Month: November 2025

Posted on

Seven weeks old and learning so much

Another week has passed, and Millie’s puppies are now seven weeks old. They’ve experienced many new firsts, such as discovering new toys, learning “puppy call,” and entering and exiting the house on their own. As they grow, they are becoming a bit more independent. 

Puppies exit the house for the first time. Some puppies are a little more hesitant. Notice the puppies have to discover the gate entrance to the puppy play area working on their problem solving skills.

Puppies’ Mealtime

Newborn puppies get all their nourishment from their mother’s milk. When Millie started weaning her puppies, it was time to introduce them to solid food.

During weaning, the puppies gradually start eating solids. First, they eat a ground, watery puppy mush. Second, we soak kibble in hot water to make it soft and waterlogged. Lastly, the puppies transition to dry kibble. This week, the puppies have completed the transition to dry kibble.

Feeding time has become much easier now. No more grinding puppy food to turn it into mush or waiting while the kibble is soaked in hot water. We simply scoop the dry kibble into the dishes and watch the puppies eagerly devour their meals.

Dry Kibble
Puppies eat quickly
The smaller puppies eat separately

The puppies compete for food and eat quickly, so we decided to feed our two smaller puppies separately to give them time to finish.

Puppy Cuddles

Our puppies receive handling from birth and daily cuddles. On top of the regular handling, this week our puppies had two evenings of extra puppy cuddles. My grandchildren are a great help in this area.

Grooming

Regular grooming is part of a dogs life. This is why we introduce grooming to the puppies, making it easier for their forever families. We clip the puppies nails clipped weekly and daily brushing.

Looking Back at Week Seven

Looking Ahead to Week Eight

  • Puppies will continue exploring and playing together inside and outdoors as weather permits
  • The puppies will get to run in the BIG yard where we will work on recall 
  • Millie along with our other dogs will continue teaching the puppies dog manners
  • Crate training with the door closed during nap time will begin
  • We will continue to encourage puppies to use the potty area 
  • Puppies will visit the vet and have their first car ride
  • Puppies will continue to get lots of cuddle time
Posted on

Millie’s Six Week Old Sweeties

Well, the past few weeks have been quite eventful. During this time, the puppies have grown and experienced many new things such as potty training, eating solids, new beds, crates, and a new play area, to name just a few.

Introduction to Solids

The puppies have now advanced to softened kibble. Initially, it is very waterlogged. Over two week period, we gradually decrease the soaking time until the puppies are seven weeks old and ready for hard kibble.

And then we soak the kibble – Notice the difference in the dry and softened kibble
Kibble with boiled water
Lid on to help kibble absorb water
soften kibble

The puppies are still nursing from their mama any chance they get but,Millie limits feeding time. We have always have plenty of fresh water available.

Socalization

It is important to socialize puppies by exposing them to many new experiences while they are young. The puppies have been introduced to different floor surfaces, new toys, and our other adult dogs. The puppies continue to receive plenty of interaction with humans of all ages.

During week five, Millie’s guardian famly came for a visit. The puppies had a great time getting lots of cuddles.

Potty Training

Our main focus during weeks five and six was teaching the puppies to use their potty boxes. They have done a great job of going in the right spot. Some of our puppies are more consistent than others, but all are making progress.

New Play Area

The puppies have been enjoying their new play area this week, with lots of new toys to discover, including a crinkle tunnel, slide, crates, and wobble disc. We also have a potty box that the puppies are encouraged to use.

Puppy Selection Day

One of the highlights of the eight weeks of raising puppies is Puppy Selection Day. We enjoy meeting the forever families and sharing in their excitement. 

We had a wonderful day meeting everyone, and I know that each of our puppies has found a fantastic forever home.

The puppies were exhausted after a lot of interaction with their forever families. They ate their dinner and settled in for a long sleep.

Outdoor Play

A little late, but the puppies finally had outdoor playtime. It was a bit cold and snowy, but Millie and her babies enjoyed running and playing.

Sleep, Sleep, Sleep

LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK SEVEN

  • Puppies time spent awake will continue to increase
  • Puppies will begin dry kibble by the end of week seven
  • We will continue to encourage puppies to use potty area inside and out
  • Puppies will continue to socialize and learn from each other through play
  • Puppies will continue exploring and playing together outdoor as weather permits
  • Puppies will continue learning from their mama as she disciplines them and teaches them to behave 
  • As always, puppies will continue to get lots of cuddle time.
COMING SOON—Look for puppy six week singles pics
Posted on

Millie’s Adorable Four Week Old Babies

A Very Sad Update

💔

We are heartbroken to share that we lost one of Millie’s puppies this week—Purple Collar Girl. Losing a puppy is the hardest part of breeding, and it never gets any easier.

💔

Four weeks old already 

The puppies have developed so much in a short period. This week, their milk teeth have come in, their hind legs have grown stronger, and their wakeful periods have gradually increased. The puppies still sleep most of the day, but when they are awake, they enjoy socialising with their littermates through play.

Starting to Wean

Now that the puppies’ milk teeth have come through, it’s time to start weaning and introduce solids. Millie began nursing while standing. It’s so adorable watching the puppies try to balance on their hind legs to nurse.
The puppies have started eating puppy mush and happily lapped up the soupy food. 
The puppies are enjoying their first puppy mush. When they finished, we had very dirty puppies. 

Moving to the main floor

On Saturday, the puppies moved to the main floor, and we expanded their whelping box with the potty box extension. Puppies need to learn that they cannot “go” anywhere. We teach them that “there is an acceptable place to go potty.” Teaching them this early will prevent the development of bad habits that later need fixing. This effort will benefit forever families by making housebreaking easier when they go to their forever homes.

 

Checking Things Out

The puppies were eager to explore the new area. 

Adorable Faces

Millie’s puppies are exploring toys and their new play area. The puppies still sleep a lot of the time, and it wasn’t long before they fell asleep again.

My next task — puppy pictures.

📸

Keep an eye out on our website for the puppies four-week pictures.

Looking Ahead to Week Five

  • Puppies will continue learning to use the potty area
  • Puppy mush will get thicker and the puppies will start eating softened kibble
  • Awake time will increase as the puppies socialize with each other through play 
  • Introduce new toys
  • Mama will add the invaluable teaching phase to her caring & protecting responsibilities over the next weeks.
  • Lots of cuddles