Sunday, June 5, 2011

More pics

 Martin, Dee and Eagle
Eagle practicing Up on the footstool I have out in the yard.  This is the first outing I can remember the pups interacting with the footstool. 
 Eagle playing Snoopy on the dog house.
 Dee not to be outdone by her big brother. 
 Eagle checking out the new slide.
 And he is off. . .
 Mynah and Robin
Robin still figuring out which end is which.  Actually, some of the pups have been successful scrambling up the wrong way. 
 Dove, not intimidated sharing a water bowl with Auntie Tacara.  Her tail is wagging.
The two brothers, Martin and Eagle. 

7 week old puppy pics

 Ori watching puppy rumbles in the tunnel
 Ori attacking the tunnel
 Ori demonstrating he really does know how to run through the tunnel
 Eagle coming through the tunnel
 Puppies on the back porch
 Wren in the pool
 Handsome Ori
Ori yawning  
What puppies look like running into the camera!

7 weeks old

Hard to believe the pups will be leaving in one week.  Earlier in the week, the pups had a few days of a GI upset which they fortunately quickly recovered from without any treatment.  Even with that and individual feedings, they still had very respectable weight gains.  Weights ranged from 8 lbs 5 oz (Wren) to 11 lbs (Eagle).  Most weighed around 9 1/2 lbs, very typical weights for 7 week old retriever pups.  The pups are eagerly eating around 14 c of kibble per day, and I pasteurized their last gallon of goat milk yesterday.  This weekend, I am transitioning the pups over to eating dry kibble with a bit of water added, but not pre-soaked.  Bridget went home on Tuesday, she had a bunch of her reading therapy kids to visit on their last week of classes.  The pups still have three adult dogs at my house to play with, so are not missing out on adult dog interactions.  And I am sure Bridget is thrilled to be home again.  This weekend, I have been busy giving the pups medical, structural, and temperament evaluations.  All the pups passed, and I believe they have an above average chance of becoming successful assistance dog trainees.   Only time will tell, but I know that the assistance dog programs will give them a great start.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Mealtime circus

These pups love playtime, attention and food, not necessarily in that order.  Like all previous Jammer pups, they love their chow.  Now that we are individually feeding the pups, the routine goes something like this:

1.  Set up three small plastic dog crates in the kitchen
2.  Call pups to kitchen.  Watch 10 puppies get worked up into a frenzy at the sight of the crates.  If the doors are open, they eagerly run in, hoping there is a bowl of food waiting inside. 
3.  Attempt to slip a bowl of food into the crate and allow only one pup to enter.  A very challenging task these days.
4.  Once 3 pups are happily eating in their individual crates, watch the other pups swarm around the crates and stare longingly inside at the chow.
5.  Retrieve fed pups from crate, being careful to keep track who just finished eating since the littermates will charge in as soon as the door opens.
6.  Push fed pups out the dog door to go do their after mealtime toileting. 
7.  Repeat x 3.  10th pup gets to eat outside the crates.
8.  Go outside and round up the pupsters. 

My dog door is raised approximately 8 inches off the ground in a storm door, and it is easy to close off by simply closing the interior door.  But if left open, Dee has already figured out she can climb back through!

Sunday, May 29, 2011

6 week old puppy pics

Pool party!  The pool was an instant hit - it was a toasty 80+ degrees today.  Again, an exceptionally confident litter. 
Robin pondering her options
 Mynah thinking of taking a dip
 Mynah telling off Dee
 Eagle
 Only Falcon and Rosella have managed to get up on the porch by themselves so far.
Two little cuties

6 week old

The pups are still growing like crazy.  Weights ranged from 7 lbs 7 oz (Wren) to 9 lbs 6 oz (Eagle).  Unlike other weeks, the weight gains were more uneven, so time to start individually feeding the pups.  I will bring in a couple of small plastic crates and start positive crate associations by feeding them in the crates.  Otherwise, the pups have had lots of outdoor time.  They are starting to venture all over the backyard.  Whereas initially they startled when loud cars drove by, now they accept that and even dealt with a large riding lawnmower yesterday (they were behind a chain link fence).  I am impressed with their level of confidence for this age.  I just started playing sound effect CD's for them in the house. They also win brownie points for handling.  One of the most accepting litters I can remember.  When you pick them up they relax and go limp, readily accept being cradled on their backs, love tummy rubs, and continue to be exceptional for nail trims.  Good puppies!  Bridget is in the process of weaning the pups, and is down to 3 c of food per day.  On the other hand, the pups are up to 12 c of kibble per day and looking for more.  We have already gone through the first 40 lb bag of puppy food.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

A few more pics

 Wren has poor Ori by the tail
 Puppy play
 Puppy rumble
 Pups at my feet after the "Puppy Puppy Puppy" call
Martin with toy