Here are some pictures of Rex.  He is growing so quickly.  He truly is a snuggle bug.  He loves hugs and kisses and like to give them as much as get them.  We are so happy he is a part of the family.  I hope the other pups are as happy as he is.

Hi Sunny!  

  Miss Pink is still doing well.  She's settling in and learning the new rules of the game.  She really enjoys playing in the yard, which is fenced with chain link, and we live in a nice residential neighborhood where people walk a lot so she's getting to observe all kinds of new things pass by on the sidewalk.  Old people with canes, babies in strollers, kids, etc.  She quickly adjusted to the noise levels - we have a cargo train track a mile away and a commuter train half a mile away, and we have neighbors much closer than yours, so it is definitely a different level of background noise!  She has learned her name and come, sit, down, and the command to eliminate.  She's really smart, and I will be the first to say, you were entirely correct when you said not to be fooled by her cute face!  She can be quite the little monster, but she is also very sweet and cuddly.  I hope her energy levels will be much more manageable when the weather warms up and I can play with her outside and really tire her out.  It has been unseasonably cold here (read 50 degrees!) all weekend, and it isn't much fun to be out and about.

 

   She's been sleeping nights in her shipping crate but she doesn't really like it.  She whines for a few minutes when we put her in and then quiets down eventually.  I think she'd prefer to be in bed with us, but barring that, she's got a nice LL Bean dog bed that she likes to sleep on.  As soon as I trust her at night I'll stop crating her and just let her sleep on the dog bed.  We have a wire crate in our living room and she seems to like that one well, as she'll go in and take a nap on her own accord.  She also likes to nap on laps or feet or any other available body part...  She enjoys playing with toys, but I think her favorite toy is hands and feet.  She's getting good at inhibiting her bite, so mostly she's just kind of mouthing, so it isn't too bad.  We have given her a few stuffed Kongs but I don't think her jaws are strong enough to chew the treats out, so she tries for 5-10 minutes and then gets bored when nothing comes out.  We'll keep trying that one until she gets it!

 

   I do have a couple of questions for you.  How long until I can reasonably expect her to sleep through the night?  So far I get her up every 2-3 hours, and she goes outside to pee like a good girl, and she slowly seems to be adjusting to pacific time.  Yesterday she was ready to go at 3:30 AM, today it was 4:30, so I'm hopeful that in another couple of weeks I'll be able to sleep from 10-6 like a normal person!  Also, do you have any good tricks for teaching a puppy not to jump on furniture?  She really wants to be on the couch with us but we're trying to discourage it given how big she'll be as an adult.  If you have any other advice about puppy raising or about anything we're doing wrong or should be doing differently, please let me know.  We're trying to do right by her but gosh is it a lot of work!
Thanks again,

Jen

 

Hi Jen,

Yes, it IS a lot of work -- just imagine those moms who have twins or triplets!!  I'll tell you what Ray does now -- he is sleeping in the laundry room which is between the kitchen and our 'family' room.  I have baby gates at either end so between the washer, the dryer and his crate he really only has a space of about 3 x 8 at night.  I'm usually off to bed really early since Jim gets up at 5 a.m. but right now I am up until about 9 p.m.  I make sure I've taken his food and water up at about 5 p.m. so when he relieves himself at 9 he will be pretty much empty for the night.  So far he has not relieved himself indoors at night since we are up so early.  As soon a Jim (or I) get up in the morning we zoom outdoors with Ray in hand or tow -- and wait until we see him at least pee before coming back indoors to make coffee/etc.  During the day we keep an eye on him like a hawk and take him outside every few hours just to make certain he doesn't need to go.  He had multiple accidents yesterday after drinking a LOT of goats milk (my granddaughter thought a puppy should drink about a quart and he agreed...)  but today he hasn't had any.  I recognize that our lifestyle is not what yours is ~ we have a fenced area outside the back door with the door cracked open today so that is helpful when I'm outside ~ 

As for jumping up on the furniture, yes, I'm sure she does want to be up there on the cushy cushions with you!  We have a zero tolerance policy here in regards to the dogs on the furniture ~ they are too often dirty from the barn or the river, etc.  Ray so far hasn't wanted to go up but his time will likely come and I will be very stern in telling him 'No.' and standing up and going away from the chair.  If he is a total pest I would put him in a crate.  Like some of the other pups in this litter, he has no great love for the crate yet but that will come in time.

Pretty much the puppy rule is that you don't allow the puppy to do anything you wouldn't want done as an adult ~ life in black and white at this stage :)

Give her a pet from all of us here and I hope this helps!  P.S.  I Always say "A Tired Puppy is a Happy Owner!"

Our Puppy is doing great and really getting along well with our whole family.  She loves the ambient noise of my 5 and 7 year olds and is plenty happy in her crate right in the middle of our family room/kitchen where we spend 95% of our waking time.  Sleeping with me in the same place and getting up every 90 minutes on the nose to go potty when she wakes me up.  Eating fine and has been really pleasant.  Does not enjoy the crate in the car and I suspect that may have to do with the airplane trip.  We will ease into that.

We have named her Tommika.  I am a cyclist and have a passion for racing.  One of the current top professional racers in the world and a favorite of mine is a Belgian named Tom Boonen, nick named Tommika.  He hails from the Flandres region and won one of the most prestigious Spring Classics, the Tour of Flandres, on March 24^th  this year.  He then won the next weekends Queen of the Classics, Paris Roubaix, a feat seldom accomplished in the over 100 years of these events.   Seemed fitting and original.

Rainy and cool here all weekend so it has been great to devote a lot of time to her initial bonding with her new home.

Hi Karl,

That all sound good for such a short time and what a great name!  My only suggestion would be getting up every 90 minutes -- that sure seems like a lot unless the change in altitude is causing her to drink an enormous amount of water?? -- 

Sunny

Our fellow Man Ray - ears cut off and down with a cold, he's feeling funky today.

Sunday update: the cough and cold seems to be over already!  I guess it wasn't kennel cough he got from the vet office after all ~

Our Pocket Rocket!

She has been in the pond walking along the edge, it was rough and splashing hard, she did fine even swam a bit.

 

She is circling the chickens, they are bigger than her-wont run after them.

 

the cat saved her from falling in the pond, Harry made an out right effort to go between the puppy and the waters edge & rocks, he mumbled at her for a good ten seconds and both moved away from the edge (two feet to the water not deep) Harry has taken on the older bro role. He is an amazing cat. She was not in danger of anything other than getting wet. Harry swims and showers

 

She has very good stamina and memory, there is something under an old car here she wont forget the smell, we will be some ware in the yard and she will get a whiff or remember to go looking, she has a very good nose and decision making for seeking out items by smell we've been playing hide and seek.

 

She has pretty much mastered the rocks (our steps, yard and the shore line) and can get in or out the door with a hop

 

she sleeps buy/on our feet if we are sitting, sometimes she goes to her crate or just lye's down where ever she gets tired inside or out.

she has made her special spot under the bench out side already.

 

In a crate at night up stairs next to the bed, she sleeps all night till about 5, she fusses a bit and waits for me 530

 

We have a wind chime that dings in heavy wind or when its needed, it has been windy, and if we ring it she heads for the house. She knows where home is from any part of our land already.

 

She has figured out her food is for ever and eats when she feels like it and leaves a little for latter no hording gulping or growling.

I put her bowel up on a brick to stop the lazy eating-that changed everything for her. She drinks a lot of water.

 

Teeth -Pee and sleep

 

That's the update

m&m

REX!

Sorry I was not in touch before today.  We have been busy with that baby.  He did great on the ride home.  He cried for a bit , but settled.  He would cry a little less after each stop.  We crate him at night and he loves it.  He does not complain at all.  He just goes in and falls asleep.  The biggest project right now is potty training and we doing OK.  There have been accidents, but only a few.  We focus on getting him out often.  He loves the yard.  He likes to go out and lay on the top level of the deck, like he is the king of the castle.  When he is alone in the yard, he runs around like a maniac making fun for himself.  He throws leaves up and barks at them.  Grabs them again and starts over.  He is enjoying his toys.  He loves to cuddle.  We are also working on the nipping…man that guy can pack a punch with those teeth.  Overall, it is easier than expected.  He is a little man who seems to be doing a great job adjusting in my estimation.  My sister-in-law stayed through Monday and she and my brother are coming back today.  He is getting a lot of love and also time to enjoy himself without being suffocated by two eager big brothers.  I cannot thank you enough for the gift of Rex.  We love him.  We will send pictures.  It just requires me to become more technologically savvy.  I will happily keep you posted on his progress.

8.4# ~ going to Maine

 

11# ~ going east in Wisconsin

11.6# ~ going to Minnesota

10.3# ~ going to Minnesota

10# ~ going to California

13.25# ~ going to Canada

11.4# ~ going to Montana

12.5# going to Illinois

Going to Maine, our little Pocket Rocket

Afternoon playtime in the puppy play yard.

I love these puppies.....

This week our puppies will continue to grow, to observe the other dogs, their environment and us and will have a full week of temperament testing, vet visits and maybe even a couple of short car trips.  They have been an interesting litter for us and quite fun to watch mature.  As those of you who know our dogs, you know that both Solo and Trouble are quite special members of our family and to see them in their kids gives us great pleasure.  We will see what the puppy tests show and will contact each of you to let you know which pup we feel will be best suited for which home.  We will use the information you've given us in your puppy reservation form to help us make that decision.  For the moment, we are holding back a male puppy for us to see how he turns out.

 

We are feeding NutriSource Large Breed Puppy to your pup.  While we are currently feeding 'free choice' so that there isn't a feeding frenzy every time the pups see the bowl, you will want to feed your pup at regular intervals (3 x per day until he is 4 months old, then twice per day.)

 

 

Dog Nutrition – 12 Human Foods Your Dog Should Never Eat and the Reasons Why They Are Dangerous

By Susan Benson
In a world where there has been a pet food recall, some dog owners feel they want to make their own dog food. This is a great idea because you know exactly what is going in your dog’s tummy. But do you know what foods are actually dangerous for Fido? Let me list the most dangerous and also tell you WHY they shouldn’t be eaten so you can save yourself from unnecessary Vet bills or something we don’t even want to think about…the death of your beloved pet.
1. Chocolate: This means ALL chocolate even though the high cocoa content chocolate and Baker’s chocolate are the most toxic. To reach toxicity you only need 2 baking squares for a 10lb dog, 4 baking squares for a 20 lb dog, etc. It contains theobromine which is a diuretic and cardiac stimulant.
Side Effects: vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate, seizures, increased drinking and urinating and even death.
2. Alcohol: If you think it’s funny to watch your dog get intoxicated, think again. You can cause Fido to go into cardiac arrest and die. Not so funny anymore, now is it. They can’t handle alcohol and it only takes a small amount to get them intoxicated.
Side Effects: depression, excessive urination, excitement, slowed breathing rate and cardiac arrest which can lead to death.
3. Fatty Foods: Yes, you know them well because you probably eat them yourself and know how bad they are for YOU. Gravies, bacon, high fat snacks, etc. can all be fatal in some dogs.
Side Effects: severe gastrointestinal distress and something called Pancreatitis which can be fatal.
4. Raisins and Grapes: This is one of those foods where the toxin is not known yet but is extremely dangerous and there is NO treatment for it.
Side Effect: acute kidney failure. It only takes as little as 6 grapes and raisins.
5. Potato Peelings and Tomato Leaves & Stems: These both contain a toxic alkaloid called solanine.
Side Effects: severe gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weakness, dilated pupils, damage to the central nervous system and slower heart rate.
6. Avocado: This fruit contains a toxin principle called PERSIN. It’s also in the leaves, the seeds and the bark. All avocados have the potential to be toxic for dog’s however, the variety from Guatemala is the most toxic.
Side Effects: diarrhea, vomiting and gastrointestinal distress.
7. Macadamia Nuts: The toxin in these nuts is unknown, it only takes a small number of nuts and even the butter in them to make it toxic for your dog.
Side Effects: affects their nervous system, digestive track and their muscles.
8. Coffee: Contains dangerous components called xanthenes.
Side Effects: urinary damage, heart muscle stimulation and damage to their nervous system.
9. Peaches, Cherries, Plums, Apples and Apricots: The fruit itself is fine. It’s the leaves, stems and seeds that contain a cyanide compound. Large amounts of them are toxic.
Side Effects: hyperventilation, dilated pupils, breathing difficulties and shock.
10. Xylitol: This is an artificial sweetener that is found in SUGAR FREE products like gum, candy, etc.
Side Effects: sudden drop in blood sugar and seizures.
11. Onions: Thiosulphate is the toxin in onions. This goes for onion powder as well. One good thing about this is that they will eventually recover from this toxin when it leaves their body.
Side Effect: Extreme anemia. (as little as one small onion can cause this)
12. Yeast dough: Believe it or not if your dog swallows yeast dough it will rise in his stomach and it will end up being very painful for them.
Side Effects: Severe gastrointestinal distress, vomiting, diarrhea and bloating.
Please use common sense when it comes to feeding your dog and if he accidentally eats any of the above foods, get to your Vet immediately. Getting there in time can save your dog’s life.

A warm spring day, I'm taking a minute to wash up the dishes from lunch and what are those puppies up to??

Pink Girl, looking for trouble...

Having too much fun!

Pretending to be good ;)

After dragging my boots outdoors, better hold them down!

Garden shoes too!  Oh no, the impatiens!

What's behind those hostas anyway?

I'm coming, I'm coming!!

The front of my little farmhouse being wrecked by your puppies :)

Pile 'o Pups  ~ raining outside, the pups hanging on the porch

This video timed out earlier so I loaded it as for viewing it on a phone.  Hopefully it will be clear enough for you.  As you see, the littler pups are catching up in size ~ and I cut the coats down on some of the puppies who looked black but are, in fact, brindle!  They are all doing well and are now taking little trips around the yard and spending the warm days in the big puppy pen by the front door on our farmhouse.  You can see their reactions to a door being slammed (accidently, oops!) and to a truck driving down the road.  I am starting to see some little changes in their personalities and am, overall, pleased with them.  Next week I will be doing puppy testing and that will give me more information about which puppy goes where - - for now, we will watch them closely.

Male

Female

Female

Male

Female

Male

Female

Male and Female

Pocket Rocket!

Here we are at 5 weeks, exploring the world outside the kennel building.  We have discovered toys and water and dry kibble, have visited Zelda the Papillon and tried eating grass.  Life is Good!  The little Pocket Rocket closes this video -- be sure to watch it to the end!

Puppy Housetraining

1)      Feed at set times, maintaining the same schedule on weekends that you use during the week.  If you feed at 7:00 a.m. on a weekday, feed at that same time on Saturday and Sunday.

2)      Feed one diet and do not vary it.  Do not feed table scraps during the housetraining period.  If you use food for training, use the same food you use as your puppy’s regular diet.

3)      Watch your puppy’s stools; if they are loose, you may be overfeeding.

4)      Take your puppy out to relieve himself on a regular schedule.  Stay with him and praise him when he goes.  Take him out after he has eaten, after he wakes from a nap, after he has been playing or when he begins to sniff around or give other indication that he needs to relieve himself.  The signs may be subtle at first so keep an eagle eye on him.

5)      When you take your puppy out to relieve himself, go straight to the spot you want to make his toilet area and stand there.  Do not walk around with him, teach him that this is the time and place to relieve himself.  Give him a word to associate with the action “Hurry up!” “Go potty!”

6)      In the house, clean accidents with a cleaner designed for urine odor.  If you catch your puppy in the act of relieving himself in the house, say “Stop!!”  Pick him up, carry him directly outside to his toilet area, wait with him until he goes there and then praise him.

7)      Keep a chart of exactly what the puppy does at what time, including accidents.  You will notice a pattern and be better able to plan his schedule.

8)      Use a crate to help train your puppy.

a.       In a room without carpet on the floor ie: the kitchen or other room where the puppy is part of the family, put his crate on the floor and surround it with an exercise pen.  This way he has the option of sleeping in the crate and playing in the area when you are unable to be ‘with’ him.  If he has been trained to newspaper, you can put papers in the area farthest from the crate.

b.      At night, have the puppy sleep in the crate next to your bed where he can hear your breathing and feel part of the family.

c.       Never isolate your puppy in the basement or garage.  He will not be happy being isolated in such a way and will doubtless carry on.  If that is your choice, you might want to ask yourself why you have chosen a dog for companionship.  Perhaps a pet who does not require the social interaction that is a hardwired part of dogs would be better.

9)      Rules of thumb…it takes roughly 4 hours from the time a pup eats until it passes through their digestive system.

10)  You can expect your puppy to stay crated for 4 hours when he is 4 months old.

11)  What goes in will always come out!

Logistics!

I've had a few folks inquire about logistics this week.  First, the puppies who are being sent via the airlines can leave anytime after May 22.   I do have a dog trial on Saturday, May 26 so we would need to work around the schedule on that date if you were thinking of the weekend.  Otherwise, I would suggest having the pups arrive on a week day when the staff at the airport is full -- so Friday, May 25?  I can work on those arrangements closer to when the pups leave but for the moment, those are my thoughts.

If you are a more local family (Nikki, Erica, Kirk, Becky) you are welcome to come the weekend prior when they are 7.5 weeks old.  We will have done the puppy tests that mid-week and will have a good idea which puppies are going where.  Trouble will have been done nursing them for quite a while and will likely be glad to see them and their needle sharp teeth away from her! 

For now, they are still sleeping MOST of the time, but have begun to play with little soft toys and are climbing up a little ramp, enjoy interacting with one another and me.  They will be more and more fun as time goes on now!

    

We are having a few warm sunny days here in Wisconsin bracketed by clouds, cold and rain.  I took the little kids out into one of the long dog paddocks thinking they would like to feel the sun and grass.  Mostly they wanted their mama.

Heads up!  A quick note to everyone.  This is an 'outcross' breeding which means there are no common ancestors in the pedigree - at least for the first bunch of generations.  This litter has a lot of diversity in it - I see different coat types, different head types, and a huge variation in size.  SO...if you are set on a BIG MALE, this might not turn out to be the right litter for you.  Some of the males are good sized, some will be pocket rockets!  Same with the girls although most folks don't mind a smaller girl.  You might want to talk this over with your family and if it will be an issue for you to have a smaller Bouvier, please let me know now.

Bouv Babies!

And here they are just a couple days later making a mess of course but actually getting some food in their little mouths! I have soaked kibble overnight and mixed it with eggs and milk. This will be their primary diet for the next few weeks. I am trying out Taste of the Wild with this litter. As you can see, there is quite a bit of size variation in this litter which may even out as they mature. .. or may not! We'll need to wait and see!

This morning was the first 'meal' for the puppies - chevre and eggs from our hens cooked into a custard. It is easy for them to eat and digest. Of course it is a huge mess as well!

Puppy tips

As a Canine Good Citizen evaluator, I get an email each week from the AKC with tips for helping new puppy owners. Here is one that arrived in the morning's email that I thought you'd like to see. It makes good sense!

We all know that training is a big part of having a happy dog. So is making sure your puppy or dog is confident. Here are some tips for building your puppy's confidence and raising an easygoing dog.

Meet new people and animals. Socialization is an integral part of raising your puppy, and part of that is introducing him to all types of people – short, tall, different ethnicities, etc. This will help prevent a fear of certain types of people later in your puppy’s life. Socialization also includes exposing your puppy to adult dogs and other animals so he becomes familiar with all types of creatures.

Exploring is good. Encourage your puppy to explore different objects. Provide things for him to crawl into, on top of, and underneath. Make sure any object you give your puppy to explore is safe.

Make noise. Your puppy needs to get used to everyday sounds, sights, and smells in your home. Let him hear the dishwasher run and the vacuum cleaner go. The more sounds you expose your puppy to, the fewer things will cause him fear later in life.

Being alone. To avoid separation anxiety later, teach your puppy to be alone. Let him spend time in his crate or exercise pen while you’re doing chores around the house. Give him something safe to chew on or a food-dispensing toy to keep him busy.

Don't be pushy. Learn to read your puppy’s body language and don’t force him into a situation if he’s exhibiting fear. If your puppy tries to turn away, has his tail tucked tightly, or rolls over to bare his belly among other things, stop what you’re doing and try to figure out what made him afraid.

I have little pdf files I have developed in past years to help you understand what's going on with your puppy. You can view weeks 1 and 2 here

Monday morning - Trouble has been outside to help with chores and is now back in to feed the babies. Their eyes are beginning to open and we will see huge changes this week!

 

Trouble's puppies, Saturday.

• Deposits for this litter: 
• Sunny intends to keep a female puppy from this litter
• Deb - California (performance-F)
• Jen - California (companion-M)
• Malcolm - Canada (companion-M) 
• Nikki - (companion-F)
• Becky - Illinois (companion M)
• Diana - Wisconsin (companion M)
• Erica - Minnesota (companion, either)
• Mike - Montana (companion F)
• ...any deposits not fulfilled with this litter can be transferred to Karen's litter.  This list is in no particular order with the exception of my puppy and Deb's performance puppy.