Off and away

The last pup left on Friday.  Many thanks to the wonderful US Airways Puppies in Flight volunteers who lovingly escorted three of the pups to out-of-state programs.  My house is very quiet and very much in need of a thorough cleaning.

Tahoe was the first to leave.  He flew out with his Puppies in Flight escort to Minnesota to join Pawsitive Perspectives  (PawPADS)  www.pawpads.org  Next out were Vallejo, Rosa and Fresno who joined Assistance Dogs for Achieving Independence in Ohio www.adai.org  Shasta flew via Puppies in Flight to Pennsylvania to join Susquehanna Service Dogs  http://www.keystonehumanservices.org/susquehanna-service-dogs/default.php  Last to leave was Sierra who flew via Puppies in Flight to San Diego to join Canine Companions for Independence www.cci.org, the program that kindly provided stud service.  Wishing all the pupsters much success in their training and hope they have lots of fun along the way. 

Tahoe sporting his PawPADS bandana

Tahoe upon arrival at Minneapolis/St Paul airport

Tahoe settling in at PawPADS

Five puppies left

Crate training, actually dreaming of dinner since the pups are fed in the crates

Shasta sporting her spiffy purple Susquehanna Service Dogs vest

Sierra in her CCI puppy cape

Showing off the CCI logo

Sierra, driving home from the airport

They're back

Six of the pups have returned and will be moving on to their new programs in the next couple of weeks.  Paws With Purpose is keeping Ukiah, Carmel, Monterey and Gilroy and they will soon become the "F" pups.  The pups had a very busy 2 weeks during their time with Paws With Purpose.  Many thanks to the trainers at KCIW and all the volunteers who took such good care of the pups and gave them many valuable new experiences . . .  and me a short break. 

The four new Paws With Purpose pups - Ukiah, Carmel, Monterey and Gilroy

Sierra and Shasta checking out the wading pool

Shasta



Vallejo - she has a houndy look and those expressive eyebrows

A pic from before when the pups left for KY- puppy pile in the
kitchen, sleeping on some bedding for the puppy pen

Close up

Sprawled out on the raised dog bed

Cute pics from Paws With Purpose

Last weekend, the pups went down to KY to spend some time with Yoko's program.  As you can see, they have been busy.  More pics on Paws With Purpose's Facebook page.

The pups' home base is KCIW where the Paws With Purpose dogs are trained

In the puppy pen on the lawn outside of the prison after their first long car ride. 
Making sure everyone is on empty before going inside.

Cute Rosa

Half-brother Dallas (aka Ringo) entertaining the puppies

Carmel meets Eli (aka Cicada from my Bug Litter)

Pups drinking after the strenuous job of practicing wearing equipment.

Carmel on an outing, meeting a new friend

5 week old puppy pics

The pups playing in the backyard

Pups still find it challenging to get up on the porch, and Yoko knows
this is a safe place to get away from the ravenous hoard.

Sierra and Shasta, still trying.  Shasta is the pup who has
been most successful getting up on the porch.

Always a popular playtime



Silly Carmel

Shasta

Tahoe and Auntie Tacara.  The feeding crates in the far background.

Shasta found a comfy place to sleep

Soon she had company

5 weeks old

The pups are no longer content to be pen puppies.  They want to be out and about, taking in the world.  The pups are enjoying this cooler weather and lots of time out in the backyard.  They have had a couple of sessions in the wading pool and a professional photography session with a photographer friend.  Weights at 5 weeks ranged from 6 lbs 3 oz (Sierra) to 6 lbs 15 oz (Vallejo).  Some of the pups are currently over 7 lbs.  The pups are loving their kibble, and since kibble is fed in the crates, they think crates are great places to be.  Their noses are working well since they have sniffed out the kibble I store in the kitchen pantry.  Yoko is rapidly weaning the pups.  I have decreased her to 6 c per day (poor Labby girl) and she is drying up nicely.   On Sunday, the pups will be making a big journey down to KY so that Paws With Purpose can take over the last two weeks of the puppy rearing. 

All worn out after visitors

Pups asleep on the front steps

Fresno getting tired

Fresno asleep

Gilroy

Gilroy close up

Unidentified sleeping pup on the front step

Carmel in the flower pot next to the front step

Carmel briefly wakes up

Back to sleep

Visitors

The pups had two sets of visitors todays, including a couple of young neighbor children.

The first children the pups have met

Enjoying attention from visitors

Gilroy

Shasta

Tahoe

Fresno - shoes and shoelaces were very popular

Fresno, head in the shoe

Gilroy working the laces

Monterey

Shasta

Also liked getting into the guests' gear (Shasta)

Val and Shasta