6 weeks old

Emmi has gone home and the puppies are left to fend for themselves ... well, with a bit of help in the form of meals and cleanup from the humans and playtime from Tuuli and from Anni, who is visiting.  If anyone is thinking of asking me to take care of dogs while there are 5-or-6-week-old puppies in the house again, don't.  I don't mind one bit having 12 dogs in the house at once.  Truly.  But I dare say my neighbours are not quite so keen and even Jay is less certain.  Perhaps because I disappear off to work a few days a week leaving him to try to work and take care of 12 dogs.  Whoops!

Suffice to say it has been fun.  Of a sort.

At last the puppies know where they will be going to live, and the new puppy owners know which puppy will be theirs.  We even have names!  As always, the names are subject to Kennel Club approval.

I was pleased the weather cooperated today so that we could get some good outdoor photos.  If you're wondering what I'm bribing them with to get them to stand so nicely, it's slivers of mature cheddar - the puppies' first taste of cheese.  As you can see, they approve.

Infindigo Lintu Joki

Was Woody, will be called Joki (pronounced Yokey), Finnish for "river"

Infindigo Lintu Nukka

Was Robin, will be called Nukka (pronounced Noo-kah), Finnish for "jumper fluff" - yes, it's true, that this puppy will be called Lintu Lint!  It amuses me inordinately.

Infindigo Lintu Valo

Was Raven, will be called Valo (pronounced Vah-loh), Finnish for "light".

Infindigo Lintu Henkka

Was Rook, will be called Henkka, which is the name of the bass player in the Finnish band "Children of Bodom".

 Infindigo Lintu Xxxx

 Still Buzz, as we don't have his new name just yet

Infindigo Lintu Matias

Was Puffin, will be called something else as yet undecided.

Infindigo Lintu Miika

Was Merlin, will be called Miika (pronounced Mee-kah), which is a Finnish boy's name and the name of his mum, Emmi's, big brother at home.

5 weeks old

The puppies have a big crowd of visitors coming this weekend.  I hope they are bracing themselves for the cuteness because their photos don't actually do justice to these puppies.

Woody

Robin

Raven

Rook

Buzz

Puffin

Merlin

4 weeks old

It's quite surprising how quickly the time with the puppies goes.  Perhaps in part because while they are here we are so busy.  There is the walking of the adult dogs.  Then there are all the meals for puppies and for mum, including soaking the kibble and mashing it to the correct, gradually chewier consistency, the (endless) washing up, the (even more endless) washing of vet bed.  Never mind trying to find time to wash the humans' clothes.  The twice-daily cleaning out of the puppy pen.  Oh yes, and then there is trying to do a day's work too. 

All in all, it comes as a great surprise when they hit the 4-week mark, move downstairs and start to experience some of the world.  The second 4 weeks go even more quickly.

Woody

Robin

Raven

Rook

Buzz

Puffin

Merlin

3 weeks old

The 3-week photos are always the same - the puppies are a bit crunchy around the edges from their first few attempts at eating and they are a bit damp from being cleaned by mum.  They're also active and learning to play and noisy from learning to growl and bark.  These puppies are a bit noisier than the norm and we're thinking it's because they're feeling too warm.  They now have a cool mat in the box with them, and Emmi has another one to lie on at night outside the box.

In other news, Maija & Tuuli had a vomiting and diarrhea bug a week ago so we were desperately careful about keeping Emmi away from them so that she didn't pick it up and pass it to the puppies in turn.  24 hours of starvation, and the bug was gone; Maija & Tuuli bounced right back to normal, so after a couple of days Emmi reintegrated.  And shortly thereafter she apparently went outside to the park next door for a wee and picked it up.  She has chosen to starve herself, so I'm hoping she will be back to normal tomorrow.  And I'm pleased to report there is no sign of sickness with the puppies.  Yet.  Not sure I want to think about what it might be like to have 7 puppies vomiting and spewing liquid poo every 5 minutes.

But in the meantime...

Woody

Robin

Raven

 

Rook

Buzz

Puffin

Merlin