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At
9 weeks old, the puppies are getting quite used to a routine of eating and eliminating. We pretty much know just about when
they will "do their business" but of course, they also get so involved in playtime, many think if they just "see"
the newspaper then they must be on it! Their curiousity is growing bigger as they become more adventurous. The favorite play area this week is the huge spruce tree in the far right corner of the backyard. It is fun to watch them run in and out of the lower branches as they play hide and seek. The puppies also made a new friend in Maggie, the Australian cattle dog next door. She loves to get the puppies to run along the fence with her and those little tails are wagging constantly. Margo prefers to watch them as they play about the yard from her spot in the sun but Dyna is their real play buddy. She leads them about the yard and brings them all back into the house when I ask. Margo still insists to clean each and every one right after breakfast. This past weekend, the puppies had two new visitors as our daughter, Christine, and her financé, Phil, stopped by for a visit. The puppies love to have people sit on the floor so they can climb all over them. They like getting right in the face while giving sweet puppy kisses and then jockeying around for the best spot on the lap. Name change note: Olive's new owners have picked out a new name for her so from now on she will be referred to as "Zulu".
At
the10-week mark, the puppies have shown they have independance as they venture out in the yard on their own, exploring new
things and proudly bringing a treasured find back to the rest of the pack. They also are getting used to the routine
of going outside when awake and knowing just when it is breakfast, lunch and dinner time! Memorial Day weekend: The pool is open! Bill and I have introduced a few new things to the puppies since we have been spending a lot of time outdoors while the weather has been so nice. The first item we brought out was a new and larger tunnel so the puppies could play in it as it (and they) rolled all over the yard. The second was a pool which we filled with a couple of inches of water so the puppies could get used to this new sensation. They found it very curious indeed and Bobby Blue didn't hesitate to jump right in. The last fun event was a mini lure coursing run. Bill bought a very long fishing pole and tied a line to it with a white plastic bag on the end. He then teased the pups with the bag and it wasn't long before they all wanted this "live" toy. The girls were the best coursers with Zulu by far showing her drive. The best part for all the pups was capturing the lure and eventually tearing it apart!
I
can't believe the puppies are 11 weeks old already. It seems like yesterday that they were all small, sightless babies
crawling around the whelping box looking for Margo to nurse them. This past week we said good-bye to our first puppy
to leave the pack and start a new adventure with his new owners. Simba was ready as he showed his independance at our
house recently and the transition went flawlessly. We are confident he will be very happy in his new home as well. The puppies are spending more time outside now that the weather has warmed. We take them out immediately from awakening although most of them balk at walking in the wet, cold, morning grass. It takes some encouragement on Bill's and my part but eventually all of them make it out into the yard from the dry patio. As the day goes on, they all want to be outside to bask in the warm sun and only come inside for their naps. This works out very well as the bigger they get, the more rambuctious they become. And indoor play can become quite noisy and wild! Name change note: From now on, Rosie will be called Randi.
This
week has become a bitter-sweet time for us. We have raised 9 beautiful puppies from helpless newborns to rambunctious 12 week-olds.
Each one has their own personality, a uniqueness that sets them apart from anyone else. But we are so proud as any "parent"
should be. These puppies have developed into more than we could ever imagine. The combination of Margo and Tucker was a perfect
match, producing exactly what we had hoped to accomplish in this litter.
June 15, 2009 - Going Home We have come to the final chapter of our puppies' growth while living in our home. Several have already left to live with wonderful families and others have taken that path this last week. Although our hearts ache to see them depart, we are so blessed to have found just the right homes for our little ones. We are proud of the fact that they are adjusting very well to their new homes and owners, and will continue to have long and happy lives with them as well. Randi and Newby will live with us in hopes of continuing in Margo's footsteps earning their championship in the ring. Zulu will stay with us until the end of July when her new owners get back from military deployment. Name change note: Ian is now known as Stryker. Katie is now known as Kosi. Nevin is now known as Maverick.
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