Pups posing in their traveling clothes

Ladybug, Cricket and Skipper are waiting to be escorted by US Airways Puppies In Flight volunteers to their programs.  However to travel in the plane cabin, they needed their official assistance dog-in-training attire which arrived last week.  Thank you to US Airways for providing transportation at no cost to the programs, and to the wonderful US Airways volunteers who make it possible.

Ladybug in her Paws'itive Team vest - she is to become a Southern California girl  www.pawsteams.org

Cricket will become a NorthStar Foundation puppy and hopefully grow up to help a special child. 
NorthStar Foundation has had success with my softer/less confident, social pups.  www.northstardogs.com

Skipper will be joining Eyes, Ears, Nose and Paws in North Carolina, hoping to become a mobility assistance dog. www.eenp.org

Doing more than just sitting

Ladybug was actively rocking herself in this toy baby carrier

Midge, playing with the maiden grass

Midge trying to go the wrong way up the slide

Skeeter sleeping on my foot

Skipper relaxing

Puppy recall

Almost 8 week old puppy pics

A bunch of sitting pups

 

Cricket and Midge

Ladybug

Cicada "Cid"

Cricket sitting, and Skeeter getting up close and personal

Midge

A cute foursome

Skeeter with his distinct cowlick between his eyes

Skeeter, head of the pack

7 week old puppy pics

Pups up on the raised cot bed, Cricket with the head of a dust mop she stole from the laundry room

Katy and Skeeter with great granddam Yuma

Katy and Skeeter

Midge and Gnat

Skeeter

Skipper

Outdoor playtime

Puppy wrestling

Cid

Gnat wrestling

Skipper

Looks like Skipper

7 weeks old

Once again, things have gotten busy as the pups have gotten older.  The pups gained over 2 lbs each the last week, and weigh in at 9 to 11 lbs.  They are eating 1 1/3 cup of puppy kibble, dry with a bit of water added.  They LOVE their feeding crates.  Riley left last Sunday, so the milk bar has closed.  All the pups look to be healthy on their initial veterinary exams.  As expected at this age, the pups are getting more and more adventurous.  Lots of time outside, exploring the entire yard.  They love entertaining visitors.  On Wed evening, I took the pups to the Love On the Leash therapy dog visit at the boys' juvenile correctional facility in Pendleton.  I have been doing a "puppy night" with most litters - the adult therapy dogs stay home, but lots of LOAL volunteers show up to help out.  Each boy was assigned a pup for the evening, and the adults closely supervising the activities.  We do puppy recalls and puppy pushups (sit, down, etc), play fetch, and end with puppy massages.  At the same time, I educate the boys about responsible breeding and what it takes to raise a puppy.  The pups did great, relatively quiet in the car, confident in the new environment, and responsive to the boys.  The pups start leaving this weekend, with most the Puppies in Flight puppies tentatively flying out the last weekend of April.  Once again, a huge thank you to the US Airways employees who have volunteered to fly with the pups going to the more distant programs.  These pups are going to 5 different assistance dog programs, and one is going to a pet/therapy dog home. 

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. 

More weekend pics

Liz kindly came over for a puppy photo shoot today.  Midge is helping out

Cuddling with the photographer instead of posing

Yoko is in heat and has joined the party.  She is not as fond of pups
that are not her own, but tolerant.

Poor Yoko

Skipper checking out the birch tree.  The pups have moved into the backyard for outdoor
play.  They were starting too get too adventurous out in the front yard. 

Pups plotting an escape.  The wood barrier is to prevent them from squeezing out the gate.

Katy sitting and looks like Skipper with the piece of straw.

Katy was the photogenic pup this afternoon.

Katy again

The other pups are finally able to play on equal terms with big boy Cid. 
Little Gnat with a successful takedown.

Cricket sitting, she is the pup with the fluffy ears.