< 1 week

Newborns are so tiny and delicate.  All EIGHT puppies are healthy and doing great! For a few hours after birth, the puppies noses are a bright pink as the oxygen from their first breaths circulates throughout their little bodies. At this stage all they do is eat and sleep and are never completely still. They tend to twitch, jerk and stretch even while sleeping. They also have instinctive reflexes to crawl, seek warmth and nurse. These puppies are especially strong and mobile.

Day 0 - 01/14/07

Dew claws were removed today.

Day 1 - 01/15/07

The umbilical cords have shriveled up and are now falling off.  Duchess is such a wonderful mother, tending to them almost 24 hours without let-up. The only time she wants to leave them is to go outside three or four times a day for just a few minutes each time. She's feeding them so well that all the pups have gained almost one ounce or more already.

Day 3 - 01/17/07

The puppies are starting to get little freckles on their skin.  Eventually the freckled skin will grow colored hair which we call ticking.

Today marked Day #1 of our Super Dog program - read about it!

Day 5 - 01/19/07

The puppies are all very strong and healthy.  They are moving around the whelping box by scooting around on their bellies. They have lots of energy.

1 week

At this age the pups still don't have their eyes open yet, but that should happen during this week.  They are getting around a lot better now and are almost lifting themselves up off the floor at this point.  They will be walking instead of scooting very soon!

Day 7 - 01/21/07

Pups had their one week photos taken today.  They are posted below for your enjoyment. They have also gained a lot of weight over the past week, and usually gain at least one to two ounces or more each day.

Day 8 - 01/22/07

Took video of puppies nursing (view video clip)

Day 9 - 01/23/07

Pups had their first nail trims today.  Their little toenails were sharp and hooked on the end which if not trimmed would start catching in the carpeted floor of their whelping box.

Their eye lids are starting to separate which is the first sign that the pups will open their eyes very soon. The ear canals are also beginning to open. They are getting deeper, and eventually the pups will be able to hear without the sounds being muffled.

Day 12 - 01/26/07

The pups are growing so fast and the majority of them are over 2 pounds now and the rest are just barely under.

Colby, Caruso and Carly opened their eyes today!

Day 13 - 01/27/07

Cisco, Chloe and Copper opened their eyes today!

2 weeks

At this stage the puppies are all getting much stronger and are starting to actually carry their own weight on their little legs and walk around now. Very soon they will be running around!  Most of the pups have their eyes open now.

Day 14 - 01/28/07

First worming.

Coon and Calvin opened their eyes today!

Day 15 - 01/29/07

Today we have completed the last day of our Super Dog program.

Now that the puppies can see, they will start to focus in on where they want to go when they are up and walking.  Before, they seemed to scoot around aimlessly, but now they have a definite intent on which direction they want to go! Pretty soon I will have to put the half-door on the whelping box otherwise they will be crawling out!

Day 16 - 01/30/07

Took video of puppies with momma (view video clip)

Day 18 - 02/01/07

Nail trim

Puppies are starting to play with each other.

Day 19 - 02/02/07

Today we had to put the 1/2 door in the whelping box as the puppies were getting out! Now momma has to jump over it to get into the box to nurse and clean her pups.

Their ear canals are almost open now.

Day 20 - 02/03/07

The puppies teeth are erupting.

3 weeks

At this stage the puppies are up off the floor and are getting around very well. They are really starting to play with each other by chewing each other's ears, play bowing and wagging their tails. They have also definitely found their vocal cords and are barking and howling up a storm when they are hungry, pleading with momma to come feed them. Duchess is wanting to spend less and less time in the nursery now and seemingly wants to get back to her "normal" life, thus I will be starting the puppies on cereal to help supplement her nursing. It may be partially because the puppies teeth are coming in and it is more painful to nurse, but the puppies are still steadily gaining weight.

Day 21 - 02/04/07

Second worming.

Day 23 - 02/06/07

Took video of puppies playing (view video clip)

Day 26 - 02/09/07

At this point, we can really start to see the dark freckles on the skin underlying the pups' white coats which will someday produce the dark hairs that we call "ticking" on an adult. Based on our observations, we have added predictions for each pup in their stats below as to how heavily they will be ticked as an adult.

Day 27 - 02/10/07

First introduction to 2nd stage weaning cereal.  (view video clip)

4 weeks

Puppies are really barking and growling now as they play. They are starting to get much rougher with each other during play.  Pretty soon we will be moving the puppies from their whelping box to our new facility and to a 9' x 4.5' puppy play pen.  We hope to get the live puppy cam set up for viewing in that area but will be determined by the distance from our wireless router and whether it can transmit that far. Keep your fingers crossed!

Puppy selection will begin in one week... Deposit holders, please be thinking about your pick and prioritizing your choices so that you will be ready to make your selection when the time comes.  

If you are coming to pick out your puppy in person, please call us to schedule your appointment. We will be posting puppy personality profiles very soon. Call us if you have specific questions. Thanks!

Day 28 - 02/11/07

Third worming.

Day 31 - 02/14/07

First introduction to solid food.  Today we added some solid canned food to their morning cereal and mixed it in really well so it was mushy.  The pups just lapped it up!  We are also now keeping a bowl of water in the box with them at all times.

Day 32 - 02/15/07

Today we moved the puppies to our new facility and their fabulous new play pen! They have about 40.5 square feet of room to romp and play. The area is lined with cedar chips which help to keep the puppies coats clean and free of excrement and the area smelling great.

Took video of puppies in their new playpen (view video clip)

Day 33 - 02/16/07

Puppies are eating solid canned food now without mixing it with water to turn it to mush.  They have finally found their water bowl and most pups are drinking it now. Momma is still nursing about 3 times per day.

5 weeks

The puppies are becoming more active and sleeping less and less each day. They are drinking water really well now and are fascinated by their automatic waterer. We added a platform for them to get up on so that they could reach the waterer and they spend a lot of time hanging out on and around it.

Day 35 - 02/18/07

Today was the first day that we added about 10% dry kibble to their canned rations. All pups are eating well and have big round pot bellies!

First Parvo vaccinations.

Day 36 - 02/19/07

Momma is nursing only once per day now. The puppies are being fed three meals per day with dry kibble mixed with canned food. Therefore with our three meals and the one nursing, they are fed four times per day.

Day 38 - 02/21/07

Puppies are being well socialized to the noises of a kitchen, namely running water, can openers and the food processor.  All pups seem to be oblivious to those noises and tolerate them well.  They are also getting regular contact with our adult dogs and simply have a ball playing with them, biting their legs and tugging on their tails.

Day 39 - 02/22/07

We presented the litter with a pheasant wing again today. They were all very interested in it and followed it readily.  Most sniffed it and others held their ears high in attention while staring at it.  Every pup in this litter is going to have great field potential!

Day 40 - 02/23/07

Today is the last day that momma will be nursing the pups.  They are eating 80% dry kibble mixed with about 20% canned food. Each day we have been decreasing the canned food until they are completely on dry kibble. This should take place over the next 2 to 3 days.

6 weeks

WOW!! These pups are growing like weeds and so strong and healthy! All pups are now completely on dry kibble and eating it well.  We have switched from Science Diet Puppy Small Bites to Puppy Original because the kibble size is larger and they are less likely to choke on it. Seven pups are going home this coming weekend already.  Time sure flies when you're having fun!

Day 42 - 02/25/06

Fourth worming.

Puppies were microchipped today for those who wanted them. We weighed all the pups and posted their weights in the stats below.

7 weeks

Puppies are ready to go to their new homes this weekend!  Boy will they be excited to finally do something different than spend time in that playpen area.  They are just busting at the seams to get out and explore new surroundings.

Day 48 - 03/03/07

7-way vaccination.

Cisco, Carly, Calvin, and Copper went home today.

Day 49 - 03/04/07

Caruso, Coon and Chloe went home today. Poor Colby is all by himself now, but we will be sure to bring him into our home for some playtime with the big dogs!