First Bath for the Puppies

The cute puppy breath  was getting overwhelming and morphing into something stanky. It was a good indication that it was time for the babies first bath. 
They weren't very happy about it, but it was necessary.

Scotcheroo thought he could hide where I couldn't see him.  Little did he realize I could tell exactly where he was.
Luna and Jude were so tuckered out after their baths that they fell asleep next to me.

Shaking the water off.

Wet puppy faces are cute.

My photography assistant took a selfie. 

Too cute.

All the babies enjoyed being toweled dry.

Look Mom, I'm fluffy!

Giving a big dog shake to get the water off.

P.B. was uninterested in bath time. 

But he got one anyway. No sleeping puppy was safe.

So Fluffy!

An exhausted Luna catching some z's. 

Jude cuddled up with his stuffed buddy for some snoozing.

P.J. took advantage of some cuddle time.

Overall the babies did well. They acted just like their mom in the bath, like it was a form of torture. The funny thing is, they will all love swimming in a lake or river when they get older. But the bath? Horrible! 

Wrastlin'

We no longer have sleepy puppies that lay around and snuggle all day long. They have turned into rabble rousers that investigate, interrogate, and just generally gnaw on anything they can sink their little teeth into. They are vigorous and ruthless wrestlers when they are tangling with their siblings. But it always ends with them being friends again.
This is Scotch and P.J. There are no rules among these pups. Anything goes in their play. They will stick their opponents whole nose in their mouth and chomp down. Ears, tails, paws, and other things - it's all fair game.

"Grrr, I'm gonna eat your face!"

They are definitely in the teething phase. Having them bite each other is no big deal, but we don't want them thinking the same way about people. We are trying to be vigilant in not letting them gnaw on us, replacing toes and hands with a chew toy instead. It'll take them a little time, they are just puppies after all, but they will get it. 

In the mean time, they are very entertaining to watch! 

Puppy Pool Party!

We filled the puppy pool with an inch and a half of water to introduce the puppies to swimming. We left it in the hot sun on the deck and then came back when the shade was covering the pool. This way the cold water wouldn't be such a shocker to their little bodies. They don't like being too hot or too cold. 
I would have thought that romping, playing, and swimming in the water would come naturally to these puppies, but apparently a love for water is something that they learn. So we began the process of introducing these babies to water. After all, their families may want to take them to the beach to play! Plus, all dogs need a bath once in awhile.

Wyat wanted to be in the water with them to offer his support so they wouldn't be scared. 

  

Everyone was a little uncertain at first. 

Wyat wanted to show the puppies how fun water can be. I am not certain they agreed.

Especially Kisses. She seemed a bit insulted that we got her wet and spent most of the time in the pool with this posture.

P.B. walked around checking it out.

P.J. says 'let me ouuuut!'

The puppies and Wyat all mingling in the pool.

Scotcheroo wants out too.

He thought I deserved to have my pants chewed on for making him go in that water.

Raisin was calm, cool, and collected as usual. He's like a rock. 

We actually did the pool 2 days in a row. I thought it might help. The puppies weren't any more excited the second time, but they will get there.

Scotcheroo and P.B. are looking very pathetic.

And adorable.

It's cute watching puppies do the same thing I am used to seeing the big dogs do. Like shaking their wet fur.

When all the puppies had enough of swimming practice, we toweled them off and gave them some snuggles.

There's a future hunter in the mix. He is sitting proudly next to his 'kill'.

We'll get the puppies in the pool the next hot day we have. It's good for them, cools them down and cleans their fur. The more positive exposures we have with water, the better!