Day 17--Changes

We had some big changes here yesterday. The puppies had started to move off of their sleeping area to eliminate, so though it seemed early at just two weeks, I decided to add a litter box to the puppy pen. I blocked off a portion of the pen so they wouldn't have so much room to use as a potty area. I then moved the bedding to the front of the pen and placed a box that I had prepared just beyond the sleeping area. The box has newspaper in the bottom and then absorbent pellets. I don't expect miracles but I do believe in time they will learn to understand where potty happens. My understanding of this method is that if you keep the bedding area very clean and do not clean the potty box very often that they will soon understand this concept. I am hoping that will be the case. When they get bigger I will use a larger box with wood shavings.

Here are Charlotte and Findlay checking out the box.

You may notice all of the things pressed into the sides of the box. That is because these little guys can squeeze through the smallest openings and then scream when they can't get out.

 

The funniest part as the day went on and they seemed to be getting it, is that they would get their front feet in the box and pee on the blanket with their back end. It's a start.

 

They were all a bit confused with the changes at first but soon settled in to the new environment.

Another change was seeing more eyes opening. Once they are all fully open I will try to get head shots again.

 

I started the very early test for hearing. I take tiny pieces of ground meat and place in their mouths as I am making a pssst sound. As their ears begin to open they will connect that sound with food and if they hear they will come scurrying over for food. It gives us an early indication if there are hearing problems in the litter. I also made an appointment to take them for their BAER hearing test. That will be done when they are seven weeks old.

 

Their first night in the new arrangement went well. Hope must have given them good care because I didn't hear anything out of them.