Five Days Earlier

Just a few days before whelping, the x-ray told us how many to expect (composite of digital radiographs taken 15 May 2011):

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First Week (days 1-7)

The puppies’ first week was all about eating, sleeping, and cuddles. Weights were checked twice each day; each easily doubled in size. We’ve gone with ice-cream inspired nicknames so we have something to call each one during handling. They were adored and snuggled by six new people and received countless kisses. Nose and lip pigmentation are rapidly filling in, feet pad pigmentation has started. Nails were trimmed for the first time, neuro-stim began. They are already showing signs of getting up on their legs - this is a strong and active bunch! What fun we’ll have!!

Boys                                                                                               Girls

~ Moose, Ripple, Bruno, Chip ~                                                               ~ Truffle, Cookie, Vanna, Dulce ~

During the warmest part of the day the puppies are so far apart

they don’t even touch; this is their post-breakfast “milk coma”

while it’s still fairly cool.

Daily handling by a teenage boy.

Friends and neighbors bring smells of other animals and the sounds of other voices.

Soon they will be too big to hold with just one hand!

Which means, we’re going to need a bigger hot-box.

Starting on Day 3 we initiated the “super dog” neuro-stimulation exercises. These have proven over and over to help produce mentally strong and stable adults, and we heartily endorse their use. Five different puppies are shown below: 

Four to five seconds each: “tickle the toes” with a Q-tip; head up; head down...

...flat on back, and then “chill out” on a cold, damp towel.

Each goes into the “hot box” when the exercises are done; they usually nap.

Second Week (days 8-14)

This has been a week of big changes - and big growth!! Weights range from 3.2 to 3.8 lbs. The are so strong and active they will be moving to the family room a week early, so we can attach the playpen to the whelping box. Neuro-stim continues into the next week and nails were trimmed again. They have gone from crawling to staggering, eyes are open, pigmentation continues to fill in lips and feet, markings are clarifying, and the puppies can now make deliberate noises and eliminate partially on their own.

Each gets some independent time every day, being carried around the house and yard during chores or cuddling on the sofa while we watch TV. Their ears are opening, so my favorite sound/socialization CD’s are played daily. They met eight new people this week, and were sniffed by (and sniffed back) a couple of our truly safe adult dogs.

We are very pleased with the strength and vigor of this litter. They have long, fat tails, lots of angles, long necks and upper arms, and pleasing heads. The next week promises to be full of fun and development.

We consider it essential that the puppies be handled by men and women of all ages, and see hats at an early age.

L-R: Becky with Vanna; KT with Cookie; Anthony with Dulce.

Regular snugglers are not counted among the week’s new visitors.

co-breeder Joan with Moose.

Some guests like to lie in the whelping box!

Barb gets to know Truffle.

The puppies gave me fits trying to weigh them by the end of the week,

as their explorations are really taking off.

Bruno escaping the weight box.

And, the obligatory hot-box photo (taken mid-week).

Puppies, clockwise from upper left:

Moose, Bruno, Truffle, Vanna, Chip, Ripple, Dulce, Cookie.

Third Week (days 15-21)

Lots of development this week! It is astonishing how quickly they grow. Weights range from 5.1 - 5.8#, and I feel safest using two hands to pick them up. Neuro-stim exercises completed on day 16, we had a few new visitors, nails were trimmed, a soft brush was introduced, they were de-wormed for the first time, teeth are coming in, and they discovered puppy gruel. Whew! Ears are fully open now open, too, and as they are in the family room there’s a steady stream of TV and house-hold noises. Each puppy gets daily individual cuddles. Sound/socialization CD’s are played, they play with each other and a rotating assortment of toys, make an entertaining variety of grunts, growls, and howls, and have started self-grooming. Flash photography is allowed again, so more pictures this week. Enjoy!

We continue to be very pleased with the strength, vigor, and quality of this litter. Thanks to co-breeder Sandra and Skype, colors are updated.

“Super-puppy” exercises were done from day 3 through day 16. Look at the size difference from their first week until now!

L->R: Ripple (self-brindled sable) get his toes tickled; Chip (self-brindled sable) held upright; Cookie (self-black&tan) inverted.

L->R: Moose (IM sabled red) on his back; Bruno (self cream? brindle) on the chilled damp cloth.

Toys are good for playing and napping. Clever puppies!

L->R: Chip (self-brindled sable) will find the squeaker; Vanna (IM silver brindle) and Cookie (black&tan) love the foxtail;

Truffle (self-brindled sable) naps on a rubber toy; Dulce (self-brindled sable) dreams of rabbits.

Friend and agility equipment-vendor John took time to handle each puppy

after dropping off new equipment for our field.

Ripple (self-brindled sable)

Collective napping and group nap. Now that they explore both sides of the box at will, it’s harder to get all the puppies in a single shot. The hot-box has been retired.

Clockwise, from upper left: Bruno (self cream? brindle); Cookie (self black&tan); Vanna (IM silver brindle); Dulce (self-brindled sable); Truffle (self-brindled sable); Chip (self-brindled sable); Ripple (self-brindled sable); Moose (IM sabled red).

After some initial misgivings about milk replacer with a bit of canned food, the puppies quickly figured out eating and napping options.

Vanna (IM silver brindle) and Truffle (self-brindled sable) exploring; Cookie (self black&tan) and Ripple (self-brindled sable) go with Option 2.

Self-grooming skills are developing. L->R: Ripple (self-brindled sable) and Moose (IM sabled red) in various states of distraction.

Fourth Week (days 22-28)

Exploration and coordination were the hallmarks this past week. Hearing, vision, and locomotion are all improved, and teeth are coming in! The puppies play with each other and a variety of toys, and they spent a bit of time outside. Barking has been added to their vocal repertoire, keeping us entertained. The clicker was introduced, potty training began, and they have access to a crate bottom for napping.

Basic husbandry handling (teeth, toes, tails, and etc.) was incorporated into each puppy’s solo time, brushing and nail trimming continue, too!

Chip looks for an alternate way into the crate bottom; Truffle doesn’t quite make it over the wall for a nap; Dulce discovers newspaper shreds!

Eating puppy gruel (milk replacer and a bit of puppy food) followed by a long nap are both group activities. Feeding pans vary daily.

The puppies spend a little time outside every day - fresh air and sunshine! L: Moose and Vanna look up from their toy.

R: “Break-out Bruno” was the first to find an opening for escape (quickly remedied) and surveyed his options from Tigress’s chaise lounge.

Moose and Cookie have a puppy war in the crate; Vanna dreams of... who knows what.

The whelping box is still big enough for everyone to line up at the milk bar - barely.

Fifth Week (days 29-35)

What a week! Puppies moved to a bigger space outside for a good portion of each day, allowing them to romp and figure out how to use their bodies. The figured out the doggie door, the perks of a dog house, the joys of sticks and troubles of pine sap, graduated to kibble and mastered buckets. Daily handling (teeth, toes, tummies, testicles, tails, et al), brushing, nail trimming continue. Potty training is coming along nicely, they were de-wormed for the second time, and got to spend some time with their papa.

Unfortunately they are now VERY difficult to photograph, as they come racing to my lap every time I bend down to take a picture.

We have about a zillion photos like this - just a bit outside the frame and unidentifiable.

Milk replacer quickly gave way to mushy kibble; in just days they had figured out buckets.

L: Bruno naps in a baking dish (silly boy); C: all eight still for just a minute; R: Truffle gets a drink.

A few lucky shots were taken. L: Dulce gazes into the big pasture. R: Moose prepares for a mad minute.

And moments of unbearable cuteness. L: Cookie charms her way into a snuggle. R: Ripple and Moose rest in the shade.

Group, team, and individual play occupy much of the day. Note Chip protesting something (right). C: Bruno chomps Vanna’s leg.

R: Vanna works her teeth on a rubber toy.

L: Tigress requires the puppies be careful with their teeth. Note Gin watching from the pasture. R: Moose sez I wasn’t done nursing!!

Sixth Week (days 36-42)

Another busy, busy week, filled with new experiences and lots of growth. The puppies finished weaning (at Tigress’s insistence) and weighed-in at 11# - 12.8#! Body coordination is coming along wonderfully, they got a bigger out-door space and their days are spent outside. Clicker training continues, as does lots of handling. So many new things this week, we didn’t get photos of them all! Crate training, car rides, individual explorations, new adult dogs, the lure toy, a swimming pool for cooling off, and more human visitors (from Germany!) rounded out the week.

The whelping box and playpen were retired, replaced by a 700 crate and attached x-pen.

L: Cookie naps in the big crate. R: Four puppies crashed after another fun day outside.

Dulce and Moose have an epic battle on the raised bed in their outside play area. Vanna sez crate training is a breeze!

Every day each puppy goes on an individual adventure. Ripple ponders the wisdom of full desert sun.

Truffle samples the shade of a piñon.

Each evening we “go walkies” around a section of the ranchero. This is a great time to practice recalls. Along the way, they meet the rest of the Oxota hounds. Gin greets Vanna; Ren and Cookie say hello; Truffle weighs her options.

We never know what we’ll encounter! Bruno (L) approaches the plank; Ripple (top) goes after a lizard. Vanna (R) is on to other things...

Dulce, Moose, and Chip race up a dirt pile.

They sez this is fun, can we go again?!?

Seventh Week (days 43-49)

This week was chock-full of new people, places, things to do, and objects to explore. Vision and hearing are fully formed, and we took advantage of their new capacities. Longer car rides (including their first trip to the vet), walkies in the big pasture, agility equipment, lure toy, stairs, the spray bottle, thunderstorms, hail... on and on! The puppies got their first detailed exams and shots, met adult dogs smaller than themselves, and now enjoy the entire 3,000 sq. ft. of the puppy paddock. We are very pleased with the substance, angulation, and stability of these youngsters.

The puppies trip to the vet exposed them to new sights, sounds, and smells - including traffic and horses. Bruno greets Dr. Becky.

My van did double-duty for transport and exam-room space. Eyes (Truffle), ears (Vanna), and hearts (Dulce).

(all puppies OFA Cardiac Normal) were checked before...

...testicles (Chip) - each male has two. Then first vaccination (Merial 4-way) (Cookie). Back home, a round of routine deworming (Moose).

L: Moose & Henri (bichon) hang out; C: Boomer the beagle loves company; R: Clara (schnauzer X lhasa) sez Dulce, I need space.

The puppies have a steady stream of visitors nearly every day. Some new, some regulars. They love people of all ages!

Bruno gets acquainted with Paul; Cookie asks Dave to play with the rabbit skin; Vanna cuddles under the shade of a big hat.

L: For the last week, breakfast has been “served” in a plastic bag. Now that vision is fully formed, the lure toy has

been introduced - with great success! C: Dulce comes in on the fun Chip and Truffle are having.

R: Vanna wants what Dulce has. Uninhibited enthusiasm for the chase is encouraged.

At this age, puppies are fearless. L: Big noisy garbage cans are perfectly normal; too bad trash day is only once a week! C: Vanna tackles the stairs with ease; these are now part of every day’s excursion. R: Truffle plays “ring around the juniper” with Anthony.

While access to “real” agility equipment is supervised, the puppies have free access to introductory obstacles.

Moose watches Ripple and ? experiment with the teeter; Dulce pauses on the buja board (as Trek watches); Cookie exits the tunnel.

For more pictures from the week, click here.