Sorry Have been busy, did keep notes in my puppy diaries just have not had time to update my web site, so for those who are interested here is the last two months news and updates.
20th August: Just had a flying visit from Tipper (boots) and his mum. It was lovely to see him and he has grown into a very handsome boy, during his visit his ears went up into two pricked ears, his mum was astounded, but are both going to stay up, or will one stay down, like his sister Tora's are at the moment. Checked his teeth and his new set are coming through nicely and he has a good scissors bite, whereas Apollo at the moment is a little undershot. (giving him lots of bones to encourage a good jaw).But as pups are only four mths old there is plenty of time for change. Interesting talking to Maureen on similarities, Training is coming on well but Tipper has only in the last week managed to do some simple heelwork and a watch. Tipper is a gardener and has left countless holes in their immaculate lawn, he also loves to destroy newspaper and paddles in water. He is a delight to take out and is adored by every body and every dog he meets, brilliant with children and just a joy to own......pleased that my babies all continue to be as sweet natured as my girls.
FOUR MONTHS
7th August: Just back from a few days camping in the new Forest. We had a lovely time despite the constant rain and the dogs have come home exhausted and muddy. Why is it always sunny in Portsmouth whilst we are away...only a few miles down the road.LOL.
Really pleased with the Tora and Apollo, they have been so well behaved whilst we have been away, (apart from the occasional bark at other dogs passing the tent). Was worried about them spooking the ponies, so the first few days they were put back on lead when we saw any new forest ponies in our path, but whilst stopping to pick up after one of the dogs I was horrified to see a mare and young foal in front of us and the foal and pups were sniffing each other..... no reaction other then normal curiosity and pups were soon bounding off after the big dogs again. Phew, thank goodness the pups seem to be good with livestock, makes it so much easier. whilst out in the country.
Both pups are very vocal, Apollo being quite easily spooked will bark at anything, Tora will then often join in just for the sake of it as she is generally a strong brave bitch, but likes the sound of her own voice. We also discovered that both Apollo and Tora are like their mother and when walking as a pack, on lead, they want to be in front, if david has the older dogs in front then Trio, Tora and Apollo all start to squeal and pull like mad on two legs. However they are now pretty reliable at instant downs and recalls...not sure if I could stop them in full flight after a deer...but at least they were very good and a pleasure to walk with in the New Forest and many people stop to comment at how spectacular they looked when they all dropped on command whilst encountering others on the footpaths.
The pups ate well on holiday, all that fresh air and exercise, but in the last few weeks I have been concerned on Tora's picky eating habits, she is reluctant to eat more then a third of the recommended puppy food, often refusing to eat her meal at all, but as she looks fit and healthy, her coat has a nice sheen and her ribs well covered, so I guess I am just being a neurotic Owner, not helped by the fact that Apollo eats like a horse. Brother Tipper (boots) has also been a picky eater and Maureen has changed his diet, he adored his Weetabix but was then not eating any puppy meal during the rest of the day, so she has had to stop the breakfast treat and has changed his food in the hopes of getting him to polish his plate clean.
Apollo and Tora are ball mad. they are very laid back in training and in fact I have stopped doing any heelwork with them, as not getting the drive or the want at the moment, but get a ball out and they go mad, jumping head high to grab them out of your hand, with me squealing to look out, don't let them jump its bad for their hips. Also noticed that Tora whilst being tied up watching the kids play football, on holiday attacked the guy roaps with her frustration. Had to replace two sets of guys when hubby wasn't watching! she also gets mad and attacks the other dogs leads if excited, she is also eating her way through my home...most destructive puppies to date
1st August: Checked Tora's mouth was horrified to see NO TEETH in her front top jaw!! I know she is teething but it looked awful with all six top teeth missing, Apollo is losing his teeth in ones or twos so not as noticeable. The pups are becoming more o.t.t, If hubby lets Tora upstairs she is now leaping onto my bed which is over 3ft 6in high and Apollo is nearly getting over the stair gate when excited, so great jumpers like their dad. They unfortunately have also inherited another of their daddies traits......the ability to swallow things they shouldn't! This week Apollo was seen swallowing a sock! thankfully was able to gently pull in out from his throat, but a scary few moments, heart in my mouth.
Apollo and Tora are great water babies and spend hours emptying the water bowl over the floor, or jumping in the bath or under the shower with jamie. (however Tora is not so keen on getting dried with the hair dryer!). The other bad habits they have is tearing up newspaper, in fact it doesn't even have to be old newspaper, the one you are reading is open season for Tora who chews a corner and then tries to pull in out of your grasp, Hubby does not find it amusing though.lol. They are also terrible chewers and diggers, bones, toys ect are constantly having to be retrieved from holes dug in the garden.
THREE MONTHS
Saturday 3rd July. (Twelve weeks): Tipper came back for a weekend visit yesterday, and it is lovely to see the three babies playing rough games, its as if tipper never left. Having said that his sister when he arrived immediately started beating him up, he didn't seem to mind but I felt she was being a bit on the dominant side, I knew she was the bossy one in the litter, but hey give the lad a chance to take his coat off and settle before bossing him about. Apollo was equally as delighted to see his brother, but he just wanted to hump him! (Do these pups have NO Social manors!).
Decided to have a photo session this morning, the boys were delightful and stayed put for their photos, Tora was a "cow" and with in three seconds of posing her she was off at great speed and wanted to jump on David's head (he was lying prone on the patio with the camera) through sheer luck we did get some photos with her still in focus and within the frame.
The pups have had their second jabs and are still meant to be in quarantine for another two weeks, but blow that they are missing valuable socialising time, so Trio has been up and back to collect my grandchildren from school. She is very good and sits and waits at the kerb and walks nicely on the lead (maybe she can teach her mother how to do that) and simply loves being centre of attention. She is still a mans dog, and makes a great fuss of any fellow, regardless to whether they like dogs or not. Its been to hot to do much training (another word for me being too lazy) but she is getting easier to live with as she just fits in with the pack. She is not a great cuddler and snuggler and once I have been jumped on and kissed she is off to do her own thing, nothing like her mother, granny and great granny who are all great lap dogs. However I did say I didn't want the Oldies noises out of joint and so they have been allowed to retain their place on my lap in the evenings whilst she sleeps curled under the computer chair.
Tora's ambition this week is to be a mountain goat and she climbs everything in sight and eats everything that she's not meant to, however she plays very gently with Jamie, unlike Apollo who gets very rough and has had to be told off several times for sinking his teeth into jamie whilst they play, he just doesn't know his own strength. Still at this age, no problem he just has to learn its not acceptable to put his teeth anywhere near human skin. I think he believes Jamie is his sibling and not a higher ranking human, so Jamie has now got some special chores to do to elevate her. She feeds him, she lets him out of his bed in the morning and he has to sit when she puts his lead on, ect..
20th August: Just had a flying visit from Tipper (boots) and his mum. It was lovely to see him and he has grown into a very handsome boy, during his visit his ears went up into two pricked ears, his mum was astounded, but are both going to stay up, or will one stay down, like his sister Tora's are at the moment. Checked his teeth and his new set are coming through nicely and he has a good scissors bite, whereas Apollo at the moment is a little undershot. (giving him lots of bones to encourage a good jaw).But as pups are only four mths old there is plenty of time for change. Interesting talking to Maureen on similarities, Training is coming on well but Tipper has only in the last week managed to do some simple heelwork and a watch. Tipper is a gardener and has left countless holes in their immaculate lawn, he also loves to destroy newspaper and paddles in water. He is a delight to take out and is adored by every body and every dog he meets, brilliant with children and just a joy to own......pleased that my babies all continue to be as sweet natured as my girls.
FOUR MONTHS
7th August: Just back from a few days camping in the new Forest. We had a lovely time despite the constant rain and the dogs have come home exhausted and muddy. Why is it always sunny in Portsmouth whilst we are away...only a few miles down the road.LOL.
Really pleased with the Tora and Apollo, they have been so well behaved whilst we have been away, (apart from the occasional bark at other dogs passing the tent). Was worried about them spooking the ponies, so the first few days they were put back on lead when we saw any new forest ponies in our path, but whilst stopping to pick up after one of the dogs I was horrified to see a mare and young foal in front of us and the foal and pups were sniffing each other..... no reaction other then normal curiosity and pups were soon bounding off after the big dogs again. Phew, thank goodness the pups seem to be good with livestock, makes it so much easier. whilst out in the country.
Both pups are very vocal, Apollo being quite easily spooked will bark at anything, Tora will then often join in just for the sake of it as she is generally a strong brave bitch, but likes the sound of her own voice. We also discovered that both Apollo and Tora are like their mother and when walking as a pack, on lead, they want to be in front, if david has the older dogs in front then Trio, Tora and Apollo all start to squeal and pull like mad on two legs. However they are now pretty reliable at instant downs and recalls...not sure if I could stop them in full flight after a deer...but at least they were very good and a pleasure to walk with in the New Forest and many people stop to comment at how spectacular they looked when they all dropped on command whilst encountering others on the footpaths.
The pups ate well on holiday, all that fresh air and exercise, but in the last few weeks I have been concerned on Tora's picky eating habits, she is reluctant to eat more then a third of the recommended puppy food, often refusing to eat her meal at all, but as she looks fit and healthy, her coat has a nice sheen and her ribs well covered, so I guess I am just being a neurotic Owner, not helped by the fact that Apollo eats like a horse. Brother Tipper (boots) has also been a picky eater and Maureen has changed his diet, he adored his Weetabix but was then not eating any puppy meal during the rest of the day, so she has had to stop the breakfast treat and has changed his food in the hopes of getting him to polish his plate clean.
Apollo and Tora are ball mad. they are very laid back in training and in fact I have stopped doing any heelwork with them, as not getting the drive or the want at the moment, but get a ball out and they go mad, jumping head high to grab them out of your hand, with me squealing to look out, don't let them jump its bad for their hips. Also noticed that Tora whilst being tied up watching the kids play football, on holiday attacked the guy roaps with her frustration. Had to replace two sets of guys when hubby wasn't watching! she also gets mad and attacks the other dogs leads if excited, she is also eating her way through my home...most destructive puppies to date
1st August: Checked Tora's mouth was horrified to see NO TEETH in her front top jaw!! I know she is teething but it looked awful with all six top teeth missing, Apollo is losing his teeth in ones or twos so not as noticeable. The pups are becoming more o.t.t, If hubby lets Tora upstairs she is now leaping onto my bed which is over 3ft 6in high and Apollo is nearly getting over the stair gate when excited, so great jumpers like their dad. They unfortunately have also inherited another of their daddies traits......the ability to swallow things they shouldn't! This week Apollo was seen swallowing a sock! thankfully was able to gently pull in out from his throat, but a scary few moments, heart in my mouth.
Apollo and Tora are great water babies and spend hours emptying the water bowl over the floor, or jumping in the bath or under the shower with jamie. (however Tora is not so keen on getting dried with the hair dryer!). The other bad habits they have is tearing up newspaper, in fact it doesn't even have to be old newspaper, the one you are reading is open season for Tora who chews a corner and then tries to pull in out of your grasp, Hubby does not find it amusing though.lol. They are also terrible chewers and diggers, bones, toys ect are constantly having to be retrieved from holes dug in the garden.
THREE MONTHS
Saturday 3rd July. (Twelve weeks): Tipper came back for a weekend visit yesterday, and it is lovely to see the three babies playing rough games, its as if tipper never left. Having said that his sister when he arrived immediately started beating him up, he didn't seem to mind but I felt she was being a bit on the dominant side, I knew she was the bossy one in the litter, but hey give the lad a chance to take his coat off and settle before bossing him about. Apollo was equally as delighted to see his brother, but he just wanted to hump him! (Do these pups have NO Social manors!).
Decided to have a photo session this morning, the boys were delightful and stayed put for their photos, Tora was a "cow" and with in three seconds of posing her she was off at great speed and wanted to jump on David's head (he was lying prone on the patio with the camera) through sheer luck we did get some photos with her still in focus and within the frame.
The pups have had their second jabs and are still meant to be in quarantine for another two weeks, but blow that they are missing valuable socialising time, so Trio has been up and back to collect my grandchildren from school. She is very good and sits and waits at the kerb and walks nicely on the lead (maybe she can teach her mother how to do that) and simply loves being centre of attention. She is still a mans dog, and makes a great fuss of any fellow, regardless to whether they like dogs or not. Its been to hot to do much training (another word for me being too lazy) but she is getting easier to live with as she just fits in with the pack. She is not a great cuddler and snuggler and once I have been jumped on and kissed she is off to do her own thing, nothing like her mother, granny and great granny who are all great lap dogs. However I did say I didn't want the Oldies noises out of joint and so they have been allowed to retain their place on my lap in the evenings whilst she sleeps curled under the computer chair.
Tora's ambition this week is to be a mountain goat and she climbs everything in sight and eats everything that she's not meant to, however she plays very gently with Jamie, unlike Apollo who gets very rough and has had to be told off several times for sinking his teeth into jamie whilst they play, he just doesn't know his own strength. Still at this age, no problem he just has to learn its not acceptable to put his teeth anywhere near human skin. I think he believes Jamie is his sibling and not a higher ranking human, so Jamie has now got some special chores to do to elevate her. She feeds him, she lets him out of his bed in the morning and he has to sit when she puts his lead on, ect..