Thursday, September 16, 2010

Puppies are six days old

wow it's already Thursday, guess it's having 10 puppies in the house, but that was a fast almost one week!

Momma Grace is doing really good.  By day three she was jumping and playing, she's still smiling.  She's a happy girl, her usual self. 

Puppies are doing great too, they have a fabulous momma that takes care of them.  Today was nail trimming day - once a week, momma appreciates that!  They are strong rooters, holding them takes attention they don't swiggle off your hand.  We weigh them twice daily and starting to spend more time holding them and cuddlying with them which is their first "socialization" phase.  Touching and being persistent to clilpping their nails is their first stress conditioning.  We touch their feet, cut their nails, rub under their ears for a couple of seconds until the puppy will relax or show a sign of acknowledging attention and then stop.  It doesn't take much with these little infants.

They are starting to show personality differences but it's so subtle. 

Cova after the nail trimming still has white nails.  She's one of the smallest girls, she sleeps a little more and eats a little less at a time, same as Cara, the purple ribboned girl.
Cory's nails after trimming, the white was clipped away and are now black,  most of the other puppies that had white nails have turned black
Conner's coat is turning a brown hue, at the vet's on Tuesday under the bright light it was easy to see.Conner seems to be getting more white up the back of his feet not less like Grace's last litter.
Cara, purple girl seems much calmer, she's a petite little girl, she doesn't seem food motivated at this point.
Courtney seems to the a bit wiry, see picture below, she doesn't hold still for very long.  When she was first born she weighed 10.8oz and then either dropped or we mis-weighed her, 2nd weighing she was 7.9oz, but she has caught up with them, she's done well the whole time.
(see below for the pigment and traits of the puppies, the creams are more voicerous - but not in a bad way, they just feel there's reason to say something right now more than the black puppies)
Collette seems to settle quicker than the other two cream females.
Today Courtney caught up with weight gain with Claire, we have to compare and look at the lightness of the cream color to be sure we have Courtney and not Claire. 
(the three creams in size are:  Collette the largest, Claire the deeper cream color and Courtney the smallest and lightest cream girl).
Conner moves slower like Cory, they are just calmer, they are not terribly worried about anything in particular, like their sister Carly.  Colby seems more sensitive like he's paying attention but just saying, he's storing information maybe.
Carly, she's not so worried about things, she will be taken care of why worry,
Cara is quick and wiry like Courtney (probably their small bodies), Claire is a little more moving around(energetic) but so is Collette.  Collette does the little thing her mom does, she will do what you want with a heavy sigh, just to make sure you know it's your idea.

hmm, I didn't realized I was putting in a synopsis of the little guys.  All in all they are doing great.  They eat, sleep and picking them up by us humans is starting to stimulate them.  They have healthy poos, which is good. 

Courtney is the smallest cream girl, but she's gaining on them
Cara and Cova are neck and neck with size, Cara actually feels lighter, she's calmer than Cova, Cova might be lighter in color.  I actually think Cara and Cova are smaller than Claire, the darker cream.  Collette is a little larger than these four girls, but much smaller than Claudia and Carly.

Next size step are the "calmer girls"  Claudia and Carly.

Collette a little more having something to say, but still calm.  Claudia is quiet so is Carly and Cara.  You have to make a point to check in with them why we ID the puppies so we don't miss anything small and subtle that puppies are really good at being.

Jim and I will get one week pictures out tomorrow or saturday, they are growing, they are so soft and sweet.  They are all beautiful puppies, you will love them, I promise

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