Author: admin

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March 14, 2021 – DAY 42

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LOOKING BACK

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Six weeks old today. We have had another busy week caring for the puppies and introducing them to so many new things. They have grown bigger and you can see each unique personality developing. Puppies have now progressed to eating softened kibble. The food which we switched them to seems to be agreeing with them. They enjoy running and chasing each other during outside play time and also have fun inside with their activity centre. Ruska is now teaching them to submit and our other dogs are helping out with this. 

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LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK SEVEN

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• 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
• 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 
• Puppies will be meeting their forever families
• As always, puppies will continue to get lots of cuddle time.

This week we have had a couple technical difficulties making life a little more challenging. On Tuesday we had a power outage lasting eight hours so we had to feed and care for the puppies by candle light. Then Wednesday my computer developed a sudden problem. I opened it up and got a black screen even though the power was on. Since then, I have been using my phone for emails but I am borrowing my daughters computer to post our blog. (Hopefully my son will be able to figure out the problem and get my computer working again.)

The puppies are growing bigger and more active by the day. Even though this morning was a cold one, Ruska wanted her puppies outside. They got some exercise running and playing on the deck before they came back inside for their breakfast. The puppies enjoyed their morning playtime in our front hall.

Yesterday was an exciting day for our puppies, We were blessed with a warm sunny day, so I decided to take the puppies outside for some exercise. We set some fencing up on our deck and then brought the puppies out. Ruska was so excited that her puppies were finally able to go out with her and our other dogs joined in the excitement as well. The puppies enjoyed their time exploring, running, playing together and even ate their lunch outside.

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LOOKING BACK

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Five weeks old today. The puppies have developed from helpless newborns to “mini dogs”. They have learned so much over the past five weeks. We have been working hard on training the puppies to use the potty area. I was wondering if they would ever “get it” but finally is started to click. It’s amazing to watch puppies wake up or stop playing and walk over to use the potty area. They still have a long way to go and some of the puppies are more consistent than others but all are making progress! The puppies are now awake for longer periods and enjoy playing with their toys and each other. Nursing time from mama has decreased and the puppies are now eating puppy mush and drinking their water. During this past week, Mama has begun teaching her pups to listen to her.  Ruska will go into the puppy area, let the puppies start to nurse and then start barking at them to stop. Most of the puppies listen on the first warning but we do have some persistent puppies that try a few more time before they listen.

Socialization for puppies is an important part of their development. My Grandchildren are a big part in this socialization which will make it easier when puppies head home to families with children! A watchful eye is always necessary when children are playing with the puppies – they have to be reminded to “Be Gentle”. The puppies love playing with my grandchildren!

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LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK SIX

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• Puppies time spent awake will continue to increase
• Puppies food will become much thicker progressing toward the goal of eating dry kibble
• Puppies will continue learning to use potty area
• Puppies will continue to socialize with each other through play
• Puppies balance will continue to improve.
• Puppies will begin daily play time in our play area
• 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.

An Update On Ellie

Ellie is now in the last trimester of her pregnancy with under two weeks left until her due date. I took a pic of her as she rested on the living room floor. It is hard to see with all her fur, but her tummy is noticeably larger. Ellie is now eating more and continues to get lots of rest – it takes lots of energy to carry puppies! She will continue to get pampered and spoiled until her puppies arrive.

When Covid lockdown restrictions went into place, our dogs missed their regular grooming appointment. By the time our groomers opened again, we had some very shaggy dogs. Ellie went to the groomers yesterday for a much needed hair cut and got a tummy shave to make it easier for her puppies to nurse when they arrive.

Ruska’s Puppies

Ruska’s puppies continue to grow and are now spending longer periods of time awake, so we have set up a play area in our front hall for them. They are so much fun to watch!

We have had a busy week so far! The puppies are enjoying their puppy mush and nursing from mama, and we have been working hard trying to teach them “where to go potty”. The first week I always feel “Will they ever get this?” It is slow going but I think we are making progress. Today while playing, a few of the puppies stopped and ran to the potty area on their own! Yeah, I am always encouraged when they begin to get it. I’m sure as the days go by, all the puppies will make steady progress in this area.

Last night I introduced our puppies to water. Some puppies were curious and started to lap up the water right away while other puppies explored by putting their feet in it. The puppies will increase their water intake as nursing decreases.

The Puppies have reached another milestone….today they started eating solids. I make a soft mush from ground kibble and warm water.

It didn’t take long for the puppies to know what to do. They did a great job eating their first meal!

Ruska loves to finish any leftovers but, the puppies did such a good job eating there wasn’t much left for her! Ruska will continue nursing her puppies and gradually wean them over the next couple weeks.

After their first solid meal the puppies fell fast asleep for a good long nap.

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February 28, 2021 – DAY 28 – 4 WEEKS OLD

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LOOKING BACK

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Our puppies are four weeks old already, how the time has flown by! This past week puppies have become mini dogs. They are now on our main floor and starting to learn to use the potty area. Their walking has improved and they are more steady on the feet. The puppies are vocalizing more and can now bark and growl. Their milk teeth have come in which are sharp. One of the puppies thought my big toe looked good to chew Ouch!!! The puppies now spend more time awake socializing with each other through play. All of the puppies have so much love to give….……when we go into their puppy area, it doesn’t take long before you have a lap full of puppies wanting to cuddle!

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LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK FIVE

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• Puppies time spent awake will increase
• Puppies will continue to socialize with each other through play
• Puppies balance will continue to improve and they will begin to run
• Puppies will continue learning to use potty area
• Puppies will start on solid foods as weaning gradually begins
• Mama will now add the invaluable teaching phase to her caring & protecting responsibilities over the next weeks.

A Saturday Morning Hello From Our Puppies

I hope everyone is having a good weekend……….I thought a little video of our puppies at play this morning would make it a little brighter!

Goldendoodles are very social dogs and love to spend their time with their family. Socialization is an important part of raising puppies. It is important that puppies are socialized with a variety of people of all ages. Our puppies have already had lots of socialization. My daughter Kendra and myself have handled and cuddled the puppies since birth and my grandchildren have enjoyed spending time with them as well. Today, my husband Tom went into the whelping box and it didn’t take long before he had a lap full of puppies. What a wonderful way to spend your time, cuddling puppies and getting those sweet puppy breath kisses!

Ruska’s puppies are now three and a half weeks old. Since birth, they have spent their days and nights in our bedroom. It is now time to make the big move to the main floor where the puppies can get accustom to the sounds and happenings of our busy house.

After weigh in today, I decided we would move the puppies. I packed them in the basket, brought their whelping box down to a small enclosure in my front hall, and then brought the puppies to their new area. Just outside the whelping box are potty pads.

The puppies are now going potty without the help of their mother. I feel it is important to begin “potty training” at this age because puppies have a natural instinct to move away from their sleeping area when they need to go. For the next few days I will spend my time moving the puppies to the potty area when they wake. If they start learning that “there is an acceptable place to go potty” at a young age, they won’t develop bad habits that later need to be broken. I feel that this will make housebreaking easier when they go to their forever families. Some of the puppies have already used the potty pads – Yeah!

I always feel Ruska is ready when the time comes to move the puppies. She can now spend all her time with the family on the main floor and still keep an eye on her little ones. After the puppies had moved, Ruska went in to nurse them “in the standing position“(time to start weaning). When the puppies had settled for a sleep, she laid on the floor in front of the the puppy enclosure for a nap.