Merle Cavoodle

11/02/2025

She’s remarkably beautiful 🤩

09/02/2025

The teeny tiny puppies, I’m amazed at how petite these guys are.

I’m thinking they are going to be petite like mum and dad.

09/02/2025

She's not impressed with my poor grooming skills, lucky there's only a few weeks between a bad hair cut. 🐾

07/02/2025

Puppy selection is meant to be this weekend.

Due to this very wet weather, I have decided to postpone puppy selection until either next weekend or when the rain clears up.

05/02/2025

At 6 weeks old, puppies are becoming more independent, active, and engaging. This is a key period for their social, physical, and cognitive development. Here’s what to expect during this stage:

# # # **Physical Development**
- **Coordination & Mobility**: Puppies at 6 weeks are more agile and coordinated. They are now running, jumping, and playing with increased confidence. Their muscles are continuing to strengthen, and they can navigate their environment more easily.
- **Teething**: By 6 weeks, puppies are likely in the middle of teething, with their baby teeth (deciduous teeth) fully in. Expect them to chew on a variety of objects to help soothe sore gums. Providing chew toys or teething rings can help redirect this behavior.
- **Growth**: At this stage, puppies are growing steadily, and their weight, size, and energy levels continue to increase. You might notice them becoming leaner as they begin transitioning from milk to solid food.

# # # **Social & Behavioral Development**
- **Play and Socialization**: Play continues to be a crucial part of their development. Puppies at 6 weeks enjoy more complex play, including chasing, tug-of-war, and mock fighting with their littermates. These activities are vital for developing social skills, bite inhibition, and communication with other dogs.
- **Human Interaction**: Puppies are more affectionate and eager to interact with people. They may start seeking out attention, playing with people, and responding to their names. This is a great time for bonding and forming positive associations with humans. Be sure to handle them gently and offer treats or praise to reinforce good behaviors.
- **Vocalization**: Expect more barking, whining, and growling as they continue to develop their vocalizations. These sounds help them communicate with each other and with humans. It's important to start paying attention to their different vocal cues (e.g., when they are excited, anxious, or trying to get attention).
- **Curiosity**: At this stage, puppies are very curious about their surroundings. They will explore more actively, sniffing and investigating new objects or areas. Providing a safe, enriching environment is important to stimulate their curiosity and learning.

# # # **Feeding & Nutrition**
- **Transition to Solid Food**: By 6 weeks, puppies should be almost fully weaned from their mother’s milk. They should be eating a high-quality puppy food, either kibble soaked in water or wet food. They’ll need to be fed several small meals a day, as their stomachs are still small.
- **Nursing**: While they might still nurse occasionally, the mother’s role in feeding will be minimal at this point, and they should primarily be eating solid food.
- **Hydration**: Ensure that puppies have access to fresh water at all times. As they transition to solid food, they will drink more water.

# # # **Sensory Development**
- **Sight**: Puppies' vision is nearly fully developed by 6 weeks. They can see more clearly and are able to focus on objects and people in their environment. Their depth perception improves, allowing them to navigate more confidently.
- **Hearing & Smell**: Their hearing and sense of smell are well-developed by this age. They will respond to a variety of sounds, such as footsteps, whistles, or clapping, and they use their sense of smell to explore and identify objects.

# # # **Training & Socialization**
- **Early Training**: This is a good time to start basic training, such as teaching their name, sit, or come. Puppies at this age are very receptive to learning, and they are starting to understand simple commands. Use positive reinforcement techniques like treats and praise to encourage good behavior.
- **Potty Training**: Many puppies are ready to start potty training around 6 weeks. You can introduce them to a designated potty area or begin taking them outside regularly. Be consistent and patient, as puppies at this age may still have accidents.
- **Socialization**: Continued socialization with humans, other dogs, and new environments is essential at this age. Positive exposure helps prevent future fear or aggression issues. Ensure that any interactions with other dogs are safe and supervised to avoid negative experiences.

# # # **Care Tips**
- **Chew Toys**: Teething can be uncomfortable, so providing safe chew toys will help relieve pain and direct their chewing away from inappropriate items (like shoes or furniture).
- **Socialization**: This is a critical period for socialization, so continue exposing puppies to different experiences. Introduce them to new people, gentle dogs, and different environments to build confidence and reduce fearfulness later in life.
- **Routine**: Establishing a routine for feeding, potty breaks, and playtime will help puppies feel secure and settle into their new homes when the time comes.

# # # **Health & Veterinary Care**
- **First Vet Visit**: Around this time, puppies should have had their first veterinary exam and vaccinations. If not already done, make sure they are up to date on their vaccinations and deworming. Your vet will also check for any potential health concerns.

At 6 weeks, puppies are becoming more independent, playful, and engaged with the world around them. It's an exciting time of exploration and growth, and laying the foundation for their training, socialization, and care will have lasting benefits as they continue to develop into well-adjusted, happy adult dogs.

29/01/2025

At 5 weeks old, puppies are rapidly becoming more active and independent. Their physical and behavioral development is progressing quickly as they explore the world around them and start developing essential skills for life. Here’s what to expect during this stage:

# # # **Physical Development**
- **Coordination**: Puppies at 5 weeks old are much more coordinated. They are walking, running, and even beginning to play more actively. Their muscles are developing, and they may start to show interest in climbing small obstacles or jumping.
- **Teething**: The baby teeth are coming in strong, and puppies will likely begin chewing on anything they can find to help relieve the discomfort of teething. It’s a good idea to provide safe chew toys to redirect their attention.
- **Growth**: Puppies continue to grow rapidly. Their weight and size are increasing, and you may notice they are more robust and physically capable than they were just a week ago.

# # # **Social & Behavioral Development**
- **Play & Interaction**: Playtime becomes more complex and important. Puppies will engage in more structured play with their littermates, including tug-of-war, mock chasing, and wrestling. These activities help them practice bite inhibition, body language, and social cues.
- **Human Bonding**: Puppies are more social with humans at this stage. They are curious and often approach people for attention, petting, or play. Gentle handling and positive reinforcement (like treats or praise) can help build trust and strengthen your bond.
- **Vocalization**: At 5 weeks, puppies are becoming more vocal. Expect to hear more whining, barking, and growling as they communicate with littermates and humans. These sounds are part of their social and emotional development.

# # # **Feeding & Nutrition**
- **Weaning Process**: By 5 weeks, most puppies are weaning off their mother's milk and transitioning to solid food. They should be eating a high-quality puppy food that is soaked in water or puppy formula to soften it. You can start offering small portions several times a day.
- **Mother’s Role**: The mother may still nurse occasionally, but her involvement in feeding will be less frequent as the puppies continue to transition to solid food. The puppies are becoming more independent and capable of eating on their own.

# # # **Sensory Development**
- **Sight & Smell**: Puppies' vision continues to improve, and they are more adept at navigating their surroundings. Their sense of smell is highly developed, and they will use it to explore their environment, especially when playing or seeking out food.
- **Hearing**: Their hearing continues to mature, and puppies will respond to a broader range of sounds, including human voices, other animals, and environmental noises.

# # # **Training & Socialization**
- **Early Training**: At 5 weeks, puppies are ready for some early training. Positive socialization with other dogs, people, and new environments will help them grow into well-rounded adult dogs. Exposure to different sights, sounds, and experiences is crucial to prevent future fear or aggression.
- **Potty Training**: Many puppies start to show signs of being able to control their bladder and bowel movements. This is a great time to begin introducing them to a designated potty area or starting basic potty training.
- **Bite Inhibition**: Play fighting with littermates helps teach bite inhibition (how hard to bite). Puppies will be more receptive to learning gentle behaviors at this stage, so using toys to redirect biting can help set the foundation for good habits.

# # # **Care Tips**
- **Chew Toys**: Offer appropriate chew toys to help alleviate the discomfort of teething. This also teaches puppies that they should chew on suitable items rather than inappropriate ones like furniture or shoes.
- **Socialization**: Continue to expose puppies to a variety of people, environments, sounds, and other animals. Early socialization is key for developing well-adjusted adults.
- **Keep Clean**: Ensure that the puppies have a clean, safe, and warm living environment. At this stage, they are more mobile and may get into messes, so it’s important to keep their area tidy.

At 5 weeks, puppies are becoming much more active, curious, and capable of interacting with their world. They are nearing the end of their dependency on their mother and will soon be ready for more structured training and socialization as they continue to grow into confident young dogs.

29/01/2025

Hard to believe these teeny tiny puppies are 5 weeks old.

At this age our puppies have experience the great outdoors, we will hold off on that for these little ones but.

22/01/2025

At 4 weeks old, puppies are continuing to grow and develop rapidly. This stage marks a significant leap in their physical, social, and behavioral milestones. Here's a breakdown of what to expect:

# # # **Physical Development**
- **Mobility**: By 4 weeks, puppies are typically walking with more coordination, although they may still be a bit wobbly at times. They start to explore their environment more actively, using all their senses.
- **Teeth**: The baby teeth (deciduous teeth) are continuing to come in, which may cause some discomfort. This is when puppies begin to nibble on objects and other puppies.
- **Motor Skills**: Puppies' coordination is improving, and they may begin to run, play, and climb small obstacles. They also start to engage in more complex movements like standing on their hind legs or turning in circles.

# # # **Social & Behavioral Development**
- **Play Behavior**: Play becomes much more pronounced. Puppies engage in play fighting with their littermates, which is important for socialization. They are learning bite inhibition, body language, and how to interact with other dogs.
- **Interaction with Humans**: At 4 weeks, puppies are more receptive to human interaction. They may approach humans with curiosity, wag their tails, and begin to bond more with people. Gentle handling is encouraged to build positive associations with humans.
- **Vocalization**: Puppies will start to vocalize more—barking, whining, and growling as they begin to communicate with their littermates and humans.

# # # **Feeding**
- **Introduction to Solid Food**: Most puppies are weaning off their mother's milk around this time. Many breeders begin to introduce a gruel made of high-quality puppy food mixed with water or puppy formula. The gruel should be soft, allowing the puppies to get used to the taste and texture of solid food.
- **Nursing**: While some puppies may still nurse occasionally, the majority are transitioning to solid food. The mother may start spending less time with the puppies as they become more independent.

# # # **Sensory Development**
- **Vision**: By 4 weeks, puppies' vision is improving, and they begin to navigate their environment more confidently. Their depth perception and ability to focus on objects improve.
- **Hearing**: Puppies' hearing is also becoming more refined, and they may start reacting to a wider range of sounds, including human voices, doorbells, or other animals.

# # # **Care Tips**
- **Socialization**: This is a crucial time for socializing puppies. Expose them to different people, mild new environments, and gentle handling to help them become well-adjusted adults.
- **Weaning Process**: Gradually increase the amount of solid food and reduce the amount of milk they consume. Ensure that the puppies are gaining weight and seem to be thriving on their new diet.
- **Cleaning & Hygiene**: Keep the living area clean to prevent infections or parasites. Make sure the puppies are warm and comfortable, as they are still vulnerable to cold.

At 4 weeks, puppies are transitioning from completely dependent newborns to more active, curious, and social beings. They will soon be ready for more independence, but continued care, socialization, and proper nutrition will be essential in their development.

19/01/2025

🐾

16/01/2025

At 3 weeks old, puppies are undergoing rapid growth and development. Here's what you can expect during this stage:

Physical Development
Eyes & Ears: By 3 weeks, most puppies have their eyes fully open, although their vision is still blurry. Their ears are also becoming more responsive, and they start to react to sounds.
Motor Skills: Puppies are becoming more mobile, learning to walk, and may begin to explore their environment more actively. Their coordination is still developing, so they might stumble or crawl before they start walking steadily.
Teeth: The first set of baby teeth (deciduous teeth) begins to emerge, usually around 3 weeks. This can cause some mild discomfort or irritation.

Social & Behavioral Development
Play: Puppies will start engaging in more social behaviors, including play fighting with their littermates. This helps them develop important skills like bite inhibition and coordination.
Interaction with Humans: Puppies at this age are still primarily dependent on their mother, but they may begin showing interest in human interaction. This is the time when early socialization should begin with gentle handling.
Exploration: As their mobility increases, puppies will start to explore their surroundings more. They may try to walk or crawl away from the litter to investigate new smells and sights.

Feeding
Nursing: Puppies are still nursing from their mother, but they are also starting to show interest in solid food. By the end of week 3, I begin introducing a soft gruel or puppy food, transitioning them slowly to solid food.
Weight Gain: Puppies will typically gain weight steadily, and it’s crucial that they are nursing well and staying hydrated.

Care Provided
Continue to monitor the puppies closely to ensure they are nursing well and gaining weight.
Keep the environment clean and warm, as puppies this age are still vulnerable to temperature fluctuations.
Limited handling to avoid stressing the puppies or disrupting their bonding with their mother, but gentle socialization should begin during this time to help them become accustomed to human interaction.

By the end of week 3, puppies are becoming more active, aware, and engaged with the world around them, which will only increase as they grow.

09/01/2025

Roxie is never far from her babies 🐾

09/01/2025

09/01/2025

I love them first 🐾

Their growth and development over the next 8 weeks is nothing short of amazing.

27/12/2024

We’ve been patiently waiting and Roxie welcomed 5 little puppies on Boxing Day 2 Boys and 3 Girls.

💙Boots
💙Dasher
💗Belle
💗Jolly
💗Carol

23/12/2024

They named him Norton.

Such a beautiful name for this quirky little boy. He’s not your typical cavoodle, but still the cutest boy in looks and temperament.

19/12/2024

Sharing from another page!

With Christmas almost upon us, please ‼DON'T FEED YOUR DOG XMAS HAM‼

The Animal Referral & Emergency Centre has a timely reminder to all pet owners - DO NOT give your pet dog or cat any of your Christmas ham.

"Christmas ham and ham bones are a huge no no. The fat and salt content of this delicious Christmas treat will wreak havoc on the gastrointestinal system of our beloved fury family members," they said.

"Christmas ham isn’t the only culprit that can cause our pets illness over the festive season.

"Often our pets will have increased access to chocolate, grapes, nuts and fruit cake, which are all capable of causing serious and sometimes life threatening illness."

This poor dog picture is Gordie - last year he ate an ENTIRE 2.2KG Christmas ham. His owners brought him into the vet for help.

📸 Animal Referral & Emergency Centre.

17/12/2024

The countdown has started.

5 days are left.

I am enthusiastic about seeing the appearance and character of this litter. I am eager to watch them grow and develop.

The Roxie has a lively and entertaining energy, while Rudy is a devoted and gentle soul.