Molly and Jacks pups - almost 4 weeks old

We had such a great day yesterday.  Pam and Sam came down with Gibson and Paris.  John and Sam went ice fishing for several hours leaving Pam and I to catch up with each other, enjoy the pups, and simply kick back and relax.  Although the guys didn't catch any fish, they also had a good time and we sat around the table later sharing a supper of  baked beans, grilled ham, cole slaw, pickles, crusty bread, and desert.  

John and I always say that we think the dogs remember each other when they come visit, especially those from the same family.  Well there was no mistaking Treasure and Gibson's fond memories as they raced playfully around the yard together!  True joined in the fun and I actually snapped a few photos of Treasure, Gibson and True together.  I knew True looked like his father but yesterday it was so evident.  True is like a mini version of Gibby!  Paris was her usual beautiful 'self' and quickly fit in with Piper and Treasure. True loved being with Pam and vice versa.  She has such a nice way with all dogs, patient and easily trains them to learn new things.  I've learnd so much about showing from her.   Jack also thought Paris was very prettty... and even tried on her pretty pink new harness, we have photos to show his more feminine side (NO John was not home at the time.)  Pam and I spent time with the puppies who are only awake for about 20 minutes at a time.  I love the interaction of puppies and Pam because she truly loves them and vice versa.  In a couple of weeks she and Sam will come back and help us with the P.A.T. (Puppy Aptitude Test) as well as we hope Jim and Julie will join us too.  We take the evaluation process of all our pups very seriously.  I'm especially looking forward to comparing the development of these pups with Jack and Molly's 2008 litter. 

We've started to make plans for puppy visits with those who are going to welcome these young Brittany babies into their lives and homes.  This is always one of my favorite times too.  Especially when we have repeat customers which is the situation with several of these pups. And we get to meet some new people that we've been working with.  

The pups are crawling up and over the whelping box.  Every litter of pups develops uniquely and the timeframes for certain behaviors can be anticipated but not guaranteed.  Molly's pups tend to be very active at an early age.  We try to keep track over time who does certain things first, and based on our experience over the years can pretty much tell who the main characters are going to be.  "Trish" who has Barley from their 2008 litter was asking if there is another "Lewis and Clark" exploration in this litter.  Well we haven't identified a team yet but definitely see that the pup we have nicknamed "Spud" could easily fall into that same category!  It was Nash and Barley 2 years ago.... And now I am confident Spud is emerging in that light.  While in a week all the pups will be doing the same things albeit at different levels of interest etc., it is Spud who walks along the perimeter of the whelping box and who today, climbed up and over the top, tumbling onto the floor of the main area - not once, but several times.   There are those who will go all the way to the far side of their puppy pen to eliminate - and that is impressive to me too as at this age "going" is still an involuntary response.  Molly no longer has to help them out to 'go' but they really don't have the abilility to hold things for very long.  It was Molly and Jack's 2008 litter that also pretty much were housebroken by the time they went home at 8 weeks - all on their own doing. 

Piper and True are growing like weeds and they enjoy some minimal interaction with the babies... At 4 months old their attention span is getting longer and working with them, training, etc. is even more effective.  True is not so apt to be as concerned with where I am as he has been.  And Piper, who never has been concerned before, is now MORE attentive to John and I. 

Miss Pippin is in training, getting conditioned for more time in the fields this spring.  I'm not sure right now about showing her this spring..Pippin has grown a gorgeous winter coat, which she needs for the amount of time she spends outside.  There are a couple of shows coming up I'm interested in but I would have to strip out her winter undercoat... I just don't know at the moment... and sometimes I really go back and forth about whether I enjoy showing at all. Although I am sure there are those dogs who live for the ring, we sure don't have any here that fit that description ! 

Well that's about all the ramblin' on I'm going to do for the time being.  I could write more and there are additional photos to share.  I love the new camera and each day learn something new about it. 

Please take care, we always appreciate your interest in ATB and wish you well - take care and God Bless,

John, Ann and the crew!