The puppies’ pen gets cleaned every day. What you can’t see is the layers of hospital pads below the patchwork of scatter mats plus the beds and potty stations on top. Everything gets laundered and cleaned every day without exception. The potty stations are strategically in the middle for this particular litter because these guys like to burrow, dig and hide under the toys and beds around the perimeter of the pen. This way, when they wake up from a nap they just have to take a few steps and they are in a potty station.
Yes, they still make the odd mistake, but truly in the last week there have been exponentially more hits than misses. When they are visiting with folks outside the pen, I give them a potty station out there as well sot hat they can make good choices — and they do. There are a few more accidents during visits as they are understandably excited or distracted, but again there are more good choices than poor ones when given the opportunity to do so.
I find this video of Shazam incredible. He is in his own little play cycle when you can see him suddenly become aware he has to potty. He stops playing, leaves the toy and goes directly to the potty station. He does his business, does the finishing pee-pee-marking dance and then returns back to his toy. He is 29 days old. His eyes have only been open for 2½ weeks! He is not exceptional in this litter — they are all doing this. He is just the one I happened to get a video of while I was drinking my coffee!
A lot of what I do for these puppies is to try to set them up for success when they leave here and make that transition to their new homes as stress free as possible. Having some skills in this department will make their families very happy which will then reflect back in the continued confidence and peace in the puppy.
My friend Jude came out a little early for her massage treatment today so she could have some puppy time. I so appreciate her willingness and delight in being a K9 Jungle Gym!
Lucky got some 1:4 time with his sons today. He continues to manage the new situation with grace. I could tell he was getting a little overwhelmed with all four under foot for the first time — last visit it was 2 on 1. Before I could intervene to help him, my smart Papa jumped a short puppy barrier, removed himself from the situation and continued to observe at a distance. He has used this technique before in other situations, but this was the first puppy application. I am so glad that he is a level-headed thinker. Such a smart boy!
I pile toys along the x-pen wall or in the corner as these babies have liked to burrow. Imagine my delight as I was videoing today when my timing caught Shazam seeking out THE COW from the bottom of the pile. Let’s just say he heeled that cow and taught it a lesson!
