We’re well behind on blogs, again. Raising a litter of puppies really is a full-time job, and then some!
Two Jubilee Puppies left for their new homes at the weekend, same family, different households. Little Miss Tan Cheeks and brother Ol’ Blue Eyes were able to travel on their 350 mile journey to new homes together. Then there were just three remaining.
Ol' Blue Eyes and Little Miss Tan Cheeks
As pups leave there’s a short period of ‘quiet’ from the other pups as they re-adjust. It didn’t take long for this little group to re-form and start causing havoc again!
Now down to three puppies I’m able to bring them all into my bedroom to start them off with overnight crate training, an important part of preparing pups to leave for their new homes. Overnight crate training can be a little stressful, to human and to pup, if not done correctly ... if there are going to be any objections I want them to take place with me so that I can get the puppies through it. I also want to be able to tell new owners when they may expect to have to get up in the night, if in fact they do, in order to take pup out for wees - an overnight crate = bed = no toiletting in this area! Two pups in one crate, the next pup to leave home now starts solo time.
Double decker puppies
As you can see, Little Spot is quite settled. A minute or so after going into her crate she is totally zonked out. They are being brilliant overnight, sleeping a good six or seven hours before needing to toilet. Wont take much time before they’re going right through the night.
Little Spot sleeping soundly in her crate
Today we woke to a fantastic morning, but to a loud roaring sound ... on further investigation we found an early morning balloonist taking advantage of the good weather.
Up, up and away ...
Pocket Rocket managed to go missing whilst photographing the balloon, I found her having a chat with my Herdwick Boys down the field.
"Uh oh, I've been rumbled"
So, an early morning sheep training session ensued at 6.30am - me still in jim jams and slippers!! She did work very well, really pleased with her, just wish she’d waited until I was dressed and fully awake!
Early to work
On returning to the ‘yard’ the pups were plotting their activities for the day, and enjoyed catching the early morning sun whilst they did so.
JubiPups 3, 6 and 2 enjoying the very early morning sun
A jolly jaunt out in the Collie Mobile in the morning was followed by paddling pool fun in the afternoon. I’m making the most of the three remaining pups. Not be long until they’ve all left for their new lives.
Do they get the rest of the day with rest and relaxation? Noooooo. Much work to be done this evening and more puppy visitors ... there’s no resting on yer laurels if you’re an ‘A Sheepdog Diary’ puppy :)
NB: posted late (now there's a change), so now down to two pups :(
Cafe Latte Girl is a tremendous Mum, what better way than to spend a lovely, sunny afternoon at play with one of her five daughters. But is it as it seems? ...
So, what do you think is going on here? Bit of over zealous play? Actually, no.
The video shows very clearly the reason why I will never EVER let my pups leave home at six weeks of age or even under eight weeks. Cafe Latte Girl isn't playing, she's disciplining and teaching manners, an extremely important role of being a Mum. Quite frankly, as a teacher, I wish there were more parents who would take a leaf out of Cafe Latte Girl's book. If they did a bit more disciplining and teaching of manners at home there would be a whole load more educating going on in classrooms up and down the country. I digress ...
Cafe Latte Girl may pick on one puppy per day, some days she might have a couple in her sights. Just shortly after filming this video showing Puppy No 3, she did the same with Puppy No 5, to a greater extent. Puppy No 3 here shows quite a strong side to her, had she said "OK Mum, wont do it again, I submit" then CLG would have left her alone. I started filming this a good few minutes after it had started. I wish I'd filmed Puppy No 5, a very strong headed little bitch who was quite willing to answer back on numerous occasions!! Fortunately CLG is such a good Mum and there was no interference from 2-legged folk, she sorted both her girls out.
I accept that it might be quite alarming when you see your bitch 'having a go' at her pups for the first time but it is essential she is permitted to do her job.
I wont let pups leave home under eight weeks, there is absolutely no justification to do so. When they do leave home every single one of them, besides having been very well socialised, each and every one will have excellent dog-dog language skills. I wish the same could be said for every dog walking out in public.
(There are a couple of little 'skips' in the video at approx 55 sec & 1 min - nothing sinister cut, just a 2-legged person ... not my place to upload people onto the internet!)
After a lovely day spent in the fresh air and sunshine, supper eaten al fresco, the evening is rounded off by an active play session ... sort of accompanied by the bigger dogs.
Evenings with the Jubilee Pups are quite relaxed with friends welcome to visit at any time. They enjoy playing, entertaining, listening to ... errr, fireworks? Yes, fireworks, and many other strange noises, on a noise desensitisation CD. They are also quite keen to make their own music too ...
Please adjust your volume control, ie, it needs to be turned on.
I love puppy feeding time. It’s not the most exciting of spectator sports, I just enjoy the noise and watching the puppies scent their way to an unoccupied teat - one of the many pleasures of ‘puppy watching’. The last pup up to the milk bar usually has a little work ahead of it ... the easily accessible teats are taken first so late comers will need to burrow beneath their siblings and their mother.
Cafe Latte Girl doesn’t always like to give her babes an easy ride. Just as they think they’ve got themselves comfortable, she rolls onto her back and they all fall off ... however, some do manage to stay on and ride it out until she settles again.
Once each pup has had it’s fill they just let go of the teat and tumble into a heap, full and tired. There they fall fast asleep.
The Jubilee Puppies had a special afternoon visitor to their Puppy Palace today, Mr Smart Bear. He proved quite a hit with the girls who soon made themselves very comfortable.
After a good lunch, an entertaining visitor it’s quite fitting to have a well deserved nap ...
I have the good fortune to live with a family of fabulous Border Collies. Together we've roamed the mountains, competed in agility and obedience, when Womble Bum took me to compete at Crufts.
We are now following the dream of sheep work. Handsome Lad, New Boy and Cafe Latte Girl are all very skilled. Womble Bum is too busy keeping everyone in order to bother with such things. We were blessed with the all too brief presence of super talented Pocket Rocket ... her mum Arctic Fox has now decided she'd like to have a dabble at sheep work. Watch this space ...
