Rosie Gets a Pho - Hawk

My granddaughter Ali loves playing with Rosie. She loves playing with Rosie's fur too. Here is Rosie styling with the latest in Pho-Hawks!

My Babies

Here is a great shot of them. Rosie (top left) Lilah (top right) Zoe (bottom left) and Buster (bottom right)

Almost that Time

Well, the puppies go to get fixed next week and then up for adoption. There is only one pup that I haven't found someone to adopt and I think that will probably be Buster. They are such big puppers now and 11 weeks old. This is a great photo of them taken today in my office. Buster at the top and looking out the window. Zoe (aka Scarlett) to his left and then Lilah with one ear up and one ear down and Rosie right under Buster. I am going to miss them so much!

Still After the Rubber Band - VIDEO

They are all still after it. I finally had to take it away from them. My work papers were getting all wet!

New Discoveries - VIDEO - CLICK ARROW TO VIEW

I always keep my camera handy on my test. Well, the puppers have discovered rubber bands. They are trying to assist me by getting this one off. They are too funny these days. They are now about 10 weeks old and into everything!

The Puppies are Growing Up

The puppies are becoming little doggies now.

Buster loves to howl (yes I said HOWL) when Triston and Ali play their recorders. Of course I want to howl too it is so bad. He joins in regularly! We are trying to get him to howl on que but haven't gotten him convinced of that. He also flies like superman off the sofa. All he needs is a red cape.

Rosie loves to bark. She barks at the other puppies, her feet, her toys, Casper the ghost, her food bowl. She has found her little voice and loves to share it. She still has little bitty short legs and just bounds around.

Delilah loves to eat the cat food. In the morning she manages to nudge into their bowls and the cats let her!!!! I have to pick her up and hold her to keep her from eating their wet breakfast. Of course Jeeter turns around and eats their food. I have schizophrenic pets around here. Delilah loves to run around and chase the other puppies. She can out run them all!!

Scarlett, well she is the runt still. However, she loves to climb. She can make it all the way up the stairs to the second floor. Then she stands there and cries until you go and get her. Delilah is good on the stairs going up too. Buster and Rosie just sit at the bottom crying wanting to go up. Scarlett likes to go outside and it is very hard to get her to come in. She is a very independent little thing.

They are going on 8 weeks old. We are still keeping Rosie. Scarlett has had a nice lady named Carol want to adopt her. She has already filled out all the paperwork at the Humane Society. The thought of having to let Buster and Delilah go are killing me. Cricket too. But I just can't keep them all.

7 Weeks Old - Check us Out

These photos were taken today. They are really growing up and getting so active. They play all the time and are doing so well at their potty training. Buster asks to go out now.

The first photo is of Delilah. She is the most mature physically and emotionally. She stays awake the longest and has the best bark right now. She is very very curious and observant and loves to cuddle. Remember Delilah is a hebrew name and she betrayed Sampson. However; our delittle Delilah is just "delightful!"

Buster is the only boy and his very favorite game is tug of war. On your socks, your pants or any toy. He has the longest legs of the bunch and is doing the best with potty training. He is so handsome!

Buster was originally a nickname denoting a person who broke things, from the word bust. A famous bearer was the silent movie star Buster Keaton

Scarlett (left) is still the runt of the litter in size, but certainly not in attitude. She demands top dog spot with all the puppies. She has a very nasty growl and lets them know she is the boss. She is a lazy girl when she wakes up from her puppy naps but is the best eater of the dog food. The others would rather drag on Cricket. She also reminds you of a stuffed animal and she almost doesn't look real. Her name is English and comes from from a surname which denoted a person who sold or made clothes made of scarlet. This name was used by Margaret Mitchell for Scarlett O'Hara, the main character in her novel 'Gone with the Wind' (1936). Scarlett's name came from her grandmother's maiden name. Our Scarlett has a personality just like Scarlett O'Hara!

Rosie is the pup that has stolen our families heart. She is by far the sweetest and the most different looking. She is all tan and has short little legs. She looks like a baby golden retriever. She is a pure snuggle bunny and loves to fall asleep in your lap or anywhere near you. When she runs she sort of hops everwhere. She has trouble getting back up the step into the house after going outside but works and works at it with those little legs until she makes it. We will be adopting her and she will become part of our family! Her name was originally a Norman form of a Germanic name, which was composed of the elements hrod "fame" and heid "kind, sort, type". It was introduced to England by the Normans in the forms Roese or Rohese. From an early date it was associated with the word for the fragrant flower rose (derived from Latin rosa). When the name was revived in the 19th century, it was probably with the flower in mind. She is that, our little flower!

The Puppies Have Puppy Mange - VIDEO

After a trip to two vets I finally got the right diagnosis and the puppies and Cricket have scarpotic mange. Treatable and that is exactly what we got down to. This is them after their first treatment of the lyme dip. I will be dipping them again on this friday evening. Then on Sunday they get baths with baby shampoo and the home remedies again. In the interium I have three different creams I am putting on them and lots of vitamins in their food.

Tug of War Time - VIDEO

The puppies are now seven weeks old. We have had a bit of a set back in getting them adopted just yet. It seems that Cricket had mange and has given it to her puppies. So we are treating them and hopefully in a couple more weeks they will be ready for homes. Everyone but Rosie that is. Our family is going to adopt her.

It Was an Assembly Line

Okay, I dipped the puppies on Thursday after going to the vet. My friend the vet, Mary Ann, felt sorry for me and only charged me for the dip, no visits, no slides to inspect under a microscope. As I have told some of you, the dipping process was horrible, just horrible. Entire house smelled like rotten eggs. You couldn't dry them, just sort of wring them out. My fingernails were yellow, my clothes were yellow, the puppies and Cricket were yellow. They were still scratching - bad and more hair was falling out!!!!So, being that I do research for a living, I decided to look up some home remedies for this type of mange. I found several and took three to do in order! I will kill this parasite!

After church, Kara, Ali and me got started. Kara brushed them all super good. Then I mixed up 3% hydrogen proxide with Borax (yes the 20 mule team) and put it in a shallow tube for after the next step. You put two parts water to 1 part HP and then mix in 3 heaping tablespoons of the borax. it was a bit cold after stirring awhile so I heated it in the microwave. Can't freeze my babies!Then I ran water in the bathtub luke warm and started washing them with the Aveno baby wash / shampoo. I scrubbed them very good and got in between each toe, in their ears, under their tails and no amount of whining would make me hurry up. Ali was standing there with a towel. I pulled the plug and let the water run out and then kinda wrug them out with my hands. I sat the tub of the peroxide in the bath tub and stood them in it and poured and poured it over them into every cranny. Then I hand wrug them again and passed them off to Ali. Oh yes, Ali stood there the entire time telling them that Gabby is a mean old lady for doing this to them. Hmmmphhh.

Then Kara went into action. She towel dried them and then started putting acne / pimple cream all over them Zapitz! It is 10% Benzyol Proxide. She rubbed every nook and cranny that showed any sign of irritation, the tips of the ears, the toes, the bellies and Buster "ego" as Triston calls it. In other words his "wing wang" as I call it. She then kissed them and put them in the crate with the little blower / heater going on them. They shivered, shook and finally nestled in for a nap.

Last but not least, was the mom Cricket. She is in the worst shape and I am sure she had it when I got her cause she was really scratching. I thought it was fleas and bathed and treated that for her. To no avail. Then I take them to the shelter and they misdiagnose it as a food allergy. I changed food twice during all this. So, she gave it to the puppies. The pups are now six weeks but I am going to keep them at least for three more weeks to insure that they have mange free and healthy.After all this, I cleaned everything up and then and go the $25 for 5 pounds of food (all natural - no byproducts) and the canned food that is $2 a can. It has duck meat in it, carrots and potatoes and is the top of the line they carry here. They love it so far. So, at $2 a can and they are all eating about 1 1/2 cans to 2 cans plus the dry, I will be taking a loan on my 401K soon.

Guess what, I get to start this process all again on Thursday when I dip them again and then the home remedies on Sunday with the baths. They say to keep them comfortable and use antibiotic cream and anti itch cream to keep them comfortable. We used one whole tube of the $10 pimple / acne cream and I am hoping the second tube will last till next sunday. Somehow I doubt it. However, I love them more than ever and am super protective of my puppies. They love going outside and are being little champs through all this. Tough puppies for sure! They are even doing well on their potty training. By the time they are adoptable, they will love baths and pee and poo outside. I am now drinking a beer, letting the kids run around like crazy and MB is making dinner for us.

I am exhausted.

Later,Cheryl

Puppies Get First Shots

Well, after much pre-planning I finally decided to put the puppies in the crate and collar and leash on Cricket and get them to the shelter for their first shots - they are six weeks now. I put the crate in the front seat and all four howled the entire way to the shelter. Cricket sat in my lap politely ignoring them. I am trying to calm them as I am getting more and more nervous trying to drive with four howling dogs in the car.

We get there. I manage to juggle carrying the crate in my right hand, my purse under my left arm and Cricket's leash in my left hand. After I fight the door for a few minutes one of the girls saw me and came to my rescue.

"It's Cricket, It's Cricket and her puppies!" She then gleefully snatches up Cricket and starts talking to the puppies. I have managed to get the crate on the counter and Cricket behind the counter! As I am standing there, all and I mean all the shelter workers come running in and over. There was 7 of them. all petting Cricket and wanting to hold the puppies. It was overwhelming to me but the pups and Cricket handled it all in stride. They were all asking me questions and I tried to answer them all. Of course they said they were all beautiful and they are.

The vet tech came in and looked at them and said that I need to bring them back to figure out the itching thing when the vet is there. I have changed their food to science diet (costing me a fortune!) and they are still itching but it has been only two days. She really looked them over good and will talk to him about it tomorrow when he is there. If it is something I can give them then I can swing by and get it.

We then got down to the business of shots and bordella (sp). Poor puppies, but mostly poor Cheryl. One of the girls put the bordella up their nose then handed them to me for the shot. It burns badly she said, so one by one they start yelping and crying. I am rubbing it to make it disapate as much as I can. Then the girl looks at me and said, "Why are you crying?" I said, "You are hurting my puppies!" "I know you don't mean to but every little yelp is killing me." She patted me on the back and said, "I think you are the best foster mom we have ever had." AFter one finished I put them back in the crate and gave them a treat to make up. They didn't want to come back out and I don't blame them! Then they gave me the worm stuff to give them tonight after I get them in the pen and Cricket too. So morning should be special on the puppy pads!

I got them home after doing the entry thing in reverse to leave. When we all got in the car, they were quiet as little lambs on the way home. I was a nervous wreck and felt so darn guilty. Now they are laying beside my office chair laying on their blanket. I took them out when we got home and all 5 peed.

Lynda, the adoption fee is $80 and that also covers the spaying or neutering and all their puppy shots (2 of the 3). I have decided that I am going to keep Rosie now - she has stolen my heart and everyone in the house now loves her the best. Julie is still going to keep Cricket, she just loved and loved on her today. So that leaves Buster, Scarlett and Delilah to choose from and adopt.

I am exhausted. My poor little babies.

Buster Loves His Lion

Buster really does like the little stuffies I got for them. He drags this lion around all the time. Cricket loves a pink mouse and puts it in bed with the puppies. Isn't that sweet? With all those sharp little teeth wanting to chew, toys help out a great deal!

Nap Time for Scarlett

We have moved the puppies into the dining room and bought a pen to attach to the crate. I got them a bed for inside the crate. Miss Scarlett loves it. Well they all do but she always gets in it first and comes out last! Miss Priss that she is.

The Puppies Get a Bath

Sunday was bath day for Cricket and her puppies. You can only take so much of the dog smell. They were all very good for their baths. The top photo is Scarlett. She isn't very big especially when wet!

In the second photo Triston is helping me get them all dry in front of the heater. We did them one at a time. He is drying Rosie - who we now call "Nosey Rosey!"

Ali is helping too. I did the bathing, the twins did the toweling and drying in front of the heater. They sure do smell better and their little fur is all fluffy now.

Buster Takes A Nap

As the puppies personalities are emerging, Buster is the calm and even one. He is progressing as quickly as the others but he just sort of lumbers along. He doesn't seem to get in too much of a hurry with anything anymore. He loves his naps and loves sleeping on his back. He is going to make a great and easy going dog for someone some day. He loves to cuddle and fall asleep on your chest or in your lap too! That is Miss Rosie at his feet and Miss Delilah to his left. Miss Scarlett is to the right. They love the fleece blankets and I try to keep them in their pen. They sleep mostly in piles!

The Puppies Find the Toys

I have kept a basket of kitty toys in my office. I bought the puppies some toys of their own, but they are really more interested in the cat toys. Go figure. So, now they are starting to drag the toys and shake them. The shaking is called "Prey Kill" and is instinctual to puppies. These puppies are killing a lot of toys right now. They are also barking and it scares them and they jump backwards and fall down. Joy - PURE JOY! Scarlett is chosing a toy. Of course she gets the one with the string attached and pulls them all out!

Little Miss Rosie likes the ball that rolls with the bells in it and paws it and it jingles. She barks at it for it to come back!

The Puppies Discover the Food Bowl

I have been feeding Cricket in with the puppies, she stepped away from the bowl and the puppies charged it. They do more licking than eating right now, but sure seem to enjoy it. I have to clean faces and paws when we are done. Cricket growls at them until she is done and they move back and wait on her to finish. They are growing like weeds now!

Time for Lunch

Cricket isn't that big. Maybe from front to back between the legs six inches. However when she lays down to nurse the puppies see stretches way out and rolls sort of on her back so they can get to all 8 teats. They drain everyone of them dry everytime they nurse now. I may have to strart supplementing next week. They are getting big and very demanding with this nursing thing. From left to right, Buster, Miss Scarlett, Delilah & Rosie - Rascal went by the wayside for a name when I found out Rascal was a girl. Oh well.

The Puppies First Visitors!

Kara and the twins came to meet the puppies and Cricket. We also had my birthday dinner. Ali's favorite is Miss Scarlett and I do believe that Miss Scarlett is smitten with her too.









Triston loves Rascal the best but he spent time with ALL the puppies. Here he and Buster are spending a bit of quality time together.














Kara couldn't stop taking pictures and she is like me, she loves them all. She spent time with Buster too!

Delilah in Distress! Poor Delilah!!! - VIDEO

Delilah found herself on the outside of the cage and couldn't get back in. Too funny! Click on the button on the bottom left of photo to watch her howling!

Rascal and Buster - VIDEO

We are up from our afternoon 4 hour nap and feeling a bit frisky. Enjoy the video. Click on the button at the bottom below the left corner of the photo!

Rascal Say How Do!

Well hellllooooo!

My name is Rascal. That is what my foster Mom, Gabby calls me. I am almost completely tawny in color. I am the most reserved of the puppies. I am very content to eat and sleep and play with my brother and sisters in the cage. I don't really venture out beyond the cage door yet. But Gabby says I am a very brave boy. I am really attached to my mama Cricket. She is a very good mom to us all.

I am the second smallest in size next to Scarlett. She is so beautiful and I like laying on her when she sleeps. Delilah is the bravest of us all and I have to say she is who I sleep next to the most. Gabby thought that Rascal was a good name for me but there is someone already interested in maybe adopting me one day. So, if she decides on a different name and wants me, Gabby said that is okay too!

Well, I have been up about 4 minutes and it is time for another nap. Big Yawn! Love, Rascal

My Name is Scarlett

Hi There!

My foster mom has finally decided on a name for me. The lady at the shelter had been calling me Scarlett and Gabby (that's my foster mom) loves it. She got an email from Miss Julie at the shelter telling her what she had been calling me. Anyway, Gabby loves Scarlett and Gone With the Wind and thinks it is purrrrrfect for me!

I am the smallest of the puppies and the only one with curly hair. Gabby says that makes me the most stylish and beautimous! I finally woke up and teetered out of the cage and Gabby found me under her desk laying in her house shoe! She scooped me up and said, "Well, hello Miss Scarlett! Let's get your head shot for the blog!" I hope you like it. Does it make me look fat? Is it my best side? Do you like the color of my fur??

Gabby told me a secret. She said I am her favorite, but I think she says that to all the puppies! However, I am going to believe her.

Cricket Loves to Help

Hi, my name is Cricket. My new foster mom has us bunked in her office where she spends her day. I am not sure what she does all day, but she sits in a chair and curses at the computer from time to time. She also talks to me and my very precious puppies. I am the guard dog. She told me I need to get along with the kitties, but not just yet. They stick their noses in the office and I let them have it! They run away. I am a very good mama and protect my puppies. My foster mom lets me sit in her lap while she types and shuffles papers and talks on the phone. I really like it there alot.

Meet Delilah

Hi! My name is Delilah. Not sure where my foster Mom got that one, but she gave it to me this morning. I am a very brave girl. I stroll out of the cage on my wobbly puppy legs and hunt my mom down when she isn't in the cage with me. I lay under her whimpering until my foster mom picks me up and puts me back in the cage. I also have discovered Mom's water bowl and help myself. My only problem is that I am just getting the hang of this walking thing and I tipped over and got my face wet. My foster mom laughed and laughed at me and then dried me off. I needed a nap after that adventure!

Puppy Dreams

I tried to catch them making their sleeping puppy noises but all I got were their precious little jerks. Sleeping puppies are the best.

Mary Beth Loves the Puppies

The puppies and Cricket had a great night. I closed them up in the cage after taking Cricket out for her last potty run around 8pm. I didn't hear a peep except for when I got up to go to the bathroom and startled Cricket and she growled at me. As soon as I said hello she was fine. I didn't hear a peep until around 7:00am. I got up to find Mary Beth sitting in the floor with the cage door open with two puppies in her lap. I do believe she is smitten! She took care of the puppies and I got Cricket fed. She is a great eater and loves her kibbles and wet food. She had some water and I put on my rain boots and jacket and we went outside. She did her business and was ready to get back to her puppies. There bedding is all changed and clean and we are ready for a good day.

Meet Buster

Meet the biggest boy. I have named him Buster because it suits him very well. He is the biggest pup, whines the loudest, eats with the most vigor and will come teetering on his little shakey puppy legs right out of the cage to you. He looks very innocent here doesn't he? Well, he is very very sweet. His personality stands out the most right now. I will introduce the others as I name them and get to know them better. Buster is the strongest of all the pups.

Chow Time - VIDEO

It is Chow Time for the puppies! Enjoy!

Not Sure Who is Who Yet

I haven't wanted to handle them too much yet and let Mom get used to me first. I do know that the largest one is a boy and he grunts and whines the most. The littlest is a girl and she is the sweetest. I will take individual photos and post I think I have the names figured out now.

Cricket is a great Mom!

This is Cricket the puppies Mom. She is a very special girl. She doesn't have accidents, is a wonderful mom and seems to really like me talking to her and asking about her babies. She is tiny and weighs about 5 or 6 pounds. I am a little worried as she seems to be very bony. I am feeding her puppy food kibbles and mixing it with wet food. She gobbles it down. I am going to feed her three times a day while she is still nursing her babies.

My New Doggie Foster Family

I would like for you to meet my new doggie foster family I picked up today. Mom's name is Cricket and they think she is Maltese. She is the sweetest girl. She has four - 3 week old puppies. Two boys and two girls.

The shelter gave me a cage to keep them in and they are in my office so Cricket can watch me all the time. I have a child gate to keep the kitties out until they get used to each other. She is a great little mother and very attentive and protective of her pups. The people that owned her and the daddy brought them all in when the puppies were born and gave them up. Rascals. They came back for the dad yesterday but do not want the mom and pups. So I am going to foster them until they are about three months old and can be adopted. One of the ladies at the shelter has already put dibs on the Mom Cricket.

Cricket is very sweet and smart. I took her out after giving her some food and drink and she went potty right away and didn't try to run or anything. I have a fenced in back yard but need to look for holes she is tiny. I guess she might weigh 5 pounds. She is a great watch dog and looks out my office window and growls at people and cars. Not in a bad way, just a "keep away from my babies way." The puppies are very healthy. One of the boys is the biggest and cries and puppy grunts the most. One of the girls is the littlest one and has already stolen my heart. I have to come up with names for the puppies. Any suggestions?