Car Rides, big play area, and meeting new people!

Lots of changes this week as usual! Since we are past the 5 week mark we can have visitors and we all love that! Most of the families taking home a puppy came for a visit this weekend and it was sooooo fun! Fun for all of us to meet in person and get to know each other. Since I do puppy matching it is super important that I get to know the families as well as I know the puppies. There is much that goes into this process from personality evaluations, vet checks, special needs of the families, knowing how everyone lives and what they expect when bringing a puppy into their lives. It's a huge commitment and I take the responsibility of "matching" very seriously! I appreciate that everyone came to visit or is coming soon! It is really invaluable to the process.

The puppies handled meeting all these new people (and a couple kids) like champs!! It is the beautiful part of all the handling we do up to this point, very little rattles them so they take all this new environment and people in stride. And boy do they love the cuddle! I am continually pleased with the growth chart for all puppies!!! It is absolutely the best I could hope to see overall.

We administered another round of a different dewormer, attempting to protect these sensitive little bodies against all the parasites that can cause them harm! I am actually a little obsessed with their poop and don't want to see it be diarrhea! They had another bath and nails trimmed again. This time we added the back feet trim and no one even flinched! Such good babies!!!

Changes in the whelping pen include adding crates! This will be game changer for puppies when they go home. We highly recommend the use of crates to solidify potty training and sleeping through the night. They already totally loved sleeping in the crates aleady! I put some in the pen with the doors off and let them check it out.

A little skeptical at first but that night on the baby cam, I could see only 1 puppy cause they were all in the crates!! They can get out to potty whenever they want but they liked in there!! And then, at nap time......well the photos speak for themselves! These puppies could not have been more comfortable and relaxed! Actually, not positive about comfortable but DEFINITELY relaxed! I didn't do anything but place the crates in the pen! This week I will start feeding them individually in the crates so they will love them even more.

We also added an additional "Play" area! This is where we will do all of our training now for the next few weeks. More obstacles to climb on, different toys to play with and another "potty" area to learn about using.

This afternoon we went for our first car ride.. It was a little scary but everyone did great (no vomiting is a win!). First the boys, then the girls with the crate in the front seat of the car so they could see me and I could talk to them. They will learn much about self soothing and be used to the motion of the car when they go home!

It didn't work out for Tonka to come visit us but Granddaughter Sierra was able to take Cypress to see Tonka. They have been flirting and dancing but no tie yet. The timing of the mating process is very specific and doesn't happen until the stars are all aligned. Too early or too late and they won't tie. Fingers crossed she is ready in a day or two but in the meantime she is happy and is being well cared for by our friend Cinnamon at Hoekema Homestead Goldens. Since we can't leave the puppies we are extremely grateful for Cinnamon's hospitality to let her stay so she and Tonka can make their magic!

Magnolia is "weening" gracefully and the puppies are accepting less Mom and more kibble. She is down to nursing 3 times a day now and that will drop to 2 in the next couple days. Most likely finished by the beginning of week 6. She is very happy to be sleeping in her own bed in the house and back to playing ball!!!

Next week brings more adventures!!! Be sure to follow us on Instagram at Royalgoldens801 and https://www.facebook.com/groups/1342802679627878