Pups got new housing arrangements last night when I took the whelping box apart, enlarged the pen and added a crate for sleeping. Holly no longer spends the night with them, so there's no need to have room for her to lay down, and when/if she feeds them, they have to eat standing up anyway. More room for toys now, and the pen is easier to keep clean. Now I need to come up with more "furniture" for the pen, things to keep the pups occupied during the day.
Holly was away from the pups all day yesterday and I did not take her down to see them until 10:00 PM. They nursed her dry, and by this morning she was still pretty empty. Maybe one or two more late evening visits, and then we're done. Once Holly got tired of the pups, that was it. She kept them clean and well fed when they needed it, but has turned the job over to me. She's obviously not the earth-mother type like Josie who would have nursed her pups until they were as big as she was.
Pups are changing so quickly and starting to develop their own personalities. Vittoria is the quietest, although she's brave and friendly, just a quieter dog. Folgers is the most "peopley" and always wants to sit on your lap and be held. He's a little whiny because of that, so we'll work to make him more independent. He's very brave, just wants to be with you. Gevalia is the most adventurous, and is already trying the stairs. Although she looks cuddly, she really the explorer. Sanka is the most mischievous and the most into toys, closely followed by Maxwell. Sanka is already an alligator. Britt and Melitta are right in the middle, with Britt being the busier of the two, and Melitta being more cuddly. Melitta and Britt already know their names, but poor Maxwell thinks he's Little Argus!
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