4 weeks old pictures and update

Where does the time go? It is hard to believe our pups are already 4 weeks old. And for 4 weeks old they are truly amazing. They all run around like mad now and I swear if they could jump into your arms they would. As soon as you go anywhere near their crate , they all come charging towards you and 7 little black faces stare at you and plead with you to pick them up. Particularly our purple princes who seemed to have mastered the most amazing stare, they look you straight in the eye and you actually feel almost guilty, it's as if they can see into your soul........
Anyway, here are the pictures of our fabulous Tonka Puppies!

No 1, a fantastic little pup, always very busy and very, very gobby. She has a mind of her own this one and only does what she wants to do. She loves cuddles but only when she wants one, pick her up when she isn't in the mood and you have a fight on your hand. Gobby is usually the last one to sleep and loves to go around fighting all the others and growling trying to wake them up

No 2 is the cutest, most adorable puppy. Always loves cuddles and will climb onto your knee at every opportunity. She is really playful as well as this picture shows - I know I have already published this picture but it is my favourite ever picture of one of the pups. Hew paws look huge! I just wish I had been videoing it because she was making a fabulous growling noise whilst she was attacking the tube!

Here is No 3 Jake or Tippy. He still has his white tipped tail, I am really hoping he will always have it, it a such a lovely feature. This was taken whilst all his litter mates were playing all around him, poor little guy had just had enough and he found a cool spot and went to sleep, and just slept through the noise and various attacks from his brothers and sisters. Jake loves the cold, a true Newfie. If he gets too hot he immediatley begins complaining very loudly, a quick trip outside into the fresh air usually sorts him out

No 4 also worn out with all the excitement. A real chunky little monkey our No 4 and a trouble causer. Wants to play constantly and will bat at the others with his paws or bite them until they join in. Elwood as he is still known, was one of the first pups to appreciate the toys and he drags them around everywhere, which can be hilarious as he usually chooses the biggest one and it takes him a good few attempts to get where he is going

This is no 5 at the bottom of a pile of pups!

And this is no 6 on the look out for trouble!

It may seem unfair to club these two together all the time, but I really think they are twins. The similarities both physical and in their behaviour are most uncanny and I would love these two to be homed together or at the very least that their future owners stay in touch. These guys are Adorable - yes with a capital A! Always first in the queue for picking up and both of them try to climb out if you are busy doing something else and ignore them. They have the most amazing eyes - as i have mentioned, I think they have just got the best focus out of all the pups right now, but it can be a bit unnerving!

And bringing up the rear here is our lucky no 7. Andy and I have both fallen for this little guy in a big way. He is so chilled. Gets stuck into fights and play when he wants and when he gets fed up he just wanders off and does something else. He really reminds me of Riker - his Dad. Riker was so cool and laid back it was untrue. He is a gorgeous dog and boy did he know it, I said to Andy when we first met Riker, if dogs wore sunglasses, Riker would always be wearing his, he is almost Italian in his coolness. And No 7 is just like him

Playtime

We have all had a wonderful Christmas here at Hebersghyll. Our pups have all progressed so much and are great fun to be around. It's no longer just eat and sleep, oh no, now they want to play, play, play, play a bit more, eat, play, poo, play, poo, play, sleep.
Needless to say Andy and I are enjoying every minute, although it can get a bit hectic when they all decide to poo in rotation and you have to mind where you step!
We get the pups out onto a rug a couple or three times a day, put some toys out and we all have a good play. Jess occassionally wanders in to spoil proceedings by tempting all the pups to try and have a feed on her - 2 minutes later Jess gets bored and play can resume.

Here are some pictures showing the fun and games

This is no 2, having a great time with a kitchen roll inner

All the toys in the world and would rather rag my jeans

But No 2 loves this new toy.........

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to everyone from a very snow bound HebersGhyll!

Jess loves the snow and will be looking forward to a walk on the Moor later, followed by Christmas Dinner

Molly also loves the snow and will be looking forward to lying in it most of the day

We cannot wait until the Pups are big enough to go out in the snow!

Growing up

The pups are almost 4 weeks old now and wow have they changed in the last few weeks. They are all really, stocky little monkeys now and when they are not sleeping they are playing together or just tramming about in their box. It is impossible to enter the room without them noticing these days, as soon as they hear the slightest noise they jump up and come charging to the side of the box for some attention. They have all got teeth and have started to chew things - usually my fingers - so we have got them some toys to have a good go at.
Weaning is going well, they adore the milk mixture but they really, really like the mushy biscuits and are all really good little eaters. They have turned into proper little newfies and hate being too hot, we have to have the office window open all the time for them now and it has been freezing this week. It is easy to see if they do get cold as they all pile up and sleep on top of one another, that is a sign to close the window. When they get too hot, they shriek at the top of their voices, so then we know to open the window.
They all enjoy contact with Andy and myself and will quite happily fall asleep on us. We try to give each of them some individual attention every day. After this weekend, when they are 4 weeks old we are encouraging visitors so they they become used to other people as well as just us two. We will also start house training them - should be fun!

This is Jake, all wrapped up after his bath last night! After a communal treat of evaporated milk mixed with water, the pups were wearing more of it than they drank and all had to have a bath. They all loved the water, we didn't have any problems with any of them. Jess hated baths when she was a puppy but this lot are real water babies

Better late than never - 3 week old update and pictures!

I am No 1 - Gobby, I am one of the biggest pups now and like to make sure everyone knows that. I am still very gobby, particularly if they make me wait for my tea!

I am No 2 - I am a bit smaller than Gobby and very, very cute. I love cuddles and I love playing with my litter mates

I am no 3 - Jake or Tippy, I still have my white tip on the end of my tail so everyone can tell who I am. I really like cuddles, particularly after a good feed and if I don't get one I am not very pleased!

I am no 4 or Elwood. I love playing. Playing with my litter mates, chewing newspaper or playing with our new soft toys. I love it. I am also quite prone to the odd cuddle - but you have to catch me first!

I am No 5 - I really like people, I always keep an eye out for them and as soon as I see them I jump up and put my chin in the air so they can tickle me under it

I am No 6 and like my brother No 5 I really like people. In fact I like everything he likes and he likes everything I like, we try to do everything together

I am No 7 - as they say, save the best til last! I am the tough guy and the best looking pup. Jeanette says I look just like my Dad and he was stunning, so i must be too. No one messes with me, if they do, I get 'em! But I do have a soft spot for cuddles......

Apologies!

I haven't forgotten to write the blog and have lots of 3 week photographs to put up. I just struggle to find the time. I used to do the blogging while supervising feeding. Feeding has changed so much now, if they are on "mush" then we have to stand over them to make sure they eat their own food and don't wander off to eat everyone else's - a bit like Jess really, who much prefers to eat Molly's food first and save her own until later! If they are having a feed on Jess, it is still a split shift system, you now need twenty pairs of hands. If the feeders get full and you aren't looking they take themselves off for a wander and the "waiters "- the second shift feeders, just have to be watched all the time as they are so entertaining nowadays. They all fight and play and chew each other, bark and growl, they are hilarious. Sometimes they just shout at us because they want feeding too! And then, when the second shift is feeding, the first shift is in the holding pen, whilst we clean out the main pen. Phew,It's a mad house but they are worth it :-)

And after all that, you need a sleep!

What a week!

It has been one hell of a week. Wow, these puppies don't half grow up quickly. We have gone from bottle feeding early in the week, to eating mushed puppy food from bowls. It is remarkable how they just know and do these things so quickly. Andy feels a bit lost now, like they no longer need him and I know Jess feels the same. She only feeds them a couple of times a day now and she has been a bit upset today, even coming in to wake them up so they would demand a feed from her - and believe me the noise they can now make is horrific. If they get a smell of Jess and think, mmm food, they all set off screaming at the top of their voices.
For their first "solid" feed we fed them all from the same bowl for a bit of fun, it was hilarious, they were in it and covered in it, food was everywhere! They now have their own little bowl and are fed individually so we can check who is eating what - not quite as much fun but just as messy. Here are a few shots from the first communal feeding session

And here are a couple of "after" shots

This little man fell asleep in his dinner!

And these two fell asleep wearing theirs!

And I have added this one, just so you can see how gorgeous they are close up :-)

Jess Part 2 - The first few months

Molly doesn't like puppies. we think it is because she is aware of her size and she is frightened of standing on them. Jess obviously loved Molly from the first moment she set eyes on her, Molly was replacement mummy. Everywhere Molly went, Jess would go too which meant Molly would get up and go somewhere else......and so it went on for quite a few weeks.

Jess would mirror Molly's every move until, eventually Molly was cast under Jess's spell, just like Andy and myself

Let's face it, how can anyone resist a Newfie Puppy

Let the fun begin......

We are about to start weaning the Pups and in readiness gave them their first drink of the milk supplement from a bowl

Let it snow!

It's a lovely snowy day here at Hebersghyll, much to the delight of Molly and Jess who absolutely love the snow and have already been soaked through this morning! What a shame the pups are too small to play in it just yet. Anyway, it's a great excuse to put some snowy photos on the blog!

Jess was quite small when this one was taken and going through the stick obsession phase!

She is quite small here too, but as you can see, Newfies love nothing better than lying in wet snow.

Will post some more up to date pictures as soon as we get back from a walk in the woods later!

Jeanette is away on business again tonight so I have been allowed access to the blog! Having just uploaded the photographs taken of the pups at two weeks old I’ve learned one thing at least, and that is that I am not a photographer. That said I did get a good shot of Jeanette just as she got a little too close to Jake and he got full lock on her chin.

Something Jeanette hasn’t mentioned that we have both noticed is that when the pups are asleep they invariably pair up. It is really spooky how both Jake and Elwood are always touching, the two princes (purples) are without exception on top of each other and Gobby and the baby of the family are generally nose to nose. Fat Pup (7) however, is always on his own. It doesn’t matter what order they are fed they always pair up. I’ve just checked them now and the photo below is how they are all asleep, right this minute (8:15pm Wed). Guess who is top right all on his own?

Puppy No 7 - 2 weeks old

I am not the biggest but I am the strongest, I am the best walker and really enjoy tramming about our box annoying the others while they are asleep. That said, I love sleeping too and a full belly is like flicking a switch, as soon as it's full I am out like a light. Everyone says, I am just like my Dad and I know they have even named me after him - Hebersghyll Rikers Grove

Puppy No 6 - 2 weeks old

Along with my brother I have learnt how to get stroked by people which is really nice. We have also been having a competition to see who can eat the most and get the biggest, but I think he has just beat me by a few grams this week. I really will try harder next week, problem is I really like sleeping and once I have filled my belly I just fall asleep, right there and then

Puppy No 5 - 2 weeks old

I really like people and I particularly like being touched by them. When I sense them close by I run to the door of the crate and push my chin up so they will tickle me underneath. It's lovely, but I still like eating and have managed to get to be the biggest of the litter. After all that hard work, there is really only one thing left to do, sleep ahhhh

Puppy No 4 - 2 weeks old

I have discovered that making a noise is a really good thing to do. When I have got a full tummy and can't settle I have found that if a make a noise I get stroked. It's brilliant and always makes me go to sleep.

Puppy No 3 - 2 Weeks Old

I'm no longer a blue but I am still no 3. We all had new collars this week as we have grown so much, and my brother and I got minty green one's, thankfully, we haven't been called the mintyl green brothers and are still known as Jake and Elwood. I really like my tummy ticked, that is when I'm not eating and sleeping, which are still my favourite things

Puppy No 2 - 2 weeks old

It's been a busy week, what with all that eating and sleeping! But my eyes were the first to open this week too, so everything seemed very new. I have discovered a new favourite thing - cuddles. If I make noise I get picked up - brilliant! I try it all the time when I see shapes pass by me

Puppy No 1 - 2 weeks

I have grown so much this week, I have devoted my attention to eating and sleeping to ensure I grow big and strong and it seems to be working. I am still known as gobby but it is just because I like singing, it's my third favourite thing to do..........

We've Moved!

As I said in yesterdays instalment, the pups have grown so much over the last week, Andy and I decided they needed some more room, so tonight they have all moved into Jess's whelping box. It is huge 6f oot by 4 foot, with sides about 80cm high - and a hatch to allow Jess to get in and out for feeding. They have a sleep area, which has lots of comfy fabric inside - donated to me by one of my lovely customers (as there is a never ending supply it just gets burnt when it is soiled and we don't have loads of washing to do), our heat lamp is positioned to one side of the sleep area so Pups can move away when they are too warm. There is also enough room for them to take themselves off to the toilet or just have a good old walk about!

After their last feed they all had their first dose of worming solution - it quite clearly didn't taste like milk. Poor things they didn't like it one bit. Molly and Jess had worming tablets too but they got lucky - chicken flavour. their favourite :-)

While I am writing this Andy has been giving me a running commentary on the action in the whelping box, the pups are having a good old look round and starting to play with one another, that is if you count one chewing anothers ear and then moving to his leg. Gobby pup is wandering round singing at the top of her voice and has just tried to scratch herself - a first!

My, how we've grown!

Our puppies are now two weeks old and it is amazing to see the changes and how they have all grown and progressed in the last week. Physically, they are all much bigger - all now weigh over 2 kilos! Little tubs! Their faces have started to change shape - their noses are starting to grow and they look a bit more like Newfies now.
They can all walk about, albeit very shakily and they have been taking themselves off to the "toilet" area of their crate for quite a few days now. I have to say, it was quite surreal when they started to do that. It is such an amazing thing that they have these in-built instincts to do that at such a young age.
Andy and I are ridiculously proud parents "ooh look he has just squatted to do a poo - isn't he clever" but honestly, they just change and learn so quickly it is quite something to behold - yes, even squatting to do a poo!
We are helping Jess out a couple of times a day now by supplementing her milk with Suzanne's super milk replacement recipe - bottle feeding the Pups has been hilarious and quite messy to begin with. They fought like Billy-O the first couple of times, but once they got that first taste they soon calmed down and now they have got the idea - it's a race to the finish line, and the suction power on that bottle, wow! We then have to wind them, just like babies, awww.

Tonight has been hectic. When I arrived home from work we put the puppies into the whelping box and let them have a little run round. That lasted all off two minutes before they started to fall asleep all over the place. We popped them back into the crate where they all dozed and then snuck them off one by one for a bath. I got the best job, snuggling them up in towels and rubbing them dry (Andy had to wash the mucky little bottoms), they are all now snug as clean bugs, (with new numbered collars on), and fast asleep under the heat lamp. Bless.

Are they starting to develop personalities? Well, 1 and 2 are both extremely vocal, 2 is a softy and adores cuddles. 3 and 4 are like typical, mucky little boys, both left a tide mark after their bath tonight. 5 and 6 are very chunky little wriggly monkeys, and no 7 is his fathers son, up and dressed. He looks so like Riker already and he is a real solid boy.
Did I say we are starting to open our eyes now too. No 2 was the first but everyone now has their eyes open to some extent. And what beautiful eyes they are. Lovely, dark Newfie eyes - definitely their Dad's eyes.

Jess's Story

I wanted to write something about Jess. This blog has almost entirely been devoted to the pups so far but without Jess they wouldn't be here, so I think it is only fair that she gets a starring role in the blog. I will start a new post label just for Jess and build up posts about her and her life with us, so that you can all come to know a bit more about her.

Jess was my birthday present from Andy just over 2 years ago. Andy had kept Jess's arrival a total secret from me and I can honestly say, I did not have a clue. Andy had been in contact with the breeder since the litter was born, and had made numerous visits across to Kirby Lonsdale, initially to choose Jess at 4 weeks, but then to get to know her a little bit more in the weeks prior to her coming to live with us. It still amazes me that he was so good at keeping this a secret, there is no way I could have done it. I once bought Andy a leather jacket for Christmas, I knew it was something he really wanted, and I was so excited about it - I went straight home and gave it to him! Keep a puppy secret for 7 weeks? I wouldn't have lasted 7 minutes!

The weekend of my birthday we were spending in London, taking in a show, travelling back sunday evening on the train. Andy had arranged for his eldest daughter Kelly to collect Jess from the breeder whilst we were out. I thought he was on the phone a lot on the way home, but really thought nothing of it........

We arrived home and there was an enormous box in the hallway as I opened the front door - all gift wrapped, but making an awful noise and stinking of poo. I said to Andy - why has Kelly put her dog in there? (She has two lhasa apso dogs) He must have thought I was mental - he said open it and see! As I pulled off the paper, the smell got worse, but I was met with the most adorable black face ever - it was Jess, covered in poo! We quickly picked her up and whipped her into the sink for a bath, and this is the first photograph we ever took of the new arrival into our house!

Kennel Names

We finally decided upon the Kennel Names for the Pups and have sent the registration documents off by recorded delivery. Our kennel name is HebersGhyll, the stream that runs through our garden, and we decided that we would also like to name the pups after other famous Ilkley landmarks. We asked the local internet forum for suggestions and our local paper, the Ilkley Gazette ran a small article asking for suggestions
After much deliberation, these are the final names
No 1 Hebersghyll Betty's Rascal - after Betty's Tea shop and the famous "Fat Rascal" bun
No 2 Hebersghyll Lidolily - after the Ilkley Lido, outdoor swimming pool (not used very often)!
No 3 Hebersghyll Bahtat Bertie -From the song Ilkley Moor Bahtat (also a Bar in Ilkley)
No 4 Hebersghyll Riverside Kid - After Riverside Walk
No 5 Hebersghyll Olicana Prince - Olicana was the Roman name for Ilkley
No 6 Hebersghyll Prince Rombald - Romabalds Moor is the famous Ilkley Moor
No 7 Hebersghyll Rikers Grove - After the sire of the Pups and the most famous street in Ilkley

We are just awaiting final approval from the KC, but hope you like the names as much as we do. We must thank EileenB of the Ilkley-more forum as we used most of her suggestions in some way, shape or form!

J xx :-)

Superpups!

Yes it is official our pups have proven what Andy and I knew all along, they really are the best pups ever. In fact if Carlsberg made puppies, they would be just like our puppies! Why? Well because yesterday they started to walk, very shakily, but they are walking. They can't actually see where they are going, but they are walking!

Introducing Puppy No 7 - 1 week old

Hi, last but by no means least, I am no 7. I was the last one to arrive but have since made up for it and always make sure I get my fair share of food - that might be why they call me Fat Pup! All the better for cuddling. As you already know, my favourite thing is eating but as you can see, eating is exhausting and I also like sleeping x

Introducing Puppy No 6 - 1 week old

Hi I am No 6 the other half of the Purple Princes. Just like my "twin" I am completely black and wear my lovely purple collar with no 6 on, so everyone can tell it's me! My favourite things are eating and sleeping x

Introducing Puppy No 5 - 1 week old

Hi I am no 5, I am one of the two purple princes - aka "The Twins". I am all black, no white spots anywhere, so my collar with it's number is very important, otherwise no one would know who I am! My favourite things are eating and sleeping x

Jeanette is away with work tonight so the introduction of the other puppies will have to wait until tomorrow.
Meanwhile a couple of accidents whilst the whole gang was sleeping this afternoon resulted in everyone being covered in poo. It took an hour to get them all clean and dry again but most of them seemed to enjoy a bath in the kitchen sink.
Another first today when Gobby Pup managed to bark at me as she was lowered into the water!

Doing Well

Just a quick progress update from 2.15 am feeding time! All the pups continue to thrive and eat well - they take after their mother! It is amazing to see how much they have all grown in a week. Their skin is all wrinkly too, ready for them to grow into it, particularly on their legs and nose. We are really looking forward to eyes and ears opening this week but the way they are going I think it won't be long before we have some walkers - No 7 is particularly strong and flies around the puppy crate when the mood takes him - which is usually when he has been left out of the first feeding rota and he likes to inform us of his annoyance.....

Jess is also doing well although she is becoming very tired and can take some rousing to come and feed her little one's - I know the feeling!

More introductions coming soon, but for now, it's back to bed J x

Introducing Puppy No 4 - 1 week old

Hey, I am Elwood, the second half of the notorious Blues Bros. Unlike my brother I don't have a tippy tail, but I do have a white spot on my chest, same as my Mummy! He's ok my bro, I quite like him, but my favourite things are eating and sleeping x