5 1/2 Weeks Old - Puppy Selection Time

Sola's litter is 38 days old today and will be leaving for their new homes in less than two weeks! They are currently fully weaned and eating four times per day with about 7 cups of dry food (Purina Pro PlanLarge Breed Formula) per feeding - ground in a food processor and mixed with lots of water. I reduce the amount of grinding and the time that I let the food soak a little each day. Later this week, the pups will get their final vet exam, including microchip insertion, deworming, and vaccination. A few pups have already been selected by their new owners based on visits this weekend, and the others will be selected over the next several days. The pups range in size from the smallest, and most precocious, CF4 (chocolate female 4) at 6 1/4 pounds, to our little giant, CM9, who weighs 11 pounds! 6 1/4 is not small, but 11 is definitely big for the age. All the pups are highly energetic (when not sleeping), very sociable and snuggling, brave, and with lots of drive. They play with stuffed toys - carrying them around, fighting for them, chasing them, and even performing minor amputations. They run, tumble and fight, and, of course, eat and poop, eat and poop over and over again. The pictures below were taken yesterday.

CM1 - Larger than average and (for now) a slightly lighter shade of chocolate. For today, relatively calmer than average.

 
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CM2 - Mid-range in size, with a nice balance of drive, independence, and cuddliness. Sort of a middle ground between the more active and feisty pups on one hand and the calmer pups on the other.

 
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CF3 - Energetic and feisty, CF3 is between CF4 and CF6 in weight and temperament. Very sweet and very focused. She has been selected by her new family.

 
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CF4 - At 6 1/4 pounds, CF4 is the smallest of Sola's pups for now. However, she is also the most precocious and has been first in the litter to attain milestones such as going down steps, jumping off a small wall, noticing and attacking a toy and, most recently, scaling the 15" wall of the whelping box. In fact, she pretty much goes over the wall at will and is the only pup able to do so. Where does she go? - into the box with my dog Misty's pups, who are a week younger so she can be the big girl. (CF4 has been selected)

 
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CM5 - This is one of the larger and feistier of the pups, with lots of drive and a developing prey instinct, but very happy to be snuggled as well.

 
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CF6 - At 7 3/4 pounds, CF6 is average to above average weight for the litter and the largest of the three females. She is friendly, a snuggler, and willing to do things like going down steps (at this size, more like falling) and climbing down off my little retaining wall. While she plays with toys a little, she hasn't shown the same prey drive of grabbing for the toy and carrying it around yet as the other two females, but that will surely develop over the next couple of weeks. (CF6 has been selected)

 
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CM7 - CM7 is pretty much average in weight for the litter and, with CM5, has more than average zing in his personality. He's convinced that he can fly down steps - so far without major embarrassment - and he loves to play with toys.

 
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CM8 - CM8 is about average in size and one of the relatively calmer pups in the litter, while still showing lots of affection and the bravery expected of a Lab. He has already been selected by the family with the first pick of males.

   
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CM9 - The gentle (relatively speaking) giant at 11 pounds, CM9 is most tolerant of the types of things that young children have a tendency t0 do to puppies while still showing basic retriever instincts. He would not be my first choice as a hunting dog - although I suspect he would do it very well - but would be my first choice for a family with smaller children.

Puppies at Play: I shot this after cleaning out the whelping boxes a couple of days ago (Pups 5 and 5 1/2 weeks old). The pups wanted to show their appreciation, but were also quick to begin replacing all the poop I had removed!

Day 20 - First Non-Mommy Meal

Today, Sola's babies got their first look at food from a source other than Mom. Everyone had time for a dip in the broth, time to push each other around while seeking the tastiest bits, and then back to sleep. Over the next 1 1/2 weeks, approximately, pups will receive more and more of their food needs from dog food - ground in a food processor and soaked with water - until they are ready to be fully weaned. Their next challenge this week will be a first trip outside, weather permitting.

Sola and Willie's Puppies

Sola's are now one week old. They have had their first vet visit and passed with flying colors. They also had their dew claws removed, which was not fun, but it didn't last long and avoids potential future injuries that can happen when dew claws get snagged as dogs are running in the field. At borth, the pups ranged from 14-17 ounces. Now they range from 25-32 ounces. No wonder Sola is exausted!

Cleaned up and tired. Another day, another nine mouths to feed

Puppies from 2014 Litter

BM1 - Blue Collar

Second smallest of the males at 8 1/2 pounds. "Blue" is a slightly lighter color than his siblings, but the final coat doesn't really become visible until they are 3-4 months old.

CM2 - Red Collar

"Red" is the smallest of the males, at 8 pounds and, as is traditional, is a little more active and precocious than his larger siblings.

CF3 - Yellow Collar

Macie (already named by her future owner) is active, inquisitive, and affectionate - qualities she shares with all of her siblings. She weighed in at 7 1/2 pounds for her physical.

CF4 - White Collar

A sweetheart with more than a touch of adventure. She holds the distinction of being the first to make the leap down the first step of my backyard deck. Despite that brief claim to fame, it would be hard to distinguish her from any of her sisters since they are all so close in personality.

CF5 - Green Collar

We named this young girl "Diva" when she was only two days old because of the fuss she made during her first vet exam. She lived up to her name for the first four weeks by being the most precocious in the litter - and also the first to voice her opinions of whatever was going on around. Then there was a mix of her toning down and the others catching up. Now her name only reflects her quick start in greeting the world. She is cute, affectionate, and still the first to leap on the side of the whelping box to wish me a good morning at 4am.

CM6 - Orange Collar

While CF4 was the first down the steps of the deck, that was more a matter of opportunity than distinction. CM6 never hesitated for a moment when first presented with the steps. She headed straight down to the bottom and even landed with a certain amount of dignity.

CM7 - Yellow Collar

"Goliath", the gentle giant, weighed the same as most of the other pups at 16 ounces at birth. At 9 1/2 pounds (maybe more since my puppy scale doesn't really go that high), he remains slightly larger than his younger brother, CM8. As befits his larger size, CM7 wins wrestling matches with his smaller siblings by simply lying on top of them. A few times I've heard an angry yelping and gone to find 7 spreadeagled with four legs that were not his creeping out from his sides. As with CM1, he is a slightly lighter shade of chocolate than the other pups, and also a ittle bit sweeter.

CM8 - White Collar

CM8 was the last born and, at 19 ounces, the second largest puppy at birth that I have ever had. That says nothing about his adult weight. The largest puppy at birth was his mom, Sola, who weighed 22 ounces at birth and now only weighs about 63-64 pounds when in shape. As of today, CM8 is the second largest in the litter at 9 pounds, and is the only pup who has jumped off the stone wall surrounding my pond more than once.