Day 38 - Playtime videos!

Kids are outgrowing the crate . . .

So the real thing that's on my mind these days is how cool the puppies are all getting. In the morning, I usually use Fury to lure them all outside and put them in their pen for the day, setting out food and water, and that is that. It's awesome to watching them bop around the yard - going through their metal tubes, chewing on the puppy toys, etc.

Those of you who watch the puppy cam will note that at night they usually get to roam the house. This used to be a safe proposition but I am waiting for the moment when their exploration and mouthing turns into destructive chewing. I think we're almost there - and that will not be a fun day. No more free runs for you, little guys - too much to get electrocuted on!

Fie helps Yishai cook dinner.

I love watching Fury play with her puppies. Sometimes it's straight playing, other times it's "do not nurse on me."

Fury was shedding all over the house so I decided to brush her out - and then I got a whole dog out of her. Ahh, the post litter coat-blow. :(

I'm letting them make mistakes - last night I had Moto out on my bed and he felt the need to puppy cliff dive, and handled it like a man. Given that Moto is the puppy that cries when I genlty correct him (same with Fury), I am proud of him. Maybe he is getting over his boy-sensitivity.

So yesterday I hosted my friend Pancho and his friends for puppy time. Pancho, upon finding out that I was breeding Fury was all about that and spent most of the time trying to convince me that he was puppy-worthy. I always feel bad about this - I want perfect homes for my dogs, and here's someone that will love his puppy to death, but I am also not sure that what I've bred is the best for a guy in college who's never had an Aussie before. I get inquiries like that all the time.

Pancho and the puppies.

On that note, as I have said on my website, when I bred these puppies, I was aware that I might have some temperament issues that I wanted to be careful of. So far, I am totally thrilled. None of the puppies are showing the kind of reserve with strangers that Fury did at their age when I came to pick her up. I would contend that your dog's basic essence is intact, even at a young age and so far, everyone's basic essence is what I would like it to be - a "little" reserve with strangers at first, and then everybody pile on!

It's really very exciting to allow myself to develop a special relationship with our "keeper puppy" at this point. Of course I still spend even time with everyone, but to give my heart over to one, it feels wonderful. I feel a little guilty when some of the other puppies, who I would venture to say have also picked me, are not going to stay, but then I think about the awesome dog lives they're going to have working for their new owners, and it will be okay. :) I'm also excited to start actually figuring out which puppy goes to whom.

In other news, the puppies got themselves nasty (they track urine, play in it, etc) - they will be enjoying their first bath this morning. Wish me luck.

Anyway, on that note, I should warn you that my computer's power supply is broken, and paired with a broken LCD screen, it wants to be replaced. I do not not know if I will be able to post updates or the puppy cam in between computers. Sorry.

Fury plays "Do not nurse on me."

Firma acts like a nut.

Yeah, paper bag!

Hard core playtime