First photoshoot in the snow. They found it chilly!
Our Misty x Laddie pups turned 5 weeks old on Monday, Jan 24, 2022! How time flies!!! You may have noticed that there was no blog for Week 4.
That week started off with me slipping and falling flat on the icy cement of a parking lot. Thankfully, nothing broken, but delayed pretty much everything for a couple of days.
Then, we welcomed some new additions on Wed Jan 19th. This past autumn has shown what happens when I'm too sick to look after things myself. When I heard that our LGD was in heat I asked that she be moved to her kennel run. Although she was pulled and stayed out for a month...apparently the deed had already been done.
We discovered that was the case when I noticed teat development Jan 6th. It was so cold and due date wasn't certain, so it became an immediate concern to build an insulated, heated shelter for her. Hubby had LOTS of fun building at -35°... We were so hoping she would have them during the Chinook last week when it was +3... But she didn't. The morning they were born was -39°, so we were very glad for the heated area!!
Welcome to the world, 11 beautiful oops Argos x Kohar Gampr LGD babies! 4 females, 7 males, whom I have been supplement bottle feeding 2x / day.
I have never before had 2 litters at once - with good reason! It's been busy. Since I view actually looking after and working with the animals as more important than blogging about them, the blog was delayed.
Sorry!!
Please NOTE **with all videos, click on the bold green link, then click on the thumbnail to open fully**
In spite of all the disruptions, I've managed to work on introductory marker training with our ES pups most days since 28 days of age. They are luring nicely, doing turn, spin, up, off, sit & down. Pups that are waiting for their turns are periodically rewarded for sitting quietly while they watch the proceedings both during the session and when the trained pup is finishing his solitary meal.
Here's Copper post training on the 22nd. Lol (And sorry for the hazy look; there was some sort of film over the lens that would not rub off easily).
I'm also working on manding with them - meaning that I wait for them to volunteer a sit before petting or rewarding them any time I'm in the room. They are becoming quite proficient at it individually, although it always takes a bit longer before everyone will sit long enough to catch them ALL doing it at once before feeding dinner. I wait for that event before marking with a yes and placing their meal. Here the pups had manded (it's almost impossible to catch them in the act on video b/c one has to mark and reward it in a speedy fashion with young, short-attention span puppers) and were getting their first meal without individual marker training having occurred first.
We completely revamped the puppy area during the 4th week both to reduce my workload from having to change bedding all the time but also cuz they were ready for it. Pups also needed room for a water dish and a play area.
This was Misty's first response to the changed pen dimensions.
I really appreciate her ability to just roll with the punches, be flexible, adaptable and troubleshoot. (& in fact she now sometimes leaves one hind leg out and just stands 3/4 into the pen to nurse, lol :p )
We have been blessed to have a couple of chinooks blow through after almost 5 weeks of extremely cold weather (-30° to -50°C with wind chill).
So when the weather broke on Jan 12 it was a balmy +2°.
Even though the puppies were only a couple days past 3 weeks and I normally do not introduce them to outdoors until minimum of 4 weeks, we took advantage of the nicer weather. However, they were too young to put on the ground and in the snow. But they got an outing which included a brief chance to experience the crate, riding in the sled / movement, different air temperature and feel, new scents and sounds. (Their vision was so immature at that point that I don't think they could really see much of what I was showing them...)
Another clip. When I said that they had been introduced to Gemma I mean that their butts were held within about 3 inches of her nose from the other side of the fence, so no actual contact to reduce germ risks.
And even after such a short excursion, they were already starting to adapt to being in the crate, moving on the sled.
Our second outdoor expedition was on Jan 25. Four degrees on the positive side would have been t-shirt weather except for the howling wind. Nevertheless, we ventured out again, this time to the barnyard. Pups got their first intro to Argos, as well as noisy ducks and Kune Kune piglets.
Vid 1: Kunes, Copper & Trey
Vid 2: Kunes, Spot & Blaze
Jan 26th the weather cooperated once again - and this time not as blustery - so we ventured out once more - this time for a photo shoot in the snow.
(And an introduction to the cows - but more on that in the next blog...)
Although it seemed like a long time between outdoor encounters (but such is the nature of our wintery environment) we still intentionally exposed pups to new things, such as the cool G-floor where their mama stays when she's not nursing them. It's amazing how much they have progressed in both strength and confidence since that first hesitant wobble across an unfamiliar surface!
As well, thanks to the kindness of a generous donor to my program (and my dh's DIY abilities) we were able to add something I've had on my wish list for a long time - a puppy enrichment box.
This was their first introduction to the rig. Not only are the toys more dynamic on a mobile where they can swing - increasing the interest and entertainment factors - but hanging them also keeps toys clean and helps to desensitize pups to sudden touch and noise. The mobile can be raised at night to prevent mishaps when we're not supervising. The pups have been enjoying the activity.
(Do you see the black pipe on the gate? That's the coyote roller that prevents pups' escape while still allowing dam in & out... :) )
And, this was Misty's first response to the mobile. She wasn't inside when we were installing it. When we let her in she could see it was there but completely ignored it and jumped right in to nurse her babies. She is such a lovely, zen girl.
Nighttime mobile position >>
We also had a couple of teens out to visit & do some barnyard work on Saturday the 15th. They enjoyed the pups. :) You'll see one of their sets of feet in this vid (for privacy sake I won't be posting vids with faces showing).
It's great to have the opportunity to give the pups some extra socialization!
Puppy weights 5 wks 1 day, Jan 25, 2022:
The pups are amazingly uniform again this week. Spot is still the smallest.
VS
Puppy weights 4 wks 1 day, Jan 18, 2022:
A bit less uniform that week.
VS
Puppy weights 3 wks, Jan 10, 2022:
Nails were clipped, pups were given a dose of coccidia prevention and will be dewormed this week.
Pics of individual pups
PLEASE NOTE: Any temperament observations are preliminary and fluid at this young age.
AND, a caveat. Once again, these videos are a glimpse of a moment in time and not the full picture. Take them along with the other videos, pictures and descriptions you've seen to form a more well-rounded idea.
1) Blaze (m) Black & White (B/W) - All the pups have greatly increased in confidence in the past couple of weeks. He is not as reactive to change anymore, but not completely zen either. Neither he nor Trey enjoy being picked up, but are cheerful and communicative on the ground - wagging and making eye contact. He prefers not to be slammed by mobile toys when his brothers are really going at it, but walks among them with aplomb otherwise. He is personable and interested in working with me. He also had a more sensitive nose - very interested in all scents during ESI.
2) Trey (m) Tri-color - Like Blaze, he is not as reactive to change anymore, but still does not enjoy being picked up. He is a softy who likes nothing better than to cuddle up to me and gaze soulfully into my eyes while I pet him. He has some toy drive. Unlike this video might indicate, he is interested in working with me & likes to make eye contact (see how he stares at me intently in the group snow video above). However, his mom broke her stay and came towards us during his individual video below - although she stopped when I told her - but he saw her, so was more interested in going to get dinner, lol :p I like that his tail - although not up much - was not tucked. And, like Spot, he was a mid-range pup for scenting during the ESI protocols. Video clip
3) Copper (m) Shaded sable - This boy is a bit faster moving than his bros - and more agile on his feet for turning, etc, during marker training. He's the least reactive to new situations thus far, although there is a flip side to that - he is more likely to get himself into trouble with his explorative nature, and can be harder to deter from his goal. (What you can't see in that vid b/c MIsty blocked my camera hand, was me grabbing Copper as he was half way through the fence... She was working to correct and move him back too, since she saw me grabbing him). He appears bigger than his brothers, yet weighs the same as all but 1. He also had the least sensitive (or reactive?) nose (neutral to almost everything, with the exception of a few) during the ESI protocols. He is very social - outgoing and friendly. If this boy continues to develop the way that he has been, I'll be looking for a breeder or stud contract home - preferably nearby.
Video clip He was just getting up from a sit, so looked a bit awkward starting off.
4) Spot (m) Tri color - This boy was the quickest to interact with the mobile play box, and tackled the toys with gusto. He works with me during marker training and generally takes new situations well - not quite as calm as Copper, but more extrovert than Trey or Blaze. He wags his tail when I'm holding him. A middle of the road pup in regards to ESI.
We currently have 3 puppy spots left available. Anyone interested in reserving a spot for this litter, or being on our wait list for future litters, please contact us & fill out our application form.
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