Food!

Today was the day...warm water + puppy food = wonderful new experiences...

yummy, yummy, yummy
sticky,sticky.sticky
messy, messy, messy
FUN!

Puppy Names?

Mr. Bean, comedian

Instead of calling the puppies Baby A, Baby B,...like ultrasounds of multiples, we initially give each puppy a color name. This is the fingernail polish color that is swiped on their backside after being dried off during the whelping process. The Girl was in charge of choosing each color. Yellow, Silver, Purple, Pink, Cream, Green, Orange, and then finally Blue were all "named".
These colors need to be refreshed about once a week so we can watch and connect each puppy with it's personality.
At this point, a few behaviors are starting to stand out. Silver usually sleeps on his back, Blue ("the Ocho") is always looking for a place to snuggle, Orange is quiet and content. Yellow loves to be held and Cream seems to always be in the middle of the group while sleeping. Purple and Pink are the most vocal- I bet they will be talkers like their mom. Green, affectionately known now as Green Bean, (named after Mr. Bean) seems to always make us laugh with his big yawns and silly faces.
Soon enough, these small puppies will grow into their own personalities and show us what they would like to be called. I hope they choose names easier than "Sgian Dhu Maggie McDuff", like their mom claimed.

New Home!

Puppies are growing/moving and Pete started building. He went with with the "young family starter home" model. Pups are already settled in and Sgian likes her easy access door.

What Do You See?

Eyes open and it is a brand new world! What a difference this makes- Sgian can be found and pursued, scooting to the door of the kennel makes an easy escape...hello world here we come!

Puppy Christmas

The Boy, Sgian, Girl, and Puppies

Wishing you all a very special Christmas!

Out We Go...

Although it wasn't a trip that many want to remember- it was still the first outside trip. All eight pups, Sgian, her Boy and Girl and I went to the vet's office. It was time to have the dewclaws removed. We were welcomed back to the procedure room and helped with comforting the puppies, Sgian and the Girl as we experienced the removal of 16 dewclaws. I think it was hardest on the Girl.
Sgian and the puppies were pronounced healthy and Sgian was given the Good Mommy Award. The Girl was given a Kleenex.

Visitors

Sgian accepted all of our "help" during her whelping and was happy to share her puppies with all of our touches and caresses. She really is being a star mom. Grandma and Grandpa Duff and Lorna and Denny and Tara were met with pride- "See what I did?"

Does that mean everyone is welcome? Beware anyone that wasn't around during her pregnancy-no entrance!

Tara, the Den, Girl

Welcome to Our Den

Starting at 3:57 on December 17th, we welcomed eight sweet and sassy Scottish puppies into the Duff den.
Sgian Dhu was restless all day long and as soon as she knew her Boy and Girl were home to help, the whelping began.  All eight puppies were born healthy and hungry within four hours. Final count: 3 females and 5 males.
Sgian was treated to vanilla ice cream and broth and the puppies filled their bellies and were cozy next to her.