Della takes a break

Della has been at this motherhood thing pretty much constantly for over a week now. She feeds them, she cleans them, she cuddles them while they sleep and then repeats the process. Actually, she does all three things at once and with 12 puppies there is rarely a moment when her services are not required. Today, however, she needed a break.

After feeding them all night and again this morning, she declined to go back into the wading pool with the pups. She got up on the bed next to Clay or sat on the dog bed on the floor. She was bored and needed to do dog stuff again.

We gave her more outdoor time with Serena today and she met Maya again for the first time since the pups were born. I walked Maya and Serena up at Pleasant Grove and then realized there's really no reason I can't take Della out for some exercise as well. Later in the afternoon we went out to the pasture so she could really stretch her legs and run again.

I think it was just what she needed and I need to make sure she gets some of that everyday from now on. She met Smokey and Theo in the dog yard and the pasture too and had no problem with them. When we came back in she went back to mother dog mode, feeding and caring for her puppies, but she needed a break and the chance to just be a dog again.

All the puppies have passed the two pound mark now, and one of them is halfway to three pounds already.

Serena issuing the call to come out and play.

Theo in front, then Della, and Serena.

It was nice to see her enjoy being a dog again.

This allowed her to keep an eye on them without being swarmed by them every minute.