Introducing Willow’s beautiful litter of puppies. We have five beautiful girls and four handsome boys in a variety of colours and patterns.
The Girls
The Boys
Introducing Willow’s Puppies
Our Eight Week Old Cuties Are Learning So Much
eight weeks old
And learning so much
Ellie’s puppies are now eight weeks old. They have had another busy week and progressed so much!
Lots of new experience for our puppies helps us reach our goal – to raise healthy, calm, confident, well-adjusted puppies.
It is always amazing to see what a difference a week make in young puppies’ lives. Remember last week when the puppies were learning to go outside on their own.? They were trying to get up the courage to step down.
See how far the puppies have come. Watch the puppies going outside. The first video is at normal speed and the second is in slow mode so you can see how well the puppies are moving.
LOTS TO LEARN
RUNNING IN THE BIG YARD
✓Play, Explore & Exercise ✓Learning from Mama ✓Interacting with other Adult Dogs ✓Learning to submit ✓Working on Recall
This week was so exciting for the puppies. They have now experienced running in the big yard. Our yard is like a dog park with so many places to explore, lots of room to run, and our other adult dogs to interact with.
This is an important time for the puppies development. In addition to play, this is an opportunity for Ellie and our other adult dogs to teach the puppies proper dog manners.
TEACHING TO SUBMIT
An important lesson for the puppies to learn is To Submit. The goal is to get the puppy to lay still on their back in the submit position. Some puppies are very quick to submit, and others don’t want to co-operate and need more work.
Maui was working with Pink Collar Girl trying to make her listen and submit. Then Willow joined in t o try and help. Pink collar girl was being stubborn and wouldn’t co-operate. She was struggling – listen to her “complaining”!
Mama Ellie took over the lesson – Pink Collar Girl finally listened to mama and settled quietly and laid still in the submit position.
It may appear cruel to some but, these lessons are important. It teaches the puppy that they are not in charge. They need to listen to authority.
This will benefit Forever Families when you take your puppy home. Dogs are “pack animals” and your puppy is at the bottom of your family pack. Adults and children are above and the puppy must listen your authority.
WORKING ON RECALL
Recall is something that the forever families will continue to work on when they take their puppy home. Teaching your puppy recall is something that needs to be worked on over a long period of time. It takes lots of time, practice, and patience.
We have been working on recall for a couple weeks now. It begins when we call the puppies to go from their sleep area to their play area on their own. We have also practiced recall when it is time for the puppies to go outside on their own.
Now that the puppies are running in the big yard exploring, it is the perfect time to work on recall from a distance . While the puppies are dispersed and exploring, I use the Puppy Call to gather them to me. I call “Puppy, Puppy” and wait for them to come. Sometimes the puppies are doing something more interesting and don’t respond but at this age, they usually come running because the love the attention, praise, pats, and cuddles I reward them with when they come.
ANOTHER NEW EXPERIENCE
POOL PARTY
INTRODUCING WATER
Both Poodles and Golden Retrievers are “water retrievers” so it isn’t any surprise that Goldendoodles also love water. With this week’s hot weather, I decided to take the opportunity to introduce the puppies to water.
Water introduction is something that you don’t want to rush. You could traumatize the puppy if you force them into water. We put some water in our plastic pool. The ground that the pool was on was sloped which allowed shallow water on one side of the pool and no water on the other side.
I then let the puppies explore the pool on their own. All the puppies were interested in the water. We had three puppies go into the pool on their own (Purple, Yellow and Orange) and the other three puppies watched with excitement on the sidelines. Maui and Willow even got into the action.
(FYI – unlike most poodles, Mama Ellie doesn’t like water )
New Puppy Sleep Area
CRATE TRAINING CONTINUES
This past week we rearrange the puppies’ sleep area. We set up six crates in the puppies sleep area. Each puppy will now have their own crate. Up until now the puppies could freely go in and out of the crate whenever they chose..All the puppies have explored the crates during play time and some puppies even choose to take a nap in the crate with a buddy or on their own.
This week we moved forward with our crate training…. time to close the door.
FIRST CRATE TRAINING SESSION
We put each puppy in their own crate and give them a few small treats. Giving them treats when they go into their crates helps the puppies associate the crate as something good! They should think of the crate as their safe place.
I took these short videos during the first session of crate training with the door closed.
First video: Listen to some of the puppies complaining.
Next video: After about five minutes the puppies had settled. Some had fallen asleep, and others just sat quietly. Eventually all the puppies fell asleep.
I am very pleased with the progress the puppies have made. We put the puppies in their crate each afternoon for a nap. They quickly settle and sleep for about two hours. When nap time is over, I go to the puppies’ sleep area to let them out. It is amazing to see all the puppies wait quietly while I open each crate door.
Beginning crate training with the breeder helps the puppies become accustomed to their crates. This will make the transition easier on the puppies when the go to their forever homes.
A LOOK BACK
Lots to experience
LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK NINE
- Daily Outdoor play time as weather permits
- Puppies will continue to socialize with each other through play
- Puppies will continue to learn dog manners from Mama and other adults dogs
- Puppies visit the vet for their wellness check-up, first shots and, micro-chip
- Puppies start to head to the forever home
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See Ellie’s Adorable Seven Week Old Puppies
Seven Weeks Old
Ellie’s puppies are growing and learning new things with each passing day
The puppies have had another busy week experiencing many NEW things. They continue to grow bigger and more adorable each day. The puppies are full of energy and curious about everything. They love outdoor play time where they get lots of exercise running and playing with their littermates. The puppies are still getting a milk snack from Ellie which they never turn down. Ellie is such a good mama and is slowly weaning them. The puppies have now made the transition to eating dry kibble puppy food which they get three times a day. It’s no wonder they are packing on the weight LOL!
new area for puppies to explore
INDOOR PLAY AREA
This week we set up a play area for the puppies. This area includes potty box, crates, toys, and an Activity Centre. The puppies always have fun exploring the Activity Centre. This area is separate from the puppies’ sleep area so, when the weather doesn’t co-operate, we have a change of scenery in the new play area.
LEARNING NEW THINGS
THE STEPS
The puppies are always learning. Not only do we want to build strong bodies, but we also want to build strong minds. Every day is a new opportunity to build our puppies minds by introducing something new. On Monday of last week, the puppies had the challenge of “Learning to go down the steps”. Watch to see which of our puppies mastered the challenge.
Just like children differ from their siblings, puppies also differ from their littermates. Some puppies are braver than others.
Even with lots of encouragement from me, Ellie, Maui, and his littermates, Red Collar Boy just couldn’t get up the courage to master the steps. He went back in the puppy area and cried. Oh well, there is always another day.
Over the next few days, we tried to encourage Red collar boy to master the steps but no success. On Friday, we tried again. Can he do it?
YES …….. that was easy!
Such an exciting day!
Puppy Selection Day
The rain held off for selection day and we were able to have puppy visits outside. As always, some puppies were tired during forever family visits but puppies at this age play hard and then crash to refuel. If your puppy was tired rest sure that they all have energy!
Tom and I had a great time on Saturday meeting all the forever families and introducing them to their puppy. It is a day that we always look forward to because we love to show off our beautiful puppies and share the in excitement of their forever families.
Sunday the puppies had a quiet day catching up on their sleep. Can you find your puppy?
Puppy Play
I thought it would be fun taking a video of our puppies playing from afar. I stood on our deck unnoticed by the puppies and captured five minutes of our puppies’ lives. After a slow morning of lots of sleep our puppies had recharged.
A LOOK BACK
In this video we look back at the past week. It is amazing how much a puppy learns in one week. We explored a new play area, new toys introduced, interaction with adult dogs, playtime with littermates both indoors and outside, and learned to go up and down steps and met lots of different people during selection day. No wonder we have tired puppies!
Lots to experience
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
- Ellie along with our other dogs will continue teaching the puppies dog manners
- Crate training begins
- We will continue to encourage puppies to use potty area
- Puppies will continue to get lots of cuddle time
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HAVE A LOOK AT OUR SIX WEEK OLD CUTIES
six weeks old
Can these puppies get any cuter?
Ellie and Brinkley’s puppies are now six weeks old. 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.
Ellie continues to wean her puppies and they are doing well eating the softened kibble puppy food. The puppies are still working on potty training. They enjoy running and chasing each other during outside play time.
the girls
the boys
Puppies First Taste of the Outdoors
Another first for our Puppies – On Monday we took them outside for the first time. The puppies spent their first few minutes slowly walking around and smelling as they went.
Tom set up fencing to enclose a large outdoor area for the puppies to explore and play. There is a tree for shade, rocks to climb, slopes for the puppies to practice walking on uneven ground and lots of room to run.
Progress being made
Potty training continues
This week we are continuing to encourage the puppies to use the potty boxes while they are in their puppy enclosure. As with each litter, some puppies are more consistent than others but all the puppies are making progress
introducing CRATES
Crate Training Begins
We start crate training by exposing puppies to the crates with the doors opened. It is important for the puppies to explore the crates on their own, choose when to enter and if they wish take a nap in them. They should think of the crate as their “safe place”. I put a blanket over the crate to make it feel safe and cozy much like a wild dog den.
On Thursday when the puppies were outside, I spent some time giving the puppy area a thorough clean, set up two crates on one side and put a Snuggle Puppy into each crate. When I brought the puppies inside after their outdoor playtime, they were curious about the new addition to the puppy area. They walked in, smell around, and some puppies even decided to take a nap in the crate.
A new toy
Puppies Play With Their New Water Bottle Toy
Saturday was raining so it wasn’t the best weather to have outdoor play. I decided the puppies needed something new to investigate. I made them a water bottle toy.
This is something that I do for all our litters. It is made from an empty water bottle and an odd sock from my sock bin. (Where do those sock matches go LOL!) I insert the water bottle into the sock and tie a knot in the end. and there you have it – A new FREE toy!
The puppies always love the water bottle toy because it makes a “crinkling sound”.
A LOOK BACK AT
THE PAST WEEK
SWEET DREAMS PUPPIES
Lots to experience
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 box
- 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 them and teaches them to behave
- As always, puppies will continue to get lots of cuddle time
- Puppies will meet their forever families
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Look At Ellie’s Adorable Five Week Old Puppies
Five Weeks Old
And So Adorable
Ellie’s puppies are now five weeks old. They have developed from the helpless newborn puppies that fit into the palm of my hand to the “mini dogs” they are today. The puppies are now awake for longer periods and enjoy playing with their toys, littermates, Nanny Maui, and cuddle time. We are seeing their personalities starting to develop.
Introducing solids to puppies begins with a “Puppy Smoothie” I grind puppy kibble in my blender to a powder and then add water that is filtered, boiled and cooled. The consistency of it is very watery at first making it easy for the puppies to lap up. With each passing day I gradually reduce the water and the food becomes thicker.
Today the puppies transitioned to softened kibble. By eight weeks of age, the puppies will have transitioned to eating dry kibble.
Ellie is a loving mama that adores her sweet babies. She has a kind gentle disposition and is very patient with her puppies. With the introduction of solids and sharp puppy teeth, some mamas would end their nursing obligation but not Ellie. She still allows the puppies to nurse a few times a day. In addition to this, Ellie will regurgitate her food to feed the puppies. (Something wild dog mothers do to feed their young)
Ellie loves to share with her puppies. Yesterday all our dogs got a treat – a prime rib bone. As this is not a regular occurrence, when each dog received their bone they trotted off in the yard to enjoy their bone in their own spot. Ellie on the other hand went to the door and wanted back into our house. When we let her in, she proceeded into the puppy area and gave her bone to the puppies to chew on which they enjoyed. Such a sweet mama!
We handle our puppies from birth, touching their ears, mouth and paws and give them lots of cuddles. We want them comfortable with the human touch. Another thing we introduce at a young age is grooming. We brush our puppies daily so they will be accustomed to this when they go to their forever homes. Brushing helps keep mats from forming and removes dirt from their coat helping keep the puppy clean.
We also trim the puppies’ nails when needed. The puppies’ nails grow quickly so it is important to trim them. This not only protects our mama’s from getting scratched while the puppies nurse, but it also gets them familiar to having the paws touched and nails trimmed.
Potty Training
✓ Lots of practice and correction
✓ Accidents ✓ Cleaning and laundry ✓Becoming more consistent
This week has been a busy one. The focus of the week has been on potty training. It always seems like a long week when we begin potty training. I put the puppies into the potty box when they wake and after they eat and hope that things will click. Some puppies are quick learners, but others take longer. It can be frustrating when you put a puppy into the potty box, but they climb back out. You put them back in and out they come again. Next thing you notice they walk away and have an accident. I wonder, will they ever get it?
Potty Training begins with the puppies in the whelping box with the potty box at the entrance. In a few days, most of my puppies “get it” so I then remove the whelping box and enlarge the puppy area.
This litter was more challenging than others. The puppies were just not catching on. I check on the puppies only to discover one, two or more puppies using it as their own personal sleeping area. How will the other puppies use it if puppies are sleeping in it? So, I decided to remove the whelping box and give them a larger puppy area. When puppies have too big of an area there’s a larger chance that they will have accidents. This was the case with this litter. It was a week of constant cleaning, laundry and, lots of correction!
Finally on Saturday I knew we were making progress. The puppies were going into the potty box on their own. We will still have accidents and some puppies will be more consistent than others but, progress is defiantly being made!
Producing gentle loving puppies
Puppy Partys
✓Building a connection with people ✓Socializing with young and old ✓Socializing with other adult dogs
It is important when raising puppies to socialize them which means introducing them to as many new experiences as possible when they are young. Some of the new things that the puppies have been introduced to this week are music, various household sounds, new toys, access to a raised dog bed, our other adult dogs, solid food, and water.
We are blessed with a large family so, when we have get-togethers, it is built-in puppy parties. Tom’s cousin was over from Finland for a visit so Saturday we had a large gathering of over 30 people for a BBQ. The puppies had lots of interaction with people both young and old. Everyone wanted to see and hold Ellie’s babies. This is great socializing for the puppies building a connection with people and in turn producing gentle puppies that will become loving companion dogs for their forever families.
Throughout the day there we many children in playing with the puppies. When the day was over, we had very tired puppies. LOL
Lots to experience
LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK SIX
- Awake time will continue to increase
- Puppies will continue learning to use potty box
- Socialize with each other through play
- Balance will continue to improve.
- Puppies will be introduced to the outdoors
- Daily Outdoor play time as weather permits
- 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.
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See How Much Our Four Week Olds Are Progressing
Four Weeks Old
Looking Back
This past week has been full of new experiences for Ellie’s puppies. They have progressed so much in that short period of time.
Over the past seven days, the puppies’ milk teeth have erupted, their awake time has increased, their hind leg have become stronger and they are much steadier on their feet. Although the puppies still sleep much of the day, when they are awake they love socializing with their littermates through play.
GOOD-BYE
to the warm quiet space that the puppies have occupied since birth.
HELLO
to the main floor, many noises of a busy household and many life lessons.
moving to main floor
On Friday the puppies made the big move. We packed them into a laundry basket and brought them to the main floor. They were very vocal and tried to climb out of the basket on the way down.
Once there, I gave the puppies the challenge of trying to get to their mama. A few puppies climbed out and I helped the rest out of the basket. Ellie reassured her babies and fed them.
The puppy area has the Whelping Box in the centre, the potty box on one side and Ellie’s elevated bed on the other.
The puppies will only have access to the Whelping Box where they play and sleep and Potty Box that they will learn to move to to void.
Potty Training Begins
The puppies are now able to void without the help of their mother, so it is important to begin potty training. Because puppies have a natural instinct to move away from their sleeping area when they need to go, I want the puppies to begin learning “where to go” before they start on solids.
For the first few days after the puppy move to the main floor, I spend my time moving the puppies to the potty area when they wake and after they eat. It is important that puppies start learning that they cannot “go” anywhere. So, we teach them “there is an acceptable place to go potty”. Teaching them this at a young age will prevent them from developing bad habits that later need to be broken. This effort on our part will benefit forever families by making housebreaking easier for them when they go to their forever homes.
The Potty Area is just outside the entrance to the whelping box. We use a plastic litter box filled with pine pellets.When the puppies were sleeping I walked by the whelping box and discovered that two puppies went to sleep in the potty box. 😂Lots of work to do before they start to “get it”.
Discover New Things
This week the puppies had playtime outside their whelping box. This exercise will help develop strong muscles. Soon they will be running around.
Puppy Party – On Thursday my Grandchildren played with the puppies. This was great socialization for the puppies to interact with young children.
Play Time – Sunday the puppies explored the new area, toys and they experienced walking on a different floor surface.
The puppies love people. Whenever we sit in their whelping box, it doesn’t take long before we have a lap full of puppies who shower me with kisses.
Weaning is beginning
Time for solids
Ellie is starting to nurse her puppies in the “Standing Position” This is the sign that she is ready to start weaning them. The puppies are ready to start eating solids.
Lots to experience
LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK FIVE
- Puppies will start eating solids
- Puppies will continue learning to use potty area
- Awake time will increase
- The puppies will continue to socialize with each other through play
- Balance will continue to improve and puppies will begin to run
- Enlarging the puppy area
- Crate introduction
- Mama will now add the invaluable teaching phase to her caring & protecting responsibilities over the next weeks.
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Happy Saturday
Puppy Life @ 2-1/2 weeks of age
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Ellie’s Puppies Turn Two Weeks Old
LOOKING BACK
Another week has passed, and Ellie’s puppies are now two weeks old. We have had a busy week caring for Ellie and her puppies! Lots to do: ENS, cleaning, weighing, collar checks to name a few. But my favourite is puppies cuddles. Ellie continues to be a loving and attentive mama. She is protective and loves to care for her babies!.
My family have been over for puppy visits and cuddles this week. The puppies are getting accustomed to different people holding them
Milestones Reached
This week, Ellie’s puppies reached a couple milestones.
Weigh-in
The first milestone reached this week was Doubling Their Birthweight. Large breed puppies usually double their birthweight between day 10 and day 14. Ellie’s reached this milestone early. Four of the puppies doubled on day eight and the other two puppies followed the next day, doubling their birthweight on day nine. With only six babies for Ellie to feed, the puppies get an abundance of milk. They are getting quite chubby.
Eyes Opened
Another milestone was reach later in the week – Eyes Opening. Puppy’s eyes open between day 10 and day 14. I look forward to this milestone from whelping day. When I got up in the morning on day 10, I started checking the puppies every few hours to see if I could see any sign that their eyes were starting to open but to my disappointment, nothing seemed to be happening. Then came Day 12 – on Saturday I could see the puppies’ eyes beginning to open. It starts in the corners of their eyes and gradually unseals over many hours. It is always so exciting to see the puppies look back at me – I think they look more “alive”!
Puppy Twitches
Puppy Twitches are a sign of a healthy puppy. Watch the video of Purple Collar Girl sleeping and notice the “Puppy Twitches”
Look At Those Beautiful Eyes
The video below shows each puppy. Look at the beautiful eyes. Five of our puppies’ eyes have opened. We are still waiting to see Purple Collar Girls beautiful eyes. They should open soon.
Puppies Getting Stronger & Becoming More Mobile
The puppies have gained strength in the hind legs and are becoming more mobile. They are moving faster and a few of the puppies have started to climb out of their whelping box. So, we have added a door panel to our whelping box entrance to keep the puppies safely contained inside their box.
Transitional Period
The first 12 weeks of a puppy’s life are incredibly important. This is an almost magical time when a breeder has the power to change the outcome of a puppy’s life by what we choose to teach them. By doing just the right things at just the right time, we can give your puppy the best start possible.
Now that the puppies’ eyes have opened they have entered the Transitional Period. Every puppy is different so “Behavioural Markers” are used to identify the beginning and end of each developmental period. These timelines are simply guidelines. The transitional period begins when the puppy’s eyes open and ends when they first startle upon hearing sounds.
LOOKING AHEAD TO WEEK THREE
- ENS exercises will continue until day 16
- Puppies will continue to eat and sleep most of their day
- Puppies will continue growing
- Sight will slowly improve
- Puppies’ ears will open and they will begin to hear.
- Puppies will practice walking on all fours, strengthening their hind legs
- Puppies will become more aware and start to interact with their litter-mates
- Puppies will start to vocalize
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Introducing Ellie and Brinkley’s Retirement Litter
Introducing Ellie and Brinkley’s Retirement Litter
D.O.B. Monday, May 15th, 2023
The Boys
The Girls
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Surprise, An Early Arrival
Ellie surprised us with a early whelp
Due Date Window
A dogs due date is an approximate date. When calculating a dogs due date , we count 63 days after mating. A dog can safely give birth between 58 and 65 days from mating. Ellie Surprised us yesterday by going into labor early on day 59.
Labor Begins
Ellie went into labor early in the morning. By noon we knew the time was close and took her to the whelping box, wrapped her tail and waited with her for the first puppy to arrive
Adorable newborn faces
Ellie delivered her first puppy at 1:05 pm and the last puppy at 3:12 pm. The total whelping time was just over two hours. Ellie had six puppies in her litter – 4 boys, and 2 girls.
Ellie looks very tired after a job well done. It is a hard job whelping and Ellie will spend the next few days sleeping and caring for her babies.
Ellie & Brinkleys 2023 litter
