I made a couple of mistakes here. They could see the older dogs through a baby gate and that was so much distraction for several of them. Ideally I should have done this sooner than a week after the last time. So I did help a couple of them out.
As usual, video is unforgiving and my timing isn’t as good as it should be, but they all got the idea! You can see that a couple are in mild fear periods, but they played anyway! This is really just to get them to understand the idea, I start with a few click then treats (baby food), then start right into clicking and treating for looking at/touching/approaching the box. I have never really felt that charging the clicker more than these few times is necessary, and I think it can even muddy the waters.
Loving these puppies so far! (also, this is the room they were born in, but they haven’t been back in here since they moved to the big house, and they haven’t been here since the whelping box was taken down, so it’s a pretty new environment for them too).
Red Girl:
Orange Girl:
Yellow Girl:
Green Boy:
Blue Girl:
Purple Girl:
Pink Boy:
(tomorrow). Stacking 6 week old puppies is like stacking Jello, but here they are:
Red Girl:
Orange Girl:
Yellow Girl:
Green Boy:
Blue Girl:
Purple Girl:
Pink Boy:
The puppies are 40 days old today, and we did the first barrier challenge today. This is relatively easy, with the bowl of food (canned tripe) and the puppy both near the edge of the barrier (a piece of ex pen). It’s interesting seeing how differently some approach it. They were hungry (it was time for a meal), so this was a really good exercise in both problem solving AND learning to deal with frustration. Each puppy had two chances at the challenge, and I did make it slightly easier for a couple of them the first time if they were getting TOO frustrated.
Red Girl:
Orange Girl:
Yellow Girl:
Green Boy:
Blue Girl:
Purple Girl:
Pink Boy:
I am very fortunate to work where I do for many reasons, not least the fact that I can take puppies in for a happy visit at the end of the work day so they can have a happy experience there before they get vaccinated and microchipped and examined in a couple of weeks (the nomograph this time indicated the optimal first vaccination for this litter is 7 weeks). Plus I think the folks I work with appreciated a bit of puppy therapy after a long week.
I was enormously impressed with how the puppies did! A couple are in fear periods and they got over their initial worry very quickly and were out marching around like everyone else in no time! They also got a car ride and tried a strawberry!
Alice came with us for moral support and to provide refreshments.
They’ve been on the grooming table to eat baby food, experiencing new things every day (sometimes toys, sometimes experiences like going upstairs one at a time, or climbing on a tarpaulin). Videos and pictures to follow.
So we set up the big house (6 x 8 pen in the living room) last week, and the puppies have been spending more and more time in it. We continue to give them something new every day. And today they got to LEAVE THE PEN and play with the other dogs. Grandma Zhora was just perfect with them, just like her mother Nina.
Grandma Zhora:
Purple Girl showing the blue fuzzy bone who’s boss:
Playing with Alice:
Poor Alice, they most definitely have teeth now. They wag their tails and come bustling over when they see humans or dogs now. It’s crazy adorable.
Photo/video dump from today:
Pam, her daughter in law Shannon, and Shannon’s children came to visit! The puppies met two adults, a baby, and a three year old.
The big dogs were thrilled too!
Breakfast! This is the first time I’ve fed them before Alice does in the morning (she has free access to them but she was outside). Royal Canin Puppy Mousse mixed with Primal goat’s milk. Breakfast of champions!
They’re starting to eat really well just the last day, it’s both a survival skill (you’ve gotta eat a breakfast Margie!) and a mechanical skill (lapping from a plate is different from nursing, plus you have to figure out how to stand still and hold your big giant head in one place when you’re still very new to this whole walking thing). And it’s also a mental skill (food doesn’t only come from mum, and I can get it myself).
While I do not ever force weaning, they are BIG and this takes some of the pressure off Alice. If she wants to nurse them until they leave, that’s her business. But they have teeth now!