Socialize to storms. Check!

It wasn't exactly planned, but the puppies ended up experiencing their first storm.  Today I had to judge a WCX test so they were alone much of the day.  I got home and got them outside and it immediately started to rain.  Things didn't look too bad and I thought we were only in for a shower so we headed down to the barn.  We ended up being trapped there for over an hour!  First the bands of rain came though.  Torrential downpours one after another.  Did I mention the barn has a tin roof?  It was LOUD.  No one was bothered by it.  Then the thunder and lightening started.  I really would have rather been in the house for this part but there was no way to do that safely with 7 puppies, Jessi and myself.  So we stayed put.  Once again, no one was bothered....except for me a little bit when I saw the huge lightening strike followed almost immediately by the very loud thunder.  Finally things settled down and we were able to have a good play session outside.  We stayed out long enough for two naps!

Shortly after returning to the house, 5 members of the Houlton family came to visit.  The puppies were thrilled and put on a very good show of just how wonderful they are :)

There are tonnes of new photos from yesterday and today.  Enjoy!

Water!

On Friday I took the puppies on their first big road trip.  We went to Maxville and they were introduced to water.  What fun!  Mr. Blue was the first one to swim and Mr. White followed shortly after.  All of them waded and tried to get up their courage to follow Mom.  I took lots of photos...of course :)  And they are posted on Webshots.

Today we stayed home and they played in their puppy pool.  I took lots of photos of that as well but haven't had time to go through them. I did take some video though and have uploaded one to YouTube.  You will see that Mr. Black and Mr. Orange or very much their fathers sons - Trey does the same thing!

Enjoy!

Finally...an update!

A busy weekend followed by an even busier week kept me from the blog. I hope everyone has been following webshots though because I have uploaded many photos to their 5 week album and last night created a 6 week album.  6 weeks!  I can't believe they will start leaving in another two weeks.

They have continued to have a busy social life with many visitors and I have started letting them out with the adult dogs.  Their Aunt Jessi is fabulous with them.  She has just turned 10 months of age and instinctively knows how to play with them.  She has endless patience and they are learning a lot from her.  I uploaded a video of her playing with the puppies last night.  Enjoy!

Five weeks!

To celebrate their 5 week birthday, Fury started playing with the puppies!  She is such a wondeful Mother.  Still entirely dedicated to them.  I couldn't possibly ask for better.

I was fortunate to catch some video of Fury playing with the pups and I took a few photos and started a new album, though the camera wasn't happy with the outdoor lighing today.

Big walks, big bones and litter boxes

The puppies have been enjoying lots of outdoor time.  They are getting quite good about following me around and exploring the yard.  They truly enjoyed some huge (to them) beef bones - thanks Annette!  I've uploaded a video of them enjoying the bones.  Truly, can there be any doubt that this is what they should be eating?

I've been uploading photos even though I haven't updated the blog.  The first photo following the puppy cuddle is here.

I've now added a litter box to their pen.  They are keeping the whelping box clean now which is great!  The pen is lined with newspaper and has a litter box with pine pellets in it.  Some are using it....some are not.  I'm hoping over time that more will be using it than not!  I have seen Ms. Purple go to the litter box twice purposely to pee in it.  I'm thinking Ms. Purple might be my favourite :)

Enjoy the photos and video!

Puppy Cuddle and BBQ

The puppies had a FABULOUS evening!  Today was the first official Puppy Cuddle and BBQ.  Apparently all you need to do is supply puppies and some food and everyone you invite will show up!  There were 12 of us and way too much food which is typical of this gang!  Everyone cuddled at least one puppy and the pups also milled about among the chairs and had some great socializing.  I didn't see any of the puppies being shy about anything.  They all seemed to have a very good time.

I took a short video while we were waiting for everyone to show up and also took a few photos.  Enjoy!

More outdoor fun

3

Trey brought his babies a ball to play with.

It was another beautiful day today and the puppies spent most of it outside in the new pen I set up for them.  They have a cake pan filled with water and most of them managed to get their feet wet....not quite on purpose, but it happened!  Fury remains the dedicated and protective mother and has to be put into the house for the other dogs to socialize with the babies at this point. They met everyone this morning for the first time.  Aunt Jessi is very interested and really wants to play.  Bizzy recongizes them as a source of food!  Rev is simply intrigued.  Trey thinks they need toys and Gambler wants NOTHING to do with them!

They got to hear all kinds of new noises and took things in stride.   They had more visitors and entertained us by playing with their toys.  They were also introduced to their first goose wing and found it very interesting.

Todays photos are here.

Four weeks!

Time keeps marching on!  They are 4 weeks old today.  They are getting outside every day and and the visitations continue.  Today I started feeding them for real.  They have had some chicken necks to maul and goat milk every day but today was the first time they had food with substance.  They loved it!

They are starting to play bow at each other and they wrestle with a vengence now.  They have teeth and are learning how to use them!  Toes are no longer safe in the box :)

Enjoy today's photos.

Lots of visitors and the great outdoors

The puppies had 8 visitors today and spent several hours in the great outdoors.  They had a blast!  I have visitors lined up every day this week, culminating with a "Puppy Cuddle and BBQ" on Saturday.  I've never had such a busy social life!  Today's photos start here.

New adventures

The puppies moved into the kitchen for a good portion of the day and played and slept while I cleaned and baked. They gave me the evil eye when I vacuumed beside their area but were otherwise unbothered. They had a visitor and met Kermit through the bars. Kermit is not sure what to make of this bunch yet.

Tomorrow we have more visitors lined up and their well puppy apointments are being made. Two weeks from Tuesday they will go to the chiropractor and on September 9th they ate off to the vet.

This evening they had goats milk for supper. It was a huge hit! Today they started carrying toys. There I was watching Ms Purple trot across the pen with a duck and there was no camera within reach :(. No photos from today. More tomorrow.

Lots of teeth!

We officially have mouths full of needle sharp teeth!  I'm amazed that Fury is still as dedicated as she is, I don't think I would be!  Yesterday the puppies started to run - there may not be anything cuter than that!  I've tried to get it on video but haven't been able to yet - they are quick little devils :)  Yesterday they also discovered Fury's food bowl.  She had left a little in it and they made quick work of it.  I haven't really started to wean them yet but I'm thinking they are starting to demand that I do so.

Tomorrow they are moving up to the kitchen for some socializing.

I've started a new webshots album for them. Yesterday and todays photos start here.

More fun every day

Yesterday's photos:
http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2614103570044473283elYHkX

Today's photos:
http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2626167930044473283NKypKk

Three Weeks!

I absolutely cannot believe they are three weeks old already!  They are more fun every day.  Today I sat with them while they rampaged around the pen.  Eventually they all made their way to me and settled into a puppy pile around my legs.  Too cute.

Today's photos are still in the camera and it is well past bedtime so they will stay there until tomorrow.  I did however get yesterdays video to upload as well as one from today.  Today I gave them their first chicken necks to explore.  I was not prepared for their response.  TOO much fun!  Enjoy the videos.

Release the hounds
First meal

Visitors

The puppies have a very busy social life!  I've never had so many people here!   Now I know what I need to do to have people visit anyway :)

They are really starting to interact with each other and they are now barking.  I haven't been able to get it on video yet but I'm trying.  They get out into the pen every night now, first in a small area while I clean their box and then into the whole pen while the box dries.  They rampage around looking for Mom.  It gets VERY loud!

New photos from yesterday and today start here.  I tried to upload a video and it failed.  Will try again tomorrow.

New adventures

I have been remiss updating the blog this weekend but I have posted new photos to webshots.

Friday evening Mr Orange won the first puppy out of the box race. I came home to find 6 puppies in the box and no Mr Orange. I found him off to the side curled up in a dog bed and sleeping soundly. The taller board went in after that so there will be no more escapees.

Saturday the crew was rampaging around the box, following me from one side to the other and not settling. So I boxed them up and took them for their first trip outside. They were not overly impressed until lunch showed up. We were out about 10 minutes.

Today I opened the door of the box and the all came out and explored the pen. They are still a bit wobbly on their pins but that is improving every day. They are starting to interact with each other and their toys. Essentially they are learning how to be dogs. Yesterday they started to growl and it won't be long before they start to bark.

Boy Puppies and Girl Puppies

This morning I found a pile of boy puppies in the box and off to the side, the two girl puppies curled up together.  I noticed early on that the girl puppies are often side by side and this trend has continued.  Interesting, they were born one after the other as well.  There is so much we don't know of the bond these little guys have right from conception!

They are more aware and mobile today than yesterday.  It is quite amazing the differences in them from one day to the next, or even morning to afternoon.

Enjoy todays photos.

Lots of photos

I've uploaded several photos today, including a couple of that I took on their two week birthday.  Also a video aptly titled "Let's Get Mom!"

They have their first toy - Lamb Chop.  They are pretty much convinced that Lamb Chop is to there to be nursed on!  They are much more aware of their surroundings but still spend a lot of time sleeping.

Two Weeks Today!

I can't believe they are two weeks already! They had two sets of visitors today and also got to roam around the pen while their box was cleaned. All very exhausting and they were last seen sleeping very soundly with pleasantly full bellies.

No new photos today. I think their eyes are all fully open now so I can become snap happy with the camera again. Tomorrow I promise an update of photos and video. They are really walking around the box now and I can hopefully capture that on video.

Go Canada Go

Ms. Red shows off her patriotic pride!

The puppies are starting to receive visitors and I think they are enjoying the experience.  Donna Houlton came today and I think she's narrowed her choice down to 5 ;)  Yes, all those boys are awfully cute!  Puppy buyer Maureen Smith also came today and had a good cuddle with Ms. Red before Fury returned and feeding time began.

Their eyes are almost completely open.  I'm trying to keep the flash photography to a minimum until everyone has their eyes open.  I just couldn't resist a couple of Go Canada Go photos today though.  I did choose the puppies who have fully open eyes.  Just a few photos today.  Enjoy!

Too cute for words

Honestly, they are just too cute for words!  So with that, I will leave you to the photos.  Today's start here.

We have eyes!

Well, mostly we have eye slits, but soon enough they will be fully open and then watch out, if you think they are cute now, just wait :)  No new photos today, I managed to run out of batteries.  I've remedied that now but I'm not up to taking any pictures this late at night.  Until tomorrow......

Puppy nails

Today I amputated puppy feet.  Well, not really, but that's their story and they are sticking to it!  They really dislike getting their nails done and they aren't afraid to tell you!

I took several really cute photos today.  I hope you enjoy them.  They are just so freaking adorable :)

Fury is doing an excellent job and they are fat like ticks!  They are starting to get up on their feet and can really motor around the whelping box.  They barely fit in the little red box anymore and I'll soon have to get a larger holding pen for them while I clean their box.  Aside from that, they eat and they sleep and they cuddle really well :)

One week and One day

Today I returned to work.  I couldn't have scheduled my time off any better.  I worked until last Tuesday at 4:00.  Fury started nesting that evening and had the puppies on Wednesday and I had the next 7 days off to recover and enjoy them!  Today it was back to reality.

So my plan was to give her her morning meal of meat, bone, eggs, milk, etc and then leave her with a bowl of frozen chicken necks and another bowl of goat milk along with of course her bucket of water.  Ahhhhh, the best laid plans!  She ate her enormous bowl of food and even left a couple of crumbs instead of licking it clean.  I was confident she was full.  She was back in with the puppies and they were happily nursing and I brought in the food I planned to leave for her to eat later in the day.  She took one look, jumped out of the box and started eating the chicken necks.  I had other stuff to do so I left her to it and returned a little while later to find that she had eaten all but four necks, two of which she had put in one corner of her box and the other two in an opposite corner and there she sat, guarding them from me!  So I cleaned up the remaining necks and she was left with just the milk and water.   All was well when I returned home.

The puppies are gaining an ounce or two every day.  They all have fat bellies and are an awful lot like turtles when they end up on their backs!  Mr. Blue demonstrates this in the video.   Only two photos today but the video is a little lengthy.

One Week Old!

Wow, time does fly doesn't it?  The puppies are one week old today.  What a difference a week makes!  They still fit at the milk bar, but only just! They are huge my comparison to what they were.  They now range in weight from 1 lb 1 oz to 1 lb 9 oz.  Those boys (Orange and Black) just never stop eating!

Today while I did biosensor, Rev watched from the door to the room with a worried look on his face.  All those puppy cries!  So Ms. Red got to meet her Uncle Rev for the first time.  There's a photo on webshots. 

Fury and the puppies got to spend the day alone while the rest of us headed to Maxville for a day of field training.  All was well when we returned.  Fury had emptied the bowls that I left for her so I was happy about that.

New photos start here.

And a short video of them protesting their time in the box.  I put them in the box when I do biosensor so I don't miss anyone.

Getting bigger and bigger

The puppies really don't do much yet other than eat and sleep.  Sometimes they do both at the same time!  I marvel at their ability to breathe while nursing and laying under their siblings.

Fury is getting more and more relaxed and sometimes lays outside the box now.  She still doesn't want to be outside for long though. 

No new video today, they really didn't do anything differently!  Several new photos though just because they are so darn cute....and large!  Several are 1 lb 7 oz now.  I seem to have taken several....

Big belly photos

Prepare for your close-up

Well, that was like herding cats!  Tonight I tried for individual photos of the puppies.  I did manage to get some but the quality isn't necessarily very good.  We start with Mr. Black.  There are some group shots as well:
Mr. Black's Close-up

Fury is leaving the puppies for slightly longer now.  She goes out and tours the yard, has a good roll in the grass, hangs out for a minute or two and then barks to get back in.  She's also starting to sit-up to nurse the puppies for short periods of time.  This is all part of their normal development and Mom knows best!  I took a video of her returning to the box this evening and sitting up to nurse.
Fury starts to sit up while nursing

Fury is already eating lots of food.  Every day she gets close to a liter of goat milk, 4 eggs (duck and chicken), honey, several pounds of ground meat and bones and chunks of heart and liver in addition to ground eggshell and fish oil.  She drinks a bowl full of milk and eggs twice a day and I also mix milk into her meat.  She doesn't seem to be drinking any water though she has a fresh supply available to her at all times. 

All the colours of the rainbow

Today the puppies were outfitted with "pupcolors".  Nifty little velco like collars that will grow with the puppies.  We have Misters Blue, Yellow, White, Orange and Black and Misses Purple and Red.  Now you can pick out the individuals in the photos.

We are continuing with Biosensor and some had their nails cut today.  I'll do the rest tomorrow.  Fury was getting a little upset with the process.

More photos have been uploaded:
Pupcolor puppies

And another video taken when Fury returned to the box after her supper:
Mom's back!

Enjoy the photos and video.

One more video

All was calm until.....

A final video for today.  They are awfully cute when they nurse.

The most stressful 10 minutes of their life....

....so far!

Today I did Biosensor on each puppy, cleaned the box and took a few photos and videos.  It was the most stressful 10 minutes of their lives so far!  I took a video when I put them back in their nice clean box.  They were a little riled up so you can see them moving around and hear their voices.  Puppies back in the box

They are all growing and thriving.  Fury is being an outstanding Mom.  I did throw some bumpers for her this morning before it got too hot and she was very happy with that and then it was right back to mommy-hood.  Today's photos start with this one:  Box 'O Puppies

Photos and Videos

I'll be uploading photos frequently to my webshots account (goldntoller) and occassionally to youtube (goldntoller).  Today's photos start with this link:
Day 3 photos

I also took a video of the puppies doing what they do best right now - nursing!  Just imagine how it feels to have 7 of them doing this at the same time.  Fury seems content with the whole process though.  She is such a good Mommy!
Day 3 Video

I hope these links work.  I'm still learning about this blog.

We have babies!

Fury whelped 7 babies on July 20th between 2:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.  First born was a boy, then came two girls and 4 more boys.  The final tally, 5 boys and 2 girls.  They ranged in weight from 9.9 oz to 12 oz.  Most were 10 and 11.  All are gaining nicely with plump bellies.  All you hear from the whelping box are contented little lip smacks :)

Fury has been bred

Fury was bred on May 20-22.  Fingers are crossed that all continue to go well and puppies will be expected around July 22nd.  Exciting times!