9 weeks and goodbyes

So, we are down to four pups remaining......Life is a little quieter here.

Here are Silverado (left) and Empire (right). They are having a nice leisurely stroll.

Here is Empire alone. He is such a good boy.

Here is Empire with Kia.

and Kia alone. I think she see's something interesting.

and here is yukon with Daddy. They are best buds. Somebody else is being shy here.

We've said goodbye to some of the puppies, too. We know they are going to good loving families.

7 weeks - New Collars and new pictures!

The puppies have gotten too big for rick-rack.

They all got new collars and are having a great time chewing them and removing them. It's a good thing Emily can tell them all apart, even without the collars.

Clockwise starting at midnight are Buddy wearing yellow, Pink Lady wearing pink, Kia wearing purple instead of white, Granny Smith in green, Festiva is supposed to be wearing light blue but lost her collar, Silverado wearing black with rhinestones, Yukon wearing blue, Big Mac wearing red, and Empire wearing solid black.

Here is Pink Lady. She is going to live on an island.

This is Empire. I love these photos. He reminds me of the "luck-dragon" in The Never Ending Story.

This is Yukon. He is our most outgoing puppy. He is staying with us, for now.

This is Festiva. She is Emily's favorite because she's a bit shy and loves to snuggle. She is going to live with people who like big "lap dogs."

This is Silverado. She is our tallest girl. She poses as a queen regularly.

This is Big Mac. He is going to be a big baby for the couple who've picked him out.

This is Granny Smith. She is going to love playing with her owner.

This is Buddy. He is going to be a Canadian!

This is Kia. She is my snuggle-bug. She gives hugs, too.

6 weeks - Going to the Vet

Going to the vet with nine puppies is fairly chaotic, so I apologize for not taking more pictures.

The puppies were pretty nervous about their trip, but settled down nicely when the van started moving.

We brought them into the vet's three at a time, so we could keep track of them.

The vet listed to all their hearts and lungs, felt for testicles (which weren't there yet, apparently normal), checked their mouths, and gave them their first shots. Everyone looks great except Yukon. We've always known his face looked different. Now we know why.

He has a longer nose than all the others which created a big overbite. Because his teeth don't line up the way they are supposed to, he will need his adult teeth brushed daily. He also might need to have a couple of his adult bottom teeth pulled out to protect his mouth. That could be done at the same time as having him fixed.

He also has a slight heart murmur, which could go away before his next check-up.

He needs a family who is willing to care for him, knowing upfront about these problems.

He is tough and strong and loves to guard "his" spot from the rest of the puppies.