Saturday, March 17, 2007

Puppy on Puppy Play





Rob, my son got these pictures. I have been trying to get these and am always doing something else and miss the moments. These guys are just over 3 weeks and play with each other like real dogs. They are getting teeth, some of them, so this will give them feedback for bite inhibition soon. They are sounding like pups too with barks and growls.

Friday, March 16, 2007

The Story of Monster Man


















We meet Monster Man, we greet Monster Man, we try to eat Monster Man and then we sleep next to Monster Man. We are definitely having a fun time. These guys are amazing. When I started to litter box train them by plopping them in the box as they were about to poop or pee I thought I was crazy. Going by the advice of long time breeder care taker (Thanks again Kathy) I did it but really was not a believer. Now I am. I was out of the room and when I came back Mr. Blue was in the box pooping. Boy did he get praise. Oh yes, they are out of the pool thanks to Mr. Purple who escaped yesterday.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Toys, Toys, Toys

Well, the fun has started. They play. They mouth each other's noses. They come to us when we come near them. When Cheeto walks around their area they follow her. Today we introduced two toys that make noise. Leprechaun amazed me by rolling the snake with her nose across the floor following it as she rolled it.

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Big Red finds her Big Voice

How could such a sweet little girl have such a big voice. They are beginning to hear now and loving to express themselves. The left is a little fuzzy because it would be better as a video. It is action and noise. Sometimes the noise that comes out of them surprises even them and they just knock themselves over. They are walking well and some of them can even walk on the vinyl flooring; others still slip. The white fleece in the background is waiting to be washed outside of the x-pen. It is great in that it helps give them traction when they are learning to walk and just wicks away any moisture (pee) that mom Cheeto might miss. There is more of that now and we are starting to litter box train them. They have explored outside the pool but inside the x-pen where they eat and the litter box is also. Then I put them back in their pool that is familiar to them; just little changes. No one has escaped the pool yet but the day is coming soon.

Monday, March 12, 2007

Saucer Bowl Parties


We have started feeding the group from the saucer bowls a weaning formula to get them to learn to lap up from the bowl. It did not take long before they all got it and were loving it. It really looks like a puppy food fight with food everywhere. It is messy but Cheeto takes care of that for them. They are really into it.

Feeding the Eight


The traditional lying down position still works well but the sitting position gives all of them easy access at once. The second is the more common way she feeds them now when she starts. She will sit this way until a few have finished and then she will slowly lower herself down. They are starting to learn how to eat from a saucer bowl, funny messy pictures of this later, as mom Cheeto is up to 12 cups a day of her own Performance Kibble. She is performing!

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Snuggling puppies






It is just amazing how they pair up and touch. Very seldom is a pup lying off by themselves. They find each other and snuggle.

Friday, March 9, 2007

Sleepy Puppy Train


On the left is a common sleeping arrangement. They line up touching each other at the edge of the pool. One guy is under the fleece another common place to sleep. Yellow didn't get the memo and is resting in the center. Isn't this paw just so sweet. I always remember when I get a new pup how smooth the paws are... these are baby soft.

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Lucky

This is Lucky you met him before but now look at this guy. He weighs 3 lbs. 3 oz. Many pup's eyes opened late yesterday. Looking into their beautiful dark eyes brought tears to mine. They are precious. They actually are beginning to look like puppies. A few times during the day they have organized romping. They are noisy and just climb and wobble walk and have a puppy party. Everyone is doing some kind of walking - some can really get somewhere, some carefully place one paw after the other and some almost run, but they still spend most of their time out cold sleeping. And yes, eating. Cheeto is doing a great job nursing the bunch and eating herself sometimes up to 10 cups a day, with cottage cheese. She sleeps next to the pups on a her bed at night and keeps watch.

Miss. Yellow


Six minutes after Mr. Orange Miss. Yellow was born at 13.4 oz. This is one of the many times we were glad we had enough "whelper helpers." She was a real squealer but has proven so far to be a quiet little lady. Can you believe the size of her tongue! She is 2 lbs and 9 oz. They are all using their hind legs as Miss. Yellow demonstrated on her way to the breakfast bar this morning. Last night I swear they said "OK time to practice walking," as they all wobbled in different directions, taking a few "steps" and plopping on their bellies.