Week Two

The puppies are two weeks old today. Nothing much has changed other than the fact that their eyes are open. We took two-week face shots which turned out to be a 3-person job. It is amazing how well they are getting around. Still three steps forward, one step back and fall over but they can get to Tiffin very quickly when she gets in the box with them. I am glad that there are only 7 because they all can find a place at the milk bar without much of a struggle. Here they are in birth order as always.

Chill (male)

Tundra (male)

Blizzard (male)

Arctic (female)

Shiver (female)

Polar (female)

Avalanche (male)

Day Thirteen 

Today I rearranged the whelping box. I took out the pig rails because I wasn't worried about her laying on them. She is so cautious where she lays or steps to make sure she doesn't step or lay on a puppy. Plus, they were too low, and the puppies were getting stuck. They are adjustable but I wasn't strong enough to adjust them. I tried to make it so that part was sleeping area and part was potty area.

I am happy to say that at least a couple of them tottered over and used the potty area. I actually saw little Shiver go over and use it. I tried to get a video but by the time I was ready she was done but here are a couple seconds of it happening. She might be the smallest, but she is a heart stealer. 

Spots are showing a lot more now and eyes are about halfway open. Here is a picture showing spots and a video where you can see how spotted they are now.

 

 Day Twelve

Today was a very quiet day. Nothing new happened with the puppies. Eyes are opening little by little and they are all looking good. I checked navels and there are no umbilical hernias which happens occasionally. I have noticed that they wake up and travel a few steps away to go to the bathroom, so it is time to give them a place to sleep so they don't sleep in the place they potty. This will be an ongoing thing for a while, but they will eventually learn the difference between the two areas. This is the first step in getting them to use the potty patch. It is one tiny step at a time.

I posted the three unpatched boys a couple days ago but I have a request for the patched boy to get equal time. He is a cuddler and one of the largest right now. So here he is. His name is Chill

At one point I looked in on them and Arctic was sleeping half on the pig rail and half off. How can that be comfortable?

Poor Tiffin has lost her girlish figure and isn't shy about showing off what happened to her. I promised her she would be in shape to chase the plastic bunnies in the spring.

 Day Eleven

I tried to take a couple short videos, but I am a total amateur and I can't figure out how to make them load quickly. I put them on here but it may take a while for them to load.

Today was nail trim day. I don't enjoy this at all because I am always afraid I might snip to close and hurt them. They are very squirmy, and my eyesight isn't great, but I managed to get it done with no blood shed!

Everyone got weighed again and they are still growing. The largest one is still the largest and sweet little Shiver is still the smallest. Of course, she is the sweetest one and I am trying not show favoritism. I try to snuggle them all but she may get a few extras. Here she is sleeping like a little angel.

Tiffin and Bunny are spending quality time resting away from the puppies. She rests in her bed beside the puppy box but as soon as one of the pups so much as whimpers she is checking on them in a flash. 

I finally got a picture of all seven with mom.

Here are the two videos showing that they are on the move. They are only using their sense of smell to navigate at this point.

Day Ten 

Finally, after jumping through hoops the litter is registered! I believe I have everything I need at this point. I have the litter registration number, DNA swabs and microchips (thanks Chris). 

Today was the first day that Tiffin seemed really hungry. This made me very happy because she lost some weight, and her milk production will increase in the next week or so. 

I noticed a tiny slit in the corner of a couple eyes today. The eyes are starting to open. Now is when I will inspect each eye every day to make sure there is no discharge in any eye. If that should occur the eye will need to be washed with a cotton ball and warm water to make sure the eye doesn't get infected. I don't suspect this will happen but better safe than sorry so they will get inspected often.

Today they got to smell patchouli. Most of them gave no response but Tundra was interested in it.

I tried to take some pictures of the three boys Linda wanted to see but the spots are not very visible yet. You can see them better in the picture with mom.

Here are two pictures of each of the three. First is Tundra then Blizzard and last is Avalanche.

 Day Nine

I am looking forward to the eyes opening. That is when they start to get cute. Today they had a visitor. Grammy Chris came bearing gifts for the puppies and the humans also. Tiffin was very happy to see her and to show off her babies. 

The puppies seem to have very soft poop today so, of course, I am constantly watching them to make sure it is nothing to worry about. Normally I wouldn't even see this, but Tiffin is not really into keeping their butts clean. If it is still like this tomorrow, I will get some kaolin/pectin for them. 

The ENS is going well, and they are getting much more comfortable with it. The ESI is still a work in progress. It is hard to tell if they are responding sometimes. Today's scent was almond extract. Most of them seemed interested in it but the best result was from Blizzard. He sniffed then turned away then sniffed again and licked his tiny little lips. Of course, then I had to give him a few kisses because he is so cute.

Yesterday I said that Tundra was not snuggly. Today was a different story. It is fun to see how they react to me each day. Here are a few pictures of them. You can see the spots are coming.

New Toy from Grammy

Day Eight 

Today was uneventful because all they do is eat and sleep. I did the usual ENS and ESI but not much else with them. Yesterday's scent was clove and today they sniffed nutmeg. Most of them just sniff and turn away. A couple sniffed and then went back for a second sniff. 

I have been trying to give them all a little cuddle time and everyone but Tundra will snuggle. He wants nothing to do with it. He is the biggest and seems to have a mind of his own already. It will be interesting to see how that plays out when he can see and hear. The little patch girl Shiver is the one who loves a snuggle. She is so cute I can't stand it!

Poor old great, great grandfather Maks is feeling very neglected. I had to give him a lot of love today because he looks at me so pathetic it wears me down. Only took a couple of pictures today but here they are. Spots are getting more noticeable. 

How can that be comfortable?