Growing up... |
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Puppies grow slowly at first (they don't even open their eyes or run around until just before three weeks of age), but they soon make up for that with rapid growth and development. Each has been developing their individual preferences and personalities, although despite some literature to the contrary, it isn't possible to predict exactly how they'll be as adults (after all, they'll have more than a year to grow and develop outside the whelping environment before they're "old enough to vote" as it were). |
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Puppies love and bond to one another in a way
even more than they bond to their mother or us. The
siblings form their first "pack", although a true
pack of canines is quite a different structure
since it involves non-kin and overtones of
sexuality that these little guys lack. So the
Puppy Pack is more of a play group--and in
some ways, it is the nostalgic youth that we
all seek: no responsibilities, plenty of
warmth and novelty, strong ties to your fellow
creatures, sleeping piles, an abundance of food,
virtually no imposed rules (!), etc. What's not to
like about this? |
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By three weeks of age, the pups are up and about, looking though mostly opened eyes, hearing though almost opened ears, exploring and demanding weaning formula -- a healthy transitional gruel which never ceases to get plastered all over their faces and forelimbs despite us holding each one three times a day to help them eat. Here's a picture of little Matt who had just finished his tiny bowl of semi-solid food and grabbed a cleaning cloth. He acted as if he wanted to wipe his own mouth, thank you very much... |
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We have taken many, many pictures of these guys since they were born, and they've visited the veterinarian for their first extensive examinations and vaccinations. They've even been out socializing. Unfortunately, we've yet to get the time to make up web pages for their wonderful adventures. We do have their portraits and their preliminary names on line, so let's go see them now... |
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