Birthday photo bomb, updates and sibling reunion

Just finished our oldest daughters Birthday Tea and as usual photos with the cake and as seems to becoming the norm, Henry photo bombs the occasion. This time though my husband caught the just before he and another of our daughters decide to get in on the photo. Until I loaded them up on the computer I did not see Henry's nose lurking at table level and less obviosly another daughter is hiding just behind me, you can just see her hair, before the next photo they both appear.

Primrose's pups took to coming out of the whelping box so well, today I opened the puppy pen fully out, so now Mum can come and go with them as she pleases. The only thng is now it's a bit harder to get photos as they all get more active. They certainly are on the move now and also have been very interested in the food. Four weeks is around the time it is advised to introduce food and we play it by ear, with size of litter playing a part in the timing of food being offered. The bigger the litter, normally we will start offering food any time from three weeks old and this also depends on how forward the pups are. Primroses pups are forward and as six pups for this size bitch, is a good size litter, food was available to the pups since yesterday at twentyfour days old. The puppy food we use is Lily's Kitchen and only needs a bit of moisture to disolve in the mouth, so is easy for the pups to masticate and digest.
Already we can see they are eating some, not just paddling through it, as you can see the change in the colour of their poo. Mum has been brilliant in keeping the pups clean and as they go onto solids most mum's start to be less keen to clean up after their pups, you do though get the hardcore mum, who will happily lick up her pups deposits until the day they leave.
 We try to discourage the mum from cleaning up behind the pups once they are happily going outside around six weeks old, as it's a bit past the call of duty. The way we discourage mum doing this is just to get there before her, with a piece of toilet roll to pick it up. Keeping the pups clean is very important, so they don't aquire the habit of eating their own feaces and if they see mum doing it at around six to eight weeks old, this can also cue them to do it, as learnt behaviour from mum, so another reason to discourage mum from this, once the pups are going outside.

Received a message from Caroline yesterday, who has Dexter from Ysobel's last litter born 31st July 2013 and is Charlie's brother who came to visit us last Saturday with Roxy. They look more like twins than litter siblings. Thanks Caroline for dropping me a line and sending me the photo of your lovely boy.

Dexter

Hi Jane
Just a very quick note to say I think Charlie and Dexter are a spitting image of each other. Even their characters are alike. I think they would love a play date!!.
Love to you all 
Caroline & Dexter xx

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 This funny photo of Lucy a girl we rehomed a couple years ago with Sue and Jimarrived in my inbox today. Lucy stays with us when Sue and Jim go on trips away and this Friday she will be with us for a week or two whilst they pop over to Germany, I think it's Germany, sorry if I've got that wrong. Thanks Sue, it did make me chuckle, at first glance it almost looks like you have got her a space helmet. lol

Lucy with bowl, or space helmet ?

Thought this would give you a chuckle!! See you Friday,Sue

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Lastly tonight is an email that I just found in my inbox and is the Chester and Jake reunion. Chester and Jake are from Smudge's litter that just left us and luckily for these two boys, they went to families that are also friends with each other, so this Friday after being apart for nine days they got to meet up and have a sibling reunion and from the account of the meeting, they had not forgotten each other. Dogs recall each other mostly through scent and as the parting was only nine days, this would be within the bounds of the pups memory to recall each others smell to be familiar, so I do think that Chester and Jake genuinely recalled each other. Thanks Sarah for sharing their reunion and lovely to hear that Jake has his paws firmly under the table in your home and hearts. 

Chester and Jake hang out together

Hi Jane
Thought i'd send you this picture of Jake and Chester taken last Friday when we met up with Sarah, Roger and family. They had a great time together and seem to know each other from the start. Lots of play fighting and chasing each other was involved! Jake seems to be settling in well to his new home and is a lovely dog. We all love him!
Kind Regards 
Sarah

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