waving off the onnekas puppies

This is the spring of the novel Coronavirus and Covid-19.  And that all kicked off while these puppies were growing up here in this house in the past few weeks.  The puppies turned 7 weeks old, had their eye tests, their microchips and vet checks, and then we heard the country was going into lockdown.  Stay home, no socialising, no driving anywhere unless absolutely necessary.  I went straight to the new owners - a week early - and suggested they come and pick up their puppies as soon as they possibly could while they still could.  Within 3 days, they were all gone.

It was hard to see them go so early, but it is a truth universally accepted that a 7-week-old Finnish Lapphund puppy is ready for its new home.   Honestly, at that age they are flipping hard work!  Fighting with their siblings, already half house-trained, demanding to go out every 5 minutes for a poo and generally ready for the world.

With the social distance rule, the new owners didn't get the usual Infindigo handover treatment of a 2-hour sit-down to go over everything in the puppy manual and all the things they need to know.  They didn't even get to come into the house.  They took their puppy pack stuff and their puppy and were here and gone in about 10 minutes flat.  A bit stressful for me.  Not the way I like to send my puppies into the world.  But it's such a strange world we find ourselves in at the moment, and I know it was the right decision; the very next day the police were stopping cars.

One Infindigo tradition couldn't be abandoned completely, even though in many cases the whole family didn't come to collect the way they normally do.  But I still managed to get the leaving photos.  From a safe 2-metre distance, of course.

First to go was Ruska - to Cornwall with Avril & Scott & new big sister Layla, the Cavapoo.

Then Penni also to Cornwall with the Hollister family,  her mum, Anni, & Springer Lyla.  It was so lovely to see how happy Anni was to see one of her babies.

Penni was followed quickly by Lily who is off to Oxfordshire to Claire & Andy - not to mention new big brother, Miika (Infindigo Lintu Miika).  Looks like they are fast becoming best friends. 

The next day it was Taika off to ... not far away at all with Tom & Jo!  You can follow his continuing adventures on Instagram @taikuri_the_lapphund.

Then went Maki all the way to Manchester with Ruth & Mark.  Hopefully at some point in the future he will have a chance to meet some family members who live up there.  In the meantime, you can follow him on Instagram too @maki_the_lappie.

Finally, it was Nalle's turn to go ... again, staying pretty close by in Devon with Helly, Neil and Bjorn.

Good luck, pups!  Be the amazing dogs you are destined to become.

Someday, when all this madness is behind us, I hope to be sharing some puppy reunion photos.

6 weeks old

The puppies are 6 weeks old, and as usual, here they are with their new names.  As always, all the names are subject to KC approval. 

These puppies have been so well behaved and quiet - it's most unusual for a litter of Lappies.  Because of the weirdness of Coronavirus and the self-isolating I've been doing for almost 2 weeks now, these puppies have not been getting anything like the normal socialisation regime that Infindigo puppies usually get.  Still, they're confident and outgoing little tykes, taking in all the experience that we can give them without actually having people in the house or taking the puppies into town.

As you might expect from their parents, the puppies' coats are amazing.  Looking at these photos, I think I'm going to have to start using the adult brush on them, as the puppy brush just isn't cutting it anymore.

How cute are the sitting shots!  Luckily they are, as most of the standing ones are, well, not great.  But then you get the absolute natural posers like Neot/Nalle and Trever/Taika!

Neot
To be called Infindigo Onnekas Nalle
Nalle is a Finnish word for bear - very fitting, we think, for the most teddybear-like of puppies!

Penny
To be called Infindigo Onnekas Penni
Penni is the Finnish form of the word "penny"

Fowey
To be called Infindigo Onnekas Ruskka (Ruska)
Ruska is a Finnish word meaning autumn colours, but I added an additional, unnecessary K to the registered name because Ruska wasn't accepted by the KC

Trever
To be called Infindigo Onnekas Taikuri (Taika)
Taikuri is a Finnish word meaning magician and Taika means magic
You can follow Taika on Instagram @taikuri_the_lapphund

Kensey
To be called Infindigo Onnekas Maki
Maki is a Finnish boy's name

Ottery
To be called Infindigo Onnekas Kielo (Lily)
Kielo is the Finnish word for lily of the valley flower

5 weeks old

The puppies are growing fast, enjoying time in the outside pen (in between the rain, that is) and starting to enjoy a varied diet with scrambled eggs and cheese recent tastes.  In case you're wondering, both were a big hit.

Neot

Penny

Fowey

Trever

Kensey

Ottery

4 weeks old

These photos are not quite as good as they might be, but they are truly the best I could manage on this occasion.  This was before their baths as well, so they're quite crunchy with dried in food.  But pretty cute, nonetheless.

Neot

Penny

Fowey

Trever

Kensey

Ottery