Toilet training is officially in full steam ahead!  We are putting the puppies out very regularly.  (After every sleep, play, feed and if there has been a time gap!).  We have lots of poos and wees in the garden!!!  Obviously early days but the key to toilet training is that the buyer will not have to be back tracking of those puppies that are used to doing it in their pen.

Today we have spent time playing with them in the living room as the garden is chilly again.  Yesterday was so warm too!  Here is a video of the puddings full of mischief!

Today they have spent a fair bit of time in and out of the garden.  Toilet training is well under way.  Last night I put them in the garden four times throughout the evening to give them the opportunity to have a wee or poo in the garden.  Their first experiences in the garden were a few minutes here and there as they cried a fair bit.

Today has been a different story as the puppies love the garden!  They have been investigating the garden and going further afield to look at the chickens!

It is a little sad that Comet wasn’t around to see them as he used to help distract the puppies as previous litters of puppies would go running up to him to say hello!

Mr Blue, Miss Red, Mr White

Mr Green aka Pudding

Today we have been putting the pups out as regular as we can to get them used to being outside (for about five minutes each time).  This gives them the opportunity to be clean.  The most crucial thing for any animal going through toilet training is giving them plenty of opportunities to get it right.

We have had quite a few wees and poos outside today!  So it is a very good start!

Here is a video clip of the Magnificent Marchstone puppies in action!

Photos have been added to the puppies gallery!

Just like his big brother Melvin…

Mr Blue following in the pawprints of his big bro Melvin

Melvin enjoying his favourite sofa, lay back...and chill!

It is with sadness I have to update to say our wonderful little rabbit Comet, has passed away.  He had a very happy life having the complete freedom of the garden.  I enjoyed seeing him hop, skip and jump about the garden.  In particular he played a great part in playing with the puppies each year, so sadly this year our puppies will miss out on this joy – he played puppy tag!

Run free in fields of clover Comet, we will all miss you.  I already miss not seeing you in your favourite parts of the garden.  For those that may be thinking he was “only” a rabbit, Comet was a part of our family.  At nearly seven years old he had a good time with us – far better than a lot of bunnies that don’t get any freedom.

Comet outlived his brother by four years, now he is together with Blitzen again.

I will remember how he always told Melvin off for getting into the chicken coup as he would chase him away with a grumble!!  My fondest memories are of him having lovely skips and jumps about the garden – behaving like a happy bunny.

The time is flying by – I cant believe they are three and a half weeks old already!  I only have them for another four and a half weeks – so already we are almost at the halfway point.

One of the milestones I hadn’t updated on – was the ears!  The ear flaps start out as little buds that are closed, it does take a while for them to develop and they open bit by bit.  All the puppies ear flaps are open and appear to be working well.  I have done a little test (which is NOT in place of veterinary testing!!) to check they can hear – using a toy that sounds like a singing bird!  They all looked intently at the toy when the noise was made so hopefully this does indicate that all is well.

The milestone that is being reached and exceeded in a couple of the pups is teeth!  Two of our puppies have sharp little teeth!!! They are called deciduous teeth!  It wont be long before all of them will have needles for teeth!

The puppies are now getting two meals a day, which I will be building up to three in the next couple of days or so then up to four meals.  It is a gradual process and they are all taking to eating like a true Labrador (ie without hardly any encouragement!).

Colours of Collars!!

I have since changing them to the ribbon collars made a further adjustment to two of the collars.

Purple – went to a pale colour – which wasn’t photographing very well with the white collar pup…..so she is now wearing a turquoise collar. (black girl pup).

Orange – is now wearing a pale pink collar with green butterflies on – this is the collar that previous puppies have been nicknamed Peaches, which is far prettier than calling her Miss Orange. (yellow girl pup).

Here is a video of the puppies playing

Here is a video of Mr White

Ben, Rufus and Dexter are officially a year old.  I have been blessed with a visit from Dexter!  He enjoyed seeing his small brothers and sisters!!

I will be putting on photographs and a video later!

The puppies have had their first experience of the garden today.  At this stage I take it very slowly as the garden would appear enormous to the little ones.  They were very brave and started to explore a little!  I have got some smashing photos!

The puppies first time in the garden!

here is an utterly cute photo!!

Mr White and Miss Pink! awwwwww so cute!

The puppies have had the collars upgraded to the lovely ribbon collars.  They have changed as follows:

Purple – Pale Blue with butterflies

Pink – Pink with flowers

Orange – Orange with white dots

Blue – Blue with white dots

White – White with little black flowers

Green – Pale Green with circles

Red – Red!  (her collar had changed a little while ago so she had already been wearing her ribbon collar!)

The main change being the purple as I didn’t have another purple collar – so obviously she needed a pretty one so this is why she got the pale blue with butterflies on it!

(unfortunately pink is underneath the puppy pile in this photo)
Here is a picture of the new collars

Pretty Collars!

Happy Birthday to Otter, Ben, Rufus and Dexter!!!

Gorgeous wonderful puppies, I have been so lucky in having updates from the owners that I am 100% reassured that they are in the best homes possible!

Otter a year old!

Ben a year old

Rufus a year old

Dexter - at almost a year

Im sure you will agree they have all turned into beautiful young adult dogs!  Happy Birthday Woofs – you made a year safe and sound!  Love you loads my little pups!

The puppies are turning into bundles of mischief!!! Their play skills are developing before our eyes.  Every little moment treasured!  The puppies are now attempting to have little play fights and tug on to each others ears or tails!  It is really lovely to watch.  The puppies have now reached a stage of being able to stay awake after a meal to have some playtime before they fall asleep again!

Today was the day for giving them some puppy porridge.  Breeders often speak of puppy porridge and people may be a little confused as to what it actually is!  Basically it is soaked puppy kibble, that is then liquidised to a smooth consistency with some made up puppy formula (diluted with warm water) added to it.  Once the kibble has been liquidised it is wise to check the temperature before serving!  I try to keep the porridge mix warm at this stage so that it is more palatable.   The weaning process starts with offering the puppies a saucer of food to lap.  Needless to say … the puppies are 100% Labradors and guzzled their plate of porridge with no problems at all!  GOOD PUPPIES!  Molly watched intently to observe if the plates needed cleaning or puppies needed washing.

Miss Purple

Miss Pink

Miss Orange

Mr Blue

Mr White

Mr Green (little pudding!)

Miss Red

We hope to be putting the puppies in the garden in the next couple of days or so to start their toilet training!  Already the puppies are doing most of their wees at one end of the pen.  I thought it was a coincidence when I first saw them doing it, but they are definitely making the effort to wee away from where they sleep!  Bless their little hearts!

I will be adding photos to the gallery shortly!