A very tired mom. Heide is nursing and cleaning them around the clock!
We have seen her sleeping and snoring while sitting up ... too funny!
Puppies are shown in no certain order above.
HEIDE AND IBBI'S PUPPIES
Born July 1, 2010 - with COLLAR COLORS NOTED
# 1 - LIME - Female - Solid Head - Lighter Brown - Heart Patch - Dark Pads
# 2 - DK BLUE - Male - Solid Head - Slight White on Nose and White Chin - Pink Pads
# 3 - LT BLUE - Male - Solid Head - Largest Saddle Patches-Darkest Puppy - Dark Pads
# 4 - PINK - Female - Solid Head - Center Scallop - Large Dots with Pink Pads
# 5 - NO COLLAR - Male - White Blaze on Face - Smallest and Whitest Puppy - Pink Pads
# 6 - GREEN - Female - Solid Head- Unique "8" Patch on side - Pink Pads
# 7 - DK GREEN - Male - Solid Head - "Voice Bubble" Patch - Pink Pads
# 8 - BLACK - Male - Solid Head - Unique Scallop - Largest Puppy - Pink Pads
# 9 - ORANGE - Female - Solid Head - Large Dot Patches with Dark Pads
# 10 - RED - Female - Solid Head - Irregular Patches All Over - Dark Pads
SIZE: They are all nursing well from mom and gaining weight day to day. When puppies are born, it is very common for them to lose weight the first day or to stay the same weight for a day or so (just like humans). Because they are so small, it is important that we weigh them each day to make sure that they do NOT lose more than an ounce or so and that they are steadily gaining weight. The average 1 pound puppy at birth will grow up to be between 50 and 65 pounds, which is typically 60 times their birth weight - WOW! They will reach their height around 1 year of age, but will fill in more over the next year or so as they mature and fill out their body structure. They indeed have a lot of growing to do. Unfortunately, the smallest puppy may be the largest dog ... their puppy size is not a good indication of their adult size - because there is too much competition at feeding time in a litter...
HELPLESS PUPPIES: The first couple of weeks of a puppy's life is very uneventful. They are unable to walk, cannot hear, cannot see, and cannot make much noise, either. They are able to cry if cold, hot, hungry or feel pain, but do not usually growl or bark, yet. Their first two weeks of life consists of laying with mom for warmth, protection, nursing and sleeping. They are either nursing or sleeping and so I cannot tell you anything about their personalities ... yet. They cannot stand either, but are building up their leg muscles by all the pushing they do in line as they fight for a nipple. They nurse until they are full and then fall off the nipple to sleep ... until they wake up to do it again and again ... all day and night. By two weeks of age, things will be changing ... they will start to hear, see and stand and they will become mobile. We will put their collars on them once they start moving around. The 2 week photo of them will show their collars, because we will not be able to keep them them in their birth order long enough for a photo any more ... they will be ON THE MOVE!
SOCIALIZATION: We do handle the puppies, even though they are still "deaf and blind", because we want them to get used to our smells and to trust us. They will relax and nuzzle up to us when hold them close and they especially like fuzzy sweaters! If you do not hold and socialize puppies, they will not be calm when you hold them ... we feel this is very important as step # 1 in the puppy socialization process. They use their noses very well and at this point, their whole world is by smell and touch only. It also lets mom get used to us handling the litter and she learns that she can trust us with her babies. We do not hold them a lot, but they are handled every day to be weighed and to check them over for any infection or potential problems with the umbilical navel, cropped tails, and dew claws. We like to just snuggle with them, too, but until the eyes open, it makes the mother nervous, and so we try to keep her calm and relaxed. This is important so that she will produce enough milk for all of her litter. They all get their nails cut for the first time at one week of age. None of them like to be restrained, but some fuss more than others. This is one of the many gauges I use to determine their independence and personalities. I will note their personalities, but not as much this first time when they are deaf and blind ... it is more important once their eyes and ears open and can see what I am doing. I cut their nails every week and this is something you will continue during their FAST GROWING MONTHS once you take them home.
TAILS AND DEW CLAWS: During the first week, the tails are cut and the dew claws (high thumbs) are removed. These small surgical procedures are performed right away in order to protect them from injuries in the field while hunting. They must run over many rocks, and fallen tress and limbs in the terrain of the woods and fields. The dew claws are known to be caught, even in the backyard fences, and by removing them from the front paws, many future injuries will be prevented. Also the tails will be less prone to continual sores and bleeding from the briar bushes in the fields, as well. This procedure stops a long hardened and calloused tail from bleeding all over the home walls after a day in the field. We visit the vets to get their tails docked to 2/5 or 40% of the original length. At the same time, their dew claws are removed from their front paws and their tails will be shaved for the docking. In the 1 week photos, you may be able to see the stitches (only 1 in each tail), but the fur will grow back, soon. They generally are uncomfortable for less than a day, but are soon back to normal. We check them daily for no redness or inflammation. At the first vet check - each of the puppies are examined for their overall condition and the vet also examines their umbilical cords (belly buttons) to make sure they are all healing well and show no signs of infection.
LIFE IN THE CRATE: Mother watches very carefully not to lay or step on them in the GIANT SIZE Vari-Kennel crate that they are in for their DEN. We put a rubber backed litter box liner (machine washable) in the bottom, and change it daily. If needed, we cover the top with a blanket to retain heat inside. This helps to keep them warm and cozy, staying warm with mom's body heat. When mom steps out, they all pile up for warmth. Mom lays with them unless she needs to eat, drink or use the bathroom. Our puppies are raised in a crate, and will readily accept one when they go to their new homes as their DEN. Once they can walk, they will come out to pee on newspaper, and so they will be paper trained by the time the go home. In the meantime, because they cannot stand up yet, mom licks their bottoms and they pee and poop in her mouth. Her warm moist tongue makes them go potty and in the wild this would keep the den free of the strong urine and feces odors so that the predators could not find their den. A good mother will keep their den and puppies very clean for the first two weeks. So far ... so good ... We also have a blue plastic kiddie wading pool for them to lay in with mom and this is nice in the family room for us watch them once they can start playing and fighting with one another with their different colored collars. Once their eyes open up, we are able to help judge their personalities first hand ... until they learn to climb out of the wading pool... and that is still a couple of weeks away ...
PROTECTIVENESS: It is natural for the mother to be very protective of her litter so that no one can harm her helpless puppies. We do NOT let anyone else hold them except the family until their eyes open up near two weeks of age. Mother's will sometimes growl at any other animals or strangers (even through the window) because they could harm her puppies. We do NOT let her get around other animals, because we do not need her to get upset. Normally all of our dogs get along well with other animals, so these are all natural mother instincts during motherhood. Her temperament to humans right now is one of mistrust, if she does not know you. We will not allow visitors until the puppies can walk around. By this time, she will be less protective and even then, her job is to be leery of anyone near her puppies. We are very cautious with visitors, trying to keep strangers away to keep her calm so that she can relax, produce milk and care for her growing puppies at least until they are eating on their own ... we need mom's milk at least 6-8 times a day until then for these growing puppies!
ARE YOU REALLY READY FOR A PUPPY?
Please read the following links.
They are important enough to PRINT out and read numerous times.
Be a Responsible Dog Owner
Why Spay or Neuter?
Deposit holders, watch for Future PUPPY TIPS coming soon in your mailbox!
PUPPY TIP # 1 - "House Training Tips"
PUPPY TIP # 2 - "Outdoor Safety Tips"
PUPPY TIP # 3 - "Male vs Female?"
PUPPY TIP # 4 - "Why 49 Days?"
PUPPY TIP # 5 - "Care of Your New Puppy from Colonial Farms"
PUPPY TIP # 6 - "Your Puppy's Homecoming"
PUPPY TIP # 7 - "Training Your Puppy"
PUPPY TIP # 8 - "Spaying and Neutering - Pros and Cons"
Please let us know if you have any other questions.
Blessings,
Vicki and Bill Murdock
Colonial Farms, LLC
Gamebird Preserve
Field Dog Training
German Shorthaired Pointers
"Come to where the fun times, good birds, and great dogs are waiting for YOU!"
www.ColonialFarmsLLC.com
