I'm sure some of you have discovered my Facebook page "Got My Back Dobermans" and more than likely you've discovered I do very little updating there. But... I've started a FB Group recently and would like to invite all of you to venture over and "Join" the group. I've titled it "Let's Take The Dogs" and it's purpose is exactly as the title suggests. The goal is to organize get togethers for our dogs with others who share a common interest. You are welcome to post as well as follow and hopefully in a few months some of you can join us on some outings or organize your own. The group, having just been started, is still in it's baby stages with a few more than 30 members but in time will grow. Our first scheduled outing will be a day trip including a walk through Palatka's Ravine Gardens followed by a jaunt down the cobble stone streets of St Augustine and culminate with an introduction to the surf @ St A's Beach. I'll be posting some photos of our adventure and hope, while you're waiting for your pups to grow, you'll gain some enjoyment by following the page. It should be noted, "Let's Take The Dogs" does not discriminate and is not limited in membership to Dobermans, but to all well behaved dogs and owners who share a desire for some good clean fun and socialization.
I walked in the room yesterday morning to find what I considered a fluke... a pup running the floor outside the whelping pool. Not seeming particularly happy with the situation, I scooped him/her up, gave a cuddle of reassurance and placed 'em back with the rest of the pack. I didn't even pay attention to who, by collar color, it was... Sometimes the pups will climb on the backs of each other or mom and be fairly close to the the rim of the pool. Even so, it takes some effort to actually get out.
Well, fluke it wasn't.... I opened the door a few hours later to find not one, but six pups running the floor! These guys, like their weights are a little ahead of the norm! By about a week. Normally when they start getting out I graduate them from the whelping pool to the pup corral. And I may or may not do that before heading back to work for the week. But for now, the area around the pool is padded up for a soft landing. I'll try and get some photos of them in action later today to post. But for now here's one just to demonstrate the growth and development that's taken place in just a little over two weeks. Or maybe the wormer was spiked with go juice! The pups seemed more active than normal this morning but they looked like an irritated swarm of hornets when I got home this evening. Getting much more mobile quickly now! They still lack much in the way of coordination but it seems the pack learned overnight and throughout the course of the day that they have legs that work; that they can sit and walk! And bark! Not quite sure who it was but somebody gave me a big dog bark when I opened the door to greet them upon returning home. I had to laugh! They're becoming Dobermans already! And already, I'm finding myself anxious to get them out to begin their outdoor adventures! I'm ready for some fun! Always... But they're not.... not yet! Still a couple weeks to wait for that... So for now, it's an exercise in patience... a time to settle and to be happy with cuddles... cuddles and the sweet smell of puppy breath! :)
Weights are done and posted and wormers administered. This litter continues to run big. Not huge (fortunately) but big. All but two pups, Red and Orange have surpassed the 3 pound mark. Typically at this age, there are a few pups weighing over 3 pounds but never the whole litter. I must say, once again Lex is doing a great job assuring all her youngsters get their fair share of the groceries. And today they got their first share of something different. They never seem to be crazy about the 1st round of wormer but also don't totally turn their noses up to it either By the second round they typically lap it up so it can't be too bad. It's slightly sweet... even so, it's a totally new experience for them. One of their first! Blue was good today, settled right in for a cuddle as did all the others and Maroon wins the prize for having the most ferocious bark!
I've noticed a few real barks and the pups are trying hard to get their feet under them. I saw Pink get herself to a fairly proper sitting position last night and then walk out from that sit. She only made it a few steps before rolling over but she showed good effort. Several of the others have taken their first steps too but generally by hoisting themselves from the crawling position. They don't look like much yet but they're getting there. I've been trying to handle each for a few minutes everyday now that their eyes are beginning to open. I want to be sure they know there's life outside their whelping box right off the bat. Most are content to just chill and have their cheeks stroked. Most with the exception of Blue... He tends to wiggle and attempt to release himself from the hold. Already demonstrating and independent streak? Time will tell.
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