HAY Pups 5 wks old - BERRY Pups 4 wks old

Hoekema Family
5 days ago
3 min read

The sunshine comes out, the chill drops, the dogs slow and everything comes to a stop.

The dogs instantly sprawl out in the sand like the warmth shot their breath away in a split second. The rhubarb bursts forward with fierce determination and the crocuses and tulips reach for the skies like they have been starving to death for months.

The puppies run, romp, roll, climb, swing, swim and soak up every single second of this early warmth that we've been blessed with.

What a beautiful time of year this is!

Again, this week so much was discovered, explored, taken on and conquered.

The Berry Babies have finally come out of their lumpy squishy potatoe skins and have joined the big kids in adventuring. Not quite up the slide or stairs yet but very much aware, focused and on a mission to live with full dedication and drive.

The HAY kids are full force, every gear engaged, moving forward with unstoppable momentum.

Outside playtime has been granted due to age and weather permitting. Up the stairs, down the slide, on the swing, through the water and back again. Their startle and recovery reaction has been tested, tried, repeated and practiced. Little muscles are getting worked and coordination and confidence are building.

Everyone is doing spectacular.

It's the other dogs who really want to play with the babies, say hi, sniff and explore the new beings. The mamas just want to bask in a sunspot in peace.

Anya and Neema had their sniff time.. said nah and left, ha! But my Tonk immediately dropped to the ground gentle as a giant and let the babies pull on his tail and chew on his ears. He was like that at 6 mths old and 3 yrs later he still demonstrates this gentle slow demeanor that simply melts my heart. Not all males can mingle with young pups but he's my go to dog that I can trust 110% with the wee ones.

Along with basin water exposure, we also did swimming lessons this week. Turned out that they loved the warm water a bit too much and no paddling was had. Their trust in me was high and their goal, obviously, was to enjoy a full service spa day! It was a full float day. Each pup got a lesson or at least exposed to the deep end, got a full scrub head to toe and called it a night.

Crate exposure is still in the works, getting more and more time under their belts every day. Feeding in their crates absolutely boosts value to their time exposed and soon their time will be extended minute by minute as nap times will soon be added with blankets and heart beat snuggle puppies. The Berry pups are backing food this week like they've been doing it from the start. Getting so rolly polly!

Potty tray training is going SO well! I'm so so proud of these babies! So much progress was made this week in this area. Such smart little cream puffs.

Isla is no longer with her batch of babies at night and this week ahead Leia also gets the nights to herself. This will be the last week for Isla to nurse these pups before she cuts them off completely. The last chunk of time here is spent only with siblings most of the time. When mamas do choose to be with their babies, a surgical suit gets put on the mamas so they can play, Smm snuggle and be with their babes without the barnacle control to manage. This slow transition helps get the pups ready to move into their new homes, without mama, with siblings and out into their new lives.

Next weekend the HAY babies turn six weeks old, a meaningful milestone that begins family visits and the thoughtful, special process of matching each puppy with the family they are meant to join. A busy weekend yes, but such a fun time, one I wouldn't go without.

I have some tuned in pups, fun pups, thoughtful, playful, spunky pups. Pups who want to work, pups who well... don't, ones who want to snuggle and ones who want to run. It's my job to do my very best in presenting and placing these pups as options to the right family to make sure success is had for everyone involved.