Day 44 (Updated)

The bag continues to be very popular β€” for all kinds of reasons.

Star Garnet 🩷

Jasper

This was interesting. A honking flock of geese went by, and the only puppy to notice them was Jasper.

He turned and tracked them as they flew out of sight β€” here is his best bird dog pose.

Jasper notices things.

This is Topaz.

And look at this! All four πŸ©·πŸ’™πŸ’™πŸ’™

(Later)

Today went a bit sideways but all is as well as it can be at the moment. Topaz is having some issue with bone and joint pain, and so we spent the afternoon at the vet. He is fine otherwise β€” eating, engaged, playing as long as he doesn’t need to move much. No fever. It just clearly hurts to move πŸ’” Thanks to Galen and his family for staying with the other puppies while we were gone today.

Bottom line β€” we are not yet sure what is up. More on this tomorrow but again β€” all is stable at this time. Topaz needs to limit his activities, which he is doing naturally since he is hurty, and we will regroup with the vets on Monday. More on all this tomorrow.

In the meantime, this is Topaz tonight. He LOVES the sprinkler.

All of them do now. This is Jasper getting a drink from the sprinkler.

Sapphire.

Jasper used to be Head Troublemaker β€” not anymore.

I went inside to change their bedding β€” I do this fast because I like eyeballs on puppies all the time. I looked out to check on them and saw this little scene β€” do you notice anything amiss with the sprinkler party?!

That would be the three well-behaved boys on the correct side of the fence, and one renegade girl on the other side. She apparently thinks she is ready for the big dog yard πŸ˜‚

Day 43 (Updated)

Another beautiful, happy, playful morning here with the Gems.

One of the puppies will be traveling with his new human on a plane in a sherpa bag. I have one here to help him get ready. Inside the bag is a WOOF Pupsicle.

It was a big hit β€” I can tell you that three puppies and one mom head can fit in the bag at the same time!

This is Star Garnet peeping out from behind Capella 🩷

Sapphire gets fluffier and fluffier β€” he has so much coat!

Topaz. I love the dark eyes in the litter.

Jasper.

The Heart Girl 🩷

I hope you have a happy day 🌞

(Later)

Jasper discovered the ball pit wasn’t the only place to shop for a ball.

The puppies are all now wading in the splash pad.

Jasper.

Can you remain as still as Sapphire in the face of threat?

Star Garnet 🩷

πŸ©·πŸ’™πŸ’™πŸ’™

SIX WEEKS! (updated)

How can the Gems be six weeks already?!

Can you see the heart on Star Garnet’s nose?

The Gems had their first β€œsolid food” meal last night.

Early introduction to β€œsolids” is associated with a variety of less optimal outcomes in humans. For babies of all species, nursing from their mom represents the best nutrition β€” anything else is substituting inferior for optimal.

Delaying introduction of other food allows the GI tract β€” home of the immune system β€” time to really mature.

In puppies, I think close to six weeks of exclusive nursing is good.

The Gems’ meal was organic chicken breast blended with cooked brown rice β€” I am using Balance.it to generate recipes for them. Everyone loved their food 🍲

I feed them separately to ensure that everyone gets their fair share, and to discourage frantic, don’t let my sibling steal my food eating.

They will have breakfast and dinner for one week β€” plus unlimited nursing. When they are seven weeks, they will move to three meals a day β€” plus unlimited nursing.

I recommend four meals a day for puppies when they go to their new homes until they are about three months, and three meals per day between three and at least through six months (I feed three meals throughout a dog’s life).

Star Garnet will be staying β€” she can nurse as long as she and Capella find it agreeable.

Star Garnet and Sapphire

Nap Time!

Eat, Play, Nap, Repeat. All day.

What a wonderful life!

πŸ©·πŸ’™πŸ’™πŸ’™

(Later)

Sapphire.

Tonight’s adventures included a sprinkler with a little pond.

Star Garnet was the only one to step in the pond.

But the sprinkler is such a big hit. Topaz just parked himself under it πŸ˜‚

Jasper walked through it a few times.

Sapphire and Topaz β€” bro play!

Aaaaaahhhhhhh β€” summertime. This is Star Garnet 🩷

Thanks for being with us πŸ©·πŸ’™πŸ’™πŸ’™