's litter, 4/16/17
Big changes are just starting to take affect with these puppies. Today, their eyes began to open and some of the more adventurous are taking their first wobbly steps. We know this means that all their peepers will be wide open by sunup, and they will be rocking and rolling and playing with each other by this time tomorrow. Let the fun begin! Olive continues to watch over them, and keeps them whistle clean and well fed, and we spend a lot of time handling and petting all nine..
Big changes are just starting to take affect with these puppies. Today, their eyes began to open and some of the more adventurous are taking their first wobbly steps. We know this means that all their peepers will be wide open by sunup, and they will be rocking and rolling and playing with each other by this time tomorrow. Let the fun begin! Olive continues to watch over them, and keeps them whistle clean and well fed, and we spend a lot of time handling and petting all nine..
Olive's litter, 4/8/17
Olive is one week into motherhood and doing a great job. She spends day and night in the whelping box keeping her puppies clean and fed. The work is obviously paying off: The pups are growing rapidly and have much more fur and color in their noses and paw pads. At mealtime they are able to scoot slowly to mom on their chubby bellies. We enjoy holding and stimulating them often, while they're still not too wiggly.
Olive is one week into motherhood and doing a great job. She spends day and night in the whelping box keeping her puppies clean and fed. The work is obviously paying off: The pups are growing rapidly and have much more fur and color in their noses and paw pads. At mealtime they are able to scoot slowly to mom on their chubby bellies. We enjoy holding and stimulating them often, while they're still not too wiggly.
Olive's litter, 4/1/17
Olive's litter arrived in the wee hours of the morning on Friday, March 31. She gave us 6 boys and 3 girls. All are alert and healthy, nursing well and making lots of noise. It's amazing to see how strong their little bodies are already. Olive is taking great care of the brood - keeping them fed and clean. She only leaves them briefly when nature calls and to eat. She keeps a watchful eye on us when we handle them, just as she should.
Olive's litter arrived in the wee hours of the morning on Friday, March 31. She gave us 6 boys and 3 girls. All are alert and healthy, nursing well and making lots of noise. It's amazing to see how strong their little bodies are already. Olive is taking great care of the brood - keeping them fed and clean. She only leaves them briefly when nature calls and to eat. She keeps a watchful eye on us when we handle them, just as she should.