UPDATE

Salsa’s puppies are now 3  weeks old!!! NEW pictures are here!

It is a big week for the puppies with lots of new changes!

Mama Salsa is doing well! Her appetite has increased again, and we have been filling her food bucket more often. (She is still loving her additional food and supplements!) She has been enjoying a brief, gentle walk each again. Since she would like to be part of the household again and spend less time in the whelping pen, we have begun a nursing schedule this week to allow her time away from her babies while they are sleeping in between feedings.

The puppies are quite round and plump, and have been growing rapidly! They still spend the majority of the time sleeping, digesting those milk-filled bellies, and growing! They are becoming more active, though, and are beginning to be less wobbly as their legs grow stronger. They are sitting on their own now instead of flopping down when they take breaks from walking. They are more aware of one another, and have discover their siblings make good playmates! Playtimes don’t last for long at this stage, as they are still very much babies and quickly tire and settle down for naps. They have found their waggy-tails, and are also delighted to discover their voices and hear each other growl and squawk. We have introduced a few gentle, soft, puppy toys which they enjoy nosing at.

Their eyes have fully opened! (Their vision will take several weeks to fully develop, but for now they have begun to notice movement. Their vision will still be quite limited for some time yet, and their eye color will also change a bit.) They are alert to various noises which shows us that their ears are open as well! (Their hearing abilities will also be limited at first.)

We have begun sound stimulation; a series of recordings from farm animals to city traffic, and doorbells to party hubbub, as as soothing classical music. They also listen to the radio daily.

We have begun Early Training, and have completed both ENS + ESI. This week we are working on the very first stage of Early Potty Training! (See picture, below.) We have removed the safety rail in the whelping box and spread potty pads over the entire area except for a sleep cushion. The sleep nest space is small so that the majority of elimination occurs on the potty pads. Most young puppies automatically begin to wander away from the sleeping group to do their business on their own around this age. When we work with this natural behavior, we are able to guide the potty training process along by giving them a designated place to go that is separate from the cozy sleep space. This helps them to stay cleaner and more sanitary, and also prepares them for the next level of potty training. All of the puppies are doing very well with it!

The puppies have also had their itty-bitty nails trimmed for the second time this week!

Remember to refresh your browser to see updated pictures and information in the coming weeks!