Another big day for the OSL pups - they had their first real, solid-food meals!
Puppy Pinwheel - clockwise from top:
Agent 99, Dreyfus, Scarlet, MK Ultra, QT, Mata Hari, Foxxy Cleopatra
"Nom, nom, nom, nom."
Almost gone...
Falling asleep at the table....
Full bellies = happy puppies.
Of course, they'll still be nursing from mama Theo for a while, but she is having a hard time keeping up with their growing demands, as they're getting SO HUGE - so it's time to start the weaning process.
Theo is a patient mama, but a little overwhelmed by their appetites!
So - let's talk about FOOD! As some of you may already know, we switched our entire pack to a raw, natural diet about 4 years ago and they are thriving.
Our decision was based on lots of research, and also the knowledge that many of our pack are aging and we wanted to extend their lives as long as we can. After all, who wouldn't want their whippet to be as healthy and long-lived as possible?
This litter is the 3rd litter we've fed 100% raw (both parents eat an all raw, biologically appropriate diet, and the pups are weaning directly to raw).
This means we've got some more reading/homework for our potential puppy homes. This updated page on the website is just the tip of the iceberg, but it gives some of the reasons we switched to raw, and hopefully encourages you to investigate this option: https://horsetoothwhippets.com/raw-diet-info.html
Jen currently does all of our pack's meal prep and raw diet on a 'do-it-yourself' plan - but this is a LOT of work (much harder than pouring some dry kibble into a bowl), and it takes a lot of understanding of canine nutrition - not something we expect our puppy owners to have to work so hard at!
Because of this, we've helped lots of our puppy owners make the switch to raw with premade diets (some of these are ridiculously expensive...so we've done a lot of homework and found quality companies that supply great raw food affordably) - already balanced, and premade, so you don't have to work at it.
The most important thing to know right now about raw feeding is that a dog's natural ph balance in their gut is perfect for raw foods - but kibble takes a different ph level to digest, making them work harder to get nutrition and taxing them over the years they eat it.
All of the OSL & OSL2 pups will be eating a biologically natural diet when they go to their new homes - so if you do choose to change them to kibble (Jen now calls these 'death nuggets' after all her scary research into the dog food industry), just know that you will need to go very slowly and results might not be optimal - in both the short, and long term.
Those of you who know us well know we're utterly passionate about our whippets, and we've become passionate about feeding them right, too!
The info. on this post and on the website is really just the tip of the iceberg - so don't be afraid to ask questions about feeding raw, it really is Jen's passion - even after 4+ years!
Ok - on to more fun pics:
Dreyfus - full belly makes him sooo sleepy!
Agent 99 makes a great pillow and there's a bit of Miss Mata Hari - showing off those wild stripes again!
As usual, Granny Wogdog could be found in the puppy pool most of the day - helping out with cuddle and cleaning duty. Here she is getting a big hug from Scarlet.
Scarlet, MK Ultra, QT and Foxxy with Granny.
"Kid...you're choking me!"
Foxxy found a warm snuggle spot.
Agent 99 was AWAKE after her meal...so she proceeded to wander about bothering sleeping puppies.
"Hey. Oh Hya. Wake up and play with me, sister!"
"I eat you face."
No luck with QT, so she tried Mata Hari next.
"I eat you neck."
Dreyfus looks like he's ready to bee-bop outta there if she comes after him.
Third meal of the day...right after draining mama completely...she looks relieved for the break!
Puppy pinwheel again!
And...over in Trinity's pool, things continue to be quiet. The wee pups are definitely in the eat...sleep...eat...sleep...eat cycle.
Interestingly, when Trinity gets her raw meals - even these really young pups start sniffing around enthusiastically and heading for the bowl. Jen has to pull them out of it to keep them from chowing down (their immature digestive tracts couldn't handle it at this age). For us, their enthusiasm goes to show that even the tiniest of puppies is drawn to real food.
Lyla Lolliberry taking a rare break from nursing.
"Oh wait...there's my mom...time to eat again."
Emma Peele - going to be so pretty, just like her grandaddy Johnson.
Powder Blue Napoleon Solo - a little Trinity clone.
Solo, Lyla, and Lancelot Link,
Meanwhile, back in another room (the kitchen) - the big dogs show off how they can cuddle puddle, too!
Brie (16 months old, cousin to Theo's litter - she's Bok Choy's niece, and aunt to Trin's litter - she's Trinity's little sister), Bella (12 years old - actual grandma to both of these litters on Theo's side and Alfredo's side) and Penelope (nearly 14 and actual granny to Theo's litter, on Bok Choy's side).
Trinity - looking sanguine for the first time since the rough start!
Solo & Link at the milkbar.
Crash & Burn - Emma crashes out under the heat lamp after a long nursing session.
Lyla Lolliberry - snoozin'
"Hey...do I smell food?"
