Halloween was a fun day. My daughter, Mandy came up to visit bringing along her sister, Allyson. It was so nice to play with the puppies, run around outside, and have a nice lunch together, where we chatted about what Mandy and Allyson are up to. Mandy is busy with work and Allyson is busy at school, as this is her Senior Year of High School.
My day, on Friday, began at 4 AM. Anneliese woke me with the desire to get up and play. One thing you should know about me, I do not play well at 4 AM! I grumbled and placed her under the covers and then I was able to sleep for another hour or so.
After that I gave up and got up with all 9 dogs. I let Anneliese and Greta out in the back yard and before I knew it, they were running up our driveway (500 feet) in my night gown and a fleece jacket! Oh yeah, I was not a happy camper.
I corralled the girls and led them back to the house. Then I set about cleaning the puppy room. Let’s just say, they outdid themselves overnight.
I fed them, and then sat down with a cup of freshly brewed coffee. Oh thank all that is good for a great cup of coffee!
Hubby slept in and part of me wanted to hold that against him, but by the time he did get out of bed, I was past that and happy to see him.
The day was gray and although we both got a lot done, the puppies seemed to sleep an awful lot. I guess we all have our sleepy days. Of course when they were awake, oh my did they cause their fair share of trouble!
They are sleeping like little angels as I write, and soon I will be too.
Those of you who have been with me since the first litter of puppies Greta had three years ago, might recall that our good old Uncle Fritz was terrified of the wee pups. When we held one up to him to glance at he would quickly look away.
After the brood left and just Arnie and Anneliese remained Fritz would try to hide on the sofa out of reach and the eye of those horrid creatures. This last until one day when Anneliese made Uncle Fritz fall in love with her. I’m not sure exactly how she did it, but one day he was terrified and the next they were climbing all over him.
Here’s Arnie and Anneliese with Uncle Fritz way back in April, 2007
Anneliese’s litter didn’t seem to bother Fritz, but he kept his distance and didn’t offer to be around them at all. I could understand the worry, so I never forced him to spend time with them.
Flash forward to Greta’s current litter. Fritz was interested right from day one. He would come by the puppy room and check out the newborns, and now will walk on by to make sure that the little ones are behaving.
Today Greta didn’t want to hang out with the pups. Personally I think she has finally gotten tired of nursing them. So Hubby and I were outside with the puppies and the Puppy Nanny, Fritz! Yes, Fritz had the best time running all around the back yard with puppies following in his wake! He even played some serious dog play with them, and they just loved it.
I raced around snapping pictures and although some are a little blurry, I did try to capture the moment.
Little Ali, (Dackel Princess Birgit) from Anneliese’s litter last spring, tracked her first deer today. Brad’s wife wrote me this:
“Brad is tickled pink and is doing back flips. He shot a small 4 point tonight so that he could run Ali on a track. He took Ali to the spot in which he shot the deer and that is all it took. She was on the scent in no time, very little blood and she had Brad crawling on his hands and knees through the thick brush. Brad was crawling and Ali was pulling and whining the whole way as if to say, come on dad, keep up! As Brad stated…she nailed it. She took Brad right to the deer and started tugging and pulling on it. Brad is a happy hunter tonight and very pleased with his dog! Here are a couple pictures of her with the deer.”
I am so happy for them, and I am also very proud. I breed these adorable and loving little creatures with the hope that they will be healthy, good natured, and well loved. It’s even better when the pup performs the job which they have been bred for.
I slept so well on Tuesday night. It was wonderful. In fact, I slept past the time I normally get up and when I finally looked at the clock my heart sank. I had exactly half an hour to shower, dress, clean the puppy room, feed the little guys and make a breakfast to go for myself, as Wednesday is Weight Watchers day.
I lingered at nothing, and accomplished it all, and as I headed out the door I called back to Hubby “Good luck getting your breakfast!”
At Weight Watchers I lost one and a half pounds, and found the meeting to be a good one. I like our leader and find her very uplifting.
Upon my return to the house I was greeted by 9 very happy doggies. My four and the puppies all barked upon my return, with great happiness.
It was a rainy day, but I was able to get the puppies outside anyway. They played and ran about and today I caught them frolicking in a puddle. Now that was cute!
Almost as cute as their continuing to try to fit into that bed.
Schnapps, above.
Calvin, above.
Hubby and I are planning a trip just before the holidays. We’ve got a house sitter coming in to stay with the puppers and the two of us will go off someplace warm and rest up. This year has been full of life’s ups and downs, and both of us are really tired. Time to recharge the batteries!
I sent Hubby off to the Recycling Center to dispose of the two dozen bags of rolled up newspapers and puppy poop! I smiled and asked him to do me a big favor.
Get me more newspaper!
I actually can brag a little here. You see all of the puppies are now paper trained! I am so please about that. Yes, I do still have a ton of newspaper to clean, but their beds and toys stay nice and clean.
I was also thinking about Greta nursing her babies yesterday. How cute it was, right? Well think back. Here are side by side photo’s of Greta nursing the babes. The first was the day they were born, and the second one is of her nursing them yesterday.
It’s amazing to me how, in just 8 short weeks they can go from tiny, helpless creatures, to puppies that run and jump and wag their tails when they see you!
Time is slipping by and soon they will be leaving for the adventure of their new life. The best part for me (aside from the extra sleep) is knowing that I had a hand in making it all happen.
We had the puppies in for their next shots today. They were weighed, had their teeth checked, their eyes examined and the boys were all checked for…ahem…their manliness.
It’s a lot of fun to go to see our Vets with the babies. Their first breaths were taken in their office and each time we go back, it is very much like a family reunion.
While we waited for the doctor, I played with the pups. They are so darn cute, and they love their Granny something fierce!
Soon, Dr. K. came in and the exams began. Who did she start with? Yes, her favorite. Wally! Just so Wally’s owners know, she loves the name you have selected for him and says that he really is a Wally!
Wally really has such a great rapport with Dr. K and she just nuzzled him through the entire exam.
Next we were on to Schnapps. Now Schnapps is a bright, energetic and alert little Miss. She never stops and holds her own with her bigger brothers.
What a beauty she is!
Next was our butterball, Curt. He has such a wonderful personality too. He, Schnapps and Calvin have been showing me their great noses and their real interest in what they are smelling.
But in these pictures, he is looking more like he is wondering what is going on!
Calvin was up next and he was the most patient of the pups.
Even when they checked his teeth, he remained calm.
Meanwhile, Wally began to howl.
Then it was Fenway’s turn. He was a little suspicious!
But then, he started to relax.
We did not take Greta with us, but when we arrived home and allowed the pups to run in the yard, we let her out. What did this girl do with her 8 week old babies? She lay right down and nursed them for about 10 minutes.
I am constantly amazed at the beauty of motherhood with my girls. Greta especially was an even better mother the second time around. And I couldn’t be prouder of her!
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.
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!
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.
