Puppy Nursery Scenes I

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Last weekend, we removed the whelping box and created a bigger area for Jazz and the pups. This not only allowed more room for Jazz to nurse her growing 11 babes, it allowed for the next steps in their development. The sleep area is half heated still with heating mats and the other half allows for them to move to a cooler “bed” if they are too warm. The bumper in the middle allows for the feeling of a sleeping “nest” but also posed one of their first obstacle challenges. Since puppies, in general, do not potty in their bed, they immediately tend to move from the nesting area and immediately potty. Therefore, “astro” turf is laid there at the edge of their nest (even though, as you see here they often fall asleep on it too!) It’s the very first steps to toward crate training and potty training.

Beyond “grassy” potty area (in pic #2) you see a barricade which at night is double stack so they do stay in the smaller sleep area at night. But during the day, we started by removing one of the boards to form another challenge obstacle. These pictures were taken yesterday when we started this challenge, as you can see in picture #2, many pups made it over the barrier. We then removed it for those who couldn’t quite do it. Pic #1. Today, almost all figured out how to get over it on their own

Today, we introduced pans of puppy formula. It took a little coaxing but most all pretty much got the hang of it. This video was shot after most had their fill and were moving back to the sleep nest or Momma’s bed for a nap. (More fun videos in next Blog, Nursery Scenes II)

After their “trough” experience with Puppy Formula, Red girl is giving her brother, Green boy a nice thorough cleaning.

Their box of brand new toys arrived today AND they are starting to startle at sounds (so they are now hearing). So keep checking for new blogs as they are introduced to toy experiences and we start sound habituation.