Peepers are starting to open, this morning, when I woke up at about 4:00AM, I looked over at the puppy pen and there were three little heads over the pool and all three had their eyes on me and their mother who had curled up with me. It is only minorly lit in that room at night with a green hue string of lights around the door, but it was light enough for them to know that their mum and their human was there. They started barking and growling at us, it was the funniest thing and the only way I want to be woken up at 4 AM!

Yesterday, I cut their “talons”, and filed the front ones so they wouldn’t be as sharp on Ruby’s soft underside and teats. Ruby has the most velvety coat, and she has tender skin, so I’m sure it has deterred her from staying in with them longer than it takes to feed them and clean them. That’s Mother Nature’s way of releasing the mother to do what she needs to do, too. Ruby is spending more time with us on the couch and behind me in my office chair while I work. She looks at the monitor and jumps to action as soon as she hears any puppy noises. “Uncle” Marty has peeked in on them while Ruby was out, and seemed so delighted – that tail was going a hundred miles an hour and he was so excited “I knew they were baby dogs!” Ruby is more tolerant of him now, and they even played together outside this morning in the snow, running like pre-heavy pregnancy days.

I’m swapping out mats a couple times a day now and only covering the bottom because the little explorers #2, #3, #6 and #7 (all girls and one boy) were climbing out. The pups are mostly crawling, but maybe two are still less mobile – moving like they are a little tipsy – and they are arguably the largest chunky pups. They are all getting their pigmentation in nicely, and spots are appearing on toes and bellies and muzzles. I bet we will be ready for updated “mug shots” on Saturday when they are two weeks old.

ENS is going well, and they are being held and stroked and snuggled independent of their mother and other sibs and all are reacting well to this handling. I don’t notice a lot of response to noises yet, which is expected, and good, as they need their sleep to grow.

If you are interested in a pup from this litter, please fill out a puppy application form or contact me and I’ll be happy to visit with you about them.