Puppies growing in leaps and bounds

Sorry for the delay in in giving you an update!!  Lydia has been quite sick for the last few days, so this is her mom, Margaret, posting in her stead.  Unfortunately I am not very computer savvy, so I can't show you the more recent photos or videos--hopefully we can do that tomorrow.

All the pups are healthy, strong and thriving, wolfing down their solid food and driving mom crazy.  She has to be persuaded more and more to feed them, but it doesn't take them long (the little "cannibals"!).  There is barely enough room to fit them all underneath, but generally they all find a teat.  Usually they would be nearly weaned at 6 weeks, but because being premature they still need a little more time.  However they should be ready by next weekend, when they will be moved to a spacious stall in the barn.

Since being given solid food, their weights have all shot up. As of Thursday all are well over 8 pounds, with three boys (Blue, Green and Orange) just under 9 lbs. We've had to move to a different system of weighing, using a fairly sensitive digital scale and holding each puppy to be weighed.  We use heavy Pyrex dishes (meat loaf size), 4 in a row, to feed them, and it's cute to see all seven heads in a row chowing down.   Of course, what goes in has to come out. . .  They will be weighed again this Sunday.

They all have their teeth and love to chew anything they can reach; their bedding. each other, the water bowl, the newspapers, and, of course, the toys we give them during their playtime. More and more their characters are becoming more evident, and there are some surprises. Both girls are tough and feisty, even if they are somewhat smaller; both take the initiative in charging their male siblings, even when they'd rather sleep!  Red is a little more aggressive then Purple, and stockier; however, although Purple looks more feminine and refined, she actually is heavier.  Maybe her black colour makes her look smaller  The boys love to challenge each other with loud growling and wrestling, then end up sleeping wrapped around each other peaceably.  Blue initiates play most often, and is the last to settle, trying to get the other sleepyheads to play. Green is always hungry.  Orange, whom I used to call "Butch" because of his big head and pushiness, is really quite laid back and non-aggressive after he is full and tends to avoid conflict. Black, Brown and Red seem to fight the most.  All the puppies love to drape themselves on top of mom after feeding, and she still licks them clean and disciplines them when they chew on her face. And all the pups love to be cuddled by their human pack-members

Well that's all I can think of right now.We will update their weights tomorrow and hopefully have some new photos to add, weather permitting.