Mr. Tangerine |
This week, the
puppies participated in career day. That’s where they try their hand at a
variety of occupations and pastimes. These included rock climbing, landscaping which
involved chewing on blades of grass, mining which involved digging holes, forestry
which involved chewing on pieces of bark and twigs, track & field which
involved running and jumping, ball playing and finally group wrestling. At this
time, there were clearly no takers for management positions.
While the
puppies’ play is becoming a bit more coordinated and adult-like, they’re still
just kids at heart. Many have discovered an equine style of movement whereby
they buck like broncos as they catapult themselves forward off their hind legs
toward their target, namely another puppy or ourselves. Others will
inexplicably run around in circles culminating in a toppling over.
Miss Kiwi and Miss Cranberry |
This is the
beginning of the most influential socialization period for the puppies. They
wag their tails to us and to each other. The puppies are entertaining some of
their future forever family visitors and they’re making friends with some of
the rest of the pack. It seems that our girl Bailey is as enamoured with the
puppies as our Sierra – she seems to be dreaming of the day when she’ll have a
little brood of her own. Mother Mango is quite willing to share her own puppies
with the pack and is still doing double duty by big-heartedly nursing Maddie’s
litter on occasion. The puppies have transitioned to a more solid food, so
mom’s got lots to go around.
In the meantime,
this happy-go-lucky bunch is taking each day as it comes - the feasts, the
exploration, the playtime, the visitors, the cuddles and naptime. It doesn’t
get much better than this!
That’s
it for now, but be sure to join us next week for another entrancing installment
of “Puppy Tales”.