HAPPY ONE YEAR OLD BIRTHDAY TO Olive x Chico's BABIES!

This was all of you at one day old! Can you believe it?

Brewster, Felix, Callie, Cody, Mac and Lily - have a wonderful birthday!

A late update on the first temperament test.

Hi all!

It is spring, and like most people, we are very much involved with spring projects. As already mentioned, we are putting in artificial turf in the puppy play-yard which required lots of digging, leveling and shoveling. It is roughly 15 by 100 feet, so A LOT of digging, etc. The pups were quite interested in watching us, offering a few barks of encouragement as we worked. Now that everything is prepared, we are hopeful for the delivery of our grass this coming week. I can't wait for this group to enjoy it. :+)

Along with that project, we have replaced our sloping grassy pathway to our front door with graduated steps. So, again piles of dirt removal and backbreaking work placing stones for embankment stability. We are still in that process as 'the rain has come'.

In between all of this, the pups continue to love the area they do have and are now not locked in the x-pens at night. In the morning, I find very little use of the litter box - most go outdoors in the early morning to potty outside. :+) I intend to fold up the x-pen and bring in more crates for them to sleep in with the doors open. We will see if they like this.

This past Wednesday, my trainer came for their first temperament test. There were some surprises and I expect in the next session, there will be more. At this time, I have four pups that she considers 'soft' - Black Boy, Green Boy, Stripe Boy and Orange Girl. This means AT THIS TIME they would be best suited for owners that will give them much more exposure than normal to help them develop into 'the best they can be'. This is not much different than a 'normal' pup but it is more important that you not take this commitment lightly. They would also do best in a 'less stressful' household which means not a lot of chaos - at least until the pup is properly acclimated. So by no means would you get this puppy home and immediately take it to a family party where lots of activity and noise would be happening. Give them a month or so of gentle exposure to life in your household. Eventually, all these pups will learn to trust you and feel safe which is all they want and need.

Will these pups grow and develop confidence before the next test? Yes, they certainly can. I will be working with each pup individually. I have ALWAYS found that pups with this type of temperament are the MOST loveable, cuddly, 'velcro' doodles. They simply want to please you and need very little correction. Positive re-enforcement and patience is a must. I get the best emails from my owners that have done this successfully.

Rumple tends to throw some soft puppies in all his litters. Every single one of them have turned into fabulous companions because each owner was given information regarding their personalities and they were handled accordingly. Each one worked with a trainer with experience with this type of personality and was able to bring out the best in each pup. I would expect the same results, with a good trainer, for the above pups.

Joyce

Play, Play and Play some more. (7 weeks)

Oh thank goodness for some decent weather! They go in and out at will now and they just love it. The only times I shut them in their x-pen is when I feed them and for the night. Otherwise, it is open for them to go play or come in to lay down on the step or anywhere else in the puppy room. Believe it or not, I do sometimes find one or two on the big animal or in the crate. Many times, however, they love to lie under the ramp in the shade! They use the same spot to have a bark fest playing 'hide n seek'.

We have been working very hard on the play area, getting it prepared for the artificial turf. It is a tremendous amount of work and I thank God everyday, we have a tractor. Although somewhat handicapped, my husband Carl, is still adept at the tractor controls. Maybe, just maybe, we may have it done in another week. I so want this to be the first litter to enjoy it.

Please don't be alarmed if the pups have a dirty face, or something stuck on their fur - they are having a ball out there and 'puppies will be puppies'!

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Pink Girl had just finished scratching when I got this shot. Such a sweet face. (6 & 3/4 lbs.)














Black Boy, who is not usually staying still for very long practically posed. (7 lbs.)



Stripe Boy DID pose and waited till I got the shot! (9 & 1/4 lbs. - heaviest pup)





















Orange Girl was very busy chewing on this rope toy and had no intention of stopping for me to take her pic. Just love that 'Sport' Mode on my camera! (7 Lbs.)



Blue Boy was so enjoying playing with this ball and digging in the stones. (9 lbs.)



Red Boy gawked at me as if to say 'Will you stop already!' (6 & 3/4 lbs.)



Teal Girl was just about to move when I snapped. (7 & 1/2 lbs.)





















Green Boy is another one that loves to dig. Look at the dirt on his face! :+) (6 & 1/2 lbs. - smallest pup!)

Outdoors on grey, misty days!

Yes, it has been dreary, misty and rainy for a couple of days at least but the pups still go outside 'between the drops' if at all possible. Pups need to run and expend energy to be happy. :+) They certainly don't mind. (If you see red 'X', ignore - all the pics are shown)


Can you tell which 'end' is which? These coats are soooo pretty albeit dusty!


Here come two more to check out the clubhouse. (Blue and Stripe)


They love going in and out of the openings chasing and wrestling with each other.



There are 'time outs'. (Teal)


Green Boy is taking a 'chill time' too.


Frick and Frack - OOPS! Nope, it is Orange and Stripe. (ha, ha).


Red and Orange looking for 'greener pastures'.



Pink is in the back with Red and Green in front. The rest, I think you can figure.


What a good sit!


Hats off to Red Boy for using the potty box. :+)


Pink Girl strutting her stuff.

We are half way home to you. (6 weeks)

I bet all of you are counting the days till your pup is home with you. :+)

In the meantime, they continue to enjoy the outdoors, play with Chaplin every now and again with supervision and grow.

This week, they have conquered using the doggie door. They have also learned that they can jump out of their x-pen when I leave the door open for them to venture outside - the ramp no longer makes them nervous. Both the aisle and the first paver pen has become their expanded play area in the mornings when there is shade. Later in the day, they are moved to the stone pen so that they do not have too much sun on them. Being outside is their favorite thing right now. Plus, they have Chaplin to tease as he is on the 'outside looking in'.

For today's six week pics, I brought them to the gardens for the most part. We are working on redesigning our pathway to the front door, so some pics have a bit of that in the background.


Blue Boy - 7 & 1/4 lbs.



Green Boy - 5 & 1/4 lbs.



Stripe Boy - 7 & 1/2 lbs.



Black Boy - 6 lbs.



Red Boy - 5 & 1/2 lbs.



Orange Girl - 5 & 3/4 lbs.



Pink Girl - 5 & 1/4 lbs.



Teal Girl - 6 & 1/4 lbs.

We had a picnic today!

A brisk but sunny day had the pups outdoors for lots of shineshine and fresh air. They even had a 'picnic' lunch brought out to them. :+)

Starting with the black pup on the bottom right: Pink, Green, Red, Stripe, Black, Blue, Teal and Orange enjoyed their lunchtime meal. Now, they are playing for a bit. In about a half hour, I will bring them in for a nap. They will go out again later in the aisle instead of the stone pen. :+)

Our first time outside!

Early this morning, I went outside to spray bleach on both the stone play areas in the play-yard. I was hoping that the weather would stay good so that once the bleach mixture killed any germs, etc., I would then bring the pups out to experience being outdoors for the first time.

Thankfully, the weather held and later in the afternoon, I brought all the pups outdoors and boy did they love it!

Chaplin is on the other side of the fence and many of them rushed to greet him.


Here Orange and Teal girls examine the plastic horse. I actually have a cute cover for it, but left it off for outside.


There was much to discover...from the horse, to the Sit and Spin as well as the ramp.


Then there were the sticks and the leaves as Chaplin joined them for a bit of wrestling and socialization.


Blue Boy has the upper hand here over all the black doodles, including Chap!


Here is Black and Orange investigating the ramp.


Then Stripe and Orange checking out the Sit and Spin.


Stripe enticing Chap.


I have to say, Blue Boy is one smart cookie. Do you see how he KNOWS how to work the Sit and Spin??? All in all, a great first day outdoors. :+)