6 weeks old

The pups are growing up fast.  They gained another 1 1/2 lbs last week, weights range from 6 lbs 13 oz (Gnat) to 8 lbs 3 oz (Cid).  All the pups except Gnat and Midge have graduated to big puppy collars.  Riley has started the weaning process and was down to 4 c at 6 weeks and is already down to 3 c of regular maintence food.  She is also starting to spending some time at home with her breeder caretaker, can go 12 hours between nursings.  The pups are eating 1 c of dry puppy kibble a day, divided in 4 meals.  They are eating from individual bowls in small plastic crates.  They LOVE crate training i.e., eating.    The pups have been spending lots of time outside, and yesterday were introduced to the wading pool.  I am gradually starting to do "outings" (new part of the yard) with one or two pups at a time, getting them used to the idea of being independent and also assessing their responses/temperaments.  Nancy has been doing a wonderful job teaching the pups to sit for attention, to be let out of the pen, to be let in the feeding crate, etc - such polite little pupsters.  The pups come running to a "puppy, puppy, puppy" recall.  They have also been practicing wearing harnesses and getting brushed.  Last weekend, I was playing sound effect CDs for them.  Time is short and we have a lot of things to expose the pups to before they leave.