Anyone had Puppies? Part 1

[Aberdeenplotter]

too much pressure from the fans

we do have certain expectation ya knows . Looks like the pups living accommodation is starting to get a tad cramped. You freegling for bigger boxes?

[mothhawk]

we do have certain expectation ya knows . Looks like the pups living accommodation is starting to get a tad cramped. You freegling for bigger boxes?

Yes, definitely need potting on by the looks of them

[Jeanied]

There was a bichon frise x cavalier at puppy class today and a gorgeous wee dot he was too!

[Greenleaves]

Talking of puppies, how's Petal doing Jeanied?

[Jeanied]

Petal is 5 months old now but is still under- developed as she had a really tough start in life. She is probably nearing 7 kilos now and full of curiosity! She has taken to barking at new noises, her dinner and Rosie (and Maisie the cat) much to my neighbour's annoyance - but she does sleep all night

Today was our first puppy class, and she was terrified of the other puppies, even though she is older than most of them. She began to come out of her shell half way through the session and I am sure she will benefit from the classes over the next few weeks. It didn't help that the puppy next to us was a huge bouncy German Shepherd!

However Petal is extraordinarily obedient when it comes to tasty treats Always a good sign.

[Potstubsdustbins]

First thing to teach a springer is to sit to command, it makes everything that comes after so much easier.

[Aberdeenplotter]

sit? you sure it isn't the command that means go for a poo that sounds like sit?

[veggiechicken]

A few bonus photos from this evening.
It's difficult typing with gnawed fingers



Baby and Teddy Bear



For those who worried about cramped conditions, here's Black Pudding in Mary's bed

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

Are their teeth like needles yet?

[Nicos]

ha!...lovely!

They must be soooo much fun!

[Aberdeenplotter]

nice to wake up to bonus pics. Won't seem like such a wait for today's now

[lottie dolly]

Exactly AP,

[veggiechicken]

Are their teeth like needles yet?

As sharp as little weeny sharp things can possible be - but they haven't drawn blood yet.

ha!...lovely!
They must be soooo much fun!

Have you ever tried sweeping the floor with a puppy fighting the brush? That was five minutes ago
Or tried to brush the fur of 7 dogs at once, including grumpy Auntie Mary who doesn't know what to make of the pups.

nice to wake up to bonus pics. Won't seem like such a wait for today's now

There'll be more today!!

[nellie-m]

VC - I feel honoured!!!

I so love that they are already avid gardeners

They look as if they are old enough now to enjoy tunnels. I always had two or three, different sizes. Just three wooden boards screwed together, nothing sophisticated. But such fun to play in, around, on... and also to sleep in, sometimes three at a time! As a by-product, they will be almost crate-trained when they leave you: dogs by nature love dens, unless they unlearn it. A bit like humans and swimming, babies can do it but most of us don't get the chance until much later and have to learn it again then.

BTW Muddled is right, I only let mine go at eight weeks in case there was a friendly other dog in the same house to teach them manners. Otherwise I kept them until at least nine weeks of age, sometimes longer. Which, as you can imagine now, meant a LOT more work to me as I had to do a big part of the socialisation (it takes a whole village to raise a litter, litter-ally!)

[veggiechicken]

This lot are learning manners from Grumpy Auntie Mary. They sneak up on her when she's asleep and try to climb in with her, or check if she has any milk.
Sometimes they gang up on her and run at her, or circle her so she doesn't know where to look next.
She's quite deaf and has poor sight, and she doesn't want to play, so she'll only tolerate so much, then grumbles and growls until they back down (wagging her tail all the time).
Last night, Mary was asleep in one bed, and Spud climbed into the adjacent bed and fell asleep with his head on Mary's back. He looks like a mini-Mary, but curlier.