Puppy pics

What you are really waiting for. . . enjoy!

Yoko and pups, a few days before Yoko returned to KY

Penny on top of Yoko

Maggie, Lucy and Ellie in the snow

Ellie, Maggie and Lucy under the birch tree

Lucy is one of the most adventurous and creative of the pups

Snow face Maggie

Pup on the cover to my septic tank

Looks like Lucy with her white diamond chest marking

Ellie entertaining herself with a stick

Maggie exploring

Catching up

As often when big litters get older, I have been too busy to blog.  The pups are thriving and have started to leave.  Yoko's program took Yoko and 4 pups (Ringo, Rita, Penny and Abbey) last weekend with intent to keep the pups together for at least another week.  That was a huge help to me, since feeding, cleaning up after, and entertaining 90+ lbs of puppy was getting to be a challenge, especially in January.  Plus the pups will benefit from more individual attention and Yoko can get back to her normal routine.  Just today, Michelle flew out courtesy of Puppies in Flight, being lovingly escorted by a US Airways volunteer to join Service Dogs of Virgina.  The others should be leaving next week - two are still waiting for Puppies in Flight arrangments. 

Yoko and pups

Yoko is drying up nicely, so I dressed her up in the "do not nurse me" clothes and let her out with the pups

Such a patient mama

Yoko getting a little overwhelmed, but she won't really tell the pups "no"

Mobbed

Pretty Yoko

Poor girl looks resigned to be climbed on

Puppy kisses

Lucy telling Yoko a secret

6 week old puppy pics

One of the pups being silly, getting tummy rubs

Pups out in my backyard, getting quite adventurous

Pups around the birch tree, love the two pups sitting

The birch tree was a popular place to hang out

Assistance dog-in-training ICAN Lark, still not sure what to do with all these pups

Rita

Rita again

Pups looking up at me, unfortunately the camera flash went off

6 weeks old

The pups are developing into engaging, adorable pups.  This litter has been exceptionally mellow, quiet and civil, which is making raising them so much easier.  Winter litters are always more challenging since the pups can't be outside as much.   The pups gained another 1 1/2 lbs last week.  Rita and Penny are the little pups at 7 lbs 9 oz.  Maggie continues to be the big girl at 8 lbs 9 oz.  Most of the pups weigh approximately 8 lbs.  I am in the process of weaning the pups.  Yoko is down to 6 c of food, no more lunch.  The pups are currently eating 1 cup of kibble each per day, divided into 4 meals.  We just started "crate training", i.e., feeding the pups in small plastic crates.  After just the first crate training session, but pups had the new routine figured out and were hanging around the crates at the next meal time.  The pups crave human attention and it is pleasure to sit in the pen and get mobbed by these sweet pups.  We are getting them out of the pen as much as possible.  They have had multiple adventures outside, playing in the snow and running around the yard.  I am very pleased how confident the pups are with new experiences. 

Cuddling with visitors and Yuma

Yuma is normally a grump with the pups, EXCEPT when we have visitors.  For visitors, Yuma hams it up, looking for some extra attention. 

 

 

Yuma cuddling up to the visitor, the pups cuddling up to Yuma

Poor Michelle is caught under Yuma's hind foot. 

Lucy, who just got her collar upgraded to a bigger hot fluorescent pink collar

Penny

Michelle

Ringo

Penny again

Rita, who is not so little anymore

5 week old puppy pics

Penny drinking from the big dog bowl

Walking on the baby gate to get used to walking on strange surfaces

A plastic snow saucer makes a great "wobble board"

Lucy showing off how confident she is

Abbey has my German Shepherd Tacara's tail - living on the edge

Auntie Tacara playing with the puppies

Auntie Tacara playing scary dog, she actually is very good with the puppies