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Bruiser at 6 weeks |
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He cooperated nicely, but with each great shot, another puppy got in front of the lens. By time I had a clear shot at him, Bruiser was just about ready for a nap. |
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Coal at 6 weeks |
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Looking a bit goofy, he wasn't super cooperative at camera time! |
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Jet at 6 weeks |
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Getting this shot was an exercise in patience. Each time I made a noise to get her attention, she leaped on me to cover me in kisses. |
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Kia at 6 weeks |
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This is a serious puppy who always looks like she has something very important on her mind. (Running the world?) |
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Mel at 6 weeks |
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Mel in a (momentarily) mellow moment. Like Jet, all attempts to get a good shot resulted in Mel mauling me with eager kisses. |
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Solo at 6 weeks |
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Showing off his gorgeous profile, and posing like a pro, Solo saved his kisses for after the photo shoot! |
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Woody at 6 weeks |
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Woody - aka "Special Man" "Special K" "K-Man" This puppy listens when you talk to him like no pup I've ever seen. |
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Mouse at 6 weeks |
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Mouse is winning the first ears up award. She has an incredibly expressive face. |
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Dash at 6 weeks |
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A very elegant, gentlemanly pose from the dignified and sweet Dash |
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SugarBear at 6 weeks |
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Quite the little camera hog, SugarBear seems quite sure that she's beautiful (and she's right) |
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New & Improved Pen |
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These shots show the puppy pen, which occupies the entire TV room. The cedar shavings in the box help with housebreaking as this week, the pups begin to get specific about where they eliminate. |
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Pup Pen 2 |
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Blankets provide good footing, and a variety of obstacles (like tunnels, boxes, a "mountain" made of a low, stable box, a "teeter" board that is unstable, a ramp and more) keep the pups growing and learning how to use their bodies |
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Pup Pen 3 |
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Nice thing about this set up is that the pups are literally with us 8-14 hours a day, and can stroll right over to ask for our attention even if we are up on the sofas and not sitting or laying down in puppy land with them |
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Bruiser, SugarBear & Solo |
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Plenty for all on this big bone made for peaceful sharing |
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Puppy Overboard |
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Well, not really overboard, but fully prepared with a lifesaver just in case |
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Dash & Otter |
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Dash & granmda Otter share the little mountain for a nap |
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Ears UP! |
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Well, only if you hold your head just right at this point, but here Solo practices having BIG ears |
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Smiling Rain |
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Does this dog look happy to be surrounded by her little sisters & brothers or what? |
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Jet & Toys |
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A face that could melt stone |
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John With Bruiser |
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Despite the silly puppy name, Bruiser is a sweetheart, and happiest to sleep near or actually on us |
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Coal Trying to Look Mature |
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Another one of those glimpses of what will be - a handsome dog in the making. It wasn't official mug shot time, so he posed very nicely, of course. |
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My, What Big Teeth You Have |
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Rain has been reading Little Red Riding Hood to the puppies at bedtime. Here, she acts out the famous line regarding Grandma's impressive dentalware |
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My, What Little Teeth You Have! |
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When SugarBear reads Little Red Riding Hood, the effect is just not the same |
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Bruiser Pounces |
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Games with big sister Rain are a great way to practice important skils like pouncing, barking, and sneak attacks |
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Experience Brings Wisdom |
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After 25 years of raising puppies, I've learned good thick sheepskin slippers make good toe protectors and chew toys |
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Mel & Dash |
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The "winner" of any given pairing off changes from hour to hour (heck, minute to minute sometimes!) This time, Dash goes belly up to Mel |
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Bruiser in the snow |
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Bruiser checks out an odd weed poking up through the snow. The weather briefly cooperated so the pups could go out for about 10 minutes without freezing. |
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Coal in the Snow |
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Considering he was asleep when I plucked him from his nap and carried him outside for a brief exploration of the snowy yard, Coal was pretty good about exploring. |
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Bruiser & Great-grandma Carson |
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Nice to have great-grandma with you out in the world of snow & ice |
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Stepping Up |
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After their first exploration of the snowy yard, the pups were asked to climb the five steps, and most of them gave it a good try - and made it! |
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One cute package |
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SugarBear finds a quiet place to nap in the pups' box |
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Coal (or Mel?) |
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The black pups are hard to photograph, and the two boys are sometimes hard to tell apart. But always cute! |
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Bell Ringer |
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Kia and others really love grabbing hold of this bell and ringing it a lot |
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SugarBear & Mel Faceoff |
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Staring intently into each other's eyes is one of this week's new skills |
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And then... |
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What happens after intensely staring at each other |
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Kia & SugarBear |
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A nice moment with no ugly faces, staring, wrestling, barking or pounces |
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Not a cat in the hat |
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It's a Mouse in the house (box), using it as a great place for ambushing Solo's feet |
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Playing the Spoons |
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Solo, like the other pups, thinks metal measuring spoons are a great toy. Our pups never have problems retrieving metal. |
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Bee with Bruiser & Dash |
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This is one awesome momma who enjoys her kids |
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Low tech toys |
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Mouse & Jet play tug with a twist of plain paper. Simple things are good things! |
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Peek-A-Boo |
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Not sure what the heck is going on here, but it's mutual. Also not sure which pups are involved! |
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Ruby & Kia |
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Aunt Ruby (same sire, different dam) gives Kia some advice |
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Kia & Mel napping |
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Seems the pups are either on full throttle, or dead asleep. Not much in-between. |
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Solo & The Slipper |
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Nice thing about being a kid - few rules. There will come a time when slippers will be verboten, but not now... |
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Mel gets an idea |
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While Bee takes a well deserved rest, Mel gets the bright idea that if he can just get up there, the milk bar might be open |
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CHARGE! |
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After a moment's silent contemplation of each other, SugarBear charges Kia for another round of rough and tumble, a favorite game |
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Solo & SugarBear |
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Week five sees a huge leap in the pups' abilities to communicate with each other via complex facial expressions & body language |
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The Pause Tunnel |
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Solo confuses the tunnel for the pause table, and falls fast asleep |
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Excuse me, ma'am |
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Bird is a strict disciplinarian (possibly a cranky nun in a previous life?) but fair. This shot is remarkable for the subtlety of gestures - look closely at Bird's muzzle to see the early signs of warning, and notice how respectfully Bruiser is moving past. |
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Dogs everywhere |
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Sometimes, we can't see the floor for all the dogs - it's a big happy family |
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K-Man & Dash |
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K-Man (aka Woody, Special Man, Special K) and Dash hanging out |
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(Milk) Bar's Open |
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Bee is just about disappears as her brood swarms her for a quick drink |
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Look Deep Into My Eyes |
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SugarBear attempts to hypnotize Mouse. It didn't work. |
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Tunnel Pairs |
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The pups have their own version of agility, which includes "Tunnel Pairs" and "Pack the Tunnel" (in which they try to see how many pups can fit in the tunnel at one time) |
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HAWKS
HUNT 
