Tuesday was a busy day. We had the puppies out a lot and we researched a new computer. I hope we will be ordering one very soon.
So, since I am exhausted tonight I put together a little video of the puppies antics outside. It was a wonderful sunny day, and we even had a visitor. Alexandra came! She and her husband are adopting Bogey! It was so nice that she is able to visit him!
I thought you would all enjoy seeing this short video of Ali (Birgit) that we took today. She is so amazingly daring and always on the run when we take the puppies outside.
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We also took a few pictures of the pups as they played in the yard. I just love that the weather has been good and we have been able to bring them out at least twice a day. It’s so good for them to develop their muscles!
Ali (Birgit)
Bogey (Yellow) and Ali (Pink)
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In other news once again I must tell you that my “new” laptop has died an ugly death. Just two weeks out of warranty, the machine is gone. I mean for real, R.I.P!!! Not coming back, can’t be fixed. I am beside myself that this laptop that is just a year old died. Yep, I have the worst luck with laptops. I know, I know, people tell me to get a MAC, but people I have several hundred dollars worth of computer programs that I use every day that are just not MAC compatible so today is the first day of saving up for a new machine.
***SOB***
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Hubby and I put our garden in today. Consequently my back is breaking and a hot bath is now calling my name.
Hubby and I were asleep in our bed. Cuddled closely with Greta and Arnie and Fritz slumbering on the floor by the door. Suddenly, there was a knock, knock, knock. Hubby and I started to wake, each thinking we must still be dreaming.
Knock, knock, knock!!!
I turned over and looked at Hubby. “Who is knocking at our door?” I asked him.
Knock, knock, knock!!!
He got up and opened our bedroom door and in ran Anneliese! Yes, my little mama dackel knows how to knock on a door! Can you believe it? She needed to go out, so I got up with her and of course all the other dogs came with me, and we all went out to explore Mother Nature in the back yard.
It was just 5:45 AM!
Still, how can I be angry with a dog who has taught herself to knock? Polite, yes?
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I never did get back to sleep as I had puppy duty. I weighed them, fed them their breakfast, cleaned up their box and played with them. Hubby joined me a couple of hours later and apologized for failing to gate in Anneliese before he came to bed last night. I laughed and told him not to worry. I actually got a big kick out of my dackel knocker!
As promised I have pictures of the babies. They are so adorable and I told Hubby that we really needed to post some new pictures so he helped me get a few.
Baron.
Bogey.
Ali (Birgit)
Baerbel (Belle)
We also managed to get in a play session outside before the cold front blew in, bringing with it rain showers and quite a bit of wind.
All the puppies pooped outside which amused the little twin girls from next door and their friend. The twins are 7 and their friend is 6 so poop humor is right up their ally!
Before I tell you about the amazing Dackel Princess Puppies, I want to start by mentioning that my laptop memory chip has blown once again! One second all was well and then “the blue screen telling me to re-seat the memory” came on. I cannot write the words that came out of my mouth, as I would be banned for all eternity on the Internet, but it wasn’t pretty! So, once again I am banished to the office!
Okay, we had all four puppies outside today. They did well, ran around for a while and then came in and slept for two hours! I am hoping tomorrow will be a nice day so we can do it again. You see, my pictures, and my video are on my LAPTOP! (That worthless piece of garbage……) I had them all set up, sized and ready to go when I glanced over at my laptop and found a blue screen with the error message.
So I apologize for not having the promised pictures of my gang. I must begin to repeat “I always must back up my documents every day…I always must back up my documents every day” as I simply do not trust the laptop any more.
Back to the puppies. When they first got put down onto the grass, they froze. Then they each began to sniff and feel the grass. Bogey really liked it and he seemed to start moving around before the others. Soon, Baron tackled him and the two girls played by my feet. Then they were playing and rolling in the grass and Birgit (Ali) decided to be the first one to poop on the lawn! Yes, we are so proud!
After about 45 minutes I brought them all inside, gave them some water and they promptly fell asleep. Anneliese kept going in and staring at them. A few times she even barked at them. And tonight she even nursed them voluntarily! Perhaps they are growing too fast for her too.
I know it’s all going by far too fast for me.
I had Bogie out for a while this morning and I actually got the movie camera going so I could catch a little video of the two boys playing. Arnie loves the puppies and enjoys playing with them all, but as you can see, Bogie has a lot of confidence and he played so well with Arnie! And his Grandma Greta too!
The rest of the day was spent doing laundry, and running errands. I promise more pictures on Sunday. I have been so bad taking pictures this time, but I have to tell you, these pups keep me very busy!
Someone must have bitten Anneliese in the teat because she doesn’t want to nurse those babies any more! I force her to a couple of times a day, but until they are eating puppy food well, they still need the old Mama Milk Machine!
I began my education of the puppies to learn to lick. I made puppy formula, added a little baby rice cereal and with a finger made them taste it. All day they screamed and balked at this.
“Give Me My Mama’s Teat”!!! they all barked!
But at 4 weeks of age it is time for them to learn to eat. As the day progressed they did better and better and tonight all four are good little lickers.
In fact Bel is pretty funny.
Bel today after her meal.
When Bel is slurping up the milky gruel she squeaks! And Bogie liked it but kept backing up and then barking because he didn’t understand he needed to go forward. I encouraged him to go forward and the next thing I knew he was standing in the dish!
Baron made quick work of the spoonfuls and then progressed well onto the plate, but he gave me that look that told me he really would prefer Mama!
The hilarious one (read that stubborn), Ali (Birgit), just does not want to eat this crap at all. She fussed, she barked, she looked totally indignant! But eventually she did eat.
I didn’t get pictures today because I had my hands full with the gruel. I’ll try to get some tomorrow.
Will they be surprised about breakfast tomorrow. I plan formula, cereal and a little bit of puppy food. YUM!
I got up today with the best of intentions as today was Weight Watchers day. I dressed, made Hubby breakfast, made a thermos of coffee for me, packed a yogurt and banana and set off.
I got down to the Cadillac,
and tossed my pocketbook, and tote into the car and I noticed how hard it was raining. So I thought I would get the newspaper in for Hubby before it got soaking wet.
So, I picked up the paper and when I came back into the garage I closed the door to the car and walked past it to the stairs where I tossed the paper up to Hubby. I turned and walked back to the car and……….it had locked all the doors, with all of the keys inside!
So we called our auto club and they sent out a nice man who came and with a little tool was able to unlock the door. Of course then the car alarm went off and I slid into the car and shut it off.
By then it was 10 o’clock and too late for me to go to Weight Watchers, so I stayed home and just felt dumb! How stupid!
Please tell me I am not alone in doing this!
Tuesday found me dealing with four puppies trying to breakout of their swimming pool whelping box, and succeeding! What to do, what to do, what to do!
After pausing long enough to place the delinquent puppies back in their box I hit upon a great idea. I called our local furniture store and asked if they had a reclining chair card board box. They did! I quickly drove down, picked up the box and brought it home. Hubby helped me and we cut the box to the correct height to keep in our little monsters!
They love it, although Anneliese is still getting used to jumping in and out. Of course going in she does have the steps, but coming out, she is on her own.
I checked to see how the babies looked in the box. You know, did they look cute? Comfortable? Happy? Here is what I found.
Beautiful sleeping babies.
They are all growing, getting stronger and having more fun and awake time.
Baron
Bogie
Birgit
And the puppy in the middle of this pig-pile is Baerbel!
I’ll try to get some good face shots of the puppies in the next few days. I did get this one of Bogie that just came out so well. Isn’t he adorable?
Well, I think the move into the new box is a good thing and I’m hoping to get them outside later this week when it’s just a little warmer. They would really enjoy it!
Memorial Day found me going back to the Craft Fair with Arnie. He did very well. It was funny though because he ignored the small dogs, but when he saw a huge Leonberger he went over and started barking wildly! Yeah, that’s my boy. Find the biggest dog in the area and pick a fight. The Leonberger looked at him and turned away. I mean why waste your time with a little thing like that!
Arnie also saw his first parade and I think he actually enjoyed seeing all the kids with their musical instruments making a joyful noise!
I found the prettiest Tiger Lily for the yard, and I got Hubby some more Splenda Apple Pie. Fabulous Friend brought some the other day and he loved it.
The afternoon found me playing with pups and doing laundry. I also took out the pups and let them feel the grass under their feet for the first time. They liked it very much!
Another friend came over today and we cooked steaks on the grill, corn on the cob and potato salad! Yum! But I admit that we ate late and probably won’t be up for much of a meal come dinner time. At least I won’t be.
I’ve been watching the “Jon & Kate Plus 8” marathon this weekend and one thing I think Kate should do. Lighten up! She is so critical of Jon and the kids and she needs to remember that she too, is human and full of flaws. I hope these two can work it out for the kids at least.
Have a great week everyone!
The sweetest thing in the entire world happened today. I’d been cleaning the puppy box and then placed them back inside it with a new puppy toy, when Anneliese came in and went about nursing her babies. A couple of them fussed and before I could react, Uncle Arnie jumped into the box and began licking the babies.
Now here is the beautiful part. Anneliese never growled, didn’t react at all. It was perfectly natural to her and she accepted his presence and his care for her babies.
I’d always wondered about raising sibling dogs like this. How it would evolve over time. What their relationship would become. Well, I can tell you that Anneliese and Arnie truly love each other, trust each other and care for each other.
Arnie has become the Uncle to Anneliese’s babies. He loves them like they were his own and watches out for them in a really loving manner.
These wonderful dogs teach me so much each and every day. I am so blessed to be a member of their pack!