The sounds of chaos

It was ‘Operation Exposure To Children’ weekend. 

Barking puppies and squealing children were last weekend’s mode of chaos.  At first, the puppies didn’t know what to make of tiny human beings that made strange noises.  We had my granddaughters sit on the floor and be as calm and quiet as possible – which isn’t actually very quiet at all.  By the end of the weekend we had children bouncing around screaming with delight while puppies chased and barked with enthusiasm.  It was a sight to behold …if only it had a mute button.  

And when all the fun and games ended, we had some exhausted puppies.

It was also vaccination weekend.  The puppies got their first round of DHPP, and no one even cried.  Next week, the puppies will be able to visit the big outdoors for the first time.  We will venture into our backyard for exploration, to learn about pottying outdoors, and to discover CATS.  I’ve got quite the variety from which these puppies will learn about cats.  We’ve got one that will run when chased (fun!), another that will hiss and spit (kind of scary), and a third one – the only one we purposely meant to own – that thinks he’s one of the pack (weirdo brother, Brogan).  ‘Bro’ used to spar with his canine brothers, Bosco and Winston, before they crossed over the rainbow bridge.

He’s tried sparring with Jackie and Zoey, but they only see him as a confused cat rather than a member of the canine pack.  I’m hoping the puppies will form a fondness for Brogan.  He’d like that.

And what would you think if I attached a picture of two pee spots on the floor?  TWO PEE SPOTS are all I came home to today, y’all!  I’m so proud that MOST of the time the puppies are using the litter box.  We started with pee pads in the whelping box and then once they moved downstairs to the Puppy Palace we introduced the litter box with compressed wood pellets.  Okay, I’m trying not to brag but today when I had them running loose in the dining room I saw one puppy turn circles in a little panic and then bolt back into the Puppy Palace to go use the litter box.  I was so proud!  And while I was clapping and cooing “good puppy” someone pee’d on the floor behind me.

Next week, once they’ve discovered the great outdoors, I’ll leave a scented layer of the wood pellets in the litter box but over the pellets will be a nice new square of sod.  Operation “Potty on the Grass” will have begun.

And as if the weekend weren’t already filled with enough ‘firsts’ the puppies also had their first solid food.  Who would have known how they would devour a piece of hardboiled egg white?  I now have a wonderful training tool.  Eggs are very heavily scented (stinky!) and the puppies love it.  We may play some games like “let’s go,” “come” and “sit.”  Nothing too challenging, and there are no wrong actions – just lovely, stinky rewards for playing thinking games.

Expect more pictures and videos.  We’re having a blast and we want you to share in the fun.