Standing up

Today is the first day for some serious efforts at standing and walking. The puppies are pushing up off the ground and getting their legs under them. Green girl, pink girl, red boy, and purple boy are best at this so far, but everyone is giving it some solid work. Momma Sky is enjoying the spring weather and a bit tired of being momma. She still worries over them, but more often sneaks away when they are sleeping. She is happy to be playing fetch again, and very eager to get attention.  Auntie Mabel (our lab) is trying to see what is going on, but keeps her respectful distance with that labby tail going all the time.

Though the ENS (stimulation) methods are all very gentle, the puppies learn to tolerate mild restraint and have to handle this while being alone and away from other puppies and mom for the "very long" span of about 2 minutes. ;)  In the beginning it seemed that some puppies handled this better than others, but now,  it's pretty obvious that the puppies with full bellies are the ones that are more relaxed. Their are a a few too many puppies for Sky to feed them all at once and she often feeds in a rotation usually 6 and 4 or 7 and 3. Those last puppies to eat are the most content during the positioning/stimulation. Across the board everyone is much more quiet and tolerant now than on the first day. Each puppy is being rotated through "play" or "holding" time with the family also, with just snuggling and cuddling. I hope this helps them to learn to associate positive calming influence from people, without other puppies around. Plus who doesn't love sitting with a 1 week old puppy for a cuddle!?

But still, everyone returns to the puppy pile....