We have several new videos today! One is of Mai's puppies, now 3 weeks old today, and Tessa's puppies, now 3 weeks and 3 days, attempting their first meal. They took to it enthusiastically, and did a great job! Of course, I over estimated how much they could eat and made more than they wanted, but the rest is now in the fridge until I heat it up for the next meal. I make the first meal for puppies from ground puppy food (Pro Plan or another good dog food product), soaked in boiling water for hours until mush. Then I add warm water and warmed goats milk (goats milk is easily digestible for puppies), and make a gruel consistency. They eat out of specially designed puppy pans that have a cone-like structure in the middle to lessen the messy stepping through it. The other focus is keeping moms from eating the food. Once they get the idea, they're pretty good at letting the puppies have first dibs on eating. Then, of course, moms finish what they don't. Oh, and the puppies are definitely wetting more!!!! More bedding changes, more often. This is now when real work starts!

We also have a lot of tail wagging going on now, and little growling that they practice. LOL They are definitely in play mode with each other when awake, but still sleep quite a bit. They are beginning to charge each other and run a few steps before falling down. Now Tessa's puppies are cutting teeth!!! Next week she'll start nursing in the "feed and dash" method...jump in to nurse, clean, and jump out when she starts to feel the little needle-like teeth. The puppies are becoming more used to me handling them, too. Some allow me to lay them on their backs in my arms and look at my face, and are pretty relaxed for a strange experience.

I've recently learned (from watching NatGeo) that wolf puppies are more advanced at earlier ages than the domestic dog puppies. The human domestication of dogs has extended their dependence on maternal and human care, and as a result they are not at such great risk to predators as the wolf.

Mai is also adjusting to a change in her diet. She finished her Nature's Variety raw diet patties I was feeding her now along with her kibble to increase her calorie intake. She's been fussy since whelping, which prompted me to feed her a raw diet she preferred. However, now her appetite has dramatically increased, and she will eat what I give her, albeit over a period of hours sometimes! The girls are now eating 3 times a day, kibble with added chicken, plain yogurt and a hard boiled egg for breakfast, just kibble for lunch, and kibble, and ground beef and yogurt for dinner.

Mai and Tessa are also spending less time in the box with the puppies. Initially, they were in there almost 24/7 for about 10 days. And they nursed them cuddled against their bellies as they wrapped themselves around them, protecting them from "predators" (the cats...LOL), and the cold. We DO have heat lamps and emitters on them, so that behavior is more instinctual than necessary.

All in all, I am pleased with the girls' transition to mothering and nurturing. It's just so fascinating to watch and learn. They still clean up after the puppies (no more kisses from them for now!), and Mai, especially, is very tuned in to crying puppies...hers AND Tessa's!

More later....