Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Puppy Project

The pups are developing faces now.
The fencing I put up around the wading pool worked to keep the puppies in, but it was a little confining for Luna and the mini-Troopers are getting too big for the pool. So, I went to Lowe's, bought some plywood and had it ripped into 16" wide strips. I constructed an L-shaped enclosure in the Puppy Palace, freeing the pups from the wading pool and more than doubling the size of their world.

There's a nice big bed area, roomy enough for the pups and for Luna. She came over, laid down, and fed them, and then they all went to sleep so no one has really made use of the new space yet. There's a Luna-sized bed in there too, and Luna's raised bed is outside but adjacent to the puppy area if she wants some time away from them. Luna can still go in and out through her door, but the pups have no access to it.

The vacant space will initially become poop and pee space covered with newspapers and/or pee pads when the puppies get to that point. I'll eventually move the paper space to the far end of the L so the area next to the bed will be available for play.
This shows the L-shaped enclosure, with bed area, open area,
round bed for Luna, and elevated Luna bed just outside.
This will keep the puppies away from Luna's open access door.

The three little mini-Troopers are walking better now and they are beginning to lap up replacement milk pretty well. In another week we'll start them on gruel, mixing milk and puppy food in a blender. Luna is still providing for them right now, however, and that is their preference and mine too.

This corner is perfect for nursing because it presents Luna's
left side which has more milk and may be getting blocked.
In other news: Journey, the mastiff, has his routine down. His crate is in the kitchen. If he makes noise we take him out on a leash. He poops and pees on the leash without problem. He eats in his crate. He's fine with the other dogs and he's gotten used to us, but I can't say that he's really warmed up to or bonded with us yet. That will take a while with this dog so it's crate and leash for now. He has finished his antibiotics but I'm still giving him several supplements for his skin and coat.

The new boxer's new name is Simon and he's quite sweet. He's very quiet, just lays in his crate or on a bed watching everything that is going on. I think has started to warm up and bond already. I still just don't see this as a problem dog. He didn't eat his breakfast, we'll see if he eats tonight. I found a gravy-sort of food supplement that I'll try on his dinner.

The best news is that I'm taking Daisy to someone's home tomorrow morning. She's a repeat rottweiler adopter so I'm hopeful and optimistic.
Della liked to sleep outside the puppy space but near enough
that she could watch them and jump in there whenever she
wanted. This arrangement and this bed allows Luna to do the same.

Journey, out for one of his leash walks.




Journey meeting Serena


Daisy laying on the front porch.
Simon seems to have very good house
manners.

2 comments:

Byron's Mom said...

You have made such a fantastic setup for Mama and her babies! What lucky little fur babies to have you!

Anonymous said...

1) Bravo to you and Luna for taking such good care of the babies. Soon they will need names too. They are adorable.

2) Good luck to Daisy in her new home. 3 cheers for you and Clay

3) Journey is a handsome boy with a sweet face. Someone will love him fur-ever.

4) Thank you for not naming the Boxer, "Tyson". "Simon" is a much better name and a nice reference for those of us over 60.