And then there were four ....

The time has gone so quickly, I can hardly believe that some of the puppies have already ventured out into the world into their very own new families and homes. Wonderful families, I might add. I hope each puppy will bring special blessings to his/her new family and vice versa.

Only Bahnsen, Calvin, Knox and Strobe are left. (There are still a couple of puppies awaiting pick-up, but for now I'm going to focus on those who are still looking for their very own special people to find them.) These puppies are pictured in order, and are distinct enough now that I feel sure everybody will be able to tell them apart. As you can tell, they really enjoy playing tug, retrieving balls (and chirping chicks) and while not pictured, are learning to walk on a leash.

Enjoy the photos ... I've feeling it won't be long before these handsome fellows are off on their own, too!

Seven Weeks

What a whirlwind week this has been! Not only are the puppies larger than ever, but they are more mature. They are showing readiness for relationships, and it has been SO sweet to realize when they're trying to specifically engage me for "special time". (They're still in my kitchen, totally underfoot, and my computer is in the kitchen too, so they're always trying to engage!)

On Tuesday they had their CERF exams. Three of the puppies had Iris to Iris Persistent Pupillary Membranes, which are leftover remnants of the membrane that covers and nourishes the pupil in utero and while their eyes are still closed. They are generally dissolved by the time a puppy is eight weeks old, however they were still six weeks when I took them in. If you wait until they are eight weeks, then the CH factor of Collie Eye Abnormality can be masked by pigment at the back of the eye, so I always take them in early as that is the weightier concern. The eye doctor, Dr. Mark Nasisse at Carolina Veterinary Specialists in Greensboro, said that they had the mildest form of PPM and that they would probably outgrow it within a couple of weeks, that it was nothing to worry about and not considered to be hereditary. Still, it was somewhat disconcerting as our other two litters had totally perfect eyes all the way around. Here is an interesting article for anyone interested in learning more about Persistent Pupillary Membranes: http://www.vmdb.org/dx1.html

On Wednesday the puppies had their temperament tests. Now that was fun, to observe them, one after the other meet the tester, whom they've never met before, in a strange place, and watch how they interacted with her, responded to different stimuli and solved problems. There were very few surprises but it was still fascinating to see. As expected, Knox was the boldest puppy in the litter. He has a lot of attitude, is QUICK to solve a puzzle, but is still forgiving when you do something to him that he doesn't like. He will be a joy to train, and would be most appreciated by someone with a good bit of prior dog training experience. Ma'am and Bahnsen were the tester's two favorite picks in the litter. It took over five hours to test them all.

So ... if you're wondering why the photos are late this week and why they're just head shots, now you have an idea! It has been a BUSY week, but the weather is supposed to remain nice over the weekend so I'll try to post some additional candids of the puppies at play!

One more pix ... too cute not to include ....

Six weeks!

They are just too cute, that's all there is to say. They are so much fun. They've had dozens of visitors and I think have crawled in all of their laps and given all kisses. They are the epitome of joy right now as they run and play and explore the world and know nothing to fear.

Several puppies are definitely spoken for and are so marked. Several more are also spoken for, but their designations are tentative, or dependent ... a sort of "if this person takes that one then I will take this one but if they don't take that one then I might want to reconsider him" sort of thing, and of course, all is depending upon the temperament testing a week from today. I'm not really expecting any surprises, but you never know ... hopefully every puppy and every new owner will be all sorted out by then. I really appreciate everyone's patience with one another!

Enjoy ....

Five Weeks

Five weeks old today ... where has the time flown? They are so beautiful. I am yet going to get a photo of the scene that greets me each morning ... eleven hopeful, bright little faces, all looking up at me! LOL ... everyone should have such a joy. As you can see they are getting more and more playful and are spending long hours tussling with each other. Some are playing tug now and others chasing and even picking up and carrying the tennis ball for short distances ... not an easy feat with mouths as small as theirs still are ... must be those needle sharp teeth. Enjoy this fifth week ... before you know it they'll be a week older, and totally changed!

Sunday Afternoon Adventure

It is cold and windy this afternoon, but sunny out in my neighbor's cow pasture behind our house. It seemed a likely place for the puppies' requisite outing and boy did they have fun! They explored cow patties and found an old tennis ball that Itty had left behind eons ago and came running whenever I called. They actually followed me all the way back to the house and a few of the bolder guys chased Itty back to the field when he went out to sniff where we'd been. It was, as Pooh would say, a very grand adventure!

(Remember, you can click on most of the photos to enlarge them!)

New Digs

The puppies have moved! After having spent the first two weeks of their life in my bathroom in relative quiet and seclusion, they then spent a week in the x-pen in the middle of the living room which they have now outgrown. As of yesterday evening, they have moved to the kitchen, where we are attempting (instead of papering the entire kitchen floor as we've done in the past) to teach them to go potty in a specified area, namely, a washing machine overflow tray filled with newspaper. We're having some success, but still ... watch where you walk! ; ) They are greatly enjoying their expanded territory and have already been found trying to climb into cabinets left open, have "caves" under furniture and are rapidly turning into slipper attack monsters. They are WIDE open.

Additional photos can also be seen at http://www.aproposaussies.com/puppypix.html.

Agility Itty!

Last Saturday Daddy Itty was entered in his third agility trial, in Youngsville. I waited to tell of his accomplishments so I could also post these photos, which I got to preview at the show and thought were good. Itty again qualified twice, got two first places and another perfect score for two new titles! It is so much fun to run him ... he never lets me down. I could almost swear he knows it's show time ... time to be focused. So now, he is officially Paint it Black of Windsor, DNA-VP, STDsc, ATDd, NAP, NJP, TDI, CGC!