As They Grow

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!