Pups get a veterinary checkup

Just like last year, we arranged for a home visit by Cottonwood Creek Veterinary Services to examine the pups. So far the pups ahve been dewormed three times. Yesterday we vaccinated puppies  with Proguard 5, but we also wanted their hearts to be checked out.

Tuesday and Thor

Thor and Theo

Tarah

Tarah being examined by Dr. Kryzak

Puppies continue their intro to tracking by following liver drags.

Puppies turn seven weeks old

Weights at seven weeks: Tarah - 5 lbs, Tuesday - 6 lbs, Theo - 6.5 lbs, Thor - 7 lbs. Males have both testicles, and pups have all their teeth.

Puppies interact with their older brother Sky

Tomorrow pups will be seven weeks old so we will weigh them. We started to feed them individually as some of them were getting too heavy. I suspect that especially Thor was getting more than his share of food. We feed them in crates, to which they need to get used to, but they are not too happy about it.

They met Sky today, who was very gentle with them. I was very impressed by Sky's manners around the pups. Well, after all he is the pup's older brother.

Pups spend their nights in the whelping box, which is attached to the pen with wood chips. During the day they come to the kitchen and dining area, when we are there. They also spend part of their day outside - in a puppy yard, which is attached to a shed. They go for walks, they socialize with visitors and our older dogs. And of course, we started them on liver drags.

Tarah is still the smallest. She is an extremely social puppy; quite vocal. She needs a lot of attention and interaction.

Sky is inspecting Thor, who submits completely.



Tuesday with Sky

Puppies socialize with Bernie

Puppies started to socialize with older dogs, and today it was Bernie's turn. He is so patient with them.

Thor is trying to nurse, but Bernie is not Paika. Bernie put a quick but gentle stop to the pup's foolishness.

Six weeks old already!

Puppies have been getting a lot of attention. Two days ago I shot this short videos of Thor and Theo in the wet grass while they were learning about physical obstacles. The pups are very social and they will, at this stage, do their best to stay in a close contact with us.

Today pups met some of our local friends. Dan, Faith and Debbie played with the pups until they bonked out. They tracked a real deer liver, chewed on the real hide, and chased a squeaky racoon toy. They were petted and kissed and had their bellies rubbed. I think they liked all the attention and interaction.

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Theo and Tarah at 5 weeks

Theo out on the grass when it got warmer outside.

Tarah is still the smallest but she certainly can stand her ground

Exposing pups to new objects is important. In this case I put a large cardboard box in their pen and fed them there.

Thor and Tuesday at five weeks

Tuesday von Moosbach-Zuzelek SW at 5 weeks

Thor von Moosbach-Zuzelek SW at 5 weeks

Weaning has begun

I was away for five days and got back last night. John took a really good care of the pups when I was gone - thank you John! He moved them from my den to the adjacent room, where he set up a pen with wood chips. Now pups can use their whelping box as their bed and play area, while the pen with wood chips serves as a bathroom. Even at such a young age puppies have a good instinct not to soil their bed, and they try to go to bathroom as far away as they can from their sleeping area.

Today we introduced pups to raw diet (Omas Pride ground mix),  and they loved it. So now we have started a gradual process of weaning. Paika is still very good with the pups, but they have sharp teeth and nursing cannot be comfortable for her.