Last Years Puppies

Two pictures of puppies from last years litter....enjoying life in their new homes. If you want references from past owners, they are always available....

Theodore "Theo" Roosevelt

Theodore is a male puppy. He is a wonderful middle of the road dog. Not the most outgoing, and not shy. He is a patient pup. When they are getting anxious to go out, he doesn't cry about it, he just waits patiently until I get the kennel open. This isn't the best picture, but wanted you to meet Theo.
Added a bit later.....Theodore is growing! He and Abe are the biggest in the litter. Theo's personality is really starting to come out. He is a very perceptive and thoughtful puppy. He may not be the first to run out and greet you, but he sure doesn't forget you at the end, when all the other puppies have run off to play.

Birdsall "Birdie" Otis Edey

Birdie is a female puppy that wears the purple ribbon. She is the other bigger girl. She loves to fetch and chew! If I see a puppy carrying something around, it has to be Birdie. She loves sticks, mulch, towels, paper, anything! She is a clown, and loves to play chase with the children. She is an active and fun puppy.

Betsy Ross

This is the female puppy we call Betsy. She wears the light pink, almost white ribbon. She is probably the biggest female and rivals the boys for size. She was the first born, and is very level headed. These two pictures were taken one week apart. Isn't it amazing how they grow? The right hand picture was taken just after her muzzle got its first trim. She will make someone an amazingly devoted dog.

Potty Training

No, I don't really potty train them the way Edey does, but they are starting to really get the idea. I got up at 5:30 this morning when I heard one or two puppies whining. When I took them outside, they promptly did their business. I think puppies naturally want to do their business away from where they sleep, you just have to take advantage of their early attempts to signal you, and you can't delay. So, if it means an early wake up call, I am willing to go with it. Pretty soon, they may all move to a crate so that they can get used to that idea as well. They are just 6 weeks now, so vaccinations and physicals are planned for this week.

Naming the Puppies

The pups all got a name this weekend. We have used some colored ribbon to distinguish them, but not all of them would keep their colors on. We got started on a presidential kick when the children dubbed a favorite boy, George Washington because of his mop of hair on his head. From their they all got names, and surprisingly, they all suit them well. Here is the name chart that hangs over the box. The colors indicate what color ribbon they may have around their neck. They are getting their first visit from a prospective owner later today, so it will help keep them straight when people start picking out their favorites.

School Days

Five of the puppies went into the elementary school yesterday for a visit. They visited Abby's kindergarten class, and Caleb's second grade class. I could only take five because I really couldn't carry all eight in a laundry basket. They are getting so big. They are also quite frisky and their personalities are really starting to shine through. They are very interactive at this age, but the nipping hasn't really peaked yet, so it was the perfect time to take them in. The kids loved every minute of it. And the puppies didn't have a single accident, they are getting so good about holding it and only going when they are outside. It was a fun morning.

Enjoying the Outdoors

Nursing Puppies 101

Traditional Method
Bottoms Up Method
Soda Fountain Method
Feeding Frenzy...when she's down, she's available.

When the weather is fine.....

Puppies everywhere!
Everyone get Sam!
C'mon Sam, I wanna play more!

Staff Photo

These are our poodle raising employees. They don't get paid much, but they love their jobs. They are responsible for the daily handling, rotating, pushing, pulling and manipulating of the puppies. It's funny, if you start searching out puppy stuff on the web, you will come across alot of tests and manipulations ("Bio Sensor") that you can put a puppy through to help ensure you will have a "super dog" when it grows up. Things like feeling its feet, rotating it certain ways, bending and moving their heads and legs. All of these manipulations are to start at the time of birth. There are alot of studies out there that show that puppies that have been handled this way are better dogs in the end. That is fine, and I believe all that, but for me, what works, is handing them over to my three children. Give a 7 year old, a 6 year old and a 4 year old a litter of 8 puppies, and from the time they come out of the womb, they will be turned and moved and manipulated in countless directions. Nothing too scientific here. Of course, I still take the time to trim nails, run the clippers over them, and other skills they will need to know, but nothing beats the love and attention that children have to offer. In thanks for all their hard work, I think we will have to put this puppy sale money towards their college savings.

Cuter Every Day

I'm telling you, they get cuter every day....

Romper Room

I can barely spread out the fresh papers in the box and it seems to be the signal for the party to get started. Here are a few random shots from that scenario. But in the end, when the soft blanket is put in, and everyone has had their time of popping around the box, it ends in a big pile of pups napping. Notice the yawn in progress.

Attack!

A new taste....ears! My daughter is under there somewhere.....

Irresistable

The box needs to be cleaned at least daily now and a clean puppy box is too hard to resist. Clean blankets, fresh paper, 8 pups and one very happy now four year old. What more could a girl want? Maybe a clementine to eat while in there....

Sunshine!

A few hours of sunshine on Saturday, and more mild temperatures called for an outing for pups. It was their first time out, and it was a bit chilly for them, so they weren't out long. But they did enjoy the feel of the sun on their black coats. Some were eager to explore all the smells of the outdoors, and some wanted to just sit and savor it all. I caught three pups doing just that. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to photograph them. When they are on the move, all you get is a black blur. I think I need a camera with less delay when you hit the button. These pictures aren't all that great, but the others were just blurry black bodies. You will notice that the pups have colored ribbons on. It helps to know who is who, but they become their names too, at least for now. So here is Red, Green and Pinkie (girl, of course).
We are all hoping for some more spring like temperatures in the next week. An important part of growing up for the puppies is to get out and be able to explore. It is just too boring in the puppy box, and although, thanks to my children, they often wake up and find themselves in a baby stroller or a carefully constructed bed of baby blankets and surrounded by lovingly laid out stuffed animals, for a dog, it just doesn't beat getting outside in the fresh air!

First Meal

If you were in my dining room now, you would be hearing lots of lip smacking noises, and the air is filled with the pungent and actually, unpleasant odor, of canned dog food. The pups were offered their first taste of "real" dog food. And let me tell you, once it hit their lips, they were hooked. I don't understand it, and don't pretend to understand the appeal of canned, soggy dog food over warm mom's milk, but they are now having a full body (literally) experience. When they are done, it looks like I am raising a litter of piglets. All the blankets and newspapers must be changed, and faces washed. Thankfully, Quincy helps a bit with the washing part. She gets the parts I miss. A big day in the world of the pups--a small step toward independence from their mother.