Month: March 2025

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Eight-Weeks Old and Time to Say Goodbye

Today, the puppies are eight weeks old. It is hard to believe that eight weeks have passed, and the puppies are ready to head home to their forever families. Remember how tiny they were…..I could hold them in the palm of my hand. They have learned so much over these past eight weeks. I have enjoyed raising them to the point where they are ready to join their forever families.

See how they have grown!

We have had another busy week, and the puppies have experienced many firsts: car rides, vet visits, crate training, new toys, and exploring the big yard.

Vet Visit

On Wednesday, the puppies visited the Vet for a wellness check, their first vaccinations, and a microchip.

My husband, Tom, stayed with the puppies at the car, and my daughter helped by transporting them back and forth. I just watched as each puppy was examined and given their shots. I generally know which puppies yelp. Typically, it’s a couple of boys, and this litter was no exception.

Dr. Thompson and the staff complimented us on how calm and well-behaved our puppies were. It always makes me proud, and we get confirmation that the work we put into raising the puppies shows!

After the visit, we always head to Starbucks for a well-deserved treat. Nash, who came for the car ride, also got a treat – a puppuccino.

As you can hear in the video, some puppies complained on the way to the vet. It was their first car ride, and they were a little anxious. On the way home, they settled and went to sleep.

It’s too cute not to share

Stealing the BIG stick

Practicing Recall

Recall is a command that takes a while for puppies to learn. We practice recall by calling the puppies to come with our “Puppy Call.” It started by calling them from one indoor puppy area to another. We continued when the puppies went outside on the deck and in the large yard. This is a video I took on Saturday. All the puppies came except the Light blue-collar boy. He sat at the top of the stairs and just looked at me. LOL!

Preparing the Go-Home Packages

Preparing for puppy go-home day is always bittersweet. I’m always happy to know the puppies have found forever families, and I look forward to joining them. We shed a few tears when we bid our sweet puppies farewell.

Looking Back at the puppies’ Eighth Week

The puppies love to go into the big yard to run and explore. Piper uses this opportunity to teach the puppies to submit. Some puppies are very submissive, while others need more encouragement.

Looking Ahead

Puppies are leaving this week for their forever homes. You have a lot of work ahead of you: correcting, training, and caring for your new puppy. Be patient because they are still babies and learning. The time and work you put into training your puppy pays off when you have a loving, well-behaved dog that will love you as only a dog can—unconditionally. You will be the most important person in the world to them. 

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Piper’s Seven Week Old Puppies

Piper’s puppies are now seven weeks old. They have come a long way in the first seven weeks of their lives. They have grown bigger and are adorable little fur balls full of energy and curious about everything.

Puppies Meal Time

Newborn puppies get all their nourishment from their mother’s milk. Piper’s puppies started their solids at four weeks with watery puppy mush. Next, they progressed to waterlogged kibble. On Sunday, they transitioned to dry kibble.

When this happens, feeding time is so easy. No more grinding puppy food to turn it into puppy mush or waiting while the kibble is soaked in hot water. Feeding time is easy now because I scoop the dry kibble into the dishes and watch the waiting puppies devour their food.

Puppies are becoming more Independent

Watch the puppies as they exit the house for their outdoor play, first at regular speed and then in slow motion. We have been working on this area this past week, and the puppies have become more independent. They can now exit and enter the house on their own.

Puppies exit the house at a regular speed.
Puppies exit the house at a slow-motion speed.

Teaching “Submit”

Watch Nash making puppies submit. They lay on their back and look.

Outdoor Play Time

Outdoor playtime gives the puppies space to run. The extra space also allows Piper to work with her puppies individually and teach them proper dog manners.

Piper gets help with disciplining her puppies from Nash and Ellie.

LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK EIGHT

  • The puppies will continue exploring and playing together inside and outdoors as weather permits.
  • Mama and the rest of our dogs will spend time teaching proper puppy manners.
  • We will continue to encourage puppies to use the potty area.
  • Puppies will be introduced to the crate with the door closed.
  • A visit to the vet for puppy wellness checks, immunizations, and microchips.
  • Puppies will continue to get lots of cuddle time.
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Pipers Puppies Are Six-Week-Old Today

Today, the puppies are six weeks old. We have had another busy week caring for them and introducing them to many new things. They have grown bigger, and you can see their unique personalities developing. 

Selection Day 

This past Saturday was Selection Day. It is always exciting to meet each forever family and introduce them to their new puppy. I’m happy our puppies are joining such amazing families and will be loved!

After all the socialization, the puppies are always tired. After dinner, they all went into the whelping and fell fast asleep. 

New puppy area

Last week, we set up a new indoor puppy exercise area. This area has potty boxes, a raised dog bed that the puppies love, crates, and carpets for traction. The puppies had a great time exploring their new area. They also had fun playing with each other and their new toys. Some puppies even took their nap in the new crates, and a couple of puppies went under the raised dog bed for their nap.

Watch the puppies explore their new area for the first time. 

Recall

This week, we are working on teaching the puppies recall with our “puppy puppy” call. They are alerted and come to me. Right now, we call when it is time for their meal. I put their food in the exercise pen with the door open. Then I open the sleep area pen door. Standing in the exercise pen, I call them. A couple of brave puppies exited their pen and came to me for food. Others took more encouragement. A couple of puppies needed to be carried. With daily practice, we are making progress.

Recall is an ongoing learning lesson that our forever families will continue teaching their puppies.

Outdoor Exercise

On Monday, the puppies had an exciting day. They had their first taste of the outdoors. We were blessed with an unseasonably warm day, and the puppies enjoyed running, chasing each other, and exploring on the deck. 

We fed the puppies their lunch outside on such a warm two days. When it was time to bring them in, some puppies were unhappy and let us know by howling. I played some classical music to calm them, which did the trick.

Looking Ahead to Week Seven

In Week Seven, we will be working on obstacles. The puppies must use their brains to figure out how to maneuver around them. The puppies will also learn how to go down steps.

  • Puppies time spent awake will continue to increase
  • Puppies will have transitioned to dry kibble by the end of week seven
  • We will continue to encourage puppies to use the potty boxes both inside and outside
  • Puppies will continue to socialize and learn from each other through play
  • Puppies will continue exploring and playing together outdoors as weather permits.
  • Puppies will continue learning from their mama as she disciplines and teaches them to behave. 
  • As always, puppies will continue to get lots of cuddle time.
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Wow, Piper’s Babies Are Five Weeks Old Already!

Five weeks old

Piper’s sweet babies are now five weeks old and have developed from helpless newborn puppies to the “mini dogs” they are today. The puppies are now awake for longer periods and enjoy playing with each other, and their toys, and cuddle time. We can now see their personalities starting to develop.

It is important when raising puppies to socialize them which means introducing them to as many new experiences as possible when they are young. For instance, this week the puppies have been introduced to different sounds, different floor surfaces, new toys, and our other adult dogs.

Can they get any more adorable?

Click on photos to check what collar colour we are

Meal Time

The puppies are still nursing from their mama any chance they get but Piper limits this as she is gradually weaning them.

The puppies are always excited when they smell the food being prepared.

Remember how watery the puppy mush was? We have gradually been making the puppy mush thicker.

The puppies have now progressed to softened kibble. At first, it is very waterlogged. Over the next two weeks, we will gradually reduce the time spent soaking the food until the puppies are seven weeks old and have progressed to hard kibble.

Notice the difference in the dry and softened kibble
Kibble with boiled water
Lid on to help kibble absorb water
Puppies enjoying their softened kibble

Potty Training

We have been working hard on training puppies to use the potty box.

Some of the puppies are more consistent than others but, all the puppies are making progress.

It’s amazing to watch puppies wake up or stop playing and go over to use their potty box.

Should I sleep alone or with a buddy?

The puppies still sleep much of their time. This is when they grow and process what they have learned while awake. Remember the puppy huddles? Now that they are bigger and can regulate their temperature, some puppies sleep with a buddy, and some puppies sleep alone.

Maybe a Snuggle Puppy

Looking Ahead to Week Six

  • Awake time will continue to increase
  • New indoor play area
  • Outdoor exercise will begin and puppies will have daily outdoor play time as weather permits
  • Continue learning to use potty box both indoor and outdoors
  • Socialize with each other through play
  • As they walk on uneven ground, their balance will continue to improve
  • Puppies will continue learning from their mama and our other adult dogs as they teach them dog manners
  • As always, puppies will get lots of cuddle time.
  • Puppies will meet their forever families ❤️