The puppies are now eating over 15lbs of food between them every day!! Just keeping these guys fed has become a lot of work. They are also busier, more energetic and have a much greater capacity for getting into trouble!  They get several play sessions in the yard every day. Sometimes all 10 of them at once, sometimes in small groups, and also on their own. Lupine still loves to play with small groups of the puppies.

Several people have asked about Tally. She's doing really well and has her old spark and enthusiasm for everything in life back. The photo to the right says it all!  She is still occasionally nursing her puppies, even at 9-10 weeks old, although we can see that she is starting to dry up. The regurgitating continues as well.... as does her shedding. Hopefully she will start growing some new coat soon!

Unfortunately we ran out of time to take puppy portraits this weekend. However, we will photograph each puppy before it leaves for it's new home. Four of the puppies leave at the end of this week. Two leave next week and four will be staying on for a little longer due to various circumstances. And yes, one is staying here!

Happy Canada Day! 

A few tears were shed today as two of the puppies left for their new homes. "Budgie", the first puppy to arrive almost 10 weeks ago, was the first to leave. His family live in Calgary and they came to pick him up today. His new name "Storm" is much more masculine! And very appropriate, given the number of thunderstorms these puppies have lived through already!

 Second to leave was #6 puppy, the black female. "Tala" is also going to live in Calgary. We are sure she will keep her owners and their cats very busy!

The puppies have all become such a big part of our family, we will miss each one. But it is so rewarding to see how happy their new families are when they get their puppies.

On Thursday evening, Liz drove #5 ("Miss Kitty") and #8 ("Dillon") to Montana. Early the next morning they flew from Great Falls to Minneapolis. They were very well behaved on their journey and in the motel room. It was a great relief to get a phone call from Karen to say that they had arrived safely! Miss Kitty is going to be staying in Minnesota with Karen, at Wabana Flat-coated Retrievers. Dillon's adventure continues over the weekend as he makes his way to Terry in Michigan. Terry has two other flat-coated retrievers, so he will some "big brothers" to play with.