3 week updates

The pups are doing well at this mark. One is on antibiotics for raspy lungs due to some inhaling of formula and I am watching one other one but overall, they are gaining weight and doing well. We have not done all weights but it looks like the bigger pups are pushing 5 pounds -- 4 pounds 10 or 12 ounces. The smaller pups are still pushing 3.5 -4 pounds and everyone is active, eating and doing well.

This week the pups have increasingly chosen to use the potty area in the whelping box. We set it up last weekend and even though they were young, we watched some pups wake up and waddle over to the paper to eliminate rather than soiling their bedding. They are still clumsy and notoriously step in whatever the deposit anyway but the idea that they are trying to keep their bed area clean is a great thing for new homes! They have gotten several baths this week and we try very hard to keep them and their whelping box clean in an effort to raise clean pups.

They are eating like pigs! I was able to reconnect with the local goat's milk farm I have used in the past to obtain Fresh Grade A (human consumption) goats milk for them rather than canned or universal milk replacer. I am excited to see how this benefits them and anticipate an improvement in coat and stool with this combo. The pups grandmother was raised on milk from this farm and it is absolutely the best quality you can get.

I will try to wait until next weekend when they are 3.5 weeks old to start solid food. With the changes they have had in food and the size of the litter I would prefer to know they are very stable and holding their heads up well before I change anything.

The pups are walking fairly well although they still periodically fall over randomly. In the next 2 weeks we will get to see them trot and get a sense of true movement -- which is what I am waiting for. I am lucky to have dogs that are known for movement in the lines I began with so I will be focused on the smooth moving look I am used to.

Alright -- time to post some pictures.