Puppies are a week old already!

The puppies have changed so much in a weeks time. I know they do this, but I marvel at how quick the changes are. Although they still look like little white rodents, I see evidence of their spots coming in on some muzzles, tummies and toes. The puppies are still crawling, but they are able to move quite quickly to where they are going. They have also become comfortable sleeping on their backs with their feet in the air.

While vocal at times, most of the sounds they make mimic a cat's meow. When they were first delivered, my 12 year old granddaughter wondered out loud if puppies start out sounding like cats, and kittens start out sounding like puppies. However, I do believe I heard what could be interpreted at a first bark as I startled the pink girl last night as she was picked up.

I have a picture of the puppies posted on my office door at work, and I laugh as many staff members come by and ask where their spots are? Most questions come from the "younger" generation, and I quickly point out they were deprived of the classic "101 Dalmatians" as a child. After I explain the process, and add in Cruella Deville's comment of  "defective puppies", I suggest they see the movie :)

For fun, my daughters and granddaughter have talked us into giving the puppies names for now. Since we have named our dals after Yankee Baseball players, this litter has been named for areas and landmarks in the Big Apple. Blue Boy will be known for now as "Bronx", Dark Green Boy is "Manhattan", Light Blue Boy is "Staten", Black Boy is "Hudson", Red Boy is "Rockefeller", Purple Girl is "Brooklyn", Light Green Girl is "Liberty", and Pink Girl is "Madison".

Ruth's breeder has written a dog article on names we give our dogs. She questions if we give names to fit the dog or if the dog by some means begins to fit the name. Although the puppy names were given in fun last weekend hours after birth, I wonder if the dogs actually do grow into the meaning of their names or the idea we feel the names produce? "Rockefeller" paints an image of big, bold and larger than life in my mind. Puppy Rockefeller at this point has become the largest puppy and he can quickly and easily push another puppy off mom so he can eat. Even our vet and her nurse commented on him during our visit for dewclaw removal to the tune of "how many humans does it take to hold a 3 day old puppy in place" when describing Mr. Red. Something to ponder on.....