FIVE Weeks! (Updated)

These first few photos nicely illustrate what five weeks looks like. Jasper decided a long, fluffy tug toy did not belong on the deck and so he carried it from the deck and down the ramp.

He thought the grass was the perfect place for it.

Sapphire had a different idea. The toy definitely belonged on the deck, he decided — and so off he went with it.

Capella went and got the toy and brought it back to the grass 😂

There is so much playing between the Gems and Capella these days.

Love this of Capella and Star Garnet 🩷

The puppies last about a solid hour of playtime now.

I stay out with them, of course. It is so much fun to watch them (and take photos). This is Topaz.

Jasper.

Sapphire has the most lush coat.

Ramp photos are a nice way to see how puppies look in motion. This is Jasper.

Topaz.

Puppies did a lot of ball chasing today — like little cats.

Star Garnet.

🩷💙💙💙

(Later)

Such good intentions!

The puppies got a cool new play thing for their five week birthday and so I set that up, and got the splash pad ready for an evening birthday party (with just us — but that is still a party!).

Topaz is the most fearless in water.

I am teaching two summer school classes and although they are online, I like to do regular Zoom sessions so the students know a real human is their teacher. I did one at 6 pm and then finished getting everything ready for the party. As I was doing the 7 pm Zoom it got super cloudy and windy. REALLY windy — as in the new play thing went flying through the air as I sat here talking to students on Zoom about grief 😂

Star Garnet

Sigh.

Jasper

When the Zooms were done, I went out and regrouped, weighing things down and skipping the new ball pit part of things. Not quite what I envisioned but it was still fun, and the clouds and wind made it much cooler — a bright side!

Sapphire

The wind made lots of new noises so that was a good experience for the Gems.

Jasper and Star Garnet

And now that they are all played out and sleeping, the wind is gone.

I guess the party continues in the morning 🎂🥳

Bonus Video — just look at Star Garnet’s tail!

Day 34 (Updated)

One of the harder things — for me — about raising puppies well is the disrupted sleep.

For the first 9 - 10 days, Dear Son (aka Galen) helped by watching puppies while I slept in the middle of the day. Eyeballs on puppies when there is a suffocation risk from mom inadvertently lying (?laying? 🤔) on a puppy is important.

Separating a new mom from her puppies so the human can sleep seems mean to me. Additionally, it has the potential to cause issues with lactation — new puppies nurse a lot and that is important for milk supply. Taking them away from their mom interrupts the critical supply-demand process.

Once the Gems seemed big enough to not be easily or quietly suffocated, I slept next to the whelping box. Capella could go in and out as she wanted, and I was there to help sort things out as needed. I slept pretty well in snatches, and that worked until I woke up to Jasper marching around the living room in the middle of the night.

Jasper

The new set-up (aka Puppy Jail) contains the puppies but also means Capella needs help to go in and out. The new sleep system involves locking up the cats so they do not wake up puppies with their important nighttime cat work, and I sleep in the room closest to the puppies with the door open. I can’t sleep in the living room anymore because the puppies get very excited to see me, and none of us would sleep.

Sapphire

Capella is free to sleep with me or wherever she wants; she can also wake up puppies if she needs to nurse them simply by standing outside Puppy Jail and triggering an Idaho Puppy Choir practice session. Nobody can sleep through that! I wake up to open the gate and let Capella in to nurse puppies.

This is working well. Capella feeds them once during the night — at about 3 a.m. — and then we all go back to sleep for a couple of hours.

Topaz stalking a sibling.

At some point, they will sleep through the night but for now, they need to eat and Capella needs to feed them. Anyone who has nursed a baby knows how uncomfortable it can get if you go too long between feedings.

I like the idea that expressed puppy needs are being met (“we are starving!”). I want the Gems to understand they have agency in the world, and are not helpless — they can make things happen. Learned Helplessness is not a good trait for a working dog (or a human).

Babies need opportunities to master developmentally appropriate challenges, and to tell us about their needs so we can meet them. Mastery is how puppies — and humans — develop grit and resilience. Living so closely with the puppies allows me to ensure these things happen.

Star Garnet and Jasper

When we ask and nobody responds, we just give up.

And when the thing we try to do is impossible for us right now, we learn to not even try.

I want puppies who ask and try.

Topaz on a floor chair

At almost five weeks, we are starting to see structure. This is Sapphire.

Star Garnet is so charming and friendly — and attentive.

Topaz — isn’t he so lovely?

They are all so perfect 🩷💙💙💙

(Later)

102 here today — yikes! Thank goodness for central air conditioning. This meant no evening outside time for the Gems. Luckily, Puppy Jail is plenty big for the four of them to enjoy some fun.

Jasper

Jasper

Puppies are carrying things now — so cute! This is Sapphire carrying KaiBabz.

Be Still My…

🩷

Day 33 (Updated)

Capella enjoys playing with her puppies — it looks scary but it is all gentle 🩷

Sapphire: My, what big teeth you have!

Don’t mess with Star Garnet!

🩷

Star Garnet.

I love this photo of Sapphire (with Jasper).

After playing outside, it was naps and lazy chewing on the deck 💙 This is Topaz.

Jasper.

🩷💙💙💙

(later)

They run. They scamper. They bark. They bite toes. And to think that five weeks ago they were not even born!

Star Garnet, Topaz, and Jasper

Star Garnet

Sapphire doing a play bow!

Also Sapphire — a bit confused about where the crown goes.

Living with the puppies means I get to observe so much, and that helps me form opinions about them. Today I watched Topaz try to get up the slide — over and over. He kept getting so close, only to slide back. He was undaunted. It was quite impressive to see him keep trying until he made it to the top — I might have cheered for him 🏆

Grit is a good quality in a puppy — and a human.

⭐️