“The Precipice”
Bella’s puppies are such an alert and active little bunch. No matter how
hard we try to sneak past them as quietly as Ninjas, at least one or two of
them raise the alarm to alert their siblings and they all start squealing in
unison for some attention. While their play is becoming a bit more coordinated
and adult-like, they’re still just kids at heart. And with every litter, there
are always a few new things to experience - like observing Mr. Eggnog lying on
his back trying to bite his own tail causing himself to spin around on the
floor like a break-dancer. Mr. Icicle revealed himself as a hoarder by quietly
accumulating all the toys in the room while the other puppies were off playing.
We can certainly sympathize with Bella’s hesitation to nurse her
offspring who bite our fingers, noses, pants, shirts, shoes, shoe-laces or
anything else that is within easy reach to aid in their teething. It’s
remarkable how puppies always seem able to readily figure out how to play with
their siblings. They engage in chases, whether actual or imagined – often
running much more quickly than their little legs will carry them so they topple
over en route. They play one on one, two on two or any combination adding up to
eleven and in this group, everyone is an equal. It’s not uncommon to see little
Miss Holly taking down one or two of her bigger brothers in a wrestling match.
Each vigorous play session ends the same way though – with the puppies curling
up and drifting off to sleep. Mr. Icicle amused us by falling asleep propped up
against a wall in a corner behind a statue.
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| Mr. Icicle |
Since their food is now prepared a bit dryer, the puppies are drinking
plenty of water to keep hydrated. Bella still nurses the puppies occasionally
to supplement their diet of moistened puppy food, albeit with diminishing
enthusiasm. When the gang is chasing her around their play area in the hopes of
getting a snack, Bella often escapes to the sunken area of the foyer leaving
the puppies pondering the five inch step as though it were a great precipice. As the
week progressed, the puppies caught on to her tactic and are no longer deterred
by the step. All in all, Bella is doing a great job as a mum. Her role is
shifting to an occasional playmate but mostly a sentinel as she lies down in a
quiet corner of the play area and keeps a watchful eye on her brood.
Toward the end of a long, fun-filled day, the puppies like to get some
good night cuddles before they drift off to sleep dreaming of tomorrow’s
adventures. Once the weather co-operates, they’ll be able to enjoy a bit of
outdoor time as well.
That’s it for now, but be sure to join us next week for
another beguiling installment of “Puppy Tales”.
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