First Responses to Voice Sounds (and Wrassling!)

It seems a couple of the puppies are beginning to notice noises.  They pick up their heads when I talk to them, and some will startle at sudden louder sounds

In this video (about 2.5 minutes long), I call to the puppies to see if they'll respond.  I use a higher-pitched voice (lol... it's my "puppy voice" and quite silly, so please ignore it!) because they seem to be able to hear higher pitches to start.

Note that they're also becoming interested in people (namely me in this video) and are starting to wag their tails. :)   Their interest in and affection for people is natural to the Labrador breed and will increase with their abilities (developmentally) to show that affection. 

Heehee... looks like they have a good start!  (Puppies!)

Nineteen Days Old: Discovering the World!

Here's the Silly Six at eighteen and nineteen days old (remember they were born over two days, March 30th and 31st). The first picture is of Mr. Red, Mr. Green, Mr. Blue, and Miss Pink (clockwise from top left), and the second is of Mr. Green, Miss Lime, and Mr. Yellow (left to right). Mr. Green is in both pics (just worked out that way):

The pups grow steadier on their feet every day; they're beginning to notice and investigate things visually; they're teething, and a few of the pups are starting to respond to sound. 

For the rest of this post, I'll just caption the photos from the perspective of the puppies.  For the sake of page loading speed, I've left the following pictures in their original smaller size. To enlarge them, just click on the picture.  Enjoy!

We love our puppy pile for napping, except when it's hot.

We like to chew on and wrassle with our litter mates.

*sigh*

Nom, nom, nom, nom.  We sometimes don't know how hard we're chewing, so we can make each other yip pretty loudly when we chew too hard. Just wait 'til our teeth come in!

C'mon, Miss Pink!  Get up and play with me.

(Master Red and Master Yellow)  Hey, are we supposed to climb over this?

Strolling along, just singing our song, side by side...

I didn't do it. It wasn't me.

What's that?  We heard something.

We do everything at the same time: we sleep at the same time; we sit up at the same time; we get restless at the same time; we play at the same time; we potty at the same time; we eat at the same time.  It's like we're in sync!

C'mon, Yellow! Knock it off; can't you see we're trying to settle down to sleep here!

And then, she was, like, ...

Hey!  Momma Elsie was just here!  Where'd she go?

We're not sure about this nursing business when Momma Elsie stands ups. It's not very comfortable.

And it's really difficult to hang on.

Our gums feel so much better when we chew on each other!

Quick; everybody hide while Yellow counts! 

And there you have it!  :) 

'til next time,
Joan

WWPV Introduces Whelping Box Wrassling

World Wrassling Puppy Version  (WWPV) is pleased to announce its first competitive contest:

On one side, Master Red; on the other, Master Green!

Observing are Masters Yellow and Blue; sleeping on the sidelines is Miss Lime. :) 

And what a bout it was, albeit short (a whopping 20 seconds). 



We'll have to call this one a draw, folks! :)

Now it's back to Sandman Land.

'til next time,
Joan

The Discomfort of Nursing

Many of you have commented on just how wonderful a mom Elsie is.  And she is, indeed.  We couldn't have asked for a better dam.

And lest you think this nursing six (or eight or nine as she has in past) puppies is easy, here's a video capturing a bit of Elsie's discomfort.

She's uncomfortable enough now, in fact, that Elsie is pushing the pups to nurse while she stands (something she wouldn't ordinarily do until they're closer to three weeks old). The puppies aren't quite coordinated enough or tall enough to nurse that way, however, so she settles for sitting. 

And she patiently and gently endures.  Poor sweet Elsie.  What a mom!

Pinot and Pups: A Video

Some of you have asked about how the other canine kids are reacting to the puppies.  I mentioned in an earlier post that Ridge was nonchalant; Kenya, Tuc, and Chessie were somewhat interested, but no more interested in litter noises than, say, a passing squirrel; Pinot, I said, was fascinated.

Fascinated, I've since learned, is the understatement of the year. She's obsessed. She would stand at that half-wall and stare at those puppies 24/7 if we let her.

Here's a video capturing her focus. The only break in her attention happens early on when I bump the gate and she looks for a way to get around the wall through that gate. After that, her gaze is unmoving and fixed on the puppies.

We knew she could focus and that she had a great attention span (that's part of what makes her an excellent retriever). But, oh my, I guess never realized just how great.

Here she is!  Enjoy. :) 

Introducing the Next American Idol: Miss Pink!

She's a crooner!  As are they all. :)

'til next time,
Joan

Two Weeks Old: A Photo Summary

Miss Lime grooms herself while Miss Pink chews on her.

The pups are all due for another manicure (they've had their nails clipped three times already).

Master Yellow

Squirrel!

Action shot (sorry about the blur) of preliminary wrassling. Just wait until they get teeth!

C'mon Lime, play with me!

Not now, Blue.

Master Red watches Master Blue chew on Miss Lime.

Big stretch!

They're mouthing now (teeth will start coming in in the next week). Here Master Blue is attempting to chew on the PVC rail. 

Master Green, the little bear. :)

Meeting of the minds.

Miss Pink chews on Master Blue.

Master Blue gives it right back to Miss Pink.

It's tough to wrassle when you're just barely able to stand.

Master Green grooms himself.

Everybody up!

Master Blue decides to bulldoze his way through the pile.

Master Green (in rear on back) just wants to sleep.

Masters Green and Blue

The four boys (front to back - Masters Red, Blue, Green, Yellow) with Miss Pink (bottom front) providing head rest for Master Red.

They're finding their voices (even though their ears are still sealed).

The howl.

So forlorn (Momma Elsie just left the whelping box).