New Video and Pictures

A new video and pictures follow.  I continue to spend most of the evening and night with my boys, but am able to spend more time away from them during the day. They are working hard at strengthening their leg muscles, and I am even hearing the occasional little bark. 

# 1

#2

#2 Gets a Kiss from Mom

#3

# 4

Eating, Sleeping and Growing

My boys are now one week old and they have doubled their birth weights:

• #1 - 890 grams (1 pound, 15 ounces)
• #2 - 840 grams (1 pound, 13 ounces)
• #3 - 940 grams ( 2 pounds, 1 ounce)
• #4 - 820 grams (1 pound, 13 ounces)

The pups muscle development continues, with the beginnings of shoulders and hocks.

Not a lot of action over the weekend.  As a result, I was able to get out for my longest walk since the birth --- an amazing 45 minutes.

Over the next few days, the pups will begin to stand up, although there will be more collapsing than standing for several more days.  If they are like the last litter, eyes will begin opening mid-week (around day 11).

I can confirm that three of the pups are tri-colors.  Still not sure about #4, although he does have a pronounced tan butt just like his dear old Dad.

Following is a picture of the boys sleeping this a.m. We'll try to get a video to post tomorrow.

#4, #2, #3 and #1

Sleepy Friday

It has been a sleepy day so far.  I'm making the pups work a little bit harder to get to me, and I am now cutting nursing time.  They are learning about eating on my schedule, not theirs. As a result, the boys are tired after eating, and sleep soundly and deeply between my visits.  It is also helping me get some rest. 

There were a couple of full scale tantrums overnight.  No. 2 and No. 3 were quite upset that they had to do some crawling to get to me.  So I gave them a kiss on the snout and removed myself from the box until they calmed down.  A mother's training is so important.  There will be more temper tantrums, but gradually they will understand that good behaviour gets better results.

To make it up to them this morning I let them feed to their hearts content, and then snuggled with them for more than an hour.  They are also realizing that Pack Leader is not me.  Their sniffers are getting very good at distinguishing between where they are, relative to the all day diner.

A few pictures from this morning follow.

#1

# 4 and #2

L to R (#1,#2,#4 and #3 on the bottom)

Day 5 - Getting Faster

Since my last post we've had an exciting 24 hours. First an earthquake (rare in these parts) and then a tornado (also rare) just north and west. The boys slept through it all.

They have had two rounds of ENS (Early Neurological Stimulation) so far, and Pack Leader will continue with this early evening routine until their eyes and ears open. I watch every move very carefully. So far, minimal reaction to everything but the "cold damp towel" --- they aren't big fans of that 3 second experience.

Since we haven't been able to get many good pictures of #4 yet, following is one of him sleeping on one of my hind legs last night.

To finish this post a short video of my return to the box this morning. I sure get their attention, and they are moving much faster to get to me. They also have started kneading. Sorry for the occasional blurring --- the auto focus on the pack leader's camera struggles with the contrast of black and white in low light conditions.

Growing Stronger (and Bigger)

When I come into the box now, I make sure to change the routine.  I'm trying to encourage more crawling before they get to the 24/7 diner.

After I came in from this mornings walk I lay down with my back to the puppies.  #2 was the only one with significant attitude, bawling loudly about having to crawl all the way around to my front.  #1 was very efficient on finding and getting directly to a nipple, with #3 and #4 close behind.

The pups are now able to hold their front paws up to the nipple, but don't quite have the coordination yet to knead.  That will come soon enough.  And at that stage Pack Leader better keep those little razor nails trimmed (please and thank you).

I've noticed more strength developing in my boys hind quarters, and their necks are also getting bigger and stronger (from suckling).

Day 4 weights:

• #1 - 590 grams (up 40% since birth)
• #2 - 550 grams (up 40%)
• #3 - 600 grams (up 40%)
• #4 - 540 grams (up 32%)

I'm feeding them too well.

# 4, # 1 and # 3 Nursing (# 2 is hidden below)

# 3, # 2, # 4 and #1 Napping

# 2 and # 4

# 1

# 3

#2, #4 and #1