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Bella and Hudson's Puppies - 8 weeks

Mr. Brown ...looking so Regal! This week was all about having fun and getting dirty in the process. Fortunately, the morning dew that covered the lawn was nature’s little miracle footbath that cleansed the puppies’ feet on their way back to the playpen. This week was also about meeting new people, making new relationships and evolving roles. As their mother and caregiver, Bella still provided the occasional snack to her little entourage, but after mealtime, she became their playmate, one on one or in groups. Not unexpectedly, their “Aunt” Sierra who has always adored the puppies, was their favourite and most capable chum. She would inspire a group to chase her and then roll onto her back to allow the little ones to climb on her. With such keen maternal instincts, Sierra is bound to be an exceptional mum herself one day. Aunt Sierra playing with Bella's puppies. The group was eager to get further acquainted with their dad, Hudson and their “Uncle” Jazz, but did h...

Bella and Hudson's Puppies - 7 weeks

The Angel Litter .... Miss Lavender Miss Lavender warned him by barking several times, yet the intruder would not budge. She began to bark incessantly, but he was still unyielding. Finally she could take no more. She lunged forward and sank her teeth into him jerking her head from side to side as she pulled back. He finally toppled over and lay there, helpless…..defeated. Score one for the puppies. The broom that graces our deck had learned its lesson. And thus, the tone for the week was set. With their sense of adventure and confidence growing daily, the puppies have now explored the better part of an acre of their private wonderland. They still enjoy their gardening and rock climbing, but have added a form of steeplechase that involves chasing each other under and through various pieces of deck furniture. Their foot races across the back half of the property came to an abrupt halt one day for Mr. Crimson as he disappeared into a large hole that had been dug by some of our old...

Bella and Hudson's Puppies - 6 weeks

So many new adventures this week! It’s been a busy week for the puppies. Now that they are becoming more comfortable with outdoor living, they have been pursuing various hobbies and interests. Mr. Black, the lumberjack, has been gleefully pruning a lilac bush. Not to be outdone, Miss Yellow and Mr. Brown have taken up landscaping as they rearrange twigs and bark chips. Messrs. Crimson and Blue are amateur rock-climbers scaling the flower beds, while the others practice their track & field, gymnastics or even origami with the paper in their whelping box. Bella feeds the puppies occasionally to supplement their diet of moistened puppy food, albeit with diminishing enthusiasm. It’s comical to watch them chase her around the yard in the hopes of getting a snack. All in all, Bella is doing a great job as a mum. She has even scared away a wild turkey lurking outside the fence to our yard. When the puppies are in their playpen, Bella lies dutifully beside it to watch over them, b...

Bella and Hudson's Puppies - 5 weeks

Bella soaking up the sunshine with her puppies. What an adventurous week this has been since the puppies were introduced to the great outdoors. They are spending a good portion of their day outside now, sometimes slumbering in their pen and other times on supervised expeditions in the yard. Their circle of comfort continues to widen and they are enjoying every minute frolicking about! With their vision and hearing now fully matured, they are very curious, learning about the things many of us take for granted: a blade of grass, a bark chip or a butterfly. One day during afternoon recess, Mr. Black, spotting an apparent gap under our gate, decided he would like to explore the previously uncharted expanses of our property. He recruited Mr. Crimson and Mr. Purple to join him in his quest, but all three were apprehended without incident. Being the good mother that she is, Bella is still very protective of her puppies and the only dogs she never minds having around them is their dad Hu...

Bella & Hudson's Puppies - Week 4

"Mush" is a hit with all the Puppies including Bella! It’s now approaching four weeks since these little darlings were born.  They are growing by the hour it seems, and are very gentle, easy going with loving dispositions. Each and every puppy is just so beautiful but with parents like Bella and Hudson, how can they not be blessed with good looks? The highlight of this week was mealtime “mush”:  a healthy concoction of oatmeal, goat’s milk and vitamins. What a hit! Without the need of an invitation, Mr. Black was the very first to dig in. The others followed his lead - some a little apprehensively, perhaps since this substance wasn’t delivered by the usual milk truck.  Since that first day, Bella must have taught them some manners as they are no longer inclined to climb into the bowl. They are now a very cultured group, taking their spot at the “table”, eating politely and recruiting their siblings to help them get cleaned up after the feast.  The added bonus ...

Bella & Hudson's Pups - 3 Weeks old!

It’s been another exciting week for Hudson and Bella’s puppies! Their eyes are fully open now and they are intently trying to comprehend the world around them. They are all walking and venturing out of the whelping box at every opportunity. Mr. Purple wins the prize for being the first one to escape. The whelping box is much larger now that a section has been added, providing everyone with a much-needed lounging area. The puppies are growing rapidly and it’s amazing to watch the transformation daily as they become more mobile and their personalities begin to emerge. They are beginning to play with each other and are spending more time awake each day. They are also interacting more with our family as we are greeted with nine wagging tails and tiny faces that peer up at us. The puppies are all so soft and gentle and they lap up every ounce of affection they receive. It’s impossible to resist picking up and cuddling each and every one. Mr. Blue, Mr. Green and Miss Lavender are certai...

Bella & Hudson's Pups - Week 2

Mr. Purple loves to snuggle It’s remarkable how quickly Bella’s puppies have grown, with some of them tripling their birth weight. They are just beginning to maneuver themselves around with the assistance of their hind legs. Some stagger around like closing time at a speak easy - they take several wobbly steps on all fours before they collapse into a heap. Bella is spending more time out of the whelping box, but her babies are always top of mind. Whenever she hears a squeak, she runs back to check on them. For reasons not apparent to us, Bella has been scouting out a new den for her babies. When she goes outside, she immediately runs to the corner of the house and begins digging. The hole is about 2 feet wide by 2 feet deep! Bella now has enlisted the aid of our younger dogs who think it’s great fun to dig! As Bella’s pups grow larger, so do their appetites! Occasionally Bella will throw us a backward glance when she enters the whelping box as if to ask, “What?  Didn’t I j...