Saturday, 6 November 2010

Eating pup - style - not for those of a nervous disposition

Despite missing our Tosh, the puppies still needed to be tended. I started with cuddling Big Curly for quite a while this morning while sitting with Tosh - he is very sweet and that did cheer me up!

The ceremony of the feeding took place at about 8am.  The pups went outside being adjured to 'Hurry up - Be quick' while I set out the trays of  starter meal.  They were then put up to the food with the recall whistle (bit of Pavlov's dogs - the hope is that it will reinforce the recall - always worth using a whistle - acme 211.5).  They then walk through and around while doing their best to eat - and wear the food - helping out by licking each other too.

Once they seem to be finished (tricky to tell - but when they consistently walk away from the food), they are put back outside with the same 'Hurry Up be quick' command, said as best possible as a pup is actually performing, with a cuddle and 'good dog' once they had performed. (Don't want them performing on 'good dog' that could be unfortunate)  :>) Blaze 3, or maybe Little Blaze, I forget, now, backed himself up to do his wee and poo down the drain - and managed most of it - there is only a very small hole by the pipe - the rest is covered!!!! There was a pup busy over there yesterday, but I don't know if it was the same one. I am  amazed at how they go to one corner to perform in the cage.  I saw Curly Girl and others wandering off away from mum when she was tiny (a couple of days)  to do a little wee.

Here Big Curly is last to finish - doing his best to clean up - but it took Molly and Teasle to sort it out.  Note I went for newspaper underneath to help the pups stand and to minimise the clean up - still requires a change of clothes though!!!



Later that evening, Teasle went in to feed them:

Note the big fat tummy there - Chunky Monkey has obviously had quite sufficient and  is taking her ease :>)

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