Hell on Wheels

The puppies are now 6 weeks old.  As they get older, I realize I too am getting older and question whether I can keep up with this bunch!  Somebody warned me about Chubby being a bit of a "whirling dervish", which certainly didn't scare me away (after all, I live with Paisley the ultimate whirling dervish).  However, in the last week, I'm wondering if perhaps we should have turned bobtail and ran.  These puppies are CRAZY!  Even sweet little Juice, my snuggle-boy, has turned it to high gear.  They start early in the morning, go all day, and fight against sleep at night.  Athletic as any puppies I've seen, problem-solvers, and little manipulators ... "please, Granny, let us out.  We promise to be good".  Can't tell you how many times I've fallen for that line!

Although I haven't moved them to a permanent pen outside, they do spend portions of the day out in the yard, with a good romp each evening hoping to earn me a good sleep each night.  A pen in the garage and a couple out on both sides of the yard, are in the plans for this week.  
 

Prim, the red merle girl, is definitely a scrappy little thing and usually when there's snarling going on, she's part of the action.  Giggles, the blue girl, definitely gives her a run for her money. 

Scotch, little red merle boy, is coming out of his shell and isn't quite the sissy-pants he was a couple of weeks ago.  He seems to have a bit of an independent streak but is also one of the first puppies to climb into my lap for a quick snuggle. 

They've enjoyed visits from Capri and also Aspen, and both older girls have been patient and playful with them.  When they're outside with Mama Belle, it's like watching a Disney movie as she lays on the grass with puppies climbing all over her, or bumping them around with her mouth in gentle play, teaching them doggie games and, hopefully, some doggie manners, too.  All puppies appear to already have a strong toy drive, always a good sign. 

I'm off to the hardware/lumber store today to get the supplies needed to make a stacking box.  Time to get started on their future training, and hopefully ensure their 7 and 8-week stacked photos are more successful.  They've been wearing collars for a week, and leash training will start this week. 

They say "attitude" makes for a good show dog, and they've got attitude in spades!

Happy Trails ... Theresa