Carly is sold

Heather Ferry and her family will be taking Carly home with them this weekend.  Hayden, her older son, is practicing puppy training with his stuffed animals.

Charlotte found her person

Steve Fowler is going to take Charlotte.  It's a very good match, as he'll be with her a lot, and likes to do outdoor water sports.  She's such a sweetheart.  She'll be cuddling on the couch with him too, I imagine.

That leaves just 3 puppies available, if Heather Ferry takes Carly.  Still left are:  Hank, Ozzy, and Maddie.  All are sweet and gentle.  You just never know who's going to go last!  It's amazing how they all get matched up so perfectly to their people.  

Supplies for new owners

You might want to get some red rosin paper from Home Depot...definitely a sack of Natural Balance Potato and Duck food (Chow Down or Petco).  If you switch over to something else, try to do it gradually.  Ear plugs are a terrific investment for the entire family.

Poodle type buyers, you'll eventually need a good brush.  The Chris Christenson 16 mm T-Brush at Cherrybrook.com is $24 but essential.  Also, get a men's comb for the burrs.

You'll be shopping for a collar and leash.  But keep the puppies AWAY from other dogs in the shops and parks for awhile.  If they come into contact with a shelter dog, they could catch kennel cough.  Also, they'll irritate strange dogs by trying to climb on their backs--and that's asking for trouble.  I know, it happened at a soccer game with the kids once.  Try to just let them visit with dogs whom you know and trust for awhile.  Dogs with a lot of patience!

Most of the puppies are going to their homes this coming weekend.  We still have 4 left.  

Carly on hold

McKenzie's teacher, Heather Ferry, came over this afternoon.  She surprised McKenzie by offering to drive her home!  Carly chose Ms. Ferry.  Ms Ferry is going to absolutely make up her mind, but we're holding the sleek little black girl for her.  She'll join another black lab mix at the Ferry's house, as well as becoming the buddy of two boys, one six, one four.

Walt's sold

Walt--newly named Rocky, is going to be part of Kim & Ron Maslanik's family.  Kim does fly ball and dock dogs with her other lab, Angel, and hopes to bring Rocky along in those too.

Yellows & Blacks have their shots

The yellow puppies had their shots on Saturday, and the black group went in this morning.  All were very good babies.  The largest is still Ozzy at 12.8 lbs (at 6 weeks).  So far the smallest is Maddie, at 7.4.  The 4 poodle babies will go in for their shots on Thursday morning.  

Andy (Leo) had a field trip on Saturday with Anna, and met his sister to be, another lab.  Dobby (Eloise) and Sunny enjoyed going off with Salee, Jeff, Alex and Kathleen for the afternoon on Sunday.  Ringo's parents, Aron & Narissa, came up to see him Sunday afternoon...last time till they take him in 2 weeks.  And the Camps--Maria, Al & Luke came by twice over the weekend to see Hugo.  One time they hiked over from their house!

P.S.  Only two puddles in the house yesterday!!!  Love this weather.

All the pups are outdoors with the front door open for them to come inside now.  At the moment, Walt is hanging around the kitchen in hopes of finding a scrap.  He loves food with a passion.  Ringo's sacked out on the puppy blankets because he was outside playing with Harry while the frost was still crisp on the grass.

Early this morning

The puppies were up early this morning.  Ordinarily, I would have plugged my ears and slept.  But Geoff just got back from a trip to Houston, and we went out with neighbors last night for dinner...so, my conscience got me up at 4:20 a.m.  Yawn.  

I put on my big bear fur coat, turned on the fireplace, and after feeding, clean up, and standing outside on fox guard and star gazing, cuddled up on the couch with Charlotte.  She fell sound asleep with her head on my shoulder.

Doodle Beards

Not only does Andy (leo) have the Doodle beard starting, so do Ozzy, Hank and Maddie!  Wow!  The Poodle part is coming out!!!!  Of course, the obvious poodle pups have one too.  I'm just so surprised at ones I thought looked just like labs.  This is very neat.

Leo/Andy

Leo's new name is Andy, and I just noticed that he has the beginnings of a Doodle beard!!!!  Come by and check it out, Anna.  It's unlike anything I've ever seen on a regular lab.

Walt's available again, Sunny's going with Salee

A little revision on availability.  Salee, Jeff, Alex and Kathleen decided to take Sunny instead of Walt.  

Also, a new video from the snow has been added.  Look below a few photos on the left to find the video bar.  Click on the one of the puppies sacked out indoors.

6 Left--Walt's taken

We've got all the black doggies, 2 of the yellows, and that's it--left.  

Also, if anyone hasn't seen the latest video, check out the video bar to the left.  Top one is the latest.  Thought I had a link loaded on Tuesday, but didn't get it till today.

Charlotte:  Black, large girl (but much thinner since worming).  She's the most laid back girl, who can venture out on her own without qualms.  Never ruffled or perturbed.  Very sweet and affectionate.  Wags her tail at the slightest encouragement.  I'd keep her if I could.  Just a chubs to hold.

Carly:  Medium sized black girl, definitely adventurous, wants to jump all the babies.  Pounce!  Tigger style.  Bold, sweet, and playful.

Maddie:  Medium sized black girl who is the sweetest thing.  She just comes right over and loves you.  Can't tell you how gentle and nice this girl is.  Just adorable.  Never complains, and is smart as can be.

Ozzy:  BIG black boy who reminds you of the hefty guy in class.  Funny, so cute, and roly poly to hold.  Does do the Tigger thing, jumping the others, but is just too sweet too.

Hank:  Yellow boy with a mustache.  A bit darker than the other yellows.  Less sheddy too.  Absolutely darling in that he can baroooooo (see video), and play games with kids.  McKenzie finds him remarkable--how can a baby know how to fake sleep then leap at her?  He is adorable.

Sunny:  This yellow girl has a sunny personality.  She's very sweet and rambunctious and light hearted.  Darling, medium sized, never starts a fight, good with the other babies, and a coat like a mink stole (only light colored).

 

Worming Helped

The puppies lost their pot bellies!  Worming really did the trick.  Now they look like sleek designer puppies.

My Doodle puppy sign fell off the tree over at 3 Sisters.  Saw it this morning after dropping McKenzie at the HS bus pick up.  Thank goodness only EDS and one other car saw me dash out in my snowman pajamas to get it.

Outdoors & Vet

The babies have gone outside two days in a row, and are now comfortable with it.  Hugo put up the biggest protest.  He finally got comfy under a cabbage.

Everybody was weighed and wormed this morning at Dr. Fogg's.  Here's how the weights came out:

Eloise  4.8 lbs

Ringo  5.7 lbs

Alice  5.7 lbs

Carly  5.9 lbs

Maddie:  6.0 lbs

Hank  6.9 lbs

Charlotte  6.9 lbs

Sunny  7.0 lbs

Walt  7.1 lbs

Hugo  7.1 lbs

Leo  7.6 lbs

Ozzy  8.2 lbs

Ozzy is 3.4 lbs bigger than Eloise!

At 3 Weeks Old

Dobby (Eloise):  Reserved for Salee, Jeff, Alex & Kathleen Wilhite.  Chocolate girl who loves people and is very alert, smart, composed yet playful.  Loves to snuggle.

Ringo (Monk):  Reserved for Aron Parisi & Narissa Stahl. Dark chocolate boy, poodle coat, very smart, quiet, playful, composed & sweet.

Sunny:  lightest yellow lab coat, sunny loving nature, coat is a gorgeous mink texture

Walt:  Reserved for Salee, Jeff, Alex & Kathleen Wilhite.  white combo coat (poodle + lab);  polar bear look, loves people, playful, likes to sleep on his back

Charlotte:  black lab coat;  largest mellow girl, very sweet & playful, adorable & soft

Alice:  Reserved for Kathleen & John Davis.  Creme poodle coat, very thick & wooly;  very smart, inquisitive, loves her favorite people

Hank:  darker yellow lab coat; a boy's boy--playful, likes toys, sturdy, good looking

Hugo:  Reserved for Maria, Al & Luke Camp.  Apricot poodle coat; very smart, playful, inquisitive, outgoing, affectionate

Maddie:  black lab coat;  super sweet, affectionate girl, just adores people, gentle in mouthing, playful

Carly:  black lab coat;  very affectionate cuddler, outgoing, playful, soft coat, lovely head

Ozzy:  black lab coat;  strong, big paws, large head, affectionate, boisterous, funny 

Leo:  Reserved for Anna Zuniga.  Yellow lab coat;  largest puppy at birth, quiet, calm & sure of himself, affectionate

Babies are Good

Ellie's backing off on feeding a little.  But she got shut out of the house when she took a siesta under the kitchen window and Hayley left today.  She was absolutely bursting with milk and in dire need to get to her pups when I got home a couple of hours later. 

The little guys are lapping up formula + rice cereal like crazy.  Then they sleep for a couple of hours--make that 3.  It is so quiet around here!

Maria Camp and her son Luke stopped by this afternoon.  Maria brought up the fact that there are so many considerations with this litter.  You've got 

1. type--poodle or lab

2. male or female

3. color

4.  size

5.  most important of all--PERSONALITY!

Full Tummies & Long Naps

Thank goodness for Espilac & 2nd Step.  No more whiney babies!  With the exception of Leo & Charlotte, all the lab babies put up a hunger strike for the first couple of days when it came to eating out of a pan.  This morning EVERYBODY ate formula mixed with rice cereal.  Walt is no longer mr crybaby.  Hank is finally satisfied.  There is peace in the house at last.

They also moved into the dining room pen yesterday.  A cause for yelping & complaining all afternoon, but now they treat it like home.  The puppy rugs are staying clean, and they're going on newspaper.  They're crawling behind the open crate, and inside of it, for some dark hiding places.  And they're playing too!  Just the teensy beginnings of play, but definitely pouncing and grabbing.