The magical fourth week with the Nellie x Emmett litter.

This is a magical week because of the incredible development that has occurred in the pups. They are walking, can see and hear, using the litter box very frequently and are beginning to play with each other. By far the cutest phase.  :+)

This coming week, we will see if they enjoy 'real' food instead of just mom's milk. I have tried a couple of times and they are 'somewhat' interested but I like it better when they dive into their food and come up with some of it all over their muzzles.  Then I know they are truly ready to be introduced to the weaning process which takes a couple of weeks to complete.

Ben Franklin, the largest at 4 1/2 lbs. Wk 4.

Betsy Ross, 3 1/2 lbs. Wk. 4

Abigail Adams weighs 4 lbs. Wk. 4

Molly Pitcher is the smallest at 2 3/4 lbs. on Wk. 4

George Washington is 3 lbs. on Wk. 4 and is the smallest male.

Nellie's litter is doing very well.

They are actually moseying over to the litter pan to do their business but have not been tempted yet to eat anything other than mommy's milk. Nellie is producing lots of it, so no complaining from me!

There are very brief moments of mouthing each other as they learn to interact - which is so darn cute to watch. They are a bit cautious of some noises and fast movements, so I try to be extra careful around them. I did take them outdoors, one by one, for a walk around the pup yard. Of course, they were in my arms when I did this but you could hear them sniffing the air and wondering where they were. None complained. I handle them lightly each day and they are learning to recognize me more and more.

This coming weekend they will be four weeks and I am allowing short visits to see them. Let me know if any of you wish to stop by.

Ben Franklin is soooo silky and Abigail Adams is always yawning!

The Three Sleeping Beauties are George Washington, Molly Pitcher and Betsy Ross.

Yikes!

How many of you were up listening to your fur-baby yelling for most of the night? Poor Scout was not a happy man now that all of his siblings have gone to their homes. :+(

Now that the 'formidable' first night is behind us, we can expect a somewhat less vocal repetition tonight - at least that has been my experience. Right now, Scout is resting in his crate after about a 15 minute complaint session. I feed him in his pen and take him out immediately after he is done. He did potty and we played a bit and then I put him in with some yummy stuff in a small bone. I want him to know that the pen/crate is a good place to be so I will always give him something special as I switch him from pen to freedom.

We will all get through this phase and I know how hard it is on your heart and head - been there, done that! Stick to your schedule and quieter more restful days are coming.

Piper's litter goes home....including Scout!

This was the BIG weekend for puppy pick ups and it went great! So many families just delighted with their new four legged companions. Lots of kids, giggles and excitement - just the way it should be.  :+)

Except for Scout, who has to wait a bit longer, these pups are on their way to a new and adventurous life.

Hunter Cronin left on Thursday with his dad and 'bro'.

Hank Hill was picked up on Friday to the delight of his owners.

 Saturday's pick ups was scheduled as a group and included:

Freya Coolidge who will keep these ladies very busy!

Lizzie Tenny-Gross will make this retired couple smile all day long.

Rigger Mac Clarence will have a 'family' of doodles to play with on a regular basis.

I expect Calli Kerstein will entertain lots of nursery-aged children as well as family.

On Sunday, another group pick up was scheduled with lots of excited kids in the mix!

These girls will be sure to keep Riley Parks busy with cuddles and walks ....  perhaps 'dress up'??

Ollie Murray will constantly provide his family will lots to smile about. 

Theo Kingston will join his doodle cousins on many occasions.

Scout took to the blue skies and will entertain 10 year old quad girls (and another Annabelle doodle, Ms. Jonesy).

Nellie x Emmett litter - Week THREE!

Hopefully, sometime Sunday afternoon, I should be able to move these dear babies to the puppy room. It has been a busy time with Piper Moon's puppy pick ups so I am bit off my posting schedule!

They continue to be a chunky lot. Not doing much yet but big changes will start very soon.  :+)

Ben Franklin 3 1/2 lbs.

Betsy Ross 3 lbs.

Abigail Adams 3 1/2 lbs.

Molly Pitcher 2 1/4 lbs.

George Washington 2 1/2 lbs.

Piper's daughters are back from their spays.

They are all settled in for the night. All of them are still a bit groggy. Some ate a mouthful of food before going in the pens. More food will be offered later tonight once the anesthesia is fully out of their system. Right now, they are very, very quiet and just want to rest. Tomorrow will be a new day and they will still have to be separated from the boys for healing purposes. Weather permitting, they will be outdoors in a separate area for fresh air and controlled play.

Freya and Riley.

Lizzie and Calli.

All the boys will be together in a larger pen until pick ups this weekend.  REMEMBER everyone.... please read the warranty/contract BEFORE pick up so we can sign. If you have any questions, ask them now so we can have everything settled.  :+) Thanks!

The days have been hot and muggy!

The pups, however, have found ways to be cool and happy outdoors.

Freya and Scout.

Rigger, Theo and Calli.

Lizzie looks like she took a shower!

Hunter cooling off in the shade after a dip.

Daisy and Calli playing in the pool.

Pups seeking out the shade of the clubhouse (and to dig).

Theo soaking in the 'tub'.

Not for long! Daisy and Ollie get to splashing!

Hank does 'bottoms up'!  :+)

OK! My last 'official' photoshoot of the Piper x Dublin litter at 9 weeks old. (whew!)

Yes, it has come down to the wire with this litter of ten - my largest ever. Picture day is quite the job - especially when you need to do it between the raindrops as I did today.

Your pups are nine full weeks and full of 'puppydom'. They yell like banshees when I prepare food - you would think I was starving them! Food disappears faster than a drop of water on a hot frying pan.

Every time I open the gate, I need to keep a sharp eye on Scout because he shoots through it like a bullet! He loves to explore the kitchen and say 'hello' to the adult doodles. :+) Most of them settle quickly once they are in the smaller pens. Some complain longer than others but ALL settle down and take a nap. If you must use ear plugs, buy them. You certainly can 'ease the pain' of crate training if you use a Kong with some peanut butter or cream cheese swiped in it for comfort food.

They are in the pens at night by 8 pm. They are generally making noise between 5 and 6 am. My suggestion is to follow your own schedule but be sure to take them out at 10:00 pm or so for a potty break and put right back in. By doing this, your pup should be dry until 5 am or so. I must say the pups wait until I get them out (around 6 - 6:30 am) to go poop!

The girls will be getting their spays and microchips on Wednesday this week. The boys are all set but the girls will need to be watched for any redness, etc. for a few more days after pick up. Swelling occurs often but it goes down eventually.

HUNTER 7 lbs.

RIGGER 6 3/4 lbs.

FREYA 8 1/2 lbs.

LIZZIE 6 3/4 lbs.

RILEY 7 lbs.

OLLIE 7 lbs.

THEO 8 1/2 lbs.

CALLI MEADOW 5 3/4 lbs.

SCOUT 7 lbs.

HANK 7 3/4 lbs.

Nellie's pups are MONSTERS at two weeks of age!

Holy cow, I cannot believe how chubby these pups are! Nellie is doing such a great job taking care of them and her milk must be something else. Thankfully, they cannot climb out of the Perla Bed they are in due to their plumpness.  :+)

Here are these cute pumpkins at two weeks of age.

Molly Pitcher is at 1.12 lbs. and the smallest pup. Aren't her apricot eyebrows a hoot?

Abigail Adams already weighs 2.10 lbs! Momma Mia!!!

Ben Franklin is another hefty one at 2.9 lbs.

George Washington weighs 1.15 lbs.

Betsy Ross is at 2.4 lbs. She has the cutest white abstract markings.

Molly was the first pup to open her eyes on Day 12. The rest quickly followed the next day. The litter continues to be very content. :+)

YOWSERS! Today was a busy, busy day!

We started off with a trip south with Piper's ten pups packed into my car to visit the Canine Ophthalmologist in Portsmouth, NH. I packed my 'Pup Mobile' so I would not have to make 10 trips into the office. With the use of the carriage, I only had to make two trips which was wonderful.  :+) The pups really love riding in the carriage which is a very good thing!

Drops were placed in their eyes for dilation of the pupils which allows the vet to see more clearly. I always like to do eye CERF's on my pups to be sure they are not exhibiting any eye disease that may cause blindness. Between 8 and 12 weeks, the 'flap' behind the eye has not closed and with the use of proper equipment, vets can see if disease is present like Progressive Rod Atrophy (PRA) and the like. Vets will also note 'Puppy Epithelial or Persistent Pupil Membranes' both very common in puppies. Epithelial smudges are like an oil slick that eventually gets absorbed around a year - it is not a problem with our hybrid. PPM's Iris to Iris is a benign condition that will never affect sight - think of it as a strand of membrane that was left behind during womb development. Neither of these conditions affect sight in our hybrid, so no worries. Many times both are gone by a year with maturation.

Once we returned home, an early lunch was served, a potty break and small nap was had by all. Then we packed up for the second time to get vaccines at Broadview in Rochester, NH. I prefer that the pups get only Distemper and Parvo vaccines - nothing else at this time. Dr. Estle is very accommodating to my request and purchased this vaccine for me only. Most pups get a 4-way vaccine at this time which includes: Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvo and Para Influenza (DHPP). I feel that is way too much for their immature immune system, so only give the most important ones. When they are 12 weeks, I suggest your vet give them only Parvo and Distemper again with nothing else! At 16 weeks, they can have the DHPP with NO other vaccine. I suggest you wait for Heart worm or a Lyme vaccine until six months or when they absolutely need it. Limit the number of vaccines given at any one time. Limit Flea and Tick preventatives as well. Watch closely for reactions. Read about these reactions on the Internet and learn what to look for.

Both trips were uneventful, the pups were extremely good.

Charlotte x Rocky Litter info! UPDATE!

Charlotte and Rocky had a whirlwind affair and totally enjoyed their time together. It was a long trip to Connecticut but well worth it. Rocky is such a handsome guy and he wooed Charlotte in no time flat. I expect their puppies to be a range from mini to mediums (20 to 28 lbs.).

What a fun litter this should be! Rocky is a tri-color (looks like a Bernese Mountain Dog) but is a third generation Cockapoo. Charlotte is an Australian Labradoodle with a 'hidden' phantom gene and does not express any color but cream visually but carries and can produce phantom marked pups (like Molly Pitcher) in the Nellie x Emmett litter. On top of that, both Charlotte and Rocky carry for the parti (two color) gene!

Charlotte's whelping is going to be like opening presents at Christmas - a surprise in every 'sack'.  :+)

Did all of you see this video regarding children and dogs????

If you have a child and are getting a new puppy, PLEASE stop... look...and listen to this video! It shows two completely 'different' perspectives from a child and the dog. You will learn a lot!

https://www.facebook.com/sitmeanssithouston/videos/10152944709017635/?hc_location=ufi

Today was surgery day for the Piper x Dublin males.

Early in the morning, I was on my way to the vets after loading the boys. I had a couple 'sing' to me on the way but not for very long. They do go under anesthesia, so they could not have anything to eat since dinner last night. :+(

Once at the vets, she does a check up (heart/ears/teeth/testicles/hernia check and nails cut) on each of them and does blood work so I know there is nothing wrong with the pup's organ functions BEFORE they go under.  On the blood work panel (you get a copy) the Creatinine is typically below normal because they have fasted. Sometimes the Globulin may be a bit under due to protein dilution brought on by a lot of fluid intake such as drinking water (which dilutes proteins). I also bring a fecal sample to check for parasites - which were clear! :+)

Broadview Animal Hospital is truly exceptional and typically my pups are cradled by a vet tech most of the time before and after surgery.

While they are at the hospital, I am busy rearranging the puppy room into the 'infirmary' and cleaning things up for the soon to arrive occupants. I carry them individually from the car and give them each a snack before putting them into the pens. Several pups are in a crate and thus begins the introduction to 'crate' training. At the very least, this DOES hasten the crate training process when you begin it at home. With over a week in crates, they are typically less 'noisy' for less time by pick up day.

In the meantime, the four girls that were left behind watched me prepare and were very quiet and mellow which was very nice. I didn't have to step around, over or go through them very often.

Calli dozed as I worked in the pup room.

Riley watched me pick up poops.

Lizzie was quite happy chilling as I went to and fro carrying stuff.

Freya found a wet, shady spot near the bucket and had both eyes on me.

The patients are on both ends with the four girls in the middle pen.

Hunter in front with Calloway behind and Ollie.

Scout, Theo and Rigger.

I admit that it was noisy for a bit, but now they have all settled for a nice nap and are calm. In about an hour, I will let them out for a brief potty, feed them again and keep them 'penned' up outdoors so they can't run around much. It is important for them to be rather inactive for a day or so. Then they will be separated into the crates and 'Light's Out'.  :+)