Surprise!

So, the pups quickly got used to going outside every 2-3 or 4 hours... it took all of one day and they think they've got me trained to their schedule. They use the newspaper in between times and at night and don't yet have a working relationship with the "put all this stuff outside" concept, but they like it out there. This evening I let in the last group of adults and noticed that it had begun to rain. The pups and I eyeballed each other while I debated letting them go out. They won. Or so they thought. I opened the pen. I open the front door. They went running out. They slid to a halt on the wet surface. I shut the door. Then I went about filling up all the food and water bowls from one end of the house to the other and picking up the used paper in the big puppy pen. And then I heard it... an absolute down pour. Followed very shortly by the sound of unhappy puppies. A LOT of unhappy puppies. Now the debate became let soaking wet pups in BEFORE putting down fresh newspaper. Or put down the paper before letting in the pups. How much wetter could they get in those few minutes? I'll tell you... they got a lot more unhappy in that time and when I opened the door, they came busting through in one tsunami tidal wave, washing straight into their pen. They did not pass "go," they did not collect $100, they did not stop until they were clumped in the very back of the corner and then, en masse, they whirled around and glared at me. Of course, all the fresh newspaper was soaked through to the floor. And I hate to tell you how fast 6 drenched long haired pups can
smell up a whole house. But I thought it was fun. They need to get a sense of humor.

The New Guys
Good thing I got everyone microchipped last weekend. I'd never be able to distinguish one from all the rest if I hadn't. Right now, the two groups are separated, but in a couple days I'll let them go outside together to work out the kinks and then put them all in one pen. The new pups are very quiet... still in shock... which won't last long. They have each other for moral support and after only 24 hours, are already showing interest in their new neighbors. Jennifer forwarded all the mail she'd gotten... a TON... and said she would email everyone to tell them how to get in touch with me. A couple people did so right away. Of course everyone wants pictures and when (and if) I ever get the time, I'll oblige. As hard as it is getting decent shots when pups are little, it's a hundred times worse at this age when everything is much more interesting and worth looking at than the person with the camera. Guess I could drug them into sitting still.... (That's a joke, folks.)

Snow Dog


9 months old Beckett in Salt Lake.
According to his main man, Beckett loves snow more than anything else in his world. Tony is convinced the pup is part Malamute.

Well!

In an effort to keep me on my toes and to remind me that I am not in control around here, Diamond has come into season at least a month early. And just to make sure her message sinks in, she is perfectly happy being with Brogue. And I mean in the Biblical sense. I hesitate to make any predictions, BUT if things progress normally, we'll (they'll) have puppies toward the end of October, after the 20th anyway. Which means they SHOULD be ready to go toward the end of January 2010.
The reservation list will open as soon as I'm sure Di's in whelp... most likely in about a month. But don't hold me to that!

I Got the "New" Puppies!

So they got here early this morning (JB and Aron were on their way to the VA Hospital in Johnson City and I'm sorta in that direction for them.) And After getting the pups settled, in a manner of speaking, I took some pictures. Don't know what it is with me and Whoodle pup pictures... these babies get to their homes and even the 3 year old kid can take a decent shot of the puppy. I pick up a camera and everyone heads for the hills! Anyway, here they are... the girls sitting up, the blond boy (who would fit into MY litter with no questions asked!) and the other 2 guys, lying down, of course.



They're all pretty quiet... spooked a little... except for the smaller girl. SHE's ready for anything... bring it on. Let me tell you, if she wasn't going to end up blond, I'd be adding HER to my pack!

Working on getting the additional shots on the website... having these guys means a major overhaul of my Whoodle page, so bear with me.

Not to be outdone
Cotton's kids are newsprint from head to toe. Can't keep them out of the water bowl. And obviously some like the FOOD bowl as well.

If I didn't know better, I'd think he was the one assigned to protect the provisions from the questionable neighbors who just moved into the next pen!

And keeping Cotton away from the pups is not going so well. The pups are fine. They don't seem to miss her at all. But SHE's driving me crazy. I put her in with her mom and grandparents at the other end of the house for about 2 hours... then she started whining, which after a half hour or so escalated to howling and barking. Sometimes I envy the breeders with normal dogs (those who want nothing to do with their babies once they get teeth!)