Summer's Puppies: August 2013

Thursday, 15 August 2013

TT Puppies at 7 to 8 weeks old

Well how much fun are 7 week puppies?

I'd put fun above hard work, but they are time consuming (I wouldn't have it any other way)...

All the puppies now have lovely new homes to go to and new names, but they'll be with us for at least another few weeks or so.

There are advantages and disadvantages to summer time puppies. The advantages for us breeding them at that time (and really not having any choice), is that we can open the back door, and the puppies just love playing in the garden. This keeps our carpets clear of puppy poop etc!

The disadvantages though are maybe for the puppy's family, in that due to long time prearranged commitments, the puppy's can't venture into their new homes at 8 weeks, but will be leaving at 9 to nearly 11 weeks old. But I know that all the families are really excited about their new family member.

Orio (previously Claude) learnt last week how to jump out of the whelping box at night and kept leaving me little parcels in the lounge. The funny thing was though, that he got back into the box as if nothing had happened!

When Sky (our girl) started to do the same, it was time to take action, and we took out the pig rails. So far so good.

That was until last night when a parcel was left at the bottom of the stairs (Sky's spot). Time for a re-think, I think!

Playing

Our four Tibetan Terrier puppies (3 boys, 1 girl) are having a whale of a time! Summer, their mum, has just started to play with them and in general, is returning gradually to her pre-pregnant self. She spent about 20 or so minutes playing with Zeus (previously Ryan) the other night, rolling him, tapping him with her paws, jumping around him - it was a joy to watch. She's since done the same with Mario (previously Sable), who is a bit like his name sake, Super Mario, darting around the garden. I'm sure she'll do the same with Oreo (previously Claude) soon.

The toys the puppies like are their small soft toys which we bought from charity shops, and the toys some of our friends have bought them too. Small chewy toys which they can pick up easily. Empty toilet rolls and kitchen rolls, go down very well. My slippers. Our toes. Anything hanging on the washing line that they can reach. Small sticks and branches. Summer's ears. Corners of mats. Dish clothes and socks pupped out of the washing basket as I take them out of the washing machine... You get the picture!

Newspaper

I've been so thankful for all the newspaper that our friends and friends of friends have supplied us with. You just can't have enough! We filled two shelves of a cupboard and as it keeps being topped up, we haven't emptied a shelf yet. I will be giving bundles to our puppy's families to use. It really soon goes...

Inoculations

Yesterday (Wednesday), we took the puppies (and Summer) to have their first inoculations. They were very good and the vet was lovely. She also gave them all a good check, listening to their hearts, checking every nook and cranny, and all were given a very good bill of health!

Tomorrow, we will be going back to the vets for the TT puppy's final (whilst with us) dose of worming medicine. It's a three day course, given by syringe. It tastes really nasty (if the puppy's faces are anything to go by)!!

Puppies need to be wormed EVERY month - at LEAST - up to 6 months. As Sky will be staying with us, once the other puppies have gone to their homes, we'll be starting her on Advocat. If your dog or puppy laps at puddle water (as the advert says), your dog is in danger of lung worm which is carried by slugs and snails. Lung worm, if not treated, can kill your dog, so just know the signs to spot. It also keeps fleas away, and we've found that ticks don't develop as quickly and sometimes even die (horrid things) with Advocat!

I'm in the middle of preparing a load of photos to load. I'll TRY to get these on the site tomorrow.

Friday, 2 August 2013

Five week old Puppies

Well our gorgeous little boys and girls are growing up!

They really look like Tibetan Terrier puppies now, with curled up tails and fluffy to boot!

It's been difficult to find time to write the blog over the last few weeks, as I've been so so busy, puppy sitting (well, playing)..

The puppies were all registered to The Kennel Club at 5 weeks of age, and within the week, we've quite likely sold them all. I'm happy that as far as I can tell, their new homes sound wonderful, but I'm also a little sad that I may not see some of them again.

WORMING
Yes, what a delightful topic! At our vets, the worming place at 2/3 weeks and then at 5 weeks and 8 weeks, so this week I drove the TTs including mum, Summer, to our vets for their first of three day course of disgusting tasting worming mixture, which is fed via a syringe. I then give them each a dose on day 2 (which was today) and again on day 3. Then next visit will be at 8 weeks.

GROWING UP

Week Five of looking after puppies has been great fun. Their characters have really developed... and so have their teeth! TTs are know for slow cutting of teeth, but Sky (girl) has a full set of pincers (and I've experienced them..ouch!). Claude (white and black) has the next amount of teeth but still a few days behind Sky, and the two sables, are gummy with just the odd tooth poking through.

The puppies have learnt to escape. There is only one area outside of the whelping box that the puppies could possibly get through, so we have a long box running the length of the space. Except Claude has learnt that if he throws himself at the box, it topples over and he can get out. So clever! I was sitting eating breakfast in the lounge (as the table had to be dismantled in favour of the dog box) whilst the puppies were sleeping this morning, and a few moments later, in trots Little Claude with a soft toy in his mouth... closely followed by Ryan. I wish I'd had a camcorder running!

Sky and Claude's hair is really growing. But all the puppy's hair looks lovely, and I've been brushing them everyday with a soft brush and a pin head brush, so they get used to it when they go to their new homes. We have Summer's hair cut as a "puppy cut", which suits our family life and she is happier with a light coat than a long heavy one. But for showing, their hair cannot be cut, and as this is what we will try with Sky, and possibly Sable (different owners), we will have an 'interesting' time with this long coat. I am told though, by a reliable source (Judy), that it should only take 30 minutes every day - but MUST be done every day.. or you end up with knots.

So puppies... how do they look now?

ONLY TIME FOR (LITTLE) CLAUDE TONIGHT...rest tomorrow..