Puppy days, coming to a close

This summer of puppies is coming to a close. Four of them will be going to their new homes on Sunday. It's time. Puppies are a lot of work, feeding, cleaning, entertaining, and challenging them with new things. Lexie and I are ready for their new owners to take over from this point. We got them to be very people-oriented, friendly, and well-socialized. They have been exposed to a vacuum monster and no longer fear it. They've even been exposed to a lawn mower when outdoors, although a healthy dose of fear for that is a good thing. We've taught them to climb, to slide, to walk on weird surfaces. They can play without fighting and without hurting themselves of another pup. At least some of them have already been in water. We packed quite a bit into the five weeks that we've had them and I think they are off to a good start. 

I took down the divider and let the pups have their last day as a litter all together. The boys who got neutered yesterday seemed fine and I hated to keep them apart from the others on their last day together. I limited their outdoor time, but no one really objected to that. When they were outdoors I dumped the water tank so no one would go swimming because four of them had glue holding their skin together after surgery. Our friends Jan and Paul came over this afternoon for a final play session with the group of six.

We did some clean up work from the fencing project, mowed grass, and generally puttered around. The heat and humidity were oppressive so it felt like more work than it actually was. The fat shepherds (that's not a good way to refer to them, but it's difficult to avoid) spent quite a bit of time outdoors and they seemed to enjoy it, albeit with a moderate activity level. Melly is eating about a half cup of dry food twice a day. Rufus is still on hunger strike. We hit Walmart this evening for big cans of green beans that will account for most of the volume of food that they'll be eating from here on out. I may not be able to control my own eating, but I can and will control what my dogs eat. 

Rufus and Melly in the yard. He is very attached to and dependent upon her.

He may not come when called, but put a leash on Melly and he will follow her in.

I saw Rufus walking around outdoors covered with duckweed. 

Then I saw him here soaking in my small pond. I haven't planted anything in the pond

this year and that's probably a good thing as it's now a soaking tub.

Here's Rufus emerging from the pond.

Della sitting by the new front gate. 

Athena has been getting more and more comfortable at our house. 

Today she assumed ownership of Clay's chair in the front room.

She goes back home tomorrow.

There's been no adoption interest in Lexie yet, but she's been playing with Maya, Hugo, and even Athena. 

Lexie and Maya playing

For the evening feeding and outing I let Lexie spend time with them to impart any final words of wisdom that she may have had. They have a wide world of new adventures ahead. There are no guarantees in any dog's life, but to be a puppy placed in a carefully chosen home gives them the best chance at a good life.

Lexie and pups

That's lightning illuminating that cloud after dark. We saw this storm approach.

So far it's been mostly wind. I wish we'd get some wind during the day instead.