A family that will be getting one of the pups in this litter visited this afternoon.  We were delighted to see them engaging with the puppies.

They brought pheasant feathers to “test” the puppies on their birdiness, but quickly focused on the pups themselves.  We forgot to ask them what they’re thinking of naming their boy.  Thanks for coming!

The puppies are now big enough for visitors.  Let us know if you want to come out to see and handle them.  It’s good for the puppies’ socialization and we enjoy the visits, too.  Almost any weekend day between 1 and 5 PM works for us.  Just give us a call.  612 382-3060.  Weekdays can also work.  Biff will work those times out with you when you call.

Just one photo for tonight.  We were busy with nail clipping, some bottle feeding and changing the whelping box an extra time after someone pooped.  Life with 12 puppies is not glamorous.

I asked Biff the other night if he’d read these blog entries.  I loved his response.  “Read the blog?!  I’m living the blog!”

The temperatures are well below zero outside but it’s toasty warm inside.  The puppies continue to pile on each other when they’re sleeping.  Number Two (below) was awake when I got home and I sat with him in my lap for quite a while, as I worked on my computer.  Puppy snuggling is a positive life force and we’re drinking it in while the pups are with us.  (They turn four weeks old tomorrow afternoon and we have only four more weeks with them.)

All twelve of the puppies had their first laps of soupy dog food for dinner tonight.  Biff ground up some dry dog food (Red Paw) in the food processor and mixed it with some concentrated goat’s milk.  It only took a little finger feeding to get their tongues going and they all lapped food off a tablespoon.

We’ve spent more and more time just holding the puppies.  They clamor for our attention from time to time, seeming to ask to be held.  We scoop them into our laps and they settle in, sometimes falling asleep.  They’re also wrestling with each other much more and it’s no longer the slow-motion interaction it was just a few days ago.  I even heard a little growl today.

Check out these images taken this evening.  Many are blurred ’cause they’re in motion.  The puppies can now nurse from Finley while she’s standing.  Their movements are so much more coordinated than they were just a few days ago.

Racing to get to Finley when she enters their space.

Biff has gone into Minneapolis today after four days of being home ’round the clock while I was out of town, a much deserved get-away for him.  I’m re-connecting with the pulse of the puppies’ routine – sleeping, eating, peeing, playing with each other and then sleeping again.

I’m finding it difficult to avoid writing into every post, “Oh my gosh!  They’re so sweet.  I can hardly stand it!”  So I’ll just post some of the photos that I’ve shot this morning.

snuggled in with Finley

snuggling near the edge of the whelping pen

morning lap time

drowsy

While all the pups were napping I took a walk in the snowy 10 degree (F) back yard with Chev and Finley.  We flushed a big rooster pheasant just a few feet on the other side of our fence line.  He surprised us as much as we probably surprised him.  I wasn’t quick enough to catch a photo of him.

Winter’s arrived and there is no better dog for freezing temperatures than a Griff.  Chev and Finley have been out multiple times today on their own, coming back dusted with snow each time.

I was away from Wednesday morning through this (Saturday) evening and the puppies changed in just a few days!  Their facial furnishings are beginning and they’re walking around and engaging with each other much more.

Biff added the second section of “pen” this afternoon.  It’s lined with newspapers and topped with a light fleece blanket (for foot traction) and is the place we’re encouraging the puppies to do their peeing and pooping.  This is the first step in the long process of housebreaking, getting them used to keeping their space clean and “doing their business” elsewhere.  They’re all doing pretty well getting over the ridge between the two spaces.

We had some younger visitors late this afternoon and the puppies warmed up to them immediately.  Was it Charles Schulz who wrote, “Happiness is a warm puppy”?  We’re finding ourselves holding them more and more, and they seem to be seeking the attention.

I captured this shot this afternoon while everyone was asleep.  It seems they all sleep at the same time and they all wake up at the same time.  Unfortunately, they all pee at the same time, too, making it hard for Finley and us to catch all the urine before it hits the ground.  Thankfully, the whelping pen came with three washable/interchangeable rug mats.

I have to be out of town for a few days and we may not be posting ’til Saturday.  Not to worry if you don’t see anything here ’til Sunday.  We’ll be back.

The puppies’ nails were ready for another touch-up and we worked our way through all twelve of them, nipping the little hooks off those sharp nails.  Their  coats are changing by the day.  Compare today’s paw shot to the one photographed about a week ago (below).

And here’s one sweet puppy face taken during “spa” time.