weights & a poll

Another of the great worries of the first week is whether or not the puppies are gaining weight.  We expect them to grow by about 10% of their body weight each day.  That's actually rather a lot and as a result they change so much from day to day.  You feel like if you sat and watched them constantly you would actually see them get bigger and bigger. 

To make sure everyone is developing as they should and that no one is being left behind, the puppies are weighed everyday during this week.  We don't expect the puppies to be all the same size or weight so long as they are all gaining a reasonable amount each day.  They will certainly all develop at different rates and the puppy who gained a lot today might not grow so much tomorrow.  By keeping a close eye on the weights daily we can make sure each puppy gets a fair chance at the milk bar.  Often the bigger, stronger puppies will muscle the smaller ones away from the rear teats, which are the more productive ones.  I have frequently pulled a fat, sucking puppy off those teats and swapped it with a smaller one who needs a bit of help.  Feels pretty mean, though!

And so to another poll.  You can find the puppies' birth weight back here.  Not that it means a lot when it comes to guessing how heavy they will have become at the end of their first week, but it's fun for comparing.  The result is pretty much up in the air at the moment.  The only thing I will say is that it won't be Little Ilo, who is the smallest.  The question is this:  At the weigh-in on Sunday, who will be the heaviest?

As if having a litter of pups in the house wasn't enough to keep me occupied, I have another little adventure planned for this weekend.  Watch this space - all will be revealed next week!  In the meantime, I won't be back until Monday night so the one-week puppy update and poll result will be posted late.

The puppies might be small at this stage, they might be deaf and blind, but they sure can get around the box without any problems whatsoever.  Here, for your amusement, is The Progress of a Puppy as she travels from the hinterland of Behind Mum's Tail to the jackpot.  The brothers and sisters catch on fast and follow suit.

Over the sister - over the tail - under the leg

Over other leg - past sister who overtook on inside - then ahhh, relief!