Rainy day entertainment

I'm not ever a fan of rainy weather but it's particularly nasty when I've got puppies who want and need to be outdoors. They actually had some outdoor time early in the morning when it was wet but not actively raining. That's when Peggy demonstrated her new found tree climbing skills. I found her there when I went back after feeding the rest of the dogs. I ran back inside to get my camera and she was down when I came back, but not for long. Seems that she wanted to show me what she could do. She looked a bit like a koala bear hanging on the side of the tree, or perhaps a pup with the ambition to be a pole dancer. 

We've had several litters of puppies here in the past several years, but none that tried to climb the trees. This is probably a sign that their nails need to be cut, and the scratches on my lower legs can attest to that as well.

No one else joined Peggy in the tree and it was mostly an indoor day. They got out a few times in spite of the rain but I really needed something to entertain them inside so I broke out a few enrichment toys that have been around here from prior litters. They all involve food so the pups took to them right away. 

Holly spent a second night in bed with me and Elvis and will again tonight. She was in the house most of the day but made periodic "requests" to go out to see the puppies. I took breaks from work and we paid the puppies a visit. She didn't usually want to stay for too long, just wanted to check in on them.

She was a couple feet off the ground.

I wondered if she was stuck, but she got down on her own more than once.

They aren't on a food dish, they are swarming a snuffle mat.

This is the snuffle mat, many tight folds of soft cloth with kibble hidden inside.

This is another toy, with door that they can open to access bits of food.

And this is just a slow feeder, that challenges them to get the food.

Holly and Elvis in bed with me last night.

Holly's day partly away

Holly had a successful first night away from her kids. I knew that putting her in a crate in the office wouldn't go well, so I cleared off the bed in the guest room and she and I slept in there last night, along with Maya and Elvis. Both Holly and Elvis were in bed with me. Maya has always preferred to sleep by herself on the floor next to me. 

I spent the day dealing with the puppies' need to be outdoors and Holly's need to be with them. They are on their third outing of the day right now. Holly is here in the house with me, but I'll take her out to see them again before bedtime. She doesn't insist on being with them all the time. She's glad to get away from their teeth, I'm sure, but she's still a concerned mother and wants to check on them periodically. I wish I could just show her the cameras and convince her that they were fine.

I took Della and Holly on a hike today. We went a little over three miles and had a very nice walk. Holly was better today than she was when walking with Leo yesterday. I used different equipment on her, a four foot leash rather than a six footer, and an Easy Walk harness that I intentionally put on incorrectly, instead of just her collar. It was almost 60 degrees and at least partly sunny, a beautiful day for a walk. Unlike yesterday, we were not alone out there but we didn't encounter any problematic people or dogs.

3.12 miles

I didn't take any outdoor puppy pictures today, and no video. In fact, the only puppy pics I got today were when I went out to weight them and put them to bed this evening after their final feed. 

The cardboard tunnel has become a sleeping spot as much as a plaything. I've found at least five of them in there at one time and this evening when I was wanting to weigh them I had to pick it up and dump them out of the end. They are getting big enough that it's difficult for one to pass another in the tunnel but they still manage somehow.

Camilla in front, with Boomer behind her in the tunnel.

Charlie was curled up at the opposite end.

Camilla in front still, with three of the blonds packed in behind her.

Most of them will migrate to the bed at some point, to join Adina, Yukon, and Boomer.

It does look cozy and fun in there, but becoming a bit claustrophobic.

Boomer still leads, but Charlie and Yukon are not far behind. After being the smallest, other than Camilla, for quite some time, Dizzy appears to be about to catch up and possibly pass Peggy. Both are still lighter than the sleek but beefy Adina. Camilla posted a strong gain today.

Over the wall

We knew this day would come but we did not know just when. Boomer went over the wall in the puppy shed, into Holly's space and even out the doggie door. That called for some changes that will affect everyone around here.

The day was chilly, wet, and generally muddy and ugly, pretty typical winter day. But it wasn't raining mid-morning so I got the puppies outside for a while. They didn't seem to mind the weather and they really wanted and needed to get out and burn off some puppy power. I got bored and decided to go grocery shopping, as much for entertainment as for the need of food. 

While sitting in the parking lot at Giant I took a look at the surveillance cams in the puppy shed and saw Boomer sitting next to Holly, on the wrong side of the wall. I called Clay at home and asked him to go out and close the doggie door and put Boomer back where he belonged. While Clay was on his way out there, I saw Holly leave the shed through the doggie door followed by Boomer shortly thereafter. Clay found them both in Daneland, got them back inside, and closed the doggie door.

When I got home I took down the wall that was no longer an effective barrier between Holly and the pups, while giving them some more outside time. This gives the puppies more room, which they need, but it means that Holly has no way to get away from them. I could leave her with then but that means that she'll be harassed by them. I think it's time for her to move indoors, let her milk dry up, work on her house and crate training, and get her ready for her spay and adoption. 

I started by taking her on a late afternoon two mile walk with Leo. I took her out to visit the puppies when we got home and she learned how to open the big doors on the shed letting her and the pups out again. I found a key to lock that door and brought her in the house where I hope she'll be spending most of her time from now on. She seems to have different thoughts on that issue, however, so we will see. The last thing I need is another female dog in the house right now, but I think it's where she should be right now.

Boomer, displaying the athletic prowess that propelled him over the wall today.

Holly teaching while the other look on.

Adina

Holly can get through the tunnels too.

Yukon

Holly and Leo on today's walk.

Sunshine! Dogs walk and puppies play

We've finally had a bit of sun the last two days, and that's really the only common theme of this post.

Friday afternoon, a walk with Della and Elvis in the late day sun.

Saturday morning, it was a chilly start to the day so I fed the pups indoors and had their first play session there, but then got them out later in the morning when the sun was hitting Daneland.

Boomer with a fine and tasty stick.

Charlie, already muddy.

Camilla launching herself off the top deck onto another puppy below.

Pups studying forestry.

Holly and her mini me.

The puppies haven't worked out a strategy for passing one another on the elevated bench.

Camilla just tried to push her way under the other puppy.

Today was the first day I saw them up on the second level.

Late morning, I took Della and Paisley for a hike. I was wearing a sweatshirt over a t-shirt and was too warm. After the first mile I went back to the van and ditched the sweatshirt. We did a little over three miles. There are still a lot of muddy places on the trails.

Saturday afternoon, we hosted prospective puppy adopters for a visit and a long outdoor play session. It was a perfect afternoon for it. The puppies played themselves out, ate a big meal, and then went back inside for a nap. I'll feed them again before bed but no more outings until tomorrow, weather permitting.

Camilla

Peggy

Dizzy

That is Holly's tail and rear legs as she leapt over one of the tunnels. 

I think she'd love to do agility.

A view inside one of the tunnels.

Yukon was very nice and let me hold him today.

It was a late lunch and they were hungry.

Holly is a wonderful mother and a really great dog.