Thursday, January 10, 2019 at 5:39PM 
The pups had more food today and we are going to try them out in the hall in a bit and give them more food. It will be their first adventure in another room.
I may have to use the photos and the play session on tomorrow's blog. Hmm that works.
I am excited to see how they do.
Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at 5:24PM 
We were going to wait a few days then start this crew on solid food. But as we had the food out we figured why not see how they will take to it.
Be sure to watch the video to see how they did.
As you can see from the photo above, swimming in it was desirable for at least 1.
Raven had her first FULL bath after pups today.
Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at 10:15AM The date is Feb 6th with a vet we have not seen yet but was trained by our retired vet.
Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at 7:35PM 
Puppies are getting more playful and having some truly all out play sessions. You can see in the videos. Sorry but the 2 I took tonight has Dennis playing a game so thats what you hear in the background. But you can still see the fun of the puppy play.
They are getting older, fatter and are growing.
Monday, January 7, 2019 at 6:24PM 
The pups are starting to show signs of growth daily where you can look at them and go wow they are getting bigger. The girl with the cream collar is going to be the smallest. It's not this one above but the one that looks similar to her. She has petite features. You can usually tell this way.
Pups are walking around better each day. They get SO excited to see me as they know it is feeding time. LOL
They adjusted to the open pen easily.
Be sure to check out the videos.
Sometimes you catch them staring at the Stormy pups and Stormy comes to see them quite a bit. It is interesting. When first time moms share this experience they bond deeply.
I am only checking their weights in the morning and they are on an average gaining over an ounce a day. I do notice they get fat, they thin out, they get fat. What you see is the growth.
Sunday, January 6, 2019 at 6:34PM 
Pups are now 3 weeks and 1 day old.
Today I took out the whelping box and opened a new world to the pups.
How did they do? Truly well. No whining. Just exploring and the dark brown and white boy was the most curious about his neighbours. I put in a cave bed for this crew as well but they have not used it yet. it's there when they choose to. Next after these beds is we will use a crate.
When they come out to play they will be coming out in a sherpa bag. We do all these things to give them exposure so they become comfortable travelling in a bag or a crate.
I did leave a bit of floor exposed to get them used to the flooring. On Stormy's, I left a lot of floor spacing. I like to wait till they are truly solid on their feet. Then we will have a lot of floor space and the next stage is to open up the area so both litters can get to know each other but we are getting ahead of ourselves,
Saturday, January 5, 2019 at 6:42PM 
It's 3 weeks since they made their debut. Three days since the last opened his eyes. They are already walking like they are drunk or better at times. They are attempting to climb out of the whelping box.
We will have to get the pups out of the box in the next day or 2.
They are starting to become growing concerns. LOL
They are halfway mark to their first visit at 6 weeks. How fun!
Friday, January 4, 2019 at 6:16PM 
We have fun too. Our play has just truly begun. We are 4 days behind the Stormy pups but one day you won't notice a difference in skills. Four days is a lot at this stage but at 4 and 5 weeks, not so much.
The pups are now being weighed in the morning. I was weighing twice a day. gains are on an average 1 ounce plus a day. One of the girls has tiny features. She is the smallest now and will most likely be the smallest in adulthood. You can usually tell not by weight but by bone density and how small the facial features are. The rest of the pups are 5 plus ounces heavier.
I am going to try to get them out of the whelping box this weekend but I have a heavy grooming schedule. We shall see. If not this weekend, Tuesday on my day off from grooming.
Thursday, January 3, 2019 at 9:39PM 
It's the start of play. They waited till their brother opened his eyes and the start of play began. You should see them trying to walk when they see Mommy.
Short blog tonight. Sorry. Got lots of things to do before bedtime.
Wednesday, January 2, 2019 at 5:58PM 
Click on Photo for Larger ViewYes, this boy took his time opening his eyes. Nothing wrong with him. We have had some open on day 21.
Here is his eyes open gallery.
I have to say I was surprised no one noticed and each day I waited for him to look at me, I was still his first that he laid eyes on next to his biological mom. LOL
I will have to say I had a nickname for him -
But now that his eyes are open, I may have to give him another nickname.
I will tell you that today his eyes opened. He started to walk and he played with his siblings and me - chewing on my finger. Hello world - now that I can see I have to try everything.
Pups are doing well. They are gaining. They will be smaller than Stormy's but each mom is in standard but Stormy is on the high end, Raven is on low end.
Will be interesting to see if we can merge the 2 litters. In a day or 2 I will be taking them out of their whelping box so they can look at their neighbours.
A fun time is coming.
Tuesday, January 1, 2019 at 6:50PM 
Adorable on back poses. I have to smile.
I love weighing this crew. They wriggle and try to climb out if the scale. It is a riot. They so make me laugh.
Monday, December 31, 2018 at 6:58PM It's hard to believe they are over 2 weeks old now. Raven does this mom stuff well and so does Stormy. The pups are trying to walk. They look out of their whelping box. Soon we will be taking them out of it so they can look at each other through the bars. Fun times are coming.
As we end this year of 2018, we do so being surrounded by the most special beings - pups and adults and tweens alike. they are a blessing what they bring to us.
Sunday, December 30, 2018 at 5:42PM 
The pups are started to try to walk and engage with each other. It is fun to watch.
I went to a documentary with Lynda and Sherry showed up as well. I cried through half the film for reasons I can't explain or it would take up too much of this blog but they breed the pups in swimming pools - empty kiddie pools with shredded paper. There are no cushie towels or nice soft blankets. It wasn't on breeding so you didn't see what occurs after the birth but I found myself comparing our litters with theirs and how their start and their first months are much different than these pups.
I am constantly looking at toy ideas, new set ups. I investigate new ways to expose and socialize them. We are always evolving.
Plus these were lab puppies and they are bigger at birth than ours are at 5 weeks. LOL
I am happy with the way the moms are made to feel special. I give them massages each day, comb them up and snuggle massively with them throughout the day. I want them to know they are loved. When they know that they are wonderful to their pups. A happy mom is a happy puppy, I say!
Enough of that. The pups are doing well. They are getting round then larger than round. They want for nothing.
Saturday, December 29, 2018 at 3:41PM 
Hard to believe they are already 2 weeks old and the last boy is not opening his eyes yet. This happens all the time but its funny. I figure by tomorrow.
Those that are with eyes open seem to be exploring their environment.
All are over a pound in weight and are doing really well. They have even extended their feeding to 2.5 weeks and once making it 3 hours between. Easier times coming, Ms. Raven!
Friday, December 28, 2018 at 11:50AM 
Click on Photo for Larger ViewThis is the 4th born. She looks a lot like her sister the 1st born. The difference is one has a slash of colour on the neck line and one does not.
This is her gallery of her eyes open.
Click on Photo for Larger ViewThis is the 4th born boy. He is a true character. since birth he has eaten on his back, done somersaults and had a real good time entertaining himself.
Here is the gallery of him with eyes open.
Will teh last boy open his eyes today - the darkest brown and white boy.
Gallery of the crew 13 days old. Almost 2 weeks!
Thursday, December 27, 2018 at 1:28PM 
Click on Photo for Larger ViewThis gal opened her eyes last night just before I went to bed. So, day 11 for her.
Here is her eyes open gallery.
Click on Photo for Larger ViewThis puppy opened her eyes this morning just before her debut of being 12 days. In reality she isn't 12 days old till 232pm this afternoon. So she is also open eyes on day 11. the rest i suppose may be today or tomorrow. We shall see.
We also cut their nails and will be putting up videos later.
Wednesday, December 26, 2018 at 8:13PM 
This is Raven's 2 boys. The rest are girls.
The pups have started gaining an ounce a day in a 24 hour period. They are getting plump and look like puppies now to me. When they are tiny I think they look like they are little mice but that is not true. They are just tiny beings. I love when they fatten up.
I worry always about the pups till they can find mom on their own. I guess I am a doting mom too.
If I pick up one of the pups to snuggle with on the couch, Raven gets a tad frantic as if to say what are you doing to my baby.
Tuesday, December 25, 2018 at 7:08PM 
Just when I thought the Raven pups could fend for themselves with me watching while I groom I notice the all red sable gal is knocking everyone off at feeding time taking all the milk stations for her. That will change when the eyes are open but till then I am monitoring each feeding. That means I groom a dog then sit and do a feeding with her.
This gal is now over a pound. The rest are 13oz. So she has been successful. Can't blame her.
Raven remains attentive over her and Stormy's pups.
Monday, December 24, 2018 at 8:01PM 
Pups are 9 days old and I have got into a groove of groom a dog, do a feeding. Pups are gaining well.
1st born girl 13-5/8oz (brown and white)
2nd born boy 12-5/8oz (darkest brown and white)
3rd born boy 12-5/8oz (sable with white chin)
4th born girl 12-6/8oz (brown and white)
5th born girl 15-2/8oz (reddish brown)
Looking back at Jeannie's pups they have a similar growth rate. Jeannie is Raven's mom.
Each day I hold them, snuggle with them and kiss them to get them used to the touch. Sometimes I surprise one as they are sleeping and they will wriggle or make noises. It is part of the conditioning. They really enjoy when I put them next to my skin. It must be comforting as it is warm.
Can't wait till their eyes open and they get to see each other through the xpen.
Sunday, December 23, 2018 at 2:45PM 
It looks like Raven is saying wake up babies - you are after all 8 days old.
We had some changes. Stormy's whelping box became ravens as Raven's old whelping box had railings that were too old. Before the next litter, I am going to have to see if I can cut new openings to allow for higher railings. The Raven pups were actually getting stuck with the railings too low. Now they have a roomy railing and Stormy's have no railing. The idea of the railing is to allow them to get away from the heat and for mom not to sit on them by accident. It doesn't always work and many people use swimming pools (small ones for kids) that have no railing so.... do we need them... do we not? Easier to have none with experienced moms.
We have one real character in this crew. He is all sable with a tiny white chin. He rolls this way, that way and seems to have a great time with himself. He does this after having a big fat belly after eating. The others roll over and sleep and he does calisthenics.
Pups are all doing well in both litters. I wonder will their eyes start opening in 4 days or?
