We have now entered the stage where the puppies are fully active and independent. It is a very fun and interactive stage! Here is an overview of what the puppies have been doing in the past two weeks.

-We have nearly completed the weaning process. They still get a little bit of milk from Mia, but they are mostly transitioned onto Life’s Abundance Small & Medium Breed Puppy Food. The food is still softened to make it easier to chew; but within another week, they will be crunching away on the unsoftened kibble. We will also be starting them on NuVet Plus supplements in a few days. Once they are fully weaned off of momma’s milk, puppies’ immune systems become very vulnerable. The immunity they received from their mother’s colostrum (early milk that’s full of antibodies to fight infection and diseases) is already waning, and they become susceptible to bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections. In fact, a puppy’s immune system does not become fully mature until 18-24 months old. To combat this, we use NuVet Plus, which is an immune system supplement designed to build and protect a dog’s immune system.

-We are continuing potty training. I have the puppies on a fairly strict schedule to help them master the potty training. For some reason, it seemed to take this litter a little bit longer than some to catch on to the “potty area” concept. However, we have FINALLY gotten to a point where I say that they all get it and are doing well. I’d say 90% of the messes end up in the right place. Woohoo! That means a lot less clean up for me! (And with my growing belly, clean up is becoming a bit cumbersome!)

-The puppies are getting to experience new sounds. Each day I try to expose to the puppies to some new sounds. I often use YouTube videos designed to desensitize dogs frightening noises. The idea is that playing these sounds at a low volume helps the puppies become accustomed to the strange sounds, and then they are much less likely to startle and become frightened when they hear similar sounds in real life. They have heard traffic noises, fireworks, and thunder. They also get to hear normal house hold noises like a noisy toddler, vacuuming, etc. All these things are good exposure and socialization for young puppies, and it gives them safe and positive experiences with noises that can sometimes be frightening.

-The puppies are also getting to experience some new toys and textures! They have a variety of toys that they enjoy playing with, but the most sought after one of all is a simple old sock. It’s soft, stretchy, and GREAT for tug-of-war. The other prized possessions are some of the Life’s Abundance chews I give them on occasion. They have had Buffalo Bully Sticks and Porky Puffs, and they LOVE them! (They will even abandon the sock for the treats.) Having healthy chews for young puppies is so helpful! It keeps them occupied, quiet, and gives them a good way to get all that puppy teething and chewing out of their systems. All puppies chew, and it’s important to give them healthy and constructive things to chew on.

-We had a brief reprieve of winter weather last week and the puppies got the chance to go outside for the first time. They had a blast! They loved sniffing in the dirt and grass, chewing on twigs and leaves, and simply getting some new sights and smells.

And here are some pictures to wrap up the post! Take special note of the pictures of Hobbes and Micky. They are the only two sweet boys that are still available!

Calvin

Winnie & Lucy

The puppies love getting some extra play time in the living room. They especially enjoy crawling through the legs of the rocking chairs.

Lucy

Charlie

Hobbes

Charlie

Hobbes & Winnie

Micky

Winnie (This little guy is so photogenic!)

Micky

Minnie, Lucy, & Calvin

So much has changed with the puppies in the last two weeks, and they are becoming a lot of fun! (A lot more work, but that’s okay.) I am beginning to see personalities, and the puppies can finally play for more than a minute or two at a time before getting tired out. They show interest in people, and they are starting to explore their world by sniffing, licking, and, of course, chewing.

Here are some of the highlights of the past two weeks:

• Potty training! I use the Misty Method of early house training, which establishes a sleep area, a play/eating area, and a potty area. This gives the puppies a solid foundation for crate and house training once they go to their new homes. I’ll be honest, though- this litter has been a bit slower than some to catch on to potty training. Things are improving, but I had a very frustrating few days where they decided to sleep in the stinky potty box and pee on their bed. 😦 After a lot of insistence, I have convinced most of them to stop peeing on their bed. They are certainly far from perfect, but I am seeing definite progress.
• Weaning time! This really shows how much the puppies have developed. They are now ready to begin transitioning off of Momma’s milk. I start with one meal a day and slowly work up to three meals a day, while decreasing the number of times they nurse from Mia. Right now, the food is softened while the puppies master how to chew. Because nutrition is such a huge part of a puppy’s overall health and well-being, I am very particular about the food I give them. For healthy puppies, we must start with a healthy diet. The puppies are starting on Life’s Abundance Small & Medium Breed Puppy Food. This food is jam-packed full of vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients. There are high quality proteins (so important!), DHA, antioxidants, guaranteed probiotics, prebiotic fiber, Omega-3, dietary fiber, and a host of healthy fruits and vegetables. I find that my puppies do very well on this food. With my past litters, I have not had trouble with vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, or constipation. I attribute a lot of that to Life’s Abundance food. Its excellent nutrition does very well for a puppy’s young and sensitive digestive system.
  

  

Coming up in the next couple of weeks, we will continue weaning the puppies with the goal of having them fully weaned on unsoftened kibble by 7 weeks old. The puppies will also be getting their first vaccinations, their health exams, and they will be introduced to lots of new sights and sounds. I try to expose them to a variety of household and outdoor experiences to help get them accustomed to strange sights and sounds. This helps foster a calm and confident temperament. Of course, there is still a lot of socializing that needs to happen after the puppies leave my home at 8 weeks old, but I try to give them the best start that I can.

Also, one of the best things that I can do for the puppies in the next month is play with them! Simple, positive human interaction is one of the easiest and best ways to socialize young puppies. Reese is certainly having a lot of fun playing with the puppies now that they do more than just sleep. I have given them a few toys chew on and play with, but they truly enjoy getting human attention, whether its snuggling on an open lap, getting a belly scratch, or playing a little game of chase.

Yesterday, I took some pictures of the puppies. The individual pictures went very well (you can see them here), so I decided to try a group shot of all of the puppies. I have seen adorable pictures of puppies all lined up and looking sweetly at the camera. I thought surely I could get a picture like that. However, I learned that this is not a one-person job.

Perhaps I’ll try this again another day when I have someone to help me. 🙂

And one more picture for today. This little pup was SO tired after getting his picture taken. I hope the rest of your week is as relaxing as this!