Week 7

Day 58 - 12/28/16

The last pup is finally going home today.  Sweet little Rascal stayed with us over the Christmas holiday so her new daddy could travel to visit family. Today she is getting on a plane to fly to Colorado Springs via Denver to meet her new daddy, Jesse. She will be called Remy and has "a pile of Christmas toys to open when she arrives!"   
 

Day 51 - 12/21/16

Renfield, now called Tucker, left Hickory Hollow today with his new daddy Mike.  Headed to central Kansas, he will have lots of opportunities to hunt and already has training scheduled with a professional trainer.
 

Day 48 - 12/18/16

Another two pups flew the coop today, Raven and Rissa are now headed to Wisconsin with their new families. They will end up living only about 1/2 hour apart where their new families are excited to get to know each other and maybe form a lasting friendship.  Rissa's new name is Ginger and Raven will be called Whitney or "Whit" for short.
 

Week 7 Milestone: Pups Leave Hickory Hollow.

These are the final days that the puppies will be here at Hickory Hollow. Some have already left a day early to embark on their new lives, but a few still remain and will be leaving shortly. While we will miss their sweet little puppy kisses, we are happy for them to get out into the world and experience new things.
 

Week 6

Day 47 - 12/17/16

Despite the measureable snowfall today, both Ryker and Rowdy's new families arrived to pick them up and take them to their new homes! Ryker is now on her way to Michigan to live with her new daddy Dan, and Rowdy is headed to Des Moines to live with the Swigart family.
 

Day 46 - 12/16/16

I was able to re-take the video that I wanted you to see which I named "Playtime Chaos", which clearly shows the chaos during mealtime in the cottage.  The floor isn't always this covered in pine shavings, but when the pups are playing they make a complete mess of things.  The dark fluffy blobs of mess that you see in the video and on the LIVE Puppy Cam are the tufts of stuffing they've ripped out of their doggy bed.   They've chewed the corners off their brand new bed and have scattered the stuffing EVERYWHERE!
 

Day 42 - 12/12/16

Week 6 Puppy portraits have just been posted.  Unfortunately I accidentally deleted the chaotic playtime in the cottage video I took yesterday. 8'(  I thought I had copied it to my harddrive and then deleted the files off the camera's SD card and afterward realized what I did... I guess I'm trying to do too many things at once... Maybe I should get a video of the chaotic times in the house, that may provide a better picture of things going on around here, LOL!  I will try to take more videos soon.

 Here's how the pups measure up at 6 weeks:

Week 6 Developmental Milestone: Eye color changes from blue to brown.

This week, the puppies eyes will start to transition from their current baby blues to their final adult color, gold (chestnuts) or brown (tri-colors).
 

Week 5

Day 41 - 12/11/16

For those who requested it, puppies were microchipped today. All pups did great and without any whimpers.  I was impressed. Puppies were also given their last deworming treatment.

I took a cute video of the pups during playtime to show you how chaotic it can be after mealtime. I will post soon.
 

Day 38 - 12/08/16

Sorry for the lack of blogs lately,  I'm feverishly doing puppy paperwork trying to get puppy documents ready to go home in a little over a week.  

Puppies are still doing great and growing like weeds.  They are coming along nicely in the weaning process.  I am no longer adding water to the mixture of canned food, but rather adding dry kibble instead.  In a few days they will be switched over completely to dry food in preparation for going home.
 

Day 35 - 12/05/16

Week 5 puppy portraits have been posted, ENJOY!  I am continuing to work with the pups on noise desensitization and it is going well.  We had a great "percussion session" today where I rapped on walls with my knuckles, pinged a metal knife against a drinking glass and against a metal bowl, tapped a tin can on the concrete floor and turned the radio drastically up and down.  I try to make as many uniquely toned noises as I can.  I usually start out pretty mild with a soft continual noise just to see if I can get their attention, once I have it I increase the noise until they appeared slightly bothered by it, then go softer again so they don't become scared of it. Pretty soon I can make a fairily loud noise and even single startling noises and they don't even stop to evaluate it and continue about their business.  This is what I am striving for so eventually they won't be startled by a gun shot. :0)~
 

Day 34 - 12/04/16

Puppy Selection went very well today,  all pups were chosen in a matter of hours and I believe most folks ended up with their first pick pup! I love it when it works out that way.  

The pups are now gaining about 2 pounds per week at this stage.  
Here's how the pups measure up at 5 weeks:

Week 5 Developmental Milestones: Puppy Selection / Noise Desensitization / Puppy Socialization

This is one of the most anticipated weeks for many because Puppy Selection finally happens. At the start of this week, the puppies are not officially spoken for but within a few days or even mere hours, the pups will be assigned to a new family and in a couple short weeks will get to go to their new homes.

Now that the pups are old enough to have visitors, they will have lots of opportunities for socialization with our big dogs, adults and children. I will also continue to concentrate on acclimating them to noises of all varieties including rapping on pans, opening and closing of doors, blenders, christian pop music on the radio, and whatever else we can think of to condition them for life after Hickory Hollow.
 

Week 4

Day 33 - 12/03/16

Today the pups had a very special visitor, one of our Litter R puppy parents came for a visit to meet the pups in person and figure out which pup he wants to call his own. The pups were all on their best behavior and greeted him with enthusiastic puppy lovins. I think the visit was very beneficial for him and left here with a good sense of which pups are his top faves.

This visit also gave me the opportunity to evaluate the individual pup's personalities and document it in more detail.  Puppy Personality Profiles have now been posted above for you.  

Puppy selection starts tomorrow.  I will be calling each reservation holder in order asking for their pick and will post the puppy's reservation status above as the information comes in.

Pups were dewormed again today.
 

Day 32 - 12/02/16

Sorry for the late postings this week, but I just uploaded Week 4 Puppy Portraits, and all the miscellaneous litter photos from Week 3.  ENJOY!  :0)~

Pups are still in the weaning process, eating watered down canned food (Chicken Soup for the Soul - Puppy Formula) twice per day and are loving it, lapping it up as fast as they can go.  Momma HOPE continues to tend to them, keeping them cleaned up and fed between weaning meals.  She is such a good momma.

Pups were dewormed again today.
 

Day 30 - 11/30/16

Today was the pup's first weaning meal, made from canned puppy food and mixed with Esbilac Puppy Milk Replacer. It's fun to see how they emerge from the playpen, smell out the new food source and take their first few licks. Most love it right away and eat until their bellies are plumped out! -- Video taken 11/30/2016 @7:03 am
 

Day 28 - 11/28/16

Puppies are enjoying playtime outside the playpen. They are eager to scope out their new surroundings in the Puppy Cottage and soon I will have to put up a playpen to contain them during mealtimes, otherwise they will find themselves stuck behind the water heater, or hiding out behind the garbage cans or taking a nap in the laundry basket on the soft towels.  I caught a few pups eating momma's kibble so I figured they were ready and able to begin the weaning process.

Here's how the pups weigh-in at four weeks:

Week 4 Developmental Milestone: Rough Play / Weaning Begins / Move to Puppy Cottage

Play behavior started last week, but this week it will turn rough and rowdy with pouncing, pinning, biting, head shaking, chewing and growling.  By the end of this week I will lovingly refer to them as "my little monsters", because they will bite and chew anything they can get their mouths on, including their siblings, show laces, toes, ankles, fingers and long hair.  A play session on the floor with the pups can be painful at times and sensitive areas of the body need to be protected!

As their little personalities emerge this week, I will be posting puppy personality profiles in preparation for Puppy Selection starting next weekend!
 

Week 3

Day 25 - 11/25/16

Today was a big day for the pups, which some of you probably have already noticed if you watch the LIVE Puppy Cam regularly.  The pups were moved from the whelping box where they were bedded down on a fluffy fleece mat to the 9x5 playpen where they are now bedded down on pine shavings. This usually happens when the pups are at least 4 weeks old, but these pups are so big that I moved them a few days early.  The older they get the harder it is to keep the whelping box walls and fleece mat clean, the pine shavings are the next easiest alternative to keeping them clean, dry and healthy.

I took a few videos today to share with you.  The first one is the last playtime they had in the whelping box, the next is their last laydown nursing session, and the final one is their first experience in their new playpen on pine shavings.  ENJOY! :0)~

Our Field Dog Stud Book (FDSB) Litter Enrollment Certificate showed up in the mail today!  I sent off the registration forms a few days after this litter was born and we got the certificate back already. That was quick! What this means is that all the pups in Litter R (the same as all HHLS previous litters) can now be individually registered as purebred Llewellin Setters with the American Field.   If you want to have your pups registered in the FDSB as purbred Llewellin, please let me know and we can either do this for you or send you home with the registration paperwork for you to do yourself.  Just let me know!  
 

Day 23 - 11/23/16

The pups are getting so big and active that today I had to put the taller door on the whelping box because the pups were about to escape from it.  Everyday things change with these little guys and it can be truly amazing how much they develop in a 24-hour period.  Also, Rascal gave me sweet little puppy kisses. Their personalities are starting to emerge.

Also, I wanted to mention that puppy selection will happen at 5 weeks.  I strongly encourage all those with a reservation who are within traveling distance to call me and schedule a visit on a weekend before they turn 5 weeks.  You can sit with the pups in person, evaluate their coat color, personalities and behavior in preparation for selecting which one you want to become part of your family.  At 5 weeks you will start selecting pups in reservation order, so I would like each family to have a good idea which pups they are interested in when I call you to tell you it's your turn to choose! :0)~
 

Day 21 - 11/21/16

The pups personalities are starting to emerge and they are becoming inquisitive about their surroundings and playful with each other. Over the past several days I have seen glimpses of what I thought was the beginnings of play behavior with the pups mouthing each other with more than a nursing-type instinct , but today Rissa was tugging on Rykers ear and shaking her head.  That is unmistakable play behavior!

The pups continue to grow amazingly fast! Here's how they all weigh-in at 3 weeks:

Week 2 Puppy Portraits and miscellaneous litter photos are now posted above, ENJOY! :0)~
 

Week 3 Development Milestone: Play behavior

This is my absolute favorite time with the pups.  Their eyes and ears are now open and they are becoming playful and inquisitive about their surroundings. This week the pups will really start playing with each other, play bowing, yipping, pouncing and chewing on each other. Their individual personalities begin to develop and they will begin to do some of their natural doggy behavior for the first time.
 

Week 2

Day 18 - 11/18/16

I have a treat for you all this afternoon, I was able to get the miscellaneous litter photos for Birth Week and Week 1 edited and uploaded to this page just a short while ago!! ENJOY :0)~

The pups are starting to get around really well now and are walking with more stability each day. The teeth are really cutting through the gumline now and pretty soon it will be more painful for momma to nurse her babies.
 

Day 16 - 11/16/16

Today was the first day I heard a true bark when I entered the room! The pups are hearing better every day and today proved it.  One pup heard the door open and barked at me!! I love it, their little voices are so funny. I also noticed during weigh-in that their little pirhana teeth are now visible beneath the gums and will be cutting through any moment.
 

Day 14 - 11/14/16

These puppies are super plump and healthy, growing rapidly and changing daily. Today they had their first nail trim so that their claws don't catch in the carpet. They were also wormed for the first time today. Now that I have found a great dewormer the process has become easy once again.

We have some exciting milestones coming up this week again, cutting teeth and ears opening. Pups are SOOOO cute right now and fairly cuddly compared to the little terrors they will become in about 3 weeks, so I am enjoying them now while I can because it doesn't last long.

Here's how the pups weigh-in at 2 weeks of age:

Week 2 Puppy Portraits are now posted! ENJOY! Taking puppy portraits is truly a labor of love. These little wiggly bundles of joy are anything but cooperative and because their eyes have just opened recently, I am careful not to overtake flash photos that could damage their eyes. Therefore, I have a smaller number of photos to choose from for posting on this page.

First deworming / nail trim
 

Week 2 Development Milestone:  Cutting Teeth / Ears will open

Now that the puppies eyes are open, they will begin to see clearer and clearer each day. Supposedly they can only see shadows for the first few days, but pretty soon they will begin to notice me as I come into the nursery and will wander to the edge of the box for some love and attention.  

Just as significant as the eyes opening, the ear canals will deepen this week until they will become completely open and allow the pups to hear crisp noises and not just muffled sounds. Later this week, the pups will be noticeably affected by all the new sounds around them, so we must be very careful for the first few days to introduce them to noises gently and not harshly. They will also begin to cut teeth, first the canines will poke through followed by the incisors a few days later.
 

Week 1

Day 13 - 11/13/16

Pups are getting around better and better each day, taking a few steps here and there before losing balance and toppling over. They are also starting to exhibit a few glimpses of play behavior by sucking on each other and pawing at each other.  This will turn into rough play in just a few short weeks.

Here's today's eye opening update:

And since I haven't posted pup growth in a few days, here's how the pups weigh-in today:

Day 12 - 11/12/16

Today I bring some great news and fun photos, both Rissa and Rascal's eyes are open!! I took a few photos so you could see the pups in progress.

Here's today's eye opening update:

Day 10 - 11/10/16

As predicted earlier in the week, the pups eyes are starting to open.  This is the most exciting milestone to me because those precious eyes add so much personality to the pups beautiful faces. Here's today's eye opening update!

Day 7 - 11/07/16

I took one week Puppy Portraits today during this morning's weigh-in.  Those are now posted online above under Puppy Stats.  Here's how the pups weigh-in today at one week old:

This week's milestone: Eyes will open
During this week, the pups will reach an exciting milestone. We are anticipating the opening of their eyes. It should start happening around Thursday or Friday (Nov 10/11) of this week and take a few days to fully open.

When the pups are born, their ears and eyes are closed to keep out the amniotic fluid and any bacteria encountered in the birthcanal. The eyelids are fused together but there is a crease that defines the upper from the lower lid. As their eyes start to open the crease starts to deepen and separate starting at the corner of the eye by the tear ducts and working it's way across the eye until they are completely separated. The opening process can take a couple days from the first peek of the glistening eyeball beneath to being able to entirely see those beautiful baby blues. Once their eyes are open, the precious little babes take on a whole new personality.
 

Birth Week

Day 5 - 11/05/16

The pups change so rapidly at this age, their once little pink noses and bellies are now freckled with ticking that will eventually grow colored hair. HOPE continues to be a devoted momma, not leaving her puppies but to eat and go outside for short breaks.  She meticulously licks them to keep them clean and tends to their every need.

The pups are all fat and sassy, gaining at least one if not two ounces per day because of the overabundance of momma's rich milk. Here's how they measure up today:

Day 3 - 11/03/16

I cannot believe how much these pups are gaining every day, it's crazy! With only 6 pups and 8 faucets at the milk bar, each pup is getting all the milk they want and more.

With this over abundance of nourishment also comes strength.  These pups are not only plump but really strong!  I saw a couple of the pups actually push up off their bellies and take a few steps today! In my, albeit short, memory, I think this is unprecedented at this stage to be taking first steps at only day 3!

Here's how the pups weigh-in today:

The SuperDog program was started and dewclaws were removed.
 

Day 2 - 11/02/16

The first few days of life are so critical for little puppies.  Warmth and nourishment are the top two most important factors in survival.  

Warmth is provided by a special heat lamp mounted on a stand that my dad built for me.  The heat lamp is really a metal brooder lamp with a ceramic warming bulb that only puts out heat, no light. The nursery is kept at a balmy 80 degrees for the first few days. Poor HOPE is always panting because of the temperature, but she has the opportunity to escape the sauna to the dog run for a more desireable climate.

Right now, momma's milk is a thick creamy yellow color indicating it is rich in colostrum which is full of nutrients and antibodies giving the pups the immunity they will need to carry them through to the time when they can be vaccinated at 8 weeks of age. Eventually, once the colostrum is gone, the milk will thin out and become whiter in color.

The pups are doing great and are growing rapidly. Here's how the pups weigh-in today:

Day 1 -
11/01/16

As you can imagine, there is a lot to do with a new litter of pups. I've been working hard today trying to get the LIVE Puppy Cam online, taking and editing photos, doing body map markings, choosing "R" names, making website updates, etc.  WHEW!

Usually getting the LIVE Puppy Cam online is simply a matter of plugging in the camera to power it up and starting the web server, but unfortunately this time was not so easy.  In the meantime between Litters Q and R we got a new router for our home network. This router was supposed to be the latest and greatest not to mention bigger and better, but come to find out it's range is not as good as our old router and it did not have a good enough wireless range to allow the camera to connect to our LAN.  So to remedy this problem, John and I spent a good part of today fishing a new ethernet cable under the floor so we could relocate the router to a more suitable position in the home. WHEW, now that THATS's done, on to REAL work!

As for the other pups they are all gaining steadily and nursing like crazy! Here's how they measured up this morning when I was taking their birthday portraits:

Birthday photos are now posted. I will also post frequently on our Facebook page, so if you haven't checked it out yet, you can visit using this public link:  Hickory Hollow Llewellin Setters