The Daily Report (Updated)

Mary-Ann Sontag February 12, 2021

One good thing about the temperature being below zero is that I do not have to rush to get the frozen raw food that was delivered yesterday in the house in a big hurry…

This is helpful because things have been a bit hectic and crowded in here as we transitioned the Bright Stars out of the whelping box.

Consider how one takes down a whelping box and puts up an entire pen in the same space — while managing ten puppies and their mom. Enter Suzanne — she did not just help with the photos!

The additional space allows us to use some of the wonderful things we have been gifted — like this structure that Lori made and sent to us a few years back…

And just wait until you see what Nova Sr. in Minnesota made and sent to the puppies!

We also have some really great toys that have been sent and will be coming out soon. So much gratitude to everyone in the Bright Stars/Moonshadows community — for your gifts, your texts, your emails, your good thoughts, and your laughter imagining what it must be like to have 10 + 10 puppies in the house. It all matters.

Three weeks is a magical age. Hearing is emerging and vision gets better and better. The puppies are mobile and interactive. This means it is time for them to start expanding their experiences and their minds with safe, manageable novelty.

You will begin to see a constantly changing assortment of experiences offered to the Bright Stars — things that they can successfully master at their own pace, thereby promoting competence and confidence.

When the Moonshadows hit three weeks, they will be engaging in the same processes.

For now, the Moonshadows are doing what they need to do — getting ready to take on the world.

Potty pads are in the center of the Bright Stars puppy paddock because when puppies wake up or stop eating, they drift away a bit and potty; having the pads in the middle maximizes hitting the target.

We use spendy human incontinent pads because they stay dryer than puppy pads when used. Since smell helps puppies know where to go (literally), there is a used one under the new ones to help support success.

And so all is both well and changing here as the puppies’ developmental needs and capacities change.

Life in fast forward.

Have a lovely day.

Evening Report & Photos

Congratulations to the Bright Stars’ Auntie Ruthie on her first Novice obedience leg. First trial, first leg — well done, Team Ruthie! Being a star runs in the family :)

Our Big News is that Claire ate an entire meal from a BOWL!!!! This is literally the first time in about two months that she has done that. Dare I hope that we are turning a hormonal corner?!

I meant to post this earlier — all the morning weights…

And guess who is REALLY thrilled about the new special kitten playground?

Two Weeks, Three Weeks, WOW (Updated)

Mary-Ann Sontag February 11, 2021

The Bright Stars were flocked this morning…

These are not the usual KaiBobs that show up for every litter — these are special sheep. Cuddly little talking sheep.

They are, in fact, the extremely rare and elusive KaiBarbZ sheep.

KaiBarbZ sheep are a cousin to KaiBob sheep but with enough wooly coats to get them through the Montana winter…

Sent and received with love — thank you, Barbz.

And speaking of gratitude…

Thank you, Anonymous Friend, for sending that perfect mug to Dear Husband! He was very touched :)

Moonshadow Metis was selected to demonstrate some new Moonshadow skills — here he is sitting…

Standing!

Daisy is such a sweet mom — here she is with Hunter…

Two-weeks-old Moonshadow Puppy Pile…

Claire seems to be feeling SO much better — and as evidenced by this look at Nova, her puppies did not suffer while Claire was under-the-weather…

Two-and three-weeks — wow. Photos later but in the meantime, here is a video that captures well the difference a week makes. Enjoy it — and your day!

Evening Report and Pics: Holy Rodeo!

Set Designer and Puppy Wrangler, Suzanne, came over to do the photos with me — any success is all on her. THANK YOU, Suzanne!

**Daisy loves Suzanne SO MUCH! The puppies are the Bright Stars.**

The Moonshadows at Two Weeks

The Bright Stars at Three Weeks

Puppy Grand Central Report (Updated)

Mary-Ann Sontag February 10, 2021

When I was a kid, our cat had repeated litters of kittens (this before parents knew better and spaying wasn’t a thing). Some of my earliest traumatic memories involve those kittens.

The time, for example, my toddler brother accidentally killed one by slamming the kitten in a car door — it was Halloween and I went to the Kindergarten costume parade with kitten blood on my white Casper the Friendly Ghost costume.

The extra kittens who were dropped off at the pet store or Humane Society — I feel haunted by all that still.

The responsibilities involved in the creation of Life are adult activities.

Yesterday, as I fretted and worried about Claire, I kept imagining the experience from the perspective of a child and was reminded why the kitten memories are still so traumatic.

Children should never be burdened with things that exceed their developmental capacity, and that includes the creation and maintenance of Life.

In fact, I feel a bit outraged this morning on behalf of children whose parents think casually breeding a dog or cat so the kids can experience the miracle of life is a good plan. They might want to consider how the child might feel when worried their beloved dog might die.

Putting kids (or puppies) in situations where they experience fear and terror — and yet cannot do anything about it — is a great recipe for imprinting traumatic memories. Life will throw enough at the young ones — don’t do more on purpose.

Claire is better but not 100%. Do you know how long it takes to eat a cup of kibble 1 - 2 pieces at a time, with pauses every 20 or so pieces?!

A long time.

My dogs do not eat primarily kibble on a regular basis — they get a variety of foods — but puppy kibble is calorie-dense and that is what is needed. Besides, she won’t eat anything else at the moment besides kibble and Animal Crackers.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner of the Nauseous!

The Bright Stars are all just fine — nursing was not interrupted by Claire’s illness. They are all happy little hippos.

**Bright Star Sun says, “who are you calling a hippo?!”**

Zaniah was the first escapee from the box — Heze considered an attempt but aborted it.

Over at the Moonshadows, developmental milestones are being ticked off right and left. Eyes are opening and now puppies are staggering — the Drunken Dinosaur stage has arrived!

The Moonshadows are all so lovely…

And Daisy is an easy and competent mom who is always happy to eat. Thank goodness!

Rosebud wants the Moonshadows to be renamed: Rosebud’s Squad.

The puppies have presents!

But I have meetings, class, and a webinar — and since I am the webinar presenter, I need to focus on all that first and will open presents as the reward for finishing all the things.

Have a wonderful day — and please eat!

Evening Report & Pics

After a stressful 36 hours, I am pleased to share that Claire is feeling better!

She is back to eating — okay, yes — from my hand but still — she is eating! This breeding thing is definitely rated Adult Content for gore, stress, bad language, suspense, and so on.

Whew.

But the puppies are incredibly cute!