pUpdates

pUpdate - August 14, 2024

Our last pUpdate for Litter FF has arrived.  Pups begin going home on Friday with Fella headed to Tennessee.  The three girls head home on Saturday, and Flyn and Fitz follow on Sunday and Monday.  Always bittersweet!  They are ready for life outside our puppy cottage, but we will truly miss them.  We’re starting to feel how small the space is with six high energy Llews.  It’s quite the party inside and out!

 All received their eight-week dose of dewormer and almost all got their first dose of NexGard.  Fern is still just under the 10-pound weight minimum for NexGard.  We’ll keep weighing her and give it when she’s ready or send it home with her.  She’s close!

This has been a good week.  They all seem to have accepted walking on a leash.  Two at a time seems to be about the threshold.  We recruited our neighbor’s help (thank you Parker!) and tried all six, but it rapidly turned into a tangle of leashes.  As much as possible we have been letting them get outside in the big play area.  Fern and Fiona still like to escape through the fence so they can’t be left alone.  Every litter reveals a weakness in our setup so thank you, Litter FF, for adding another project to our list.  We don’t like to be bored around here!  We really do like them getting outside for bathroom breaks.  We have no proof of this, but if we were to limit them to just the hard-surface run, we think they may get too used to only this surface and head for a sidewalk or driveway more times than not to do their business.  They do have a favorite spot in the big play area – it’s quite the land mine.  It makes cleanup easier but it also tends to stress the grass.  They all will go to the bathroom on the leash, as well.  We hope this translates to a good trip home for everyone.

 Some tips or tricks with this crew in case you need them to settle down or help them burn off a little energy.  They all like a good belly rub.  Francesca is looking like she’ll be the type to see someone coming and roll to her back inviting the belly rub.  Pretty stinkin’ cute, if you ask us.  The belly rub does help if they’re right on the edge of being tired and just need a little more persuading.  They all enjoy tug-of-war so you may want to add a long rope toy to your shopping list.  We do rotate their toys so they maybe won’t lose interest.  This is also because the toys are washed every couple days to help control some of the smell in the puppy cottage.  When a freshly cleaned batch comes back there is definitely renewed interest.  We don’t keep the big rope toy in with them.  The thought here is to make it a treat, especially if it’s been raining all day and we want to engage them in something to help wind them down.  This has been a nice summer for us as far as the rain we’ve been getting.  Not great for Llews as they don’t enjoy being wet so tend to hunker down inside, but it has done wonders for the prairie around us.  They also like to chase after you, so slip into those running shoes and take them for a couple laps around the yard.  Don’t worry, you won’t have to run for too long at this age.

 As they grow, exercising them will become more time consuming.  We are extremely fortunate to have some great public access to open grassland.  Generally, our routine is to get our seven Llews out in the morning when it’s cool and let them stretch their legs.  On average they cover about three miles a day.  They seem to cover about 3 times more ground than we do on foot, to give you an idea of what your effort might be.  They would go farther but we don’t have the time to take them farther.  This at least gets the edge off.  We use Garmin collars to keep track of everyone and can send a beep to one if we need to get their attention.  We’re happy to give advice on this if interested – both on what to buy for your Llew, and how to use tracking collars.

 If you didn’t catch our Instagram post of the Llews meeting one of our llamas this week, it was another good dose of cuteness.  Generally, our llamas do not get too enamored with our adult dogs or the pups, but in this particular instance it sure seemed like there was a budding fondness. We did get a couple pictures but the video definitely shows a bit more excitement.

 That’s it for this week’s highlights.  This has been a great couple of months.  As we look to the future, we are planning one more litter with Shelby and then we’ll throw her a big retirement party.  She is a great momma and has taught us a lot, but she has earned this next chapter in life.  We hope you have enjoyed watching litter FF grow over the past eight weeks.  Stay tuned for Litter GG!

pUpdate - August 7, 2024

All pups got their first round of vaccinations today and a microchip.  Everyone did great.  They’ll be a little more low-key than usual for the next 24 hours but then right back to their usual antics.  The week started out really hot and humid, so we weren’t able to get them outside as much as hoped but the last couple days have cooled off and the rest of this week looks to be much cooler.  They all really prefer to be outside in the large play area.  For being less than 12-inches tall, it’s a jungle out there to them.  There’s a lot of hopping and charging through and it’s all just darn cute.  We do have some mowed paths for them to chase us with a couple obstacles for them to navigate – a pile of logs, a row of cinder blocks, nothing fancy.  Some will go over, others will go around or cut through the tall grass, but they all seem to enjoy the chance to stretch their legs out.  There is also a lot of chewing of grass, sticks, or bark, if they find some.  This has always been typical behavior for Llewellins.  When we have brought each of our pups home, I can recall having to watch everything we walked by.  Their first inclination is to pick it up in their mouth, no matter what it is.  The “leave it” command becomes quite handy.

Gloria has become the favorite aunt.  Historically, she doesn’t really show much interest in pups until they reach this 6-week age.  Once they’re mobile, she’s all about play time.  Fiona has really taken to Gloria, but they all find her quite entertaining.  Gloria’s only downfall is she plays a little rough, so we remind her constantly to dial it back a bit.  Of our seven Llews, Gloria is our biggest.  Where the other six range in the 45 to 48 pound range, Gloria tips the scales at almost 60.  The extra ten pounds is all in her heart, we think.  She’s a lover.

Shelby will play, as well, but the pups generally seem to only have one thing in mind when momma enters.  Most times, when Shelby has had enough, her only break from it is to leave the play area.  The last couple days the pups have given her a little more space so hopefully they’re moving past nursing.  As I mentioned before, they don’t need to be nursing any more.  Shelby is quite capable of turning them away as I have seen her do with past litters (she usually lays flat on her belly and cuts off access) but she chooses otherwise.  She seems pretty attached to this litter.  This truly is a fun bunch, so we can’t blame her. 

We are trying something new with this litter and have begun introducing them to the leash with a harness.  We decided to tackle this at HHLS after working through delivering pups last winter.  Getting them out for potty breaks on a road trip with no understanding of the leash is a bit cumbersome.  Most of the pups in this litter are traveling quite far and we’re hoping to make the trip a little better for those families.  They’ll be far from perfect when it comes time to pick them up, but they’re already better after just three times out on a leash.  At this age, distractions continue to be the force against you.  The whole world is a distraction.  Keep it lighthearted.  Llewellins are soft and don’t respond well with anything too stern or aggressive.  They will cower easily but show love even easier, so keep in mind where their heart is in all of this.  Everyone in the litter is very trainable and will learn fast.  Weeks 8-12 are the best time to introduce them to new things and get a jump on training them.  Don’t wait – it truly will pay off later when they hit their stubborn stage!

A quick note on this week’s pictures, we do have one shot of their play area.  We realize we don’t have much posted on our accommodations.  The focus has always been on the puppies, but we will add something to our website which depicts how things are set up in the future when we have a little time to dedicate to this.  Our adult Llews live in the house with us and roam freely about our 4.7-acre lot (except for the llama pasture).  We use the SpotOn collar containment system and have for years.  It has worked great for us.  As always, we’re happy to answer questions on any topic any time.  Text, email, or call.

pUpdate - July 31, 2024

Week six has come and gone and puppy selections have been finalized.  All pups and Shelby received dewormer this morning.  Everyone looks good.  We have not had any issues with runny stools, but this may change as they get outside more.  Puppies tend to snatch up anything with their mouths.  Now that all are big enough to play in the larger area, there’s lots of (apparently) tempting vegetation to chew up.  Puppies will be puppies.  We only have grass out there so nothing which might cause harm. 

 It has been very warm and humid here, so their outside play time has been limited.  Not because we’re limiting it necessarily.  We get them out in the mornings and evenings when the sun isn’t quite as intense.  They will let themselves back in when they’ve had enough of the heat.  Or start pounding on the puppy door if I’m taking too long to clean the cottage up.  They’re all still 100% on using the pine shavings as their restroom, as far as I can tell.  Sometimes there is some track-out, but all their business seems to happen in the box.  Two thumbs up on that victory!

 We do close them in the cottage at night.  If we didn’t, I think Fitz and Flyn might park outside until morning.  Some dogs just like being outside but we feel better having them tucked inside for bedtime. Especially since Shelby is sleeping in the house with us at this point.  Like every litter we’ve had, if I give them too much room, they make a much bigger mess – particularly at night.  I’ve given them as much space as I can to balance controlling the mess and giving the space to wrestle.  All six seem to catch on to things quickly.  They are responsive to the squeak of a toy, which is generally a good distraction when toes, shoelaces, and ankles can’t take much more abuse. 

 They truly are a great litter.  Our last two weeks with them will go by fast – ho-hum…!  But the timing will be nearly perfect as school starts back up on August 14th.  And then it’s pedal to the metal…teenagers!

pUpdate - July 24, 2024

It’s Puppy Profile Time.  That time when we try to summarize all our thoughts on what these pups have been like for the last five weeks.  But let’s be honest, the first two weeks don’t really count, maybe even half of the third.  It may seem simple enough, but the task rapidly becomes difficult.  Just as soon as we post our thoughts on a pup, the next day they’ll prove us wrong.  But, we’ll give this as good a try as we can!  Starting from the top…

Francesca has been a go-getter since minute one.  She popped out of Shelby and started the most determined army-crawl to mom at less than 30-minutes old and surprised the heck out of us.  And she’s been a go-getter ever since.  She certainly fits the Active temperament description and will respond well to an active lifestyle.  As you’ll see with all these pups, she’s a lover.  She is the most vocal of the group and likes people, licking your hand or face if you give her a chance.  She does require a little extra coaxing when you want her to come to you, but she’ll readily accept cuddles and curling up in your lap.

Fern has the most charisma in this group.  She brings the party and is irresistibly cute with her smaller features and unusual mohawk.  She also crawled right to Shelby as soon as she entered the world.  Which was surprise number two that our first two pups out of the gate were so strong and determined.  Fern is very much like Francesca, but with the volume turned up just a bit more.  When she wants your attention, she climbs right into your lap without hesitation.  She will come to you when called but needs a little extra coaxing.  I do think this is more because of other distractions than it is about a lack of confidence.  In a previous post we mentioned she is small, but her personality fills the room.  Teaching her to play fetch may be the best thing for her to burn energy when there isn’t time to take her on a long walk or run as she grows and matures.  Life with her will be truly rewarding.  Fern fits the Active type.

Fella falls right in the middle of this mix.  He enjoys play time but isn’t always the instigator and will tag along behind you without hesitation but doesn’t nip at your heels.  He tries the hardest of all the pups to gain our adult Llews’ affections.  He hasn’t won them all over yet and continues to seek them out when loose in the yard (with close supervision…!).  He’s as lovable as all of them and will come to you for attention.  He’s generally the first to fall asleep and one of the first to the food bowl, but he doesn’t come across as lazy.  He just knows what he wants and acts on it.  Fella seems to fit the Neutral type the best.

Fitz wins the laid-back award.  He may be on the shy side but not to the point of fear.  He doesn’t cower or tuck his tail in response to loud noises and is plenty curious, he’s just generally the last to jump into play and loves to fall asleep in your lap or against your leg if your lap is taken.  He sometimes requires extra coaxing to get him to come to you but will make his way over in his own time, and other times he’ll bound right over.  He’s a lover, through and through, and willingly explores the yard on his own.  He falls asleep easily, sometimes in a corner by himself and sometimes sandwiched among his brothers and sisters.  He seems to just go along with most anything and lands somewhere between Neutral and Passive. 

Fiona.  Dear, sweet Fiona.  She truly has the gentlest touch of them all.  I don’t think you can get any more neutral than Fiona.  She’s happy, not too pushy, doesn’t play too rough, and is probably smiling all the time if this was discernible on a five-week-old pup.  One interesting note, so far there isn’t a lick of brown on her.  We think some will appear on her legs, but no spots have revealed themselves yet.  She soaks up attention but doesn’t really demand it.  If you’re giving her love, she’ll stick around until you need to get back to work.  She’s the ideal movie companion.

Flyn is the tank of the litter.  I don’t want to body-shame him, but he’s a full-figured jolly of a guy and the biggest pup Shelby has raised out of four litters so far.  He jumps right in on the action and runs up to you with very little coaxing other than what it takes to get his attention.  He can be the last to fall asleep at times and is nearly always first to the food bowl.  He likes to chew, so keep a rope toy handy or don’t get too attached to your shoelaces.  He’s always looking for a playmate and fits the Active type best. 

In general, all six do well with being handled.  Tails wag when they see people, they don’t mind being scooped up, and are happy to return nose kisses.  Some of the tests posed at this link (Puppy Temperaments) are not as revealing as one may hope for.  We’ve clipped toenails on all six multiple times, and none seem to mind this or the toe pinch squeeze.  They all have some reaction to a startling noise, but none run for cover, making this test another difficult one to grade (or maybe we aren’t loud enough with our startle noise).  Like all the litters we have had so far, they are a lot of fun to be around.  We’re happy to talk in more detail about these pups and know this post barely skims the surface.  If you have any specific questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. 

pUpdate - July 17, 2024

We made it outside!  Phew – we needed a break from the heat and finally got it Tuesday.  The pups are loving the grass.  They are considerably more mobile so their quarters in the cottage have expanded considerably.  None are too sure about the dog door just yet but probably in the next couple days they will be running through it with no hesitation.  Their outdoor run is approximately 6-ft x 10-ft.  Once they’ve reached a size where they can’t squeeze through a 4-in x 4-in opening, they’ll get to roam the larger play area, which is more like 10,000 square feet.  It’ll probably be a couple weeks before we’re there.

They all received their second dose of dewormer today and a quick exam by our vet.  Everyone is doing well.  Fern’s feistiness has increased – she may be small, but her personality is mighty.  Fella and Fitz are tied for most laid back.  Francesca, Fiona, and Flyn are somewhere in the middle.  All have warmed up to people and come bounding up with tails wagging.  As you’ll see in a few pictures, I enlisted my daughter to help with puppy portraits.  They weren’t giving her much room to work with.  Belle wasn’t too upset with the attention ;)

A bonus this week, they seem to be using the pine shavings to do their business in.  They don’t always get it right, but things seem to be cleaner whenever we step in to check on them.  We introduced the pine shavings five days ago.  It is amazing how fast they figure this out – and we’re always grateful! 

They continue to nurse but are offered a second meal morning and night.  We offered their first meal on Saturday of goat milk and rice cereal.  They didn’t dig into it, but all did give it a try.  The second time it was offered they were much more inclined and polished most of it off.  After a couple days of this, we started soaking puppy kibble in warm milk or water and mixing it in with the rice cereal.  We’ll transition them to soggy kibble in water for the next few days until they’re ready for kibble on it’s own.  In the past, Shelby has allowed them to nurse right up until they go home.  She is super tolerant, and they get to a point where they don’t need it, but if she’s willing, we let it happen.  Afterall, she knows more about this than we do.

 As always, thanks for tuning in as we wrap up week four.

pUpdate - July 10, 2024

We just wrapped up week number three and personalities are starting to reveal themselves.  There are probably some behaviors you’re able to pick up from the puppy cam but without sound, the whole picture isn’t as obvious.  Francesca is still our biggest talker.  She is shaping up to be the go-getter of the group.  She wants to play and seems to pick Fella most often although she does pounce on the others with enthusiasm.  Fern is probably the most princess-like of the bunch and is Belle’s favorite.  She has the coolest mohawk/cowlick going on down the back of her neck.  Beneath the white there is a hint of black.  She may end up with a black-striped mohawk.  We are curious to see what comes of it. Fella is pretty laid back.  Not our most laid back but doesn’t seem to get wound up about much.  When Shelby comes in, he’ll meander on over.  He seems as though he’ll be even keeled.  Fitz, Dash’s favorite, has a very positive attitude on life and is probably the most laid back.  He rolls on his back, cuddles in your lap, and just seems to have a happy-go-lucky spirit. Fiona and Flyn we don’t quite have a bead on yet.  They’re super young so we don’t really know how any of them will be, but these two are too busy growing to display much for antics just yet.

Teeth began erupting over the weekend and it seems ears have opened.  I’ll be honest, I can’t really tell when ears are considered opened.  They do startle to sharp noises but hearing and vision are still developing so not much for conclusions can be drawn on keenness yet.  Motor skills are wobbly which makes them very easy to be around.  By the end of next week, I imagine no shoelaces will be safe.  A couple like to gum your hands, legs, and their siblings so chewing is just around the corner.  This is our most active bunch yet, so I imagine play will become quite rambunctious as they build coordination over the next several days.

We did get them outside a couple times for pictures.  They’re not too crazy about the great outdoors yet.  Shelby isn’t too crazy about them being outside, either.  Mom knows best so we don’t push it.  We did have them out long enough to get some photos last night.  Belle is turning into quite the photographer so as soon as they’re willing, we’ll get them out as much as possible.  Outdoor photos are always better.

That’ll do it for the pUpdate for week three.  Enjoy the photos, tune into Instagram for more, and give us a shout any time.  We hope you’re all doing well!

pUpdate - July 3, 2024

Happy 4th!  If I was more on the ball, fireworks graphics would be behind the puppies for their portraits this week, but – not going to happen…!  Another good week down.  These pups seem to be growing fast.  Week two seems like the most change as their eyes open and they begin to take their first wobbly steps. Their ears aren’t quite all the way open but some have found their voices. Francesca - I’m talking to you ;). That little girl has a bit to say.

They all received their first dose of dewormer (Pyrantel Pamoate Suspension) today, including Shelby.  They also got their nails trimmed for the first time, not including Shelby ;)  Next week we hope to get them outside in the fresh air.  Good for their lungs and much better pictures, but that also means our six other Llews can mingle.  They love puppy time – but you’ll see the proof in pictures once we get there.

Short pUpdate just to let you all know everyone is doing great.  Impossible not to love every single one of these guys.  Kudos to Shelby – she deserves every bit of credit we can give her.

If there are any questions out there, email us or give us a call.  We love to hear from you.  Have a good week!

pUpdate - June 26, 2024

Litter FF marks Shelby’s fifth litter, with litters Z, BB, CC, & EE coming before.  All of her pups survived and seemed to be ready to go as soon as they hit the ground.  I was quite amazed at how active they all were right away.  It will be interesting to see what comes once their eyes are open – we all may have our hands full, especially Shelby!

Dew claws were removed Saturday, at three days old.  All were healthy with no concerns.  Shelby continues to do well and has lost much of her puppy weight.  We are supplementing her diet twice a day with cottage cheese as is recommended.  She does get a chance to get out of the puppy cottage and go for short walks and socialize with our other Llews.  She doesn’t like to be away for long, and isn’t always willing to let us handle her pups.  She isn’t aggressive, but she does nose her way in to let you know she’s there.  She’s a good mom!

In the week ahead, we should see eyes start to open up and see some first steps.  All are gaining weight although we are keeping a close eye on Fern who is not gaining as fast as her litter mates.  You can follow along on this progress as I will continue to post daily weights, at least until eyes are open, but longer if there are concerns with any of the pups.

Please enjoy the pictures below.  Some are repeats from what we’ve posted on social media, so if you think you’ve seen it before, you probably have!