1
Some would say we spoil The Sonja...
Giving her a deep bed with a head cushion and a blanket (it is still very chilly in MN) but she is such a good nana to the 49 day old pups that we figure any spoiling she gets is well worth the investment!
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2
49 day old pups swarm...
And play in the covers and snuggle. It may be cold outside, but its still a good day to soak up some sun!
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3
Shot of the dog yard...
Everything has been moved for spring cleaning. Gravel that has migrated to lower ground must be raked back towards the patio, and the picnic table has been taken from the garage and installed!
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4
Astro shows the pups the ropes...
As he starts the first hole of the season right under the picnic table!
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5
Me and Blochi
Self portrait. I am getting better at taking pix one handed!
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6
Crate training 101
Dauntless facing the camera, with Blochi in the crate and Intrepid in the middle. We place the crate in the dog yard and let the pups play and nap in it to help acclimate them to it.
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7
Paying lip service...
Xena has been weaning the pups and has just growled the pups off her boobs; pups respond by licking her mouth in submission.
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8
Dauntless tastes the lilac..
Not much of a lilac bush, and perhaps even less of a bush after this!
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9
Nemo follows suit!
Sticks and the like are chomped and chewed while pups experience the great outdoors!
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10
Intrepid...
Snuggles in the sun warmed crate.
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11
The Sonja has cast off her blankie...
Indicating the day is warming up!
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12
Uncle Stuart and company...
Come to visit and socialize pups!
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13
Its time!
Its day 49 for the pups, and time for aptitude testing! The test we use can be found in the book "The Art of Raising a Puppy" by the Monks of New Skete. I have the test copied out of the book and waiting on a clipboard for my testers, with post-it notes listing each step of the test. Props are the bell for a noisemaker, the towel on a leash for an object to drag infront of the pups, a crumpled paperball (NOT in pic, stolen by some RAT) and the rug was also used to provide an alternate surface to the chill tiles of the back room of the coffee shop.
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14
We forgot the camera...
We used the back room of the coffee shop for the testing. My testing team (this is their 4th litter they have tested for me) had not met the litter prior to the testing. Pups were driven in pairs to the testing site. While the first pup was being tested, I held the second pup outside the building so it could not hear or see its sibling. When the first pair were done, Bob would drive up with the second pair to be tested and take the tested pups home. In this way, the pups were always well rested and wide awake for their test. (Sleepy pups skew the test results.)
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15
Kicking back...
Bob is the designated driver, and the rest of us tossed one back to toast a sucessful testing session - no pups fell asleep! We do this test on the 49th day of the pups lives, as that is the day they show adult brain waves - but have no baggage that will influence their behavior. The aptitude test is an general indicator of a pups temperament qualities, and it is not written in stone! The info from the test helps us determine how to best train and best place each pup! Now, how did the pups score? First see this website for a close up look at the score sheet and interpreting the test scores. http://www.golden-retriever.com/puppy_aptitude_test.htm (continued on next pic!)
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16
(Test scores continued) 50 day old pups enjoy the morning...
Its about 5:30 am and the pups are outside for first morning potty. TEST RESULTS CONTINUED. I tell ya, if I had remembered the camera I would have other pix to add this caption to, but 'oh well.'! Dauntless: 334333435, Nemo: 455363363, Tiny: 553363165, Jack: 564641235, Defiant: 455366165, Snapper: 466666155, Intrepid: 343343133. Now, plug those numbers in on the test sheet provided from the link on photo #15 and you can see how each pup did! Now, despite my careful efforts to have lively and awake pups (and they all were!) we feel that Snapper's test is not accurate! Her scores indicate a very aloof pup, not interested in people - and when you see a pup test like that it is suggested you re-test. We were unable to retest, and we know Snapper is very social! So, toss that score out - it just doesn't fit the pup we have come to know!
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17
Early morning potty continues...
And nana is an excellent role model for the pups! The routine consists of getting up early - when we hear the pups start to russle about, and then carry them out the door so they can do their business outside. Clean habbits start EARLY, very early - about 5 or 5:30 am in this case!
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18
Later that day...
Ruby chews on a puppy toy while Blochi returns the favor by pouncing on her head!
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19
Nemo peeks out...
From under the ramp, trying to entice Ruby into a game of chase!
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20
Empty nest!
Why aren't the pups snuggling with Sonja in the nest?
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21
Role model in the sun!
Its afternoon now, and the sun is high over head. This is The Sonja's favorite time to roll in the leaves and dirt and bask in the sun! This is her favorite spot to do this!
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22
Snapper and Dauntless...
Enjoy snoozing in the crate in the sun.
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23
Enter Beagle boy...
Aka Nemo!
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24
He made room!
He fits too!
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