Puppies are Nine Weeks Old Today!

I cannot believe how quickly time has flown! The puppies kept me so busy for about the first eight weeks that I lost all track of time. I guess it's about time to bring you up to date on what has been going on around here. :)

When the pups were 6 weeks old, Apollo went home with his new mommy. I was so sad to see him go, and yes, there were tears. But, I know that he is in a loving home where he is very spoilt and cherished. Apollo has also been given a new name, Bently. Isn't he a big boy? This is the last photo I have of me with Apollo/Bently before he went to his new home. (Sorry it's blurry)

Then there were 4 left: Clockwise from top right: Alcyone, Hyperion, Damia and Helios.

During the seventh week, prospective parents came over to visit Alcyone. Of course, the hubby fell in love with the wee pup. The prospective parents already have 2 Jack Russells, but they are the wife's babies and the hubby wanted a companion for himself. Yes, Alcyone now had a new home. Alcyone went to her new home the next Sunday, and I am sure that she is loving it there. :)

And then there were 3. Actually there were two as hubby and I had already decided that we (read I)were keeping Damia. I just could not let that wee bundle go to anyone else. She belongs with me. <3

So, that left Helios and Hyperion, the 2 males, waiting for adoption. The next weekend, a friend, "D", and her son, "I", had come up from "Down South". Their own beloved four-legged friend had passed over the Rainbow Bridge the year before and I knew that "I" missed his friend dreadfully. I walked one of the pups down to the library where "D and I" were helping out, and "I" took one look at Hyperion and fell in love. Because "D" has allergies, it was decided that Hyperion would stay with them for the week, to see how things went.

Well, at the end of the week, "D" let me know that Hyperion would now be a part of the family and that "I" was totally besotted with the pup. Yes, "D" has allergic reactions to to the pup, even though he is short haired, but they are going to work around that. So, Hyperion has become a best buddy to "I", hence his new name "Buddy." :)

Here is one of the last photos of Hyperion and Alcyone before they went to their adoptive homes.

And so, that left us with Helios and Damia. :)

As you can see by how cute and cuddly Helios is, there was no way I was giving up my little "furball", and besides, Damia needs someone her own age to play with. ;)

The only problem with Helios is that he is like a wee mop. I am continually washing him as he tends to absorb puppy piddle and his fur gets all matted and stinky. I'm using baby shampoo on him due to the frequency of his baths, and that way his skin won't dry up on him. ;) Talk about spoilt puppies! But who can resist them? <3

Then there is the expense of having four doggies in the house. Sheba and Lady on adult dog food, Helios and Damia on puppy food until they are a year old. More toys, meds and vet visits. I had to come up with a way to earn more money, without getting another job. So I came up with...

Furpal Greetings(TM). (Yes, I researched the trademark and the only furpal is a pet-sitting service, so I am in the clear there.) I decided that the puppies would be the focus of my new line of greeting cards, stickers, keychains and other gift wares, and my first "design" uses my favourite photo of Damia.

Get Well Soon card

And now, I must be off. Damia and Helios are crying for their lunch, and then it's playtime for the pups before they have their naps. Until next time, take care and "Puppy Hugs" for all!

Adventures In Puppy Land, Part 2

When the pups were born a week past on Sunday, there was only 3 that Sheba allowed to suckle on a regular basis (Zeus, Apollo and Pan) and she nudged the others away. If they wiggled back toward her, she became aggressive and would push them away, often by putting her mouth over their heads and moving them that way.

We had managed to get her to lie down and allow all the pups to suckle for a few minutes to get some of those antibodies (see previous note), but we had to monitor them real close! Sheba (the mom) babied the three pups and pretty well ignored the other 4.

That night, we started bottle feeding them and doing the "piddle and poop" thing for them. On the Tuesday last week, Mark called me at work and told me that he had went to check on the pups and that one was dead (Pan) and he was working on a second one. I hurried home and he was doing puppy CPR on the one (Zeus). After an hour, I told Mark to let him go as there was no response from him. I couldn't find a heart beat and although his mouth would occasionally open and close, I am sure that was from the wee puffs of air that Mark was giving him.

We think that Sheba was accidentaly laying on the pups and smothered them as there was no blood or broken skin on the wee ones, and these two were favourites of hers.

When Zeus and Pan were gone, Sheba put all of her energy into Apollo, completely ignoring the others and pushing them away if they came close to her. She would growl at them and put their head into her mouth and make them cry. Mark and I quickly removed the 4 pups and made a bed for them in the dresser drawer.

They are quite happy in there with their hot water bottle and snuggling up to each other.

On Saturday, Mark decided to see what Sheba would do if he let her see one of the pups. She sniffed, and then started licking the pup and he voided and pooped. So, after that, each time we feed a babe, Sheba comes over and does her puppy grooming.

Sunday night, I was sitting on the bed feeding Damia with Sheba lying beside me. After Sheba cleaned her off, Damia wiggled toward her, and Sheba opened her legs to let Damia suckle. It only lasted about 10 second, but it's a start. We only allow her to be with the 4 pups under strict supervision and so far, she has only allowed two of her 4 "orphaned" pups to suckle for a few seconds.

Her favourite, Apollo, is a different story all together. She has him sleeping with her in her cave (the closet). She allows him to eat whenever he wants (methinks he is overfed) and is super protective over him. Apollo is twice the size of the other 4, and can barely move! The other pups are starting to try and lift their bellies off the ground and walk on 4 legs (it's funny to watch them lift their rear ends up, take a step and topple forward, then get up and try again). Apollo is too big and is still wiggling himself around. Hopefully, once the pups are started on their puppy mush, Apollo will do better weight-wise. ;)

The one drawback to all of this personal attention that the 4 pups are getting, is that I am falling in love with them. How can one not when you hold them in your arms and cuddle them while feeding? I am especially drawn to Damia for some reason. She loves cuddles and snuggles into me with contented sighs after being fed and burped. I know I can't keep any of the pups and it will be so hard to let them go when it is time. :(

Ahh well, such is life. Hopefully the pups will remember their "human mom" when they are older and will stop for a cuddle if we pass on the street. :)

Meanwhile, photos of the puppies' first week have been added to the puppy album. Puppies are a week old!  If you don't already have a Facebook account, you may need to sign up to view the photos.
Enjoy! :)