Since freedom was calling once again, we had a little exploration session this morning - although haven't sorted the house yet 😅 I like to share content like this because even though it might not tell a different story as the previous reel, this is primarily for the future families of these pups to follow their development and go back to as a record in years to come.
Additionally, one of those families will be us because we haven't decided who stays with us. As the pups are growing, we are observing their temperament carefully to gather data for the day we make final decisions about their families. We've watched these pups almost 24/7 since the day they were born, so we have working hypotheses of who might suit each family, but they still keep surprising us by changing almost daily.
Dogs are puppies for a very short time, so instead, we need to think about the dogs they become. When we got Grace, I deliberately asked her breeder to choose for us and gave her a lot of information about who we are, our lives, personalities and what our plans were - as well as what our older dog was like. To be honest, there were times when I thought she wasn't what I had in mind or deep down wanted from a puppy, and at first, I didn't even think she was very cute! (Which apparently was clear from my face 😅)
Over time, I understood the wisdom of choosing us as her family - we were indeed right for her, and she was right for us. We already had one exuberant, outgoing dog, so a more subtle, contemplative personality was a better fit. Puppies are not blank slates - they come into the world with the core of their self already. They are also malleable at this stage, so we take our responsibility very seriously, but it's about supporting them to become the best version of themselves, whatever that happens to be. ❤️
[Day 27]
We're doing short exploration sessions in the living room - aka the Big Wide World for a small pup 😂 2-3 at a time so we can watch them - this time while one of us was putting stuff away. Our PVC floor isn't very slippery for adult dogs, but for the pups, I put everything I could think of on the floor*.
Just 5 minutes is enough to tire them out for the whole evening after that 😅 It's sometimes hard to believe that in just a few weeks they'll be so much bigger, and they're only been in this world for 4 weeks.
(*We have an old rug stored in the shed specifically for using when the pups are old enough to run around more, but the alllll the way at the back - sorting out the shed is this weekend's job 🤪)
[Day 26/week 4]
Part 2 of soundboard adventures this evening! They were being quite boisterous and trying to climb out of the box while we were tidying and putting away the groceries, so I thought maybe a couple of things could draw their attention them from the edge.
This time, I accidentally put it in a different setting, and there was music! They were strangely fascinated with it, but unfortunately I couldn't stop myself from laughing at them - poor things spooked 😬
[Day 26/week 4]
Part 1 of adventures with this kids' sound board I found for free in the charity shop 😁 I finally had more batteries to test this, so I put it in the pen to entertain the pups while I cleaned up the pads after the night (they like to get "involved").
It was an unexpected hit 😂 Apparently it makes sounds of letters, so maybe this counts for an early introduction to talking buttons 🤔😅
The board itself was nothing but intriguing, but when Mama had enough of the strange noise pollution, they did startle a little.
Stay tuned for part 2...
[Day 26/week 4]
Every morning, there is a window of activity between 7am and 9am when there's a feeding and toilet etc. and then they sleep for a long time. So, we take advantage of that before we start work 🤓
This morning, I put in a shaped cardboard that was in a box used to store apples and a couple of sticks I picked up on my walk with Grace (from further away inside a bush so that other dogs haven't contaminated them!).
Novel items are so easy to do - I really don't understand why more breeders don't do it. Of course, I have bought super cheap charity shop stuff, but I also have a lot of dog toys that smell interesting, and some things are just everyday items. It takes less time to do it than clean up the pee pads...
In the grand scheme of things, every single breeder should be doing this kind of stuff to prepare their puppies to the world - the way I see it, I owe it to these pups to give them the ability to handle life since it was me who decided to bring them into the world.
[Day 25/week 4]
One of Atlas starting to pounce in toys from a couple of days ago - it was on the other phone so nearly forgot!
Lunchtime fun and games 🤪
The pups happened to be awake and on the move when I had my lunch, so we had some toy interaction and before this some soft baby dog food which went everywhere 😂 After about 5min toys went away and it was time to settle and recharge.
[Day 24/week 4]
Last night's "activity hour" - after eating, there's always a period where they do lots of stuff, and currently that means wrestling 😂
Watching this now, I think it might be time for the toilet to move out of the whelping box because not only do they tumble onto it when they play, they've also started to additionally pee and poop outside the box - better listen to the dogs when they tell you what they prefer 😁
[Day 24/week 4]
While I was having a morning coffee, it was time for some sound desensitisation again - just a few minutes while they were asleep. There are lots of lists available, but there's both duplication and a bit too much in them, so I saved a bunch of useful ones into my own list. Link in stories!
Very active morning in the box! It's day 22, the start of the 4th week of their lives, so we have a lot more wrestling, biting, and growling 😄
Sound desensitisation by two 80s kids who went partying in the 2000s 😂 Excellent motivation music for tidying up on a Sunday...
Sunday morning desensitisation to sounds - I think they're more uncomfortable for humans than the pups 😄 Grace was also wondering why her home suddenly sounded so weird.
Day 21
This evening we made a big field trip upstairs to visit the bedroom 🤓 Of course, we forgot the towel but thankfully the washable mattress topper caught the puppy pee 😂
Our quick visit first turned into an enthusiastic picnic, followed by a long nap when all the pups promptly passed out drunk on milk... so we couldn't move, and the quick trip ended up being 1.5h, but no complaints because it was one of the sweetest things ever 🥰
[Day 20]
Saturday shopping spree 😂 I went to two charity shops for cheap kids toys, Action for a couple of bits, and a pet shop for rabbit enrichment stuff. Obviously, we won't throw all of it in the box or play pen at once, but it's ready when time comes. Watch until the end for the weird noisy toys 😂
Exploring the new weird thing in their world: crinkly Kong Stretchezzz Jumbo Tiger (which was one of Nell's favourites to play with us). And then playing on it because it's not all that strange 😁
Day 19/week 3
Astra felt the fluff cave was a bit crowded, so she tried hanging out by the doorway... Not the most relaxing, so she set out in search for a comfy nook for herself. No music but turn on the sound 😁
[Normal speed but small cut in the middle when she is standing to fit into video time constraints]
Day 18
More toilet tales 😂 Unedited, the action is somewhere in the middle but in case anyone is geekily interested!
Since there's so much interest to explore beyond the box, we arranged a short opportunity to do so - in a small, "fenced off" square. No pressure to come out, who wanted to could, and go back when they did. Artis considered his options carefully but decided the short drop into my lap seemed a bit much - never too early to learn to make wise choices 😂
Day 16
15 days old and ready to explore the world 😂 After we cleaned the box, there was a traffic jam at the front door so we wondered what happens if we take the gate off... Even when Mama went in, some of them were considering an adventure 😅
Note: my puppy development book says that at 4 weeks, "the more adventurous puppy might try to climb out of the whelping box"... they're 2 weeks old 😬
Once again the pups look like they've partied hard all weekend 😂
(DAY 15)
