Big Day Today

Today was a big day. I introduced the puppies to what I call kibble mush. It is the same dry dog food that my adults get but it is soaked in water and then mushed up like potatoes. It is about this time that the puppies show an interest in their momma’s food. When that happens I know they will take to the mush. And, they LOVED it.   They will get this 3 times a day now. And, in about 2 weeks they will no longer get their mother’s milk. They are scheduled for their second nail trim later today and I hope the weather warms up enough so they can go outside and play on the grass!!

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Maxi’s pups with their first meal of soggy kibble.

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Lily’s pups eating their moistened kibble.

 

I Learn Something (or a lot of things!) New Every Day

“The time in every puppy’s life, from 3 to 16 weeks, is often referred to as “the
sensitive period.” The things that breeders and new puppy owners do, or do
not do, are important and have the power to greatly influence the kind of dogs
their puppies will become. During this time you literally have the ability to grow
your pup’s brain in size and complexity, making your pup smarter, healthier and
more confident.
As a breeder you will have your pups during much of their sensitive period.  Whether
you sell your puppies to buyers who plan to do search and rescue, agility, tracking,
service work, therapy work, hunting, herding or simply bring joy to a family,
you can increase their success by integrating the list below into your puppy-rearing
program and encouraging your puppy buyers to continue once they bring their
pups home.”
This quote is taken from a wonderful resource I discovered the other day. I was looking online for ideas
for making a puppy’s play more fun and discovered “The Adventure Box” pictured at left.
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Doesn’t this make you just want to jump inside and play?

Then I discovered the entire website called

Avid Dog at http://www.avidog.com/
It is the creation of some California dog trainers that share the same breeding and training philosophies as I do…starting, of course, with the puppy stage.
They have an e-book that I would encourage all puppy owners to download. It’s FREE!! It’s called “97 Ways To Create Great Puppies”. I am so overwhelmingly impressed with it that I want to spend each post talking about them. Here are the first six ways with my notes:

1. Supplement your dam with Omega 3 fatty acids for increased trainability in her pups.

Note: Our moms alternate between Salmon Oil and Coconut Oil. They LOVE both!
2. Give puppy kisses each day.
Note: OMG! Who could miss out on this one?
3. Supplement your dam with probiotics for stronger immune systems in her puppies.
Note: This is new for me but I’m convinced it is a worthwhile supplement. Ordered some today!
4. Run your fingers down the puppies’ tails from base to tip.
Note: I think the kisses are their favorite but this is a close second!
5. Keep mom’s stress low to increase milk production and mothering.
Note: Sometimes, with all the activity in our house, this is a challenge but it is a huge priority for me!
          I think we do pretty well here.
6. Keep room temperature so the pups aren’t crying and their mom wants to be with them.
Note: Never an issue here!
Before I conclude, let me say I am on my way to creating my own Adventure Box!!!  I have found a bunch of fun toys at the dollar section of our local Target store. Metal toy buckets, mini tennis balls, bright ABC’s and some cool plastic bowls and lids. I’m on the lookout for more. And, I’ve also ordered some stains for my PVC piping in bright blue and bright pink…because the white is ugly and boring!

And Now Maxi’s Pups Have Names!

 

Introducing our Blues Legends Litter  (Potter and Maxi’s Pups) with names, weights and new photos.

All are doing quite well. I spent time with each puppy handling their paws and ears and rubbing their bellies. They also had their first nail trim. Lots of stretching and yawning going on and they are moving around like a herd of little guinea pigs!

This is when the fun begins.

We had a terrific storm here in southwest Florida last night but they never seemed to notice.

IMG_8409 Puppy #1, a boy, is Puppy #1, a boy, is now Jimi (as in Hendrix!) and weighs 14.7 ounces.

Puppy #1, a boy, is now Jimi (as in Hendrix!) and weighs 14.7 ounces.

Puppy #2, a girl, is now Etta and weighs 1#, 2 oz.

Puppy #2, a girl, is now Etta (as in James) and weighs 1#, 2 oz.

Puppy #3, a girl, is now Billie (as in Holiday) and weighs 1#, 6.8 oz.

Puppy #3, a girl, is now Billie (as in Holiday) and weighs 1#, 6.8 oz.

Puppy #4, a boy, is now Stevie Ray and weighs 1#, 7.3 oz.

Puppy #4, a boy, is now Stevie Ray and weighs 1#, 7.3 oz.

 

 

Puppy #5, a boy, is now Eric for one of my all time favorites, Eric Clapton! He weighs 1# 2.3 oz.

Puppy #5, a boy, is now Eric for one of my all time favorites, Eric Clapton! He weighs 1# 2.3 oz.

Named for Muddy Waters, another Blues legend, this is Puppy #6, a boy.

Named Muddy for Muddy Waters, another Blues legend, this is Puppy #6, a boy. He weighs 15 oz.

Puppy #7, a girl, is now Tina. She weighs 1#8.2 oz.

Puppy #7, a girl, is now Tina. She weighs 1#8.2 oz.

Puppy #8, a girl, is now Janis. She also weighs 1#, 8.2 oz.

Puppy #8, a girl, is now Janis. She also weighs 1#, 8.2 oz.

 

Do Havanese Like Children? A Video

You betcha!!!

It is alsmost as if a child is another puppy, these Havanese are so smitten. And gentle.

Now, as young puppies…under one year…like all puppies, Havanese are exuberant. And in this state, their sharp little teeth might find the wrong “toy.” For that reason always, always supervise your puppy/toddler play. Once a puppy reaches a year, it will be different…for the puppy that is. Still, toddlers can also display inappropriate play (pulling an ear or a tail or a fistful of fur) and must be supervised until 5 years old or so.

Video of Maxi’s Pups at Two Weeks Old!

This is when the fun begins! Puppies are 2 weeks old now, making sometimes sweet coos, sometimes puppy challenge growls and wobbling around on their little legs. Noses are black now as are some of the pads on their feet. Soon their eyes will open and a few days after that the fog will clear and they will be able to see their siblings and their Mama…and me!…for the first time.

I took this video of Maxi’s litter yesterday.

Hoping to catch a video of Lily’s pups later today. Stay tuned!