Going going gone

The puppies now spend most days out in the garden, we have emptied our shed and put a fence around it so they can go in and out when they want with lots of toys to play with, they have a day bed too, as they still need a lot of sleep, they have taken it over, they love it outside. We still bring them in at night, i couldn't let them sleep outside, i wouldn't get any sleep myself if i did. Mum still feeds them about twice a day and the rest of the time they eat solids. She is very protective and sits by the fence and if she thinks they are in trouble she come and barks at us to tell us to check them. They have started to recognise me, as soon as they see me they think i have food, and make a dash at me. they are so cute i dont know how i will let them go, but at least one of them is staying in the family.

The milk is drying up.

The puppies have to be quite crafty to get their milk now. They pounce on Saffie while she's having a snooze or when she's finishing off their lunch.

"Wow" real food tastes good

The pups now have teeth and they use them on anything that moves, they are having solids three times a day now, and they love it. They can be making such a noise but as soon as you put the food down it goes deadly silent and then all you hear is their slurping. But with eating food comes the messy bit, and mum no longer cleans up after them, so it is now my job. (the joys of puppyhood) Mum get annoyed with them now as they can chase her around, they try to grab her teats and suckle, but she says when thats happening not them. They have been outside in the sun and enjoyed looking around the garden. one of the smaller dogs is so daring he is always the first to go where no pup has been before, we call him spock. They are just getting interesting, they make us laugh. The downside is that we will only have them for a few more weeks.

This tastes different

Today the pups have had solids for the first time, they had porridge i think they thought it was for swimming in as they got more over them than in them, still it wont take them long to realise that it goes in their mouths. Mum was standing by to eat any left overs, there was a little, they also played out in the snug for a while. they still get very tired and need to sleep a lot so that they will grow stronger, but they are getting more playful everyday, tomorrow we are going to try some real puppy meat.

Weaning time

Mum has decided to go full pelt into weaning her pups they are objecting big time, i was up with them at 4.40am this morning, i thought they were being strangled going by the amount of noise they were making, but when i got down, mum was sat by their bed looking at them and when i told her to feed them she looked the other way. she is very determined. Are'nt their instincts wonderful, I have decided to try them on solids tomorrow so i will let you know how it goes.

What a Rackett

They are the noisiest pups in the world, they are now being weaned by mum and they don't like it, she makes them wait longer between feeds and barks at them if they get too demanding. The pups have been wormed today, has anyone tried giving 2/12 ml to a little pup that wont open it's mouth (not easy) even with a syringe. they have also started to notice each other and play together. It's getting more interesting every day.

Its a whole new world.

Today the pups eyes have opened "hurrah hooray" and they are gettiing stronger, they are all starting to sound like Dogs now instead of Cats. Another week and we can think about weaning them, i think Saffie will be very pleased about that, i am not sure that i will be as that is when the messy bit starts.

Ten days and counting

The pups are ten days old and their eyes will open any day, they all seem to have a their own character, They are starting to stand on their feet, and each are changing from Brown and White, to gray dapple and brown. They are contantly squealing and one even gave her first little bark today, the girls are all bigger than the boys, but that will change when they are weaned. Saffie has started to leave them for longer periods now and she is much happier to allow us to handle them.

how quick a week is

The pups are now nearly a week old and already they have met the VET, he has removed their dew claws, so they wont be getting caught up when they start jumping through hedges. The Vet was very impressed with them and thought they were a really nice litter, (well what did he expect from a dog as beautiful as Saff).

The story so far

Saffie has had 6 puppies, 3 dogs, 3 bitches. They were born 31st Aug/1st Sept. She had her first puppy at about 10.15pm and then a few hours later she had the next 3. She then went another couple of hours before having the fifth.

The last one got stuck, and so after a long and stressful night with no sleep, we took her to the vet at about 5.30am. We were really worried that she would need a c-section as we had already examined Saffie and could feel the puppies feet and tail, but could not get a grip. Saffie had stopped pushing and the puppies sac had broken over an hour ago. We were sure the puppy had died. The vet gave Saffie a jab and within 15mins the puppy was out, and unbelievably it was alive.

All 6 puppies are now feeding well and seem very healthy happy pups. Saffie is being a very attentive and gentle mum as she was with her first litter.