We have been extremely busy over the past week, getting out and about and meeting so many people! They went into school – boys on Thursday and girls on Friday. As you can see it was the staff who were most thrilled to see them, although the children also loved having cuddles with everyone. The pups were so good and Busy was her usual astonishingly calm self; she is a magical girl.On Monday we went to our local vet’s for chips. Once again, cuddling was required. They were very brave. On Wednesday we went off to the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket for hearing checks. They didn’t like the room being hot, but we got it done.Then today we have been to Davies Veterinary Specialists to have all their beautiful eyes checked, to ensure they have healthy eyes. They have five blue eyes, five brown eyes and two that look green at the moment! So now I have done everything I can to ensure that I am sending off healthy puppies.Then it’s back home for more playing! They are very fierce.
Mainly though, they love a cuddle.
Robbie saying helloOunce’s ears are already coming upcheeky PixieLaid back Lenny
And I saw a bit of magic today – Busy starting to play with Pixie. It is so nice to see her engaging with them, not just feeding them. Six weeks old already – not much longer before they start heading off.
The Rainbow litter are definitely starting to show who they really are now! There is so much more playing, jumping and generally being busy (!) about the place. Tails are good for chewing..
There was one little plant in their run – clearly that shouldn’t be there! Thanks Lenny for sorting that out for me.They are looking at their cutest, fluffiest now! But it’s deceptive, you never know what is being plotted..
They have so many toys to play with, but best of all is a flowerpot! It is so much fun, to chew, to chase, to bite.
I think this litter is the most ‘lupine’ of all I’ve had, as Busy likes to feed them standing up, with them all hanging off her, sucking away happily. Looks a bit painful, but she doesn’t seem to mind and at least they all fit.
Next week we shall be very busy, getting chips and going to have hearing and eyes tested. They will have a chance to become familiar with going in the car and going off to different places. More cuddles! It’s such a hard life, isn’t it?Couldn’t you just eat them? You’ll have to hurry though, before they eat you! And go off to become big dogs.
Puppies love to play! The Rainbow litter are now spending all day outside and having so much fun. I put up an awning yesterday as it was so hot and they have a little pool to splash in (OK it’s a cat litter tray but I don’t think they’ve noticed).
Tasty ear
They are really trying out their teeth on different things now; each other, their mum, my leg, my toe, my fingers…
They are also demonstrating the start of a whole range of dog behaviours, as they learn to interact with each other and the people who come to see them.
And we have already had a few children visiting for lovely cuddling. My puppies see plenty of children while they are here, so they are really familiar with being handled by a range of different people.
Lovely photobombing by Chester
We’re halfway through our time with this litter already! They will soon be gone, so if you fancy a cuddle, please get in touch to book in?
Phew! It’s been a hectic few days, but as always I have been extremely fortunate to find some really lovely people who are thrilled to be having a puppy.It was definitely love at first sight for some people.It is so rewarding to see that special relationship starting, knowing that there will be many years of fun to come.Of course family and friends are continuing to visit, making sure that they are cuddled and adored, every day.Meanwhile, they are starting to be outside a bit more and gradually learning to cope with a bigger environment. It can be a bit overwhelming, but the puppies are starting to play and to stay awake for longer periods between meals. Although it is still hard work, all this growing.
Visitors are queuing up and I’m already ‘fully booked’ on some days, so please let me know if you plan to visit? (Family and friends only I’m afraid.)
These puppies are certainly getting stuck in! Can’t believe they are three weeks old already. I weighed them earlier and there is now a clear distinction between the big fatty boys and the dainty <ahem> girls; they weigh around 1.5kgs now.
a lapful of puppies
On Monday I set up the outside area for them, where they have plenty of space to run around safely. We sat out there enjoying cuddles and Busy gave the puppies a bit of a picnic. Then it started raining…
picnics are great
Never mind, I expect they will spend most of the next five weeks out there.Meanwhile they are eating, sleeping and playing indoors..
Can you see my teeth?give me a high fivewhat are you looking at?
We are looking forward to meeting some potential homes this weekend (who are beyond excited). It is an unbelievable challenge, matching homes to puppies, but we get there in the end. I have spent the last three weeks getting to know them and have already formed some views about what they are like. Some are like their mum, some might be more like dad. All love cuddles.
Until yesterday I was reluctant to do another pupdate, as I just had hundreds more photos of (very sweet) slugs/guinea pigs. But they are already up on their feet, strolling, albeit drunkenly, around their bed and small run. Incredibly, they get up and move onto the newspaper to toilet before returning to their bed; their eyes weren’t even open when they began to do this!
They still spend nearly all their time asleep of course, and don’t really care where they are.Yesterday they were two weeks old and right on cue, two or three began to open their eyes. It takes a few days for all their eyes to be fully open, but then they really get going.
I have also introduced them to some puppy food today, as they are sucking the life out of Busy. She is eating four or five large, high protein meals per day, but is still back to her skinny self. Clearly having six babies is the way to shift the baby weight!It’s a hard life being a puppy!
Finally, for today, if you have a moment, please go over to my ‘work’ website Independent Inspiration and see what else I spend my time doing?
Sox is the daddy – isn’t he gorgeous? He called in yesterday for a visit, with his mum, Nicole. There is no doubt about it, Sox and Busy make a lovely couple.
We haven’t had many visitors so far, but those who have been have been pretty smitten.
How can something so small fill your heart so completely? Busy started thinking about having her pups on Wednesday 7th June and they finally started arriving at 8pm on Thursday 8th June. The last one arrived just before midnight. All safe and sound, pretty straightforward in the end. It’s my 7th litter, so I should be an old hand, but somehow it is still nerve-racking – a great deal can go wrong.
Just to remind you, I mated her with Goytre Chapter in Blue (Sox). His grandad was Luna’s dad, so he is related to that side of my girls, but not at all to Busy. Sox is blue and white, so according to the collie database, the possible coats were likely to be:
Black and white 69%
Red or chocolate and white 23%
Blue and white 3%
Lilac and white 1%
Red or chocolate tricolour 1%
First to arrive was this little girl
Beautifully marked and a lovely dark chocolate, just like her mum. Next came this sweetie-pie, another girl, but black and white. You can see she’s not much bigger than my hand.
Then came the blue and white boy, just like his dad, Sox. Then an extremely smart black and white boy, a real showman. And another black and white boy (or quite possibly a tri-colour, bit early to tell). He’s a bit of a character.
Then finally (but by no means least) out popped this little girl.
She’s a lilac and white, which are pretty rare. Also beautifully marked. I have waited many years to have a ‘purple puppy’ because purple is my favourite colour! So she is already pretty special. I can’t wait to get to know her better and see how she turns out. Meanwhile, look at those toes!
So the predictions were pretty good and I got my rainbow litter!
Now the fun begins! Sorting out the homes – I have plenty already. And thinking of their kennel names – I’m thinking song titles with colours in the titles; suggestions please?
Visitors will be an essential part of their development, as always. Children welcome from 1st July, close friends and family this week, then adults after that. The last litter met around 100 different people, with 150 visitors in total – can we beat that figure this time? I hope so.
I leave you with one more photo – they were tiddlers when they arrived, but not for long…
I went to see one of the pups from the last litter this week – gorgeous! I am absolutely delighted with how she is turning out; beautiful conformation, lovely dark chocolate coat, and most importantly, really super temperament. It was remarkable how like her mother she was – same shaped head, same naughty spots on her head and same general demeanour. She came and gently licked around the bottom of my chin, which is exactly what her mum does. Funny isn’t it?
I spent some of the time there inevitably sharing stories about all the mischief pups get up to and talking about management strategies. Her family have obviously worked hard with her and she is an absolute credit to them. But I was struck by their lack of experience, as she is the first dog they have had. I remembered the challenges I had faced with my first puppy, Buzz, even though I had grown up with collies and taken on an 8 year-old from my mum a few years earlier.
One of the things I noticed was that the pup was being grabbed and taken to places, including into her crate. This has made me think – should we use a carrot or a stick with our dogs (or children). Do we want to make them do what we want, threatening punishment for failure to comply? Or do we entice them to do it with a reward?
Enticing is hard. Dogs do like carrot, or dog treats, or exciting, squeaky toys. But sometimes whatever they are already doing is much more interesting. It definitely takes practice to enable you to get a good, quick response to an instruction, rather than a disinterested sniff and a turned back.
Be rewarding! There are four keys types of praise to use:
verbal praise
physical praise ie petting, stroking
food
play with toy
And as always, with dogs (and children) be patient!
