Outdoor Adventure

Here's a video of their first deck adventures. Have to say they are a striking bunch. How did they do? Quite well. They are adjusting to new adventures well!

I am loving this crew. They are such fun and Dennis mentions that they are ever so playful with him as well. They literally get so excited when you come into the pen.

Jeannie had a comb out today but you can hardly tell. You see she is completely paws on and as you will see in the videos they think nothing of walking right over her and through that hair. She doesn't mind a bit.

Here are some more videos indoors:

Backwards Walk

Come Play With Me

Wild Play

Early Morning Play

Late Morning Play

Pups Play and Play

More Puppy Play

Eat and Play

Is there a theme going on? These pups LOVE to play!

Interacting With Pups

What's Comfiest

Eating Your Hair

Pups and the Flash of Camera

I just love playing and watching this crew. They make me laugh every single day plus they give you kisses!

Wow 2 More Days and 5 Weeks

Lint, lint where do you come from? I don't know about you but these black rimmed anything need lint removal always. I am so late as I had to wash someone that took me a long time. It happens.

I look at the pups and can't believe how big they are. Well they are big when you compare them to just born pups.

They run to you now and wrestle and play their hearts out. They are delicious and FUN, FUN, FUN. I am hoping tomorrow to get them out as its supposed to be warm then we will have to take them out daily for play sessions and get them conditioned to brisk weather.

Gone are the days of needing help to feed. They crawl on Jeannie and just eat and eat. You can often find her lazing on her back. When they are done.

I like coming into their xpen as they are a delight. They like me - well me playing with them. Nothing better for your ego than that! I am going to start taking them upstairs and into the kitchen on a daily basis.

Here are some videos. Take a look at the older ones to se how far they have come in development.

Hey, It's Time to Sleep

Rough House Play

More Rough Housing

In the Bed Play

But Mom Let Me Eat

Night Time Eat and Play

Don't Lay on Me

Pups are Playing

Pups are Playing 2

Jeannie Playing With Kids

Watching the Play

Toy Playing

In House Shake

Balance: We Are Trying

I am trying to seek balance and its going to take a few days. I am juggling dogs, pups, feedings etc and tomorrow will be hard as Nathan is away. So, if the blogs are sparse, please understand. I am sitting here hungry and don't even know if I can find the time to make something never mind a shower. This will settle down.

The pups are wonderful and seem so huge next to Roxies. Well, they are. Each now finally made the 2 pound mark. We can't take them out today but we are hoping by Saturday we will have another outdoors. It's a tad cold and I think it might rain. That will make my grooming time increase. :-)

The pups run - well run as fast as they can now to give you snuggles, kisses and well they are plain fun.

Nathan insisted on softening kibble and throwing some goats milk in it. It is day 2 and they are not eating it. Yes we put out fresh several times. This happens. When they get a tad older I will leave the goats milk out, soften, splice it up and throw a tad bit of chicken in. This always is desirable. They are gleefully eating the mousse. They are also still eating from mom.

I just adore their spunk. They are simply so much fun and now they are using the house and rolling all over in it.

They have TEETH.

Here are today's videos - as much as I managed to capture.

Pad Tug

Night Time Sleeping

Comfiest in Wee Hours

After Play

Morning Play Before Cleanup

Hanging in Bed

Rolling Into Dish

Cleaning Each Other

4 Weeks 3 Days Old

She's the most adventurous girl. We had the crew outdoors for the very first time. She was the first to go exploring.

This girl was the 2nd to check things out.

The boy finally did check things out but stayed close to Nathan till a little bit before we came in. He never whimpered but he stayed close as if to say what is this, where are we. Next time he may not hold back. We will take them out next warm day again. Next time I will have a video. But check out the gallery.

I am impressed. They are doing well with changes. Usually the 1st time they are not sure what we are doing with them. They rode in the sherpa bag. Momma was brushed early today but you can't tell as pups now and rolling all through her hair.

Here are a few videos.

Jeannie Plays With Pups

Nathan Plays With Pups

Pups are Playing

In and Out of Bed

Night Time Checking

Yawn, It's Morn

Food, Naps, It's Here

Different Toys

This Toy is Fun

Bowels are a bit too firm. It means they need more fluids (water). So, instead of mousse I am going to make a goats milk concoction with kibble to see if that remedies that. There is not enough water in the mousse. Only the more white gal seems to be drinking water freely. This is USUAL. It takes them a bit of time to make the transition (not to food) but to add water in. They do get fluids from mom but with a diet addition water is always helpful too. I could syringe in some water here and there but really not necessary. They will eventually drink from it. I find it usually takes a few days before they do. We usually start with the goats milk but I didn't have any on hand till last night.

Let's see how they take to it next feeding.

Two Updates Today

Nathan finally went in with the pups. Till now other than nail clipping its been Dennis and I. He tends to get involved when they are older. Well, they are older.

He has his way of feeding the pups. My way is to just let them go at it in the bowl. :-)

Here are a bunch of videos with Nathan either feeding the pups or playing with them. Watch those waggy tails.

They have slept 5 hours so far. I am testing what times they will be on with solid food added into their day.

Nathan Feeding Pups

Nathan Feeding Pups 2

Nathan Feeding Pups 3

Nathan Mushing Food

Clipping Nails 1

Clipping Nails 2

Clipping Nails 3

Clipping Nails 4

Nathan Puppy Play 1

Nathan Puppy Play 2

Nathan Puppy Play 3

First Non Mom Food

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Unfortunately the camera was not in a good position to capture their first food investigation. Dennis moved the camera without me realizing it and I was doing this alone. Oh well. I have them eating the 2nd round but not as fun as the first. They took to it well. The little gal with the white ring around her neck looked at me and was smacking her lips - don't take it away.

They didn't eat that much. But they ate enough to fill their bellies after eating from mom. I will do it again at lunch time ands maybe nathan can help so you can see the fun better than what I captured.

I also only got a few videos today.

Pups Eating Mousse

In this video Jeannie is on the outside jumping on the side of the xpen as she also wanted the mousse. Why did I start feeding them? They are of an age and their weight gain was almost non existent in the last 12 hours. That means they are more active and need more fuel than just mom's milk. They also have started to get teeth in.

Checking Out Food and Water

Off to Snooze

Morning Play 1

Morning Play 2

Four Weeks and a Day

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Take a look at the videos 1 week ago or 2 weeks ago to see the real progress. It is amazing how fast they make leaps and perfect their skills. We have already opened up space to the floor to allow them to get used to surfaces without as much traction. In a few days we will try them on food and by next Sunday or so they will be upstairs at night without mom. Wow...

The videos hopefully have allowed you to see their progress and watch them as I do. It is a fun journey where I celebrate all the milestones and worry myself to death if we have any issues. Each litter always has something challenging but we learn from every issue and every blip.

For instance we learned that Ms. Gal needed an advocate for her milk bar slots and I was it. She also likes to eat, stop, burp and eat again. Where her siblings will eat in a more frantic way then burp at the end. So far, other than me doing night time feedings these have been an easy crew. I don't believe in letting them sink or swim. I am their advocate and I am responsible. Now the gal is getting her slot. She has a most interesting personality. She is laid back. The quickest in achieving things or trying new things. She has been the first across the board for play, walking and she appears to have trusted first.

Each has their strengths and they are developing their skills. Each gets there on their own time table but this crew seems to be ahead of the game. I have been enjoying them immensely.

They have long hair for this time frame. It is silky shiny. They are alert, engaging and willing to learn. They have not been demanding.

Here are today's videos.

Getting Used to the Floor

Duo Playing

Lots of Play

Jeannie Teaching Play

Teaching Play 2

Pups Feeding at 730am

Weigh In

Caves are Fun

Moving Jeannie

I had to move Jeannie away from the pad. She tries to go to them and has not learned yet that they need to get to her now that they are older. She is a WONDERFUL mom!

My Time With Pups

Play & Eating

Blanket Play

Tonight 4 Weeks Old

What can I say about this crew. I rather like them. The one that uses the pad the most is the mostly white one. I have caught her doing it herself. She seems to be VERY quick in doing things. She remains the least aggressive eater. The kisser is the gal puppy. She just loves to snuggle and kiss. The boy doesn't want to be put on his back but he is getting better. He can climb up on the bed with ease but he is also longer. He is agile. Today he let me tickle his tummy and place him on the back without a struggle. So far he's the most independent. But these are early observations that can and do change with time. I still find them highly sociable.

 All have reacted well being outside of their xpen. Remember they have been out since about 2.5 weeks old for a little here and there.

We have a busy day with Roxie. She seemed to be progressing and now she is resting. That's okay. She is allowing me to get everything done but that also means less time to blog. But I did manage to get some videos for you.

Sisters Playing

Paw to You

I love the one above how she is using her paw to try to get her sibling to play.

Sibling Playing

Playing With Teddy

They have now graduated into playing with things larger than them.

Momma Jeannie Plays

I will tell you that Jeannie is a class act. She spends so much time teaching them to play and is delighted when they play back with her. You can tell she gets excited as their abilities progress. Look mom what my pups can do! Oh Mom, they are playing with me - see. She just beams.

Jeannie is Feeding

Sleeping Soundly

Sleepie Snuggles

Now that Roxie's pups are coming shall I put the camera in with them? What do you think? I am torn on how I should do it as I would love videos from each. I can do it with my ipad video camera? I just figure I can't do the number I am doing now. Its just easier with pushing a button on the ipad even from out in the kitchen to catch something cute. With the ipad I must be there in the same room and I certainly can't do them at night. Leave it in with Jeannies pups or not? You tell me? I am hoping by Panda's I have another camera.

Just Shy of 4 Weeks Old

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So many things have changed for the pups. Lets see - the got out of their whelping box. They had time outside of the whelping box numerous times. They have been carried around the house. They are snuggled into a bed above and they get into it and out of it.

They love tunnels. They are now sleeping about 3.5 hours but as soon as we introduce food that will change and they will sleep longer.

The boy is now well over 2lbs. The gals are not - sitting at 4 ounces under the 2lb mark.

They are now placed on the pad each time they wake up and after each feeding.

Check out the videos to see.

Start of Pad Training

After Meal Pad Training

Gal Caught in the Act

Here's some more videos:

Playing With Mom

Getting Traction or Trying to

Just Sibling Play

Cleaning Pups Up

Morning Feeding

No Toy Play Now

Morning Play

Play During Night

Settling Into Sleep

Each day, twice a day I still weigh them. That will stop soon as they will be hard to catch the weight properly. You see when they don't stay still it bounces all over so you can only do it when they are tired and most likely after eating as they are more sedate immediately after then they are playing as food gives them energy after they start digesting. You have such a small window.

I usually go down to once a day when it gets difficult and try to catch them at the right moment. It can be a challenge. So far, I am okay.

Weigh In 1

Weigh In 2

Tomorrow the pups reach a huge milestone - 4 weeks old. They have had a lot of exposures and Jeannie has been amazing! Sometime between 4 and 5 weeks I will start them on food and by 5 weeks or so they will start doing upstairs. Usually I have the camera upstairs so I can watch so I am not sure how I am going to do that now but we will figure it out.

Has anyone taken the plunge and got a Foscam camera? If so, send me mail. I can tell you the best software and all the fun things you can do with it on the ipad or the android. Foscam doesn't tell you and we learned as we went so you may as well have my experience to lean on. They have outdoor ones too but you have to have an expert install those or someone that is handy. Not here - hahahaha

Well We Rearranged

This photo is not of the rearranging. Its actually one of yesterdays as I haven't had time to click a new one. The pups love to tunnel so I can't just click them now as they sleep. I have not had any time when they were awake. Even though I had them out I didn't take photos.

We had to take everything up today. Then we had to lay linoleum down and put all new stuff down as it was also an opportunity to do a clean up of the pen which we do twice a day or if in need earlier. It was a LOT of work.

As we are so busy I am going to keep this short. I have just a few videos so that will have to do.

Pups are really getting around well. I had them outside of the pen while we were rearranging the pens and they were not worried in the least. They were exploring. :-) They love the tunnels I created. They are real explorers.

During the Night

Tunnel Bed

Momma Showing Them How to Play

Mommy Cleanup Time

Playing With a Toy

If you look at this last video you can see how theie interaction has changed. They are now playing, exploring and enjoying! You can see how much this pup enjoys this toy.