IN THE FINAL STRETCH

Training is in full bloom now, for the next week and 1/2 and then they go home! What a beautiful journey this is, I am so blessed to love these little babes. Every day we see something new, hear something new, learn something new. Some things are scary but we introduce everything slowly and let the puppies find their way. Open door ways that it is ok to go through, closed gates that mean wait, we sit, we are learning down, food in different places, sleeping in crates, new tug toys, chew toys, snuggle puppies, the list goes on and on and on!

This litter of Thanksgiving puppies are champions at the potty trays! Making my life sooooo much easier and teaching them that there is a dedicated place for them to do their business. When they get home, the new families only have to teach WHERE their space is, the puppy needs to learn to signal the human they need to go and the human has to listen. Easy right? If you do your diligence and keep the puppy in a small space with the opportunity to go outside often and be rewarded with a HUGE party......it should be a fairly painless process (most of the time!)

Marty built potty trays for whole litters

Store bought version for 1 puppy

Crate training is in full swing now. I still leave the doors open most of the time so they can go in for naps and at night as they choose. It also means they can come out to potty. I feed them individually in crates, with the doors closed and in the pens, rotating every meal so they get more exposure to doing their favorite activity in different places. Feeding kibble with a little powdered goats milk, Nuvet immune supplement, probiotic and deworming medications with water added to soften and dissolve the powders. They all are eating and growing beautifully and not missing Mom's milk.

We went for individual car rides and happily for me no one vomited! There was some whining cause it was all pretty scary but everyone settled after 10 minutes or so and we enjoyed looking at all the Christmas lights! I put them in a crate on the front seat so I could reach in to pet them and give a little treat. Next time the crate will go in the back of the SUV. We mostly do this to get them accustomed to the motion. Some of them have a long ride home and we don't want upset tummies on their trip!

We have been getting to know the "house" and all the sounds and smells that they will encounter in their new homes. The washing machine, the blender, the big vacuum, the robot vacuum, the shower, toilet, Christmas tree.......so much newness!!

The first step in leash training is to get the puppy to follow me, willingly! I don't want them to pull on the leash and I definitely don't want to pull on them! We are just walking around the house, getting familiar with this new individual activity and getting them to follow me. Next step, I will put a leash on them but just let them drag it so they get used to that thing being attached to them! Loved that this puppy walked right past the moving robot vacuum without a flinch!

Oh my, we sit like champions!!!! I started this training without the command or the treat. Now we do both and they sit and wait for me to give them their little piece of kibble.....it's only treat we use at this point. They have to sit before they get picked up so it's a great incentive! Eventually we will sit and wait for food and at the open doorway but that takes a little more patience on the part of the puppy.

Most of our families have been to visit and it's been a common theme that they can't pick a puppy! They are all so darling and sweet with equal parts terrorists that it's still too hard to pick! We only have 9 more days to make the decisions. Still LOTS to do and analyze........ I love getting to know the families and their perfect baby. I just have to sit with them more and get to know the internal brain workings of each puppy. Gosh, this part is really hard but so heartwarming and special all at the same time!

The puppies have a new relationship with Mom now that they are not nursing. She is still very playful with them but telling them "no" at the same time. They will still try to nurse but she is very gently distracting them and moving away so the don't accost her! Puppies are catching on too!

As we wind down this litter, we are anxiously awaiting Magnolia's heat cycle. She wants ONE more litter of puppies! Stay tuned!

Hope you all enjoyed your Christmas and we wish everyone a very Happy New Year!!!!!