Lots of changes

These pups are an incredibly precocious, vigorous litter.  I am convinced my calculated due dates were correct, and the pups arrived 1-2 days late.  They act more like 6 day old pups than 4 day old pups.  Their little umbilical cords have fallen off, and the yellows are developing pigment on their pads, noses, and skin of their muzzles.  They already seem to have above average thermoregulatory abilities and are starting to sleep in small piles away from Bridget.  Most amazing is their mobility.  They are not just scooching around like seal pups with their hinds legs splaying out behind when they push off, but can already get their feet under them and take a wobbly step or two.  And their vocal repetoire is increasing.  In addition to mewing and crying, they are also trilling and I even hear an occasional puppy bark.  And their little tails are starting to wag when they nurse - too cute. 

Poor Bridget can't keep up in the milking department, but with private nursing sessions, we have been successful keep the weight gains relatively balanced.  I expect to start bottle feeding this weekend to take some of the load off of Bridget and give the smaller pups more of mom's milk (mostly bottle feed the big pups).  Yellow girl is the smallest pup at a little over 15 oz.  All other pups were over 1 lb as of this morning.  Red and Blue/Red boys were the two big pups at birth, and they both weigh 1 lb 4 oz. 

This morning, the pups moved up into the big puppy pool.  Some litters initially look lost in the big pool, but not this brood.  Even though they are still small, with 10 pups that are already spreading out, they are loving the room.  Bridget is a long-bodied dog, and she thoroughly appreciates being able to fully stretch out.  I have had to rescue one lost pup (Blue boy) so far, but even if I wasn't there, a wandering pup would eventually find its way back around the circumference of the pool to mom and sibs.

The pups are already outgrowing their newborn puppy collars (elastic hairbands).  Yesterday, I tried marking some of the bigger pups with a dab of nontoxic paint which has worked well for other litters, but Bridget is proving a bit too diligent in cleaning department.  So they are moving right into my adjustable elastic tie collars.