Interesting 3 Part Series on CBC

I haven't listened to it all, but it looks interesting....

http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/episodes/2010/12/13/dogs-themselves-part-1---3/

Thanks Carol!

Today was Vet Check and Vaccine Day

The pups had a visit with Dr. Gumley today.  All are in excellent health!  They also had their first booster.  I'll provide families with the vaccine certificates to give to their Vets.  I'm expecting a quiet evening tonight after all the excitement of today.

The Pups are keeping me very busy.....

With Rosie gone home and the pups being at an age where they need a lot of attention and care, things are very busy around here!  They are becoming quite strong and coordinated, so I've had to take down the low wooden barrier on the door and a closed the wire door.  I had a few escapees....

Their favourite play toys are socks.  They get some pretty good tug of war battles going.  I give them my sons' rugby socks, which are very long, and four of them can get in on the fun.  Earlier tonight they had a battle going with Cassonade.  It was her against 4 of the pups.

I transport them from the basement to the backyard or living room in a laundry basket.  I call it the puppy bus.  As soon as they see the puppy bus they are all scrambling to get on.   They ride standing on their hind legs with their front paws over the edge so they can see.   They seem to know not to try and climb out.  But as soon as I put the 'bus' on the ground, they climb out as fast as they can.

They are virtually impossible to photograph because they never stop moving - except to sleep.

They are eating well.  I haven't weighed them recently - again very hard to do because they don't sit still on the scale.  But they are going to the Vet on Saturday for a thorough check and their first set of vaccines, so I will get weights on everyone then.  I cut their nails the other day and all sat still on my lap for that.  So that is good!

Only 10 more sleeps for many of you! :-)))

Update on Juno's Pups

Well Juno must be producing milk for six, even though she only has two.  The pups will be two weeks tomorrow and Kahlua already weighs 1.15 kg.  Sheridan isn't far behind at 1 kg.  For context, Rosie's smallest pup at 6 weeks weighed 1.5 kg!! They are long as well as round.  Kahlua is 11 inches long and Sheridan is 9.5 inches long.  I don't think Kahlua and Sheridan will be walking as young as Rosie's pack because they are little porkers :-))).

The girls eyes opened today.  Although they are hard to see with their dark faces and dark eyes.

Final puppy allocations

The Barnes family is excited to welcome green boy (Mocha?) into their home.  And the MacClennan family is excited to welcome blue boy in their home.  Shiraz (yellow) and Merlot (pink) will both be retained as future breeding prospects.  I'm still looking for guardian homes for the cuties.....

Puppy Allocation has Begun!

The Noxon family is excited to welcome GRIFFON (black collared boy) into their family.  The Price family is excited to welcome NALA (orange collared girl) into their family.  And the Lee family is excited to welcome LOLA (red collared girl) into their family.

Congratulations to pups and families!

Grandma Cassonade gets in on the fun!

Kahlua and Sheridan

A few...

Everyone loves Aunt Guinness

A Day of Firsts!

Today the pups went outside for the first time AND met the other dogs in my pack for the first time.  No one was happier than Guinness, who has been anxious to meet the pups since the day they arrived.  She was so thrilled to finally be able to play with them.

First Meal of Solid Food

I gave the pups their first meal of solid food today.  It was a mixture of warm puppy formula and a can of duck and potato dog food.  Because I have food allergies (as does Snickerz), I'm very careful about waiting until the pups are older before I introduce food and also about the ingredients that are in the food (only introducing novel proteins).  Because the pups are almost 5 weeks old, they did not need any instruction or coaxing to get them to eat.   They literally (and figuratively) dove right in!  It was gone in minutes.....

Juno's Pups have finally arrived.

Juno had two sweet little girls.  One is solid chocolate and the other is a chocolate/tan phantom.  It is amazing, the phantom's markings are already fully evident.  Usually, they grow into them.  Her paws, cheeks, eyebrows, chest, and butt are a beautiful caramel tan colour.  Juno's pre-labour was long.  But she is happy with what she produced now!  The solid chocolate girl is named Kahlua and the chocolate/tan girl is named Sheridan.

Still No Juno Pups!

Juno's pups still haven't arrived.  She doesn't even look like she is going into labour today.  Last night I thought she would have them for sure, but those contractions seem to have passed without producing any pups.

Rosie's pups are getting more and more coordinated every day.  Instead of sort of falling on top of each other while wrestling, they actually launch themselves on one another.  They are still a little awkward with their bodies, but getting much stronger and more in control.  I took some photos of them today.

Belated Post

I have allowed myself to be delinquent in posting because all of the adopting families came to visit in the last week.  I figured words would not provide any more insight into the pups status than a visit with the pups would.  I have now moved the pups into a large play area in the basement.  Juno and her pups (whenever they arrive) will move into the whelping room.  

The play area is at least 4 x 8.  The pups have a sleeping area (all 7 snuggle into one dog bed), a play area (with a super large stuffed german shepherd and a bunch of toys), an eating area (that only has water in it right now) and a pee area (with pee pads).  They are using the pee pads to go pee!  Not every time and not consistently, but quite often.

I'm thinking Juno's pups may indeed arrive tonight.  She is shivering and restless.  It isn't the first time in the last few days she's been like that, but it is a bit more intense tonight.  I hope they come soon!  Below is Juno's X-ray from Saturday.  There are two pups.