Creating a Visit

When we get ready for a puppy visit we make sure moms feed, pups feed just before a visit. It's a dance we have to get right so they have the maximum amount of time between to spend it with you. The timing is really hard to achieve but we manage to. If you are extra early this is what happens.

Picture this...

Moms are all feeding. The doorbell rings. Moms jump up, stops feeding, won't feed when there are strangers coming in till things settle down. It's a process I try to avoid. I wish moms could ignore the doorbell, ignore the strangers - well strangers to them at this point in the house and just feed with all the distractions but its hard. With 3 moms even more difficult.

They don't mind the visit - even relish it but its a distraction that interferes with them finishing feeding. I know it well as sometimes the ministry up the street tries to give us religious literature and they come often. Each time it rings they stop feeding.

Yes, we have signs on the door but who reads and who adheres. We are thinking of putting a camera out in front and breaking the doorbell. That's a little rash but we have a schedule at this point that allows us to do a last feeding just before bedtime. In about 2 weeks they will probably be weaned and this just before bedtime won't matter.

Why does it matter now? If the pups eat x hours apart and eat too early (not enough milk). If they eat later you may be up till 1130pm vs. 10pm as that last feeding has now become later.

It may sound rigid but just like a baby they have to eat on regular schedules. So we try to minimize that by timing things right and avoiding distractions. Just before the morning visit and the afternoon visit the pups ate. If they had not their focus would have been mom and the milk bar. You would have been watching them chase their moms. Not a fun visit, imho.

Just letting you know why we do the things we do. There is a reason and we do not want you to take it personal.

Will add the 2 videos tomorrow - not tonight. I am rather tired and want to watch tv with Nathan and snuggle with him and the dawgs.