Puppy update

The pupsters are now a bit over six weeks old and turning into real little doggies! They had their first vet appointment today, for vaccinations, de-worming, and a general check-up, and did fairly well. No major upsets, though our little chicken-dog, Peridot, did get a bit shivery with fright.

They’re all between 1500g and 2kg now – hard to believe that a mere six weeks ago they were so small they could in my hand, whereas now they’re getting so you have to hoist a bit to pick them up in one hand and they are very, very wiggly! They are mostly weaned now, eating puppy chow two to three times a day, though they still attack Mama’s teats when they get a chance and are hungry. And attack it probably seems to Lovely, seeing as their teeth are growing in so that when they bite down you can really feel it!!





And their personalities are starting to show through:

• Diamond is the big boisterous boy of the litter. The first-born and first at everything else: size, stamina, energy level, eagerness to play… He is the one to pounce on his litter-mates and start chewing ears and tails, at least until they pounce back or squeal at him to stop. Always hungry, he is first at the food dish and has been known to sneak into Mama’s food when he gets a chance.

• Peridot was second-born and she is about as opposite to Diamond as opposite can be! Shy and quiet, she’s the one to hide away in the crate when the others get to rowdy, though we have caught her giving a few pounces of her own from time to time. She was born the smallest and has remained so ever since, truly earning her nickname, Petite Princes Peridot. Shy at the food dish, I often give her a dish of her own so she doesn’t have to compete with her rowdy brothers and sister. She is always ready to give you a snuggle and a kiss!

Opal, our black boy, is fairly lively though not so much as Diamond. Boy, does that pup love to run! Out on the lawn, down the street he’ll go if given half the chance. Or scoot from puppy corner to front door if we so much as crack open the gate to let him out. He loves to chew on the puppy teething ring I picked up a few weeks ago.

• Garnet is the last-born. She is very much what I imagine her mother was like at that age- sleek fur just beginning to develop some soft waves, very snugly but not lacking in energy, sociable and active. She gives her brothers the run for their money in the pouncing department! She had a short stint as fattest dog of the pack, but Diamond figured that would never do (beat by a girl?!!?) and has out-eaten her ever since. Still, she’s growing well, as evidenced by her round little tummy!

You can read about the breed, Australian Labradoodles, on my breeder website: www.dragonramdoodles.com.

P.S. Anybody want to buy a puppy? Diamond and Opal are available.