grown-up puppy update

It's amazing how the puppies' personalities develop after they leave the nest and go off into the world. When they're 4 and 6 weeks old, you can take a guess at who will be quiet and laidback and who will be a little more, um, challenging and, er, enthusiastic. But you never really know how it will go once they get their paws under the table in their new home and are no longer under the influence of their siblings and mum.

Three examples of this phenomena from last year's litter:


Koda who was a quiet little mouse in the litter but developed into a very confident and ever-so-slightly boisterous teenager. All Liz's hard work and training paid off, though, and at the age of one-and-a-half, he is now a model citizen.






Keksi was the big girl of the last litter and ruled the whelping box with a paw of steel. No one got anything over on her and I warned Daniel that she was going to be a handful and that he would have to be firm with her. Well, she turned out to be a little angel with delightful manners and caused no trouble at all. It helped, no doubt, that Ismo was happy to have a new little sister move in and start to boss him around. These days she looks like butter wouldn't melt in her mouth.

Finally, Karhu, about whom I gave the same dire warning to Wendy & Scott. He, too, was one of the more dominant puppies of that litter and had a habit of stamping his rather large paws until he got his own way. But once he had the undivided attention of his new family (not to mention some great training & lots of walks) he, too, is a sweet, mannerly gent. These days he troubles only the plantlife in his park.

On the other hand, Taika, Taito and Tuuri (re-named Torvi by his family) were all gentle sweetie-pies right from the beginning and they kept those lovely characters even through their teenage stages. Here they are at around 12 months old.

Taika



















Torvi














Taito















As for Seppo (re-named 'Diesel' by his family), although I did take photos of him when I visited a few months ago, I now cannot find them anywhere. So frustrating but becoming increasingly normal in these chaotic days of mine. Guess I'll just have to go back and visit again!

the bitches - 6 weeks

Jaana
What I love best about her is her sense of humour and cute expression that photos just don't seem to capture. She's fearless & funny & very licky.


































Maija
I love her bright expression and little gremlin ears. She will sit tilting her head from side to side knowing that's a sure-fire way to get picked up for a cuddle.




































Sulo
Think you're confused? Sulo used to be LMP but is now Cross. Don't ask... I'll get myself sorted out eventually. What do you mean, I'm running out of time?
I love this girl's quiet personality; she's cuddly & shy until you try to pick her up & then it's catch-me-if-you-can games. Wonderful fluffy face.



































Viivi
What can I say? She has so many endearing qualities. She's still the "Flash" who shoots around the pen. She knows her name and she invented chasing games, grabbing toys and running like mad in the hope someone will follow.



































Inko
My favorite thing about her at the moment is that she's a cheeky, engaging little monkey. She's a real people puppy and one of the first to throw herself into the air hoping to be picked up.

the dogs - 6 weeks

Tarmo
What I love best about this guy (apart from his enormous white paws, of course) is the way he zooms over to say hello with his ears flat back and his tail wagging him off his feet.



































Jaska
My favorite thing about him right now is his big smile, tongue hanging out, when he's playing. Also, he's so heavy that he's very cuddly and squishable.





































Rauhan
I love the beautiful tan markings on this boy making him look so much like his handsome dad. He's the fearless boy who went off to happily meet the school kids in the park, even mustering a little wag for them.




































Tarkka
I love his cheeky expression and how clever he is. He was the first to learn his name and, of course, he invents all the best games.

character building

Late post today as I've been preoccupied with puppies-in-puppies-out all day long. Amazingly, at just short of 6 weeks old, these little 'uns are asking to go out for wees and poos. If I had a few extra arms & a few hours more energy, they'd be housetrained in days! As it is, I only get half of them out about half of the time. And, yes, it's still raining. Or should I say raining again. Much muddying of puppies. Much towelling dry of puppies. Much laundering of muddy towels. All good fun.

Their characters are developing nicely and their temperments are much more even than they were, say, 2 weeks ago. There is no clear dominant pup anymore (I can hear Jo breathing a sigh of relief from here). They are learning not to play so roughly with each other. Rather, they save their most ferocious biting for when I dare stick my fingers in the pen. Their favorite game is to see how many can hang off my sleeve by the teeth at once. There are still skirmishes that need to be broken up from time to time, but in the main everyone plays nicely.

The label of "noisy pup" of the litter has been passed from puppy to puppy over time. It seems to be a phase that each one goes through and then reverts back to a little whining for attention and only a little barking and growling in play.

The socialisation progresses. Each puppy is getting a trip down the park to the main road to get their first taste of traffic and the ooh-ing and aah-ing of strangers. They also get to sit in the car for a few minutes (no engine) and stay alone 5 mins inside and 5 mins outside. I try to make sure that each one gets one new experience everyday. Yes, I have a chart on which I keep track of who has done what so far!

Too bad I didn't take a film today when the puppies had their first taste of chicken. The reaction was "Man! You mean there is food like this!?" The crunchy puppy meal will never be the same. I missed that event, but here is a little video of how cute they are when you approach the pen. See how big they're getting?

the dogs - 5 weeks old

My talented friend Pia took some amazing photos of Toni's Border Collie puppies. Sadly, I have neither the baby blankets nor the patience to attempt such photos of my puppies, although they deserve it... and I'm certain they would be every bit as cute as BCs!

And, hell, I certainly don't have the time. Folks, I could not even manage to get any standing poses today.

There will be no weight updates tomorrow, alas, as I've been weighing the pups on my postage scales and they don't go much beyond 2 kgs.

So, at last, given below for your ooh-ing and aah-ing pleasure are the boys at 5 weeks (and their proper names) and the girls below that. All the puppies have the special middle name 'Monta', meaning 'many' in Finnish in honour of being the largest litter of Lapphunds ever born in the UK.

Tarmo - formerly known as Big A
A lovely sounding name I nicked from Paula & Adam (thanks, guys) which I think suits the Big Guy. Although he was never as heavy as Suck Monster, he has always been the biggest. Our gentle giant who watches all the madness going on around him and sits up on his hind legs to bat at your fingers with his enormous white paws. The best wagger in the bunch.




















Jaska - formerly known as Suck Monster
The heaviest boy of all, noted for his bright white toes and handsome face markings. Our clever boy who very quickly learned that yapping would get all faces turned in his direction. Yeah, we're trying to discourage that behaviour now... such a clever puppy should have no problem learning to be more quiet...




















Rauhan - formerly known as Chew
The small boy who has lots of tan face markings like his dad. Born with his knee in his mouth, he still likes to chew his own feet. We hope he'll leave this little habit behind when he goes off into the world. Looks for the world like a little bear when he's on his back with paws waving in the air and ears flapping.




















Tarkka - formerly known as Right Paw and Little Arrow
The monkey whose antics are out-naughtied only by Maija. Has learned to jump up onto the box they play with and stands up there taking swipes at all comers as the girls try to knock him off. Likes to pull the corner of the vet bed over him to sleep covered up.

the bitches - 5 weeks

Jaana - formerly known as Spot
How sweet is that face! She's the little one who growls when she plays, pretending to be vicious. It's all an act to keep the big boys in their place. In fact, she's cuddly and very waggy.


















Maija - formerly known as Boots
She's the powerhouse who charges around the pen demanding games long after everyone else has gone to sleep. Master pouncer.



















Aurinko (Inko) - formerly known as Cross
Always the biggest of the girls but gentle as can be. Not too happy about being up on the grooming table, she's much more at home rolling a ball around the pen, pulling out clumps of grass, or dragging newspaper all around. Happy to play all by herself if necessary.



















Viivi - formerly known as Flash
Named Flash for her flashy markings, her proper name means 'lively' in honour of her energetic entry into the world. She spends most of her days on her back with all 4 paws in the air playing with 2 or 3 others who pile on top of her. Occasionally requires rescuing from under the scrum. Loves to pull her siblings' tails.




















Sulo - formerly known as LMP
The "Perfect" markings she had at birth which inspired her name changed as she matured until her feet stopped matching! But she's still pretty perfect to us. The little girl who tries to climb out of the pen for a cuddle. Super wagger.

games in the pen

The puppies have settled in to the downstairs pen and seem to be growing right before my eyes now. In fact, I think I'll be adding the pen extension today to double the size. They are taking all the household noises as they come and haven't been too worried by the washing machine spinning or the Dyson zooming around their perimeter.

When they're not sleeping or eating, they're too busy playing to worry about any random bangs or crashes. They're interacting with each other, us and their toys a great deal now. When I come downstairs in the morning, I call them and they all run, yapping, to the side of the pen looking up, waiting for breakfast.

Breakfast today was last night's leftover puppy biscuit mush and another plate of porridge. The biscuit went down very well and no one turned up their nose or seemed to have any trouble eating it. I will gradually lessen the time I soak it for until they are able to happily crunch up the bits.

On Thursday they will be 4 weeks old and that means lots of new things. New portraits, of course, and visits from strangers & patiently waiting families. It also means I need to start making up my mind about which puppy will stay here with mum & dad and which ones will go where. Placing the puppies in the right homes is a job I take very seriously and I try so hard to make sure the personality fits the family.

Of course, some puppies' personalities change when they move into their new home and get their paws under the table, don't they Koda? Koda was a quiet little mouse when he lived here with us and when he went to his family his cheeky, adventurous character really developed! A little bit of work and he's now reverted to his good-boy status and is a real delight.

The magic 1-month-old milestone also means that I'm hoping the pups will start spending some of their time in the garden. Fingers crossed for good weather - or at least better than it's been for the last 2 months or so. Now need to find some time to get the grass cut good and short in preparation.

For your entertainment today, a little video of games in the pen.