you probably have all settled in to a good routine and are starting to really see your pups likes and dislikes. Each one is so different. And so is their body. I start every one on the merrick because that is what Bella likes. We have tried many many different foods. Merrick is a great brand. I know they have had a couple recalls mostly in their canned line. And yes they did get bought out by purina but they have not changed anything. And don't plan too. They are a very small company. Merrick does make a nice treat line. But like most people you get to a point were you have to decide what is your price point. That is why I make a lot of my own treats. It is cheaper. Over the next couple months you each will have to decide what treats to give and what to spend. But I want to bring up a topic I don't discuss much and that is alergies and sensitive stomachs. Twice in the last week I've been contacted by owners asking and telling me issues about sensitive stomachs. This is not uncommon. Each dog is different just like kids. Bella has a stomach of steel. She could eat anything. Curly gets constipated. But things can get severe. You need to introduce treats gradually. One at a time. And a small amount. This way you know if you have an issue. Now some pups can get very ill quick. Dehydrated is a big issue if they are vomitting or have diahea. You may need to go to vet. Just remember to do small amounts. And watch for signs. Look at poo. Poor swazy had a bad reaction to pepperoni treats and ended up at emergency vet. Daisy from first litter has a really sensitive stomach and gets diahea easily from anything different. So I just wanted to do a quick blog and update everyone as you settle in and start giving treats. Because if you are starting a training class they will ask you to bring treats along. I really like the expensive freeze dried liver tubs for training classes. They are small and dry and easy to give. I know they are $30 a tub. But they last forever and are great small treats!!! I only use these at class. That way it's something different and special. And liver is usually a food that most are ok with and don't have issues with.

im not an expert but I can tell you what works for us. And every pup is different. Some chew for what seems like years. Others never really chew at all. I like the chew sticks that are pressed. It's like bits of ground up rawhide pressed into a stick. They chip off pieces as they chew. If you do the true rawhide sticks just observe closely. They can chew long pieces into slimmy leather and try to swallow them. I've had to pull many out of Bella's mouth because she was choking. To the point I swear each time I will never give her a rawhide again. As pups the chipped sticks are great. As they get older it's harder to find something that lasts longer than 30 seconds. I found these pressed rings awhile ago. I get them at our local farm and garden store. I'm sure you can find online. But they are pressed rings. I love them. They last days! And they can't get big pieces off. It's small bits at a time. They are a rawhide. So they do leave white marks on the girls noses. Some vets say no rawhides at all. So please consult your vet. I have always given rawhides. But never unattended. The girls each get to chew one while we eat dinner. Then I take them away. This pic is of curly chewing hers. This ring is almost a week old. So a bargain at $3 each to keep them busy.

ok. Almost all have spent roughly 2 weeks in their new homes. They are getting the hang of a new schedule and are starting to learn do's and dont's. The first 6 months are the most crucial. You want to teach them as much as you can. Good habits not bad. They are babies still. They get into everything. You want to learn the correct way to trane them. I highly highly recommend a puppy class. You learn so much valuable info. I like the smaller mom and pop trainers. I'm not against the big box stores but feel you get more personalized attention in the smaller stores. If you need help locating one let me know. This also gives you bonding time with them. It reinforces you are master. These 6 months can make a lifetime change in your relationship with the pup. I can tell you this first hand. Bella went to puppy school just like every dog we had before had done. I decided that I didn't need to take curly that I could do it my self. Well I never took the time to truly trane her. She can sit and stay. But she is not trained. It shows. We are now enrolling her in a basic class. It's easier to learn good habits than break bad ones.

i apologize I haven't blogged in a couple days. It was a lot of work seeing the last 2 off. We worked hard on nipping and playing nice. The girls were a little sad last night. I bought some extra bones but they were very clingy. That all changed this morning when they saw us packing the camper. Curly cried with excitement all day long. Bella begged at the door to leave. I gave both a Benadryl before we left and they are now sleeping away on my lap.
i want to thank each and every one of you for following my post. I hope I've prepared you for puppy ownership. I hope the info I've provided will help you and your pup adjust to each other. I am always here and welcome you messages, questions, and pictures. Don't forget to post to litter 4 on Facebook and share your pups progress with the others. If you need help finding the page message me. But you should be able to post your self to the page. And again, thank you all for following our blog for litter 4.

i have taken the pups up and down the sidewalk out front a couple times but tonight I convinced my son to walk the big girls and my husband to help walk the pups. We went around the block. They did good. White is really getting it. My husband walked her. I took yellow. She likes to be a little vocal when she is not enjoying what we are doing. She really wanted me to carry her. So we compromised about every 200 feet. By the end she was doing much better. Then we played in the living room for another hour. The pups love playing with the girls. They chase each other around the coffee table. Believe it or not we have not had any accidents in the house. I've had some litters that the last pups pee on everything. So far these girls are all stars at peeing outside or on pad. Each litter and each pup is just a little different. I try to work on what the weakness is. White is getting so much better with the biting. In just a day we have made improvements. Yellows nipping is getting better too. And yes biting and nipping is different. Biting is using me as a chew toy. Nipping is out of the blue and is a pinch type bite. I'm not sure if everyone is still following the blog but I will continue to post through this week. I will also give tips and tricks to help with pup. Because, remember I'm going through the same thing you are with having 2 still here. The reason we walked tonight then played for another hour was to play the pups out before bed. I like to do that so they sleep better with little fussing when I turn out lights. I go back out at 11pm and let them out to potty. But I'm quick. I go straight outside to grass say pee pee and I wait. As soon as they pee I have a treat ready and I head back in. At 2am I do the same thing. No goofing or playing. And I turn lights right back out. If anyone is having any issues or concerns let me know. A week will make a big difference. Next week this time you will be amazed at progress. And they are smart. Make sure you are the one in charge. And don't beat your self up. Accidents happen. You can't predict everything. We still have oops. Tonight we left for 15 mins to pick up our son and come right back. I had left stuff on the counter top. Mostly home made treats for the girls but I also had wax paper with dehydrated yogurt. About 6 sheets worth. And yes you guessed it. When we returned Bella counter top surfed and had all the wax paper on the floor and was trying to peel the yogurt off the wax paper. She didn't touch her treats. I know better than to leave with stuff on the counter top. But I just wasn't thinking and walked out the door. Another reason it's a great idea to crate your pup!! I hate crating the girls while we have pups. I don't know why but I feel like they would freak out if in a crate while pups are here. They like to watch the pups while we are gone. So I don't do it. But crating is great idea and trust me saves lots of oopses.

2 more pups left today. I did notice Bella was a little sad last night. She would not go out to potty with them. She was better this morning till 2 more left. Curly on the other hand is mothering the 2 left. She has taken them outside to play a couple times. We spent the afternoon playing and giving lots of treats. A day or so and everyone will adjust. I am going to take yellow to the vet Monday. She has been uncomfortable when she poos. It started Thursday night. She seems tense. So going to have her checked out before she leaves on Thursday. I did receive a phone call from red. They arrived safe and sound. Everyone is settling in. Same with black. He is adjusting well and watching lots of baseball. Blue got to sleep in a fort with his new brother and sister. And green has been so tired he sleeps all night with no crying. Orange is having fun with big sticks in the yard. And grey is being a ham for the camera. Purple is loving her new bed that's all hers.

we are all out playing. Having one last big romp before some leave today. Today will be a big day with 3 leaving. They are enjoying the cloudy day that's not too hot.

everyone was very playful tonight. I noticed that all of them were very alert and wanting to play. We spent some time outside this evening exploring and playing tag. They love to take toys outside and play with them.i have been bringing them in the house one at a time. They get to explore the living room and kitchen. Watch me cook and then eat dinner with us. Some lay down and watch. Others like to check out what's for dinner. Some are very food motivated. But it's nice for them to watch momma and sissy and learn from them. If they get too energetic momma takes over and fusses them to lay down. It's like I can hear what she is saying. Lay down or you are going in the crate. She even brings them toys to keep them busy. Most insist on stealing Curlys bone or toy. And she has no problem taking it back and hiding it. So they learn from her too. Manners and respect and the pecking order. In every good pack there is respect and manners.

we have very busy playing inside and out. The straw has helped with the mud. Some still want to dig. So I'm discouraging them from it. They are getting more independent each day. I noticed last night that no one cried when I turned out the lights at bed. Today was busy. Green got to go home. Purple sent some pictures that I'll post on Facebook later. She is doing great. And red found a home. She will be flying on Friday. So we are off to the vet tomorrow to get a certificate to fly. Bella also gets groomed tomorrow morning. So we will be extremely busy the rest of this week. I will try to do short blogs and pictures. But it looks like the next 3 days are crazy.
Thursday-Bella groom, red vet, pack reds bags for flight.
Friday- take red to airport, black pick up 3, blue pick up 6
​saturday-pink and brown pick up.

we finally got back outside today. After 2" of rain Saturday it was just mud. I put down 4 bauls of straw over the mud yesterday. So today we got out. I took a couple pictures of play inside and out. We are already having role reversal with the missing pups. It's amazing how they change when one leaves. But it really does disrupt the pack order. I did not notice much until purple left today. Then all of them were acting different. Pink is trying to take the lead with the girls. Her and red were sparring. And green stepped up with the boys. He is king of the toys now. It will be interesting when green leaves tomorrow to see how they change.