Catching Up

We have been busy, and I have been remiss in updating the blog. So here is a little catch up, from my ipod notes. Pictures will be loaded soon also...


Sunday, May 8 - training and learning
As the puppies all move onto their brave exploration phase, we are putting more emphasis on confidence and less on obedience. When in the house and yard, we run through a bit of "training," but have been giving them opportunities to play and learn, encouraging them to carry toys of different textures, giving them things to climb over and around, etc. When I have a puppy inside, the others are out in the yard playing, and often the inside puppy notices and whines at the door (glass door) to play. Well, this makes for a great way to teach how to ask to go outside. They want out to play, they whine, the door is opened for them. Many of them are starting to get this very well. Little steps towards house breaking. Most everyone is doing very well, with immediately "finding a spot" as soon as they are brought outside. They still require VERY close supervision right now, as there are only a few seconds to realize that they might be about to "potty" and get them outside.
We have also started to add in "whoa" at feeding time by moving a puppy away and holding them back calmly repeating "whoa" until they briefly pause the struggling. As soon as they stay still I, praise them and let them return to the food. Also everyone has been rotating through car rides to school. B&W girl and Pink girl were thinking about being nauseous, but we made it with some small treats and keeping them from looking out the window. We will try a few shorter trips with them next time.

Tuesday, May 10 - First day to the Spring Pond
The weather has finally stayed warm for several days now allowing the water to warm up. The puppies all loaded up in the crate in the car, and we rode to the pond for a several hours of play. Everybody explored and played and chewed on grass, pounced on flowers, chased grasshoppers and frogs, and splashed in the water and mud. And most everyone ate some mud and drank the pond water, chewed on the pond weeds. No one was brave enough to swim, yet, but some came very close. I was up to my knees in the water also, and playing with them and giving them treats as they explored and splashed deeper.

Weigh in Tuesday night:
6 Week Weigh-in


Boys
Blue 5 # 2 oz
Red 6 # 5 oz
Green 6# 14 oz
B&W 4# 11oz
Purple 5# 10oz

Girls
Blue 5# 0.2 oz
Red 6# 1.5 oz
B&W 6# 1.1 oz
Green 5# 0.3oz
Pink 6# 12 oz

Wednesday, May 11 - too much pond muck...
Everybody has a touch of diarrhea today, so we kept it a light day and just stayed in the yard.

Thursday, May 12 - Vaccine day
Today was the first vaccine for the puppies, at six weeks, done by Dr. Donna Crow, DVM. Hard to believe, but 2 puppies are over 7 pounds! Half a pound more than 2 days ago. We ran a fecal to check on the diarrhea, and found nothing, but she gave me some metronidazole just in case some pond bacteria are disagreeing with them. Otherwise, everyone looked great, all vital signs good, and puppies were very well behaved for their shots.

Friday, May 13 - back to normal
Diarrhea is gone and everyone is normal, and very active. After working last night, I had hoped for a nap this morning, but the puppies were READY TO GO! So, I didn't get my nap until they fell asleep themselves, closer to noon.