Homeward Bound

With the exception of one, all of the puppies have gone to their new homes! Meet the crew (click on photos to enlarge):

Wilson, a service puppy with Paw Pals Assistance Dogs. He was a good boy on his flight to go home to his puppy raisers.

I called her Sassy for a reason! She now answers to Bobbie and will be starting her formal field training when she's a bit older. She'll be a hunting dog, but not just any kind of hunting. She will be the partner of a falconer!

Cooper now lives in Canada near his sire Chevy and will be groovin' in the Obedience ring when he is older.

Blue is still enjoying life here in Albany.

Callie is already well loved and will be learning the tricks of the trade in the field once she's a little bit older.

Duke lives in California and is learning to become a member of his new pack, complete with kiddos!

Layla just made it to her new home in Arizona. Once she gets acclimated to the heat (it's Oregon...hot right now is 55 degrees!) and grows up a little, she'll be doing her thing in Obedience and Rally.

Riley is staying here with us. He is a snuggler during down time and has a ball when out and about. He'll be starting field training lickety split!

Introducing Miss Stella! She's a bit of a chunky monkey with a very sweet personality. She's already been to the Hospice House for a visit with JJ. We are hoping she will carry on the tradition in her genes with therapy work. In the meantime, she is a ferocious hunter of dandelions and spends her times watching anything that gets her attention.

Time To Go Home!!

Life is a hardcore party around here as they approach 8 weeks.

The Oregon monsoons have returned, so play time stays indoors. These puppies will love the water, but are too young to handle being soaking wet and cold.

Plenty of time is spent with their older family members.

Play Time With The Nanny (video link)

The kitty is a source of never ending curiosity. She's good with them, but will retreat to her bat cave when the action gets a bit too boisterous!

They have learned what the "Big House" is and demand to get out and about. Oy vey!!

Exploration (video link)

At the end of the day, the pool makes an inviting sleeping area.

Stampede!

Oh boy! This group has found their ON button! Getting in and out of the puppy pen without the herd making a break for it is getting much more difficult. They are at the age they have learned how to negotiate getting over the gate. Some simply fly over it already. Yikes!

Weekly pedicures continue, though they all think I am offering myself up as their personal chew toy during this time. Bite inhibition, here we come!

They are getting around REALLY well now. 

More Adventure Box Time (Video link)

Girls

Boys

They are all party animals these days. Their photos are so serious above, don't be fooled!!

They still nurse for a hot second, but prefer their big dog food. Check out the video link of this (they sound like a herd of buffalo, if buffalo happened to hang out in a house!!):

Feeding Time (Video link)

The weather outside has been VERY wet, so they have stayed inside. New toys are being introduced and they are having a blast. They are great prizes though, and the arguments have begun over who should have the best one. Granted, the best prize changes often.

Attack The Dragon (Video link)

When in doubt, mom or the nannies make a great jungle gym, although they are becoming increasingly less tolerant about the tail and ear tug of wars.

The toddler slide has been a big hit these days.

New Slide....Woo Hoo! (Video link)

At the end of the day (or at the start, or even middle!), the theory a worn out puppy is a well behaved puppy comes true. 

Turning Into Little Dogs

The puppies are having tons of fun exploring their world. They no longer weeble-wobble, but can get around and navigate their bodies well. That is when they aren't power napping!

Life is a constant state of eating, sleeping and playing. Life is good when you are a puppy. Ottie remains very tolerant of those sharp teeth.

A tired puppy is a well behaved puppy!!! A good tip for the next several months of their lives!

And then they wake up again and it starts all over.

Bite inhibition will start at 7 weeks, but in the meantime watch your fingers!!

They are having a ball interacting with the Adventure Box:

Adventure Time (video link)

It is designed to get them comfortable with being bumped from behind and introduce them to new sounds and textures. Meanwhile, their sound de-sensitization continues, much to our dismay (I am REALLY desensitized to household, traffic, construction, weather and all of the other noises at this point!)

Potty training is going well. They know where the bathroom is and make it about 80% of the time to the right area.

They are all pretty hip on snuggle time. As their play energy winds down, they start piling onto the nearest lap. It makes an excellent time for nail trims. 

At this point, they are all used to sleeping in their crate. They are quick to separate out their sleep space, though clearly, when the urge to sleep hits, it is similar to narcolepsy.

Shhhhh....it's nice and quiet. Keep tiptoeing around the house and no loud noises please.