The puppies have NAMES!

On July 23rd, the puppies - identified to that date only by the color of the collar they wore - each received their official names! Thanks to all the fans who submitted name choices in the naming contest. Tony named two of the pups personally, choosing Dora for the female puppy with the red collar (of course!) and Dega for the male puppy wearing the black collar.

Nearly 6-weeks into life, Dora and Dega are proving to be the most bold, energetic and demanding puppies of the litter. Introducing Dora and Dega!

DEGA

DORA

The other seven pups also received their names. For the five remaining girls, the names are: Bristol, Lily, Charlotte, Riley, and Bella. The two remaining boy pups are named Hunter and Racer.

HUNTER

RACER

BRISTOL

BELLA

CHARLOTTE

LILLY

RILEY

5 weeks old

The pups are 5 weeks old, and starting to have their own unique personalities. They are acting like normal little puppies - running around, play fighting, biting on each others ears, trying to undo shoe laces, playing with toys, etc. But they still tire quickly and spend much of the day sleeping. With the weather being so pleasant, they have had lots of outdoor time, and we encourage them to much of their toileting outside. It is so cute to open up the pen and have the little herd of puppies all charge to the door going out into the backyard. They are also starting to receive visitors and are a very social bunch. Yesterday, one of their guests was a 3 to 4 year old neighbor girl.

At their most recent weigh in, most of the pups weighed 6 to 7 pounds. Big Blue boy topped the scales at 7 lbs and little White girl was only a bit over 5 lbs. White girl had a bad case of puppy diarrhea earlier in the week and wasn't eating much. But the second half of the week, she has been back to normal, eating and gaining weight at the same rate as her littermates. Together the nine pups are currently eating 9 pups of puppy kibble per day. Cleo's milk has almost dried up already.

Puppy pics

Enjoy!


Playtime in the front yard


Playtime in the backyard

Gorgeous little Red girl

Hawkeye the smooth coated collie playing with the pups

Pups trying to get to Cleo who is up on the porch

Big yawn from Yellow girl

Orange boy (?) up on the porch

Blue boy up on the porch

Handsome Blue boy

Blue boy and leaf


Blue boy practicing the ICAN command Cross (cross his front legs)

4 Weeks Old

Puppy pinwheel

Purple girl, asleep in the food bowl

Orange boy sleeping under the Tony Stewart flag

Blue boy, big yawn

All tuckered out after the professional photography session


Sleeping in the evening sunshine

White girl, surveying the front yard

The pups have had a grand week of growing up and new experiences, including their first professional photography session. Most gained an impressive 1 1/2 to 2 lbs of weight last week. Purple girl is the smallest pup weighing in at just under 4 lbs, and big Blue boy topped the scales at 5 1/4 lbs. The pups are now eating and drinking on their own, and I will be slowly starting to wean them from Cleo, who is more than ready to go back to life as a cherished companion and therapy dog. As weather allows, the pups have had outdoor time, and I just started allowing them loose in the main part of the house. I have tile and laminate flooring which can be a bit challenging for baby pups, but it hasn't slowed down this gang. In addition to regular nail trims, the pups are also getting used to being groomed with brushes and combs.

Having lots of fun

Pink girl - doesn't look like it would be very comfortable.


Pink and Purple girls checking out the new toys.

Black boy sleeping on toy.

Black boy with slipper

The pups continue to change by the day. They received their first real collars this weekend - they are starting to look like real dogs! On Monday evening, I bumped out the puppy pen to full size, so lots of room to play. The pups are eating very heartedly, love their kibble and milk. They are starting to use their little mouths to chew and tug, and are much more interactive with each other. On Wed, the pups had their first big adventure outside in the front yard. They all did very well with the new experience.

3 weeks old

Puppy pile


Pups checking out the Tony Stewart flag


The pups have almost mastered nursing with Cleo standing


Yellow girl sleeping on her back


Blue boy hanging out in the litter box

Silly Cleo hiding in the puppy tub

The pups are growing up fast. They weighed in at 2.7 to 3.25 lbs. I am pleased that the little pups have caught up with the pack, and the weights are very uniform. I have just started noticing some reactions to sound, so their ear canals are beginning to open. And little baby teeth are starting to come in - poor Cleo. The pups are enjoying life in the puppy pen, and doing an admirable job of using the litter box. They are acting like little puppies - starting to groom themselves and each other, doing a little bit of play wrestling, interacting with toys, and trying to climb over the low panel I have in front of the pen so that the adult dogs can come and go easily. But mostly, their little lives are concerned with sleeping and eating. Together, they are eating 1/2 can of Iams dog food 3 to 4 times daily, and I just introduced soaked puppy kibble, which also went down well, although a bit messy when fed from a pan.

First pan of puppy kibble - not a pretty sight!

The pups are still learning how to lap and eat, and not just suck down everything. I have a low bowl of water in the pen which a few pups have explored by dunking in their muzzles, but mostly just get their feet wet or spill it. All part of learning.

Barking Out!

Forget the yaps and puppy squeaks....these guys are barking now!  Check out this video to listen to the 9 pups share their thoughts and opinions!

Ever Exanding World

The favorite puppy bed


How many pups can fit, or almost fit, in one small puppy bed!

This pup already has its eyes on the outside world


Auntie Tacara assisting with clean up duties

The puppy pen, with litter box at the far right end

On Wednesday evening, I bumped out the puppy pen and added a litter box. The litter box is a plastic hatch liner from a small car, and I fill it with newspaper and shredded office paper for litter. Blue boy was the first pup to christen the litter box, and a few others have followed suit on their own. When the pups first wake up and after nursing, we hurry them over to the litter box to start patterning good manners. It is amazing how fast most pups catch on. More and more toys will be added to the puppy pen over the next week or so. The pups are currently enjoying small amounts canned food and will be introduced to soaked puppy kibble this weekend. And of course, the pups are getting lots of cuddling time.