Week Three (Days 15-21)
+ Teeth begin to erupt
+ Puppies stand up and start walking
+ Begin to lap liquids
+ Defecate/urinate without stimulation
+ Start becoming aware of environment
+ Start playing with littermates
+ Develop sense of smell
+ Puppies will start to discriminate as to where to relieve themselves
4/25/2002 7am: First day of week three. This should be a week when the pups stop looking like wrinkled rats, and turn into cute puppies.
They will start doing those cute puppy things this week. Personalities will develop.
This morning the pups just got done nursing, so they were all snoozing when I cleaned up. I figured it was a good time to clip toenails since they were tired. Even these little pups fight when it comes to toenails.
I threw some of the stuffed bears in the whelping box so there were different objects in the box for the pups to walk into and climb over. A few had to check them out to see if they could nurse from them.
Puppy Toddlers (3 - 6 Weeks) During the Toddler period, puppies emerge on their own from the litter. They venture into the surrounding environment. This emergence from the litter is a gradual and continual learning experience. During this stage of development puppies learn basic behavioral patterns specific to dogs. While playing, they practice different body postures, learning what the postures mean and how they affect their mother and litter mates. They learn what it is like to bite and be bitten, what barking and other vocalizations mean and how to make and use them to establish social relationships with other dogs. Such learning and activity tempers their own biting and vocalizing. From the age of five weeks, the mother teaches her puppies basic manners. They learn to be submissive to her leadership and what behaviors are acceptable. If necessary, she growls, snarls, or snaps at them as a form of discipline. When weaning the litter, for instance, the mother will discipline her puppies so that they will leave her alone. Because the mother disciplines them in a way that they clearly understand, after a few repetitions, the puppies will respond to a mere glare from her. If a pup has not learned to accept leadership (and discipline) in its early interactions with dogs, its training will be more difficult. Puppies that are removed from the nest too early tend to be nervous, more prone to barking and biting, and less responsive to discipline. Often they are aggressive with other dogs. Generally speaking, a puppy taken away from it's mother and litter mates before seven weeks of age, may not realize its full potential as a dog and companion. To maximize the mental and psychological development of puppies, they must remain in the nest with their mother and litter mates until seven weeks of age.
10:00am
Seger is eating a ton of food. She is eating almost three times what she normally eats. She has dry puppy food available at all times, and gets three or four meals of
puppy food, cottage cheese and ground beef watered down. I also add Vit C (Ester-C) to her meals. Once the pups start eating, I will give them Ester-C with
each meal. There are a lot of studies and articles of the benefit of giving Vit C and the decrease in frequency of Canine Hip Dysplasia. There is evidence suggesting that HD may be a genetic deficiency in use of Vit C or its production. There are also studies where Vit C is given to dogs with HD, and they have had a decrease in the breakdown of the hip joint. Dogs do make their own Vit C to an extent. I have heard pros and cons on the subject.
I have just started giving this in my last few litters. This is something you may want to discuss with your vet, or do more research on. I don't have any clauses in my
contract where you have to feed the dog Vit-C or the hip guarantee will be null and void. ( I have seen that in other Curly breeders contracts, and other sporting
dog breeders contracts)
From the OFA Site : "No, there is no evidence in the scientific literature that supplements (i.e. vitamin c) will prevent dysplasia. Reduced caloric intake and
glucosamine products in immature animals genetically predisposed for hip dysplasia may lesson the pathologic changes associated with hip dysplasia."
More importantly, you have to keep your pet's weight down; obesity only increases the burden on the joints. I like to see a growing Curly pup on the lighter side as
opposed to fat. Keep a Curly lean until the bones have stopped growing.
Red boy . . . . . . . white girl
Green boy and Blue boy
I often see the boys hanging out together.
Orange girl likes to sleep with her head either on a sibling, or if she
can climb to the top of the bunch, with her head on one of the railings. My guess is she will be the first one out of the box
