3 Week Portraits Over 4th of July weekend Susan Fletcher and Dad dog Raferty came up to visit and meet the pups in person. The morning of the 4th Susan and I were able to take individual photos of the pups for the first time. They were a bit nervous about their first trip outside -- they were only 24 days old -- but got over it quite quickly and were soon looking around so much it was hard to keep them focused where we wanted them. The next day Susan took Salishan and the pups to her house for a week and a half so that she could get to know them better, something the owner of the sire rarely has the opportunity to do. It gave me a break to take care of some things I needed to deal with too since pups at this age are quite time consuming. I picked them up and brought the whole gang home again on Saturday the 16th. Consequently there is a gap in photos between the three week and five week points. The GirlsKaylie and River may be different colors but their personalities are quie similar. Both are absolute loves. Whenever a human comes in sight, they run up for attention and hopefully to be picked up and cuddled. They may be smaller than their brothers but they easily hold their own in wrestling matches, making up for the lack of size with more brain power. Both have an obvious feminine look as too. They are going to be quite pretty when they grow up.
The Boys The boys show more difference in their personalities than the girls.
Summer is simply the perfect time of year to raise a litter of puppies. There are long days of their playing outside, snoozing under the front porch deck, exploring the tall grass of the meadow, and chasing bugs. Of course all of that has to wait until their eyes are open, their ears are open, and they are actually functioning beings. The first two weeks they are pretty much potatoes that squeak occasionally. But it is very soothing so sit and watch them. A mother dog nursing her pups secretes phermones that are exactly that -- soothing. All nursing female mammals secrete these phermones that comfort and to a lesser extent, control their offspring. It enhances the bond between the mother and her pups. These appeasement phermones have the same effect on the other adult dogs in the home, calming them as well, reducing or eliminating stress-related behavior in all ages of dogs and helping them feel good about their surroundings. You can actually buy a product called "DAP" that mimics this effect though I have no idea if it works.
Left to right, Malcolm (m), River (f), Wash (m), Jayne Cobb (m), Kaylie (f), Shepherd on top (m), and Simon (m) lying below him. Copyright © Ginger Corley, Rain Mountain Chinooks, 1988 to present. No material may be reproduced without permission, though permission is usually granted. Logo by Susan Fletcher, Frontier Chinooks, used here with permission and much appreciation of her great talent. |