Today’s playtime (outside their fenced area) included playing with Xupe and exploring the kiddy pool (only partially filled with water.)  Truth be told, the puppies would be sufficiently entertained if we just let them play with the flowers in the garden and explore the dirt.

And then after all the running, exploring, chewing and wrestling, they wind down.  That perhaps is the sweetest time of all.

The puppies really need chew toys as their desire to bite and chew is increasing with the growth of their teeth.  Biff has regularly brought home new toys for them.  This latest batch has been popular.  Chew away, puppies!

What are these three (above) all after?  It’s a “ball bone” (below), a really durable toy that can unscrew on both ends and can have rawhide-like rings added for extra interest.

Biff expanded the fenced grassy area yesterday, doubling their enclosed running space, but they LOVE getting outside the fence to race around the perennial bed, jump on tree trunks and explore the kiddy pool.  More photos later.  (I was in the cities most of yesterday and didn’t get many photos.)

The puppies have been napping blissfully al fresco the last few days and today’s weather was perfect for it –  breezy, sunny and not too hot.  Friends came by and experienced the bliss of holding a sleeping puppy.  I’m convinced that endorphines are released in humans that hold sleeping puppies.  It’s very calming.

More than one person has commented, “They are so stinkin’ cute.”  And we agree. Although “cute” is a word I seriously avoid as a teacher (don’t get me started on the many reasons why), I catch myself thinking it about these puppies many times each day.

There are many other words that also describe them, including adventurous, curious, rambunctious, noisy, messy, snuggly, snoozy, lovable and energetic.

Boy, can they run now!  They race around in the grass, through the garden and around trees.  They’re all responding to our calls and it’s easy to get them to chase us and “come” when we call them in an enticing voice or clap hands to get their attention.

These shots were from this evening after dinner.

The puppy toys we’ve so carefully selected get chewed on and carried around a good bit, but nothing has more play value than the the simplest things – a feather, a branch of rustling leaves and especially the core of a roll of paper towels.  One piece of cardboard can last an hour before it’s beginning to come apart and then we throw it away.

We welcomed two more puppy families today who checked out the litter at a day shy of being 6 weeks old.  The puppies are darn charming at this age – romping in the grass like little bunny rabbits and wrestling with each other.

We’ve noticed they are exhausted after visits, zonking out for naps.  I hope they get good sleeps tonight as we’re expecting more visitors tomorrow!

We’re transitioning the puppies in a few new ways this week.

Biff put out an empty crate for them to explore, to get them familiar with an enclosed space, even though the door remains open as they go in and out.  Crates are supposed to be safe and happy places for puppies to sleep and chew on toys, not confining spaces where they are put for correction.  We have some helpful tips on “crate training” puppies that we’ll provide to the puppy families.  It’s part of successful and sane potty training.

The other transition we’re making is adding less liquid to their dog food so that, by the time they leave here in a couple of weeks, they’ll be eating slightly moistened food and drinking water from a dish.  They’re already doing great drinking water from a dish, although they sometimes play with it, too.  Their food is now morsels softened with more water than puppy formula.  Reine nurses just a few times each day.

They already look and behave like puppies who will do well with their new families.  They seek us out for attention and all of them love cuddling as well as romping around in the yard, following their noses and checking out every leaf and twig.

One of the puppy helpers arrived this morning as I was snapping a few early morning photos.  Number Twelve (who may have been the only one not napping after breakfast) seemed to notice the arrival of Ben’s vehicle.  The puppy looked and watched as Ben and his mom got out of the car and walked up to the kennel.

This awareness, which was well beyond the puppy’s immediate circumstance, struck me as a big deal because it was a hefty physical distance to the arriving vehicle and Number Twelve’s attention held as he watched them approach.  He was snuggled and loved on, of course, and I’m wondering if he’ll be looking for Ben again in the morning.