Colada Needs A Hug

I started to see the signs early this morning. Around 3:30 am, Colada started begging to get up into my bed as opposed to being in the whelping box with Absolute. She hadn't left her puppy's side for ANYTHING, until then. She started whining and pacing too, going from begging to get up into my bed, then running back to cuddle up with Absolute. I continued her feedings, every 30 minutes, but her strength was clearly fading. Absolute went peacefully at 6:42 this morning. So very, very sad.

Colada knew the inevitable, but her body and hormones keeps telling her that she still has babies to tend too. She has spent the day with us downstairs, but continuously begging to get upstairs to search for them. As the hours pass, her requests lessen, but still, you can tell she her heart in hurting none the less.

We Are Loosing This Battle

Our sweet little Absolute is not fairing well. My every 30 minute feedings are not helping her in the weight or growth department. She is drinking from the bottle but doesn't seem to be retaining any of the nutrients. She is down to 1 1/4 oz, loosing a full ounce from her birth weight. She isn't as dehydrated as she was yesterday but her body temps are still not being retained. I have resorted to using a heated oven mitt to hold her while feeding her to help her out a bit but I am afraid that even after all of our hard work, that we are going to loose her. I don't think tube feeding will help since she is nursing from the bottle, her little feet kneading away!

Hourly Feedings Increased

Absolute made it through the night but there is a bit too much weight loss for my liking. Puppies usually loose a bit from their birth-weight in the first day or two, but she simply didn't have enough to loose! She is down to 1 7/8 ounces and all of the places that are usually a nice shade of pink after day one are still red. Bottle feeding seems to fill her belly but she isn't retaining any. When I go back for her next feeding she is frail and dehydrated. I will increase her feedings to every 30 minutes and try tube feeding if I continue to see weight loss. I have also placed heated, damp towels in the whelping box to try to keep things moist. Colada has tried her best to keep her hydrated, licking every chance she can get. She tucks her in as close as possible and keeps her at the right temperature but she cools within seconds of being pulled out for her feedings. I tried seeing if she can latch to mommy and she simply doesn't have the strength. Poor poor baby!!

Nirvana's New Forever Family

I am so pleased to finally meet Orangel and Aida - They are the sweetest couple and the perfect home for our sweet Nirvana. Their kids are going to totally adore him and he, them! Today has been a long time coming - So well worth the wait. Enjoy your lovable boy and his sweet puppy kisses!

That's Not Good!

My husband has had a rather odd work schedule lately and the chance to catch up with the news in the comforts of his fluffy couch have been rare. Bringing his plate of dinner to the couch has become rather common with these changes and the dogs have taken a liking to it, that is for sure.

Unfortunately, Nirvana may have picked up a less than polite habit from this. He jumps right onto the back of the couch cushion and then right up onto my husband's shoulder to BEG for a taste. When I say beg I mean paw, lick the ear and throw in a whine or two. The rest of our dogs will sit around the plate, waiting patiently for a possible dropped morsel. This little guy is persistent though. Ignoring him has been the lesson thus far - He has yet to get a taste but still the smells drive him wild!

I Never Would Have Thought ...

...that a four month old puppy would be the one to alert me to what the month of February will have in store for us but he has! Nirvana sniffed out the fact that our sweet Chicatoo takes after her mother and at the ripe ol' age of 6 months will experience her first heat. Chica is one you can set a calendar to and Chicatoo clearly is about to become a woman. Nirvana is "all over that" and can't seem to get enough of her lately.

Stayin a Little Bit Longer

The family that will be taking sweet Nirvana home had a bit of a family emergency and have asked that he stay with us a tad bit longer. He has truly warmed our hearts so the additional time is totally cool with us. The kids have taken turns sleeping with him at night and of course, prespoiling him for the NEW forever kids he will be playing with. He has grown into a very sweet and affectionate boy to those he knows and is on the submissive side to those he doesn't. A bit more socialization after he has received his final set of vaccines and he will become the perfect addition to their family!

Bestest Buds

Nirvana and Colada have become the bestest of buddies over the last couple weeks. She has truly shown us all that she is going to make the most amazing mommy someday. She looks after Nirvana as if he was one of her own puppies and Ginny has had no complaints. The extra help has been very welcomed and the two "mommies" have taken turns in continuing Nirvana's puppy lessons.

What Did I Tell Ya?

With 12 new toys in the house, I have had a couple days to see which of them is their favorite.  No matter how many times I have picked it up and put in to the toy pile, I can even bury it at the bottom, it is constantly being pulled out and played with. Tug-O-War is the much anticipated game in our house now, with their new chartreuse green lobster toy!

Santa Was Here...

...and he left a new toy under the tree for each of our dogs.  Each year they are allowed to rip right into the wrapping paper and chew out their new treasures. It has taken a while to teach them when they are allowed and NOT allowed to chew paper but I have never had to teach them the different between new and old toys. It is so interesting to watch how even in a huge pile of dog toys, they can sniff out and find their new ones and only play with those. I see many happy dog playing hours in our near future!

Oasis Is Gonna Have A Fabulous Christmas

Kevin and Diana came by tonight to see if Oasis would make a good fit as their new Christmas guest and of course, family member. It didn't take them long to discover his adorable sweetness and puppy playfulness. So much so that they decided he would make he perfect addition to their family! He is going to be one spoiled lil guy - What more could we possibly ask for?

Their First Backyard Adventure

Due to their size and of course, the cold weather, we have kept the puppies contained to the deck during backyard play-sessions. But now that we have had a mini break with the frigid temps, we finally let the boys outside with free range of the yard. Oh my WORD did they have a blast!!! They were dashing too and fro, wrestling with leaves and loving the new smells everywhere. It was like a sense overload! We actually had a hard time getting them to come back inside!

It's Time

Since the boys have been spending more time out of the puppy play pen and in - and I need that spot for my Christmas tree - we put the whole pen up and have officially started "house training" the pups. This here is their very last photo taken in the comforts of their pen. It's time to experience the world big boys - and so far so GREAT!

They float between the kitchen and living room (with the dogs being separated) and it has actually worked in favor of our training! So much access at once can confuse pups and of course, give them the chance to potty where ever they wish. so far they are still searching out the pee-pads set up in each room! A totally fabo sign!

8 Week Adventure

The boys are 8 weeks old today so I scheduled a visit with Doc for their vaccines and health certificates.  With an 8 hour drive already under their belt, the just under 2 hour drive was a breeze! They did awesome both during the drive AND during the exam! And since they both still weigh under 2 pounds, it looks like they will be with us a bit longer.  I am sure they will be in their new forever homes soon enough though!

Both were given a perfect bill of health and were cute as ever! So much so that I had to stop to snap a photo of their adorable cuteness during the drive home. They became much more accustom to being out of a crate in the car after our trip to The Keys, so we brought a doggy bed for them to lay in for this ride. The crashed about halfway home in this precious position. Toooo stinkin' cute!

This Is Only Temporary

Since we got home, the puppies have been more accustom to free-reign than the puppy play pen. We now keep the gate door open and they pop in and out for their snacks and naps. They do it all on their own! Problem is, the dogs hop in when the gate door is open and eat all of the puppy food. It's a tasty treat that they cannot refuse. I am thinking by this weekend, the pen will be put up and they will have the ultimate free-reign.

Another Dog Pile

See the puppies up there in the dog pile on the couch? They have totally worked their way into the pack and have mastered naptime to the max! This x-penless camping trip has taught me a lot! More freedom makes much more happy and social pups!

Step Mommy Colada

Colada has shown us that she is going to be the most amazing mommy! Last night Ginny opted to sleep up in bed with us, which she has been doing at home too.  Colada stayed with the boys and slept with them in their open-doored crate. Whenever Ginny is not within eye-shot of her puppies, Colada has been right there to watch over them. So sweet!

7 Weeks Old!

What a way to turn 7 weeks old aye? In the Florida Keys! Way too cool!

And the amount of socialization these two have experienced is the most any of our litters have received. They have mastered the steps up onto the couch, join us for nap sessions on the couches and beds, joined in scheduled feedings, are totally crate trained, still seek out the pee-pad even with the new location, and have played with so many different people. This is one fun and entertaining couple of pups!

They Did So Awesome!

We left this afternoon for our annual Thanksgiving camping trip and this one involved a very long drive. Eight hours to be exact. We drove down to Long Pine Key and arrived at Bahia Honda State Park with only two quick gas fill-up stops. Our dogs are totally used to long trips in the car but this was a huge test on Ginny's boys. We laid a pee-pad in the back of the car next to a crate with the door open. They actually walked out of the crate to potty on the pad!!! SOOO Proud!

About half way through the drive, the boys whined enough for us to bring them up to our laps for the last half. That's also about the time that I realized that I forgot the x-pen to keep the pups separated from the rest of the dogs. They have been so great at the house with semi-free-reign, they should do just fine for the next five days. When I put them into the camper after their potty break, they both walked right up to a doggy bed and turned in for the night.

6 Week Old Balls Of Fluffy Fun

The boys are 6 weeks old today and it is as if they blossomed with confidence and playfulness. They figured out how to crawl over the pen threshold, climb the steps up to the couch and that if they stay out with the peeps, our laps are warm and cuddly. So they now spend the majority of their time out with us and sleep in the play-pen at night. Ginny has now opted to sleep up in bed with us at night so they have already become used to sleeping without mommy at night.

And their personalities have blossomed, allowing us a peek into how they see the world. Oasis is the brave one, the first to try everything and boldly showing his brother how to do it. Nirvana on the other hand is the quiet one that loves to give kisses and lap in your lap.