Saturday 8th May: Pups are FOUR WEEKS OLD. Well, I have had a very busy week so I apologise for not updating the web site, but don't worry I have kept notes on who did what and when. Bank Holiday Monday was the Hampshire rally, (an inter regional dog club show) and I was committed to going, so I arranged for Charlotte and Richard to look after the pups and dogs. This has had advantages with the socialising of the pups because as well as having the run of my home and experiencing everyday noises the pups have been going next door to play in Charlottes house, in fact in the evenings richard will come in for two or three puppies to take next door to play which means I can roll on the floor and play with the three left pups and spend more individual time with each of them. Wednesday Swipper climbed up the rungs of the day pen and escaped, I had hoped that it would be a few more days before they had accomplished that, the Whelping box side is slightly higher and solid wood, so I presumed that he would not be able to escape from that...at least not for a few more days, but on waking next morning I was greeted by Trio and Swipper grinning at me from the conservatory door. Only hope he didn't suffer any brain damage landing on the concrete!
Thursday Benny joined Swipper in climbing out of the day pen and by tea time Deigo was also part of the escape committee. So my peace and quiet is now gone, Pups have now free range in the conservatory at night and as they pee and poop for england I have to scrub the whole of the conservatoy every morning. The pups practise their swiming in their mothers water bowl and they have all evicted their mother from her cage and sleep curled up on her vet bed whilst she has the damp newspaper in the ex whelping box. Although I have my suspicion that she has also been sleeping, cat like on my Conservatory window still, as every thing has been dislodged and there are foot prints! The pups are now running and jumping in the air like spring lambs, they have not quite learnt how to use the brakes and often roll head over tail, when they try to stop, landing in a ruffled heap.
They are also very high stepping this week and like their mother seem almost cat like, in their play, they stalk each other and love playing with the toys. At this stage many of the toys are household bits and pieces, socks, hair scrunches, bath scrubs, toilet rolls, cotton reels ect.. or things out of Jamies toy box. Noisy toys that move and make different noises. The tuggy from crufts have little play value at the moment they would rather chew socks, my trousers or the throws on the sofa. Deigo still makes a bee line for shoes, and the cat always gives them all a sparkle in their eyes, but having been smacked by her, they tend to keep they stalking at a distance. The pups have had a variety of different food introduced to them, They still have puppy porridge for breakfast and Scrabbled egg (which they adore) for supper, and dinner and tea is a few James well beloved biscuits mixed with either roasts chicken, Minced lamb or Beef, and Trio is still producing the drinks the old fashion way. Friday the pups had their first visit from one of the new owners, Janet and Terry with the grandchildren came to have a play, Tico, Boots and Diego made a play for their attention, Benny slept nearly the whole of their visits and Dora and Swipper just wanted to do their own thing. I had tried to keep the pups quiet at lunch time as that's when they tend to come out to play, and I did not want them tired for the visitors. So I fed them in their pen...mistake! not only did they not go back to sleep after their dinner, but they had rolled in it and when Janet wanted to smell that lovely puppy smell, all she got was a whiff of minced lamb, and most of the dinner was still being worn in their coats! It was lovely to see Janet as she had Tamsin's half sister and we use to meet at shows, kes was a sweet heart and so Janet is pleased to be having a Kessi great nephew, and I know which every pups she has, he will enjoy the life of riley in Cornwall. Last Night, Benny was last to go to bed and was out playing chase with Jamie, the pair of them were having a whale of a time. So I give in.....not that there was much doubt...Benny is now going to start being calling by his new name...Apollo..when I remember.
Thursday Benny joined Swipper in climbing out of the day pen and by tea time Deigo was also part of the escape committee. So my peace and quiet is now gone, Pups have now free range in the conservatory at night and as they pee and poop for england I have to scrub the whole of the conservatoy every morning. The pups practise their swiming in their mothers water bowl and they have all evicted their mother from her cage and sleep curled up on her vet bed whilst she has the damp newspaper in the ex whelping box. Although I have my suspicion that she has also been sleeping, cat like on my Conservatory window still, as every thing has been dislodged and there are foot prints! The pups are now running and jumping in the air like spring lambs, they have not quite learnt how to use the brakes and often roll head over tail, when they try to stop, landing in a ruffled heap.
They are also very high stepping this week and like their mother seem almost cat like, in their play, they stalk each other and love playing with the toys. At this stage many of the toys are household bits and pieces, socks, hair scrunches, bath scrubs, toilet rolls, cotton reels ect.. or things out of Jamies toy box. Noisy toys that move and make different noises. The tuggy from crufts have little play value at the moment they would rather chew socks, my trousers or the throws on the sofa. Deigo still makes a bee line for shoes, and the cat always gives them all a sparkle in their eyes, but having been smacked by her, they tend to keep they stalking at a distance. The pups have had a variety of different food introduced to them, They still have puppy porridge for breakfast and Scrabbled egg (which they adore) for supper, and dinner and tea is a few James well beloved biscuits mixed with either roasts chicken, Minced lamb or Beef, and Trio is still producing the drinks the old fashion way. Friday the pups had their first visit from one of the new owners, Janet and Terry with the grandchildren came to have a play, Tico, Boots and Diego made a play for their attention, Benny slept nearly the whole of their visits and Dora and Swipper just wanted to do their own thing. I had tried to keep the pups quiet at lunch time as that's when they tend to come out to play, and I did not want them tired for the visitors. So I fed them in their pen...mistake! not only did they not go back to sleep after their dinner, but they had rolled in it and when Janet wanted to smell that lovely puppy smell, all she got was a whiff of minced lamb, and most of the dinner was still being worn in their coats! It was lovely to see Janet as she had Tamsin's half sister and we use to meet at shows, kes was a sweet heart and so Janet is pleased to be having a Kessi great nephew, and I know which every pups she has, he will enjoy the life of riley in Cornwall. Last Night, Benny was last to go to bed and was out playing chase with Jamie, the pair of them were having a whale of a time. So I give in.....not that there was much doubt...Benny is now going to start being calling by his new name...Apollo..when I remember.