As They Grow

Weeks 6

The learning and adventures continue! They started experiencing water in the kiddie pool this week, along with more time to play in the yard. They began learning to sit and are responding within minutes!! Its a whole new world with treats! We will start to exchange treats when picking them up, trading for prized toys, nail clipping, etc. to train them to see these potentially challenging moments as something to look forward to rather than get upset by. I encourage families to continue this exchange when they go home. Have treats on hand to give them when you take a bone, touch their food bowl, put them in their crate, pick them up when they're into something, etc. This quick exchange takes seconds but will make a huge difference as they grow older! Treats can be simple... some ideas from Puppy Culture include diced cheese or deli meat, kibble, store-prepared meatballs, baby food pouches, string cheese... just make sure it's something they LOVE! :)

Boots (boy)

Rodeo (boy)

Dolly (girl)

Dandelion (girl)

Dixie (girl)

Saddle (girl)

Lasso (boy)

Prairie (girl)

Meadow (girl)

Wrangler (boy)

Dixie

Five weeks old!

The puppies are five weeks old today! Some new experiences from this week include grass, first bath, playtime on the deck, and visits from friends. They are doing great learning to potty in one area and are enjoying their bigger play space now that they're weaning!! They will begin brief training sessions learning to sit and wait patiently to be pet. Baxter and Bella calls it "sit to say please!" They are smart and catch on quickly!

Rodeo

Boots

Saddle

Dolly

Dandelion

Lasso

Prairie

Wrangler

Meadow

Week 4

Four weeks old already! Half way to going home with their families, how exciting. This week brought lots of change! They started on puppy food soaked in warm puppy milk while still nursing, which they have taken to really well. They have outgrown their whelping box (they were literally climbing overboard!), so they have transitioned into the weaning pen. It has a potty area, play area, and sleeping area. They love the extra play and exercise space. Puppy Culture says exercise at this age literally grows their brain! We love watching them romp around and play with each other or sleep all piled up on top of each other. :) Each day we can see them growing more affectionate, curious, and playful. It is such a treat watching them grow up!

Boots (boy)

Lasso (boy)

Prairie (girl)

Meadow (girl)

Dixie (girl)

Wrangler (boy)

Dandelion (girl)

Rodeo (boy)

Saddle (girl)

Dolly (girl)

Week 3

What a change we see this week!! The puppies are toddling around and rolling on top of each other! Their eyes are wide open, and they are starting to be more aware of their surroundings. It is so fun to see them grow and develop each day. This week will bring many more developmental changes... with getting a bed and starting to practice with a designated potty area in their whelping box, beginning to eat food, and now able to hear sounds. Following Puppy Culture recommendations, the puppies each get plenty of individual cuddle time each day, they are introduced to something new each day, and beginning this week, they will hear a new sound each day. Vacuum cleaners, blow dryers, and even classical music! And of course, lots of quiet time for long naps too.

(boy)

(girl)

Week 2

These beautiful babies are growing so fast! The goal is to double their weight in ten days, and they all doubled it in seven days! They have just started toddling around and opening their eyes.

This week we have continued Early Neurological Stimulation each day. ENS is a brief session with each puppy on days 3-16 that introduces mild stresses in a controlled way. Research shows that five benefits have been observed in puppies that were exposed to ENS, including improved cardiovascular performance (heart rate); stronger heart beats; stronger adrenal glands; more tolerance to stress; and greater resistance to disease. The simple steps include holding the puppy's head up, puppy's head down, puppy on his back, puppy's belly on a cool towel, and stimulation on the paw with a cotton swab, all for five seconds each. It is a brief exercise, but research shows can really help give a strong start for these sweet puppies!

(girl)

(boy)

(girl)

(boy)

(girl)

(boy)

(girl)

Week 1

The puppies are one week old!! They are growing beautifully; its amazing to me how quickly they fill out. They eat and sleep, eat and sleep, eat and sleep. :) They cannot hear or see anything yet, but they can smell mama and find food in no time! It is obvious that Ollie LOVES to be a mama- she is with them constantly and tenderly takes care of them around the clock.

The children enjoy picking a litter theme to nickname the puppies by until they go home with their families. This litter is nicknamed with a Western theme. See their names below. Can't wait to watch them grow up!