firsts

You might think that by the time one reaches a 6th litter of one breed of dog, that most of the 'firsts' would have come and gone.  But it seems there are still one or two things that pop up to surprise me with each litter, and this one is no exception.

As I've discussed earlier on this blog, these are not the first water babies I've had, but they are certainly the most dedicated.  I think it's the first time I've seen any puppies carrying the (empty!) outside water bowl around (Talvi, Tito).  And it is certainly the first time any puppy has climbed into the full bowl.  It has happened on a few occasions; Kai with head and both front paws in the bowl (many times), Tito trying to get all four paws into the bowl at once (most amusing), any of them digging away in the water.  But I've captured puppy-in-bowl on film only once, and then, not wonderfully.  But you get an idea.

Don't think for a second that this was a fleeting moment luckily captured on camera.  Oh no.  Kaito was standing there up to his knees in water long enough for me to (a) notice (b) get up off the sofa (c) grab my phone (d) set it to camera mode and (e) finally get the photo.

It's the first time that I've come downstairs to a completely clean pen first thing in the morning and all the puppies yelled and did their wees and poos outside.  

It's also certainly not the first time I've managed to get puppy poo under my nails.  I don't know what it is this time - extra tired, extra poorly coordinated, extra hurried - but this time I seem to have a particular knack for sticking my nails through the poo bags or paper towels.  At any rate, these days I frequently have puppy poo under my nails.  And I struggle even with the sensation of hand cream under my nails, so poo doesn't go down well at all.  My poor hands are like sandpaper from all the washing.  It's an excellent excuse for a manicure.   Rest assured I won't tell the manicurist where my nails have been.

And in case you were worrying I was going to subject you to photographic evidence of the trials and tribulations of my nails, fear not.   We shall move swiftly on to something more savoury. 

It is the first time I have had a dam who so enjoyed her puppies and spent so much time playing with them.  Although Neka has always played with her grandkids, she never ever played with her own puppies.  And I'm not sure either of her daughters played with their puppies either.  But every day Tuuli spends some time in the pen just enjoying her puppies, and I have to say it's completely adorable. And it can only be good experiences and lessons for the babies. 

What is definitely a first for me, though, is witnessing Tuuli weaning the puppies.  Obviously I've been weaning them gradually since they were two-and-a-half weeks old, but it's absolutely fascinating to watch Tuuli with them at 6 and 7 weeks old.  She will jump in and let them suck from her just for a minute or two and then she growls a little to get them off.  She also jumps in after her breakfast and regurgitates (that's vomiting to you and me) some of her meal for them.  It sounds disgusting, perhaps, but it's absolutely natural and exactly the way a wild dog - or indeed a wolf - would feed growing babies.  None of my gang have ever done that before. 

And, for your enjoyment, a few random shots of puppies playing.

Kai carrying stuff

Kaito carrying stuff

Kai and Talvi being good

Fiia being good

Tito funny face

water water everywhere

A few days ago I posted a photo of the entire litter all crammed into one corner of the pen, all trying to sleep next to the water bowl.  In each litter there is always (at least) one puppy who insists on sleeping with his head dipping into the water bowl.  In Taito's litter it was Karhu, in Maija's litter it was Jaska, in the subsequent litters it was Minna, Kiittaa and, in the case of the Persikka puppies, ALL of them.  Water babies, every one. 

In this litter it is, again, every one of them, although some are perhaps slightly more enamoured than others.  I blame Tuuli who loves water like a spaniel.  The Pippuri puppies are all obsessed with the water bowl which means the pen (and surrounding floor) is constantly soaked.  They sleep around the bowl, they jostle each other trying to get the best position next to the bowl, they stand with front feet in the bowl (Mini, Fiia, Sox), they dig in the water bowl (Tito, Tuulen).  What a mess!  I am trying to discourage them from this because the last thing their new families will want is water everywhere all the time, but I think it is a habit that will only recede with time and maturity.  Hopefully.  Just ask Keskiyo, who still likes the occasional dig in the water bowl. 

And it could be worse.  Neka's father Pascha used to pick up his (full) water bowl, carry it carefully into the living room and then drop it.  These puppies didn't stand a chance, really, did they.

And so to the photographic evidence.

3 puppies, 1 bowl

4 puppies, 1 bowl

Somehow Sox manages to tip it over!

Very pleased with himself & his wet head

New idea: bowl-inside-a-bowl.  Very exciting, apparently.

As you can imagine, I prefer the puppies to spend plenty of time in the garden where, mysteriously, they ignore the water bowl!  Some action shots from the outdoor pen.

They love playing in and around boxes

Try to get a group shot but there's always one in the box

5 weeks weights

Well, she did it.  Fooled most people, that is.  Granted, Mini still isn't, well, mini, but Sox has very quickly taken over the job of biggest puppy.  And he's rather a lot bigger when you see them.  In fact, I'm guessing that the people who guessed Sox are those who saw the puppies in person recently.  (Jay, you haven't been cheating, have you?)

Here's the news.

And here are some cute, sadly not-very-sharp photos of the gang scampering around in the frosty grass that I just couldn't resist a couple of days ago.  But first, and in haste because I have much to do before the arrival of puppy visitors today, evidence of just how incorrigible these water babies are.  New owners, consider yourselves warned.

Kiittaa growing muddy - I mean, up

And speaking of skinny legs, here is a video update from Riemu Kiittaa, formerly cream Lapphund, enjoying her day in the mud.  Luckily, Alan assures me that Kiittaa is Teflon coated and once dry, the mud just falls right off.  We Lappy lovers are very fortunate for that easy-care Lappy coat.  Especially when said Lappy simply loves the water and the mud.

It would appear that the mud doesn't slow her down any either.  I hope all the humans in attendance had easy-clean leg attire that day.  Isn't it amusing to run around, jumping and shaking mud all over the squealing people!  Such puppy japes!

In the meantime, Dotsie maintains a dignified distance and leaves the puppy to her puppy stuff.

And here is the sweet mud-lover at a slightly younger age.

almost 6 months old

Two days ago marked the Tuisku puppies' 6-month birthday - happy half-birthday, puppies!

This weekend will be the very first show for the boys Usko and Kallio. Minna has been excused as there is a human birthday party at which her presence is required. But I'll be taking Keskiyo & Neka and picking up Taito on the way for the looong drive to Darlington to see the puppies in their debut. I've heard that they both have a bit of a naughty streak but I don't believe it for a second and I'm quite confident that they'll behave like little angels and show like pros. Yes I am. I am.

The latest photo updates have been trickling in and some lucky pups have been having their very first visits to some amazing beaches over the summer.



Taika & Minna
















"Race you to the birds, mum!"

















Sandy knackered puppy














Here's another sandy puppy - Jonna










Jonna & Ellie with what looks like the entire northwest coast of England to themselves










Kallio having his first of many, many subsequent forays into the water












Having fun with his friends














Causing trouble with his housemate (again)

















And, finally, here is Kesa getting a different kind of wet. She doesn't need the beach - she's quite happy "helping" with watering the garden.






In the meantime, Usko is being very grownup and dry

water babies

You might think that with their thick, heavy coat Lapphunds would try to avoid getting wet. It has been my experience, though, that they love water. I know of a few who have learned to swim - for sport or in therapy or just by mistake after falling into deep water (Neka, Keskiyö).

I think that most would not choose to swim as a matter of course in the manner of, say, a Labrador, and ours certainly don't choose to get soaked head to tail. However, they love to paddle. Neka will playfully jump over waves in the ocean, while both Keskiyo and Maija head straight for any available river, pond, puddle or even mud.

The recent warm weather encourages even puppies to have a go. Although there is unfortunately no photographic proof, I have heard that Kesä, at only 8 or 9 weeks old had a swim in the family pool before the chemicals went in. Certainly, Keskiyö had an accidental swim in our garden pond at the ripe old age of 7 weeks, 2 days. (Incidentally, that event encouraged me to hastily remove the thick layer of pond weed obscuring the fact that there was, in fact, water underneath that seemingly solid green carpet.)



Usko trying out the stream












Kallio watching to see how the big dogs do it








Karhu cooling off












Taika on her first trip to France, on holiday 2009
















Everyone waiting impatiently to get their leads off at the river yesterday









Keskiyö paddling in sunbeams with his Collie friend Kye in the foreground

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.