A Study in Orange

Photos of just Orange @ 4 weeks old.

A Mother's Bonding

As the puppies grow, the interaction changes from one that has Ming merely as a food source and cleaner. Now the puppies are packing with Ming and even playing with her. Watch towards the end of this video in which Blue tugs on Ming's beard.

Eating Gruel

We believe that Ming is trying to wean her puppies. We stepped in with some non-Ming food and the puppies "ate" it up. Pun intended.

Almost 4 Weeks Old! Orange and Green

We were walking by and noticed two of the puppies were alert while their siblings were still snoozing. If you notice, the hippo toy is back and the puppies are bored no more. Besides a toy, the hippo serves as nice and cushy bedding. Anyway, the puppies have blossomed into cute things. We absolutely love this stage and are thrilled at how Ming's second litter is progressing. Below are random pictures of the awake Orange and Green. In this picture, Green is on the left and Orange on right. As an aside, Orange and Blue are neck and neck in the stout department.

Here the puppies trade places. Orange is on left and Green on right.

Black and White / Salt and Pepper

Whatever the phrase you choose, we can apply it to the following pictures. We were taking Ming and Audrey for a stroll in the neighborhood when we came across these Scotties. What are the chances that you come across two Scotties and two Westies together? Needless to say we were happy that we brought along the cameraphone. The Scotties' owner took his picture as well.

Stages of Alertness

Packing and sleeping is a comforting pastime for these pups. Though it's summer and the house is temperate, the siblings enjoy togetherness when they sleep. Today's series of photos show various stages of alertness.

As a setup, all puppies were sleeping until Audrey and Ming began to play and generate noise that woke one up. As soon as one woke, it was almost like a domino effect.






As a side note, we are thrilled that every puppy has grown so well. It stands to reason that each puppy is so cute and we are trying hard to tell each apart. Can you? Aside from size and weight (when we pick them up), we think we got them all pegged.

Playtime and Sleeptime

The puppies about 3.5 weeks now. They've opened their eyes and taking in the world around them. They're also discovering each other. As you can see in this video, they (Green and Blue) are playful at their sister (Purple's) expense. Note that Purple is a back sleeper and zonked out while her brothers bite (puppies don't have teeth yet) a front paw and the snout. The other brother Orange just wants to sleep as well.

Not to fear, we've observed Purple dominating her brothers as well. It appears she is an alpha female when we looked. Also, you'll notice the colored collars on each puppy for better identification than just the nail polish on the hinds. As the nail polish fades, we're hesitant to reapply as the odor may turn Ming off. If that's the case then the puppies cannot bond or get nourishment from Mom.

So Sad - Purple Looking for Ming

Sometimes the young miss their mother. Whether it's longing or hunger, our little girl purple is vociferous in her objection. Doesn't it sound sad? Meanwhile a brother continues to snooze.



Never fear, Ming came in after the noise and all was well.

The New Litter's Pedigree - The Father

Ok - we know that Ming is the mother of our four pups but who is the father? The sire's name is Mac-Ken-Char's Superhero (Edward), right around Ming's age.

His father is Nic Macs King of the Road ("Harley") here is Harley's pedigree: Click Here

His mother is Mac-Ken-Char's Tomi Girl of Glenlea: Click Here and go to "Tomi"

Here is Edward at 5 months.

More of Edward at the winner's spot at several shows.

Edward after he's been playing in the yard. Look how nice he looks even without the benefit of a bath and grooming.

Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen

There are those instances when puppies unwittingly pose for pictures that offer us the opportunity to play with the subject. In this case, we have one of the offspring lounging near the bars of the puppy pen. It was cute and we could imagine a penitentiary scene in our heads. So to frame the moment while you view these pictures, please click on the Sam Cooke song below for background music.

The Sound of Silence

Simon and Garfunkel were on the right track when they titled one of the many popular songs "The Sound of Silence" and sure the lyrics are out of context here for this post. But the title is appropriate when the puppies are sleeping (notice the twitching and breathing). Ah pure bliss for Ming as we take her out of the pen. After feeding, Ming ventures about the house in her old and familiar way.




The time also serves to rebond with daughter Audrey and occasionally to bark at passers by. Hopefully that break in silence doesn't wake her young!

Inquisitiveness - Like Minds

A couple of posts back, we captured the new puppies' sounds. We learned that Ming's daughter, Julep was intrigued and curious with the familiar sounds. So we thought we'd put her sister Audrey in the computer chair to find out how she'd react.

Julep


Audrey


Well, she was interested but for just a few seconds. We think she was trying to change the webpage but she could not reach the mouse. Oh well, maybe in another year she can get proficient. But thinking about being inquisitive, here are their siblings in similar curious spots.

Piper



Duncan (or the Dunc-meister)



Casey

Getting Their Legs - A Video and Pictures

The puppies are crawling/walking now. Of course they could always crawl but now they seem to be wanting to stretch their legs. When the combination of strong legs and visual acuity mesh, watch out! Oh, when they're hungry they continue to sound like screeching birds.

The Eyes Have It!

It's been a couple of days since we noticed the puppies have eyes. We don't know what they're thinking but we have observed that they are more active. Now they can see if their mother is away or not or even gauge where Ming is to feed. Weight-wise every pup is healthy with some growing faster.

Puppies' Curious Sleeping Positions

Back sleepers, side sleepers, sleepers with open arms... We're not sure if back sleeping is in Ming's gene pool or is it a normal Westie trait. In this second litter, we've notice that a few of the pups are back sleepers. It's hard not walking by and noticing how these dogs sleep. After all, most of their short lives are spent sleeping. In these pictures we focus on one pup with open arms and crossed hind legs (of course it's a faux pas to say that dogs have arms but we had to use some description).





Yesterday, we observed that these pups' eyes are partially open! That makes it nearly two weeks from birth to open eyes. Pretty soon, we'll share more growth charts for those quantitative types.

Thinking - no sleeping outside the box

You must know that over used term, "Thinking outside the box." What does it have to do with the puppies? Absolutely nothing. Quite frankly, the creativity levels have diminished of late. Still when we looked at the puppies' (and Ming's) humble abode of a box, there was a sliver of inspiration in which we can salvage something witty.

The weather has been quite warm and with the puppies sleeping in the box lined with fleece with their fur coats, we concluded maybe they were a tad warm. Perhaps it was also their cute cries and Ming's panting that also clued us in that they needed a change in scenery. So outside the box they go. While the vinyl covering seems warm and sticky to humans, the puppies welcomed the change.

Ming likes the change as well as she has yet another spot to feed them.

As you can see this one is so relaxed that he sleeps on his back.

The rest of the shots show the puppies using every crevice available. Enjoy the random shots.

How to Burrito.. er Swaddle a Puppy

Those how to guides were popping into our heads and so we thought we'd share the 'secret' of calming puppies - burrito-ing or swaddling them.

1. Choose a puppy.


2. Move puppy to the edge of a hand towel.


3. Hold puppy firm while bringing over the long end.


4. Tuck long flap under the puppy.


5. Ensure tight fit and enjoy the view and ensuing calm.