Thursday, November 12, 2009
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!
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!
Friday, November 6, 2009
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?
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.
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.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
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?"
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?"
Monday, November 2, 2009
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!
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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.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
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!
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!
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