Five Weeks Old!

The pups are growing so fast! The week started out with Orange figuring out how to escape from their pen - at least so long as mama, or mama's bed was close enough to provide support. However, by the end of the week, they were all figuring it out, and had grown enough that they didn't need any support. They are not pleased with the fact the gate is now kept closed if I don't want them loose.

They are all getting much better at playing, with each other, and privately with their toys.

They haven't figured out playing with toys with each other or their humans yet, so toys take a secondary position to humans at this point.

The only trouble with the puppies wanting my undivided attention, is that Shisa wants a turn in my lap too, and with the puppies around... that's slightly more challenging for her to be able to have. So she takes the next best, which is laying against me, and using my leg as a pillow. Of course, this makes her easier for her puppies to try to chew on too.

I do try to give Shisa attention away from the pups too. This includes one of her favorite games - catch the water from the hose. She'll race all over the yard trying to catch the water from the hose.

Speaking of water, I'm curious if the puppies will be like their mama and love water. They were exposed to water this week - a bath. They were starting to gt rather smelly, so washing off was becoming rather important.

(This pup did not look happy, but he didn't complain)

They also had to have their nails trimmed, so they would stop scratching us quite so much when they play and paw at us. I'm sure Shisa appreciates not having quite as sharp nails scratching her when they are nursing too.

In addition to all of their other 'firsts' this week, they were introduced to a new member of our farm. We were given a small lamb that needs to be bottle raised. She's not too steady on her feet, so is having to stay in her own pen (which she doesn't approve of, and has already mastered stumbling out), so the puppies don't treat her as a teething toy.

She's quite curious though, and when the puppies are closed up, decided cautiously approaching the bigger calmer members of the pack was possible.

Once she's more stable on her feet, and has a bit more endurance, I'm curious to see how the pups and she interact, especially once we take them for another first this coming week - playing outside.