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Look At Ellies Puppies Eating Their Solids

For the past four weeks, Ellie has been feeding her eleven puppies. This is a large litter and requires extra work on both Ellie’s part and mine making sure all the puppies get their fair share of mama’s milk. Ellie has done an amazing job feeding her babies. Over the past few days, Ellie has been nursing her puppies in the standing position which is the sign that she is ready to start weaning her little ones. It is now time to introduce solids to the puppies.

Ellie nursing her puppies in the standing position; time to introduce solids

Yesterday we introduced the puppies to solids. We begin the puppies on their first solids at four weeks of age. I make a watery mush from ground kibble puppy food and warm water. The mush will gradually be made thicker and progress to soften kibble and finally to dry kibble by seven weeks of age.

Ellie helps her puppies finish the leftovers. She will continue nursing her puppies and gradually wean them over the next couple of weeks.

After the puppies had finished eating, they came over to explore the water dish. They weren’t too sure if they were to drink it or wash their paws in it – LOL!

After their first solid meal all the puppies went back into their whelping box on their own and settled in for a long nap.

Ellie’s Puppies introduction to first solids and the water bowl.
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Look How Far We Have Come in Four Weeks!

Puppies are Four Weeks Old Today
LOOKING BACK

Wow, four weeks old already; time passes by so quickly! This past week, our puppies made the move to the main floor and are learning to use the potty area. The puppies walking has improved and they are progressing towards running. They are vocalizing more and can now bark and growl . Their milk teeth have started coming in. More of their time is spent awake socializing with each other through play. The puppies love it when we go into their area – it doesn’t take long before we have a lap full of puppies!

The puppies love to cuddle

When we moved the puppies to the main floor, we had the whelping box and potty area only. I spent the first couple days moving them to the potty area when they woke and after they nursed. Some puppies were quick to learn but all are making progress. We have now expanded their area to include a play area and have added a few toys for the puppies to play with. When the puppies are in their new play area, we open the”potty door” giving them access to the potty area.

Puppies new play area
LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK FIVE
  • 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.
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Yeah!……Ellie’s Babies Are On The Move

Since birth, Ellie’s babies have spent their days and nights in our bedroom which is a warm quiet space. Now that they are 3 -1/2 week old, it is time to make the big move to the main floor. This is where the puppies can get accustom to the sounds and happenings of our busy house. As the puppies grow the puppy area will gradually get expanded to include a play area

For the next couple of days, the puppies will only have access to the whelping box and potty area which is just outside the box. It is important to begin “potty training” at this age to take advantage of the puppies 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 and after they eat. 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. This will make housebreaking easier when they go to their forever families.

April 10th – The Big Move

After the puppies morning feed, we packed them up in the large container we place them in when cleaning their whelping box to wait while we prepared to make the move.
Next we moved their clean whelping box down to the main floor in the kitchen area, which is the busiest part of our house. Notice the potty area just outside the whelping box door.
Ellie kept watch on her babies making sure all her puppies were accounted for. The rest of our girls were very interested in the big move too.
The puppies settled in their whelping box and went to sleep.
After the puppies nap, Ellie went in the new area to feed her babies while Willow watched the three puppies in the “Waiting Box”
Ellie’s Babies On The Move
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See Ellie’s Babies …….. They Are Learning To Play

Happy Saturday to everyone. Ellie’s babies are continuing to develop – they are learning to play with each other. Puppies learn so much from their littermates which is an important part of their development. Through play puppies improve their physical coordination, develop social skills, learn the inhibited bite, and learn about dominance and submission. This is why it is so important that puppies stay with their littermates for at least eight weeks of age.

Ellie’s Babies Learning To Play
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Look At These Adorable Puppies’ Three Week Portrait

Ellie’s babies continue to progress rapidly and are become harder to contain. When we do our daily whelping box cleaning, I usually put the puppies in a laundry basket. This is no longer an option as many of the puppies are able to climb out. I am now using a large tall storage container to contain them while I work.

Yesterday the puppies turned three weeks old so, after I cleaned their whelping box, we returned the puppies and got ready for the photo shoot. You can see how much energy the puppies have, it is hard to keep these puppies still.

We only have a short window to do our photo shoot though, because the puppies have a burst of energy and then quickly drop off to sleep. It is always a challenge and a two person job. My daughter Kendra is always willing to help me out with this task. She places all the puppies in a row and I quickly try to snap the pics. After a great many attempts, the puppies tire and fall asleep. We then look over the photos and try to choose the best pic. Fingers crossed that we get at least one. If I get most of the puppies looking forward and all the puppies are still (no blur), than we were successful!

Ellie’s 2021 three week puppy portrait

Ellie’s 2021 three week puppy portrait

How many puppies colour collars can you guess? (Answer at the bottom of post)

Video of our photo shoot
How many puppies did you guess correctly?
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Three Weeks Old Today, Ellie’s Puppies Are Growing Up

  • Three Week Old Puppy Huddle
LOOKING BACK

Three weeks old already – how quickly time passes! This week Ellie’s puppies have been progressing rapidly. They continue to gain weight and grow bigger with each passing day. Their eyes are fully opened and vision is improving. Their ears have started to open and they are beginning to hear. Their hind legs have become much stronger and they have been practicing walking on all fours. The puppies are much more aware of their surroundings and have begun to play with each other. They have become quite noisy as they practice their vocalizing. It is so cute in the daytime but not so much in the middle of the night LOL. They still continue to sleep much of their day/night

Today I decided to try something new in my puppy raising process. The puppies have just started to go potty on their own so I thought I would add a potty area right in the whelping box. Let’s see what happens. After the puppies woke up, some went over to the corner and actually used the potty area. Watch Dark Pink Girl – I am truly amazed!!!

3 week old puppy uses potty area

Sleeping Puppies

Sweet Dreams
LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK FOUR
  • Puppies will still sleep much of the day/night as they continue to grow rapidly
  • Puppies will play with each other developing important social skills
  • Puppies hind legs will continue to become stronger as they walk more
  • Hearing will improve 
  • Puppy milk teeth will erupt
  • Puppies will be moving to the main floor towards the end of the week
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Puppies Going To Their Forever Families

This week was bittersweet – it was time to say good-bye. I have loved and care for Ruska’s puppies for the past (almost) nine weeks. I saw each come into this world, made sure they were fed, and introduced them to so many new experiences – all to prepare them for their forever families. This is Ruska’s final litter which made me more emotional than usual as I said good-bye to her babies. She has been an amazing mama and taught me so much over the past four years. I know that she will continue to help our other mama’s with our coming litters for years to come. Ruska has so much love to give!

Preparing for their forever families – nails clipped, bath, and blow-dry

Ruska wearing her “blanket scarf”. The puppy blanket that we send home smells like their mama. The familiar scent will be a comfort to the puppy in their new home.

Going Home Photo

  • ARCHIE – Light Blue Collar Boy
  • MILO – Orange Collar Boy
  • TWIX – Yellow Collar Boy
  • BELLA – Purple Collar Girl
  • Dark Blue Boy
    MURPHY – Dark Blue Collar Boy
  • ASHER – Black Collar Boy
  • GEMMA – Green Collar Girl
  • AUDIE – Pink Collar Girl
  • MIKA – Red Collar Girl
  • WILLOW – Grey Collar Girl
LOOKING AHEAD

I have spent the past two months loving, caring and teaching our puppies. I am so thankful that our puppies have joined such amazing families and know each will be loved!

Forever Families, continue to provide new experiences each day, always include play, and never stop training your puppy. It won’t be easy because they are still young but, with patience and consistency on your part, they will grow to become well-behaved adult dogs that you will enjoy for their lifetime.

Keep in touch ….. it always makes my day when I receive an e-mail from one of our puppies families! I love hearing how they are doing and seeing pictures ! When I started breeding, I came across this poem which describes just how I feel!

paw prints

Ellie’s Puppies

Ellie’s puppies continue to grow and progress. Eleven puppies is a large litter to keep fed and clean. Ellie is an amazing mama that loves to care for her babies!

Saturday Morning Feed
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Look At Ellie’s Sweet Babies Learning To Walk

Ellie’s Puppies

Ellie’s puppies are now learning to walk on all fours. Their hind legs are getting stronger with each passing day. The puppies are so adorable with their wobbly puppy walk. All the puppies eyes have now opened but their sight is not yet clear. Their ears are starting to open and if you listen closely and you can hear them starting to vocalize. The puppies are now wearing new adjustable collars made from parachute cord. (Light pink girl is now wearing a pink camo collar)

paw prints

Ruska’s Puppies

Tomorrow the remaining of Ruska’s puppies will be leaving for their forever homes. Since all the puppies would be getting a bath anyways, I decided to take them on an adventure and let them play in the yard. Ruska was so excited to have her puppies with her. The other dogs joined in as well and the puppies loved their time running and exploring together. In the end we had some dirty tired puppies!