Regalgoldens Golden Retrievers

Enjoying the great outdoors! “The Mission” With the agility and precision of a Navy SEAL, she dragged herself up the grassy embankment, using only her front limbs to propel herself forward, staying low to the ground and fighting off fatigue, she was within range of the target. Her mission was clear and timing was crucial. At the last moment, Miss Apricot lunged forward, flinging herself on top of Mr. Mint and so the two tumbled playfully on the lawn. Now that the puppies are old enough and the weather has been cooperating, the group has been enjoying their time in the sun. It didn’t start out that way though. On the first day when a few of the puppies were deposited on the lawn, some just stood and whimpered, taking in the magnificence of the world outside as it stood menacingly before them. Very quickly, that feeling passed and as their confidence grew, the puppies did what puppies do: be curious. Some ambled around, rolled in the grass, studied trees, chewed twigs

We love to play together! “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” Imagine a warm summer evening as the sun goes down accompanied by an almost deafening sound of crickets chirping in a meadow. Now transition that thought to another context with eight hungry puppies huddled around their food bowl smacking their lips in unison as they devour their dinner. The way this group approaches every mealtime, one would be left with the impression that they’ve not eaten in days. The truth of the matter is that they get three generous meals of mush a day, interspersed with deliveries by their mom, Bailey with her milk wagon. In addition, the little ones are supplementing their meals and keeping themselves well hydrated with a constant supply of fresh water. Small wonder that some puppies with their big, round bellies are already breaking the 7 lb. barrier. This is the beginning of a key socialization period for the puppies. When they’re not sleeping

Mr. Mint “Bite Me” He was fast asleep and didn’t see it coming. The sensations in his leg caused him to jolt out of his slumber. Then it became clear:   Mr. Apple was gnawing on Mr. Rhubarb’s leg because it was time to play!   As they spend more time awake, the puppies paw and mouth their littermates, learning rudimentary social skills in their interactions with one another. Their vision has progressed beyond simply being able to detect light, dark and movement and they are beginning to respond to sudden or loud sounds. They are also able to relieve themselves without the assistance of their mom to stimulate them. With so many newfound skills coupled with the ability to walk and climb, it’s no great surprise that the little ones start to get into some mischief. One weekend morning at 6:00 a.m., we were awakened by the sound of Bailey barking and some of the puppies squealing. It seems that Miss Lemon and Mr. Plum conspired to scale the small barrier

This week our eyes opened!   “ Peek-a-boo ” This was a big week for the puppies in many respects – the first of which is that their eyes opened. Miss Lemon was the first of the girls and Mr. Mint was the first of the boys. It’s not surprising in Mr. Mint’s case: since he’s always so hungry, we’re sure he felt he could find more food if he could see where he was going. This development had no effect on Mr. Apple as he continued to enjoy his meals splayed out on his back. At this stage, the puppies can only differentiate between light and dark through a kind of haze, but this will clear up very quickly over the next week or so as they begin to experience normal sight. They are able to hear quite well as soon as their ears have opened but it will take some time before the little ones can understand or relate to what it is they’re hearing. Another highlight is the move of the whelping box from our bedroom to the living room down the hall. Now that the group is well estab