8th May - three weeks old

William is now three weeks old - how time flies. 

Today he has been amusing himself with some balls.

Humphrey, Hamish and Freddie spent the day sleeping, feeding and playing together. 

Hamish and Freddie head to head.

 

William found a comfortable spot too.

 

Humphrey and friend.

 

Freddie is a very content puppy - he now weighs 2lbs 3 ozs.

 

Today we started weaning William - there were a few options to choose from but he seemed to enjoy

minced steak.  He will eventually be moved over to Arden Grange weaning food.

  

 

As Summer now has less puppies to feed and we have started to wean William we have reduced her food. 

Below are some close up photographs of William.

    

   

 

 

9th May

This morning William enjoyed minced steak for breakfast.  Although he was fed by hand he thoroughly enjoyed chasing the tiny pieces of meat around the plate......

 ......and did manage to fed himself too!

 

The puppies were weighed and had their nails trimmed again.

 

Humphrey (Blue) - 3lb 13 ozs

Hamish (Brown) - 3lb 13 ozs

 

Freddie (Black) - 2lb 6 ozs

William (Red) - 5lb 10 ozs

 

HOW MUCH????

 

Summer enjoyed relaxing on the cool floor tiles.

 

William enjoyed time out of the whelping box again.

     

 

We said "Good bye and Good Luck" to Hamish this evening - he is being reunited with Aya and his brothers and sister. 

He left us weighing 3 lb 13 ozs.  Humphrey is staying for a few more days, and then the family will all be back together.

 

10th May

Today Summer and the puppies have spent most of their time relaxing.

While Humphrey and Freddie happily stay in the whelping box

William enjoys sleeping on the cool tiles or a near by leaf!

 

 

He has also spent time with 'Auntie Libby'.  Libby has already had a litter of puppies and is very calm and gentle with William........

 

........so much so that Summer was happy to allow Libby to take over some maternal duties while she slept close-by.

 

William  was very content with Libby.

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11th May

The whelping box is now split into two areas - one with bedding and one with newspaper for toilet duties. 

William started to use the newspaper straight away. 

 

It will soon be time for the puppies to leave the puppy room and move into the dog room/puppy garden during the day where they will lots of room to play and explore..................

 

                

 

 ................while the other dogs enjoy the sunshine in their dog garden.

 

We have started to mix William's minced steak with soaked Arden Grange.  He is happily feeding himself.

 

Today Freddie has joined William for breakfast and supper.....he thought it was delicious!

 

This evening we said "Goodbye and Good Luck" to Humphrey - the last of Aya's pups.  

Humphrey left us weighing  4lb 10 ozs.

Aya now has all her puppies back with her.

 

Freddie will stay with William until he is ready to go to his new home, and Summer can begin to have a well-earned rest as the puppies start to become more independent. 

This evening they have spent time in the living room.

 

Freddie enjoyed time on my lap..........he is such a relaxed puppy!

We are extremely proud of Summer - she has proved to be a superb mum to William, and also an outstanding foster mum - not only in the day to day care of the puppies - but also in the way she has coped with their arrivals and departures.  Nothing has phased her during this time - and she appears to have taken a great deal of pride in the puppies - our "Ladette", who loves muddy puddles and playing rough and tumble with Wiggy, appears to have transformed into a "Lady".

Thank you to friends who have given me an immeasurable amount of support and advice during this time - Summer's success is their success!  

Today William has been registered with the Kennel Club - his registered name is  Kendaamber One Good Reason.

Taking Summer to Harry meant a 650-mile round trip - but in our opinion William was worth every mile of the journey - one good reason!

 

William will be going to live with friends - John, Margaret, Kevin and Emma - in Hertfordshire, where he will be named Benson.  Being our first, and singleton puppy, he is very special to us and will be co-registered as I am very keen to monitor his progress.   He will be a much-loved member of their family and I know he will have a wonderful life.  He will join them on their caravanning holidays, just as our dogs join us, and I will have the opportunity to watch him grow and spend time with him on occasions.   Benson, as he is now known, will be meeting his new family soon.

12th May

Today we have re-arranged the puppy room.  We have removed the whelping box and replaced it with a puppy pen. 

This will be where they spend the next few days before moving into the dog room/puppy garden during the day, and returning to the pen at night-time. 

 

The change has not bothered them at all.

 

The puppies weights are:

Benson: 7lbs

Freddie :  3lb 4 oz

 

13th May

Today Benson was visited by his new family.  He seemed oblivious to the excitement he caused!

   

    

 

Freddie enjoyed lots of cuddles too.

 

He has been catching up with his zzzzzzz's again.

 

Benson ventured into the ball pool..........

 

..........and played with the toys

    

 

Summer and Freddie snoozed while Benson visited the milk bar.