It's Snowing... Again!

I already had 1-1/2 inches of snow... the first weekend in November, which is very VERY early for us. And it's coming down again. Wasn't supposed to start until late this afternoon and even then it was supposed to be rain, turning to snow as the sun went down. However, there was a light dusting overnight which the dogs totally ignored when they started their morning trips outside. But now, 2 hours later, it's coming down to beat the band! The last group just came back inside, covered with the stuff and now they're soaking wet and steaming! Original predictions were a trace to 2" by Sunday night. That's been upped, thank you very much, to 2 to 4 inches by Sunday night. And with temps at or below freezing for the HIGH for the next couple days, it will probably stick around a bit. Early Winter = early Spring?

Pups and water
The kids have learned to drink water! They've been licking AT the water for the last 2 weeks... sticking their noses in, jumping back and then licking their lips, paws, etc. But in the last day or two, all of them have taken to slurping it down... and I do mean slurping. I've had horses who were quieter about getting a drink!

And lets not even talk about food. I feed my mamas... and the pups... a "better quality" food than what the dogs normally get. It is much (MUCH) higher in protein and fat and is a very small kibble size (so even the babies can eat it, even before they have teeth.) The first four weeks after birth, I used one 40 pound bag. In the almost 2 weeks since, I've used 2 bags and am about a third of the way through the bag I got Wednesday afternoon. AND this gang... all 3 sets... are NOT scattering it all over their pen but eating every little piece.

Puppy behavior
So now they're "fighting" with each other. That is, they're biting down hard enough to make each other cry. And when they're not crying, they sound like little buzz saws. It's kinda cute... especially as they've already learned the "lights out means shut up" rule. One thing I seldom see is moms interfering when the kids are tussling, however all 3 have gotten up and separated pups who were getting a little carried away in the bully department. Guess they're taking the news stories to heart!

The Water Bowl

It happens every litter, usually long before 9 weeks, so I guess I have something to be thankful for with these guys BUT... yesterday Puppy #2 discovered the joy of doggy paddling. I was watching when it happened and was powerless to stop it. The pups were playing, chasing each other and wrestling and #2 accidentally stepped in the almost full water bowl when in hot pursuit of Puppy #4. It was almost comical to see it dawn on 2 that wet feet were something different. He caught #4 and then just froze.
S l o w l y he turned and almost casually walked back to the bowl, then around it. Then he tentatively put a paw in and tapped the water. It barely moved so he tapped a little harder. It splashed. Next thing I... and he... knows, he's digging in the water like he's trying to uncover a skier buried by an avalanche! Water is flying everywhere. He's getting his belly wet. He's in HEAVEN! Now, ONE puppy in the water bowl isn't such a terrible thing. But #2 likes to share AND he has thoughts of becoming a teacher in his next life. So, and I kid you not, he goes over to some of the other pups... who are sitting or lying down in a nice quiet little group, getting ready for a nap... and plunks himself down in a wet mess right in the middle of them. And one of them, #6 or 7, I'm not sure which, starts to lick the water off his feet. The two of them exchange a look and I can see #6/7 thinking "His FEET are wet? "
It was all over but the shouting. 6/7 follows 2 back to the bowl... which now has only an inch or two of water left in it... and 2 starts digging in the water. He stops, stands back and I can hear him say:
"Now, YOU try it, kid." Kid tries it. Several times. Until there really isn't any water left to splash. Or drink. My feeble attempts to distract them fail miserably but I got even. I didn't fill the bowl up again for over an our. (Of course, they were all sleeping during that time....) So far this morning, I've not seen anyone IN the water bowl. Maybe they've forgotten about it or the other pups told them wet dogs are unattractive. Right.