Day 11: Nails
Sunday, May 1, 2016 at 10:23AM 
Here's the nail cutting gallery. As you can see the colour on this boy is bleeding through. If colour is your thing, he is going to be a gorgeous coloured boy. To me you live with personality. Keep that in mind. A dog too active, too dominant or too subdued for your lifestyle no matter how colourful is hard to live with. You need to pay attention to the dog that fits with you.
I have seen way too many dogs from those that breed for colour that are hyper (yes hyper) placed with seniors. Or someone who wanted one that would run with them and all they want to do is nap.
I can't tell you the personalities on each fully till later on. I can't even give you an initial idea as they are not mobile, interacting and deal with competition. For example a brother that pounces on them etc. These things are very important. You watch. You set up situations where you test the waters, so to speak and you figure out their temperament. It's not a 1 day test. This watching happens every single day. Many things you do not see.
You can't make a very busy dog quiet or visa versa. You can't make a submissive dog a dominant. Sure you can cultivate some of it but they are who they are. You have just trained them to be a bit more quiet or a bit more busy or less pushing that envelope. Think of Trouble. We don't have over the top busy dogs (there are some cropping up of late (not from us but it happens) - sigh) but we do have the busy Trouble who needs interactions. She would not do well in a single dog home.
So, if I cringe about colour, it's for a good reason. We are all attracted to colour but keep in mind that dog may or may not be the right one for you. Many a person has sat down at our visits and realized that dog they think is eye catching is simply too much to handle. Yes, we will take the dog back at anytime but we like to give the pup a forever home. Call me selfish but I think they deserve that.
So have fun with the colour but give them all a chance. You will get an incredible match that way.
Now back to Jeannie's pups. They are now 11 days old. Here are the weights.
Boy 1 pictured above:
Born 6-3/4oz Now: 1lb 4-1/8 oz
Girl
Born 6oz Now: 1lb 1-7/8 oz
Jeannie like tri Boy
Born 6oz Now: 1lb 1-2/8oz
They will slim out like Jeannie pups do when they start walking.
Here are the videos:
Reader Comments (12)
What, nails already? Jeannie's pups are beauties. I totally agree with you, it's not about the colour. Personally, I happen to think that all colours are beautiful. The personality is key.
Yes, a key indicator is getting stuck in blankets.
The pups are all so beautiful, initially I think being drawn to color is normal as I was but the minute I sat down and played with him when I came for the visit I realized I fell in love with all of them. They bring so much joy!
Since we got Levon from Paula, but picked him up from you, we already knew we were getting him at the 8 week visit. I remember that he ran constantly for almost 2 hours whereas I spent the last 20 minutes of the visit holding his sleeping brother, Boo, in my lap. As we were leaving, I said to Bob that I thought we were getting the wrong dog! Boo was so much in temperament like the dog we had just lost, I was naturally drawn to him. Levon was a challenging puppy, may not have been the best fit if choice had been available. Looking back, though, having a dog so different from the one I was missing was probably a good thing. And, of course, now I can't imagine not having my Levon. So, even if you don't get the dog you think you should, you somehow end up with the right one.
Shannon: Well said!!
For now I am going to have fun with colour. Love the white toes and little white spot on the chest of the first boy. The prominent apricot on the face and legs of the second boy is very pretty. The brown and white plus the apricot on the gal is a beautiful colour combination.
Now about personality. I remember on our 6 week visit, Caelen was our third choice. She just didn't seem as animated and fun as the other girls. At our 8 week visit we finally clued in that her personality was what we needed because we had an elderly dog at home and her human parents weren't getting any younger. So glad we came to this realization because her energy and personality is perfect.
Darlah, your moms are the best ! Their dispositions enable them to welcome and
nurture their babies as well as others. It must warm your heart to see it.
I can't wait for the 6 week visit... are you going to combine all 3 litters together or is it going to be too soon?
I too think colour should never be considered as a priority... its about meshing the right puppy with the right family...
Darlah, we all have so much trust in you and Nathan and know you take the time to assess each family and puppy individually ...
Wow, nails already? I can't imagine trying to do the clipping. I'd be terrified of catching skin. All of Jeannie's pups are adorable. I still can't believe she had nine. That's a "Super Woman"! Can't wait to hold the puppies.
I was surprised to see nails being clipped already. It just seems that everyday there is a new benchmark for the puppies - they grow so fast.
It is fun look at and admire the many colours of the puppies but I appreciate that the best criteria for fit with a family is personality. And the experience you and Nathan have in determining this fit is why I chose Talemakers when considering a breeder. Our initial introduction to the puppies is to be drawn to them by colour because, as you say, Darlah, at this stage, their personalities are not yet obvious. But I would never want a puppy that becomes unhappy because of a poor fit to my family. I really appreciate the careful consideration both you and Nathan give to this.
Nails are usually clipped the 1st time from 10-14 days. An indicator is the nails get caught in blankets. Then after that they are cut weekly.