11 Puppies
Sharp Needles and Puppy Teeth
I arrive for my third visit with the puppies. I notice that, on this hot, humid day, Sharon is wearing wellies with her summer skirt. She warns me that I might regret the flip-flops – the wellies are her defence against sharp needles and puppy teeth.
I dip my flip-flops into a bowl of disinfectant. Dipping is a requirement to protect the puppies from germs. We step outside and join Sally Wynes, who has come to spend some time with ‘Punk’ and ‘Splodge’, her two favourites. Sally is wearing a pair of sensible needle-proof trainers. However, it’s not long before one of the pups has undone the laces.
At six and a half weeks, the puppies are now very inquisitive, finding their way into most things that Sharon does not put out of reach.
Nothing is safe from the puppies these days.
At 61/2 weeks, the puppies are now very active.
It’s not long before I feel the needles and Sharon laughs, “I know if I take my wellies off, I’ve had it”
Puppy
I shoot some pictures of Sally and ‘Punk’ and then some of Sally with ‘Splodge’. We discuss which of the two pups Sally should take. Sharon says, “If I was having a dog for work, I would have ‘Punk’. But, if I wanted a dog to Show, I’d have ‘Splodge’ who is bigger, chunkier, with longer hair. For Agility though, I would choose ‘Punk’.
Sally and 'Punk'.
Sally sighs, “The more I see him (‘Punk’), the more I like him.”
The choice will depend, in part, on the Personality Tests that the pups are to undergo in a few days time. Sharon, too, will make her final choice of which pup to keep based on these tests. At the moment, Sharon’s favourite is a little thing that has been referred to as, “the ugliest in the litter”. Sharon explains, “Her name is going to be Beezi, as in The Zambezi. She’s the smallest funniest looking one in the litter”.
I ask Sharon if she’s visited The Zambezi (the forth-longest river in Africa) and she admits she hasn’t and does not plan to. “I just like the sound of the name”, she explains.
Sally has a name picked out too. “I’ve decided on Xandar. It’s short for Alexandar and it means ‘protector of man’.
Puppy
Sharon adds that another puppy is going to a first-time GSD owner who has picked out the name ‘Zanna’. “So, we’ve got Xandar (pronounced Zandar), Zanna and Zambezi (Beezi) all from the same litter”, I say incredulously.
Enough about names – it’s time for food and Sharon brings out some large meaty bones. Katja (Mum) and the pups gather around excitedly as the bones are spread on the ground. This is where the puppy’s needles come in handy and they all tuck in eagerly.
Dinner time.
Katja knows the pups will make a play for her bone and she warns them away with a growl. There are plenty of bones to go around but one of the pups decides that Mum’s bone is the best. Katja reacts with a warning growl and grimace that sends him off in a fright to the far corner where he yelps and yelps. After a while, he recovers his dignity and comes back to his own bone.
Katja warns the puppies.
Sharon points out that the 6 to 8 week age is vital for socialisation. She says, “It’s such an important age. A lot of breeders let their dogs go at 6 weeks, but they miss out on what they could learn from their mum and their litter brothers and sisters”.
She explains, “Some of the pups that weren’t confident at 6 weeks are now beginning to ‘come out’. I’ve got a real quiet one. So, at night, I’ve been separating him and putting him in a crate with two of my quietest bitches. One thing this has achieved is to help him ‘come out’ whereas, when he was left with all the others, he tended to get lost”.
We talk about their diet. “They’re more or less weaned”, says Sharon. “They’re on a raw diet at the moment. I have also given them goat’s milk, but it’s not something they get every day”.
"They're more or less weaned."
She continues, “I will send them home with a pack of Arden Grange because most people prefer to feed a complete dry dog food. But, all my dogs are brought up on a raw diet until they get to about a year old and then, for convenience more than anything, I put them on Arden Grange”.
I know that it won’t be long now before these puppies are sent out into the world with their new families and I wonder how Sharon can bear to part with them. “Just think of all the free time I’ll have”, she says.
But, I’m not convinced. I think she’ll miss them.
Previous article: 11 Puppies - Four Weeks Old
Contact details for Sharon Arnold, Frome K-9
Email: sharonma12@aol.com
Website: Frome K-9
Author: Kay Wheatley
