Tuesday - December 28

Ash comes to visit

After the long wait my nephew Al finally got to go pick up his Vizsla puppy, Ash (AKA Jack).  They stayed at my house for a night before their trip to Illinois.  Since Ash had been to my house before for puppy play time, he seemed right at home, and was ready and willing to play with Heidi. 

Heidi and Ash playing

 

 Heidi showing her keen jumping ability

Saturday - December 26

The Snow and the Shoes

Ahh, made it through Christmas.  We went to Illinois to stay a few days with my sister.  On Christmas day we enjoyed family with a total of 11 people, 9 dogs, and 2 cats.  Heidi got play with a variety of other dogs ranging from Jack Russels to Great Danes.  She seemed to enjoy herself, and enjoyed the extra snow that was on the ground there.  We also got updates from Jim and Gail on Smokee, so are including some photos - intersting that there are such similarities.

Heidi in the snow

Smokee in the snow

Heidi asleep on the shoes - which seems to be her favorite pillow

Smokee asleep on the shoes - could this be hereditary?

Thursday - December 23

How Heidi gets a drink of water.

Step 1 - Get both feet in the bowl and drink

Step 2 - Splash out any remaining water

Step 3 - Look cute at the camera to avoid getting in trouble

Monday - December 20

Happy Holidays from Darcy.  Susie was nice enough to send their Holiday photo of Darcy with his new family.  Looks like they got more snow then we have. 

Darcy and his new family

Saturday - December 18

Back from my trip - was gone almost a full week.  Before I left, Izzy started dumping her coat.  When I got home she looked practically naked.  My husband said Heidi kept coughing up hairballs, so he brushed Izzy for me - Heidi likes to play by grabbing Izzy's hair, and just holding on while Izzy tries to spin her off, so she kept coming up with mouthfuls of hair.  I think Heidi got taller while I was gone.

Izzy and Heidi playing in the backyard

Sunday - December 12

It's quiet in the house with just our remaining dogs, Izzy, Moon, and Heidi.  I'm not completely sold on a name yet, but I think I'm going to stick with Heidi.  Izzy seems happy to have an additional playmate, but I don't think Moon has totally warmed up to the idea yet, although, he did share his spot in the chair.

Moon sharing his seat with Heidi

Saturday - December 11

Darcy's last day here.
It's a big day for Darcy, he gets to go on a plane to his new home in Maryland.  Suzanne flew out to pick him up and spent a bit of time at our house before heading back to the airport.  Darcy gets to fly as carry-on.
Suzanne reported that they got through security quickly, so had time to walk around in the gate area, getting many inquiries about little Darcy.  She also said that Darcy did pretty well on the take-off and landings, but was a bit whiney during the main part of the flight.  Sounds like he is now settling into his new home nicely.

Darcy and new Mom Suzanne

Thursday - December 9

Back from a business trip to Atlanta, so I can get caught back up on the blog. 
December 9, 2 puppies remain at our house, Darcy (purple) and Heidi (pink).  During the week, we worked on night time crate training and the inside stairs. 

Heidi (pink) and Darcy (purple) hanging out together

Momma Izzy with Darcy and Heidi after a long day of playing

Monday - December 6

Things are starting to get back to normal (pre-puppy).  With just the 2 puppies remaining, we've been able to focus more on pottying outside.  Today just a couple pee pee accidents in the house (on the pads or towels).  Heidi (pinky) and Tim (purple) play with each other constantly.  Izzy has also been joining in the fun much more often.

After a big play session, the buddies nap

Izzy and her girl

Saturday - December 4

An then there were 2
3 puppies went to their new homes today.  Yellow (Marie Claire), Orange (Mondo), and Limey (Nina Garcia / Sweet Pea).  I'm just so happy that the puppies are going to such wonderful new homes.  The purple boy (Tim Gunn) will be staying until next week before his big trip on an airplane (carry-on) to Maryland.  That leaves me with the pinky girl (Heidi Klum).  I just couldn't resist her cute face and her fiesty personality.  Right now, her energy level should make her a fine agility dog - I just have to decide on a name. 

Tug now has his own blog at http://www.tugnotes.blogspot.com/

Puppies last play time together

Puppies discussing their new homes

Mike with Keira (Krafty's Keira Isabella) (AKA yellow, Marie Claire)

Keira with her new family, Sue, Mike and Jim

Crystal with Tug (Krafty's Nothing Past Me)

Ken saying good-bye to his little Sweet Pea (limey), Krafty's Miss Jitterbug

Friday - December 3

And then there were 5
It was a happy and sad day today.  Sad, because one of the puppies was leaving the nest.  Happy, because the puppy's new home is so wonderful.  The happy outweighed the sad, and I didn't even cry.  Big Blue (Michael Kors) has gone to live with Jim and Gail.  His new name is Krafty's Smokee Blue Paso Doble (Smokee)

Ken saying good-bye to his boy blue

Jim holding his new boy - Smokee

Thursday - December 2

Last Full Day Together
The puppies turn 8 weeks tomorrow, and the first puppy will be going to its new home.  So today was the last full day together.  We got snow overnight, so the puppies got to romp in the fresh powder.  We also had a nice game of chase with a rawhide bone. 

Last full day together hanging out

Fun in the snow

Romping in the snow

Chase with the bone

Tuesday - November 30

Puppy party

This evening was the best time that can be had with puppies.  Our friend Pam came over with her 6 week old Vizsla puppies.  How totally cute to get together puppies with tons of fur and puppies with hardly any fur and sit back to watch the fun.  Her puppies were a little younger, but also a little bigger, so it made a nice pairing.  We let Izzy and Moon join in the fun since they have been so good with the puppies (OK, maybe Moon wasn't thinking it was fun, but was very tolerant as always).  Diane and Caren also stopped by to enjoy the show.  There was laughter all around.

Check out Pam's puppy blog to see when she posts pictures and video at http://www.windrunnervizslas.blogspot.com/

Puppy Party Fun

More Puppy Party Fun

Diane showing the puppies the giggle ball

Play time is over.  The new friends take a nap.

Sunday - November 28

Evaluation Day
Yesterday my friend Michele came over for puppy temperament testing.  We had a wonderful day observing the puppy behavior.

Today was puppy party day.  Many friends came over to help evaluate the litter.  Each puppy was reviewed for structure and against the breed standard to help with puppy selections.

Marie Claire (yellow)

Heidi Klum (pink)

Nina Garcia (limey)

Michael Kors (blue)

Tug (used to be Mondo / Orange)

Tim Gunn (purple)

Friday - November 26

Road Trip
More pictures from the road trip.  The weather this morning was cold.  Temperatures in the low 30's with wind chills in the 20's.  The puppies didn't seem to mind the weather, they just romped in the yard.  I was ready to go in the house.

Thursday - November 25

Road Trip
For Thanksgiving we went to visit the in-laws.  This meant a 2 hour car ride and an overnight at their house.  We piled the puppies into the car in 2 crates.  On the ride up about 1/3 of the way was whining.  When we got onto the highway, everyone settled down and slept.  The ride home, when the puppies were very tired, there was only a few minutes of whining mid-way through the trip.  They had an excellent first trip.

Mom and Dad with their Great Grand Pupppies

Wednesday - November 23

The weather has turned on us.  Today it was cold and rainy with some sleet.  Tonight it was dark and drizzly, so I used the night vision on the video camera to catch a little night time frolicking.

Tuesday - November 23

Another beautiful day.  We're taking advantage of the weather while we can.  Lots of play time in the yard.  The puppies love to be outside.

The puppies have been spending more time outside the pen with Mamma Izzy and Uncle Moon.  Moon has been very gentle with the puppies.  Izzy and Moon have just started some light discipline of the puppies but are still very lenient.

Sunday - November 21

Another beautiful day in Ohio - the temperatures have been great for the puppies.  Diane stoppped by to visit, and Izzy got a break from the puppies to play some Frisbee.

Diane thinks she's going to get kisses from Michael Kors (Blue).  Michael Kors thinks he's going to get a snack.

Izzy the Frisbee girl

Saturday - November 20

It was a cold and overcast day, but we decided to try to get front and side pictures of each puppy.  Sometimes they cooperated, sometimes not so much.  Since I was baiting with cheeze whiz, most of the time the puppies had cheese smeared across their faces.

Michael Kors (Blue)

Michael Kors (Blue)

Mondo (Orange)

Mondo (Orange)

Tim Gunn (Purple)

Tim Gunn (Purple)

Heidi Klum (Pink)

Heidi Klum (Pink)

Marie Claire (Yellow)

Marie Claire (Yellow)

Nina Garcia (Limey)

Nina Garcia (Limey)

Friday - November 19

The puppies are now 6 weeks old.  Time has flown by.  Today was another big day for the puppies.  We had lots of guests stop by to visit, and we had our first outside dog visitor.  Tyanna is a service dog that we invited over for the puppies to be introduced to other dogs.  Tyanna and all the keeshonden got along just fine.  Tyanna also did some playing in the backyard with Izzy and Moon.

Gail accepting kisses from Tim Gunn (purple)

Crystal with all the puppies

Izzy, Moon, and Michael Kors (blue).  Michael Kors climbed the steps on his own to be up with the big dogs

Molly holding a puppy with Moon watching over

Jackson trying to get the puppy to play with a toy

Molly, puppy, and Tyanna

Jackson laying on the ground with a puppy.  In the background against the door, there is a puppy covered by a washcloth.  When all the puppies went to sleep, Jackson walked around to cover them each with a little "blanket"

Izzy - what was she thinking?