Newborn Sweetness

This is honestly one of my favorite stages of raising puppies.  The helpless, dependent, innocent stage where they lie around the box like little beanbags.  Flopping with exhaustion over whatever they just used all of their energy to crawl to - and without being able to see or hear yet, it’s amusing to see where they end up at times. 

But as long as they can sense warmth, breath, and a heartbeat, they are satisfied to sleep just about anywhere.  There is nothing sweeter than pressing a week old puppy to your chin and let it snuffle its face into your neck, maybe with a hopeful lick or two in search of a small smackerel of milk. 

Even the most confused and restless puppy howling in the pen while it searches for someone, anyone, warm and comforting, is easily quieted by a quick snuggle.  It reminds me so much of those simple days of my own newborns and there is something very rewarding about being able to solve a problem so quickly and easily.  Not so much the problems as they get older… but those are stories for another time. 

In addition to lots of snuggles (volunteered eagerly by two little girls who consider it their personal duty to make sure each one is snuggled regularly and equally), we begin ENS (Early Neurological Stimulation).  I really hate repeating myself and information so if you want to know all about ENS and its benefits, you can read our post on it here.  Basically it is a series of small exercises we run the puppies through every day which stimulate their nervous systems and which have several health benefits.  Like I said, more info here :).  

Other than that, we weigh each puppy and also begin ESI (Early Scent Introduction), which is also in this post.  So far, these little guys are fattening up quite nicely. 

 I am amazed at how well Lucy manages so many. I have never had a puppy fail.  I have to admit, another reason I love this stage is that Lucy really handles all the important things for the first several weeks.  The clean up, the feeding, the management and care of each one.  She keeps everything pristine - I hardly need to change out the whelping pad each day. She really has always been the very best mama.  Even as she takes small breaks from the box, she will station herself in the hallway right outside their door just to keep any suspicious characters OUT.

This includes any of our other dogs, and any non-family member. It is so sweet to me that she will trust us all with her puppies - all 9 of us have the special privledge of being able to sit in the box and cuddle, but it is limited to us alone in these first few weeks.

I am also intrigued with my first milk sable!

Milk sables occur when each parent carries a recessive color gene and each passes that particular gene onto the pup. In this case, one out of the 10 puppies got both of them!   I can’t wait to see how her appearance develops!  The color variation even between two very similar looking dogs is fascinating!  

If you have any questions you can email us at bramblymountainfarm@gmail.com or text me at 704-957-4899.

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