Week 6 - 3/3/2024

Week 6 brought a lot of fun for these pups! We spend a lot of time outdoors because of the nice weather and lots more room for the puppies to play and run around. We brought out the Jolly Ball toys and the large rope tug toy. Normally the puppies don’t show much interest in them but this time we got some takers! Zuko, Katara, Bumi and Aang were the most interested, although all of them had a turn tugging. Even mama Aelin got to join in on the fun! Check out our videos to see the puppies play with these toys.

We also got Aelin a “onesie” to wear to help wean the pups. She’s being too good of a mama and still feeding them, even though we are the main source of food now. It makes it hard for her to be outside and enjoy the pups as they are fast now and can catch up to her quickly, plus she’s vastly outnumbered! Now wearing the onesie, she is playing with them and doesn’t have to worry about the little vampires sucking her dry. We also got a really cute video of her playing with the pups so be sure to check it out! She would grab a toy and run over to the play pool and jump inside. Then all the pups would scramble after her and she’d jump out and run around the yard! She would make several play bows to entice them to play. Our prior girls didn’t get too much into the playing, but then again, the pups always tried feeding from them, so they just avoided it. It’s such a joy that Aelin can have some fun with the pups instead of just being a provider. I do think it’s more her personality though to play with them. Even when grandma Zazu or great-grandma Kyra “play” with the pups, they sometimes revert to discipline and ear licking! Not the pups’ cup of tea, but Zuko does like to seek out grandma Zazu and play with her.

The pups got a visit from Jon’s mother’s dog Willow last week. She was a little intimidated by them but just ran if they got close. They also are getting some “alone” time for 15 minutes in the house. We’ll have them wander around, so they are getting to explore a new area as well as being without their siblings, so they get used to being ok without them. In these adventures they sometimes come across the cat. Spyro is very patient with them, and they seem to respect him and just sniff without chasing him. Who knows how that will go once they’re more comfortable in that situation!

We had a Family Puppy Party also on their 6th week birthday. The family came over and played with the pups while we enjoyed hot dogs on the grill. It was a great time chatting and catching up, while exposing the puppies to a variety of different people of different ages. We opened an umbrella over the pups, people held and played with them, and we also had a round of applause to expose them to a bunch of noise from many people at once.

These pups are super sweet but man they are buttheads to each other! Their play with each other is ruthless, puppy growls and squeals as one of their siblings bites their ears or tail or leg. Yet in the same token, they come over to us and kiss our faces off! They are in their nibbling stage, but we are starting to correct them and only pet them when they are on the ground and not jumping in our faces. Katara has been upping her sweet game this week. She is so excited to see me and wants love and attention before she can eat or play.

She’s also doing her melting thing that Aelin does. Momo is super sweet and keeps her kissing ratio as number one in the group. She’s really into running around with the boys and tackling them. Zuko, Katara and Bumi loved this one cardboard box in our yard. All pups showed more interest in this one box vs. others (not totally sure why), but those three loved digging in the box and playing in it for hours (well really minutes because puppies have short attention spans, but they spent more time there than any other activity)!!! Aang is super duper sweet. Sometimes you forget about this pup because he’s not causing trouble or creating a ruckus! He loves to play but is much gentler than his siblings. He also melts you with his eyes. Aang and Katara really like this “fishing pole” toy that’s for dogs and enjoy chasing the squirrel at the end of it. Sometimes I will scan the yard to check where all the puppies are and if there is anything I need to clean up and then my eye will catch Sokka. He is just sitting there and staring at you with those big brown eyes! He then notices you looking at him, raises his paw and comes over for some love. Too sweet! Bumi is also in the middle, he loves hanging out with people but also loves to play with toys and others but isn’t too rambunctious. Iroh is an adventurer pup and loves to run around the yard and explore things. But he will also seek you out for some kisses and cuddles in between his adventures. Zuko enjoys playing with Zazu when she’s outside, his box, and the tug toys.

Next week we will have a second puppy party with friends and co-workers, plus other visitors during the week. They’ll get their vet appointment this Friday and we will do some structure evaluations to decide who is going to which home. I cannot say how impressed I am so far with the temperaments in this litter. All Chinooks are pretty sweet and these guys and gals all live up to that! At the time of writing this, we are also looking for one more home to take in a breed potential male pup! Please put in a puppy application if you are interested.

The Avatar litter (as always in order of appearance):