< 1 week

Newborn puppies are so cute! They are relatively never still, even when sleeping, they twitch, jerk and stretch.  They also have instinctive reflexes to crawl, seek warmth and nurse.

~08/05/08

Pups should have had their dew claws removed, but due to mitigating circumstances, they were not done.  These pups will have their front dew claws and for this we apologize.

~08/06/05

The umbilical cords have shriveled up and are falling off.

1 week

At this age, the pups still don't have their eyes open yet and mostly suckle and sleep. They're eyes should open sometime during this week.

~08/13/05

Eyes are open now.

2 weeks

At this age all they do is sleep, eat and poop ALOT! They are starting to crawl around pretty good, but can't walk too great yet without wobbling and falling over.

This week we acquired Duchess and her six pups from a gentleman in Ohio.

08/19/05

Ear canals are beginning to open.

3 weeks

At this age, they just had their first wormings. They are starting to become very active and can walk fairly well without stumbling around. Their little personalities are also starting to show, with the growling, play barking, licking your face and noticing that you are there and even wagging their tails.

08/21/05

First worming.

08/23/05

First introduction to ESBILAC 2nd Step cereal.

08/24/05

First toenail trim
 Puppies teeth are starting to erupt, the canine teeth are the first to break the gum.
 Puppies are weighing in at the 2 pound range now with the males being slightly heavier and getting closer to the 3 pound mark.

08/27/05

Ear canals are completely open now. Puppies can hear better than just muffled sounds.

4 weeks

These pups are definitely more active at this stage. They love to bound around, jump and play. They love to crawl all over you when you are sitting on the floor with them and they have now discovered shoe laces!  They are really interacting with each other a lot by biting and roughhousing. Individual personalities are becoming apparent.

At this point they are still nursing on momma, but are also eating their ESBILAC cereal with great enthusiasm. They have also found momma's water bowl and are readily lapping up the water when they are thirsty.

08/30/05

All puppy teeth have erupted and now it hurts when they chew on you!

08/31/05

Puppies are weighing as follows: females are still around 3 pounds, males are 4 to 4 1/2 pounds.

09/01/05

First introduction to solid food. They are currently on a Puppy Chow kibble which has been soaked in warm water. We have found that Science Diet (our prime choice of feed) is not prone to soaking up water in order to soften so the pups can't eat it very well yet. It won't be too long before they will be crunching on the dry kibble though and will get them switched to Science Diet as soon as possible.

09/04/05

Second worming.
 Second toenail trim.

09/05/05

First play session outside in the front yard. They loved romping in the grass and seemed to get an extraordinary burst of energy from this experience.

5 weeks

09/07/05

First vaccinations - Parvo virus

09/09/05

Puppies are weighing in as follows: females still in the 3 pound range but creeping up on 4 pounds. Males are well into the 5 pound range.

09/11/05

Third worming.
 Third toenail trim.
 Puppies are eating the soft kibble mixed with canned puppy food very well. It won't be long before they are fully weaned.

6 weeks

09/15/05

Today was the first day the puppies didn't nurse and ate dry kibble very well.

09/18/05

Fourth worming

7 weeks

09/20/05

Puppies are now eating Science Diet Puppy (Small Bites)

09/21/05

Second vaccinations - Distemper / Parvo Virus / Adenovirus / Parainfluenze / Corona

09/24/05

Puppies are ready for their new homes!

8 weeks

09/27/05

Fifth worming