new pictures

Thanks to Mike for the pictures of Axel. He sure is growing into a handsome dog! And he looks just like his mom, Lizzy, when he sleeps on the couch.

and then there were...NONE

Could this be any cuter or more appropriate? A boy and his Lab puppy! And then a lab puppy and her stuffed duck?? Lucy has enough toys to keep her from chewing on the dining room table legs, at least for now. She loved chasing Tristan around the house. While outside doing her business, she got her first nose-swat from a cat, the first of many I'm sure. I wonder when she'll get introduced to her friend George Billy (the goat)?

I made it all the way to Ormsby (maybe a mile and a half) before the tears started flowing. It was a very difficult day saying goodbye to the last of the seven puppies. Nine weeks ago today they were born, it seems like yesterday.

To all the new families, please keep sending me pictures as the pups grow so I can share them with the world.

Axel's new family

Thank goodness one of Lizzy's babies is staying in town! Kristen and Mike have become good friends and will make great puppy parents. I look forward to watching him grow. And yes, I am dripping tears onto the keyboard!!

their last afternoon together

Axel and Lucy spent their last afternoon together playing in the house. Lucy would seek refuge hiding in the coffee table...until Axel pulled her off by her tail!



Trying to fill some big shoes!

Moose and the fire truck

For being the alpha male, Moose sure whined on his ride up to the cities. Not too much dominance in his head today. He even had a massage from Oly while sitting on the bumper of the "quint." He was picked up from the station and brought to his new family, Adrian and Sally. Yes, a couple more tears!

our last full day together

Moose will be leaving the fold tomorrow morning, Axel tomorrow evening and Lucy within a few days, its going to be very quiet here soon. They will all be very lonesome when they are alone! In today's explorations, they discovered the MUTT HUT, Reggie and Lizzy's bedroom kennel. And Axel thought the grill cover was a great hiding place.

bad habits

My family will attest to the bad influence I've been on my nieces and nephews. I don't see it that way, I see it as my responsibility to teach them things their parents have neglected!
In my role as puppy grandma, I see a direct correlation. Their new families may not be overly pleased with choice of puppy toys at times. It was the pups choice...I just happened to enable them by leaving the slippers next to the bed.

An outing in the snow

Once again, in true Labrador fashion, the pups enjoyed playtime in the snow. If I'd only brought some pheasant wings outside, their experience would have been complete!
Their "in the house play time" gets extended by the day. I'm getting good at judging when the potty breaks are necessary, too...a bit tougher with three than one. But they do like to chew on things that Reggie and Lizzy have left alone for years.
When they do go to their new homes they'll all be quite lonesome!

Follow the leader

Its a race track! They can make one lap around the couch then when somebody tumbles the new leader detours around the love seat.








A new nickname...
the three amigos!







Lizard will be happy to see the pups share her opinion of my tennis shoes, they hate 'em too!

Retrievers

It just doesn't matter, it can be a chunk of 2x4 in the garage or a shoe in the laundry room, we just need to CARRY SOMETHING around.

Short ventures in the house continue until somebody piddles on the floor. I guess I got too engrossed in my taxes...today it was two piddles. I think I'll shampoo the carpets in a couple weeks!

Spoiled!

Now that they've mastered walking up the stairs from the garage, its hard to keep them out of the house. Reggie and Lizzy will be livid when they get back home...the place will smell like puppies.







The shortest route between two points is through the coffee table.

extreme home makeover...puppy edition

With only three, they each had a turn to watch TV with me. Lucy and Axel loved it.






Moose kept telling me to hush!!

LIBBY...the newest Fighting Sioux fan!

I'm getting very lonesome, down to only three puppies! Miss Walker became Libby today and headed back up north with her new family, Paul and Cory.

Before her departure the four played for close to two hours, climbing all over the john deere, leaping over some plastic containers, trying to steal each others' toys and chewing on my boots. They certainly have greater endurance than just one week ago. I hope Libby had a calm ride home.

oh boy, more boys!

Angie and Brad brought their guys over to see the pups again. Sam and Charlie liked the pups a lot. But Jack wasn't that fond of the pups chewing on his ears...one of the drawbacks of being just about their size. He did, however, think their toys were pretty yummy!

Fanny's new family

My little Fanny is now on her way to her new home in the cities. Her new name is Scout! All the pups showed off in their usual fashion making the decision that much more difficult. But in a democracy, like a family, its majority rules! Scout is going to love her new family, Liz, Sarah, Ben, and her labbie sister, Maggie.

So how do I get used to seeing only four pups in the kennels the rest of the weekend?? I freaked out when I counted only five this morning!!

And now a second

Wilbur, aka Cinder, is now the second that has gone to his new home. He rode up to the cities with Moose and Lucy along to say goodbye. I made it through with minimal tears, amazingly enough. I heard later in the afternoon that he'd already been on his first walk and was getting aquainted with his new doggie sister, Cookie.





Before we drove north, the remaining six played tug with a towel.

The first to leave

Olga has a new family and a new name, she's Gracie. Her sister, AmyJo is holding her. Her new mom, Lee, is on the left. Katie who is on the right is actually a grandma to this litter, too, she's Butch's mom.

Watching puppies discover their reflections is a hoot!