Visitors today!

Thank you Lauren and Lorraine for visiting with the pups this morning!  They surely enjoyed it and took a long nap afterwards.

They had a late lunch and then had more running around with Buzz, who relishes playing with all the little munchkins!

WEEK 6 - Clary & Hobbs Litter

The warm weather continues and the pups enjoy the outdoor space; however, today I brought them back into the air conditioned pup room.  It is just too humid and hot.  Maybe they will go back out later and I will spray them with the hose to keep cool.    :+)

Personalities are beginning to show.  Some of them are true Houdinis 'acting all sweet and quiet' for about a half hour and then a bit later - complete hooligans!

This morning both Petunia and Eli were so compliant during the photo shoot.  The rest, not so much!!

Marigold sits prim and proper this morning - not always the case!  4 1/4 lbs.

Petunia, a cuddler.  4 lbs.

Robin looks like he is going to fall asleep in that nest of sedum!  3 3/4 lbs.

Perky as a red rooster, Indigo was enjoying the view from the window box.  3 3/4 lbs.

Eli - always so serious and gentle.  4 lbs.

I swear, Rudy's 'bushy' eyebrows are simply too heavy for his eyeballs!  4 1/8 lbs.

Poppy, the 'twin' of Eli.  4 1/4 lbs.

Visitors

Although we have had some visitors since the pups were four weeks of age, I started taking pics of these visits this week because now they are outdoors.  :+) They enjoy their space and I have more room to take shots.

This week, we have had two puppy buyer visitors plus, numerous visits to Clary and her pups by her guardian home.  We also had family member visits but I did not take pics of those.  :+(

First thing I see each morning!  Please can we come out?  One of them is on the other side.  

Cathy, Greg and Lauren have fun holding the pups.

Faith and Richard are ready to add a new pup to their home and looking forward to it.

Awwww.... You leaving already?  Come back soon!

Their outdoor pen.

Once the pups reach five weeks of age, they spend lots of time in the outdoor pen where they have fresh air, lots more space and provides outdoor noise exposure to lawnmowers, cars, ambulance sounds, birds, etc.

They love to explore the space.  Chewing on bush branches is a new activity, along with grabbing the strings from the swinging bench cushions (oops!).  Naps are numerous as well.  If it is too hot come the high noon hours, I bring them back in to their air conditioned puppy room.

I have a young adult here for observation and he is very, very interested in the pups and visits them outdoors routinely.

Thought all of you would enjoy some pics.  Soon, they will be utilizing the entire play-yard!

Some of the pics may be a bit fuzzy as they were moving all the time!

The pups' mom, Clary, will begin transitioning away from her motherly duties this week.  Thankfully, she lives closeby and this typically tedious part of a guardianship will be nice and easy.  :+)

FINALLY!!!

Oh my, this heat and humidity is killing me!!

I think it is affecting the pups too because it took me TWO full photoshoots to get decent pics!

I actually cleaned the outside area this morning so that they could be outdoors for a bit this afternoon. They seem to be really enjoying the space and balmy breezes.  While they enjoyed the outdoors, I cleaned up their inside area with the air conditioning.  I will bring them back in soon.

We have had several visitors come to socialized the pups and they are enjoying it a lot with wagging tails and spurts of energy.  Most tire quickly and mosey back into their pen to catch another nap.  In another week or so, it will take more interaction to tire them out though.  :+)

I can feel teeth on some of them so sharp needles are coming soon - OUCH!!

A first time for everything!

This morning both Brinkley's guardian and I went to my repro vet clinic to do our first Transcervical Insemination with frozen sperm from Emmett.  I sure hope I made the right choice for both stud and method of impregnation.  We will see in about 30 days or so.  It will be repeated tomorrow to hopefully cover all the potential eggs that are ready for fertilization.  The waiting for pregnancy results is very trying! 

Will update as we know more.  :+)  Brinkley has been a trooper!  She is such a sweet girl.

Another change for Brinkley!

I had to reconsider my stud choice for Brinkley's mating.  After having her with me at the vet's yesterday for her check up prior to her 'date', I realized she is bigger than I thought.  I felt a stud that was closer to her size would be a better choice.  The handsome Emmett Piccolo is 'on ice' at my vets and I am going to use him.  Emmett is just about 30 lbs., like Brinkley, and this will provide a more uniform small medium size litter in assorted colors.

Oh the joys of playing 'match maker'!!

Emmett is a sweet and happy boy that loves his toys.  Gorgeous black shiny coat!
You can read more about Emmett on the AnnaBlog Index.  It is alphabetical.  :+)

WEEK FOUR - Clary x Hobbs litter. :+)

Well, aren't these roly poly's becoming social butterflies!  Now when I go into the Pup Room, I see wagging tails and hear little barks.  They are becoming use to my smell and voice and I can pat, hold and cuddle with them.  They also had their first 'non mommy' meal this morning!  I use a milk powder substitute with some Gerber's Baby Meat for flavor and they loved it.  :+)

With strangers, they may still be a bit reserve but as the weeks and people visits increase, there will be huge milestones achieved.  And, once teeth come in - watch out!

Now that Week #4 has finally arrived, I will be accepting calls/emails to begin the very important socializing portion of their young lives.  Initially, visits will be limited to 1/2 hour with the pups.  Please be courteous with this request.  Pups tire quickly and need a good schedule to rest and recoup.

I will schedule a visit in the morning after 10 am and one in the afternoon after 2 pm.  They have lunch around noon and need time to consume, digest, play and rest before seeing visitors.  Each day will be limited to just two families visiting at least for the first couple of weeks.  Once the pups are eating 'real' food and grown a bit, I welcome visiting but may have two families at the same time which will allow more interaction with the pups and they will have more energy to use up.  My preference is NOT to have visitors on rainy days once the pups are old enough to play outdoors.  Although the turf play area keeps them clean, wet pups are not fun to cuddle with.  Thank you!  :+)

Marigold is a very light apricot tuxedo.  She will have black pigment and weighs 3 1/4 lbs.    If she were a Cocker Spaniel, they would call this pup a 'Lemon and White' Tuxedo.  :+)

Petunia's nose is working on becoming black.  A few more days.  She is an apricot and white tuxedo - 3 lbs.    Unless born black, pups that will develop black pigment take several weeks to fill in.

Indy has the deepest apricot tuxedo coat in the litter and weighs 3 lbs.  The firstborn.

Robin continues to be the smallest pup in the litter at 2 1/2 lbs.  Notice how he already has a black nose?

Eli is a caramel and white hunk weighing 3 lbs.  He has a 'textbook'  tuxedo pattern.  :+) 

Almost twins, Poppy and Eli.  Poppy weighs 3 1/4 lbs.  Both she and Eli  will have hazel eyes and 'rosy' noses.

Rudy's chocolate tuxedo will more than likely lighten as he matures.  3 lbs.

Well, wouldn't you know....

Ms. Sadie Benz is in season at EXACTLY the same time as her half sister, Brinkley.  I can't do two litters at the same time so will have to pass on breeding sweet Sadie this time around.

However, for those looking for small medium sized doodles come late Spring 2021, I will be breeding Sadie to my new stud man vin Diesel.  This mating may produce pups with some white markings and possibly a phantom marked pup or two.

I had considered using Wyatt but really enjoy multiple colored litters and a smaller size (under 30 lbs.)
So, that is my future plan for Ms. Sadie Benz!

Sadie and her best male companion.

WHOOPIE!

Received an email this morning that dear Brinkley has started her season!  I have already made her first vet appointment for a check up and some blood work and in about a week or so, we should have a mating and we start all over.

As stated on my website, this litter is all sold at this time.

Will keep all updated on this AnnaBlog as things progress.  :+)

BONUS!!

Just saw the pups beginning to play with each other and wanted to share.  :+) I just love when this stage starts.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY PICS!

I did not think anyone would be upset about getting the pups' three week pics a couple days early.  :+)

I have always loved this holiday and miss the parades, large family gatherings and 'jovial' atmosphere of the population in general.  So much has changed.

However, doing this photography setting has put the holiday spirit back into my step and I hope it does the same for all of you.  🎆

MARIGOLD weighs 2 1/4 lbs.

POPPY weighs 2 1/4 lbs.

INDIGO weighs 2 lbs.

ELI also weighs 2 lbs.

Not to be left out, so does RUDY!  2 lbs.

PETUNIA is following her siblings at 2 lbs. as well.

But not ROBIN!  He weighs 1 lb., 12 oz. 

The females are trending to be the largest pups in the litter.  It is not common but every now and again.....   Many times the males catch up later and some surpass.

We have moved to the Pup Room!

Happily settling in, the pups now have some diluted sunlight, extra room and comfortable quarters. As the days pass, they will begin to see more and hear new sounds once their ears are fully open.  Clary continues to do an excellent job and my house doodles go in and out of the room for pup entertainment.

As their eyes develop more focus, I have hung 'soft' toys that they can 'see' but also rattle or have gentle bells for ears to acclimate to.  All these little steps is for their development into our world.  A gentle introduction is important so they are not frightened.

Soft music is always playing in the room through a product called 'icalm for dogs'.  Later, as they become 'obnoxious little creatures' that need more stimulation, I use a different sound machine that has screaming kids, loud bangs, clanking and jack hammers to desensitize them.  

The setup below changes as they develop.  :+)