When is the Nanny Getting Here?

The puppies are now just over 3 weeks old.  Their eyes are open and they are starting to realize that there is a big world out there.  It is also about the time that Mom starts to grow tired of just being Mom and starts taking time away from the litter.  It is a great signal to us that it's time to start the weaning process.








The puppies had their first meal this week.  I soak a small amount of Purina ProPlan in warm water until the kibble is very soft.  It is then pureed into a soupy gruel.  I pour this gourmet delight of a meal into a Pyrex dish with a small lip that makes it easy for the puppies to eat from.  I typically have to show the puppies the food and put a taste of it on their noses to entice them to eat.  I didn't have to do a thing for this litter - they literally dove right in!  For the first few meals we expect that as much food will be on them as in them and this litter was no different in that regard.  Once the food is as eaten as it will get, I let Mom back in the room and she cleans up the pups and licks the plate clean. 

Mary Kate has been happy to have the help of her mother Ginger, who has been stopping by to check in on the pups and Mom.  Mary Kate has been very comfortable with her mother helping out and Ginger has been the perfect Grandma.  She does not overstay her welcome. 

This weekend we will move the puppies from their whelping box and into a larger puppy pen.  The puppies are starting to outgrow the whelping box.  Their new puppy pen with give them more room to play.  We will start to train them to use a litter box and we will celebrate each and every time a puppy remembers to use the box!  We will introduce more toys and expose the puppies to different objects to crawl around and under and through.  



It's been 3 weeks and it's gone by so fast!