A BUGS LIFE

7 Weeks Old - 7/23/12

FLOWER POWER
Well, well, well the little BUGgers, I mean Darlings!!!, have TEETH and they know how to use them!!! Tails, toes, noses and every twig, bush, flower or bug is fair game! They finally used them so much on their momma, Jitterbug, that she finally called it quits at 6 weeks of nursing and said “ENOUGH” already. By that time, she would only stand to let them nurse and REALLY had that long suffering look on her face like she was begging me to PLEEEEASE do something!!! Weaning TIME!! I can tell that it is sort of the agony and the ecstasy for Jitterbug as she really does love them and likes to play with them and watch over them, but just NOT nurse them. She had gotten to the point that she would lay on top of the picnic table so they could not bother her but she could watch them!! They are pros at eating their puppy mush three times a day – much more neatly I might add! I generally get this down to two times daily in anticipation of them coming home to you.

Another toenail trim of course, and another worming! They are wormed 3 times before they come home to you so that they can’t be carrying worms which, as a puppy, they are exposed to all the time. Until at least a year old, I recommend that you continue to worm your puppy every month because they just insist on putting everything in their mouths no matter how disgusting!

The Bugs pups LOVE being outside! They experience all the sights and sounds of being a dog in a very busy human world! We enjoy our nightly walk-abouts where they follow me around and I get to observe and play with them while they LEARN!!

This coming week the BUGs will go to my vet for their final puppy checkup. I have a form with every body part listed where my vet will note absolutely ANYTHING out of the “NORMAL” category. You will receive a copy of this along with all their other health records. At the vet, they also get their first vaccinations - ouch, wormed again - yuck, and MICROCHIPPED- BIG OUCH!!! It is a VERY big needle that makes all of us sort of cringe too, but oh so necessary!

This session of pictures is always VERY interesting. It is the first time I take each puppy away ALONE, put them in a strange environment and not only take pictures but just watch to see how they react. Soooo… here’s what’s new with the BUGS LIFE litter:
Perfect Females:

Atta – light livernose, clear face, perfect ridge, big white star on chest, no white on feet, biggest female, perfect teeth. Sassy, curious, adventurous and independent

Dot – light wheaten, heavy black mask, perfect ridge, big spot on chest, white on all four feet, smallest female, perfect teeth. Gentle, quiet, goofy, likes attention

Perfect Males:

Manny – golden wheaten, heavy black mask, perfect ridge, small spot on chest, no white on feet, perfect teeth. Sweet, kind, gentle, playful, easily entertained

Slim – red wheaten, heavy black mask, perfect ridge, star on chest, small amount of white on all feet, perfect teeth. Outgoing, full of himself, up for adventure

Dim – red Wheaten, heavy black mask, perfect ridge, big spot on chest, no white on feet, perfect teeth. Confident, eager to please, cooperative, snuggle bug

Pet Female:

Gypsy – dark livernose, medium mask, one crown ridge, almost no white anywhere, middle sized female, perfect teeth. Go getter, full of energy, spit and vinegar

Pet Male:

Flik – red wheaten, heavy black mask, one crown ridge, small spot on chest, no white on feet, biggest male, perfect teeth. Fun, playful, eager to please, easy going.

Heimlich – dark golden wheaten, medium black mask, perfect ridge, big spot on chest, small amount of white on all feet, 2nd biggest male, off teeth – overbite. Spunky, funny, very curious and full of adventure


BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED LITTLE BUGS!!!!

4.5 Weeks old - 7/5/12

IN THE GARDEN
In the Garden, the "BUGGY" Garden – the LION sleeps tonight!!! Our little “BUGS” are not scared though – they could take on any lion, any day!!! That’s the kind of confidence and energy the BUGS have now – what a difference 10 days makes. The BUGS got to go outside for the first time this week so their world has really expanded. They were a bit concerned at first about scarey things like grass, and BUGS, and all those outdoor sounds, but they have gotten used to it quickly and are loving being outdoors now. At least in the early morning and the evenings – WAY to hot for them during the day to be outside so they get to chill in their pen indoors with a fan on them! What a life! I’ve added the giant litter box filled with cedar sawdust pellets to their indoor pen so that they have the opportunity to learn to ‘go’ in the right place at the right time. Amazingly, they are already using the litter box as it is instinct to NOT go to the bathroom where they sleep. The goal is that this will help you house train them when they come home to you. All you need to do is select WHERE the bathroom is going to be in YOUR yard, be sure to CARRY them to that spot the very first time you get home with them and that will help you get started on the right foot at your home. If you go out the same door, say the same thing and carry the puppy to the designated spot and then reward them with your voice, hands and eyes when they accomplish their goal, they will house break very quickly. Puppies tend to be about as house broke as their families are!!!

Every day now they get better and better at running, hopping, jumping, rolling around etc….. and being a DOG!!! They play with each other all the time now – lots of batting each other around, rolling each other over, chewing on ears, feet, noses and tails. It is soooo much fun to watch them play!

Healthwize they had another dreaded toe nail trim and they got wormed for the first time with that yummy, yellow, banana tasting stuff . Don’t ask why I know it tastes like bananas!! Big news is that I have started them on puppy mush as the beginning steps towards being weaned. Mostly, the first few times they eat puppy mush they just snorkel in it and make a REALLY big mess. Thankfully, Bugs cleans them up for me!!! She is starting to get that long suffering look on her face so I know she is ready for some help feeding the BUGS who seem to NEVER stop eating!

Now I can really start taking note of little differences in color, size and soon personalities as they each become their own unique little selves. Keep in mind that these differences are generally VERY slight, but do make it possible for someone who pretty much lives with them to tell them apart!!! Personalities will continue to develop, coloring for the most part tends to blend together with age (if you like the white – enjoy it now as it will freckle and fade, the black mask fades, their coat color gets darker), size will constantly change as they go thru their own growth spurts. Already, the males are bigger than the females which is typical.


Sooooo……. Meet the “BUGS”………….


Perfect Pet Females:

Atta – livernose, clear face, perfect ridge, big white star on chest, no white on feet

Dot – light wheaten, heavy black mask, perfect ridge, big spot on chest, white on all four feet


Pet Female:

Gypsy – dark livernose, medium mask, one crown ridge, almost no white anywhere


Pet Male:

Flik
– red wheaten, heavy black mask, one crown ridge, small spot on chest, no white on feet


Perfect Males:

Manny – golden wheaten, heavy black mask, perfect ridge, small spot on chest, no white on feet

Heimlich – golden wheaten, medium black mask, perfect ridge, big spot on chest, small amount of white on all feet

Slim – red wheaten, heavy black mask, perfect ridge, star on chest, small amount of white on all feet