Lights Out

Let me tell you how smart and cooperative these puppies are. At night... or early in the morning... whenever I decide it's time to go to sleep, no matter how wound up and active the pups are... and some times they're really tearing around their area... when I turn the tv off and the lights out, that's it. Within a minute, at the most TWO minutes, everybody, even the 7-1/2 weeks old pups, are lying down and QUIET. You can hear a pin drop. I'm used to it, but every once in a while, especially when I have pups, it occurs to me again that dogs are much more accommodating than people are! Now, it doesn't work if I turn off the light and leave the tv on... the puppies just assume I'm not serious and they go on playing (and the older dogs, if they're into something, keep at it too.) Some nights I just lie there for a few minutes and enjoy the silence.

Something new happened... the pups have made each other cry. Usually that starts at 5-6 weeks, someone gets too rough or too determined. But these guys have been remarkable about wrestling nicely with each other, not chewing too hard, the bigger ones haven't pulled the smaller ones around by the tail, etc. In the last couple days, however, there have been a couple of unhappy squeals. Haven't hear any today, so they may have phased on already!

And their still Mama's pups! More so THIS week than last. Di's been spending 4-5 hours away from them... usually in the same room, but not in the pen... for about the last two weeks. Starting Friday and all this weekend, the whole gang has been getting antsy... and then whiny... after about 3 hours. I let Di back in the pen and they rush her like they're starving... and I know by the amount of kibble they are consuming, that's a lie. She nurses them for 3-4 minutes, then goes and lies down on her belly (so they can't get to her nipples) and they go back to playing with each other. Diamond is playing much more with them and she's a lot rougher than she used to be. She also seems to single one out for a romp and ignores everyone else for a long time... sort of like "ME time with Mom." It still amazes me that I used to force wean my pups at 3-4 weeks... actually remove moms to another part of the house and not let them back around their babies until they were ready to leave at 8 weeks. Puppies are no more ready to leave their moms (and littermates) at 8 weeks than children are at 10 years.

And yes, I'm getting Ost when he is 8 weeks old. BUT he'll have Di and that gang to become a part of. I'm really interested in seeing how long it takes him to make a place for himself. Another social experiment on the mountain

7 Weeks Pictures

Just posted the new ones on the website. Here are a couple to whet your appetite:




You'll notice the stuffed animals are back... it makes it so much easier for ME! And I've added a few comments about pups where I've noticed something new or different.

Size-wise they're like this...
female, #2, #3 and #5 (all pretty equal now)
#4 (black male) (right in the middle of the pack)
#s 6 and 7 (still the smallest and the darkest)

Next time I post pix on the website, I am going to remove all the previous pictures. So, if you are keeping an eye on a particular pup or two, you might want to download their pictures each time BEFORE the new ones go up.

Something New

If you've been on the website today, you probably noticed that I am making a change. Of course, if you have the Whoodle PAGE as a favorite link and never go to my home page, you didn't see it. And I'm tempted to be mean... it's been one of those days!... and not explain here. BUT in the interest of keeping things as simple as possible, I'll just tell you.

I've decided to do Double Doodles.
Now, I can hear you saying, what the heck is THAT? DOUBLE Doodles are the result of crossing a Labradoodle and a Goldendoodle. They are also called Ultimate Doodles and a friend's children have labelled theirs "SUPER" Doodles. (If an Australian Labradoodle is used in the mix, the cross is called the North American Retriever, which seems rather ironic. For the uninformed, there is a HUGE difference between the AMERICAN Labradoodle, which is the cross of a Lab and a Poodle, and the AUSTRALIAN Labradoodle which is the cross of 5-6 different breeds. This is well documented, so don't kill the messenger!)

Anyway, I have found and purchased a darling little F1B AMERICAN Labradoodle boy and Ost (rhymes with "host," "most," and "boast!") will be arriving here on the 18th when he is 8 weeks old... actually, he's 2 days younger than Di and Brogue's puppies, so he'll have playmates his own age for about a month while he settles in. I expect he'll be in the mood for making babies before the end of the year... will do some preliminary testing (VWD and hips) and then let him talk to Keogh. I'm also looking for another Goldendoodle female, puppy or young adult, mini to medium size, in any color but black or parti since Keogh isn't a youngster herself.

So, right now, that's what's got everything HERE in an uproar!

Just ONE Pup Unspoken for

And then there was one. These little guys (and gal) get sweeter and more beautiful... as in fluffy!... every day. They've also figured out that there is a world outside their pen. They've always known about the other dogs but it has just now dawned on them that there is a barrier between them and them. And they're starting to sound off about it! Again, they are ahead of schedule. USUALLY pups aren't particularly interested in what's beyond their boundary until I start letting them out to roam around. There's at least another week before I let these guys out but they're already eyeing things to get into!

Now, the problem with having just one puppy available... and this is always the case... I've been corresponding with 5-6 different people about the litter. And when we've talked/emailed, there have been several pups unpromised. It's a really big deal, this buying a puppy, and folks need to make sure EVERYONE in the family is in agreement (or controllable!) BEFORE making the commitment. I don't like to rush that. BUT if people let the decision making drag on for more than a few days, the pups are all spoken for. Then I get the weeping and wailing... "but YOU said there were puppies! I promised the KIDS!" I'm not Bettye Crocker... I can't just whip up another batch because I've run short. And I don't like hounding folks because even though EVERYONE sounds sincerely interested, a good two-thirds are not. It's sort of a rock/hard place situation.

Thanksgiving Pictures

Ah, the excitement! Their first holiday! Obviously they were totally unfazed! Got all 7 done in record time... perhaps it's because I did them individually. Pictures of all 7 are on the website and for the first time I am able to tell which pup is which so if you see one that really interests you, let me know!

One cute little thing... the black and tan male puppy has developed the habit of sleeping ON TOP of his mama. There is a rug in their nest which seems to keep the rest of them warm enough at night, but the b-a-t boy isn't satisfied with that. He stretches out full length along her back or side, whichever way she's sleeping, and stays there until she dumps him off.

Di is now spending a couple hours at a time away from them. They're always happy to see her when she returns but are not UNhappy when she's gone.

They'll be 6 weeks old Tuesday and will be getting their first shots. Half way to rehoming time!

Pookie Again

The beautiful Emy/Shadow girl who lives in Chicago, has passed her Therapy Dog test and is certified! Pookie is just shy of being a year old and has done amazingly well.

Dan hopes to start working her soon.

Finally - New Pix

More photos on the website.


Marna's little girl



The two smallest blond pups



The other blond guy and the black and tan male



The two largest pups

Most of the smaller boys are really starting to lighten up and sizes are getting closer to being the same although there are still differences.

The pups are ALL running and wrestling and making a lot of noise. Several of them are really interested in the dogs on the other side of the wire and I spend way too much time watching the ones inside paw at the ones outside... and vice versa! And I can no longer just open the gate and easily walk around in the pen. As soon as I start to open the gate, I am swarmed by little bodies!