happy birthday

Very happy birthday to the Tuisku puppies who are four years old today.  FOUR!  I can hardly believe it.

They're a lovely bunch of grownup Lapphunds at four years, but at four weeks they were positively adorable.  Although it is my tradition to post photos of puppies in corresponding months or weeks of age to their current years of age, for some reason I can't locate the 4-weeks-old photos this morning.  So you will just have to make do with these from the 5-6-week-old pile.

Minna, Kallio, Usko, Kesa, Lana

Minna, Lana, Kallio

Kallio, Usko, Minna, Lana

and on the way home

After a flying Scottish visit, we took off back down the motorway, pausing along the way to visit Minna's sister Lana who we haven't seen in the fur since she left home a year ago.






















Her family had only just returned from holiday the day before, so our timing could not be better. They might have had other ideas, I suppose, considering the 8-hour coach journey they described it taking to get home. Yeesh. So perhaps not exactly perfect timing for everyone, but I'm not complaining.

There was time and (almost enough) energy for a little stroll in the rain so that the family could all get re-acquainted. Even Lana's big sister Ellie liked everyone else, although you wouldn't necessarily guess so from this photo.














L-R: Ellie, Minna, Lana, Taika, Neka






The sisters together










You can see a family resemblance, for sure, although Lana looks more like her brother Kallio and other sister Kesa. However, most of all she looks just like her dad, Lapinlumon Albmi.
















After waving farewell to Lana and family, we scooted on down south to retrieve Maija and return Taika & Minna. But we couldn't come home empty handed of visitors, so you see there are yet more stories to come.

growing up puppies

In only a week the Tuisku puppies will be one year old and no longer puppies at all. I've had some updates here and there - and it is perhaps needless to say that we got to see one or two of them when the last bunch were receiving visitors.





Minna and Taika just a tad muddy after a walk during their visit.
















Usko also came to visit and we had a bit of a challenge to get him calm enough for a photo as he was rather excited to be here seeing us & his granny Neka.













Kallio had his first ever bath.












Lana went skiing in Scotland with sis Ellie & the rest of the family.







"You can't catch me!"







While Kesa enjoyed the snow down south.

pupdate

The puppies are 17 weeks old today. Is that all? Doesn't sound like much, does it? Around 4 or 5 months of age Lappies tend to go through a gangly stage. They have a growth spurt... of ears, muzzle and legs, anyway, and the coat can't keep up. They tend to be, um, cute-challenged. Not these puppies, they're cute all the way. (Um, mostly. So far.)

Note the fuzzy tufts of lighter fur behind the ears - a classic feature of the wolf sable puppy as the coat colour changes.

No new pics of Usko, but he's coming to visit in a couple of days, so stay tuned.

Jaana has been on holiday in Cumbria.




"Where'd they go?"













A perfect seat for two... Lapphunds.










Minna has also been on holiday - camping with the relatives! I've been assured she was a complete angel the whole time. No, really!







Snoozing with auntie Kaija in the foreground.







Kesä illustrating the play-bow. And looking very much like Kallio.







Kallio looking quite grown up... well, sorta.








He hasn't yet learned you can't out-stare a cat.






And, finally, in honour of Jay's recent birthday, Inko sent this greeting:

11 weeks old

I cannot believe these puppies have only been in their new homes 3 or 4 weeks. It seems like an absolute age. I'm sure it also feels to the puppies' new families that they have always just been there.

With apologies for the missing Kesä, here are the gang's 11-weeks-old photos.





Jaana out for a stroll among the fallen blossoms

















Kallio has a new bear









Getting very good at his show stand already!










Minna having a cuddle with Jay under protest
















A rare still moment posing with her mum












Usko helping out with a bit of weeding in the garden










Chatting with some pigs

what a difference...

...a week makes!

There we were last weekend bundled up in fleeces and waterproof jackets. This weekend? Summer arrived a couple of days ago and suddenly it's too hot to walk the dogs anytime other than very early or very late. So on Sunday, very early, we set off to Bovey Valley for a long walk along the river and through the bluebell woods.

Within the woods was a bit dark for very clear photos, although the dogs had a great time playing in the river and it meant that they were able to keep cool in the shade. Outside in the fields the sunlight was so hot & bright that it was difficult to get the gang to sit still for a photo. But here they are anyway.




Happy Lappies Maija, Keskiyo & Neka












With their friends the Border Collies Maddie & Kye











Keskiyo having a paddle in the river







In the meantime, the Tuisku puppies turned 10 weeks old and I have these photos to mark the occasion.




Jaana & Ellie having fun











Usko sporting the cute one-ear-up-one-ear-down look and learning to walk nicely on his lead.






Perfecting the Lappy pounce.








Kallio looking quite pleased with himself after - presumably - finishing the gardening. Just judging by the empty watering can next to him.

















Big grin.