Author: Dackel Princess

I have great news for you all…Curt has a home!!! He will be adopted by Gail in New York, where he will be loved, and adored and spend his days hiking, playing and sitting by the fire! I knew almost immediately that she was perfect for Curt. It’s kind of a strange thing that happens when I find the correct person for a pup. I just get this overwhelming feeling of ‘rightness’! And I got that with the first email I had from Gail.

So little Curt has found a forever home!

The day was cool, windy, but…no rain. This meant I had the puppies outside a lot. Today’s exercise was to have them in the yard with me, one by one to see how well they followed and how well they know their names. They all did great, but I have to tell you how much Schnapps LOVES Fritz. She follows him everywhere and he nervously keeps walking. It was really quite hilarious!

At one point I had them all out with Greta and what did she do? Greta lay right down and nursed them!  They’re 8 weeks old! I can’t believe how strong her maternal feelings have been. What a great Mama she is!

At the end of the day the puppies were starting to settle into their bed for the night. The funny thing is, at one time they all quite easily fit into this bed, Now…take a look.

They don’t fit, but they work quite hard trying to get all of them into it.

The puppies all go to the Vet’s today for their shots. I’ll bring the camera again and take a million pictures, I’m sure.

In other news, cuteness abounds. Anneliese and Arnie were sitting with Hubby and I snapped this shot of them all.

Isn’t this sweet?

*****Have a great day everyone!!!*****

Did you ever have one of those moments, when you look over at the litter of puppies (or kitties) that you have helped bring into the world, and you are overcome with an overwhelming sense of peace and joy?

Yeah I have, but Saturday morning wasn’t one of those times!

I got up late actually, and felt almost rested after a full 8 hours of sleep. I pulled on my bathrobe, and headed out of my bedroom. I was immediately made aware that rain was pouring down outside, as  I opened the door, and none of the four adult dogs wanted to go out.

I encouraged Greta first, and then went to check out the puppy room. Usually, no matter how bad it is, I open the door and they all go outside into their little puppy pen while I clean up their room, but today it was cold and raining and I didn’t have the heart.

I looked at the mess (literally) and figured I could handle it. I was wrong. The pups saw me and got all excited. Before I could scoop up their little poopies they were jumping up and down in it! I reached out, trying to roll the newspaper up, they jumped on my arm! I used a wipe to get some horrible stuff off the floor and it ended up on my hands! I felt like a new parent changing their first poopy diaper!

I finally got the papers up and then started washing down the floor. The puppies tried to get the sponge and me and as I turned to move a puppy squealed! Oh no! I’d flattened one! Only there was no puppy there.The little bugger just wanted to be held!

I quickly attempted to put down fresh newspaper, and that was fun with 5 little babies all playing, “let’s keep Granny from putting the paper down”. After a few minutes I got enough down and then escaped over the fence. I gently washed each pup with a wash cloth, because I wasn’t sure who had made it into the poop and who hadn’t.

I mixed their food and fed them and then sat down with my first cup of coffee and just did nothing. Yes, I accomplished all of the above, caffeine free!

It never did stop raining today, but towards the end of the day when I cleaned the room for the last time, I did the unthinkable! I put them outside in their pen! Now before you turn me in for cruelty to animals, remember that the enclosure has a large overhang and when they came in, they had their dinner and then went to bed. Happy, healthy and clean!

And I made it through a very rainy day!

We spent quite a bit of time with the puppies outside yesterday. It was cold, and we had them out until we all were feeling the chill. Me, Hubby, Makenna and the pups. I grabbed my little camera and snapped away as the pups chased each other, Hubby and Makenna. They are so darn cute the way they jump and run around. Hope you all enjoy the montage.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Today I made another modification in the puppy room. I added a large doggy bed that used to belong to Fritz. The pups loved it, and when my neighbor, Jacqui came over she sat on the bed and they climbed all over her.

As you can see, the pups enjoyed climbing all over her, as well as chewing her toes! Yes, we discovered that Wally is a toe lick-er!

Then I decided that we needed to take every-one’s picture. I think they just get cuter and cuter every day!

Here is Curt. Gosh he is just so handsome!

Next is Calvin. He is also a totally handsome dude! He looks a lot like Curt.

Then there is our Little Miss. Schnapps. She is beautiful and I swear she has a very feminine face.

Fenway is probably the darkest of the bunch and has a sweet and lovable face.

And the brother who most resembles Fenway, is Wally, which is sort of funny. Fenway and Wally are not only brothers here, but will be going to the same home and will be forever brothers! Here is Wally.

Friday should be a lot of fun because we will be working outside with them laying lines of deer blood for them to follow, as well as having some children here for most of the day. I’m babysitting for a friend and this is always a favorite time for the pups!

I hope you all have a great weekend!

We’re now taking the puppies on back yard expeditions several times a day. They just love these and really fuss something awful if we put them in their pen. Occasionally we have to do that though, because Granny needs to clean out the puppy room and wash down every possible surface, and when the puppies are inside, they ‘help’ far too much! lol!

On our last outing of the day, I brought the camera. Then I started taking pictures and videos of the puppies.

The puppies are getting so big and beautiful. I just love watching them. My girl, Schnapps, and all my handsome boys.

Here is Calvin.

Curt.

Schnapps.

Fenway.

And Wally.

Hubby and I really love these little creatures. Here is Hubby with Fenway.

And me with all of my babies.

And here is a short video of Greta and her babies. Greta is still enjoying being a Mom. And the pups sure enjoy having her to snuggle with in the afternoon.

Monday. I was supposed to be able to kick back and relax a bit, but with 8 dachshunds and a German Shepherd, that was not to be the case. They kept me on my toes most of the day. At least Greta has decided that sleeping with Mommy and Daddy is a good thing and has stopped waking me up in the middle of the night.

Ah yes. Tuesday. Certainly on Tuesday I would have some time to rest a little. No. I still have those 8 dachshunds and the German Shepherd, and a house full of laundry and a kitchen floor that was calling out my name for a good washing. Plus it was bill paying day.

So like an automated robot I set about cleaning up after the puppies (not to mention feeding them four times during the day), taking them for a walk in the yard twice for 45 minutes each time, and tending to their wash. How can such little dogs poop and wee-wee so much?

I swept and scrubbed the kitchen floor, made lunch and cleaned it all up. Busy. Then it dawned on me. This, all this is what I have wanted all of my life. A house full of dackels, a husband I love and who loves me and being busy doing all the things I used to dream of. (Not the poop, but everything else!)

I’ve put the ad for Curt in Sunday’s statewide paper, and will go tomorrow and place the ad for the local paper. After a week if I hear nothing I will go regional. If people just saw this face:

I think they would just fall in love with him. He is a handsome boy, works well outside and already is following my leads. Wish me luck! And Curt too!

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

We had the puppies outside a lot today. Not because it was warm, but because they just love being outside. In the morning while I scrubbed their room, they stayed in the pen, but in the afternoon, I just let them run, and I took over 70 pictures of them frolicking around the back yard. I put the cutest ones in a short montage, or you can go here, and view the entire package on Flickr.

The last picture of Greta nursing all her babies just warms my heart. In fact I will include it again as it is just too adorable and makes me go, Ahhhhhhhh!

They are growing so fast, and it won’t be long until they leave me (and Greta, of course)! Three weeks and counting!

I simply cannot believe my guys (and gal) are now 7 weeks old! Where has the time gone? In just a few short weeks they will leave me for their new homes. Friday was a milestone for them, though. On Friday we opened the box, and gave them the free run of the puppy room. Of course we used the puppy gates to block the doorways, and we lay down new newspapers on the floor, and I added another puppy bed, and a lot more toys. The end result is 5 happy puppies, playing to their hearts content!

The new puppy room.

I left the box in and just cut down the side.

Puppies playing.

Look closely at this picture. Wally’s leg (green collar) is thrown over Curt’s body! Too cute!

And at the end of the day, the exhausted puppies climb into their new bed and fall fast asleep.

Probably the best thing about giving the the run of the room is that they are getting a lot of exercise now. I can also open the door to their outside exercise pen and scoot them out their while I clean up their room. It makes it great all the way around!