Busy Week
It has been a busy week and a half. There are so many puppies that need our care, vet visits, and puppy preparation for heading home. Something had to give, and it was our weekly blog. I do appoligize to those of you waiting to see the puppy updates.
Vet Visit
Maui’s puppies visited the vet. Everyone was found to be healthy! They were very well behaved during their exam and brave when they received their vaccination and dreaded microchip. We only had one puppy that gave out a small yelp. They are such brave puppies.
I was pleasantly surprised that the puppies were so quiet for their first car ride. They settled into the crate both when they went to the vet and again when they headed home.
Puppy Call
Willow’s puppies continued exploring the yard while Maui’s puppies joined them. They have had a great time running, exploring and playing together. They love to wrestle with each other, and they learn to have a soft mouth. If a puppy bites too hard, it won’t have any friends to play with.
This is also a time when we work on recall with the “Puppy Call.” Every puppy doesn’t come every time—puppies need repetition. This is the start of their recall training, a crucial aspect of their development. It’s something that their forever families will need to build on when they go home.
Crate Training
We begin crate training when the whelping box is removed and replaced with crates in the puppy area. The door is left open, and the puppies can enter and explore if they wish. Some puppies like to sleep in the crate, while others go in to play hide and seek with a littermate and come out again. The puppies have started napping in their crate with the door closed this week. We always have a puppy or two in the litter that complain. When we close the door, I will give each puppy a biscuit to distract them. This helps the puppies associate the crate with something good.
A Look Back
The puppies have enjoyed playing and exploring in the big yard. This is when our mothers and other adult dogs teach the puppies and train them to listen and to submit.
Saying Good-Bye
This past week, some of Willow’s puppies left for their forever homes. Saying goodbye is always a bittersweet time for me, but I love to share the joy with their forever families as they welcome their new additions. We wish each puppy a long, happy life full of love and new adventures.
