Niwot N Photo51's Hippocratic Prognosticator (Galen): [for a very interesting read, look up "Galen" on Wikipedia and read about this early doctor with many firsts]
Niwot N Photo51's First Ride to the Stars (Valya):
Sunday, October 21, 2018
FIRSTS Litter - Week 6 Photos
It's not unusual for a breeder to take photos of their litters when they reach a point of their early growth when they can stand and you can see the structure of the puppy. And it's also not unusual for them to do this several weeks in a row. Some are even able to do it every week of a puppy's life with them just to document their growth and cuteness. I must admit that things here have been hectic, so we're just now getting the "posed, professional type" photos done. Anyway, without further fanfare, here are the Week 6 photos of the FIRSTS litter.
Niwot N Photo51's Hippocratic Prognosticator (Galen): [for a very interesting read, look up "Galen" on Wikipedia and read about this early doctor with many firsts]
Niwot N Photo51's First Ride to the Stars (Valya):
Niwot N Photo51's Hippocratic Prognosticator (Galen): [for a very interesting read, look up "Galen" on Wikipedia and read about this early doctor with many firsts]
Niwot N Photo51's First Ride to the Stars (Valya):
Wednesday, October 17, 2018
FIRSTS Litter - Week 5
Note: all but the last post before this one indicated that there were videos. Blogger doesn't seem to like to put videos in. In the last post and this one, there are links below the videos you can click to actually see the video.
The puppies turned 5 weeks old on Monday. It doesn't seem like that long ago, but then again my brain keeps trying to add a week to their age. I guess that's what I get for being gone for 2 weeks in the middle, I suppose.
Photos and videos now come fewer due to having to be on top of their every move. These adventurous little ones like to run fast, chew on everything, and bite each other. We had an incident tonight where Blue Girl bit a little too hard on Green Boy's foot. Not the first time they've bitten each other too hard. We do our best to redirect and Mars and Synnie both step in and redirect as well.
Some new milestones for them . . .
We are starting to stabilize a 3-meals-a-day schedule. This helps in being able to sleep all night for the humans. Bedtime is usually around 10pm to 11pm. They eat dinner first, then we wear them out with playtime. When they start wanting to lay down or start wandering back to the puppy room, we put a fresh, frozen bottle of water in their beds and they go and curl up on the bottle for the night. This usually gets us to about 7am, when they're up and crying from their litter box pen wanting out. I made the mistake one night of not latching the pen to the crate and not securing the second pen that keeps the big dogs out of the room. As I was walking down the hall, I saw two little white streaks come running out of the room between the legs of Mars and Synnie headed for the living room where the toys are.
They have figured out chicken wings and are able to pull the meat off the bone. It took them a bit and the first time I offered them last week I think was a bit too soon. They gnawed on them last week, but this week they're putting them between their feet and pulling the chicken off the bone. Once the bone is clean of the meat, they chew on the joint ends with their back teeth until they're tired out and give up. Mars, Synnie and Lilly don't mind them giving up because that means they get to eat the leftover bones. Green Boy is possessive about his chicken wing. When Blue Girl comes sneaking in trying to take it, he gives her a little growl and turns away from her so she can't steal it. He definitely loves his chicken. We started giving them their chicken in Fly's crate where there was lots of room. Right now they are still small enough they can fit through the bars on the crate. Blue Girl, with her first chicken wing of the day yesterday, decided she was going to bring her wing out of the crate and to the toy area. Not only did she get out of the crate stealthily, but she ran like the wind from the crate, through the litter box, to the toy area with her chicken. I didn't catch it at first until I noticed Mars had a chicken wing in her mouth. She had taken it from Blue Girl. I promptly confiscated it and put Blue and her chicken back in the crate with Green.
Both have also figured out the joys of going potty outside. We took them to Amanda's brother's house so they could play with the kids. We were out front in the yard and both puppies pottied and got lots of praise. When we came home, each one got some individual time outside to walk around in the grass and explore. This morning when they awoke from their first nap, I tried putting them in the potty box to go potty and neither of them were having any of that. They both went to the xpen keeping them from going down the stairs and started crying. And the more you ignore it, the louder it got. So, I put them down in the kitchen, thinking that's where they wanted to be. Nope. They sat at the door to the outside and cried some more. Well, that's that then. One at a time, I took each puppy outside to the grass. They followed me around, explored some, picked up a few leaves and shook them to death, and then yep, they went potty! Is there such a thing as self-potty-training dogs?
We went on our first outing to visit children. And yes, it was a DRAMA FEST! They cried ALL.THE.WAY.THERE. Then they played with Amanda's nephews for a while and fell asleep. Green Boy found his place on the coffee table and Blue Girl snuggled up next to the couch. When they woke up, we went outside for more playtime. The neighborhood boys came by and spent time snuggling them until the puppies got too cold (is that even possible for puppies who sleep on frozen water bottles?). So we bundled them back up in the car and took off for home. And yes, they cried ALL.THE.WAY.HOME. Reminds me of the nursery rhyme "This little piggy" I used to do with my kids when they were little and I'd grab and wiggle their toes.
A soccer player . . . that's what Amanda said Green Boy reminds her of. When Blue bit his rear leg earlier while rough playing, he was crying OH SO LOUDLY! And he wouldn't walk, would hold up his rear leg and HOWL! Oh! The drama of it! So I put him to bed with his ice bottle so he could rest for a while away from her and 2 hours later, he wakes up and comes strutting out of the puppy room like nothing has happened. Life with puppies is never dull.
Time to play the name game. If you are on Facebook, check out my page and help me brainstorm names for Blue Girl.
The puppies turned 5 weeks old on Monday. It doesn't seem like that long ago, but then again my brain keeps trying to add a week to their age. I guess that's what I get for being gone for 2 weeks in the middle, I suppose.
In stereo butt wash...
Photos and videos now come fewer due to having to be on top of their every move. These adventurous little ones like to run fast, chew on everything, and bite each other. We had an incident tonight where Blue Girl bit a little too hard on Green Boy's foot. Not the first time they've bitten each other too hard. We do our best to redirect and Mars and Synnie both step in and redirect as well.
Some new milestones for them . . .
We are starting to stabilize a 3-meals-a-day schedule. This helps in being able to sleep all night for the humans. Bedtime is usually around 10pm to 11pm. They eat dinner first, then we wear them out with playtime. When they start wanting to lay down or start wandering back to the puppy room, we put a fresh, frozen bottle of water in their beds and they go and curl up on the bottle for the night. This usually gets us to about 7am, when they're up and crying from their litter box pen wanting out. I made the mistake one night of not latching the pen to the crate and not securing the second pen that keeps the big dogs out of the room. As I was walking down the hall, I saw two little white streaks come running out of the room between the legs of Mars and Synnie headed for the living room where the toys are.
They have figured out chicken wings and are able to pull the meat off the bone. It took them a bit and the first time I offered them last week I think was a bit too soon. They gnawed on them last week, but this week they're putting them between their feet and pulling the chicken off the bone. Once the bone is clean of the meat, they chew on the joint ends with their back teeth until they're tired out and give up. Mars, Synnie and Lilly don't mind them giving up because that means they get to eat the leftover bones. Green Boy is possessive about his chicken wing. When Blue Girl comes sneaking in trying to take it, he gives her a little growl and turns away from her so she can't steal it. He definitely loves his chicken. We started giving them their chicken in Fly's crate where there was lots of room. Right now they are still small enough they can fit through the bars on the crate. Blue Girl, with her first chicken wing of the day yesterday, decided she was going to bring her wing out of the crate and to the toy area. Not only did she get out of the crate stealthily, but she ran like the wind from the crate, through the litter box, to the toy area with her chicken. I didn't catch it at first until I noticed Mars had a chicken wing in her mouth. She had taken it from Blue Girl. I promptly confiscated it and put Blue and her chicken back in the crate with Green.
Being a mom is such hard work.
Both have also figured out the joys of going potty outside. We took them to Amanda's brother's house so they could play with the kids. We were out front in the yard and both puppies pottied and got lots of praise. When we came home, each one got some individual time outside to walk around in the grass and explore. This morning when they awoke from their first nap, I tried putting them in the potty box to go potty and neither of them were having any of that. They both went to the xpen keeping them from going down the stairs and started crying. And the more you ignore it, the louder it got. So, I put them down in the kitchen, thinking that's where they wanted to be. Nope. They sat at the door to the outside and cried some more. Well, that's that then. One at a time, I took each puppy outside to the grass. They followed me around, explored some, picked up a few leaves and shook them to death, and then yep, they went potty! Is there such a thing as self-potty-training dogs?
"Woooo! I love you, Zack!"
We went on our first outing to visit children. And yes, it was a DRAMA FEST! They cried ALL.THE.WAY.THERE. Then they played with Amanda's nephews for a while and fell asleep. Green Boy found his place on the coffee table and Blue Girl snuggled up next to the couch. When they woke up, we went outside for more playtime. The neighborhood boys came by and spent time snuggling them until the puppies got too cold (is that even possible for puppies who sleep on frozen water bottles?). So we bundled them back up in the car and took off for home. And yes, they cried ALL.THE.WAY.HOME. Reminds me of the nursery rhyme "This little piggy" I used to do with my kids when they were little and I'd grab and wiggle their toes.
Time to play the name game. If you are on Facebook, check out my page and help me brainstorm names for Blue Girl.
Saturday, October 6, 2018
FIRSTS Litter - Day 26
My apologies for the long delay. After 2 weeks of being gone from both the puppies and my employment, I’ve been playing catch up on all fronts including sleep. Hopefully today’s update will bring you as many smiles as I have had this week with them. Some new things you’ll notice in the photos is that there are two puppy beds, one for each puppy. We have also moved from sleeping in a puppy pen to sleeping in a crate, along with a litter box.
It has been a long week of growth, giggles, and small sleeping windows. Mars is producing less milk and the appetites of our little fur balls is growing. They are now eating a ground chuck and goat milk mixture at least 3 times per day. They also have discovered that they have teeth. No one with uncovered toes on the floor is safe. These sharp mouths are also causing Mars to tell them they’re no longer welcome at the milk bar. It won’t be long now and they will be completely weaned. Technically, right now they are weaned and just suckle on Mars for comfort. I think it’s a two way street between Mars and the puppies.
It has been a long week of growth, giggles, and small sleeping windows. Mars is producing less milk and the appetites of our little fur balls is growing. They are now eating a ground chuck and goat milk mixture at least 3 times per day. They also have discovered that they have teeth. No one with uncovered toes on the floor is safe. These sharp mouths are also causing Mars to tell them they’re no longer welcome at the milk bar. It won’t be long now and they will be completely weaned. Technically, right now they are weaned and just suckle on Mars for comfort. I think it’s a two way street between Mars and the puppies.
Synnie is also starting to play with the puppies more. Blue girl this morning was pouncing and growling at her. Mars is okay with this although she does sometimes try to growl at Synnie while they’re playing. I remind her that she didn’t want to play with them, so Synnie is filling in. They like to tug and pull on the toys and they’re starting to try to explore more. They are both using the potty box, although not always on their own. But simply placing them back in the box and telling them to go potty seems to do the trick. This morning, they both also pooped in the box, for which we had a HUGE party.
With their newly found teeth, it won’t be long now that they’ll be getting chicken wings to chew on (putting the wings in the fridge to thaw now). We’ll also be starting with a small water dish this weekend now that they have the coordination to lap up liquids. This week will also be when we give them their second dose of dewormer, the first dose having been administered 2 weeks ago.
They are also exploring more. They are slipping out into the hallway from the puppy room at full speed when they think I’m not looking. Part of me is thankful there are only two of them to chase after. Blue girl is rather quick on her feet when she makes the decision to run. She’s also just as stubborn as her momma when it comes to not doing what she wants. I think yesterday she and I had multiple standoffs about the potty box. I put her in. She runs out. I put her in. She runs out. Sometimes she wins. Sometimes I win.
They both also like to play together. And they take turns playing rough and dirty. I’ve had to get after them both about biting too hard, both legs and ears. And Amanda has had to get after Green Boy for biting Blue Girl’s tail. Neither of them seem to have a fearful personality at all. Heaven help us all. BUT, when it's time for a nap (or bedtime at night), they are learning that with a nice ice cold frozen water bottle or ice pack, dream time comes and everyone has some peace.
And after putting the puppies down for a morning nap today, Mars and Synnie reminded me of what life with Sammies is all about as they played chase up and down the hall (which is a no-no in Mama Amanda’s house) and when I wasn’t looking, I think they slipped into her room to play smack down on her bed. I’m sure this is retribution for keeping them locked in our room last night. But I have to tell you, in doing so, I discovered that the puppies will sleep all night without interruption when Mars isn’t allowed to wake them up. Now I know who to blame for my 2-hours-at-a-time sleeping pattern from this week. Anyway, after their running in the hall while the puppies were trying to sleep, I came down the hall and happened upon this site. No idea what it means and the two of them have left it there all day.
Sunday, September 30, 2018
FIRSTS Litter - Day 21
Week 3 started out rough. The puppies were moving around amazingly well for their young age, but they were very whiny to start the week. Both of their eyes are open and getting clearer by the day.
On day 16 Green boy was especially persistent with his complaining and nothing seemed to please him. I tried offering them some goat milk in a dish but their coordination hadn't quite allowed for them to lap it up yet, so that evening I offered Green boy some baby puppy mousse to eat. He darn near ate my fingers with it. It would appear that he just wasn't able to get food from mama down his gullet fast enough to please him. Blue girl enjoyed some starter mousse as well, but not quite as much. They were both gaining weight and perfectly healthy, but Green boy apparently LOVES his food.
On day 17 I offered both puppies a bit of ground chuck with breakfast. They liked it, but I don't think their digestive systems were as ready for solid food as their minds were and there was a LOT of complaining with upset tummies. We made sure everybody was pooping ok, gave tummy rubs, and slowly but surely everything caught up and by day 18 we had much happier puppies.
Days 19 and 20 were big days for coordination. The puppies have a basic programmed idea of going potty away from the nest so as long as they have a smallish area they can define as their nest or den and an area very close they can use to eliminate, they're pretty good about going outside the nest if they can get there, even before they're able to walk very well. As they gain coordination the puppies become more an more able to learn to eliminate in a specific area. For most of the week about half of their area consisted of their "den" and the other half was potty pads for them to eliminate and they have been pretty consistent. For the coming week, now that the puppies are beginning to have more refined control of their toddling, we will begin condensing their potty area and expanding their play area.
Improved coordination is also working to their advantage for dinner time as both puppies are able to take bits of meat from my hand as well as eat their ground chuck and goat milk mixture from a small dish.
The puppies have taken a couple small car trips to visit family and aren't phased by new places and people one bit.
On day 20 green boy started to show signs of his ears opening by startling when I bumped the pen and today blue girl seems to be showing signs that her ears are opening as well. We won't be able sneak in their room and escape undetected much longer. :)
The puppies have become pros at "creative sleeping". They have a couple favorites:
Chin rest:
Butt rest?
Burrow:
Mom stole our bed:
Synchronized sleeping:
On day 16 Green boy was especially persistent with his complaining and nothing seemed to please him. I tried offering them some goat milk in a dish but their coordination hadn't quite allowed for them to lap it up yet, so that evening I offered Green boy some baby puppy mousse to eat. He darn near ate my fingers with it. It would appear that he just wasn't able to get food from mama down his gullet fast enough to please him. Blue girl enjoyed some starter mousse as well, but not quite as much. They were both gaining weight and perfectly healthy, but Green boy apparently LOVES his food.
On day 17 I offered both puppies a bit of ground chuck with breakfast. They liked it, but I don't think their digestive systems were as ready for solid food as their minds were and there was a LOT of complaining with upset tummies. We made sure everybody was pooping ok, gave tummy rubs, and slowly but surely everything caught up and by day 18 we had much happier puppies.
Days 19 and 20 were big days for coordination. The puppies have a basic programmed idea of going potty away from the nest so as long as they have a smallish area they can define as their nest or den and an area very close they can use to eliminate, they're pretty good about going outside the nest if they can get there, even before they're able to walk very well. As they gain coordination the puppies become more an more able to learn to eliminate in a specific area. For most of the week about half of their area consisted of their "den" and the other half was potty pads for them to eliminate and they have been pretty consistent. For the coming week, now that the puppies are beginning to have more refined control of their toddling, we will begin condensing their potty area and expanding their play area.
Improved coordination is also working to their advantage for dinner time as both puppies are able to take bits of meat from my hand as well as eat their ground chuck and goat milk mixture from a small dish.
The puppies have taken a couple small car trips to visit family and aren't phased by new places and people one bit.
On day 20 green boy started to show signs of his ears opening by startling when I bumped the pen and today blue girl seems to be showing signs that her ears are opening as well. We won't be able sneak in their room and escape undetected much longer. :)
The puppies have become pros at "creative sleeping". They have a couple favorites:
Chin rest:
Butt rest?
Burrow:
Mom stole our bed:
Synchronized sleeping:
Monday, September 24, 2018
FIRSTS Litter - 2 Weeks!
Two weeks old today!!
The babies are toddling around already and just starting to be able to potty by themselves. We're starting to try to get them in a potty area and will continue to do so more and more this coming week. We like to begin this training as soon as the puppies start getting around on their own. Puppies that learn to be clean when growing up tend to like to stay clean as adults, and while there is always some work that needs to be done to transfer the knowledge, we find it helps a ton with house training in their new homes if puppies are taught to use a potty spot as babies.
They're not really old enough to play with toys yet, but they sure like to cuddle with them!
Some two week pictures of the babies:
Green Boy
Blue Girl
Weigh in:
Green Boy
Blue Girl
I can't believe I was able to get them to stay asleep when I put them in the scale. I think this is going to be the last round in the Tupperware container to get weighed. :)
The babies are toddling around already and just starting to be able to potty by themselves. We're starting to try to get them in a potty area and will continue to do so more and more this coming week. We like to begin this training as soon as the puppies start getting around on their own. Puppies that learn to be clean when growing up tend to like to stay clean as adults, and while there is always some work that needs to be done to transfer the knowledge, we find it helps a ton with house training in their new homes if puppies are taught to use a potty spot as babies.
They're not really old enough to play with toys yet, but they sure like to cuddle with them!
They sure are comedians with their chosen sleeping positions
Some two week pictures of the babies:
Green Boy
Blue Girl
Weigh in:
Green Boy
Blue Girl
I can't believe I was able to get them to stay asleep when I put them in the scale. I think this is going to be the last round in the Tupperware container to get weighed. :)
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Two weeks already?!?!
Puppies are now 2 weeks old. Their eyes have opened with Yellow Girl opening hers on Dec 9th, followed by Green Boy on Dec 10th, and Blue B...
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Puppies are now 2 weeks old. Their eyes have opened with Yellow Girl opening hers on Dec 9th, followed by Green Boy on Dec 10th, and Blue B... -
My apologies for the long delay. After 2 weeks of being gone from both the puppies and my employment, I’ve been playing catch up on all fron... -
After an all-night waiting session on Platform 9 3/4, the Hogwarts Express pulled into the station and whisked us off to Hogsmeade station ...