The Dr. Suess Litter

4/27/13 - 7 Weeks Old

"Don't cry because it is over - SMILE because it happened!" - Dr.Suess

Oh happy day! I think spring has finally sprung and the Suess’s have sprung too!!!   Out of the garage and their ‘lock up’ and into the big exciting world they know nothing about!!  I have released the little hounds out into the yards and gardens where they have begun exploring every twig, bush, snow bank and poor little emerging flower.  It is sooo much fun watching them explore and learn.   I can’t even imagine what they must think of this HUGE world they actually live in.  I enjoy being the “Pied Piper of Puppies” where they follow me around exploring and learning while I just watch them become who each one of them uniquely is.  And best of all, the ‘walk abouts’ wear the little monsters, I mean DARLINGS, out!!

Can Can has completely given up nursing them, although they still like to try!  She does like to play with them and has taken to having them go on adventures with her out in the yards too.  It is very fun watching them all trailing after her, jumping, hopping, tripping and falling the whole time!!  She is still teaching them about how to be a dog and she is a fabulous role model to do it – but she must keep moving at ALL times!!  The Suess’s are eating very, very well and all are chubby and slick!!!  Right now they are eating three times a day, but I will have that down to two times a day by the time they go home which should make it easier for them to adjust to their new lives with you.

This is a big week for them!  They had their final vet check where my vet notes absolutely EVERY body part and whether it is normal or perhaps NOT for some reason.  Heart, lungs and testicles are the biggest issues of the day.  I am happy to report that once AGAIN, ALL the Suess’s are still perfect!!!  WOW!   The Suess’s also got wormed AGAIN with some not as good tasting white stuff, 1st set of puppy vaccinations (OUCH!) for nasty things like distemper, parvo, parainfluenza and hepatitis, and microchipped with that REALLY big scary needle!   BIG OUCH!!!   No matter how many times we do it, that big needle still makes us all cringe, but it is OH SO necessary to do!  You will receive a copy of this checkup with your puppy along with all their other health records.   It is always a happy experience for the puppies to go to the vet, (where I happen to work too), as they are all BIG ridgebacks fans so the puppies get LOTS of loves and kisses.

It has been such fun watching this litter of “FIRSTS” grow up.   They were FIRSTs when they were born and they still are!!! My FIRST ever perfect litter!!!  There probably will never be another like this one!!

I really don’t cry because it is over – I smile because it happened!   Thank you Dr. Suess for your timeless wisdom!

FEMALES:

Fox in Sox – dark mahogany red, medium mask, big white spot on chest, lots of white on all four feet, perfect teeth.  Very people oriented, loves attention, fun, spunky. Another FIRsT, but not a good one!  Not sure how this happened, but I think Sox somehow got her head caught while playing under the car, freed herself BUT, broke her jaw in the process!!  X-rays showed it is perfectly aligned, so will heal with no treatment possible other than pain meds and antibiotics. She eats, drinks, plays just like nothing happened, but it may take a few weeks for it to heal and the swelling to go down.  Sigh!

Fish – dark red, medium mask, big white spot on chest, white on all four feet, smallest female, perfect teeth.   Gentle, quiet, lap lover, so willing to please, curious

Star Sneetch – dark red, dark mask, star on chest, minimal white on all four feet, perfect teeth.   Attentive and eager to please, cooperative, interested in goings on

Snoozapolooza – dark red, medium mask, medium sized spot on chest, white on all four feet, biggest female, perfect teeth.  Curious, easy going, don’t worry be happy attitude

MALES:

Gator – dark red, dark mask, two small spots on chest, white on all four feet, big, perfect teeth.  Easy going, happy go lucky, watchful and observant, a thinker

Grinch – dark red, dark mask, small spot on chest, minimal white on all four feet, big, perfect teeth.  Attentive, loves attention, goofy, playful

Horton – dark red, dark mask, long spot on chest, minimal white on all four feet, perfect teeth.  Laid back, big galoot, snuggly, huggable, just squeeze me attitude

Yertl – red, medium mask, small spot on chest, minimal white on all four feet, big, perfect teeth.  Fun, goofy, playful, attention lover, up for adventure

Max – dark red, medium mask, small spot on chest, minimal white on all four feet, perfect teeth.   Feisty, spunky, full of himself, go getter

Lorax – red, minimal mask, small spot on chest, white on all four feet, smallest, perfect teeth.  Eager to please, expressive, adventurous, so fun and hug loving

4/17/13 - 5.5 Weeks old

How did it get so late so soon?  - Dr. Suess
WHOA! The Suess’s have teeth and they know how to use them!!! Sadly, they are NOT in real great control of their new teeth however and have a tendency to get themselves in trouble because of it!! Momma Can Can is pretty much done feeding them willingly. I make her feed them two to three times a day, but she will only stand and has a really long suffering look on her face!!! Can’t say I really blame her cause it is pretty much chaos with 10 of them and looks REALLY uncomfortable. She likes to play with them but not feed them!! On the bright side, all of the pups have gorgeous teeth- no over or under bites, incisors scissoring properly.

They are eating their puppy mush very well now – not nearly as messy as it used to be! They now eat out of a big stainless steel puppy donut ring that is elevated up off the ground to help them swallow easier and NOT walk in their food. I recommend that you always feed your large breed dog in elevated dishes for their life time.

This week they had another dreaded toe nail trim although they have pretty much given up on resisting my efforts on that!! Also got wormed with the yummy tasting yellow stuff for the second time. The first puppy shots have arrived and so have the microchips so that will be the next project on their health list. It is best if we wait until after they are no longer nursing to give them their first shots so that there is no maternal interference with the immune system. AKC registration papers are here too. WHERE has the time gone – it is almost time to go!!!

The Suess’s are now in the BIG puppy play pen where they can romp around, play with each other, and terrorize their toys. They have grown a lot again this week and are enjoying the opportunity to run and jump and chase each other. I’ve also added a much bigger litterbox so that they can continue to learn that there is a right place to go to the bathroom. The goal is that this will help you house train them when they come home to you. All you need to do is select WHERE the bathroom is going to be in YOUR yard, be sure to CARRY them to that spot the very first time you get home with them and that will help you get started on the right foot at your home. If you go out the same door, say the same thing and carry the puppy to the designated spot and then reward them with your voice, hands and eyes when they accomplish their goal, they will house break very quickly. Puppies tend to be about as house broke as their families are!!!

STILL a PERFECT litter!!! There are very, very minor differences in size, coat color and the amount of black masks they have. The easiest way to tell them apart is obviously gender and the amount of white on their chests and feet. They are all just sweet little darlings right now, but in the coming weeks they will begin to develop their own unique personalities. While taking their pictures this time I did note a few minor things. I’m hoping that winter will FINALLY give it up and spring will allow me to take them outside soon to begin our daily “walk abouts”. It is a wonderful way to let them be themselves, play with them, and figure out what makes each one of them special and unique!!

FEMALES:

Fox in Socks – dark mahogany red, medium mask, big white spot on chest, lots of white on all four feet, perfect teeth. Sweet and cooperative

Fish – dark red, minimal mask, big white spot on chest, white on all four feet, smallest female, perfect teeth. Gentle, quiet, willing

Star Sneetch – dark red, dark mask, star on chest, minimal white on all four feet, perfect teeth. Attentive and eager to please

Snoozapolooza – dark red, medium mask, medium sized spot on chest, white on all four feet, biggest female, perfect teeth. Curious, outgoing


MALES:

Gator – dark red, dark mask, two small spots on chest, white on all four feet, big, perfect teeth. Easy going, happy go lucky

Grinch – dark red, dark mask, small spot on chest, minimal white on all four feet, big, perfect teeth. Attentive, loves attention, snuggly

Horton – dark red, dark mask, long spot on chest, minimal white on all four feet, perfect teeth. Laid back, big galoot

Yertl
– red, medium mask, small spot on chest, minimal white on all four feet, big, perfect teeth. Fun, goofy, playful

Max – dark red, medium mask, small spot on chest, minimal white on all four feet, perfect teeth. Feisty, spunky, full of himself

Lorax
– red, minimal mask, small spot on chest, white on all four feet, smallest, perfect teeth. Eager to please, expressive, adventurous