You’d think the puppies would be tired out from yesterday but they wake up raring to go. They really enjoy playing outside and almost always go running out into the grass or rocks to potty - such smart puppies!
This afternoon they added more new people to their list. 3 adults and 3 youngters. As is often the case, children are more interested in playing with all of the toys we have out for the puppies longer than the actual puppies. That’s just as well because I really just want the puppies to be exposed to children. The playhouse and the ball pit were of high interest but they were very helpful in making noise when requested. Singing, clapping, hollering, cheering, stomping feet; I think we covered the gamut ;-). It was naptime for the puppies so they eventually sacked back out all over the deck. The big girls were VERY interested in watching them eat the string cheese. (I divided an extra stick up amongst the girls for behaviors so they didn’t ‘share’ the ones belonging to the humans.
The water bucket is a great item as far as the puppies are concerned. Nanny McPhoebe is almost obsessed with their bucket outside. I fill it and she drinks half of it (the big dogs have a BIG stainless bucket inside and she has a coop cup in ‘her’ crate but she usually knocks it off). Granted it is a much smaller bucket so half isn’t THAT much but 9 puppies need to drink it, too. Since they are inevitably spilling it, maybe she is trying to minimize cleanup. The puppies seem to think that mopping it up with their hair is the perfect solution, good thing it was warm and sunny this afternoon.
We had a new milestone this evening. I fed them a little less for dinner (well first they each got a ball of meat with the latest dose of pyrantel/praziquantel in it) and then as they finished up, I sprinkled some dry kibble (they’ve only had it soaked in goat milk/kefir/yogurt/etc until now and they make it pretty cleara they aren’t any too impressed with it) into the dish and they actually ate it! I added more several times and they kept eating it. So I filled up a few of the kong type toys (one of them is a pyramid that was their Daddy’s when he was a wee one) with kibble and when I brought them into the pen, I made them sprinkle into the dish. They ate that with interest and then knocked some out on their own. That means I’ll be able to put the Treat N Train in the pen and reward them remotely (as a group). It’s especially handy for getting puppies to go into the pen on their own because I can just press the button and they’ll run over there to eat it. The trick is keeping the big girls from running it as well but we’ll work something out ;-)
I’ve been doing puppy laundry a lot today (swims took 9 fluffy towels, plus 4 big crate pads followed by baths which took at least 12 plus the MaterGator got to go for a swim so she needed a shower. And that’s on top of all of the normal puppy linens. (I’m glad we got the BIG washing machine but still a lot of litters). I don’t bounce back as fast as the puppies (nor do I sleep as much or as soundly as they do) so I think I’m going to try to take a nap before it is time for their midnight snack. Tomorrow is supposed to be even prettier (80 and sunny) so we may go to the pond again and let the puppies (in small groups) play on their own. Good thing I got all of that laundry done ;-). Puppy breath to all, Nighty Nighty Nighty
Monday, April 30, 2018
Sunday, April 29, 2018
04/29/18 Pupdate
It’s 5:54PM and the puppies have definitely gotten their second (or third or 12th) wind. They’ve been outside playing for nearly an hour, they were awake and insisting that they needed to go out to potty or we’d still be inside. It’s windy and I think it’s cold in the shade (I’m wearing long pants and a coat). They think it’s fine weather to run and play and romp. MaterGator has been playing with them about the whole time we’ve been out, too.
They’ve had a BIG day and so have the humans. This morning, I fed them in the pen because it was in the low 30s outside. They probably wouldn’t have cared but I did. So a few of them pooped in the potty pan and the rest of them held it until I took them outside at 10am. They pretty consistently wake up for midmorning romp and are thrilled to play outside in the sunshine. It was warm in the sun but the wind felt cold to the humans. They showed no sign of concern. It took them until after 11:30 to even begin to settle down for naptime.
As they started to settle in for a nice little rest, the Aunts arrived. Most of the puppies slept through the commotion and I carried the other one in for Cindi to hold while I finished up getting things ready to go up to the pond (and for 6 week old photoshoot).
After we took care of all of the unavoidable delay (crates, crate pads, towels, props, treats, etc., etc.), we put the puppies in crates in the vehicles and drove up the hill to the pond. 6 of the puppies were quiet and sleeping, the 3 in the other crate were awake and not so quiet. But by the time we took each of their pictures, they were all quieted down.
But we didn’t let sleeping puppies lie, it was time for first swims! The water was chilly (but bear in mind I prefer the pool temperature to be 98 degrees) but the sun shone most of the time and the puppies weren’t in the water nearly as long as I was. None of them were even wet completely through their coats.
Each puppy swam twice, a couple of them went rogue and tried to go a little swimabout (and once kept putting it’s head under the water like the MaterGator likes to do) but they eventually got to shore and had some starter mousse (aka puppy crack, even Uncle Armada likes it and he’s PICKY! Or selective as RT so kindly phrases my food preferences)
After swimming, it was time for baths! They were all very well behaved again but I needed to ditch the little basin in the laundry sink because they’ve outgrown it. I think next baths are going to be in the shower. The puppies took a nice nap all cuddled up together. They didn’t sleep as long as I expected and they insisted on outside playtime for over an hour before their dinner time. The MamaDog played with them for almost all of that time. She’s been working on playing with them but they’ve been more interested in nursing than playing with her.
Tune in tomorrow for another adventure. Nighty, nighty, nighty. Puppy breath to all
They’ve had a BIG day and so have the humans. This morning, I fed them in the pen because it was in the low 30s outside. They probably wouldn’t have cared but I did. So a few of them pooped in the potty pan and the rest of them held it until I took them outside at 10am. They pretty consistently wake up for midmorning romp and are thrilled to play outside in the sunshine. It was warm in the sun but the wind felt cold to the humans. They showed no sign of concern. It took them until after 11:30 to even begin to settle down for naptime.
As they started to settle in for a nice little rest, the Aunts arrived. Most of the puppies slept through the commotion and I carried the other one in for Cindi to hold while I finished up getting things ready to go up to the pond (and for 6 week old photoshoot).
After we took care of all of the unavoidable delay (crates, crate pads, towels, props, treats, etc., etc.), we put the puppies in crates in the vehicles and drove up the hill to the pond. 6 of the puppies were quiet and sleeping, the 3 in the other crate were awake and not so quiet. But by the time we took each of their pictures, they were all quieted down.
But we didn’t let sleeping puppies lie, it was time for first swims! The water was chilly (but bear in mind I prefer the pool temperature to be 98 degrees) but the sun shone most of the time and the puppies weren’t in the water nearly as long as I was. None of them were even wet completely through their coats.
Each puppy swam twice, a couple of them went rogue and tried to go a little swimabout (and once kept putting it’s head under the water like the MaterGator likes to do) but they eventually got to shore and had some starter mousse (aka puppy crack, even Uncle Armada likes it and he’s PICKY! Or selective as RT so kindly phrases my food preferences)
After swimming, it was time for baths! They were all very well behaved again but I needed to ditch the little basin in the laundry sink because they’ve outgrown it. I think next baths are going to be in the shower. The puppies took a nice nap all cuddled up together. They didn’t sleep as long as I expected and they insisted on outside playtime for over an hour before their dinner time. The MamaDog played with them for almost all of that time. She’s been working on playing with them but they’ve been more interested in nursing than playing with her.
Tune in tomorrow for another adventure. Nighty, nighty, nighty. Puppy breath to all
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)