Double Doodle in New Home

Shadow was the first of Keogh and Ost's pups to leave for his new home. Here he is at 12 weeks and 2 days with his new family. Texas is a long way from Tennessee but I've no doubts Shadow thinks Josh was worth the trip!

Bart, the parti male, is leaving for the East Coast tomorrow.

Bud-Light is still available!

Another Week, Another Update

Seems to be every 6 days that I manage to get back to the blog. Actually, there isn't a whole lot going on, so you haven't missed anything!

I'm doing well, except for exhaustion which the doc says is about 50% still throwing off the effects of the anesthesia and 50% the heat, both of which should be much improved in 6 weeks. We'll see.

The first Double Doodle pup... Shadow... is moving to Texas (to be Josh's dog) this week and the second, Bart, is leaving for his new home next Sunday. Betty is going to be hanging out here for a bit which means the only available pup is Bud-Light. IF I ever get a new computer (and photo program) I'll take more pix of him... he is going to be gorgeous!

Lucky (formerly Bud) of Jennifer's pups is also still here and has come a long way in the self confidence department. He's NO trouble, so I'm concentrating on getting the younger pups placed first.

The waiting list for the PLANNED Cotton/Boon Fall litter IS open and there are one, maybe two spots still available. Boon has made it clear HE is ready!

Moving, Moving, Moved

I just moved the pups from the computer room to the dog room (right next door.) For the last couple days, ALL the males in the house have been telling me someone is in heat. I think it is Emy (BUT don't get excited. It's WAAY too soon and if she IS cycling, she's probably not going to "take" if I breed her. BUT I am going to breed her, if it is her and not little Peri, just in case I'm wrong. Again.) However, the problem is the dogs are fussing with each other, even in the middle of the night, and the only really separate pen I have is the one the pups were in in the computer room. So now I'll have to listen to the boys barking at the puppies... until they get used to them (about 24 hours...) but they won't be fighting with each other.

The puppies are a little confused with the move, but not upset. It's good for them! Keogh was NOT pleased and I'm going to let her stay with them all day if she wants... yesterday she was away from them from about 10AM till midnight.

We did not get outside this weekend... partially because of weather but mostly because I was feeling poorly and didn't want to expend the energy. Perhaps this afternoon since I'm feeling better... IF it doesn't pour as usual lately.

Pups will be 8 weeks tomorrow! Hard to believe. They get weighed again AND their first shots. Also have to clip those nails! So if we do get out today, I'll take the camera.

Lucky
(Jennifer's pup)
Getting a lot of response to his pictures on the website, but no one has decided to give him a chance as yet. He's no trouble and quite likeable, so I'm in no rush to place him.

****

This "o" business is still no fun!

Problem with Old Computer

This time it's the "o" key which isn't working. Yeah, yeah, I know, I've already used several of them. Well, a long time ago, I learned to cut and paste. However, remembering to do every time is problematic! So, insert where needed!

Mountain Summit Peridot
(aka Peri)
This is my Diamond/Brogue girl on her 8 months birthday. She is VERY small, smaller even than her mom who is around 18 pounds. Since I have so many people asking for pups who'll be under 25 pounds, I'm hoping breeding Peri with Sparky will give me some... although, when bred to Peri's FULL older sister, Emy (Emerald) most of his pups have been over that. But, Emy is about twice Peri's weight.




Peri with her mom, Diamond (Di)



Keogh almost over the pups
Ke is spending more and more time WILLINGLY away from the pups who are, after all, almost 8 weeks. AND have teeth. She's following me around (just like the old days) and just listening for the pups to sound off about something important. Come lights out, however, she wants back in the pen with them.

Do you know how many "o"s you use in just one sentence?!

New Freedom

And probably a mistake! The pups are loose in the computer room with full access to the dog room. So far, they have not been brave enough to venture very far into that room where a number of adult dogs are parked, barking every time they see a pup. Together and individually, they've come to me to be picked up and rubbed. Just like when they were outside, Bud has wandered the farthest while Shadow has stuck closest to me. HE has discovered my shoes and like most pups, is tickled to death to have shoe laces to pull on and chew. They are making short work of every electric cord (take this as a warning... put the cords up!) scrap of paper and dust ball in the computer room! They are chewing up the bag of dogfood... not the dogfood, just the bag (which I am now going to have to put in a plastic container to keep it from happening every time the babies are out.) Their mom just came in from outdoors and they all rushed up to her... she looked none too pleased to see them outside their pen and promptly took herself INSIDE the pen. They followed, did a little suckling, then headed back out to see what else they could get into. She's lying there, watching them. I let out Diamond, Emy and Peri who instead of going right out the door, went to inspect the puppies. Diamond and Emy each sniffed a couple and walked away. Peri threw herself on the floor, rolled on her back, jumped up and nuzzled the kids, dropped back to the floor... and made it perfectly plain that she wanted to PLAY! In a week or two, I'll let her go outside with them... she is MUCH more a puppy still than Boon and Lucky*** who are the same age, but I don't want to let her rough house with them until they're a little bigger. She's already counting the days!

These four have been SO terrific... they love it when I'm in the room with them and really pay attention whenever I speak to them... BUT they have been perfectly content to stay in their own area. Now... they'll probably have to be out whenever they see me. Oh the joys of growing up!

***
Jennifer's last pup
I've been calling him Bud but I'm pretty sure he dosen't consider that his name. And since there is a Bud in the Double Doodle litter (who also is telling me that's not his name,) I decided to call him something else. Yesterday, he responded immediately when I called him Lucky, so we're going with that for now.

Award

We've gotten another award for the website, which tickles me to death since I designed and coded it from start to finish and wrote every word myself.

Awarded to top quality dog and puppies for sale sites.

And, yes, I am well aware these awards are given as a way of promoting the site that gives them. But I like them anyway!

Puppies are 7 weeks old today
and still the most amazing pups I've ever had. People who have known me for years tell me it's the most excited they've ever seen me about a litter. And they're growing like weeds! Must be the abundance of rain we've been having. Tomato plants and puppies! I'm planning to get them outside again this weekend, since it is supposed to be dry and normal temps (mid 80s.) Will take more pix then.

No Ill Effects

The pups seem to be just as happy today in their pen in the tv/computer room as they were yesterday BEFORE they discovered the great outdoors. Thank goodness! Usually, once puppies are exposed to outside, that's where they want to be. Maybe because these are only 6 weeks old (and there are only FOUR of them,) they have more than enough room to romp and play indoors, so they don't mind. They DO all attempt to get out every time I open the pen so their mom can leave, but they don't whine and try climbing the wire when they can't. Have I mentioned how much I'm liking this group?!

Toby in MA


Vicki reports that after 4 weeks in his new home, Toby has settled in nicely. He LOVES other dogs and is adjusting to meeting new people on his daily walks around the neighborhood. This is an Emy/Shadow pup. And judging by his coloring, I'm going to have to stop calling them "black and tans" and start calling them "blacks and SILVERS."
Black and tan is the name of the PATTERN (like in Dobies, Rotties, Bernese, etc.) and doesn't mean that's the only color combinations they come in, but that is probably confusing for people not versed in doggy color speak.

Whiny Pups

Noisy, crabby pups today. They're even getting on their mom's nerves. She just told Bud in no uncertain terms to get out of her face. That's the first time I've seen or heard her get on them about anything. Now she's as far away from them as she can get, lying on her belly so they can't nurse and will leave her alone for a while. They've played in her food and have pieces scattered all over the pen... which she will clean up when she gets hungry. I gave them a sock monkey to play with... it has a long body, a tail and 4 legs so there are places each of them can grab while playing tug of war. Every one of them has separately picked it up and shaken it. Some show on sheep herding I was watching last week said that was a sign that the dog being trained would kill the sheep... guess it's a good thing I don't have any! Seriously, I've never had a dog of ANY kind that wouldn't pick some things up and shake them so I don't think the trainer was correct about the killing bit... although it IS the way dogs kill vermin and small animals.

Jennifer's Pups
The last one is leaving this afternoon. I've gotten quite attached to this guy and am sorry to see him go. Well, sort of. He's a fairly big boy... not quite as big as Boon, my Wheaten pup who is about 3 weeks older... but big enough. And he HAD a TREMENDOUS coat. I had all his hair clipped off last week and he looks like a totally different fella!

Cooper Doodle


This is Cooper who lives in the Atlanta area. He is 7 years old.
Cooper has just had surgery for an ACL problem (Cruciate
ligament)... the first one of my dogs (that I know of) to have it although the article I read says it is a fairly common problem and can happen with any dog, any size, age or breed. Doesn't sound like a pleasant thing to go through especially as it involves lots of quiet time... months... after the surgery.

Not Much New

I've come to expect these Double pups are going to be ahead of the game and things now seem perfectly normal, even though they usually wouldn't be happening for another week or two. One thing which is pretty exciting... they are using the newspaper fairly often instead of just doing the usual 5 weeks old puppy stop-drop-poop/pee routine. They have what is for them a HUGE area (with newspaper covering a small 2' x 3' area) and they have already started to figure out there are places better suited for some things than others. And Keogh is still cleaning up after them as well as keeping their bottoms clean, so that is a pretty big concept. I caught myself planning to take them outside yesterday morning... but stopped when I remembered how young they are!

Smart Puppy

So it's hot here. I don't think we've had more than one day below 90 in the last two weeks... and that one was 88 or 89. Lucky for us, humidity has been fairly low. But it's hot. ALL the dogs are parked in front of fans... yes, I have a LOT of fans going. It would probably be cheaper to turn off the fans and turn ON the AC. But that would mean closing the windows and, frankly, I get tired of the house and everything in it smelling like dog all the time.

Now, for the smart puppy...
today's award goes to Shadow who has discovered lying in water as a way to aid the cooling process. Thankfully, he has NOT discovered playing in the water bowl as a way of splashing water on the ground to lie in. I'm sure that thought is roaming around in the back of his mind....

Of This and That

What I am seeing in individual puppies...
the "quiet" ones are Bart and Bud
the "instigator" is Betty
and the one who is most interested in activities outside the pen is Shadow.
Betty and Shadow are the most aware of me when I'm around.
Bud is really into the other dogs
while Bart is going through a mommy's boy stage.
They are all running, quite steady on their feet, and actually play fighting... I've even heard a couple of complaints from whatever puppy is "it" at the time.
(Please understand, this is what I'm seeing at 4-1/2 weeks and in a couple days, each pup will be doing something different.)
And I'm almost tempted to weigh them again because they feel like they've packed on at least a pound each since meeting puppy chow!
AND they're all getting hair. It's easier to see the fluffier coats on the partis but Shadow and Bud are puffing up as well.

(For anyone just dropping by the blog, these pups are Double Doodles. The next Whoodle litter won't be until Fall.)

Double Doodle puppy weights

It's Wednesday and the pups are 4 weeks old AND I weighed them first thing this morning.
Bart -- 2.4 pounds
Betty - 2.3
Bob - - 2.0
Bud - - 2.1
I expect there is going to be a dramatic increase in the next 4 weeks as the pups will be starting on "real" food later today. Right now, their mom's food is elevated but I am putting a bowl of puppy food (Royal Canin) on the floor as soon as I get back from Petsmart with it. They've been a little crabby the last 24-36 hours which probably means they're hungry. Of course, with temps in the mid 90s, it could mean they're hot! But I'm going with hungry. Usually, my pups are sticking their noses in mom's food and at least licking and sucking on the kibble between 3 and 4 weeks, so I know these babies are READY.

Bob's new name
Bob's friend Josh has decided to call him SHADOW. I'm sure that is a sign of things to come. Shadow's grandpa is my standard Poodle by the same name and he is MY shadow.

Sad puppy
Jennifer's pup that has been so unhappy in his new home is coming back here in the next week or two. The general consensus is that he is homesick and very VERY sad. I'm thinking he'll be here a couple days and be back to his old self. And we'll go from there.

Solid food update
When I'm right, I'm REALLY right! I put a bowl full of small kibble puppy food in the pen with 4 sleeping pups. Of course, as soon as I went to step over them to leave, they all woke up. It was EXACTLY 12:30 (a new program was just coming on on tv.) Fifteen minutes later, 3 of the 4 were STILL non stop eating... and I mean taking bites and chewing them up. The fourth, Betty, walked over to the bowl when I first put it down, sniffed, took a mouthful and went to the other side of the pen to eat in private. Then, she sprawled on her tummy and went back to sleep. Shadow stopped eating just long enough to get a drink of water before trying to climb inside the bowl. There just wasn't room enough with Bart and Bud's heads in there, so he went back to feet on the floor. At 10 minutes to 1, I took the bowl out since there was no sign the boys were going to quit any time soon. Now, a few minutes later, they are in 4 separate spots in the pen, sound asleep and Mom (Keogh mom!) has licked all the kibble off the floor and is stretched out in front of the fan, a huge grin of relief on her face. She's one smart dog and that's a terrific idea. Think I'm going to follow her lead!

This is Getting Ridiculous!

And now it's the newspaper. The prize for being the first to tear up newspaper (something ALL pups learn to do with great abandon) goes to Bud, the solid black guy. USUALLY, this prize is awarded when the litter is 5-7 weeks old....

By the way, Bud is a different shade of black than Bob. It is easy to see in the photos (I think.) He seems to have a lighter cast to his coat, possibly an indication that he is going to silver, like his gorgeous mama. Daddy Ost is white, black and silver, so it's on both sides of the pedigree.

Bingo Bristow




19 months old and 30 pounds, Bingo was the smallest in his litter. His parents are Diamond and Brogue.

3-1/2 Weeks Pictures

Bart

Betty

Bob

Bud


The only one who seems to actually like having his picture taken is Bart. The other three are all over the place... I probably took 10 different shots of Bart to get a couple usable ones. The others required at least twice that. Each! (Thank goodness there are only 4 pups this time around! The Fall 2010 litters just about did me in! Picture taking is not my favorite thing to start with!)

More pix will be on the website later this evening. There's a link from the Double Doodle page or you can go directly there at http://uptodatepuppyinfo.com

Weights WILL be taken on Wednesday. Yes they will

What do I know?
In regards to the running of the Belmont (the third of the Triple Crown races) on Saturday, June 11th... forget what I predicted after the Preakness. Animal Kingdom's people have already announced he WILL be entered in the race. Shackleford's connections haven't made up their minds as yet. I'm looking forward to the race, not with the giddy excitement I feel when one horse has already won both the Derby and the Preakness, but with anticipation of seeing some gorgeous animals doing what they love to do. The only thing better is watching horses in a pasture kicking up their heels and challenging each other.

And Then There were Teeth!

Still way ahead of the curve, the Keogh/Ost Double pups have teeth already. Usually pups are 5-6 weeks old before they get anything more than pricklies on their gum lines. (There are several small breeds who don't get measurable teeth until 8-10 weeks of age.) So, instead of the medium breed puppy food I was going to buy this afternoon, I'm going to get LARGE breed... the kibble is somewhat larger (and the formula is supposed to be a little different as well.)

And yes I know, pictures are overdue. They're coming... maybe tomorrow.

Peri and Boon

My Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Boon, at 8 months and my Di/Brogue daughter, Peri, at 7 months. He's 40 pounds, she's not yet 20... and, following doggy tradition, SHE is in charge! They are seriously bonded which makes a decision on keeping/selling her very difficult.

First Big (Serious) Scare

Another first to report... this one goes to Bart, the parti guy. He ended up front end first hanging over the edge of his mom's water bowl which was FULL. She doesn't have a little one quart bowl... or she didn't last night... but a big one gallon piece of crockery. I bought 6 of them for about $3-4 each maybe 8 years ago and still have 4. I LOVE them in the areas where there are a number of dogs congregating on a regular basis. There is one in Keogh's pen because she is soaking up the water like the Gobi AND because two weeks old pups seldom have it together enough to walk steadily, much less climb. Needless to say, after rescuing a sopping wet puppy, I emptied the bowl and put it up for about 2 months. Breeders learn about hazards like deep water bowls, electric cords, mama dogs wearing collars, etc. the hard way. Most don't need to experience a lesson like that more than once. Bart sulked... another first!... until he dried off. His mom sniffed him, gave him a lick and left him to his pouting.

And yet another day of storms!
This is really getting old! First the extremely sucky winter (which was following the hottest summer since the EARLY 20th century) and now one severe storm after another. This area is just not used to severe weather of any sort. And what really, REALLY ticks me off is the advantage one of the local tv weatherman is taking for on air time every time a dark cloud passes overhead. I understand these weather reports normally don't get a lot of exposure, but this guy is overdoing it. He started a "weather UPDATE" at 4 PM this afternoon and now, at 4:47, he is still going strong, repeating the exact same info over and over and over. Like we're stupid or something. I checked the other two stations and they're showing regular programming with little message scrolls. And that's another thing. The channel the gung-ho guy is on uses the entire bottom third of the screen for a radar map and text explaining what the map is showing PLUS the top fourth of the screen to run a scroll with the same information.
Needless to say, when the weather is bad (actually, right now, I've got lots and lots of sunshine which Boon, Peri and Jennifer's Buddy are outside enjoying) I try to watch some other station.

And one more thing... isn't it amazing how smart we, the viewers, get during commercials? NONE of the different stations run the scrolls or other types of warning during commercials. Apparently, we only need to know about these thing during regular programming.

These Amazing Puppies

At the rate these guys are maturing, they'll be ready for obedience training in about a month! Yesterday, they all figured out how to get out of the pool. Not only that, they taught themselves to get back IN! There is usually a matter of several days or longer before pups get THAT concept down pat. And THEN they decided it didn't matter if they got back in, they were still safe outside the nest. Sometimes they wandered around the pen (which is half the size of the room... 15' by 8') until they found their mom and sometimes they just lay down and went to sleep where ever... together or singly! I am SOOO impressed with all four. It's almost scary how advanced they are!

Preakness bummer
I had first and second place in the Preakness BUT they finished in the wrong order for Animal Kingdom to try for the Triple Crown. The mile and three sixteenths is definitely Shakleford's length... AK needed another couple steps to pass him. I doubt either of them will run in the Belmont; Shak because it is too long and AK because his trainer and owner(s) aren't keen on running 3 races in 5 weeks. He probably wouldn't have been entered in the Preakness if he hadn't won the Derby. Actually, that group of people... AK's connections... are MY type! No drugs, no tricks, run the horses when it's right for them and have fun. Wish I could afford to buy in!

Another Storm
And for the first time in a long while, my power was off for an extended period... all of last night's prime time so I missed the Celebrity Apprentice finale. (I'm assuming John Rich won because that was the only choice....) My power came on after about 5 hours... the lights/tv coming on woke me up... and then went off again. Don't know when or for how long, I just saw that the clock was screwed up again this morning. My son, who lives about 3 miles from me, is STILL without power and the tree blocking the road about 30 feet beyond his drive is still untouched. That is a fairly busy road and there were no warnings up, no police presence, no nothing so all night there were squealing brakes. He called the police several times and was told they were busy.... More severe storms forecast for later today. Of course. It's Dancing with Stars tonight AND the finale (season AND series) of The Event!

Super Pups

We, Keogh and I, have AMAZING puppies! They are 2-1/2 weeks old... 17 days... and are walking (REALLY walking,) AND sitting up and wrestling with each other! AND making growling noises while they do it. I watched them for a couple minutes this morning, then ran to get the camera. But, since they are just 2-1/2 weeks old, by the time I got ready to take a couple pictures, they were sound asleep again. Yesterday I noticed they would wake up when I opened the pen to let Ke out for a while. They didn't bark, just lifted their heads up and peered around to see what was going on. I'm not sure they are really able to focus just yet, but they are trying. Last night, three of them were nursing while Bart (the spotted guy) was sitting on his mom's feet, pulling on her ear. I'm telling you, these pups are at the genius level!

By the way, my computer is back to its "shades of gray" screen most of the time, so please overlook typing errors. It went for weeks with a normal screen, but now that I'm going to have to edit photos on a regular basis....

Preakness Day
Can't remember if I made my picks know a few days ago and having a hard time readin previous posts (or anything else!) but here goes.
ANimal Kingdom for the win (in hopes of a Triple Crown)
Shackleford and Mucho Macho Man in 2nd and 3rd, not necessarily in that order.
....

What a Difference

This is Ke and the pups this morning. If you compare it to the same shot 12 days ago, it is easy to see how much bigger the babies are. They're growing like weeds!

For individual pictures of the foursome, go to uptodatepuppyinfo.com.

Whoodles and Double Doodles

This sweet little girl is Coco Kennedy who is living in NC since leaving Cotton and Brogue. She loves people and other dogs and her favorite place is the backyard.

Two of the New Jersey pups live close enough to each other to introduce their families and set up a play date. I've been promised pictures of the first get together.

Double Doodles
As yesterday's post suggest, I don't know whether to laugh or cry about Wombat's impending litter. The pups are bound to be gorgeous, but TWO litters of 'doodles at one time is a bit much. It didn't used to be but I'm older and wiser... and tired... now! Still, it's kind of exciting. Keogh is due next week and Wombat a week or two after that.