At five weeks old, the puppies were easily climbing out of their whelping box and were making messes everywhere. They quickly chewed up puppy pads (and towels, blankets, and toys!). Gracie decided that she was done eating their poop now that they were eating solid foods in addition to nursing, so clean up became aContinue reading “Gracie’s puppies – week 5”
Tag Archives: dog
Gracie’s puppies – Week 4
The puppies turned 4 weeks and their cuteness quotient nearly doubled! The portly group of ten discovered how to coordinate their up-until-now clumsy appendages in efforts to escape the whelping box. They tumbled out one by one over the course of a couple days, and just in time; they barely fit inside with Gracie anymore! Continue reading “Gracie’s puppies – Week 4”
Gracie’s puppies – Week 3
By their third week of life, the puppies were famous among our neighbors and friends. The kids were so excited about the whole experience (and to be honest, I was just as excited!) that they told anyone who would listen about the miracle at our home. And anyone who saw Gracie walking around the neighborhoodContinue reading “Gracie’s puppies – Week 3”
Gracie’s puppies – Week 2
The dry food only diet, mixed with a little pumpkin puree, firmed up Gracie’s stools somewhat, but they were still loose. I also felt like she was continuing to look thinner and thinner. She enjoyed the dry food much less than she had enjoyed the wet food, so after a few days, I started addingContinue reading “Gracie’s puppies – Week 2”
Gracie’s puppies – the first week
Friday (one day old): Gracie was reluctant to leave her puppies that first day, even to eat and drink or go outside for a quick potty break. I brought her water bowl to her and she drank eagerly. I offered her small amounts of food at a time, knowing that having eaten 10 placentas sheContinue reading “Gracie’s puppies – the first week”
Delivery day!
Gracie was anxious and got up every once in a while to reposition herself or pace around the pen asking to go out. When I took her outside, she strained while using the bathroom. I became worried that she would have her puppies outside in the chilly April dark! Each time Gracie came back inside,Continue reading “Delivery day!”
Gracie comes home
We brought Gracie home on April 11, 2018. Gracie was calm but attentive in the car. She looked around with minimal curiosity and shifted her weight with the turns. I regretted living a whole 20 minutes away from the shelter, knowing she must be uncomfortable. At home, I took her for a quick 10 minuteContinue reading “Gracie comes home”
Our first mama dog
The Bean puppies are all with their outstanding adoptive families this week, inserting themselves into hearts and homes. The families that adopted them have experience with their breed mixes and/or large dogs. Even more importantly, they adore their new family members. I have every confidence that each of those precious puppies will give and receiveContinue reading “Our first mama dog”
Who told on me?
I don’t know who is responsible, but someone told the puppies that I divulged all their messy secrets and now they are on a mission to prove me wrong. They were perfect angels over the weekend and, I think for the first time ever while fostering puppies, I awoke to zero poops this morning. TheyContinue reading “Who told on me?”
How will you let them go?
A few people have asked how we possibly let puppies go at the end of the foster period. Besides the obvious impracticality of raising 6 (or 7, 8, 9 or 10) puppies to adulthood and the impact that would have on our ability to foster future homeless mamas and puppies (and, you know, doContinue reading “How will you let them go?”