The weather was gorgeous again today! The big dogs enjoyed it and so did the puppies. The babies spent most of the day outside again. They love it. Tim took care of the puppies today while I slept; I worked last night at the hospital. Potty training is going good. I leave tomorrow for the Mayo Clinic. Tim will be in charge of all the dogs while I am gone. I trained SoBe and Mini in the field today; they loved it. They got to run and get out there. I hope to get down to Montogmery so, I can put them on real birds. I am planning on running trails in April.
The puppies spent most of this wonderful day outside in their pen. Tim put a plastic dog house out for them and they played and slept and played some more all day. The temperature was perfect; it was around 40 degrees today. The puppies right now are getting a little snack before they go to bed. Each puppy is displaying his/her own personality. Gin Rickey (black & white, Kahlua), Pink Lady (liver & white, Trixie) and Pina Colada (black & white, Kahlua) played and chased the new water bottle I put on the floor for a good 5 minutes. Spritzer (liver & white, Kahlua) fell asleep in the food bowl. Dreamsicle (liver & white, Trixie) and Jelly Bean (liver & white, Trixie) played hard with each other today. The babies play hard and loud with out a care in the world. Tim slept with the four boys: Ace, Baker, Jimmy, Tyrael, last night while I was at work. Trixie, Kahlua, Mini, and SoBe were out with me tonight. Tim gave Trixie, Tyrael, and Shae baths today. I trained out in the field today with SoBe and Mini. They enjoyed being out there. The snow is still very deep in some places so, it made running a little difficult for the girls. The snow provides enough resistance to give the girls a good workout/ training session. I need to work off all that pent up energy they have right now because they are couped up in their crates in the kitchen due to them being in heat. I am going to work again tonight so, it will be interesting to see which dogs fly down the stairs to greet me in the morning. I hope everyone was able to enjoy the wonderful weather!
The puppies are now a little over 6 weeks old. We had friends over last night that played with the puppies. Swamp Water (liver & white, Trixie) decided to tinkle on one of our friends; what do you do? The puppies spent more time outside today; the weather was gorgeous. They did good with the potty training. We are weening them off the mommas; as so as that happens it will be even easier with the potty training. The rest of the day the babies played in the kitchen on the floor. They wrestle each other and now you can tell when one of the puppies get the others ear; they scream bloody murder. Tim placed ads in the papers today; I have 7 more to sell so, wish me luck! I trained today. Mini and SoBe did great and loved being out in the sun. They are a little couped up in the kitchen because they are in heat. Tim and I try to give them as much exercise as possible while still keeping them separated from the boy dogs. Trixie and SoBe are here with me right now playing with each other. SoBe still acts like a puppy some days; she is trilled when someone (a dog) will play with her. I have to go to work tonight at the hospital so, I slept most of the day; at least I tried. It is a little hard with all of the noise the puppies make but that is ok. I hope that you all got a chance to be out in the wonderful weather. I know that I am jealous of the guys that trained dogs today in Montgomery at Bill’s.
“Every newborn puppy is a storybook waiting to be opened and read by an appreciative person,” James B Spencer; Gun Dog Vol. 27, No. 2.
Just to note that the issue of Gun Dog this month Vol. 27, No.2; is a great issue and you should all think about reading it. It has lots of information about picking out a puppy and extensive articles on Springer Spaniels; I feel that it is worth purchasing.
The puppies spent a large amount of time outside today; the weather was so warm. They played in their outside pen and enjoyed the snow and the sunlight. The babies have their winter coats so, they did not get too cold. I am so happy that the weather has warmed up; it makes Tim and my jobs easier when it come to providing care for the puppies. When the babies were not outside they were playing on the kitchen floor with all of their toys. I must say that they definitely enjoy the pigeons and pheasant wings the most. The potty training is going well; not to many accidents today. Like Chuck Nelson says, “Progression not Perfection.” The “rattle” that Tim made for them can be heard from anywhere in the house; the noise makes my jump when I am not expecting it. Swamp Water (liver & white, Trixie) is so cute, she lets you know what is on her mind. Gin Tonic (liver & white, Kahlua) is a little spit fire; he is full of puppy energy and enjoys chasing his siblings around. All of the puppies are in their, “I want to follow you,” stage so, anywhere Tim and I walk or another dog walks we have 14 little bodies following us; I must say it can get a bit annoying and, I know that the big dogs find it very irritating. The big dogs have enjoyed the warm weather as well; they have been out running and playing most of the day in the sun. I did catch Trixie and Tyrael sunbathing on top of one of the many doghouses in the yard. I trained today and it was wonderful. Not to cold not to warm (you know where you have all your gear on and you sweat buckets). The snow was fluffy and Mini and SoBe got a good workout running through it. I gave Mini more retrieves than SoBe today; I thought she needed a little bit more excerise. SoBe did great today; she had a lot of fun in the snow. Both of the girls are in heat so, they are my responsibility until they come out which, I might add, is rightfully so. I hope that you all enjoy the nice weather today; so sledding, perfect day to do it!
It is really cold out….holy buckets!! Tim and I took the puppies to the vet for their 6 week shots and check up. Everything was great! We also got supplies for our other dogs. After we got home Tim and I gave our older dogs their Vangard Boosters, dewormer, and Heartguard medication. Baby Brooke got her rabies shot as well. The puppies are doing great with potty training; only one little accident at the vets office (H & H Vet). So, everyone is now on the same shot schedule and Heartguard schedule. Tim put a big comfy comforter in their kennel for them and they are loving it. The puppies spend most of the day sleeping in a big pile in the middle of the kitchen floor. I do have to say they deserve the break after all the LOUD playing they do. Wow, they are so rambunctious. Like I said before, I love all the noise in my house; it will be very lonely when there is no puppies sounds anymore and Tim gone. Tim is leaving right when the puppies are ready to go home so, I have two count downs: one when Tim leaves and the other when the babies go to their new homes. Either way my house will be very quite at the end of the count downs. Tim and I had all the dogs out with us the other night. Trixie, SoBe and Mini all slept with us. They do a great job of keeping us warm in bed. I did not train today; I worked at the hospital and had no time because we went straight to the vets. Plus, I might add, it is really COLD outside, if I would not go out in it I don’t expect my dogs to train in it. I hope it gets warmer soon; I am getting stir crazy! Bundle up; It is COLD!
Happy Presidents Day; who is your favorite President?
Wow, the puppies make quite the swarm of teeth and fur when you walk into the kitchen. They are at that age were everything goes in their mouth including the hose to my refrigerator. They managed to bite a hole into the hose that runs water to my ice maker. I have never had a litter do that before; it must of looked enticing. Potty training went better today. I had only a couple of accidents which is my fault; I am just not quick enough. The puppies have learned that when they are in their crate that if they cry and have to go potty we take them out. They are getting so smart. I am excited that they are growing so fast and that their social development is on track! It is extremely cold outside so, I put them out just long enough for me to count 14 little puddles and then they come in. I did not train today, way to cold and the wind is blowing fast; at times during the day it was whiteout.
This morning the puppies had a new adventure; they went “swimming” in our big bath tub. They did not know what to think about it but, they still had fun. Tim and I had two families come pick out puppies today. All of them were wonderful people and should be great homes for the babies. Tim and I also took new puppy portraits for the website. I am happy to report that of the 24 pictures I needed I only had to take 48 pictures, much better than the last time we took pictures. The pictures I think turned out great. Today was not the best day for potty training. Every time we took them out to go potty they would do their business and come in and pee again. No luck today; we were running puppies outside every 15 minutes it felt like. I do have to say that Tim did admit that he fill they food dish up with way to much water and of course they drank it all. His explanation is that the babies have a tummy the size of a tennis ball and a bladder the size of a golf ball; it was defiantly made sense today! I guess everyday can’t be perfect as far as potty training is concerned. SoBe is out playing with Tim right now; they are wrestling, he can get her very rilled up. Mini and Trixie were out with us most of the day while we waited for people to come look at puppies. It was an overall good day! Gave Mini and SoBe and the puppies a day off from training. Tomorrow is Presidents Day; who is your favorite President?
The length of a springers tail is important. It can tell you a lot about the dog. If it is short and stumpy it means that it is a bench cut dog. Bench cut dogs are the ones that you see in dog shows like The Westminister Kennel Show. If it is a long tail that means that it is a field cut dog; it is bred to hunt and work in the field. My dogs are field cut dogs with long tails and, hopefully with a little white tip on the end. The tail tels you a lot about what the dog is feeling and what they are thinking. For example if a dog has its tail in between its legs it might be scared, unsure, or uncomfortable. When a dog has its tail up and wagging it might be happy, comfortable, and self assured. When out in the field you will learn to read your dogs “tail talk.” You will know when it is working a bird or excited or frightened. It is important to pay attention to your dog and its tail when in new situations so you know how the dog is reacting. Every dog is different but, all remains the same, their tails convey their emotions and thoughts so, pay attention!
Well, the puppies can climb stairs my magazine paid the ultimate price. I had it sitting on the stairs and while they were playing one went up the stairs and got it down and everyone decided that it would be fun to shred. Tim and I put up a puppy pen in the front part of our fenced in yard. It was so warm out today we decided the babies could be out for a while and play…they had a lot of fun in the snow. Today Tim and I did a bunch of errands in Alexandria and, did yard work that we were waiting for warmer weather for. All the girls were out with us last night: Trixie, Kahlua, Mini, and SoBe. They all snuggled with us on the couch while Tim and I watched some UFC. There is a family coming to look at puppies tomorrow; they are picking out a little boy; I think another family is suppose to come tomorrow as well, they are getting picking out a little girl. I have the perfect puppy in mind for them! I hope tomorrow is as warm as today; I want to do some training with out my heavy winter gear.