C Pups Enter Transition Period

The transition period (from neonate to PUPPY!) is from 13 to 20 days and is marked by a number of physical changes. At the beginning, the puppies eyes will start to open - on average around day 13. While their eyes react to light, the retina is still undeveloped and the puppy is unable to see objects or movement until around 21 days. The puppies are now crawling backward and forward and have begun to stand on wobbly legs. Their first teeth will erupt later this week, around day 20. Tail wagging will begin during this period indicating that tail wagging is not reliant upon seeing or hearing since the pups cannot see or hear yet. Pups begin to react to sound on average at day 19 when they startle to sounds but cannot usually locate the source. Another big week in store for the C litter.

YES, we are . . .

Barack said YES we can, the C's say, YES we are.

YES, we are getting big.

YES, we are starting to open our eyes.

YES, we are happy to have visitors like Kathy and Karen who think we are very very cute.

YES, we are almost ready for cat collars.

YES, we are working toward pound number 3.

YES, we are very loud when we are hungry.

YES, we are ready and patiently waiting for our names.

Two Pounders!

Yep, that's right, most of the pups are two pounds or better. They are growing like weeds and getting cuter every day. Notice in the new pictures, puppies ears are starting to look more like ears and less like antennas! Now that's progress.

One Week Old!

Just one week ago the pups were making their way into the world. Time flies by and pups are growing by leaps and bounds. Their collective weight at birth was 8.15 pounds and at tonight's weigh in their collective weight is 13.5 pounds, wow, 5 pounds in a week, must be good mama's milk.

Omeeka is enjoying some time away from the babies but still spends the majority of her time with them. She is sweet and patient with their nursing and climbing all over her. With today's blue skies "O" decided to take a break from motherhood and take a quick dip in the pool. Since she was standing on the steps and already pretty wet, I threw a tennis ball for her. In her own indomitable style she got out of the pool, ran to the other side, and LEAPED through the air to get the ball. What a girl!

Happy Easter

The "C" litter is enjoying their first Easter sleeping, eating, and GROWING! Omeeka is now enjoying some brief time away from the pups and yes, she did go into the pool yesterday in spite of the freezing weather. All in well in "C" land!

Mamamamamama - we're starving!!

Tiny Toe Nails

Day three - time to work on all of those toe nails. Eight puppies x 4 paws x 5 nails per paw = better stay on top of this job! I noticed how quiet and settled the pups get when they go into the "pup incubator" or hold box as the manual calls it. So, I decided try to use this to my advantage. I put the heating pad on my lap and covered it with the fleece from the hold box and then picked up each pup in turn. The heated fleece worked like a charm - each pup settled in on my lap with hardly a wiggle as I trimmed their nails. I sure hope this trick will continue to work!

All of the pups are over one pound now and seem to be gaining an ounce or more per day. Omeeka continues to be a devoted mom but for the first time since the pups were born, she got up for a potty break without my coaxing. What a good girl. She's eating well and seems very comfortable with her new babies. Well, ok, she did one short lap in the pool today - I'm thinking it was a vanity lap, she just wanted to tidy up a bit.