The puppies have been in the garden for the second time.  We managed to time it so they did their wees outside! Yay good puppies.

The photo gallery has been updated with todays action!

Maggie and Molly have been in the whelping box at the same time with the puppies.  It was so lovely to see that Molly was allowed to enjoy the puppies.

It is a wonderful thing to witness, Molly automatically had respect for Maggie.  She hasn’t tried to overstep the line once, today something had changed within Maggie as Molly just popped into the box and started licking the puppies.

I feel really pleased for Molly as she has been able to enjoy a little bit of quality time with Mr Orange.

Miss Pink in the garden!

The puppies have spent time in the garden. they were actually quite adventurous which I was surprised about as that is usually on the second or third time in the garden that I would have expected to see brave puppies exploring.

Then we had to do the dreaded worming – the puppies were not impressed and I am hoping things will be ok with their tummies in the morning.  I will be giving them a little natural yoghurt this evening to try and pre-empt any problems.

Puppy playtime

Puppy Puppy Puppy

photos of the puppies in the garden have been added to the gallery

We have enjoyed playing with the puppies this morning.  They are enjoying a little bit of freedom on the carpet!  Got some training in – with them all sitting! yay…TROOPERS!!!

Today is a fun filled day…. we shall be putting them out in the garden for the first time later this afternoon and we will also be worming them.

Here is a video clip

Playing with Katherine

Puppies lined up ready for the off

photos added to the gallery

The puppies are doing marvellously.  They are now getting their deciduous teeth (baby teeth).  Some of the teeth have broken through the gums – so poor Maggie is having to get used to them during feed time.  The deciduous teeth do start to break through from the age of three weeks – so the pups are bang on target!

I have given the puppies two small meals and will be increasing this tomorrow to three meals.  Tomorrow is worming day – so wish all of our pups luck as it can be quite a sensitive time for them.

Molly has spent some time with her grandchildren.  She was delighted as Maggie was in the garden!

Molly isn’t the only visitor the pups have had – but Uncle Melvin also came to have a look too!

Uncle Melvin pops in!

I have uploaded photos into the gallery

Hopefully you enjoyed todays earlier update “Marchstone Minions”

The puppies have enjoyed having the extra space to play.  Primarily we extended the whelping box to ensure Maggie can lay down easier as now the pups are so much more mobile it is harder for her to laydown when they are getting in the way so easily!  The bonus of giving them extra space is they can stretch and explore instead of being in such a confined area.

Feedtime/Playtime

I hope you enjoy the video of them “playing“.  Katherine also recorded a nice clip entitled “Puppies”

We have also given the puppies a very small introduction to food.  We will give them a little more tomorrow, today was about giving them a taster to see how they reacted to having food!

Mr Blue’s First Meal

Mr Red’s First Meal

Miss Pink’s First Meal

Mr Orange’s First Meal

Mr Yellow’s First Meal

Mr Purple’s First Meal

and finally.. Mr Yellow plays with a toy bigger than he is! (super cute!)

Photos have been added to the gallery

I have had confirmation of the pedigree names of the puppies.

They are as follows:

(allocated in order of birth!)

Yellow Dog “Marchstone A Gift in a Minion”

Black Dog “Marchstone Making Miracles”

Black Bitch “Marchstone Made by Maggie”

Yellow Dog “Marchstone One in a Minion”

Black Dog “Marchstone Make Belief”

Black Dog “Marchstone Minion Luv Songs”

A small update for today – I have done a hearing test on all the puppies, using a squeaky toy.  They responded to the noise in both ears.  Clearly this is not a conclusive test but hopefully one that can be deemed very encouraging!

We have also had a move around of the pen to enable them space to grow!

Maggie’s puppies are now interacting with each other, learning how to play with each other which is so very sweet.   Im trying very hard to not fall for these little ones…..but it will happen as they are far too cute.

We have had more visitors today, a friend with her beautiful son Harry.  He was so excited to see the puppies and so very well behaved.  It was lovely to see them both.  Harry helped me find the perfect name for Mr Yellow “Baby Jake”

We have also seen another set of buyers who again, fill me with utter confidence that they will love their new addition and have the pups welfare as a high priority.  Today is there wedding anniversary so it was lovely for them to enjoy puppy cuddles.  Happy Anniversary!!!

Maggie is losing a little bit of condition in her coat, this is called a lactation moult, feeding puppies is an exhaustive role which will end up with some impact on the mother.    It is important to keep her calcium levels up to keep some balance with the needs of feeding her puppies.  Unfortunately there is little I can do to prevent her losing her beautiful coat.  We haven’t experienced this before with Molly, it is something that does happen in bitches when feeding puppies so it isn’t anything to be concerned about as her coat will recover in time.

I am monitoring her nutritional needs with a chart which I am constantly checking.  She is having four meals a day and over two litres of additional fluids in the way of goats milk.  She is very much enjoying being waited on, as she is given cheese and nutriplus gel whilst she is in the whelping box too.

Here are some wonderful videos – they all have the AHHHHH factor!  You have been warned there is cute overload in these videos.  Katherine has taken some lovely video clips!

Feeding time at 18 days

Pups at the starting line

Puppies close up

Puppies playing

Pictures have been uploaded into the gallery!

The puppies are developing before my eyes!  They are putting into practice walking as much as they can between feeding and sleeping.  They are also able to sit up…supporting their heads whilst they are laying down.  They are wagging their tails (AWWWWWW) and just generally are being amazing!  I considered getting them into a sit stay as several are sitting really lovely… but felt there was a chance I might have been doing dog training just a little early!

As part of the milestones – I hadn’t mentioned that they are now able to wee and poo without the stimulation from Maggie.

I am so pleased to see how they are progressing.

A slight alteration to Mr Oranges name – Jorge.  To be in keeping with our Marchstone Minions!

I have added photos to the gallery

Here are a few videos :

Mr Yellow Wags his tail

Mr Yellow CUTE!

Mr Purple Wags his tail

Mr Orange wags his tail

The Big Race!

The puppies are putting plenty of practise in with their walking skills.  It is lovely to see them striding along then toppling over, it is almost as though they don’t know how to stop yet!

They are enjoying sitting up and looking around.  We are seeing a few of them wagging their tails which is so sweet.  The puppies have little dreams when they are asleep – presumably dreaming of rabbits or ducks as it is in their breeding to retrieve them!

All of the puppies eyes are now completely open, so I will need to be careful for only another day or so longer to protect their eyes from the flash of the camera.

I wonder what they think of their new surroundings, they seem to be looking at everything with wonder!

We have had another lovely family come to view the puppies.  I couldn’t be happier to entrust my sweet puppies to the families who have come so far!   I am getting to hear some wonderful name choices too!  I am loving one from today in particular, (I wont mention it here without checking with the family first!!).  I have found a name that suits Mr Red – and that is “Raymond”.  So that leaves me Mr Yellow.  His name will come to me in time!

We have been cuddling them today and have discovered they do like to be sung to!  How sweet is that!!!  It seems to soothe them to sleep!

Here is a video from today

Tottering tiny tots!