We give our litters call names…

It’s not their permanent names…

It just doesn’t seem right to refer to them as “that one”…….or “her over there”…….

…..and Puppy #1, or Puppy #2…#3…or #4…….just seems so flat and emotion-less…….

…..so we give temporary call names…….

Over the years we’ve had “theme litters”…….

…..Comic-strip-themed;  greek-god-themed;  entire litters of herbs or flowers…….

…..and…..Disney-names…….

I’m not quite sure where this litter’s call names came from…….they just bubbled forth out of sleep deprived delirium…

We’ve got Oscar…

…and Rachel…

…and Betty…

…and Alice…

…and loud-mouthed Bruce…

…and even more-opinionated Joan…

It’s easier keeping notes that way…

Who’s eaten first…….who’s eaten last…….

Who’s pee’d…….who’s poo’d…….who hasn’t…….

Killian has been a trooper…….

…..she and I both look like something the cat’s dragged in…….

…..the puppies have no respect where nursing is concerned…….it’s all hands-on-deck at meal time.

…..they will suck on anything…….

Poor Killian has hickeys all over her…….

*****Do I Need To Explain Hickeys?*****

…..but she sticks with the routine and is regularly abused by her kiddlekins…

………….she is a wonderful Mom………….

But the babies are still doing well and growing…….

…..and I’m still scared…..

I’m not forgetting that our last litter started dying between the third and fourth week…….

…..we still really don’t know why…….”failure to thrive”…….fifteen puppies…….a failure to thrive…….

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are coming up to two weeks…….these guys appear to be thriving…….

………….we’ll just keep doing what we’re doing………….and we’ll keep hoping & praying.

sigh…