** Note: All pups from this litter are currently reserved.
Week three was a busy one for the puppies. A few of them figured out how to crawl out of the whelping box, which meant it was time to move everyone into a larger space. They are growing quickly, becoming more active and starting to show us more of their individual personalities.
We are getting this update out a little later than usual because the puppies have reached the stage where they keep us busy most of the day. When they are awake, there is usually something happening.
Growing bigger every day
Green is still the largest puppy in the litter, followed by Red and Black. Everyone continues to gain weight and develop well.
The puppies have also grown into their larger collars. A few needed to switch back to the smaller collars temporarily because the new ones kept slipping off, but by the end of the week everyone was back in their original colors.
Puppy mush was an immediate success
The biggest milestone this week was introducing puppy mush. This is an important part of the weaning process and their first step toward eating regular dog food instead of relying entirely on Charlie’s milk.
We make the mush with ground puppy food and milk replacer. The puppies learn to eat from a bowl while still getting the consistency and nutrition they need during the transition.
Some litters need a little convincing. Puppies may stare at the bowl, walk through it or spend more time playing with the food than eating it. This group understood the assignment immediately. Every puppy started eating without much hesitation, making this one of the easiest transitions to puppy mush we have had.
Lainey, Charlie and Ginger watched the entire meal from outside the puppy area. They were less interested in the puppies’ progress than in getting a chance to clean the bowl afterward.
First baths and puppy pedicures
All of the puppies had their first baths this week. Green demonstrates bath time in the video, but everyone got a turn.
Introducing water at this age gives us an early look at how comfortable each puppy is with being handled and getting wet. Nobody objected, and every puppy did well in the bath.
They also had their nails trimmed with a nail grinder. We start this type of handling early so routine grooming feels normal as they grow. A small pet nail grinder is useful to have at home because it makes it easier to keep a puppy’s nails short without taking off too much at once.
A larger home and the beginning of potty training
Once puppies start escaping from the whelping box, the box has done its job. Their new space gives them more room to move, play and begin learning where different activities happen.
We have added pee pads and started the first stage of potty training. At three weeks old, this is not formal house training. We are simply giving them a designated area and helping them develop clean habits as they become more mobile.
Ladybug the cat has already inspected the new setup. The puppies seem comfortable with the extra room and have adjusted well.
Learning to drink water
The puppies also began drinking from a water bowl this week. Between the water and puppy mush, they are becoming less dependent on Charlie for hydration and nutrition.
Learning to drink sounds simple, but it takes some practice. At first, puppies may put their noses too far into the bowl or splash around before figuring it out. This group is making good progress.
Playtime and emerging personalities
The puppies are beginning to play with toys, wrestle with each other and explore whatever happens to be nearby. They managed to find one of Kerri’s shoes while they were outside. Shoes are not part of the official puppy enrichment program, despite what the puppies may claim.
Green, Orange and Aqua are currently the most active members of the litter. They are usually ready to explore and get involved in whatever is happening.
Black is the most laid back puppy right now. He enjoys playing with the group, but he is also quite happy to find a comfortable spot and take a nap. The other personalities will become clearer over the next several weeks as the puppies spend more time playing, learning and interacting with their surroundings.
Everybody is doing wonderfully
After outdoor playtime, the entire group settled in for a well earned nap. They usually sleep for about two hours at a time, which has quickly become one of our favorite parts of the day. When they wake up, they are ready to go again.
Everyone is healthy, growing and doing well. We will continue working on weaning, drinking water, potty habits, grooming and socialization as we head into week four.
If you have questions about the puppies or their development, please feel free to contact us.
