Barkley

Kari, who raised Cheeto, is now raising Barley, the former Ms Orange. Her family is in Denver so this mean Barkley put on a few miles this Christmas. Looks like there was a point that she just had enough and curled up in a corner.
This is what Kari wrote about her:
I'm so excited to finally be raising one of her puppies! Since coming to live with me, Barkley has been a busy girl - she's already spent two days at my office, been to four restaurants, gone on a 1400-mile driving trip to Colorado, stayed with three different puppy-sitters, and spent a night in a hotel - all in only 10 days. She's even learned to go to the door and ring a bell to ask to go outside, and she is thoroughly enjoying all of the deep snow up in the mountains!

Bubbly

Miss Red is Bubbly and doing fantastic. It is always amazing to see how they grow and mature. If you have a B puppy let me know and I will send you an invite to post or post for you if you like. Just email at cheetobreeder@yahoo.com. It is such fun to watch the adventures of the puppies.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all those who have followed our blog.
May you be blessed this Christmas and always.
From Cheeto and her best pal Keith and the Firlit Family.

Christmas Turkey

The puppies have made their way to Michigan. The drive was not ideal but what do you expect for December? Ice and snow. We had both. The puppies were stars. Four hours in their crates and no accidents! Boy did they have to go when we got there. It was so cold and I hesitated stopping anywhere so we just hoped they could do it and they made us proud. That are all big, 14-16 pounds and they behaved like big guys. I forgot to leave the toys for the puppy raisers so if you get a B puppy just email me and I will send your toy to you. Here is their last play with Mr. Christmas turkey. Doesn't everyone have one? Blessings to all of you this holiday season. To puppy raisers, trainers, and staff thank you for all you will do for these sweet guys.
All of us here at the Firlit household miss them but we will all get some needed rest. They were getting big and needed their own homes. Make us proud puppies.

Playroom

The puppies have a playroom they visit. They chase and in general just have a blast. The red slide is still the favorite although they can climb up the yellow stairs to the blue slide on their own now. The game here was to see how many puppies can go through the red slide at the same time. Today the number was 3. They sure do have fun.

Morning Tunnel Play

These puppies love the tunnel. Most just race through it. Some just hang-out in it and others sleep in it (Ms. Orange). This is Ms. Yellow.

More Visitors

There is still a stream of visitors who come to play with the pups. We are using the tunnel which they love. They are very sweet as you can see. Miss Yellow loved Jory and I think the feeling was mutual.

Snow Disc and Baby Toy

I am always trying to come up with new things for them to play with. This was a snow disc turned up side down with a baby toy that is suctioned to the top. They loved it. The toy twirls and makes noise and they explored, batted it and of course tried to eat it. What is in the background are hanging toys. This group just loves them. Some of them move, others wiggle when they pull them others are soft. They amazingly have figured out how to work them all. This group even turns on the mobile. They are smart little guys and gals. Puppy raisers you will love them. They are explorers and thinkers and all are litter box trained. They all go in and out of the crate and some love to sleep in it. Only 10 more days and they will be back at PAWS. They will be ready. Over sixty people have come to visit. More will come these last two weekends. And then there will be the good-bye visits.

Ollie Goes to his Forever Home

The O puppies are heading to their placements. Lots of proud raisers and one very proud momma Cheeto. Isn't Ollie handsome? Ollie was raised by my daughter Julie. Later in the same day Emmy was being turned into Paws Julie was there to say a sweet good bye to Ollie who headed to Georgia on Wednesday. He has a wonderful placement and will make a man's very challenged life just a little easier and a lot more fun. These are always such great moments. Thanks to the wonderful trainers at PAWS you have worked real magic again. We are all proud of our boy. Ozzie is already at his placement also. Now the Field Representative do their magic - work hard O puppies. It seems like just yesterday you were here romping in my kitchen. Now there is a whole new litter waiting to go to their foster puppy homes.

Emmy Goes to College!

Today Emmy returned to PAWS for college! It certainly was bitter-sweet but we are so, so proud of the amazing dog she has become. Thank you Cheeto, Marianne, and everyone else who has supported Emmy and the other "E" puppies (Elkie and Emma went back today too!) through this past year! Cheeto...you have done well! We look forward to keeping everyone updated with Emmy's progress in training!

Cat House

This is a cat toy the puppies love. They all ran up to is and checked it out. Most went in and Red decided the tail was her favorite part. The puppies are given different toys daily to let them investigate. Toys are also rotated so that the same toys are not in with them daily. They have taken excursions out of their pen and are separated from each other. The top is now on the kennel and they venture in and out. They are all around 10 pounds.

Happy Thanksgiving

Blessings to you all as you celebrate with your families this Thanksgiving.
We here are very thankful.

Morning Play

Who could have so much fun with containers? Today they got a huge cereal box with some went in and explored. They played with a cottage cheese container. They are eager to find something new. They are getting the litter box down and that is always a relief.

Visitors Keep Coming

This is the gift of hospitality. There have been over 40 people who have come so far - small groups no more than 2 times a day and spaced hours apart they come. The puppies love them. I am always so humbled by this gift of time to these puppies. They are growing and learning. The litter box had some wonderful successes today. Puppies choosing to us it on their own. Yes! They are eating from their food dish now and still nursing. It is so much fun to see them play with the toys.

Puppy Play

They are growing and playing. The change daily is amazing. We have made the pen bigger and the play room is ready for them.

More Fun

The visitors keep coming and they numbering in the 30's now. Betsy brought her husband Don and their friends Don and Sue. The pups are growing and developing and showing more interaction. Ms. Red has a crazy idea she likes to sleep in the litter box. We have introduced the bottom of the crate to hopefully interest her in that spot.

The Fun has Started

The visitors are coming. This is such fun. I don't know who enjoys this more the pups me or the visitors. I get to watch my friend's grandchildren grow as they come to visit each litter and they get to hold puppies and their grandparents watch and cuddle puppies too. Thanks everyone for taking the time out of your days to just spend time with these little pups. This socialization is so important - the men and women and especially the little hands.

Puppy Visits Have Started

Kari, Mary Alice and Mary B. came to visit the pups. Thanks for coming guys. Two of the girls will be going to Kari and Mary Alice. How fun to meet the puppies at such a young age. If you want to visit email me and I will put you on Cheeto's calendar.

Puppy Play

The puppies are much more mobile. This is early morning and they have just been fed. The bowl is Cheeto's she likes to eat her breakfast while she is feeding the pups their breakfast.

Growing Puppies

Things are changing. We are rid of the pool during the day and the pups are beginning to play and explore. They then are exhausted and just sleep even lying on their backs. Momma Cheeto takes very good care of them. This is the part she enjoy - bringing out the toys.

Anne and Mr. White

My whelper helpers are the best. Julie and Anne, my daughters, were there when the pups were born and are my sitters so I can continue to have a life. All the pups are very mellow and have been cuddled and touched. White is very happy to sleep in her arms. Can you believe the size! They are all over 4 lbs.

Wobbly Walk

They all have opened their eyes and now they have started to walk. If you can call it that. They take a few wobbly steps and then plop. Green and Orange are especially good. This is the noisy activity time. The real fun starts.

Eyes are Opening

White was the first to open his eyes. The others will follow closely. It's such fun when they finally look back at you. They are all over 3 pounds today.

Noisy Puppies

Every evening or morning after they have full bellies there is activity time. They move around and make the silliest noises. Some of it is sounds like barking, some sounds like birds. I doesn't last too long and these fat puppies are sleeping.

Rolly Polly Puppies

The puppies have all doubled their birth weight - all well over two pounds. We have switched to collars so they really look like they are grown up. Eyes and ears are still closed but we are expecting changes soon. They basically are eating machines and Momma Cheeto is eating 7 cups a day to provide the milk.

Happy First Week Puppies!

The puppies are one week old today. This is the bunch of them in their warming box. They get weighed two times a day and are in their box while their pool gets bleached and a clean fleece is put down. Looks like they will soon grow out of their box and graduate to a laundry basket.

Milk Bar

The puppies line up to eat and when the really suck their tails curl and wag. They are doing well. Both their eyes and ears are closed. First their eyes will open. That should happen in the next few days. Little slits are beginning now. I love when they finally look back at you.

The Travels of White

Each pup is different from the time they are born. Some are noisy, some are content in the corner and other are explorers. White has decided that the he is leaving to explore the great white mountains.

Vet Visit

The puppies had their vet visit today for their exam and dew claw removal. Mom and pups are doing great. Cheeto is 67 pounds, just 6 pounds up from her initial pregnancy weight. Amazing.