AND THEN THERE WERE THREE...

Today was a mixed-blessing kind of day:  Two of our darling boys - Blue and Gold - left us for their new homes far away - Seals and Croft said it so well with their song, We may never pass this way again

Our beloved Gold Boy, aka Ferris Mueller,  went to his Forever home in Washington with mom Heidi, dad Tom and big sister Mica.  We will miss our class clown so much: Goldy with the Goofy smile and the kisses that light up one's day. Be safe and happy sweetest boy.

Anyone, Anyone?

We said Farewell to our confident, outgoing and handsome Blue Boy as he went to his Forever home with mom Claudia and dad Larry.  Pika, our gifted boy, make us proud as you strut the hallowed halls of Harvard.

On to Boston.....

Our hearts are heavy and the whelping box seems very depleted without our special boys, but we know that they are in safe and loving hands. We ask only that they be loved, spoiled and cherished  forever.

A RED LETTER DAY

Claudia, Larry and Pika

Saturday the 28th was a very special day:  Not only did the pups turn 8 weeks, but Bodacious Bonny Blue Boy, aka Pika, met his forever mom and dad for the first time.

FIVE O'CLOCK AND ALL IS WELL!

On Monday at 5pm, we took the little people to our vet, for their Wellness Test, together with their first shots and deworming.

I must confess that Grandma and Grandpa experienced some angst wondering how the little ones would cope with the whole experience. Well, we needn't have worried. The firecracker quintet were supremely unconcerned about being in the crate in the car for the first time and greeted Dr. U. with great enthusiasm.. Not a wimper was heard, not a flinch was given as our brave little soldiers were examined, temps taken and shots administered. We were very proud of our babes.

The worst part of the whole process was the heat wave we were experiencing for the first time this summer -  96 F!  So as soon as we got home, it was into the pool for a welcome cool-down after a thirst quenching drink from mama  Here are some pics of five beloved little campers:

Hanging pup

 

 

 

Rumble

 

Bring it on

I'm waiting!

Mom get's in on the act

THE HARD CRATE - HOME SWEET HOME!

On Saturday we introduced the pups to a hard crate:  We put it in the corner of the whelping box,  to the intense interest of everybody.  We simply left the door open and placed some toys and a puppy towel in it and soon little folk were investigating the crate:

Life is full of endless possibilities.

As you can see, the crate seems to have passed muster! 

THE FIRECRACKER FIVE ARE 7 WEEKS OLD

We can't believe it, but our little ones are seven weeks old and are almost ready to leave the nest.  On Saturday, August 21st, AKC judge June Smith carried out the Structure Test, ably assisted by Linda Lang.  We are so grateful to these kind and knowledgeable ladies who gave up their Saturday to conduct the Structure Test on our pups.  It was a privilege to observe them in action

We are happy to report that everyone passed with flying colours;  No one has any structural problems that would prevent them from having an active, productive and competitive future.

To mark their 7th week irthday, here are some of our favourite pics of each pup:

Goofy Goldie Boy

Gregarious Gretna Green Boy

Rambunctious Red Girl

Precocious Pink Girl

Bodacious Bonny Blue Boy

PUPPY POOL PARTY

Puppy bookends

After introducing the pups to the water sprinkler, the next logical step was to let them frolic in water.  Here they are, as usual led by mama, taking to water like proverbial ducks. The pictures speak for themselves - fun was had by all:

Mama shows them how it's done

The Firecracker Quintet hits the pool

Effortlessly in

Effortlessly out

Retrieving the mini water bottle

Goldie practising for the real thing

The more, the merrier

Just hanging out keeping cool

And always, mama is never far away

THE FABULOUS CLIFFORD SLIDE

Like generations of privileged Goldie puppies before them, the Firecracker Quintet have had a glorious time playing on Grandma Suzanne's Clifford Slide. I like to think that the slide struck a chord in Kelly Ann's memory as she, without any encouragement, and with great enjoyment, demoed the slide to the intense interest of her little ones.

Deja Vu!

As the pups soon learned, the Clifford Slide has many permutations:  Here Blue Boy surveys the world imperiously from the top of the slide;  presumably vertigo is not a problem.
  

I'm the king of the castle!

  The slide also functions as a dual carriage way:

L:ike ships that pass in the night!

For the really adventurous pup, they can try going up the slide - rather like going up the escalator the wrong way.  Gosh those little hamhocks come in handy::

Hmmm., the steps would have been easier

And when all else fails, one can always take refuge under the slide

A safe house!

SALUTE TO THE PIG RAIL - WHAT A WONDERFUL INVENTION

Let's raise a glass to whoever invented the pig rail:  A low railing that skirts the inner perimeter of the whelping box, which allows pups to roll under the rail to safety, away from a tired mama who may flop down and not the see a little one.

How they love the pig rail.  As little people, they would shelter under the pig rail, secure in the comfort it offered.

As big little people, they have not been able to fit under the rail for some time;  in fact all they can do now is to tuck their heads under the rail. Still, sometimes that's all it takes:

Did the pigrail shrink?

Of course the pig rail also serves as a really fine chewie:

And sweet Goldie finds it just the right height for a head rest, when he's not a the water bowl!

SOME KODAK MOMENTS

Raising pups in the living room, is like having  round-the-clock PUPPY TV. 
There are so many magical moments - here are few that are forever in our hearts:

Mama is more than just a milkbar!

Play hard, sleep like angels

Sharing a chewie

Goldie's favourite resting spot - the water bowl

Gretna Green Boy has the most darling face

PSA - TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

As fellow dog lovers, we thought you would be interested in The Animal Rescue Site, which  funds food for some of the 8 million unwanted animals given to shelters in the US every year.

The donation is free; all you need to do is click on the Donate food button every day, and food will be donated on your behalf to unwanted and abandoned dogs.  Sign up for a daily email reminder to your inbox:

Likewise, the Hunger, Breast Cancer, Child Health, Literacy and Rainforest sites function in the same way.

PS  If you like these sites, please pass them on!

THE PINKIE FIELD TRIP - A HAPPY TAIL!

Field trips in the house lead to well-adjusted, confident and happy puppies.

 

Here Pinkie demonstrates the
playbow away from the security
of her litter mates.

Please mom, play with me

There is so much to see and learn, and what better teacher than Mom:

TUG-OF-WAR GAMES ARE GREAT FUN

Great Grandma (GGM) visits are something to look forward to, particularly when she brings a new toy:

Here Blue Boy plays tug-of-war with GGM:  This bodes well for Obedience!

Future OTCH boy!

PRACTICE STACKING SESSION

Friday the 13th was an auspicious day in the lives of the pups. GGM Ann and GGGM Bea visited the pups and did a practice stacking session with each pup on the grooming table, in preparation for the structure test on Saturday the 21st.

GGGM Bea offers a shoulder on which to snuggle

With the help of some tasty cream cheese, and chicken breast as a back-up, GGGM Bea did a wonderful job stacking the pups. (There are 3 pages of pics.) We were thrilled by how confident and self assured the pups were stacking on a table for the first time - definitely a big event in their little lives.

THE PUPS ARE SIX WEEKS OLD TODAY

Today started as usual with puppy gruel followed by a top-up from Mom, and then a romp in the garden. Early morning garden sessions have their own particular pleasure:  Dew-laden grass has a feel all of its own and the pups frolic with gay abandon.

At six weeks, the pups have developed and strengthened their muscles.  Goldie could practically kick-start a Boeing!

And Blue Boy demonstrates just how useful these strong thighs are:

A CHORUS LINE

Could one have choreographed this better?

Truly a Kodak moment!

THE MAMA CHUCKWAGON

I sing the same song to the pups to signal meal time every time I feed them.  It's amazing to see them respond to the 'music' of Ipi 'Ntombi - the music made popular in a spectacular South African musical in the 70's - celebrating traditional African music.

PR FOR LOCAL SUPERMARKET!

Safeway could never have envisaged the uses that some of their products have brought to the Gretna Green Quintet:

"Yogurt is not just for eating", says Pinkie

and,

Frozen water bottles keep pups cool

ENCOUNTERING THE LAWN SPRINKLER

Yesterday, the pups made the best of a typically beautiful Californian Summer's day by playing in the lawn sprinkler for the first time. Intrepid Gretna Green led the charge of the sprinkler brigade:

Our brave little solider

At the end of the play session, we had happy, pooped and very bedraggled wet pups

Bedraggled urchins

who were ready for their afternoon siesta.

What a life!