Pupdates

And then there were three...

2007-09-24T14:24:00.000+08:00

So they've started off on their new lives. The girls came to meet the pups yesterday, we ran them through a couple of sets of temperament tests, and then two little boys went off to their new homes, with one little girl heading off this morning.

So LittleMan became Sonic and went home with Karen,
ShoulderSpotBoy became Billy and went home with Gillian,
and ChunkyMonkey became Secret and went home with Kriszty.

Here's wishing them all the best for long successful joyous fun-filled lives together.

(photos hopefully forthcoming when people send me some ;))

And that leaves IntermediateGirl, BigBoy and Midget (know known as Sybil) waiting for their futures to arrive!

Bath day

2007-09-20T16:28:00.000+08:00

Kriszty asked for pup IDs on the previous photos... here you are:
Umm, let's see...
1) CM beating someone up- maybe LM?
2) + 3) IG posing and killing a poobag
4) LM demonstrating his pooncey-tailed strut (gets it from his dad)
5) Midget + Muddy (with LM + someone else behind them)
6) SSB eating the clamshell
7) + 8) Puppy-fest under the IKEA tunnel- that's Midget in the foreground of the first photo, SSB chewing the strut, and CM chewing a bone in the second photo- shortly before LM arrived and confiscated it.

No pics today, but they did have their first bath, so they were stunningly white + fluffy for about 15 minutes. CM has a different coat from the others- it's more like DiscoDiva/Maverick's puppy coat- still long, but wavier + less fluffy than the others. She was the best behaved in the bath, but was accidentally drenched with the cold rinse water (instead of the warm) + had major shivers requiring cossetting inside + a warm egg/catfood toddy.

IG is more commonly known as "Feryl Beryl"- she's a bit of a bitch, as it were. She's the bitiest of the lot- not half as sweet as she looks.

LM went berko in the bath- did NOT like the water at all, but typically ignored the warm food reward to look for an escape from the laundry den.

BigBoy was a handful to get bathed, given that he + SSB had been digging in the ex-flowerbed up until their turn for water-torture. He didn't mind the warm blower-heater treatment though, and very sweetly (+ loudly) asked to go out of the den to pee, then trotted back to bed.

SSB was his usual gorgeous self- loved his towel-dry cuddle with my mum, but wanted to get out ASAP for urgent trouser-savaging.

Midget is just the sweetest- she's still the smallest (2kg compared to most of the others' 3.5-4kg+) + gets booted away from the food bowl, but otherwise is no different to her siblings in energy levels or endurance. She's actually pretty independent + spends much time away from the house, exploring (although she can move very fast back home for meals). We have to keep a lookout for eagles- she's not much different to bunnies!

Lucky Dip

2007-09-18T13:33:00.001+08:00

I’m stumped with the puppy-picking palaver. Sorry guys, I think when you get down here I will just put the little beggars in a sack, randomly pull them out one at a time, and that’s what you’ll be stuck with.

I’m playing around with all sorts of “tests”, and the little sods do something different every time.

Eg yesterday- the morning roll-call resulted in CM + LM being the first to arrive + the most spunky.

Finding the way out of the pen (through a small gap in the opposite direction)- line honours won by IG and BB, with Midget on their heels (CM was too busy trying to bash SS in one corner, LM was away with the fairies in the IKEA tunnel). SS boy got merit points later for persistence, when he nearly chewed through the weld mesh before figuring it out.

Going for a walk up the hill with the big dogs- SS boy all the way! Most of them were happy to gallivant through the bush, but CM and LM didn’t want to leave the yard. Tired?

Later in the day- the noise-sensitivity tests. I dropped a wooden plank on the baby dogwalk, and a metal bowl on the concrete, at random intervals during their afternoon play sessions. The winners: CM, SS and Midget, none of whom were much bothered. All of them startled, stopped to look at the source of the noise, and then either jumped on it or continued with whatever they were trashing/harassing- even when they were right next to the noise. IG didn’t much like it, and after startling, went off to play somewhere else. LM was the most spooked by each noise. Can’t remember what BB did, so it can’t have been very dramatic either way. To be honest, I’m not sure that I’m not just testing the tiredness of each pup- because they do seem to alternate between winning/losing on tests depending on how tired they are. It will be hard to get any real idea based on one set of tests…

One other thing I will say- these pups can yell.

Photos will be uploaded later, when I have recharged the camera so I can offload pics.

Update: just repeated the tin bowl on concrete, and again, CM + SS boy were happy to investigate, but IG wasn’t so keen. She really moves so nicely, though, and she is pretty…

And they’ve all been having bones on the lawn, alongside Muddy and Bill. My “wish-I-had-a-camera” moment of today- IG harassing Bill, FINALLY got snotted (in a mild Uncle-Bilby way), and started that indignant puppy squealing that brought everyone rushing out to check she hadn’t been mortally wounded- and there she was, bouncing along behind Bill, tail waving gaily, still squealing like a stuck pig. Sigh…

Family History

2007-09-11T06:38:00.000+08:00

Sal's mum, Woady Yallock Floss (as she appeared on the ABC Championship Sheepdog Trials):

The little frootloop in action:

Last year's daughters (SalxBill):

Pinky, the singing slug-

Ziggy, the enormous heifer pup, now a little carbon copy of Sally, in a Bill suit:

Yes, this is Ziggy chasing her own splashes in the middle of the dam... She'll do it for hours, and this behaviour is pure, 100% Sally. Pinky gets her brains from Bill ;)

Random Shots- guess who!

2007-09-10T19:32:00.000+08:00

Shoulder Spot Boy

2007-09-10T19:05:00.000+08:00

Midget Girl

2007-09-10T19:01:00.000+08:00

Little Man

2007-09-10T18:58:00.000+08:00

Intermediate Girl

2007-09-10T18:53:00.000+08:00

Chunky Monkey

2007-09-10T18:49:00.000+08:00

Big Boy

2007-09-10T18:09:00.000+08:00

Enjoying the weather

2007-09-10T14:39:00.001+08:00

Finally we have some consistently nice weather (and some consistently awful weather to come), so the pups have been out in the garden for most of the days. We have lots of sheepwork to get done before the rain comes back, so Sally + the pups have been left out on their own for a while- Richard bought a large crate from a neighbour so we can leave them safe + secured (with a tarp providing some shelter). When we're home, they can go mental around the garden (and mental they are).

No bucket can be left upright, no piece of earth unturned, no water unsplashed and no loose material unshredded. They are into and over everything, unperturbed by danger or loud noises. They're either gutsy or incredibly thick...

Every day I speculate on their personalities, trying to guess which characteristics are transient "stages" and which will persist, and I think I'm getting some idea- but then next week will probably turn this all on its head.

At 5 weeks...

Girls:

Chunky Monkey-
Consistently the largest pup, she seems a little longer in the body than some, and Richard thinks she's going to be deep chested/heavy boned. She has also been consistently one of the most outgoing, always underfoot, tail wagging madly, loves being picked up. She's into wrestling with her siblings, plays tug, and is usually the first pup to arrive when called, as well as one of the leaders into mischief. May well be a resource guarder- gave her sister a still/thoughtful look over a lamb rib yesterday.

Intermediate Girl (aka Spunky Monkey)-
Not as girly as she looks, this one's into trouble right alongside her sister. She's possibly the most toy-focussed, she always has something in her mouth and likes to dissect/shred. She's another one who is impossible to photograph, because as soon as she sees me she'll launch at me, tail windmilling.

Midget-
Still the smallest, aptly nicknamed "Ribs". Very spunky, bolshy little thing, starts fights and seems honestly surprised to get pummelled. A real little character. Walks under her biggest siblings to get to the bowl. Shortest tail, squarish body.

Boys:
BigBoy-
Now fully recovered from whatever ailed him (?? intussusception? on top of an upset tummy). He's still big, maybe a little more laid back than some of the others- he was the only one that stood still for any time when we tried to photograph them today (which is why the "stacked" photos all turned out as "grabbed" poses). Loves his tucker.

ShoulderSpot-
He has the curliest tail! Probably the cockiest, most pushy pup when it comes to wresting etc, possibly a bit of a bully. We'll have him spend more time with the "puppy mistress" Fly in the next week, so he loses a bit of attitude.

LittleMan-
little cracker, this boy is into everything. He's the first through the gate, the first over the barriers, the first into the boxes. Today he spent a good half hour burrowing around under the big tarp. Initially very independent, he's become more people focussed in the last week, and now charges around underfoot and launches himself up your legs. More square than some.

All the pups have pooncey gay tails, play with toys, wrestle, and are happy being held. They also share an apparent disregard for their own safety, launching themselves off/over things for no good reason. They've met the cat and a few other dogs, and are used to playing around a babbling baby. They seem OK with car travel, and not spooky about loud noises or thunder.

Sally is still wanting to feed them occasionally, and bowls them around like squeaky toys. But she enjoys her own space when she can get it, so they'll probably be weaned soon. They eat bones (chicken, lamb, beef), mince, plus a variety of kibble + the odd bit of tin or roll junkfood. We were giving them puppy milk replacement on their food occasionally, but after the gastro scare we've cut it out.

At least 4 of the pups had squirty bums in the last few days, and I dosed a couple with Scourban, but only BigBoy actually looked sick. The local vet can't explain it, suggests that maybe the milk upset their tums + BB had a transient intussusception, because she did feel something "give" when she did a rectal exam. He never had a temp, his stool sample was totally clear of bugs/parasites, and he was 100% better after a night on fluids. We'll probably never know.

This weekend we have the State Yard/Utility trial, so we'll be coming home each night to check + run pups, and next weekend (we hope) the pups will have their official visit from prospective new owners, plus temperament testing. We're still debating which test to use- suggestions welcome!

We may also take the opportunity to socialise Richard's older pups with new people, and if you guys are reading this + want to bring your older dogs to work on our trainer sheep, feel free.

Chunky + LittleMan:

Pups today

2007-09-07T15:35:00.000+08:00

Stacked photos? On your own? Nice try, girl...

Little Man

2007-09-07T15:17:00.000+08:00

This is the littlest boy (nearly full collar, traditionally marked). He wasn't always the littlest, but since he's become mobile he is way too busy to eat, so he's become a bit scrawny. He's always the first into everything, the one who gets stuck behind furniture, the one who gets through the fence and off over the hill.

Intermediate Girl

2007-09-07T15:10:00.000+08:00

This little chook is the intermediate girl- she's lovely! Slipped under the radar early on because she wasn't the biggest or the smallest, but she has really emerged recently as a personality to watch. She loves her toys, comes running for a wrestle or cuddle, and isn't bothered by anything.

Chunky Monkey

2007-09-07T15:05:00.000+08:00

Chunky Monkey- firstborn, biggest girl (biggest pup), outgoing, probably the most people-focussed. Curved blaze. Gay tail ;)

Good news

2007-09-07T14:22:00.000+08:00

Today it’s good news- the parvo spot test was negative yesterday and BigBoy is eating like a horse + hollering the place down. His temp is still normal and his tummy has settled. The results of the stool testing won’t be back until later, but he’s coming home this afternoon.

LittleMan had the runs last night, same milky, watery poo, but he and the other pups all seem fine. It’s a mystery.

Richard was commenting this morning on how “go-ey” these pups are. Is it the ENS? Is it their natural personalities? Whatever, they are really full on. Fingers crossed that continues.

I tried to take some stacked photos by myself today- what a laugh (not). Gave up, sorry girls, and just filmed some gallivanting around the backyard. I had to clear up all the toys etc because a huge thunderstorm just came through, but the pups enjoyed a good frolic despite the thunder, and now they have retired to their laundry nest with a stack of lamb bones.

I will have the clips up tomorrow night, hopefully, when Richard gets back from Perth with his computer.

For now:

Drama!

2007-09-06T21:20:00.000+08:00

Just getting ready to drive home (OK, I was really around at Kate’s having a chat-stop) and Richard calls, not a little agitated because he couldn’t get hold of me earlier- the big boy pup has diarrhoea, slightly blood-tinged/pinkish, that “shot right out his bum.”

The others all seem fine, but big boy is a little sluggish and Richard is on the way in to the vet with him.

The Story So Far...

2007-09-01T14:12:00.000+08:00

This is a quick blog to follow our experimental Mick-Sally litter, store photos and clips, and let their prospective owners keep track of who’s who.

The story so far…

Parents

Sire: Mick, farm dog from Narembeen
Big boofer

Dam: Ivanhoe Sally
Little nutter

Conception

(insert photo of the deed ;))

Birth

6 pups (3 girls, 3 boys) born on Saturday 4th August (in the middle of the night), in the capable hands of Dr Kriszty Cummings, due to our ceiling having fallen in.