Regalgoldens Golden Retrievers

We are a happy bunch! “The Christmas Ornament” This was a week of adjustment as Pepper and her mini pack have now been relocated into the living room which is like a V.I.P. room for moms. She has both a sofa and a love seat to stretch out on for her ultimate relaxation while being able to keep a watchful eye and ear on her brood. What’s more, she has a private yard for a little walkabout which her puppies will use as their playground.  In the meantime, that’s where she and her two partners-in-crime, seven-month-old Dutch and Tulip consummate their digging projects. Pepper is so good-natured that she doesn’t mind that her two furry friends use her space as a thoroughfare en route to the backyard. Since Pepper has been enticed by the comfort of the sofa and no longer sleeps in the whelping box, we’ve removed the pig rails altogether. We also added an extension which expands the space from 4x4 ft. to 4x8 ft. Despite the plethora of real estate, the pups still choo...

It's all about interacting this week!  “The Jigsaw Puzzle”   The pups are spending a great deal of time playing and interacting with their siblings, so we’ll be expanding their living quarters very soon. In  the meantime,  they have gym memberships thanks to an elaborate play station and numerous plush toys at their disposal. While all of that is certainly fun, one of our favourite things is to watch them sleep. They have the most unique sleeping arrangements from the standard sibling pile where they’re all piled up in a heap to being interlocked in the most elaborate of jigsaw puzzles or Rubik’s cube to synchronized sleeping where they lie front to back, front to back and so on. To help the puppies continue to bulk up, they had their first raw feeding of hormone and antibiotic-free meat with organic vegetables, pro-biotics, vitamin supplements including vitamin C, bovine colostrum and Puppy Gold for eye and immune system development, goat’s milk and plain...

“On the Road Again” A mere seven weeks ago, they were all chipmunk-size nuggets – all squirmy with little pink feet and noses. They evolved from helpless little bundles to real going concerns that are desperate for backyard time and curious to know what each and every little sight and sound represents.  It’s interesting to witness the pups’ growing independence as they venture into the far corners of the yard either on their own or in small groups.  How time flies. This week, the gang got to go on a road trip to visit the friendly veterinarian. This is typically when many puppies start wailing but not this group. They were very quiet on the drive. Of course, once inside the clinic they made many hearts melt and were a bit hit with the clinic staff. Their examinations were all stellar and so was their behaviour. And not a single pee or poop on the floor during their entire time there. We’ve had some rowdy groups there in the past! The ride home was equally calm but w...

Eat, sleep and be merry!  “Riding the Rails”   The pups reside in what’s called a whelping box: a 4 ft. square enclosure which we’ve lined with mats and towels, in order to accommodate the puppies’ rapid growth, we’ve had to raise the pig rails up a notch. These are rails around the inside of the whelping box, that are there to help prevent mom from accidentally squishing one of her kids. At some point during the following week, the rails can safely be removed altogether and an extension to the box will be added which will give the gang lots more room to play in. To enhance their experience, we’ve put stuffed animals in the whelping box as an obstacle course of sorts as well as fluffy playmates to cuddle with.  Now that their vision is established beyond simply being able to detect light, dark and movement, the puppies are becoming increasingly curious about their surroundings and each other. They’re staggering around and beginning to get ac...

Lots of fun times outside! “The Teasing Game” The gang is growing steadily and is now getting three meals a day, supplemented by Skye’s still frequent offerings of dessert. Their muzzles are lengthening and are beginning to look a bit more like the adults they will eventually become. Their emotions are becoming apparent too, so they whine to show fear, whimper if they’re hurt and bark when they are excited, want attention or are ready for dinner. And they seem to be ready for dinner a lot! We are spending time alone with each puppy, playing gently and teaching them to relate one-on-one in a safe, trusting situation. The best part is that we get to repeat the exercise each and every day and this group is particularly affectionate. From day one, these little guys were totally comfortable with their outdoor surroundings and they’ve since had many opportunities to enjoy the yard. Their first priority is to see if mom is willing to oblige them with a snack. Once that been determined...

Our eyes are open!  “The Little Temple” Pepper’s little ones are doing very well – almost too well in fact.  Since there are only five in the litter and their mom is in overdrive and loaded with milk, they’re growing and developing in leaps and bounds. They now resemble mini Buddhas with their plump little bellies, so we’ve had to try to limit Pepper’s nursing time before they explode. It’s exciting for us when the puppies’ eyes open at around the 10-day mark. Many of the puppies’ critical organs including their brain are not fully formed and they will spend several weeks developing rapidly. Since the gestation period in dogs is short (63 days), the tradeoff is that puppies are quite helpless at birth. Biologists refer to species that produce immature dependent offspring as altricial, which means “to nurse, to rear or to nourish”. It refers to the need for the young of these species to be fed and taken care of for a long period of time. Puppies are born with their eyel...

Fun times outside! “Busting Loose” This was a big week for Skye’s young family. We removed the pig rails in the whelping box that help keep the little ones safe from being accidently squished. As we were doing that, several of the pups came over to investigate resulting in a great deal of hand nibbling and cuddling. We also added an extension which has doubled the size of the whelping box from 4x4 feet to 4x8 feet. How luxurious! In one corner, there’s now an area with paper shredding which the little ones are learning to use as a litter box of sorts. This is the first step toward potty training before they can access the yard. 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 communica...