Molly cornered by the pups!

Be sure to check older posts as there are posts for each of the nine pups just gone up!!!!

The pups are quite keen to come when called, especially if they think they might get playtime :)

The pups corner Molly for a little snack :)

Here comes Poppy Puppy!

Looking very punk - that would be something to do with Heather!!!

Ah! that's better!

Meet Lambkin

Lambkin takes a nap after his bath before unashamedly choosing and greeting his new family this afternoon!

Meet Swift

This gorgeous little boy is currently waiting for his biped to realise that they are really needing a choccy pup to complete their family. Meantime we are very happy to keep loving him so that he doesn't feel out of it at all!

Meet Lola / Daffodil

Daffodil, now Lola, is going to live in sunny Somerset! Here she is looking beautiful after her bath.



Meet Lark / George

Lark, now known as George, has been chosen to go and live very close to the sea. He is looking forward to running along the beach!



Meet Crocus / Skadi

Skadi being the Norse goddess of winter and hunting, it is apt for our lovely little Crocus who was chosen this week to go and be loved as a Gamekeeper's dog as well as a family pet - the best of both worlds! Lots of lovely places to run and to behave :)



Meet Harry / Springtime

Springtime's new human is all ready with his new name - Harry!  Looking very sleepy after his bath today! All the pups were very content during their bath, but it sent Harry right off to sleep!!!



Meet Forsyte

A very gentle young man, Forsythia enjoys a good snooze after a really good charge around the garden. He is not best pleased when his snooze is interrupted by another pup!!!

Meet Swallow

Here is Swallow. A lovely boy who likes to carry things around and occasionally will pick something that has been thrown - what a star!!!

...and the grown up dogs went for their own expotition!

Meanwhile, let's not forget the grown up dogs!!!

I had a lovely walk with Molly, Teasle and Bramble.

I decided to give Molly her first retrieve for about 8 weeks! In the 'usual' field, we did some heel work with all three and then let them play with a few recalls.  Teasle, as ever, was the last to get to me, dilly dallying as ever. Once the pups have gone and I have more time to spend up in the fields, I will spend some time just with her. Molly just heaves herself around to return and Bramble tends to stay quite close.

There is a long track at the bottom of the field so I dropped three dummies at  varying distances.  I first sent Bramble back and she did very well, going slightly right (probably my fault) but quickly winded the dummy and brought it back beautifully.  Unfortuantely she did vocalise a bit on the return, but ...one thing at a time.

Bramble does tend to go back with the others and / or try to take the dummy off them as they arrive - being a little jealous.  Consequently, I put the handle of her lead through Mollys collar.

Teasle went back willingly, if, as usual, slowly and brought the retrieve well.

I transferred Bramble to Teasle, who lay down and kept her well anchored :D

Molly went half way back and then forgot what she was doing. I sat her, which she did well, and sent her back again.  This time, she went straight back, which was good, as the track curvess.  Sh used to follow the track.  I sat her out, which, again, she did well  and sent her back left. Going too far left again, I sat her, yet again, and sent her out right. She went and I hunted her - she was just getting fed up and about to come home when I saw her nose swing as she winded the dummy and she swung round to pick it up, bringing it home, looking the happiest dog ever!  I love the way she looks when she is working :)

What a lovely way to end the day :)...photos next time :)

Pups' first expotition!

The pups emerged this morning looking ready to take on the world!  After eating a very hearty breakfast, they were well up for a game. It amazes me how they can change so dramatically overnight.  Their personalities are now becoming evident and they are all proving to be little characters.

This is, of course the planning stage. I have now marked up the pups with the judicious use of a moustache trimmer - no, not mine!!!! Karalanstar Forsythia here cannot be comfortable yet he slept this way for a considerable period of time. However, his expotition, though measured was extensive!

Now Lark, there on the right is not sure what young Forsythe is up to - either that or he is sizing him up for a swift chew.  He tends to do that , bite down on another pup until it squeals. Then, when lifted up to be told that is hardly gentlemanly behaviour, snuggles down very happily for a cuddle. Hmmm, note to self: rethink behavioural conditioning technique :)

 Spring here has found a local monster to challenge.  Bramble was not too happy as she considers it her pig.  However, Spring reigned victorious over the beast as you can see below :)

Daffodil takes a good nap amongst the toys:

I do believe that this is Lark again, climbing an obstacle shortly before attacking it - another rude awakening!!

All our pups have always loved the area around the bench. Molly still goes under therewhen it is sunny. It is great for playing hide and seek. Since I let them all come out, it was interestiong that 6 out of the nine were recaptured here.

Peekaboo!!!

Bramble just checking and gets captured!

Bramble teaches one young lady to behave!!!

The gang's all here!

It is another lovely sunny day. A bit too hot for the pups so they get fed nice and early and then come out into the garden in the morning - even then in a nice shady spot.  Then it's back to the kennel for a cool midday snooze.  I will bring them out very soon for some cool evening sunshine before bed. Here is one of the boys having a rest but keeping charge of the 'kong' . 

The pups are now doing quite a bit of practice running - they manage a couple of gambols before sitting down, often quite quickly.  It amazes me how they seem to change overnight. They are getting quite chunky and active when it is cool. They all come over to see us when we go near and some already will cry when in the pen to be let out. They usually wander off to relieve themselves which is good. They then like to be picked up and cuddled or to chase one pf the bigger dogs around.  Bramble loves it. Being only 6 months old, she doesn't really understand that she is bigger than them and can't get on my knee with them but is very gentle with the pups.

Here is Snowdrop / Poppy, having a good roll just before an inverted attack - yes, she is doing the attacking, not the other pup:)

Below are photos of all the pups. Apart from Poppy, at the end, i'm afraid I didn't make a note of girls / boys, but the girls do tend to be a bit smaller. Otherwise, they are all beautiful and affectionate pups.

I think this is Crocus

This is the slightly darker boy. His coat, like Poppy's is a little longer than the others. This may change. 

Someone is a bit bored I think :)

Poppy :)

Look at me!!!

Adventuring we will go :)

Pups in the sun

Just loving the spring

Well, these pups were wonderful harbingers of a wonderful spring.  The pups are really enjoying being out in the sunshine, getting lots of cuddles and enjoying their food. They are now being weaned onto Skinners Field and Trial puppy food which they will be eating when they go to their new homes. 

Enjoying the occasional gambol around in the garden with the older dogs who all love them, they also enjoy chewing each other and the occasional chew toy - but mainly each other.  Sometimes I worry that someone will think they are being ill treated as they squeal.  What I find amazing is that when I tell them no, they do actually sit back and look at me!!!

Some sleep, some play - all taking turns. Mind you, sleeping while others play can tempt the naughty pups to have a good chew on you - rather a rude and painful awakening!

Sleeping around the milk bowl being more advisable than sleeping in the milk bowl.

Can I share the kong with you?

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Talking about that, we have a much happier Molly. I took all three dogs out for a good run.  They were all really good and I loved the feeling of walking with them just all gathered around. Molly wasn't so keen on having her undercarriage washed with a weak solution of savlon, but probably thinks it was worth it.  Bramble is sleeping at my feet, dreaming very loudly as we watch TV :)

Playing Pups 2

Playing in the garden 19th April

4 weeks old and and ready for the next step

Weighing in at around 1600 grams: Les Girls! Poppy / Snowdrop on the left, Daffodil in the middle and Crocus on the right ;)

Poppy about to get the worming medicine.

Over to the boys - I have not yet decided who is which here.  There is one large young man, although they were all around 1800  - 1900 grams.

A very smart young man having his claws clipped!

They have all had a very exciting day. After an evening where they were pouring over the door of the pen like the hordes of Mordor, they were locked in overnight which made Molly's feeding them tricky and meant a long interrupted night for me. So today has been spent scrubbing and redecorating both utility room and kennel. The pups had a lovely day outside and were put replete into the kennel after 2 good meals and a good feed from Molly. They will have another feed before bed, and Molly will, of course be in with them overnight.  She is losing interest now, probably something to do with the teeth that appeared overnight. One morning there were canines and the next a little row of teeth top and bottom!  Molly can't yet quite get onto the top of the box, having made an abortive attempt earlier on, but I have no doubt she will regain form when she wants a little peace. Vetbed is installed for pups and on the top of the box and heat pads are ready, although it will be very mild tonight. They are certainly becoming more and more active and enjoying their food immensely.

Escapologists

The pups are growing livelier by the day!  They wore, rather than ate, their starter meal today but some got the hang of it.  More time tomorrow so hopefully get a couple of meals under their belt.  The trick is to make sure Molly hasn't fed them immediately before starting the ceremony :)

OK, here we go - it is now 15th! The pups are starting to enjoy their food and getting more mischeivous by the day.  One ran at my hand last night to jump at it when I was changing the papers. Another was busy pulling down the blankets which surround the compound - stalagpup 17 ;)  this is just to keep them draught free.

These 2 pups were snuggling up as they were transported back to their bed.

...back to stalagpup 17... not quite ready for a snooze, but eyelids drooping!

"Well, if no-one is going to play I may as well go to sleep too!!!"

Post prandial snoozzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzeee

"Is it dinner time again yet? Can we come and play? can we? can we?...please!!!"

Of course, 5 minutes later I did find one wandering around the utility room in a bid for freedom.   He came quietly though, after a cuddle and a kiss!!! I love them to bits - yes, all of them :)

...and for today (15th), they have eaten two good meals of starter food so we are well on the way to getting them going properly. Poor Molly was engorged with milk last evening, but this morning she is fine.