We are a cute bunch! “Pick Me!” The sound is unmistakable. It can happen at any time throughout the day or night. Sometimes it’s a howl but at other times it sounds like a baby crying. And that’s our cue. Heidi’s litter has progressed to the point where they crave extra attention. The little ones are becoming more responsive to their environment, reacting to every sight and sound, watching us very intently as we move around the whelping box. It’s a challenge to reach in without having a herd of little feet anchoring the very towel we’re trying to swap out. Their tiny voices call out as if to say “pick me, pick me!” No longer content hobnobbing with their littermates, they relish being picked up and caressed, all the while nibbling on our noses and bathing us with little puppy kisses. These are among the blissful moments that make our journey worthwhile. Now that the whelping box has an extension, the puppies have room to run laps. They ...