Growing Pups: A Hilarious Family Adventure

We’d been forewarned. “Puppies don’t grow – they explode!”

Slightly dramatic, granted, but still, not a million miles from the truth!

With each passing week, the puppies seemed to be doubling in size. And energy. Gone were the quiet, mole-like creatures that rooted around for milk. Now the whelping box was jumping like a house party.

Every time the pups woke up (which happened every few hours), we were greeted by a pack of shrieking, whirling dervishes, demanding to be let loose.

One opened the whelping box gate at their own peril. Because the moment you did, a sea of billowing, tumbling fluff would come sweeping over the edge of that box, faster than a cork from a bottle. And then, you’d better be handy with the kitchen towel – as the pups were gradually figuring out that it was best not to do their business in the same place they slept!

The pups would explore for a bit, mainly trying to get into places they weren’t meant to be, and ultimately following Amber around like a little gaggle of geese. Actually – that’s putting it politely. Sometimes they’d even try to suckle while she was standing up!

It was then a chaotic race – trying to help Amber hot-foot it to the whelping box and lie down comfortably before the swarm descended on her! Sometimes she didn’t even make it that far. The feed would just take place any-old-where.

Amber proved to be the most patient and accommodating of mumma’ dogs, often voluntarily lying down to feed her babies with no coercion needed. But after a month of round the clock care, she was getting tired. And the pups were getting bigger – and more hungry! Their manners left much to be desired. They would tug and jostle one another and literally clamber all over her!

It was time to start weaning. Kibble is like a cereal for dogs. Biscuity-pellets that can be softened in hot water and then mashed to a gruel-like pulp. We prepared the first batch in a communal circular feeding tray.

The kibble seemed to take forever to soften. Emily was appointed chief masher. It was pretty hard work. That was before Nathan decided to try whizzing it up in the Nutri Bullet. Enough to put you off smoothies forever. Then the fun started. We set up a little feeding station in the kitchen, and brought in the puppies two by two, beginning by feeding them from a teaspoon.

Some of them took to it quickly. Others needed more persuasion. But it was a start at least.

The Newspaper Caper

A few days into this new phase – we had a new problem to solve. With the increase in food, there was an increase in…well…poop.

We were constantly clearing up little puddles and deposits! And going through packets of puppy pads like there was no tomorrow.

My thrifty husband began doing the sums. “Do you know, we’re practically going through a whole pack of puppy pads per day!” he groaned. “Can you stop changing them as much?”

“Well…not really.” we said.

He found the biggest, cheapest bundle of puppy pads on Amazon. They were gone within 2-3 days.

“This is crazy!” Nathan said calculating the potential price per month in puppy pads.

That afternoon, he came back from the local supermarket with a very proud look on his face and a bundle of local newspapers under his arm.

“Got these for free!” he said. “No more puppy pads!”

Suddenly, our lounge resembled a fish ‘n’ chip shop. The pups were let loose. The newspaper, which had absolutely no grip whatsoever, went skidaddling everywhere. The pups grabbed it in their mouths and dragged it around. It was mayhem!

The multi-coloured ink seemed to act as a slight veneer, which meant that any puddles took a while to be absorbed. If you tried to clear up immediately, the puddle would run down your arm!

“Uuugh! This is gross!” I cried.

The ink also seemed to be getting onto everything and disguised any deposits, making them harder to spot. In short, this was a low point!

We argued back and forth about this for a few hours. It was clear we needed to find a cost-effective solution.

Fortunately, we soon discovered a compromise. Washable fabric puppy pads! Phew! What a life saver! I purchased two sets of three, washing one pack every day and then rotating them! Bingo. Crisis averted.

Accommodating a litter of puppies in a family home is certainly an interesting experience, that’s for sure!

Hope you enjoyed this post! Find out about our next challenge (Help, we need a bigger pen!) in the next post!

Hello World! (Meet The Pups!)

Featured ~ Angela Jelf ~ 2 Comments

Somewhere between week two and week three, the magic happened.

The puppies’ eyes began to open – changing from small stitched-together slits to inky pools of personality. The transformation was gradual, but as profound as if each pup was suddenly coming to life – becoming a real pup! Eyes really are the windows to the soul.

With the awakening of this new sense, came an increasing independence. Suddenly, these pups were noticing us. (By the way, being noticed by a puppy is a most endearing experience). And actually noticing there was a world beyond the whelping box. And it wasn’t long before their tottering legs began to follow.

First they would edge to the front of the box and squeal like a flock of seagulls. Then, if the gate was open, they learned to sort of dangle over the edge and then belly-flop out.

At first, their wobbly legs prevented them from getting anywhere too fast. Their eyes were still widening and getting used to focusing.

But that stage didn’t last for long. Soon, every nook and cranny in the lounge became a new place to explore. Or wee in.

Nathan often bemoans the amount of cushions that we have in our house (buying new cushions is the next best thing to redecorating, in my book) – but let it be said here, that those superfluous cushions were about to become jolly handy. Suddenly, they were blockades. The perfect ‘scrunchable’ tool for stuffing into any puppy-sized holes that were out of bounds. Like underneath the armchairs. Or down the side of the bookcase. Or over by the plug sockets.

By this time, each of the puppies had a forever home too. It was a bit like a jigsaw puzzle. I don’t know exactly how it happened, but somehow, each new home seemed to be the perfect match.

Playful Holly, with her peachy hue, was going to a wonderful, family with two young boys and a baby on the way!

Handsome Ralph, with his smart coffee-coloured collar, would be going to live by the sea with his sweet, doting pup-parents.

Cute little Lottie, our smallest darkest girl, (aka Sassy P) was going to a lovely family of Labrador lovers, to grow up with 11-yr-old twin girls.

Sweet, comical Steve, with his Andrex Pup Face, was going to a fun-loving family with three growing children. They had recently lost a beloved Labrador.

*Blue Collar – Steve (official name tbc)*

Cuddly, chilled out Leo was going to live with an incredibly calm lady who was looking for a hiking buddy.

*Green Collar – Leo (official name tbc)*

And adorable Rudi, our smallest, darkest boy was going to a wonderful couple who had recently lost a 17 year-old family dog.

Which left one sweet, teddy-bear faced girl for us to keep!

Meet Honey!

*Lime Green Collar…Honey! Sweeter than mum’s apple pie!*

But there was still a lot of growing to do before they would be ready to venture off into the big wide world….

Until then, enjoy a video of Steve, auditioning for the cutest pup in the world awards.

Christmas With The Pups

Featured ~ Angela Jelf ~ 6 Comments

We all took a deep breath as the advertisement went live. Homes wanted for six adorable pups. (Six, not seven, because we were still debating whether or not to keep a girl).

“What happens if we don’t sell them all?” Nathan said, a look of mild panic on his face.

“What happens if we do?” I said – cuddling one of them close. “How on earth are we going to say goodbye to these little guys?”

“Trust me – in eight weeks time, when they’re doing their business all over the place, you won’t be saying that!” Nathan chuckled.

I couldn’t imagine ever being tired of them. They were growing more adorable by the day.

By the end of week one, they had doubled in size (and cuteness), their features becoming increasingly more pup-like.

They still behaved in a mole-like manner, guided predominantly by their sense of smell. They were remarkably determined though, and had developed some stealthy ways of getting to mum for a feed, including burrowing beneath their litter-mates to get to the teats on the underside of her belly.

When full up with milk, they would often roll down mum’s sloping stomach, as though drunk, which was very amusing to watch. Who needs Christmas TV when you have a box full of pups to keep you entertained?

Enjoy this snippet of the pups feeding

Apart from the sleepless nights, the workload during those first two weeks was relatively straightforward. Amber was the real hero- feeding her hungry brood every two hours or so. We were mostly needed to keep an eye on things, and provide a pair of helping hands when Amber needed them. We were the night watchmen- keeping tabs on the whereabouts of all the pups and helping Amber in and out of the whelping box, making sure she didn’t accidentally step on any of the pups during her route in and out.

Caring for Amber was a top priority. Her voracious appetite was back with a vengeance. With seven hungry pups to feed, it was hardly surprising. It was also imperative to make sure she had sufficient time out of the whelping box, just to rest. Our normal ‘no sofa’ rule had suddenly gone right out of the window!

Daily duties also included keeping the whelping box and bedding as clean as possible. The constant rumbling of the washing machine became the soundtrack of our Christmas!

In some ways, this monumental disruption to our lives had come at the perfect time. We all had over two weeks annual leave. We had nowhere particular to be. There was an abundance of Christmas films to watch on TV and a fridge filled with leftover Turkey and other Christmas fair , which seemed to cater perfectly for our strange lack of routine. Rather than cause added complication to our Christmas, the pups forced us to slow down and fall into a simpler existence, a benefit none of us had anticipated.

And then, the enquiries began to trickle in, slowly at first, then increasing to a steady stream. Our daughter Grace was appointed Director of Enquiries . And an excellent job she did too.

And my worries about saying goodbye to the pups were quickly allayed …Reading messages from families who had recently lost beloved dogs; or sweet young couples who lived by the sea; or a hiking enthusiast, looking for a loyal, loving companion to walk with, began a shift in my thinking. Suddenly I felt as though I were part of something of immense value- helping to bring into the world not just a wonderful pet, but a friend. Suddenly it wasn’t such a bittersweet task – it was a wonderful privilege.

And by the beginning of week three, just as the puppies’ eyes were beginning to slowly blink open, we had six wonderful new homes lined up for each and every one of the pups. And life with seven pups that were now waddling about, was about to get even more interesting!

*Leo- first pup to be photographed eyes open!*

Hope you enjoyed this post. Join me next week for more of our puppy adventures and find out what happened when the pups started venturing out of the whelping box!

All Kinds of Antics

November 9, 2021April 6, 2024 ~ Angela Jelf ~ 1 Comment

Hi friends, it’s me again, Amber!

This is a picture of me pulling my ‘butter wouldn’t melt in my mouth’ face. I’ve been practicing this face a lot lately. Why?

Because this face gets me out of whole heaps of trouble. Yep. I might be little, but I am BIG trouble! Trouble with a capital ‘T’!

Take the other day for instance. Mum was minding her own business, doing some gardening. I really wanted to help. So I decided to dead-head a few of her favourite flowers. I snapped off a whole head of Hydrangea, and shredded up her prize Sedums.

Next I tried to help with the washing….Mum put the washing in the machine – and I dragged it out again and just sat on it.

What a good and helpful little doggie I am!

And of course, when Emily plays with the sand, I have to play too! Only I like to get right inside the sand-pit. Oooh, that sandy stuff really tickles my snozzle and makes me sneeze! Mum just loves my paw-prints all over her clean floor!