And Then There Was One.......

How quickly time goes by when you are having fun - and what fun we have had! From the very moment that She-dog gave birth to her seven pups in the middle of a dinner party, to this very hectic time now, we have had ten weeks of sheer magic and joy.

We did not know if we, or She-dog, would cope, for this was a first litter for all of us. We need not have worried. She-dog, that most reliable of canine friends, proved to be a natural, caring for them and for us whenever they, or we, became anxious.


The first few weeks the pups needed little input from us humans. Feeding from She-dog, it was she who decided it was time that they should try some solid food and - as teeth and claws grew and became sharper - weaned them completely by standing on the sofa until they had fed from a bowl.


As the pups grew bolder and stronger so she started playing with them and they responded by encouraging us to join in too. I had never seen such a tiny puppy play with such a large and heavy ball before as this polo ball. Was it just fate that they were interested in it for two puppies went off to homes where their new masters played polo? Polo is a dog friendy sport so we were delighted, for it means there is a good chance we will see them again - we are polo fanatics and attend matches whenever we can.



Our lavender pekin bantam hens obliged with the training too. Baby chicks hatched the day the pups were born so they were able to see each other from an early age to the benefit of both dog and fowl. We watched amused as the pups came to realise that they were no match for a protective mother hen. Pecked nosed puppies soon learn respect!


As the pups grew larger they moved onto new toys - doormats, my workboots, trainers and rubbish bins. Although we wanted them to stay inside the house to socialise as much as possible we were glad to have the outside kennel when times became too hectic. Provided we ignored the pitiful looks through the bars, they soon went off into a deep sleep and looked - just as naughty children do - angelic!

Over the past couple of weeks, more pups have gone and the house has become less full. But not less noisy. Now we are one - Tim - and he rather likes being the centre of attention. Despite our best endeavours he has found he can now launch himself onto the sofa and be the sole playmate to She-dog. And She-dog, now finding herself almost without puppies once again, has returned to puppyhood herself, behaving in a way that no self-respecting, young lady of a certain standing should: quite mad and quite reckless. More on that next post....

Tim with that "who me?" look on his face!