Week 7 Pupdate

Well, it’s the beginning of the end. Our last week together. As much as they will be missed, it is definitely time for them to head to their new homes. They are good puppies and have learned quite a few dog manners from our pack. They have to live in the human world, too,  and it is only through concentrated, individual attention from humans that they will learn the skills necessary to thrive in “polite” society. So, next weekend they will head home with their new, very excited and loving owners. We have been blessed to find some really wonderful homes, and we are excited to welcome new members to our Chinook family.

With new homes come new names. We are pleased to introduce:

Callicoon Adjo (Ull) who will live with the Garabieta family in MA

Callicoon Rhiannon O’Fox Meadow, who will live with the Secondino family, including sheep, bees and Icelandic Shepherds, in MD.

Callicoon Arya (Aske),  who will live with the Sparks-Bramlett family in TX

Callicoon Kosmo (Aquilo), who will live with the Catalini family in NC.

Enjoy some pics for our last weekend together, and check back for more pictures later!

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The pups went to the vet to get their shots and a final once-over. All are healthy and well put together.

Puppy Weights

Adjo (Ull)   12 lbs, 7.4 oz

Rhiannon     10 lbs, 12. 6 oz

Arya (Aske)     9 lbs 10.2 oz

Kosmo (Aquilo)     12 lbs, 1.2 oz

Week 6 Pupdate

Welcome to Week 6! Now they look like real dogs. It is so fun to watch them play and interact with one another and with the rest of the pack. This week grandma Calli taught them to be good dogs – she made ugly faces and growled at them, then oh so gently showed them how to submit. At first, they thought she was trying to initiate play. When they growled or barked back at her, she would growl again, then nudge them down with her nose and paw, until they were belly-up and laying still. Some took longer to get it than others, but by the end of two nights of this game, she could scowl from across the room and everyone would freeze in their tracks. At first, both Madeline and I were concerned that she was seriously upset with the pups, but with wags and licks, Calli assured us she meant no harm, she just had a job to do. In addition to learning dog manners, the pups can go up and down stairs, are eating whole kibble, though still soaked in liquid to soften it, and are making strides toward some good house training. They also bite and chew EVERYTHING they can get their razor-sharp little teeth on. It’s a good thing they are so darn cute! Karen Hinchy made the trek up today to visit, help with some paperwork and take pictures. The pups are so exhausted from their adventures, they hardly complained at bedtime.

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Puppy Weights

Ull – 10 lbs, 8 oz

Rhiannon – 9 lbs, 4 oz

Aske – 8 lbs, 6 oz

Aquilo – 10 lbs, 6 oz

Week 5 Pupdate

5 weeks? Impossible! The pups are as cute as could be -running, playing, wrestling and doing all the other crazy things that puppies do. They are LOUD when they are hungry and so sweet when they cuddle up and fall asleep. They have been introduced to all kinds of weather this week – snow, ice, rain, freezing rain, wind, and finally, today, sunny and seasonally warm. They eat outside, and then get some time to explore the front yard. Until the last couple of days, they were easy to keep track of. Now that they’ve gotten the lay of the land, it’s hard to keep up with them.

They have the run of the house most of the time while we are home, so they have worked out their relationships with all of the big dogs, as well. Ande has a love/hate relationship with puppies, but he has been remarkably brave/tolerant of these guys. Calli is the slightly grumpy grandma, who loves them but has rules. Willow is their constant snuggle companion, keeping them clean and making sure everyone is accounted for. Sky is less obsessed with them than she has been, but she’s first choice as far as they are concerned for a good wrestle. They LOVE to play in the dogs’ crates, jumping in and out, digging in the bedding and eventually falling asleep. Madeline is not nursing a lot these days, but as often as not when she does, it’s in her crate in the back room.

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Puppy Weights

Ull – 8lbs, 7 oz

Rhiannon – 7 lbs, 6 oz

Aske – 7 lbs, 0 oz

Aquilo – 8 lbs, 7 oz

Week 4 Pupdate

It is unbelievable that we are already halfway through our time with the puppies. They are moving pretty fast these days – it’s impossible to get pictures of them being their cutest. They have started eating kibble soaked in goat’s milk, but they still nurse when Madeline lets them. Every night when we come home is playtime with the big dogs – it gets pretty crowded in our small living room. All of the big dogs love them. Calli is teaching them manners, Willow protects them, Sky lets them bite her and climb on her, and Ande is desperately trying to figure out what to do with them. He is afraid of them, but intrigued as well.

We have snow, and the pups have had a couple of short adventures outside. They will start eating all of their meals outside, regardless of the weather. They don’t like it at first, but it’s a great learning experience for them. As soon as dinner is served, they forget all about anything else.

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Puppy Weights

Ull – 6 lbs, 7.1 oz

Rhiannon – 6 lbs, 1 oz

Aske – 5 lbs, 8.9 oz

Aquilo – 6 lbs, 8.6 oz

Week Three

This has been a huge week for the pups. They are walking, running, wrestling and barking. They get some “floor time” with the big dogs and even short ventures outside. Sky continues to help with them, but over the last couple of days Willow has taken up more or less permanent residence in the box. Madeline still nurses them, but takes advantage of the babysitters and seeks out time alone in her crate or for a snuggle with the humans on the couch. She’s spending more of the night upstairs with us, venturing down several times a night to nurse or just check on the babies, which of course causes them all to squawk like a flock of seagulls, usually around 2 am. Puppies are great fun 🙂

Their box is now separated into half sleeping/play area and half potty area. Even at this young age, they “get it”, most of the time. We’ve started them on goat’s milk, which is a mess but a BIG hit, and they will transition to rice and oatmeal baby cereal and finally crushed kibble/goat’s milk mash over the next week. I can’t believe how fast time is going; we are almost half-way through our time with them.

Rachel Fentzke, who is owned by Tala from our last litter, came to spend the weekend. We had great conversation while watching puppies play. The Kramers from Skyland Chinooks stopped by for an afternoon visit as well, and helped take some good pictures. We had a bit of a jolt when we brought the pups out to learn about snow; while we were musing over whether or not the pups were being tortured or having a “learning experience” in the cold, a hawk swooped over our heads with a loud “kree-eee-ar!” causing an abrupt end to the photo shoot. Enjoy.

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Puppy Weights

Ull – 4 lbs, 9.4 oz

Rhiannon – 4 lbs, 3.6 oz

Aske – 4 lbs, 1.3 oz

Aquilo – 4 lbs, 10.3 oz

More Week 2

Thanks to a visit by Karen Hinchy and her camera, we have some awesome pics to share this week. We took advantage of the above average January temps to take the pups outside for a photo shoot – natural light always makes better photos, and no flash necessary. The pups are fascinating to watch – noticeably changing from the time we leave for work to when we get home in the evening. Their eyes are open; they are beginning to walk and make clumsy attempts at playing with one another. Madeline continues to be a great mom, along with her au pair, Sky. LIG.

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Two Week Pupdate

Madeline and Winter Solstice Litter, Week 2.

Today marks the end of Week 2 with the pups. It’s unbelievable how fast time has flown. They are changing every day, even between the time we leave for work and when we get home. Aske’s eyes are open, and everyone else is in various stages along the way. By the weekend, they’ll all have a whole new world to explore.

There are a few pictures to share. Check back for more over the weekend when we have access to natural light. Flash photography is hard on their brand new eyes.

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Weights

Ull – 2 lbs, 14.7 oz

Rhiannon – 2 lbs, 12.1 oz

Aske – 2 lbs, 11 oz

Aquilo – 2 lbs, 15.4 oz

(Do not EVER underestimate the smallest/last puppy born. Aquilo hit the ground running and has not stopped eating or growing since).

Week One Pupdate

Madeline, Aquilo, Rhiannon, Ull and Aske

Enjoy pictures from our first week together. Time has flown and the pups have grown like weeds.

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Weights

Ull – 1 lb, 12 oz

Rhiannon – 1 lb, 11.4 oz

Aske – 1 lb, 11.4 oz

Aquilo – 1 lb, 11.7 oz

Newborns

These are some of the first pictures of the pups, taken on the night they were born.

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Weights

Ull – 13.9 oz

Rhiannon – 11.9 oz

Aske – 13.1 oz

Aquilo – 11 oz

A Poem for the Puppies

GreatMountain North Trav'ler, the pups great grandma and great, great grandma, peeking through snowy trees.

GreatMountain North Trav’ler, the pups great grandma and great, great grandma, peeking through snowy trees.

Penthea Burns, of GreatMountain Chinooks, wrote this poem for the puppies. It is amazingly beautiful and insightful, just like Penthea! Thanks, Pen.

Solstice Birth

The fiery glory of the Northern Lights

Emblazoned the late summer sky with a vision, a foretelling –

Announcing the arrival of the ones to come

And commanding the northern wind to carry this news far beyond.

 

“Honor has been bestowed to those who were due.

The one standing in judgment has created new life.

Let it be known that magic has been done and peace remains.

Soldiers, lay down your arms!

Seafaring warriors, turn away from battle and return home!

Make ready for the ones to come.”

 

And so it was a year of change, transition, a moving of many –

Carrying forward the lives lived before.

Facing uncertain opportunities ahead on new paths.

Choices would be made with the wisdom of generations

To create readiness for the ones to come.

 

Then came the Solstice of that year

And the birth of Ull, Riahannon, Aske and Aquilo

On an island which links all time

The four brought blessings to the hands that cradled their arrival

And to their mother who labored and delivered and loved.

 

Under the glow of the new moon they brought gifts to their kin,

Sending pure white snow to their grandmother – the trav’ler in the north

Delivering joy to the great mountain and across the land

Inspiring enduring hope that others may follow where they now lead.

 

What chapters lay ahead?

Are they written simply for us to read?

Or do we go forth, pen in hand

To craft the story as we go?

 

Let that be so.

 

pjb 12/23/11