Growing Up

Well folks, I know I haven't been posting much lately. The puppies are growing "like campaign promises," as my book describes it, and becoming more doglike every day. I haven't posted much because they're now in the realm of real puppyhood that anyone who's ever taken home a puppy has already seen. Nonetheless, this does not mean they aren't doing anything interesting!

Day before yesterday, Blue had one ear up. Yesterday, he had two. He looks completely different, especially since this has happened concurrently with his reaching a new developmental level insofar as he has acquired an adult-like trot and carriage of the head. He's also beginning his fear period a few days early, oh joy of joys, and attempts to flee from strangers if not held. This is a puppy who will need a lot of socializing.

Aqua is still very much a puppy, with his head round and puppylike and his ears and paws soft and floppy. The musculature is developing, but more slowly, as he continues to be several days behind his siblings in his (otherwise normal) development. He is waggy and happy, and greets new people easily and with an offer of kisses. He also strongly prefers to poop outside of his area and will consistently ask to be let out, but until yesterday, it was hard to tell whether he wanted to poop or just wanted attention. Also, he would very much like to poop in the hallway instead of outside, and managed to elude Ariel long enough to do so last night while I made dinner. Triumph! He was so pleased.

The dominance hierarchy has settled with Aqua on the bottom, poor guy. Blue growls and barks to drive him back from the food until he's done. I'm going to start feeding them out of separate bowls, something which hadn't previously been necessary. I'm also going to start feeding them meals instead of free-feeding, although their mealtime intake won't be restricted, because I'm tired of them pooping constantly! If I'm not there to let them out, then they dash around in a panic, looking for a better spot, until they reach the end of their fue and detonate wherever they happen to be. Then, naturally, they step in it and track it around, where it dries instantly and sticks like grim death.

Trinity is having a blast with them, though still too rough to let them play unsupervised. The puppies' grips are strong enough now that the three can play tug-o-war together, and that game works very nicely and she is quite polite and friendly with them, as this game doesn't ignite her prey drive.

I know some people may be wondering how Trinity took the loss of two of her puppies when Goldie and Gilly went home last Tuesday. Honestly, she didn't even notice. She didn't look for them or pine for even a moment, and seems to be enjoying having fewer puppies because they have a better family dynamic. I was sad about them leaving, but once they were gone, I found that, although I had lost two puppies, I had gained a lot more intimacy with the remaining dog pack.

Vet visit

So the biggest event in our pups' lives was the trip to the vet for vaccines on Thursday. My friend Elana came along to help me maneuver the puppies. I loaded two crates into the hatchback and put two puppies in each, with their usual "kennel buddy" and toys. They immediately started screaming, which they have done every time I tried to drive them anywhere, even around the parking lot.

It was a long drive to the vet and I started to feel a numbness in my ears around mile 5. It occurred to me that if I cracked the windows a bit, the sound waves might go out the window and be quieter - I've noticed I have to turn up the radio when the windows are open. As soon as I did so, the pups instantly shut up... and fell asleep! I was dumbfounded, and felt more than a little bad for not trying that sooner. I had thought the road noise would frighten them but clearly I was wrong.

By the time we arrived at the vet, the puppies had clearly decided their kennel was a sweet spot. I lugged them into the exam room still in their kennels, for security, and then let them out to explore. Only Goldie, however, wanted to come out; the others were happy snuggled into the corner of their kennel on their soft blanket.

The vet examined them all and they were very good. They accepted treats, which the vet said meant they were not too nervous and was a good sign that their socialization is working, and didn't complain about the table, or about being prodded and stuck with a needle. She gave everyone a clean bill of health, and says she found all of the boys' balls, although one each of Blue and Aqua have not descended yet.

I was, of course, delighted to hear that Aqua is healthy! She says the short palate becomes less of an issue as they grow anyway and as an adult he may not even have one anymore. This means that he will be going to Connecticut to live with Jeff's boss, and hopefully get to play/work with Jeff too, which I think will give him confidence. Blue will be staying home, which is good because he and Mama have a particularly good, respectful relationship.

Speaking of Blue, today we had a new developmental milestone: Object possession! I  had given each pup a slice of roast beef to eat while they practised being in their kennels this afternoon (they are doing great) and Blue's had a piece of gristle in it, so he was still working on it when his kennel buddy, Aqua, had finished. When Aqua came and investigated Blue's beef, Blue mantled over it and gave him a Look and a low growl. Aqua backed off, then tried again, with the same result and a slightly longer growl. This time he turned his back and went to the other side of the kennel to chew a rawhide instead.

I was so pleased - not with the growling so much, but with the normal doggy interaction. I had been wondering if the pups would get good at this sort of "Leave me alone" interaction, because Trinity never, ever tells them to go away or protects her stuff from them, so they wouldn't be able to learn it from her. Evidently they are teaching each other and I am happy to watch.

Speaking of Trinity, the poor dear simply will not stop making milk. She hasn't nursed them in three days but milk still drips from her breasts. When I let her see them, nothing I wrap her up in is sufficient to keep the pups off of her rear breasts, especially since she spreads her legs to make it easier! I'm also worried that their nuzzling will promote more milk. So, I can't really let her play with them, and it's causing her significant distress. I may see if she can go stay with my uncle for a night.

Pee pad issue resolving

So I thought long and hard about it and concluded that I should rearrange the pen so that the pee pads were where the puppies had decided to pee. I moved the kennels over towards the "front" of the pen (which faces the door and the computer) and removed the old nest box entirely, then placed the pee pads along the back wall. The puppies are still sleeping in the front area and NOT on the pee pads. It appears that I was wrong when I thought the pads should be nearest the door; they wanted to sleep there and chose that as their nesting area so it is right that I moved the pads.

They are having trouble peeing on the pads and tend to pee about a foot and a half away from them, but I have hope, especially now that they aren't sleeping in their own pee. I feel a little bad for not doing this earlier but my intentions were good as I strode along that road to Hell (so to speak).

We Have a Situation

The puppies have long thought of the pee pads as a comfy place to lie. Well, they've decided that they shouldn't pee in their "nest" and will now pee everywhere BUT the pee pads! This morning I found they had pooped ALL OVER the enclosure including INSIDE THE KENNEL! I was pissed.

This is a serious problem and extremely frustrating because I can't convince them not to sleep on the pads. I'm worried their instinct to not pee where they sleep might be dampened by constantly sleeping on something that smells like pee. I'm going to try to accelerate their crate training - I need to do that anyway - so that they are spending significant sleeping time in the kennels instead of on the pads.

Wish me luck :(

Socialization

I can't believe I forgot to post about this on Sunday! The big event in their lives that day was going to church after the service to have their first experience with groups of children. The church helped me socialize Trinity into the friendly, child-loving girl she is, and they had been waiting with bated breath to finally meet her puppies. I knew this was a good, safe place to bring them, since everyone there had already learned on Trinity.

The children were all very good, and nobody minded the pups' nibbling or attempted to pick them up and carry them around. Ariel helped me and we took both x-pens and linked them together to make a large pen on the church lawn.

The pups did extremely well and I'm glad I brought them. I took the kennels along and they hid in them once or twice but always came back out for more. Individual puppies had as many as four children clustered around them and petting them and they showed very little trepidation, and a lot of playfulness and curiosity - especially spunky were Aqua and Gilly! I had a lot of "Are they all spoken for?"

Tuesday they will meet Ariel's co-workers, and Wednesday they will meet the folks in my father's office. Thursday is the vet, so they will stay home Friday and Saturday to rest.

Piranhas and Chinese Cresteds

All the pups attempt to climb or hop up to my face, which is often rather alarming as their snapping jaws close inches from my mouth. Mostly, especially Goldie and Aqua, they want to lick my chin and I want to encourage this ritual because it is how I like Trinity to greet me - politely, one lick on the chin when invited, then back to wagging. However, this is not always their intention. When my hair, which is long, is loose after a shower, its springy, dangling locks are unbearably tempting to the puppies and I found myself with a lapful of furry piranha fish this evening, rather like this one:



Meanwhile, Trinity is shedding ALL of her fur, it seems. I can see through to her skin on almost every part of her body except her tail and mane. I find myself wondering if I have a Tervuren or a gigantic Chinese Crested Dog in my house!

Crate training, socializing, and Mama Dog's tank top

I'm crate training them now. They eat most of their meals in there and I time it for when they're tired so they are more likely to sleep than fuss.



I'm weaning them but don't want to forcibly keep them separate since Trinity enjoys playing with them so much. So, I bought her a little tank top and made a fleece "bra" that attaches to the back and covers her breasts. It doesn't stop them if they are really hungry and Trinity really wants to nurse them, but it makes it more difficult, and prevents them from just randomly latching on whenever she walks by.

Wednesday

This morning, I came out to find a huge steaming log at the back door and a very proud Blue waiting for me. Apparently he was sick of pooping on papers and took positive action to escape the pen!

I was proud, but still can't have them escaping while I'm not there, so I rigged up a taller pen.

Tuesday

This day my friend Elana, who helped with the birth, came over to help me take the pups to the all-but-unused playground in my apartment complex. I used the space to practice following, and give them a chance to play in the deep leaves. Much fun was had by all.

When I had taken all the other puppies over there and was returning to get Blue, he escaped the x-pen. I came back to find him waiting at the door. I thought it was an accident and I hadn't latched it properly, but next morning...

Monday

Monday had the puppies carrying toys around for the first time, and sharing them with each other. Aqua carried the puppy pacifier into the kennel to chew while he rested, and it was adorable. Food-related dominance hierarchy seemed to begin to be established, and I am being surprised to see that Galahad (formerly Red) is turning into a gentle giant; he does not shove his siblings aside anymore, and when playing, his bite is soft and he doesn't retaliate when he is bitten but instead tries to submit or flee. Aqua is a ferocious little beast - do not let him get your tail! Goldie is sassy but usually plays fair. Blue, normally very submissive with people and animals, begins to show a tough streak and a very hard bite, leaving a bruise on my hand and sending other puppies running when they push him too far and he retaliates.

Sunday

On Sunday, lots of people came over to visit and pick out puppies. The pups behaved very well, but some of them started to try to resist being dominated or held on their backs. Of course, I am demonstrating that this is not optional. Developmentally, Sunday was otherwise status quo.

Whoa, I'm behind on posts - this post: How to paper-train your litter

OK I have been majorly neglectful of this blog but these puppies are soooo much more interesting than typing so it keeps sliding off the bottom of my to-do list.

That said, I'll get caught up in a bunch of posts all at once.

The past few days have seen 100% of indoor potties on the papers, and a statistically significant number of outdoor potties as well. This has been so successful that I decided I would describe exactly what I did in case anyone is interested in trying it themselves. I have no idea who is reading this blog these days so please excuse me if none of this is interesting to you, and skip to the next post.

The purpose of all this is to maximize the pups' natural instinct to potty away from the nest. I had read that pups as young as 3 weeks would try to leave their bedding to pee, and wanted to see how far we could go with this!

1. I bought a long (6' x 15') piece of linoleum on sale at the hardware store, and built the nest box (4' square) with no floor. I placed the box, which was heavy enough not to move around, on one corner of the linoleum, so that the single piece was both the box floor and a covering to protect my apartment's wooden flooring from soil. The box has a gate in the front that can be folded down, so that it is either 8" high or 16" high, depending on the gate.

2. The nest box had papers on the floor and, on top of that, a faux sheepskin blanket in the back. This blanket worked really well because, if they peed on it, the pee went through the blanket into the papers, keeping the puppies dry.

3. I checked the papers often and removed soiled ones ASAP, and de-scented the linoleum underneath with an enzymatic dog mess cleaner - except I usually left a little bit of pee smell on the front edge of the box to encourage them to pee there. I used the Wee-Wee brand cleaner, which smells better than Nature's Miracle, but it leaves a slightly sticky residue so I would also wipe it down with vinegar and water every few days to keep the linoleum from getting gross.

4. When they got old enough to climb over the gate, I folded it up to be higher, and then only let them out when I was playing with them. I surrounded the linoleum with an x-pen. (I made use of the walls in my room to make the space bigger. You might need two x-pens to enclose such a large space.) During this time I observed they peed more and more on the front papers and less and less on the blanket. I introduced a puppy pad with a plastic holding tray (so Trinity wouldn't nest in it) at this time. I also placed pads at the farthest edge of the linoleum.

5. When I noticed the puppies preferring to potty on the pads outside of the box, I started leaving the box open all the time. I removed the pee pad that was inside the box and now only kept pee pads outside, two pads at the far edge and one pad nearer the box (in case they couldn't make it to the far pads). IMMEDIATELY they ceased to pee in the nest!

6. To help them know where to potty, I always cleaned up accidents ASAP with the enzymatic cleaner. Once a day, I also cleaned the entire linoleum with that cleaner to remove any trace smells. Cleaning the floor frequently and thoroughly with the enzyme cleaner was vitally important, because if I was busy or absent and a pee was left too long, the pups would track the smell all over and then no longer be able to find their way to the pads to pee, and start peeing everywhere. I also removed pee pads once they had several pees on them and no longer felt dry - the pups don't like them once they are too dirty.

6. When they had gained enough control to have almost no accidents, I stopped putting the pee pad that was near the nest. Now all pads are at the far end of the nest.

They still occasionally miss the pads a little, like peeing a few inches off, but they try! At first, they would not be able to poop on the pads because they would scoot off before they were done, but as their balance improves, they are able to stay on the pads even to poop.

I have now placed their kennels inside the nest box, to reinforce the kennel's status as a den and a place to be kept free of pee. We're just starting kennel training, giving them their meals in the kennel and enclosing them for a minute or two at a time - not so long that they fuss. All's going well!

Goldie poops... OUTSIDE!

There was much excitement over here tonight: Goldie asked to be let outside to poop! She was zooming back and forth along the x-pen panel closest to the door, obviously needing to poop but whining and in distress and looking towards the door. This happened off and on for several minutes! Finally I took her outside and she pooped! I was amazed. I would have told anyone this was impossible but Goldie is precocious in a lot of ways and I have praised her numerous times for pottying outside, which praise she really responds to.

Next I'm looking to Blue to want to poop outside. He is very fussy about where he potties and often doesn't potty on the papers, but in a very deliberate way - he sniffs and looks around and then selects a spot, usually out-of-the-way and some distance from the nest, but not always on the papers. Maybe he thinks papers are dirty?

Adventures in potty-ing

A few days ago I noticed the pups strongly preferring to potty far away from their box when playing in the x-pen area. At the same time, they started to bark and whine to be let out of their box whenever they were awake. So, I decided to fold down the "gate" so they could climb in and out of the box at will.

This has been quite successful insofar as it stopped them whining to get out of the box, but at first met with only moderate success with the potty issue. I realized they really can only hold their pee for a few seconds. I added a puppy pad nearer to the box for them to use in an emergency, and it is often used.

The new home entertainment is to watch a sleeping puppy wake up, yawn, languidly roll over... and then suddenly leap to his feet, hurl himself over the gate, and gallop desperately for the farthest puppy pad to pee. If anything gets in his way (Mama, for example, or one of us, or even just a large toy) his fuse will run out and he will detonate on the linoleum. Once, I witnessed some serious indecision in Blue, where he made it halfway to the far papers but then thought he might actually prefer to go on the paper nearer the nest (no idea why, he is funny about his potty locations) and tried to turn around and start back - only to end up peeing exactly halfway between the two pads. Whoopsie.

The pups also have a real knack for peeing right on the edge of the pad so that it overflows. Yuck! And, of course, though they START pooping on the pad, they usually scoot off of it before they're done. But, I appreciate their efforts.

Not to fear, the pups do have the opportunity to potty on other surfaces besides papers; we now go outside for one full play period, during which time most of them end up pottying at least once, with lavish praise. Aqua gets cold early, so I put him inside my jacket; then sometimes he decides to play some more, but other times falls asleep and I return him to the nest.

Goldie's lust for outdoor adventure is nigh-insatiable. She's never tired by the time they others are ready to go in, and often works up to a good frisk and then smacks into the x-pen wall. She has acquired a following instinct early and will follow me and Mama eagerly, so has even gone on a few little excursions. Trinity is ecstatic and really wants to zoom around and play with her puppies, but they are still much too little; I'm hoping she doesn't frighten them out of wanting to play with her!

Some drama occurred today during outdoor time. I was sitting on the ground with the three boys milling around my legs, mostly ignoring them because I knew where they were and looking over to monitor Goldie, who was exploring the boundary of the fence. So, when Red suddenly screamed and scrambled into my lap, wailing inconsolably, I had no idea why or what had happened. I still don't know! I examined his ears and eyes, paws and between the toes, and looked inside his mouth and felt around with my finger (thinking he might have bitten a stick and gotten poked) and could find no evidence of any injury whatsoever. Nevertheless, Red would not leave my lap to play again until eventually the other puppies got tired and we all went inside. Eventually, he began to play and chew, and now is behaving normally, but I'm still kind of concerned that he might have a splinter or something that I can't find. I will be watching him carefully for a few days.

Meanwhile, the puppies are eating ravenously and have graduated to eating whole mushy milk-soaked kibbles (instead of pureed mushy milk-soaked kibbles). I plan to gradually just soak them for less time so they are firmer and firmer. Red actually will eat whole dry kibbles; he stole a few from Trinity recently and ate them. I'm not trying to rush them, but I did want to get Aqua away from mush as quickly as possible. He's doing very well, growing rapidly, and playing vigorously, but he gets cold more easily outside and tires first. He's a very sweet puppy, when he's not snarling ferociously and biting his mother's tail!

Trinity is still happy to nurse them and clean up after them, and enjoys playing with them, although she does often escape from the x-pen to do her relaxing and napping. Most places I've read say that she should have lost interest in cleaning up and that most bitches also will start to growl at their puppies for biting their nipples too hard, and that many bitches don't actually want to play with their puppies. I think the ability to leave when she is tired of them is helping her not get sick of her maternal duties. Either that or she's just a good mom! I've never seen her discipline a pup for biting her or nursing when she's not in the mood, although I have seen her take charge when one puppy bites another and makes him squeal - she wades in and rolls the aggressor on his back, pinning him with a mouth over his belly or throat. This usually turns into play, but I imagine the pup gets the hint.

Image overload

Behold, the bounteous harvest of my digital camera! Give thanks for the season of abundance (of fuzz).

Trinity has wanted to nurse them standing up for some time now but they weren't strong enough. Now they are!

I set up the first of the small puppy kennels and they love it. Trinity has decided she wants to nurse them in there but it's hard to fit them all! See the paw under the hem of the curtain? Pay no attention to the puppy behind the curtain! (Click to open a bigger version in a new window.)

(Click to open a bigger version in a new window.)

Goldie noses Aqua, who asks, "How did you get in there, anyway?" (Click to open a bigger version in a new window.)

This is their primary use for the water fountain - dipping random body parts and tracking water everywhere.

Aqua, who has only just learned to do a play bow, tries to get in on the action. The others learned soon after. (Click to open a bigger version in a new window.)

The puppies find the stash of newsprint and paper towels. Oooh!

Look what I found!

This is Blue, who had been hiding behind the curtain. "MoOOoommm, you're ruining my fort!"

Interesting note - Blue has not gone back there again, but Red has decided this is the best place to nap. He wedges himself in there so tightly that I can't get him out without moving the kennel!

Another developmental milestone: They can reach their own bottoms.

Blue attacks the camera cord: "What is this thing and why are you paying attention to it and not ME?"

Pictures

Finally got around to taking the recent pictures off my camera. Here they are!

Trinity is blowing coat. All the fur is off of one half of one side of ehr body. You can see her skin!

<

Goldie is super comfortable

Zoomed out, you can see the rest of the family, too

I added a puppy pad holder with actual puppy pads. As you can see, they love it... sooo comfy.

Toys, grass and facial expressions

Recent developments include adventures on grass, the use of a smile and a snarl, and playing with designated dog toys under their own volition.

A spell of unseasonably warm weather yesterday and today allowed me to take the puppies outside to play in their x-pen on the grass. Yesterday, the puppies simply toddled about and sniffed, while Trinity zealously guarded them with ferocious barks at innocent bystanders a full block away. Today, Ariel joined us, and Trinity was so unconcerned that I had to repeatedly call her back to prevent her wandering off! Ariel thinks this is because she was used to having the pups outside, but I think she was trusting her Alpha male to guard them for her.

The puppies' reactions to the grassy outdoors were all different. Goldie began to express barrier frustration with the x-pen, so I decided to take her out and let her explore freely - with Trinity and me following her closely, of course - while Ariel watched the other pups. She frisked and nibbled flowers and generally acted like this is how life should be. Encouraged, I returned her to the pen and took each of the others out as well.

Red was at first eager to be out, but then took a look around at the wide sky, changed his mind and trotted back to the pen and his siblings and daddy. Blue didn't particularly want to come out, but once out, he expressed interest in smells and frolicked a bit. Aqua did not want to leave and would not explore, but instead curled around my feet until I returned him to the pen. Meanwhile, Goldie banged on the bars and demanded additional exploration time! I took her out a second time and again she trotted around fearlessly until eventually I took pity on the other pups and brought everyone back to the nest.

Indoor excitement abounds as well, as the pups and Trinity both get better at playing, both puppy-to-puppy and puppy-to-mommy. The pups' facial expressions have been developing rapidly now that they can see each other; first the eager open-mouthed grin and "huff", next the happy smile, and finally, today, a ferocious lip-curled snarl. Aqua, consistently one of the most assertive in his play, was wrestling with Blue until evidently Blue said something offensive (maybe he called Aqua a sonofabitch ;-) ) and Aqua made the scariest noise I've heard out of them yet, complete with bared fangs and furrowed brow. Trinity immediately waded in and broke up the fight, and then began to roll Aqua around and play with him herself, which was cute.

The last development happened late this evening, wherein apparently all the pups simultaneously learned that they could hold a toy and chew it. The large buckyball (PetEdge calls it a holl-ee-roller) is a favorite, as well as the Orka Jack rope/chewie combo toy. This is very cute and I'm glad because hopefully they can soothe their teething pain better now; the molars are coming in and the pups are biting pretty hard now.

They are receiving two small meals of real food a day now, ground-up kibble mixed with milk and left to get mushy. It's got chunks in it and the pups are able to avoid the chunks if they wish but are free to experiment with eating them. Blue hates the chunks and only deigned to eat a few this evening, but Aqua, that hungry lad, will eat even whole (softened) kibbles. They LOVE their food. So does Trinity, but she's very good and obeys my "leave it" while they are eating. She doesn't growl or try to drive them away from her food anymore. I think she's bonded with them as real beings now that they are playing, and she doesn't begrudge them their food as much.

She's still perfectly delighted to clean up after them, despite the addition of soft food. This makes my life much easier and I am very pleased with her for doing so. I never have to worry about coming home to the puppies all covered in ... well, unspeakable things!