Sierra and Hudson’s Litter – Week Seven

We will miss you little ones.

“Choir Practice”

It began at very low volume, oscillating for a moment before it built to a crescendo.  Could it be?  Yes….our prayers were answered.  It seems that two or more of Sierra’s pups have inherited their mother’s absolutely darling “happy howl”. As her brood matures, Sierra’s role has evolved to that of pack leader, although choir leader is more apropos at times. Her pups are almost fully weaned now as they are eating three square meals a day. She is affectionate and playful with them, teasing them with toys and showing them when to bite and when not to. She lets them know she’s the dominant dog and corrects them if they misbehave. Prior to letting them nurse, she does two or three laps of the foyer while the puppies give chase to try and capture their target.

The gang has also entertained some other canine visitors. For the longest time, Bailey has been desperate to make their acquaintance. Once she gained access, she gave them all a sniff, determined they weren’t hers and bolted out of the room while the little ones were attempting to suckle. Surrey on the other hand, managed to jump right into the whelping box, likely in search of some toys. Once in the midst of the puppies, she decided they were even better than toys and enjoyed a leisurely, albeit unsanctioned visit with them.

The group went on a car-ride this week to visit Dr. Matt, the veterinarian for their check-ups. In true English fashion with very proper manners, they did not make a peep in the car on the trip there or back, nor did anyone get car sick. Everyone passed their physical exams with flying colours and was very brave as they got their shots. Dr. Matt remarked that this was the best-behaved bunch ever! This was also the week for temperament testing and it was no surprise that this was a very well-balanced group. Their appetite for exploring their environment and learning new things grows with each passing day.

In the coming week, we’ll spend a lot of one-on-one time with each of the puppies to continue to build trusting relationships and ensure that we get our fill of puppy kisses before we need to say “so long”. While we’re sad to see them leave, we are comforted by the knowledge that they will be abundantly loved as they continue on the next leg of their journey. And no matter where your journeys take you, little ones, “you’ll be in my heart”.

That concludes this edition of “Puppy Tales”.  See you next litter!