Overnight (16th -> 17th) we started night time crate training.  Instead of sleeping in their puppy pen together, they were moved to their individual crates at 12 MN.  I'm using wire crates this time instead of the vari-kennels both for crate training in the house and in the car, it seems to be working much better.  As for their night time training, they slept well for about 5 hours after about a 15 minute complaint (I think it was mostly Phuture as she roots around under the crate pad on the crate pan - a very distinctive noise: toe nails on crate pan). 

Today (17th) the pups are 9 weeks old.  They are definitely more verbal to each other and to me.  Phlirt continues their biting inhibition training and submission training.  She has also begun to train them not to run from her.  All important things for little ones to learn.

Yesterday (16th) we started some leash work.  They both are just starting but our little baby walks out front of the house morning and night are going very well.

The pups are also learning that they only get petted if 4 feet are on the ground.  It's a tough lesson to learn but they are starting to get it.

We went straight racing today in Pennsville, NJ which is about 1 hour from my house.  I took Phoenix, Phoebe, Phuture and Phelix.  The pups complained for the first 1/2 hour of the trip and then they settled down.  Once to the field, I set up the x-pen and the pups met grass for the first time.  They LOVED it and they pottied on the grass as if they knew.  They had a wonderful time and were cooed over and loved by many of the race exhibitors.  They even had the opportunity to play with a 9 week old basenji, Tutu.  On the trip home, the pups complained just for a little bit and then slept almost the rest of the way.   It was an absolutely gorgeous day - 60 degrees, warm and sunny - a wonderful taste of Spring.

Oops, forgot to mention that the puppies are 2 months old today.

The pups went for their second car ride to Dr. Allum's office (my vet).  They did better on their second ride in the car.  Both pups were very well behaved at the vets.  They got weighed - both are 15 pounds 9 ounces.  They got their first set of shots which included distemper, adenovirus, parainflluenza and parvo.  My vet doesn't give coronavirus or leptospirosis.  Neither pup seemed to notice when they got their shot.  Both got loved by the Dr and staff.  It was a great first visit.  Oh, almost forgot.....both of Phelix's testicles made an appearance during the exam. 

Puppies went for their first car ride around town.  They both handled it very well but Phelix seemed to be more relaxed than Phuture.  In addition to the first ride in the car, the pups got to interact with the older pups, mainly Phoenix.  Phoenix got kisses from the little ones -- it was very cute.

Weights today after they ate their cornish hens ----> both were over 15 pounds.  WOW!!!

Puppies have graduated to cornish hens.  The LOVE them.  Phlirt who always gets the leftovers of what the puppies don't eat was very disappointed with her kids that they left her very little of the cornish hens they were eating.  She even told them so, but they ignored her - typical kids.  The pups slept very well with their full bellies.  I was going to do a car ride today, but the weather was terrible - rain and very high winds.  It was better to stay home.

Tonight we had more company.  A good friend, Sandy, and her daughters Rachel and Lillian came to visit.  Everyone had a wonderful time.  This was the puppies first exposure to kids and they handled it phabulously.  The puppies loved playing with Rachel and Lillian and I believe the opposite was true too. 

  

 

The pups have graduated from chicken wings to chicken quarters.  The pups have also conquered the plastic bottle and now it's a wonderful toy.  Phelix was a bit more cautious of the bottle than Phuture, but now it's a wonderful noisy teething toy-much better than MY TOES.

The pups are 7 weeks old today.  Wow!!  This morning was the 1^st morning they actually finished all of their puppy food from their own bowl.  They are now getting - hormone/antibiotic free raw red meat (either buffalo or beef) mixed with less and less cottage cheese.  Also added is some homemade vegie/meat mixture that the older dogs eat, a bit of beef tripe, ester-c 1000mg, a bit of Missing Link and a splash of goat's milk.  Yummy.

Today was the pups 7 week evaluations (1 day early).  Phelix's new Mom, Emily, came from Gettysburg, PA and got to spend several hours lovin' her boy.  This was her first time meeting her boy, Phelix, and it was definitely love at first sight.  The pups were very active while Emily was here, playing, being held, eating their chicken wing meal, playing, being  held, playing, being held.  They had a great time and so did Emily and I.  We did get a few stacked shots.  They had several other visitors today- my good friend and dog sitter Michele and her Mom and Dad came over.  The pups were held and passed around and enjoyed every minute of it.

They also got a few more toys today - not the usual, but for some added brain stimulation.  A large brown bag was one of them with the smell of chicken parmigiana in it (Emily and my lunch from the local Italian deli).  I also put one of their favorite toys in the bag.  They were cautious at first, but eventually their favorite toy was rescued and the brown bag was shredded as all good paper must be.  The second "new" toy was an empty plastic bottle.  They have yet to destroy it and Phelix was enjoying barking at it and bouncing at it for a good 30 minutes last night.

Before Emily left we weighed the kids.  Phuture was 12 pounds 10 ounces and Phelix was 12 pounds 4 ounces.

The pups have definitely gained a lot of agility during this week.  They are jumping up and into their puppy pen with the greatest of ease as opposed to the step up they were doing last week.  They are also better with their balance as they now jump down from the puppy pen onto the kitchen floor and maintain their balance and just keep on going. 

Amazingly they are still content to sleep in their whelping/weaning bin which is only 20 inches tall.  Momma Phlirt has free access to them during the night and she goes in when they are awake and allows them to nurse as needed or she continues their training.  The pups love to chew on her and she tolerates their play for quite some time before she reminds them that biting hurts.

Potty training is going well. They are really doing well on the newspaper.  I am hoping as the weather gets a bit warmer, that I can begin to start outside potty training.

Feb 25, 2008

Today the pups are 6 weeks old.  Wow has the time gone fast.

Phelix has one ear up and the other one is half way up.  Phuture's ears are starting to move toward going up - the base has more substance and the ears have turned out like a whippet's ears.  The pups are definitely gaining in their agility.  They run around the pen with better balance and speed.  I can spend hours just watching them.

Tonight was more crate training as I had to go to my training club for a meeting.  The pups were in their crates for 3.5 hours and I came home to quiet puppies with clean crates.  Yahoo!!!

Feb 23, 2008

Today the babies let me sleep to 8am.  The older dogs too.  WOW!!  I can't remember the last time I slept till 8am.  The pups had company today - a good friend of mine, Michelle.  She loved them and brought them stuffed fleece bunnies which are very cute.  They in return nibbled and chewed on her and cuddled in her arms. 

They are really enjoying the puppy pen that is set up in the kitchen.  It has lots of room for them to run around in. They have lots of toys and are happy, happy puppies.

Today Phelix weighed 9 pounds 15 ounces and Phuture weighed 10 pounds 8 ounces.  She's quite the little porker.  I took their stool in for a worm check and sure enough, round worms, so they each got a dose of dewormer this afternoon.

Tonight was their start of crate training.  They ate, then pottied then played and as they began to settle down and search for a spot to nap, I put each one in their own crate with their favorite toy - Phelix with his puppy and Phuture with her ferret.  I turned off the lights and set the stove timer for 1 hour.  After 20 minutes of voicing their displeasure, all is quiet and they are sleeping.

Feb 22, 2008

Well the kids have progressed quickly to chicken wings from chicken necks and they LOVE them.  They seem to think that the wing that the other pup has is much better than the one they have.  They swap them back and forth many, many times.  They are enjoying the space of the puppy pen now and only sleep in the weaning bin in the puppy room at night.  We are soon to start crate training, probably this weekend.

http://photoshow.comcast.net/watch/vd4Di3vJ      Watch them eating their chicken wings.

Feb 21, 2008

http://photoshow.comcast.net/watch/pd6fd7eU     -   I hope this works.

I've got the puppy pen finally set up.  The pups are still in the whelping box/weaning box, but they are now able to stand with their head above the 20 inch top.  I expect they will be trying to escape soon.  They have done very well with this new whelping/weaning box set-up and would highly recommend this to anyone.  You can see more about it at http://www.xocom.com/fr/index.htm   At this point they are using one side for their bathroom and one side for their sleeping.  It's working phabulously.  Soon they will be graduating to the ex-pen/puppy pen set-up in my kitchen and then crates while I am at work (1/2 days still).  They will stay in this set-up until Phelix leaves for his new home with Emily.

They are getting very mobile - running, jumping.  They still tend to misjudge and are still falling/tumbling, running into walls, running into each other.  They are play fighting with each other and their mother.  Their bite inhibition training continues.  As for their weights: Phelix is 9.5 pounds and Phuture is 10 pounds.  Below are some photos of the kids

         

         

         

Feb 17, 2008

Sorry everyone, I've gotten a little behind.  Today was my breed clubs all-breed match.  We had 180 entries which was great.  After 4 hours I went home to check on the angels and I found little devils in the bin.  They had pooped in the pen and had "fingerpainted" on EVERYTHING - themselves, walls, toys, all mats, crate.  I'm not sure anything was missed.  What a MESS!!!  I didn't take any pictures, though I should have.  They are now getting chicken necks in the afternoon and are very pleased with them.  They carry them around in their mouths like cigars.  They are trying to pull the meat of them and are gnawing on them.  After they are done with them, Momma Phlirt loves to go in and "clean" up after them - no sense letting some perfectly good gnawed on necks go to waste.  :-)

Feb 14, 2008

Puppies celebrated their 1 month birthday today on Valentine's day with a short trip outside.  It was a beautiful clear day.  This was their first time outside and both just took it all in.  We weren't outside long due to the temperature, but they got to see the big outside world and their noses were going sniffing, sniffing, sniffing. Both are now able to stand against the wall of the whelping bin and get their nose just above the lip of the bin.  They are very interested in getting out.  Phelix weighed 7 pounds 13 ounces tonight and Phuture weighed 8 pounds 2 ounces.

Feb 13, 2008

Today Phuture is 7 pound 14 ounces and Phelix is 7 pounds 11 ounces.  They just ate, so numbers are little higher than expected.  They are using the weaning bin as their bathroom area and the attached whelping bin as their play and sleep area.  They are starting to run a bit which is sooooo cute.

Feb 12, 2008

The pups are almost 1 month old.  They are so damn cute!!!  Phuture is now standing on her rear feet and reaching up to the top of the whelping box (20 inches).  They will be moving to the kitchen and the x-pen / puppy-pen probably on Friday evening.  They are interacting with their toys and environment more and more.  They are doing very well with their toe nail clippings which is very exciting.  I don't remember any of the puppies from the 1st litter being nearly as easy.  Phelix is 7 pounds 4 ounces today and Phuture is 7 pounds 5 ounces today.

Feb 10, 2008

The pups are both 6 points 11 ounces today.  They are enjoying their puppy gruel immensely.  I introduced a doorless crate into their bin today for the beginning of their crate training.  Their teeth are very sharp and every now and then they get me just right and OUCH!!  They are also testing their teeth on each other and every now and then I hear a yip so the bite inhibition training continues. 

Feb 9, 2008

The pups are both 6 pounds 4 ounces today.  Their mobility improves daily and they are beginning to run a bit which is very cute.  Introduced buffalo meat into the puppy gruel and they LOVED it.  They are tolerating their meals very well.  They are starting to move to the other box for their bathroom.

Feb 7, 2008

The pups are 25 days old today.  Phelix has surpassed Phuture in the weight department for the first time.  He was 5 pounds 13 ounces and she was 5 pounds 11 ounces this morning.  They are both walking very well, sometimes a few missed steps which cause them to stumble and fall.  They are now trying to move faster and are experimenting with reverse.  Both seem to prefer the weaning bin to the whelping bin, not sure why.  More teeth are definitely coming in.  They are getting bite inhibition training from their Momma and seem to have learned very quickly that the meal ends when you bite.  Their personalities are really starting to shine.  They both run to meet me when I call them with their tails wagging.  The one that doesn’t get picked up first is very jealous of the one that does and lets it be known.  Both love to kiss and then proceed to nibble on my chin, nose and earlobes.  They seem to be a bit more careful in biting down to hard --- good job Momma Phlirt!!!   Phuture seems a bit more adventurous than Phelix right now.  She inspects new items added to the box – toys, blankets, etc.  He’s a bit more cautious or perhaps just a bit more laid back and doesn’t care.

The pups had their first puppy gruel tonight – goats milk, cottage cheese, slippery elm and vit c in a pie pan.  They were baffled at first, although I’m sure it smelled enticing.  They licked the lip of the pan and when they realized what it was they jumped right in (literally).  They sneezed a bit as they tried to figure out how to judge the depth of the milky mixture and went too far and submerged their noses.  They enjoyed it thoroughly.  What they didn’t finish, Momma Phlirt gladly helped with.  She then cleaned them up as they were wearing it on the heads, sides and feet.

       

Pups are doing great.  Phuture has discovered the weaning pen (which is connected to the whelping pen).  There is a 6.5 inch divider she has to "climb" over.  It is no longer an obstacle for her.  LOL.  Phelix on the other hand, hasn't shown great interest in climbing over.  His main focus is boobs and they come to him in the whelping box, so his philosophy seems to be "why leave".   Both are more steady on their feet with each passing day.  Paws are being used to swat each other even while maintaining their balance so they don't fall over.  They are also testing their teeth out on Momma Phlirt and she is disciplining them NOT to bite.  She is such a good Momma!!  Each pup is becoming more snugly, but yet more independent too.  When their bellies are full, they are content to lay on their back in my arms and get belly and toe rubs. Phuture is 5 pounds 4 ounces and Phelix is 5 pounds 1 ounce today.

Pups are almost 3 weeks old and oh so cute!!!!  They are more and more mobile and really interactive now.  Phelix was 4 pounds 11 ounces today and Phuture was 4 pounds 14 ounces.  They are growing so fast.  Yesterday I felt the first teeth coming in - tiny little sharp daggers.  I took a few pictures today.  Phuture is on the left and Phelix (in green) in on the right.  I am still learning the camera and how to download the pictures.

         

        

Pups are now 2.5 weeks old.  Phuture weighed 4 pounds 2 ounces and Phelix weighed 3 pounds 15 ounces. They are now demanding to be fed by their Momma Phlirt.  They are even trying to reach up to nurse when she is standing, but they aren't steady enough or tall enough and roll over.  What frustration!!! 

Pups are now 15 days old and they are beginning to act like puppies.  Newest behaviors for today - play growling and really good walking around the whelping box.  The pups eyes are open so they now move with real purpose - moving toward me or Momma Phlirt or just exploring the box.  They are beginning to play with each other.  They are neck biting or should I say neck gumming each other because they have no teeth.  They do try and shake each other with their play growling.  I found it amazing even in sleep several days ago that they would shake their head as if they were killing prey.  This behavior is definitely hard-wired into their genetic makeup which is very interesting.  The pups are now trying to climb out of the whelping box.  Today I hooked the weaning box to the whelping box, so they now have 2 areas 48 x 48 to move around in.  I am hoping the weaning bin becomes more of a potty area and the whelping box stays their sleeping are, but we'll see what they decide to do.  Both bins have 20 inch walls, so they are contained for now.  They also have begun to potty on their own, although Momma Phlirt still cleans them a lot.  They enjoy their snoopy dog in the box.  It has become part of their small puppy pile.  They climb on snoopy and drape themselves over him.  It's very cute.  They are also wagging their tail more and more.

Pups are 13 days old.  This morning Phuture is 3 pounds 5 ounces and Phelix is 3 pounds 3 ounces.  Their eyes are definitely opening.  She has both eyes about 1/2 open and his are just starting to have slits.  I expect by tomorrow or the next day their eyes will be open.  They are more and more responsive to voice. Nails were tipped again, trying to do nails twice a week, hoping to desensitize these guys into having nails done easier than 1st litter.  With the first litter I followed the instructions of once per week spelled out in Holst's "Canine Reproduction" and 4 of the 7 aren't wild about having their nails done without a fuss.  So I'm trying something new.

Pups are 12 days old now and Phuture is 3 pound and Phelix is 2 pounds 13 ounces.  They are becoming more and more mobile.  Phelix even found the opening to the whelping box and was putting his head out and trying to get his body to follow - unsuccessfully however.  The whelping box now has it's door closed and Phlirt has to jump into the box.  The pups are also becoming more reactive with vocalizations (even some barking - way too cute) and tail wagging.   Phlirt is ever vigilant of her new pups but is definitely much more relaxed with this litter.  Is this due to the litter only having 2 pups or is it due to her experience?  Not sure, probably both.  The other dogs in the house (except Sassy) remain very curious as to what's in the puppy room.  They've seen the puppies and they know Phlirt is very protective of them.  I look forward to the interactions with Phoebe, Phaith and Phoenix.

Pups are 10 days old now and close to 2.5 pounds.  Thy had their nails clipped again today.  The boy is walking a bit better than the girl - a few steps, then a stumble or roll.  They seem to be more active between 8-11pm and then settle in for the night.  Phlirt is watching over them closely, but sleeps with me on the couch-bed which is set up next to the whelping box.  It seems the moment they start squeaking, she goes and checks on them and if need be feeds them.

The pups are now 1 week old today and growing like wild.  The girl, Phuture is 2 pounds today.  The boy, Phelix, is 1 pound 13 ounces.  They are very active around the whelping box. They got their nails clipped today - he was much more cooperative than her.  Their ears are starting to open.  I notice they are moving toward sound now.

The pups are 5 days old today.  The girl, Phuture, weighed 25 ounces today and the boy weighed 22 ounces.  They are both extremely content.  Momma Phlirt is even taking short breaks from the box.

Phlirt has stopped searching for Phlower and seems to be settling down into a routine with her new little family. It appears that these puppies are burrowers like their Mom.  They are climbers too.

Phlower, the littlest girl, crossed Rainbow bridge this evening.  She will be cared for by her Uncle Phantom but greatly missed here.  She fought as hard as she could to stay with us but it just wasn't meant to be.  Phlirt kept her close in the end as opposed to pushing her away.  A necropsy is being done.

Puppies were born at 8am today via cesarean section - 2 girls and 1 boy.  The boy weighed 12 ounces and the girls weighed 14 ounces and 9 ounces.