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 robert heller | Home > Beyond the Frenchies > Our rat terriers > RatpiT's 2004 litter > 
Week 2
Pups continue their rapid neurological development as we approach the second half of the neonatal period.  The pups are given a thermal stress this week, which is accomplished by putting them on a cool surface to allow their bodies to sense a drop in temperature.  This stress serves to enhance their immune system, and is very simple to administer - but time consuming, and also very loud!
Date(s): 2/18-2/24. Album by robert heller. 1 - 24 of 73 Total. 623 Visits.
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Just to cover my butt....
Xena feels she is owed cheesecake for producing a fine litter of pups!  Here Xena gets her due!

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She moved so fast...
All I could snap was this pic of her swallowing it whole!

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"Its stuck..."
Apparently cheesecake sticks to the roof of your mouth like peanut butter!

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Empty plate..
Yup, she ate every morsel!

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Xena indicates her bowl needs refilling...
Its currently filled with a 9 day old pup!

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Time for another bedding change!
Xena keeps her pups spotlessly clean - she is a super momma!  The dirty smudges you see are from Xena; she is experiencing postnatal discharge which is normal, and may last for several weeks.

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Xena tends to her pups.....
Pups wait on the bed during the bedding change and Xena potties them while they wait.  The pups are drawn out of the nest by Xena's scent and are heading strait towards dinner!

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Bedding changed....
Pups and mother installed in the new bedding, and the yellow crib bumper is in the wash too!

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"Are those PITBULLS I hear?"
Yup, the bedroom door is wide open, and the pitbull welcoming committee is a knocking!

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Beware ye who dare to enter here!
Even Sonja is not sure about entering the room - she knows that Xena is in alpha bitch mode over those pups!

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"I DO smell a pit, I know it!"
Sonja puts her feet on the ottoman to get a closer sniff of the pups.

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"I WILL kill if you come ANY closer!!"  The look in Xena's eyes lets you know she is telling the truth!

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My Boy snuck in too...
He isn't nearly so concerned about meeting the pups as the girls are.

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The nose knows......
Xena's nose is so acute she can smell when a pup needs to go potty!  The pups are 10 days old, and still reply on Xena for potty - they won't be able to produce their own results for another 2 weeks or so; that's alot of hiney licking for Xena!

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10 day old pups get pottied...
Its non-stop work for dog moms.

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Yawn!
A tiny yawn from a tiny pup!

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Zzzzzz........
One tiny yawn, one long nap ahead!

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More pottying...
And I thought she was all done - silly me!

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"OK, now I am done..."
"Can you put the cover back on?"

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Pitbull visitors again...
Sonja is probably more interested in the dinner dish!

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"Are those PITBULLS again?!"
Xena gives the Look of Death from the nest.

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Look at her ears.......
They are firmly perked up to listen for every pitbull step!  Many old time rat terriers were fashionably cropped, and they made the ears stand up like darts - just like Xena's ears here.

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"Being that she is giving us the Death Look..."
The pitbulls can see Xena too, and have opted to stay out this time!  (They are no dummies!  Who'd want to take on Xena: Terrier Princess defending her pups?)
"Sweet pitties....There the..."
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Goliath is not very impressed with Snapper.  Now, why is the pup on the table you ask?

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