Day 13 (Updated)

Mary-Ann Sontag June 17, 2025

I went back and looked at milestones for other litters, and I was struck by a couple of things. These puppies are big for this age. Even though Topaz is the smallest in this litter, for example, he is similar to the sizes of the Wildflowers at about this age. Jasper, on the other hand, is much bigger than other litters at the same age.

Eyes are more open in this litter.

Walking/play seems about on par with other litters.

Carol asked how much time Capella spends with puppies vs. outside. Capella only goes out to potty — otherwise, she is in the living room with the puppies, although she doesn’t spend all her time with them. She tends to nurse and snooze with them, and then get up and hang out away from the box.

It is shocking how quickly walking gets better — apparently, the Walking Fairy visited overnight!

Happy Tuesday!

(Later)

Camp Puppy was in session this afternoon.

Lincoln with Sapphire.

Berkeley with Star Garnet.

Berkeley with Topaz.

The aftermath 😂

Sapphire.

Jasper — look at how the tops of Sapphire and Jasper’s blazes flare up in the opposite direction.

All is so well here 🙏

🩷💙💙💙

Day 12 (Updated)

Mary-Ann Sontag June 16, 2025

Dear Son came over this morning so I could run some errands. I have not been anywhere except the vet in over two weeks! When I got back, Galen correctly identified that we have now entered the stage of the Drunken Dinosaurs.

They are lurching and pitching and sometimes even taking a few steps! And sitting!

In the picture above of Jasper and the one below of Star Garnet, you can see partially opened eyes.

Yesterday I mentioned that play was on the way — well, here it is! This is Jasper’s clumsy attempt at play with a sleeping sibling.

Sapphire marching over Topaz.

But they still spend most of their time sleeping — and growing 🩷💙💙💙

Happy Monday!

(Later)

Star Garnet 🩷

Star Garnet walking!

Star Garnet sitting with Sapphire 🩷💙

More play!

Sapphire sitting.

Star Garnet on my lap 🩷

🩷💙💙💙

Day 11 (Slightly Updated)

Mary-Ann Sontag June 15, 2025

I think the first 10 - 11 days of a puppy’s life is really just an extension of being in utero. Compared to other animals — horses, cows, and goats, for example — a new puppy or kitten is helpless and essentially still on life support, so to speak. Their engagement with the outside environment is basically nil — they eat and sleep and grow.

But now — Day 11 — we are really starting to see things change. As I mentioned yesterday, both Jasper and Sapphire have eyes that are opening. Puppies are attempting to stand and walk (okay — lurch). And this morning we have yet another emerging developmental milestone!

These open mouth photos — all taken this morning — are a sign that play is coming soon.

Mouthing will be their first play activity, and so we can see that they are developing awareness of their mouths.

Puppies — and development — are fascinating.

The next week should be action-packed with developmental milestones.

Jasper continues to be a bold adventure puppy, striking in his size, substance, head, and flashy markings.

He was the heaviest puppy at birth (17 ounces) and remains the Heavyweight Champion at 45.6 ounces as of this morning.

Handsome Sapphire, however, is gaining — literally. He is now 41 ounces; at birth, he was 16.2.

Weight gain for all four puppies is quite consistent. Jasper is 2.7 times his birth weight, Star Garnet is 2.6 times her birth rate, and Sapphire and Topaz are each 2.5 times their birth weight.