Hugo & Paige Litter – Week Five

Miss Olive says hello!

“The Houseguest”

Every now and again a puppy escapes from the whelping box and makes its way to some unspecified location. They never really get too far and are soon whisked back into the box with their siblings. A shortfall in the headcount of their neighbour Faith’s litter led to the discovery that Paige’s group included two puppies with green collars. Oops! When Mr. Ivy escaped the previous day, without checking his undercarriage, it was assumed that it was Miss Kale who had escaped so in he went. Fortunately, both Paige and her crew were very accommodating and welcomed the little guy into their circle. We can’t imagine what he must have been thinking.

The dynamic in the whelping box is evolving. This is the beginning of the most influential socialization period for the puppies. They’re learning to communicate with each other and with us by wagging their tails. With the increased control over their facial muscles, they are making expressions and are beginning to reveal their personalities and communicate their opinions. They spend longer periods of time awake and they use it to engage in some manner of play with their siblings whether head butting or wrestling. They’re also craving a lot of attention and affection so we frequently have to pick one or the other up for a little cuddle.

This week we removed the pig rails and added an extension to the whelping box to double its size. Now that the puppies are growing, they need a bit more space to allow them to pick up speed to scramble from end to end. One end now features sleeping quarters and the other end which has a tray filled with paper shredding that serves as their lavatory which is their first step toward house training. In addition, the puppies now have gym memberships, an elaborate play station and numerous plush toys at their disposal.

That’s it for now but be sure to join us next week for another regal installment of “Puppy Tales”.