Skip to main content

Mango and Storm’s Litter – Week Four

Doggy den for sale or rent.

“The Cavern”

They suspected nothing. She had spent several days earning their trust so she could finally move around the compound without scrutiny. She had to work quickly, but there were no tools at her disposal other than her own limbs and sheer determination. Bit by bit, the ground gave way. She worked tirelessly for what seemed like an eternity. Smiling, she stood back and assessed the fruits of her labour. Just a little bit more she thought. Just another day or two and it would be complete. Unfortunately for Mango, the cavern she created to house her babies was eventually discovered and her plan to move them was thwarted.

Meanwhile in the living room, the extension was added to the whelping box and the puppies now have an elaborate playstation at their disposal (no batteries required). They are developing their strength, co-ordination and cognitive skills as well as learning to engage in activities with their littermates. They scramble around at top speed and pounce on each other or play “pretend jousting” where they stand  apart from their opponent, take a couple of steps forward and gently bounce off their sibling. They test each other’s limits and are learning the difference between hard and soft biting.


The gang is also honing their vocal skills. One evening there was such a racket coming from the whelping box that it sounded like there was an all out brawl taking place. We raced to investigate and discovered all five of the puppies standing around in a circle, barking at each other for no apparent reason which left us wondering what that conversation was all about!

 
Clean up is just as enjoyable as mealtime.

This week saw the introduction of the puppies to gruel or mush: a healthy concoction of oatmeal, honey, goat’s milk and vitamins to supplement the feedings they get from their mom. It’s always interesting to see how things take shape during the inaugural feeding. Mr. Twister was the first one in line for a taste test. One by one, his brothers followed suit as they bellied up to the buffet. Curiously, Mr. Sandstorm was very intent on getting the bulk of his nourishment off the face of Mr. Purple Rain. All of a sudden, Mr. Lightning Bolt decided he would enter the bowl and since he was unable to keep his footing, he laid down in it. Fortunately, everyone chipped in to help clean him up. While this canine buffet has been a big hit, the milk bar is of course still open 24/7 and remains a popular venue. Not that she minds, this is a bit of a reprieve for Mango from each of her puppies’ twenty-eight razor sharp teeth that are coming in. Whoever said that motherhood was easy?

That’s it for now, but be sure to join us next week for another riveting installment of “Puppy Tales”.
Click to play this Smilebox slideshow

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Fiona & Dutch’s Autumn Litter 2025!

Dutch and Fiona's puppies arrived! Introducing Fiona & Dutch’s Autumn Litter 2025 We are thrilled to share that Dutch and Fiona has welcomed her first litter on Wednesday October 22nd!  She was expecting 12 puppies, and although we sadly lost three little angels after a long 14-hour labour, we are overjoyed to have  nine healthy, robust pups — three girls and six boys . Fiona has been an exceptional first-time mom, instinctively knowing what to do and bonding with her puppies immediately.  Meet our Autumn Litter, in birth order: 🍂  Miss Kale  – Purple collar 🍂  Miss Spice  – Orange collar 🍂  Mr. Acorn  – Brown collar 🍂  Mr. Apple Pie  – Red collar 🍂  Mr. Gourd  – Green collar 🍂  Mr. Twilight  – Black collar 🍂  Mr. Frost  – Light Blue collar 🍂  Mr. Sunrise  – Yellow collar 🍂  Miss Mushroom  – White collar We can’t wait to share more updates as these little ones grow! Stay...

Storm & Tulip Puppies – Day One

  They're Here! What a day it was! Tulip didn't skip a beat yesterday. She enjoyed breakfast, lunch, and dinner as if it were any other day... and then, at 6:30 p.m., she calmly welcomed her first puppy into the world. Making a grand entrance was  Mr. Rocky Road  (brown collar). Not long afterward,  Mr. Maple Walnut  (beige collar) arrived, and that's when things started to get a little more exciting! Our third arrival,  Mr. Pistachio  (green collar), decided the backyard lawn was the perfect place to make his debut while Tulip and I were out for an evening walk. Thankfully, I always carry a towel with me when we're close to whelping. I scooped up our newest little traveler, and Tulip and I made a speedy dash back to the house. The surprises didn't stop there!  Miss Vanilla  (white collar) made her entrance on the bedroom carpet while I was letting Tulip outside for a quick bathroom break. Shortly afterward,  Mr. Moose Tracks  (blac...

A Big Week for Dutch and Fiona's Puppies!

Two weeks old today! Fiona's puppies are now two weeks old, and what an exciting stage this is! Every day brings new changes as the puppies grow stronger, more aware, and even more adorable (if that’s possible). At this age, the biggest milestone is that their eyes are now open! Though their vision is still a bit blurry, they’re beginning to see the world for the first time — mostly shapes, light, and movement. Over the next week, their eyesight will continue to sharpen, and they’ll start recognizing their littermates, their mom, and of course, us humans. The puppies are also becoming more mobile. Their wobbly little legs are gaining strength as they start to scoot, crawl, and even attempt to stand. It’s amazing to watch how quickly they go from tiny, sleepy newborns to curious explorers. Fiona is doing a wonderful job keeping everyone clean, warm, and fed. Although she doesn't have the milk supply we hoped for, we are supplementing by bottle feeding at least once daily.  The p...