Puppy antics make for a Merry Christmas

This will be short and sweet, but I’ll do another post in the next day or so to get links posted to Flickr photo albums for each week and to share some other information on what the pups have been up to.

The pups turned 7 weeks old on Christmas Day (yesterday).  They are almost completely weaned and are very active.  They’ve been having quite a few visitors and also made a trip to my office last week for our holiday Pizza party.  They were a hit!

We’ve been putting lots of new toys in with them.  We borrowed a Cato plank and tilt stand and the pups learned about tippy surfaces.  They were fearless and loved it!  Today we got a tiny bit of snow and the pups played in it for a few minutes before wearing themselves out zooming on the wet patio.

Here are some holiday photos.

Breena, Abby and Kasie

Probie, Jac, Jethro

Kate, Jenny, Ziva

History of the Portuguese Water Dog

 History of the Portuguese Water Dog

A really interesting article with photos.  If the article does not appear on your screen in English, scroll to the bottom and click on "EN" for the English translation.

Can't keep up!

Things are changing so fast with the pups that it's difficult to keep up!

The tunnel is a big hit!

Last week was the beginning of weaning them, starting with some baby food chicken/rice, rice cereal etc.  They also dine on puppy kibble soaked in formula so it is mushy and have at least one meal a day of raw meat patties.  They've had some canned salmon and pumpkin as mixers with their food also.

We bookmarked a recent link on diet and how it can be a factor in the development of allergy and skin problems in dogs.  We feel strongly that at least 20% (preferably more) of your dog's diet should be raw food.  We always wean our pups with around 30% of their dietary intake coming from raw and our adult dogs get at least 50% of their diet from raw foods.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211118203742.htm

Late last week, the pups moved from the back bedroom, where they've been since they were born, to the dining room area at the front of the house.  There is much more activity in the front area of the house and lots of new noises (coffee grinder, banging pots and pans, garage door opening etc)..  

Our 1st visit outside and a ramp to climb.

 Their new large area has a pellet filled litter box and they are doing a really good job learning to potty in the box instead of in the rest of their area.

The pups went on a card ride (to Starbucks and back) to get them used to this.  We have another outing planned for them in a few days which will involve another ride.

We had a rare mostly dry and sunny day last week and the pups had a short visit outside.  Jan laid a ramp from the door of their room down the short drop into the yard and they learned to use the ramp to go up and down, in addition to being out in the great outdoors for the first time.

The pups got a cat tunnel added to their pen yesterday.  It is a BIG hit!  They got several new big stuffed toys from the thrift store to snuggle and wrestle with.  They also have a small child's "piano" that plays songs and makes sounds when the keys are pressed.

Pups nap really soundly.  I took advantage of this to give them each a nail trim this weekend. Yesterday they had their first tiny experience with clippers, as I clipped a bit of hair away from the corner of their eyes to prevent build up of "eye boogers".  Since I caught them when they were sleepy both times, I was able to do these little chores by myself without having to enlist assistance.

 Registration paperwork and microchips arrived in the last week, so they are ready for when the time comes.

Our first car ride since our eyes and ears opened.

New centipede toy from the thrift store and a "piano" to play.

Our new living area and "big dog" food bowls.

Teeth! (And other milestones)

Puppies begin teething at around 3 weeks.  The pups will often mouth at and suck on your fingers when you interact with them and Breena and Jenny seem to have the most obvious tiny chompers so far.

Pups started lapping from a pan of formula on Tuesday this week and are getting more accomplished at this skill every day.  Usually when Kodi feeds them, we also offer a pan of formula either before (to take the edge off their hunger) or after (to top them off) Kodi nurses them.  Kodi is a small girl and we noticed last year that she transitioned to nursing her pups from a standing position sooner than our past girls have done.  She seems to know when they are strong enough and can reach her well enough, as all the pups are thriving with this new milk delivery method.

It is important for the pups to be exposed to many new experiences before they go to their homes.  We handle pups individually quite a lot so they enjoy being handled and stroked.  Within the next week we will move them into a room adjacent to our kitchen so they can hear more of the household noises (coffee grinder, blender, banging of pots and pans).  Without us really trying, they have already been on a number of different surfaces (plastic tarping, textured rubber mats, rubber stall mats, several types and depths of fleece, wood, carpet runner etc).  

The pups still start having more toys in their area in the next few days.  They’ve had a crinkly alligator and elephant toy in with them already, as well as a pink stuffed creature of some kind.  It was fun to watch them explore and interact with these new things.

Are you our Mommy?

Jethro gets some snuggles

Kasie has the bed to herself.

Jenny investigates the crinkly toy.

Ziva guarding the pink stuffy.

Probie gets some quality snuggle time.