9 weeks- going home

Group nap time

Watson left for his new home this week. I was so busy getting all his paperwork together that I forgot to take a new family photo. I guess I will just need to do another update in a few days when I get some photos from his new people. Watson had a vet check ( all is well) and had a young Am Staff puppy spend the night for some socializing in the days leading up to his departure. He is almost 20 pounds and is a wonderful, spunky puppy. It was hard to let him go...I am looking forward to seeing him grow up and I know his new parents will love him as much as I do.

Already a master at the Chinook 'pretzel'

more snoozing- it was a tiring week

resting and chewing at the same time- what a multi-tasker

8 weeks

What a sweet face!!

I am lucky that I get to spend an extra week with Watson. His owners will pick him up at 9 weeks. This week will include an introduction to a leash and collar and a puppy guest. My coworker had a singleton Amstaff puppy a week after Watson was born so he will stay at my house this week for some puppy socializing. Watson is 17 lbs. and is doing great. He is completely integrated with the pack and only stays in his puppy pen overnight and for naps. Watson is getting good at sitting for his food and waiting at doors. It will be a quiet house without him but he will bring a lot of happiness to his new family.

Watson stalks a bug on the rock

Walking across the green grass- all that rain makes the lawn great! Sharing a juicy wood board with Tay
Practicing his sit for a group photo
Keeping watch while Faethe chews a stick Seeing what Kila is up to
Playing tug- a favorite game
Jiggles surveys the yard while puppies play
Teasing

Week 7

A lap is a perfect place for a snooze

Nick has a new family and a new name, Watson. He will be leaving for his new home next friday so he is enjoying these last days with his mom and the rest of the Moonsong pack. Watson had several visitors this week and he especially enjoyed all the attention and snuggling. His temperament test showed no big surprises...he is a smart,spoiled brat, feels very entitled, and needs a lot of socializing with puppies who will put him in his place. He is very confident and adjusts to new situations easily. He is a master at any staircase and shoots up and down the steepest stairs, even those made of shiny linolium, stone, or backless wood. He is not a fan of retrieving but loves to play tug. His conformation evaluation was very promising- he has good proportions, good bone, a nice head, decent angles and a nice topline and tail set. He started out his 7th week at 14lbs. He is quite lean and I would like to see a little more meat on his bones but he is growing upwards so fast. He LOVES his food and needs to eat out of a large bowl so his food is spread out. This keeps him from gulping his food at once- like mother, like son!

Mom makes a good obstacle course

Taking a stroll Sharing bones with my half brother Oscar

I like hanging out with pack leader Tay
Mmmm, Alsea's legs are very tasty
Making new friends at my human mom's work
Mom is a good pouncer, and is always up for a game
Takedown

6 weeks

Wow, it has been 6 weeks since Nick was born. We are entering the homestretch and soon he will be joining his new family. He has his temperament test and first conformation evaluation this week and another conformation exam and some health tests the following week. He was 10.5 pounds on his 6 week birthday. He would have been more but had a day of upset stomach after eating an enormous amount of grass clippings and compost while out in the field with the dogs one day this week. Otherwise he has had a very hardy constitution and had no issues switching from mom to kibble- no mash for him- he did not like it and went right to softened kibble and is now on slightly moistened kibble 4 times a day( with an occasional snack still provided by mom). He really 'got his leg on' this week- growing upwards at a huge rate and adding an inch onto his leg length. It amazes me how puppies change and morph so quickly as they grow- they look like different dogs one day to the next. He is very independant and loves to explore. He investigates everything new and is quite confident. After inching up and smelling the vacume, he promptly started chewing a bone on the living room floor and did not move as I vacumed around him.

chasing a rock down the hill

sharing the wishbone with Kila

jumping into the group tug-of-war
handsome boy
standing still - a rare event
getting ready for the chase
ready for a nap
wrestling with Alsea
Death to the bunny
Takedown- Kila surrenders