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The 2.5 week old Wirehaired Pointing Griffon puppies get their first taste of mush

Once the puppies eyes open, everything changes!  We spent the end of last week and the first part of this week rotating the pups between the whelping box and the inside pen as the temperatures dictated, but by Monday it was obvious that the puppies’ development would be better served by the outdoor activity and larger area of the puppy kennel (10 ft x 10 ft).  I also got them started on one meal of mush (puppy formula + canned puppy food) a day and they should be ready to go to just straight canned puppy food soon.  I never take the female away from the puppies for weaning, just feed them enough so that they can get by when she starts to try to avoid them.

Here is this week’s YouTube video, showing how the puppies are really starting to move around and interact with each other now that their eyes are open: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E578pSAuE7s

Before I forget, new owners: the puppies will be 8 weeks old on August 2nd, which is when I (and the USDA) consider them ready to go home.  I am planning on flying pups on Friday, August 3rd.  Anyone driving in is welcome between August 1st and August 5th.  I would really like to have them all in their new homes by Sunday, August 5th.

Social time with the Upchurch kids

Now that they are three weeks old and their eyes are open, it is time for individual pictures and the giving of nicknames.

Face shot of “Doris”, 3 week old female Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Back shot of “Doris”, 3 week old female Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Face shot of “Dottie”, 3 week old female Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Back shot of “Dottie”, 3 week old female Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Face shot of “Derry”, 3 week old female Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Back shot of “Derry”, 3 week old female Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Face shot of “Daisy”, 3 week old female Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Back shot of “Daisy”, 3 week old female Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Face shot of “Don”, 3 week old male Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Back shot of “Don”, 3 week old male Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Face shot of “Darryl”, 3 week old male Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Back shot of “Darryl”, 3 week old male Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Face shot of “David”, 3 week old male Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Back shot of “David”, 3 week old male Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Lunch time in the kennel for the 3 week old Wirehaired Pointing Griffon puppies

 

 

 

 

 

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Big dogs and kids spent a day at the pond on Saturday

With the recent heatwave, we’ve been spending a lot of time trying to keep cool both at home and away!  We are lucky enough to have access to some private land that has a pond where we can all take in a swim.  With the temperatures creeping towards 100 most days over the last week, having shaded dog runs is not enough, I’ve also been giving the big dogs and the pups a soak down a couple of times a day.

Sam takes a dip in the dog pool, which is actually a plastic sandbox for durability

An extra dog dish serves as the puppy pool:)

With the upcoming Independence Day holiday, please remember that dogs and puppies do not belong in the middle of the fireworks display, either keep them securely kenneled in the back yard (the 4 foot fence may not be enough for a full grown dog) or in the house while lighting fireworks.  Also keep in mind while exercising your hunting dogs that they could mistake fireworks for gunfire and bolt in that direction, so make sure that any off-leash activity is done well away from where the neighbors are setting off fireworks.  A safe and happy 4th of July to everyone out there!