Halloween Puppies 2012

Spring and summer 2012 were mellow and full of fun. Bella and Ozzy continued their growing up together. The entire pack got used to daily mayhem in the yard and lots of playful energy. We went back to our obedience and conformation classes. Ozzy participated in a few dog shows, getting closer to his AKC championship title. Bella enjoyed watching her big cousin in action at the side lines. In early August, we enjoyed the company of Woody and Addie. It’s always good to have the extended Pack Members for a Summer Camp!

At the end of August, both Mamba and Leeloo went in heat and we had a big decision to make: breed or not to breed..? The pros were obvious: Mamba at almost 5 years old was in a perfect condition, both physically and mentally. She was an excellent Mother to her 2010 litter and she was more than ready to take over maternal duties from Leeloo just a few months earlier. The cons: are we ready for more sleepless nights..? What would be the impact on our pack? After a short soul searching it became clear that more Otterhound puppies were in our near future 🙂 Good for us and great for the Breed!

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We chose Keeper GCH White River’s He’s a Keeper! as the Sire to Mamba’s second litter. We first met Keeper at the Otterhound Specialty in Aliquippa, PA in 2010. He was the first Otterhound to greet us outside host hotel. Destiny in the makings! He was a young, spunky one-year old dog with a great personality and championship pedigree. We saw Keeper again at 2011 Otterhound Specialty in Brownsville, Oregon. It was a very eventful weekend for Keeper, his handler and owners. He won Best of Breed competition at the Specialty show and a Hound Group 2 placement. He also received his Grand Championship title that day. The following day was equally successful: another Best of Breed and a Group placement. In December 2011, Keeper competed at AKC/Eukanuba National Championship and won the Best of Breed title. He ended 2011 as the #1 Male Otterhound in Breed Standings and #4 Otterhound in All Breed ranking. Very impressive for a 2-year old hound. Keeper’s 2012 accomplishments include multiple breed wins and group placements. He turned 3 years old in August and only getting better with each show appearance. In his spare time away from the show ring, Keeper enjoys boating with his Pack, swimming, playing with the ball and rolling in mud. A charming Otterhound 😉

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Breeding process this time was very natural. The toughest part was dealing with Mamba & Leeloo both in heat and Ozzy really REALLY fascinated in the girls. He was not interested in food, toys or his playmate Bella. He must have lost 5 lbs during that time!

Progesterone testing and Artificial Insemination procedure via surgical implant hardly impacted our routines. 29 days after the breeding, an Ultrasound confirmed Mamba’s pregnancy. We were very excited! The next milestone, the Xray, took place on day 56. We could see the puppies for the first time: 5 tiny sculls and spines. We look forward to meeting them soon 🙂

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The wait is over! Blue Fairy puppies are here! Two boys and three girls joined our Pack on Friday morning. Right on schedule! Mamba has been restless and uneasy for the last couple of days giving us signs that we were getting closer to the big day. At about 2am on Friday she settled in her whelping box and contractions started shortly afterwards. The first puppy was born at 4am: black & tan girl weighing in at 1lb 4oz. The second puppy arrived at 4:45am a black & tan boy, slightly smaller, 1lb 2 oz but much more vocal and wiggly! He’s also the blackest Otterhounoud puppy I’ve seen! Dark and handsome already 😉
The third puppy was born at 5:50am. Another boy and a big one: 1lb 7oz. The fourth puppy was a tiny girl, weighing only 1lb. The last puppy decided to make us work. We knew we were expecting 5 puppies and after 3 hours passed, we decided to load Mamba and the puppies to the truck and take a trip to our vet. An Xray confirmed we had one more puppy on its way. The vet administered calcium and pitocin shot to stimulate contractions. 30 minutes later we welcomed our fifth puppy: 1lb 7oz girl. Mamba and the puppies got the health check and we were on our way home. The Blue Fairy Pack grew to a total of 9 Otterhounds overnight 🙂

At home, we were welcomed by a very curious Ozzy, enthusiastic Bella and cautious Leeloo. Mamba immediately let them know that she is not ready to share her puppies with the crowd. Leeloo understood and accepted her sister’s wishes, Ozzy decided to find a safe distance to watch the babies and Bella chose to stay close to Oz for safety. It will be fun to watch how these Pack dynamics develop.

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The first week was exciting for all of us. Mamba took full control of her puppies: she kept them fed, cleaned and protected. Pack Manger in action – again 🙂

Puppies spent their first week in the whelping box in our bedroom. It was easy to keep warm and isolated from the other dogs. Ozzy continued to be curious about his new family members, consistently checking the boundaries set by Mamba. Bella was more interested in Mamba’s food then the puppies. Leeloo stayed away from the box and the puppies, keeping peace in the family. Smart girl!

At the very beginning, it was hard for us to distinguish puppies from each other without taking a closer look. With every day, we started noticing subtle differences. The boys are the easiest to distinguish: one is a giant bear: black body with bright brown markings on his muzzle. He is always mellow and happy to nap away from the rest of his siblings. The other male – my black stallion – is still the darkest, but on the third day we noticed rusty/brown highlights on his head. Girls are a bigger challenge. It’s easy to spot the smallest – our little junior ‘dot’. The other two are almost identical. We still have to roll them over and look at their chests to tell them apart.

This litter seems to be more relaxed and happy to stay in their whelping box. No desires to get out! They are also very quiet. The black boy is the only talker so far and he likes to express himself while eating. Only time will tell who will develop the voice next. In the meantime, we continue to watch them eat, nap and grow. It is the most entertaining and fascinating passtime in our home!
We can’t get enough of it 🙂

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Week 2 was full of changes. We could see the transformation of our puppies from squeaky creatures into little dogs. With every day they were getting bigger and stronger. The competition for a meal was getting tougher. Even our little ‘junior dot’ girl was not letting her bigger siblings push her off her spot at the milky bar.

Personalities continued to reveal themselves. The black boy (#2) is still the loudest. He is also the most mobile. He was the first puppy to get out of the whelping box. We might have not noticed if he was not making so much noise. I guess he was saying “I’m our of here!”. The other boy is mellow and very cute with his brown/red markings. The puppies like to cuddle-up around him for a nap. The first born girl has a bit of an attitude when someone tries to disturb her meal. We heard her growling more than once. It’s the cutest puppy growl. The last girl is very much like her mellow brother. She enjoys a good meal, a nap and no drama.

Mamba is a great Mom. Although she has been leaving the whelping box for a stretch and a nap, she makes sure the pups are clean and fed.

In the last couple of days, puppies’ ability to walk improved significantly. At the beginning, they would barely stand on their feet and roll-over with the first step. Now, the puppies can walk a few wobbling steps, just enough to make it to Mamba’s milk. Scent hounds in action! Their hearing is also getting better. We noticed they react to Mamba’s growls and barking nearby, when Ozzy and Bella are having conversations with each other and the world ;). It’s time for the eyes to open. We’ve already seen tiny black slivers shining thru. The world is about to get bigger for our puppies!

This week, we started introducing puppies to the Pack. They spent their first week in our bedroom and it was time to move them to our living room for the daytime and hang out with all of us – humans and dogs. After all, that’s where the action is and that’s where they were born! It was a welcomed change. Mamba has been leaving the whelping box since last week to join Leeloo, Ozzy and Bella for the daily run. However, in the house she was spending most of her time around the bedroom, getting a little overprotective of the entire upstairs area.

It was time to break that pattern and let the other dogs get used to smell of the puppies. It worked really well with Leeloo’s March 2012 litter. There was no question Mamba would set the boundaries and let everyone know how close they can get to her babies. So far, Ozzy is the bravest – he tries every day to get just one inch closer. Sometimes he is vocal about it – just trying to explain to his Mom that he means no harm, just wants to help with the cleanup 😉 Bella and Leeloo prefer to watch the action from a distance. Mamba is comfortable now to let the puppies nurse in the middle of our living room with other dogs around. Pretty cool!

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Week 3 started with a big change: all puppies opened their eyes! It happened overnight. One day there were only slivers and the next morning, we had 5 pairs of big eyes looking at us from the whelping box. The most amazing black-blue eyes! From that very moment, thier world just got bigger. Exploring the whelping box area became a daily routine. Puppy trackers! Fortunately, this litter is not very interested in leaving the whelping box. We only had one break out so far. The puppies are very happy playing and napping next to their Mom or cuddled to each other. Very new experience for us and it’s a good thing!

Puppy names finally revealed themselves. We decided to go with the Halloween-ish theme. Girl #1 is now Buffy. I always loved my vampire stories! The name is very fitting: she is strong and definitely a leader, ready to conquer the world. The #2 boy is going to be called Freddy, after the main character from movie Nightmare on Elm Street. His noises woke me up more than once in the middle of the night and I wished it was a dream 😉 Boy #3 is now Red John because of the red/brown markings on his face. Plus, Mentalist is one of our favorite shows. Girl #4 will keep her original name Junior Dot. The white dot on her chest is still her trade mark. She is the biggest cuddler of this litter and always finds her way into my lap. Baby princess! The last girl’s new name is Phoebe from an old TV series Charmed. She much more mellow than Buffy but equally outgoing. Very special girl!

The puppy pack is still very quiet. They barely make noises, with the exception of Freddy who always has something to say. I even heard him attempting to bark, when getting out of the whelping box was becoming too difficult. The only time that everyone gets really loud is when they see Mamba coming with a meal. Then, it’s a race for the best spot at the milky bar. Feeding frenzy!

The changes in puppies’ body awareness and overall coordination were amazing this week. Wobbling turned into confident walking within just a couple of days. Tail wagging became a habitKeeping balance is still a challenge but curiosity is stronger than the limitations. With eyes wide open, the puppies can’t get enough of exploring their environment. Freddy is leading the pack with Buffy right behind him. Tumbling around evolved into puppy play. They even started doing the ‘the paw’. Red John and Phoebe are very playful. I often see them initiating the play with their siblings. Junior Dot is easy going and tends to look for a company of humans. Very much like her Mom, but without Mamba’s assertiveness. This is a very special bunch and we can’t wait to see what happens next 🙂

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Week 4 was a treat 🙂 Every day we could see our puppies changing and growing up. They started spending more time awake, mastering their skills: walking, running and playing. We noticed that exploring of the whelping box area transformed into searching for the ways out. No surprise Freddy and Buffy were leading the way, with Phoebe, Red John and Junior Dot right on their tails. We can clearly see that Otterhounds are pack animals – puppy pack stays together, no matter what.. as long as they can keep up with Freddy. He is an escape artist already! On a brighter note, this pack responds very well to “Come” command and keeps great eye contact. I guess obedience and conformation are in their future!

BTW.. Our baby girl Dot is getting a new name. A friend reminded me of Willow – Buffy’s best friend from the TV Series and I immediately thought of our baby Dotka. She is not as big as her sister Buffy (..who is..?), but she strong, spunky and courageous. Our Halloween name theme is now complete. Thanks Adi!

Early in the week we introduced toys and puppies loved it! It’s such a joy to watch their instincts in action. At almost 4 weeks old, they already have a stalking movement and the killer shake. Amazing! Ozzy and Bella like to test toys. When puppies are taking a nap, the big kids usually pick one of the toys and take it for a test drive, just to make sure it’s fit to entertain their little pack-mates.

This week, puppies also spent more time with the rest of our Pack. Mamba kept very close eye on the puppies and growled from time to time when Ozzy’s cleaning was too intense and Bella’s playful paw was getting too close to her puppies. The big kids could not hide their enthusiasm! Yet again, we were amazed how well Bella & Oz handled interaction with their little cousins. Leeloo continued to keep her distance. She likes to lay behind the couch and wait for one of the puppies to break free from their Mom and meet the Auntie. It’s very funny, just that the camera is never handy when it happens 😉 Pack dynamics!

At the end of week 4 we started weaning process. It’s a hard decision, because as soon as puppies start eating normal food, the responsibility for feeding them and keeping them clean shifts from their Mom to us humans. But.. we knew it was time. On Wednesday, the puppies had their first real meal. No problems with lapping the mixture of rice cereal, yogurt and water. They did not make a big mess either. Mamba’s milk for desert was a bonus! On Thanksgiving Day everyone ate well: turkey for humans and big dogs and four full meals for the little puppies. We can tell already they will not stay little for much longer!

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Week 5 was ground breaking: the puppies experienced the great outdoors for the first time. One of the perks of living in Southern California is the great weather and on a sunny afternoon we decided to serve puppies’ lunch in our back yard. Entire Pack participated in the first outing. Mamba provided encouragement and security. Bella and Ozzy had another opportunity to spend time with the puppies. Leeloo watched everyone from a distance, just to make sure puppies were safe and the big kids were under control.

Puppies had no problem adjusting to the new situation. Their natural scent instincts took over and they eagerly started exploring the new environment. In a few minutes, they all ventured in different directions. Since the whole pack was in the yard, we had no problem tracking them down – literally! After about 30 minutes of roaming in the bushes and Mamba’s milky snack, puppies took a well-deserved nap. It was a tough and exciting day! We continued outdoor lunch tradition throughout the week, followed by introduction to potty training. Less mess in the house is a good thing 🙂

It’s amazing how much these puppies change every day. They are cute, energetic, strong and healthy. They run, they jump, play with toys and wrestle with each other. There is nothing better than waking up in the morning to see their beautiful big eyes and wagging tails. Watching them run as fast as their short legs permit just because they heard my voice is priceless! Personalities and physical features are becoming more distinct and help us to tell them apart. Although when they play and chase each other, we still can’t tell who is who 😉

The boys are cute and playful!

Freddy is still the noisiest. He likes to express himself and share his experiences with the world. It’s a good thing because he is also an escape artist and his squeaking alerts us when he finds a new way out of the play pen. After the adventures are over, Freddy is a cuddler and likes to take a nap right next to a lucky human. Sweet boy! His coat color is evolving on daily basis. He was born completely black. Over time, his legs and chest turned brown and now we can see brown mask on his face and head. Very much like his handsome cousin Billy G from Leeloo’s March 2012 litter.

Red John is more mellow and a silent type. He is very playful and often looks for a partner in rolling around or chewing a toy. He is curious, but more cautious than his brother. He loves climbing up on my lap to watch his siblings playing or simply get ready for a nap. He does not like naps in the dog house or puppy–designated area. He much prefers to be on the ‘otter side’, even if it is just a few inches outside the puppy pen. Free spirit already 😉 He is the only puppy easy to spot in a puppy pile. His red/brown face gives him away, whether he has fun or makes a mess. It’s tough to be different!

The girls are awesome!

Buffy is oldest puppy. She moves with confidence, holding her head up and proud. Like a model on a runway. In most cases, she is right next the Freddy looking for ways out of the box and exploring the world. No fear or hesitation to enter the unknown. She is a tough fighter and usually ends up on the top of the puppy pile. Already a leader! Her coat is still very dark, although there are more gray/white markings on her face. But, since she is the biggest, we can distinguish her from the rest of the pack most of the time 😉

Willow-Dot used to be the smallest, but with good diet and healthy appetite, she did not stay far behind the rest of the pack for long. She is confident, competitive and not afraid to wrestle her sister Buffy. She likes to play with toys and we often find her with a chewie watching her siblings tumbling around. She still finds her way to my lap easily, but she now has to be smarter about getting there first! Willow is the darkest female with her trademark dot on the chest. We love wavy hair on her ears and overall easy going temperament. Telling her apart from her brother Freddy is a dare!

Phoebe is special. She now looks like her Mom with a silver owl-like mask on her face. She also has those big black eyes that charmed us years ago when Mamba was just a puppy. Phoebe is playful with her siblings, but likes to hang out with Bella, preferably in the very back of our dining room, next to the big toy box and bones container. She is fairly independent in her explorations of the house. She was the first puppy to go across the kitchen to the family room. I guess she was looking for the doggie door 😉 Smart girl!

Ozzy and Bella have been spending more time with the puppies. Bella figured out pretty quickly that they are not toys but interactive creatures that just love to play if the is gentle. At times she cannot control her enthusiasm and starts jumping around or running in circles, but after a moment she lies down and becomes puppies’ favorite chew-toy. There are moments that Mamba is jeleous of how much attention Bella gets from her kids. Too funny! Ozzy – no surprise – is a big brother and his job is to keep puppies clean. We have the cleanest puppies in the world! We sometimes have to stop him from being too thorough. Mamba growls at Bella and Ozzy at times just to remind them who the boss is, but for the most part she is glad to have helpers. Puppies’ teeth are out and razor-sharp, nursing is a challenge and Ozzy-Bella team provides a good distraction when puppies are chasing her for a sip. Watching the whole Pack raising the puppies is a treat!

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This week, evolution of the puppies continued. The most visible were the changes in puppies’ coat colors and face masks. After weeks of being very much alike black creatures, the grey and tan markings started showing up around the muzzles, eyes and ears. Finally, our puppies got faces!

Red John was easy to spot from the moment he was born but now, his trademark ‘red’ face, started getting a lot of silver highlights. Pictures don’t really show it well, but in addition to the red/brown coloring, he has a silver glow. Very handsome!

Freddy’s face is getting more tan highlights every day. He is no longer the black stallion. Every day, there are more tan highlights accentuating his long ears and eyes. He’s also getting a very cute grayish mustache. He’s a charmer!

Buffy’s face is getting more grey highlights too! Gives her a very expressive look. At first sight, it’s easy to confuse her with Phoebe, but a second later, Buffy’s confident style gives her away. Puppy in charge!

Phoebe face is very much owl-like: lots of silver highlights and dark eyes that never break eye contact. Just like her Mom!

Willow is now the darkest puppy. She has brown/reddish eyebrows and silver/red markings around her muzzle. Very elegant!

It will be interesting to see how thier coats turn out as adults. One of the endeering features of an Otterhound is the never ending coat color evolution.

We have been spending a lot of time outdoors. The weather has been great and we just have to encourage good bathroom etiquette. It’s also fun to watch puppies discover new things like sticks, leaves, feathers and even sprinkler heads. Playing with big dogs is our daily entertainment. Watching Ozzy and Bella wrestle next to the puppies reminds us that some things never change and all our hounds are puppies at heart! Under Mamba’s watchful eye, puppy play is under control.. most of the time 😉

Bella became our main puppy-sitter. She is the first to lead the puppies out and the last one to take a nap after the puppies settled in their dog house. Even Ozzy cannot keep up with Bella’s dedication to her little cousins. She is gentle and playful at the same time. It’s hard to believe she is only 9 months old!

Come command is still working well! The puppies come every time we call and there is nothing better than seeing five puppies running as fast as they can from all over the yard. It comes in handy after sunset when it’s tough to see them in the bushes. There is one exception: Phoebe loves hanging out in the yard and when it’s time to go back to the house, she is not too happy about it. She even found a spot in the bushes for a nap, right next to the door puppy room.

Now it’s time to share a story about a toy that has survived 3 sets of our puppies. On Easter 2008 Mamba & Leeoo got a squeeky toy moose (or a reindeer.. ?). It didn’t take the girls too long to kill it: they took apart the head from the body and the squeeker inside. We thought it would be the end, but instead of throwing the toy away, we left it at the bottom of the toy box, just in case there would be future interest. Until this day, the ‘dead moose’ as I call it has been the favorite toy of all times! All generations of our puppies pick it over newer and prettier toys, that actually squeak. Special toy! Thanks Ellen! The question is, how much longer will it last 😉

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This week our puppies faced two new challenges: visit to the vet and rain in Southern California. If you asked them, both events were no fun at all 😉

We started with a visit to our vet. It was time for the checkup and the first round of vaccines. Puppies also got microchipped and their blood was drawn for the Otterhound Epilepsy study at University of Missouri. All Blue Fairy puppies and adults actively participate in health testing and support research that in long term will help improve the breed.

Trip to the vet was a bit noisy. These puppies are pretty quiet most of the time, but for the first few minutes in the truck they were making sure we knew they were not too excited about this new adventure. After a short while, everyone settled down and got comfortable in the corner of the crate… with one exception: Phoebe. She started with whining that shortly evolved into a howl. Her first hound song! Too bad I did not take a video 🙁 Other puppies did not quite understand what her problem was and ultimately took a nap while she continued voicing her opinions.

We arrived right on time. We are very fortunate that our vet allows us to participate in all procedures and even assist in some of them. It was the case this time. Red John was first up. I had the honor (?) to hold him while the doctor administered the vaccines, implanted microchip and draw blood. The puppy was wiggly and squeaking quite a bit, especially when blood was being drawn from the aorta. Too much for my fainted heart! So Mike took over the duties and I focused on taking pictures to memorize these moments.

Buffy was the bravest – almost did not make any noises. She was more interested in the surroundings, new smells and people. Freddy and Willow were not too happy but had no choice in the matter. Phoebe was probably the most vocal – no surprise after her performance in the truck. Way home was much more relaxed. Everyone took a nap and was ready to play when we got home. I guess the experience was not too traumatic after all 😉

During the week we continued our daily routine. Puppies now eat 4 times a day so our schedule is pretty rigorous: meal, playtime and a nap. Sounds pretty easy, but I promise, it leaves very little time for the big dogs and human activities. The good news is that these puppies are not early risers: they let us sleep in until 7:30 on most days or later, if we are lucky! Appetites are good and friendly competition helps to clean up the bowls. Mamba does not let puppies nurse with the exception of 5am snack. She comes up to their play pen between 4:30 and 5 am and whines until they all wake up. Then lets them nurse for a short while and growls them off. It is not my favorite time of the night!

Puppies have been spending most of the daytime outdoors with the big dogs. Mamba and Bella are in charge of entertainment and security. Ozzy visits to play and clean them up. Leeloo keeps her distance, unless her curiosity takes over. In the evening, puppies occupy our dining room. There is plenty of room for dogs and humans to hang out. After all, we all enjoy every minute with our puppies and they need space to raom every time they are awake. It’s hard to believe how much they’ve grown in just 7 weeks!

At the end of the week, California’s winter weather arrived: cold and rain. Puppies did not like it at all. All activities moved indoors and we had a short interruption in potty training. All puppies had a terrible time doing their “business” indoors. They were scratching the doors to let us know that they really REALLY need to go outside. But then, after one step into the wet, they would run back into the house. As the day progressed and raining became sprinkling, puppies were more open to the idea of the great outdoors. Luckily, rainy weather did not last long and at the end of the day we saw a beautiful sunshine. Good news for all of us!

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Week 8 was all about getting puppies ready for the next chapter: life in their new homes. Hard to believe how much they changes in such a short time from a tiny blind creatures into lively happy doggies with distinct personalities. They run, they play and even bark at times. Amazing transformation!

We experienced a lot of “firsts” this week, beginning with a new feeding routine. All puppies started eating from their own bowls. So far, they have been sharing large cooking pans and competing for their food. Our initial attempt to feed puppies from their own bowls failed; the puppies kept going in circles eating from each other’s bowls. Now, it was important to see if enthusiasm for food would not change when they were forced to eat alone. It was a success. Puppies finished their food pretty quickly, although the boys tried to get a taste of girl’s food. It was our job to keep them apart. Everyone got their own “dining room”. Willow ate in our kitchen; Buffy got the living room, Phoebe & Red John are sharing puppy play pen. Freddy’s designated dining area was a crate. In just a couple of days he started just walking into the crate when it’s meal time. Pretty funny!

Puppies were also introduced to real treats: bully slices and they LOVED IT. At first, they were just absorbed by new smell and taste. They were chewing in total silence. After a few minutes, we heard the first few growls: Freddy was trying to steal Buffy’s treat. Not a good idea! She definitely lives up to her name and can protect her stuff! It was fun to watch them challenge each other. Pack dynamics already! Puppies also got chicken-flavored nylabones as an alternative to food-based chewies. Teething is pretty intense and we can see that puppies are often uncomfortable. They liked it too. Not as much as the real deal but certainly a good option to keep gums happy and growing teeth busy!

This week puppies also got their first collars. The boys got their collars with blue pattern and the girls Willow and Phoebe variety of pink motives with flowers. Buffy got a red collar – she is the leader after all! Looking good 🙂 At first, puppies thought they got the greatest chew toy ever and immediately started chewing on each other and using the collars for leverage during wrestling. Very funny! It took them a few minutes to realize it was a foreign object on their necks. It didn’t seem to bother them too much though: just a little scratching here and there but no major dramas. These puppies are ready to conquer the world!

In the middle of the week, puppies got to meet their half-brother Woody who will be spending Christmas Holidays with us. Woody has been an excellent companion to Leeloo’s March puppies and he did not disappoint us this time. When he saw his little brothers and sisters, he immediately started wagging his tail. Mamba made sure he knew the boundaries and was watching his interactions with the puppies very closely. Not a problem for Woody. He was just interested in being a good brother. Gentle giant. We are very fortunate that our dogs enjoy spending time with puppies and each other. Soo much fun watching 10 Otterhounds in action!

This week puppies were also getting used to the winter weather. Being spoiled California kids, they had to endure more rain and cold temperatures (yes, 50F and below is cold and 30s at night is really COLD!) . Puppies had a hard time handling cold temperatures in the morning and after sunset. Rain was much easier to take. We insisted on getting puppies used to different conditions outdoors and must proudly admit that by the end of the week they were OK with playing outside during light drizzle (not so much in the cold). Luckily, we had several breaks in-between the rains and sunshine kept us smiling. Puppies also discovered that digging in the mud is fun and their webbed feet work pretty well when water, dirt or mud are involved. I think Aunt Bella showed them the ropes!

Week 8 was also our last week with the entire puppy pack intact. Puppies did not know it of course, but we the humans were used to the idea that some of these babies will be leaving us right before Christmas. Exciting and sad at the same time. But before we say our final good-byes, there is one more thing we have to do and it is the Blue Fairy tradition: THE BEACH! It’s this weekend. Stay tuned 😉

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Week 9 was fun. It started with a big Blue Fairy adventure: trip to the beach. It has been our tradition to take puppies to the beach after they turn 8 weeks old, have the first round of shots and most of all, before they start leaving to their new homes. On Saturday before Christmas, the weather and tides were favorable for the big escapade. We decided to take only Mamba & Bella with us to provide puppy care at the beach. Leeloo and the boys stayed home. Having ten hounds at the beach may have been too crazy 😉 Seven was just enough!

Trip in the truck was uneventful. I guess the puppies got used to the movement of the car, crate and street noises. The next step was to get puppies from the truck to the beach. That was much more tricky. After all, these puppies are not leash trained! Phoebe and Fred managed to get under the truck and were not too happy about getting out into the open. Luckily, we were able to trick them to come out without too much drama. Buffy, Willow and Red John were sitting patiently, but were not too eager to move. So.. we decided to just carry them all to the beach. Easy! We invited our Blue Fairy family and friends for to join us for the fun and help us handle the puppies. We found a perfect place next to big rocks where puppies could get used to the new environment at their own pace, let their instincts take over and start sightseeing.

Willow surprised us all with her curiosity and enthusiasm for the unknown. She started exploring the moment her little feet hit the sand. She was interested in kelp, rocks and even the ocean. When the waves came in, she sis not panic, just looked around and shook the water off. No fear! True Otterhound. Made us proud.

The rest of the puppy pack needed more time to adjust. They decided to take more laid back approach. They stayed closer to the rocks for the most part. Although the puppies were not ready to face the world, the world was ready meet the puppies. They were an instant sensation and people of all ages were eager to meet them. Dogs were equally fascinated. Mamba provided security and was letting us know if she was concerned with a particular dog approaching her babies. Bella was too busy playing with her sister Addie and did not have time to spend with the puppies. They were getting enough attention from everyone else.

Eight Otterhounds of all ages at the beach was fun! Watching puppies adapt to new situations was fascinating and we have no doubts they will do great in their new homes.

As the weekend came to an end, it was time to start saying good byes. Red John (new name Newton) was the first one to leave the nest on Sunday. He got groomed to arrive at his new home in style. Red eye flight was uneventful and our boy made it to his new destination without a hitch. What a wonderful Christmas gift to his new family!

Willow (new name Fiona) was leaving the next day, on Christmas Eve. She also had a bath, manicure/pedicure and got her ears cleaned. Getting ready for the road. Sad and exciting at the same time. I had the opportunity to take Fiona to the airport all the way to the gate and she was a superstar! She was eager to explore and meet new people of all ages. She was fascinated with kids – I guess she figured they were puppies too 😉 Great breed ambassador already!

In the last couple of weeks, Mamba has been spending more time with the puppies. She seems to enjoy just watching them play and even joins the fun sometimes. Mamba still cleans the puppies up every chance she gets. Puppies love their Mom’s calm confidence and often fall asleep right next to her. Very cute! Mamba seemed not to notice when Newton left, but she was definitely distressed when we came back home without Fiona. She kept whining and counting the puppies, rolling them over with her nose trying to figure out who was missing. We got busted!

Christmas time was nice and mellow. Our pack shrank to 8 Otterhounds. We enjoyed hanging around our Christmas tree with the big dogs. Puppies were just not ready to face the tree and all ornaments without excessive chewing. Leeloo re-discovered her Christmas Santa toy. She has been fascinated with it for the last couple of years and every time we took it out of the box she would just stare at it for hours. This year was no different. She spotted it immediately! We didn’t think she would actually climb up to get it, but she did! One night, when everyone was asleep, Mike heard a voice coming from the living room “Ho Ho Ho! Merrrry Christmas!”. Could it be that Santa really existed and decided to visit our house..? NO! It was Leeloo who finally got the toy and was chewing on poor Santa! Merry Christmas 😉

On Christmas day, our puppy girl Phoebe had the opportunity to taste some whipped cream with the big dogs while her siblings were taking a nap. She perfectly fit in with the pack and understood the system. She patiently sat waiting for her turn and knew how to eat from a fork without making a mess. Good girl!

At the end of the week we said good bye to Woody. We all enjoyed his company and look forward to his future visits. The good news is that Bella’s sister Addie is about to join us for the weekend. Puppies are about to meet yet another family member. They are growing up to be very social creatures!

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Week 10 started with the departure of Freddy. He has been the only boy in the puppy pack for almost a week. Hard to say if he was truly enjoying company of his sisters because these girls can be really tough wrestlers with needle-sharp teeth! Meeting his Aunt Addie slightly changed pack dynamics and added new energy to the already playful atmosphere. Not a problem for Freddy who from the very first day was very confident and up to take on any challenge. After all, he was getting ready to join a family of a Golden Retriever, Gordon Setter, 3 cats and their humans. Another sad and exciting event for us.

Freddy’s trip to his new home in Arizona was uneventful and he handled his 6 hour car ride really well. We are told that when he arrived at his destination, he met his new pack, had dinner and quickly settled on the dog bed with the Gordon. He also thought that cats were just small dogs 😉 Confident and social puppy boy!

In the meantime, at home, our pack welcomed yet another returning family member. Addie visited us for the weekend and New Year celebration. Interaction of Addie and the puppies was interesting. Addie is a very high energy 10-month old pup and her enthusiasm for her nieces was undeniable. More playmates meant more fun! But the puppies were not so sure about Addie’s intentions. They were curious and cautious at the same time. It took couple of days to get them comfortable around their Auntie. The best part was to watch the big puppies Bella and Addie play right next to the little puppies Buffy & Phoebe. Almost identical stalking and wrestling techniques!

With the departure of Freddy, we made some changes in puppy play area in our dining room and in their sleeping quarters. It was time to downsize! We reduced the upstairs bedroom setup to a crate large enough to let both girls sleep comfortably. It’s great to finally be able to move around our bed! Downstairs area was also made smaller. The girls now have a little more than a half of the dining room to roam. There is enough space for the big dogs to visit. Mamba still likes to spend time with her puppies. Ozzy and Bella stop by to inventory the toys and play with the girls. Tugging is fun for all 🙂

Blue Fairy hounds welcomed New Year 2013 the old fashioned way: lots of play in the yard, some new chewies and more play. We’ve watched fireworks from the distance and the noise did not make much impact on the dogs Buffy & Phoebe are both strong and growing up fast. They have great appetites for food and discovering the world. Every day is a new adventure. They made great progress in potty training and let us know when they want to go outside. Getting them outdoors in the morning when it’s cold or in the rain is still a challenge, but with proper motivation and support from their Mom or Bella they run out to the yard.

Puppies figured out very quickly our daily routines. The sound of kibble in a bowl is a call for a meal and they never miss it, even if the food is being prepared for the big dogs. We started practicing sit command before a meal or before getting into the play area. The girls have sharp teeth and nails no matter how often we trim them and jumping up is the game these days. Time to break up their habits and teach good skills instead. Amazing how quickly they learn. Smart puppy girls 🙂

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Week 11 was all about the girls: Buffy and Phoebe. Their development in the last couple of weeks has been amazing. They are sharp, enthusiastic and ready to conquer the world. They want to be part of the pack and keep up with the big dogs, especialy Bella & Ozzy. The puppies watch them very closely and imitate their behavior – the good and the bad. They already mastered the art of digging and chewing sticks taught by Aunt Bella! Inventory of the toy box is a daily occurrence. We are lucky they are still too small to jump over their puppy pen fence. They try every day.. just in case 😉

At the beginning of the week, Buffy learned how to use the doggie door. She is finally tall enough to walk thru it and since the big dogs were “disappearing” somehow into the house, she figured she should follow them. No problems going thru the double set of doggie doors between the yard and our living room. At first, we were trying to figure out how the puppy was getting into the house. She would appear inside within just a couple of minutes after we put her outside. When we caught her in the act, we couldn’t help but smile. Smart girl!

Phoebe is more reluctant to follow her sister, but given a choice between cold outdoors and warm kitchen with a potential for food or a treat, she made the decision to go right thru. However, for Phoebe using doggie door is the last alternative. She prefers to sit patiently to be let inside, while Buffy simply runs around the house looking for ways in.

Now we have to make sure we shut the gates or the doors to stop the puppies from getting into the house unsupervised. We already caught Phoebe checking out the ornaments on our Christmas tree and Buffy exploring the upstairs! On the bright side, the puppies should figure out very soon that these doggie doors are not just good for getting in, but also for getting out. What a concept!

This week Buffy and Phoebe got their second round of vaccinations and another general health check. Both girls now weigh almost 25 lbs. Quite a change from tiny blind and helpless creatures they used to be just a few weeks ago! They are strong and playful with very distinct personalities.

Buffy is a natural pack leader! She is curious and courageous. Her first instinct is to move forward and explore. Being in the middle of all activities is in her nature and she gravitates towards sounds and commotion. Ozzy knows she is the one to pick a toy right from his mouth and he loves it! When Buffy hears “No” her eyes are asking “Are you sure..?”. She knows though when she’s pushed her luck with us humans, her sister Phoebe and the big dogs and it’s time to stop rough play or just sit down and wait for her turn. She is very sharp! When we named her “Buffy” we should have known we were creating an action figure! Smart and full of energy. The “Otter” Slayer 😉

Phoebe is more cautious. She is more aware of her environment, people and dogs around her. She evaluates each situation before jumping into action. She is pretty independent. We watch her often exploring the yard by herself or just chewing a bone next to Bella or Ozzy, enjoying their company without the need of direct interaction. She sometimes falls asleep in the bushes or right at the doorway. Free spirit! But.. our Phoebe is not always mellow and easy going. She is fast and agile. When she’s ready to wrestle, she is an even opponent for her sister Buffy. She’s enjoying life every minute of every day and the tail never stops wagging. Her name says it all: bright and shining!

As the week 11 comes to an end, we are slowly getting ready for yet another good bye. Buffy is about to leave us and join her new family in Northern California. The puppy pack is shrinking!

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Hard to believe it’s been 12 weeks since our Halloween puppies were born. It’s been fun and exciting time to be part of their growing up and evolving from small, defenseless creatures into tough monsters with teeth and claws! At 12 weeks old, these little dogs are strong and independent.

With puppy pack being reduced to just Buffy and Phoebe, puppy play was taken to a new level. The girls were wrestling almost all the time. They even started to be vocal! We heard Buffy more than once negotiating with her Sister for a stick or a toy in the yard. Very funny, especially when Phoebe was pretending not to hear the squeaky barks 😉

The puppies also grew bolder when playing with big dogs. They used to hide in the bushes when Bella and Ozzy were roaming at sunset. Now, the size, weight and speed of the adults became less scary and puppy girls were trying to join the action as much as possible. Buffy was the one to lead the charge. No surprise! But things were about to change one more time..

Buffy was about to join her new pack in Northern California. In preparation for the big day, she got her farewell beauty treatment: pawdicure, ear cleaning and a bath. She handled the bath like a pro and did not mind the warm water or shampoo. Good girl! Phoebe was equally cooperative. She was not leaving our pack, but definitely needed a bath after continuous mayhem outdoors with her sister, rain or shine. Both girls slept really well after an evening at Blue Fairy spa 😉

Saturday was another bitter/sweet experience. Letting puppies go is much easier when they are younger! It is more difficult as they grow up and their personalities develop. We were getting more attached to Buffy & Phoebe with each passing day. Mamba has been also spending more time with her girls playing or just hanging out in their play pen. I was joking that we should hide Buffy in the closet at the last minute 😉 Plus, I knew Mamba would notice the moment Buffy was gone. And she did! She even whined for a while after her puppy inventory came up short. On the bright side, NoCal is not too far away and we hope to see our fearless Buffy as she matures.

.. and then there was only one…

It took Phoebe more than a day to get used to the fact that her sister and favorite playmate was gone. We downsized her play-pen and opened it up to the rest of the house. Her world suddenly got much MUCH bigger. She cautiously started exploring, followed by her Cousin Bella who took charge of puppy care almost immediately. Christmas tree was a natural stop with the ornaments hanging low and tempting. Next lesson for humans: start teaching “leave it” command 😉 It’s a good thing that there were lots of toys around to create a distraction!

Phoebe was introduced to a different feeding routine: she started eating with the rest of our pack. It took her couple of tries to figure out that nobody is willing to share their food with her and I think she got the message. She still likes to lick the bowls after everyone is done. Her enthusiasm for food is as great as Bella’s. Both girls like assisting in meal preparations just in case there is an extra treat (and there always is 😉 ). It’s impressive how fast the little puppy picks up on daily routines.

Potty training is also in full swing and Phoebe lets us know when she needs to go out. Additional trips outdoors after each play session are necessary. Hard to believe how much moisture is in that small body. So far so good: we have very few mistakes. Doggie door training though is slower than expected. Without her sister’s motivation, Phoebe prefers to wait for us to open the door. Who’s training who..? We are lucky that Bella constantly leads the way. What a great helper she’s become!

Phoebe also joined the pack for daily adventures in the fields and at the beach. Leash walking lessons are in progress and we are working hard on “Come” command. Good recall is crucial. She was a little shy the first time out in the unknown especially when she met another dog, but with every day her natural curiosity takes over: she loves to explore and meet & greet people. She’s become quite a social butterfly.

Pack dynamics in Blue Fairy house continue to change. Mamba, Ozzy and Bella are the caretakers and provide entertainment and workout throughout the day. Oz & Bella are working hard on their toy sharing and chasing techniques to make sure puppy can keep up. Leeloo is keeping her distance, but Phoebe is trying to make friends with her big Auntie every day and she is not easily discouraged. The other morning we found the puppy napping right next to Leeloo, touching head-to-head. Big progress!

We did not make a final decision about Phoebe’s future. She is our pick of the litter and we would love to see her shown in conformation and even bred in the future. Only time will show what Universe has planned for her and all of us. Who knows, maybe she’ll join our Blue Fairy Pack. She certainly has the right temperament and physical attributes to succeed in any environment. Legend of the Fall 2012.

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