Noni's LITTLES - Their Final Week
And just like that… 7 weeks have come and gone in a blink of an eye. The final countdown has officially begun, and there are now six very lucky families sitting on the edge of their seats, waiting for the moment they finally get to scoop up their new cream puff and start this next chapter ahead.
At seven weeks, these babies are extremely BUSY! They are curious, confident, playful, opinionated, and increasingly convinced that the entire world was built specifically for their entertainment. Wobble boards to conquer, swings to slay, stairs to take over and siblings to wrestle. Photos are almost impossible to get into focus unless I am 'threatening' them or 'torturing' them by keeping them on the other side of the nursery panels. They think this is the biggest punishment ever to not have me directing inside their nursery at all times. SUCH snuggles bugs!
This week field trips were and are on the agenda. Cars. People. New noises. New smells. New places. Hustle and Bustle of the outside world were taken in. And their response? “Oh, this is interesting.” “Yes, so so fun… Snuggles deeper into the sling… “ok now I shall take a nap” While Arai had to repeat "NO you cannot touch them" about a million and a half times.
Because apparently puppies have discovered one of life's greatest skills: experiencing something completely new and exciting for approximately four minutes before deciding they have earned a nap. The more they see and experience, the more confident and resilient they become.
We are now onto the last week of ticking off the last tasks on the puppy checklist.
Vet clearances will take place this week, and their final medications and paperwork will be completed. Their first vaccines will officially be on board, and we'll be checking all the boxes that need to be checked before these babies head off into their new lives.
Baths will take place which is yet another spa day event for these babes. Not a bat of an eye. Warm water, a huge tight squeeze to wring the water out of them, the one-on-one attention, and in a flash they become sleepy, floppy puddles of puppies.
The Big Transition Has Started from the nursery onto getting used to the idea that they are soon to run solo. This has been the first week that the Littles have gone completely without nursing. It marks a pretty significant transition for sure. They've gone from being completely dependent on Mama, to learning from Mama and their siblings, to becoming increasingly independent little individuals. They are now eating in their own individual crates like absolute pros, which is a pretty big accomplishment.
They are learning that being independent is perfectly okay.
Eat at whatever pace they choose.
Settle without Mama.
Sleep without being in a dog pile.
That they can be comfortable on their own.
Noni, however, has had a bit of a different experience with this whole “growing up and moving out” business. She's been having a little bit of a hard time letting go. And honestly? I can't blame her. Her maternal instincts run strong and deep, and she's been an incredible mama to these six babies. She's been patient, attentive, nurturing, and completely invested in them from the very beginning.
So, as the babies become more independent and spend more time away from her, she's had a few moments of: “Excuse me. What exactly is this growing up thing!?” She's needed a little extra love, reassurance, and attention this week. A little reminding that she's done her job. That her babies are growing exactly as they should. That they are ready. She'll be okay. By the time these babies head out, I expect she'll have accepted the new arrangement and will be ready to enjoy some much-deserved Mama downtime.
Meanwhile, the new families waiting are getting increasingly itching to get here and get their hands on their fur babies. I can't blame them one bit. After weeks of updates, pictures, videos, personality descriptions, milestones, and watching these babies grow from tiny squishy squashies into actual little dogs, it's getting very real.
SEE?! Actual real dogs!! ha!
Suddenly, the energy around here will shift. The nursery will become quieter. The toys will be cleaned and stored away. The crates will be cleaned and put up.
And the next chapter will begin.
By next week’s blog check-in, the puppies will be with their families.
And this particular chapter of Noni's Littles will have come to an end. But that's the funny thing about raising puppies. One chapter closes, and another one immediately begins.
The seasons are changing. The air feels different. There's new growth happening.
And around here, there is plenty of new life and new adventure waiting just around the corner.
STAY TUNED!
